Streets in Minerva tend to get very complicated once you get off the main streets, so it’s perfect for us to lose our pursuers. And they lose sight of us before we know it, while we run around.
That also means we don’t know where we are, but since we have a map, I won’t have a repeat of last night and get lost.
I look at Mars and Lela. They look exhausted, they’re breathing rapidly, and they sit on the ground with their backs to each other.
“You look pretty tired.”
“Ahh, ahh… Of course we are, sensei…!”
“But you Loyd… You’re not even… Out of breath…!”
“It’s because I kept using Grow.”
My whole body gets stronger while the physical strengthening spell Grow is active, so I don’t get fatigued. I thought this was common knowledge, but apparently Lela doesn’t know. She still has a lot to learn about magic.
I open the Item Box, and give each juice and a towel.
“Thank you sensei.”
“Your Item Box is really useful.”
Lela puts the towel around her neck, and talks about my Item Box while drinking juice.
“About that. Weren’t they too surprised about my Item Box? Is it really that impressive?”
I ask Lela, because the attitude of the knights earlier was concerning.
“It’s really incredible. Only about three people in this country can use it, including you.”
“You’re kidding?”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?”
She doesn’t. But please say you are.
The theme is a peaceful daily life, and I blew it so suddenly.
But it’s odd. My master said very confidently that anyone could use master rank magic, so I just thought that was the case for me too.
But this is what it’s actually like.
I have no regrets over the trouble from believing my master, but I do feel like I’m lacking in knowledge, and need to study more.
Could it be that master rank magic is harder to learn than I thought?
“But it should still be all right. They’re complete strangers to us. We just have to wait until things settle down. Yes, it’s fine. This situation is like, close to out but safe. Don’t you think so, Lela?”
“I think being close to out is already out.”
I’m saying it’s safe! Anyone, please, give me a moment to rest.
“But sensei. It’s going to be hard to keep your outstanding power hidden.”
“You were the worst one this time. That mess started because you said something weird.”
“If you keep sweating the small stuff, people are going to think you’re small-minded, sensei. It’s not nice to shift blame.”
“You’re a funny guy uh. Just the best. Strike one. “
I say with a smile. I’m actually irritated, but I’m the one who stepped in to stop the wagon, so I’m kind of to blame.
I don’t think Mars is the problem here.
Also, he’s three years younger than me. As an older person, I need to act with composure towards a verbal slip of a stupid kid.
“By the way Loyd, what happens when he gets three strikes?”
“…”
“Ah, ignore that question.”
Lela is changing the subject like she feels she shouldn’t have touched that.
“Loyd, Mars.”
Lela faces both of us with a serious expression.
“Try not to do anything to draw attention in the adventurer guild. We can probably get through this one by giving it some time, but if people in the adventurer guild find out you can use master rank magic, it’s over. And please don’t call him sensei in the guild, Mars. Loyd’s second life is on the line.”
“All right…”
And after talking it over, we decide we shouldn’t go to the adventurer guild today, and to go there another time.
I feel like my adventurer registration is getting further away from me. And somehow, I also feel like it’s been one trouble after another ever since I got to Minerva.
Maybe I was cursed by this town.
◇ ◇ ◇
After getting back to the inn, I start thinking long and hard about various things going forward, when suddenly Mars talks to me.
“By the way sensei, what did you give that driver in the end?”
“Oh, that? My wallet.”
“Eh?”
Mars lets out a foolish sound.
“Eh… There’s a whole lot I want to say, but how much was in there?”
Asks Lela.
“Hum, I’m pretty sure it was two hundred gold coins.”
Mars suddenly jumps up, and Lela is at a loss for words.
“Two hundred gold coins!? That’s a lot of money sensei! You gave that much money to a complete stranger!?”
“What are you, a reincarnated saint?”
“Hearing you say that makes helping worth it.”
“We’re not praising you or anything. If anything, I’m worried about your future.”
I guess that wasn’t a compliment.
They’re both really exasperated.
They take a bit of distance from me, and start whispering to each other.
And five minutes later, Lela steps forward and clears her throat.
“Hum, this isn’t a lecture, it’s just our opinion as your friends.
Are you listening, Loyd? If someone is in need, you put out your hand to help. I think that’s very commendable.
You have the money and ability to do that. I think that’s honestly great. A hundred times better than people who only talk but don’t actually do anything.
So let me say this. What you did this time was wrong.
If you want to save everyone in need, there won’t be an end to it. You will run out of money no matter how much you have.
You might be fine with that because you’re kind, but as your friends, we can’t overlook that.
I don’t want to see you suffer a loss for someone you don’t really understand. In fact, from my point of view, I don’t care what happens to that driver. Basically, he isn’t worth two hundred gold coins.
You need to think about priorities more. Like, is this person in front of me worth two hundred gold coins? You can think about that before you give the money, and it’s all right.
Mars agrees with me on this too.”
It sounds like they want to admonish me even if they have to play the role of the bad guys.
What she says really hits me in the heart. She’s right.
I was too rash. Money is important, not something to thoughtlessly give out.
Even if it’s my own self-satisfaction, I need to be moderate.
Maybe it’s because I made too much in my time as an exclusive mage, but my money sense might be off.
I need to take my time thinking about this.
“All right, I’ll be careful from now on.”
“That’s for the best. You should use money to protect people that are more important to you than money.”
Protect people who are more important than money…
That’s a nice phrase from Lela.
“I don’t really know who’s important to me right now.”
“You have plenty of time, so you can take your time thinking.”
She says simply, and yes, she’s right.
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That was a lecturer.