The real work is going to start from the second day, so the first day of work is over.
We all have a pork miso soup party for dinner, with everyone sitting in a circle. I can feel it in my skin everyone here getting close to each other.
“It’s warm…”
Says Mars while drinking the soup.
“It’s just a regular miso pork soup, but it feels tastier than usual.”
Says Lela, and I silently nod.
After dinner, I practice my magic away from the base camp, and Isolte walks over to me.
Her golden hair shines even at night, and flows all the way to her waist like an unraveled turban.
“I’m sorry to bother while you’re training, but do you have some time?”
“It’s all right. Do you need something with me?”
“I just want advice about something personal.”
Advice?
I’ve asked her for advice before, but never the opposite, so I tilt my head.
Still, it makes me happy. And since I have no reason to say no, I gladly accept.
“I will listen if you want to talk to me.”
“Yes, that makes me feel more at ease. I have been thinking about getting the ground ready.”
Getting the ground ready? It feels like this is going to be a long one.
Anything that’s not related to magic feels like it would be tricky for me. And since we shouldn’t stand here and talk, I make a bench with earth magic so we can sit down.
“Before I answer, can I ask you how exactly you’re going to fix the ground?”
“Of course.”
Isolte says that the area around the farm is full of slopes and wild level variations because of the meteorite.
It’s not the sort of ground where you can build, so we need to make it level first.
“I want your opinion.”
She asks while staring at me with a serious expression.
Normally, her strong eyes feel a little scary, but she’s asking for advice seriously.
I can tell by the way she talks that she has basic knowledge. I’m assuming she’s been learning all sorts of things as preparation to becoming the next feudal lord.
Honestly, it’s not really the sort of thing I should be offering advice on.
But the big difference when it comes to getting the land ready are the dwarves.
“I don’t think your methods would be a problem. Even from my amateur point of view, I don’t see anything that feels off.”
“So how should I deal with the dwarves coming from the Kokkoro mine?”
“I think you can treat them like the adventurers. If you’re still concerned, how about hosting dwarf wrestling when they get here?”
“Dwarf wrestling? What’s that?”
Asks Isolte with a puzzled expression. I guess she doesn’t know about it either. Can they really call their champion the world champion?
I tell Isolte about its rules, and that they like it a lot.
“I see, sounds very interesting. Maybe I could give commanding privileges to the best one.”
She says, half joking.
I feel like that was a crazy thing to say casually, but come to think of it, Isolte has always been about fighting too.
It’s easy to imagine a holy knight thinking power is everything. I guess sports-minded people call for a sports-minded person. That’s passing the muscle baton.
“Thank you, that helped me figure some things out.”
“I’m glad I could help, guildmaster!”
I say, and Isolte gets up to leave.
“By the way Loyd, we’ve known each other for almost half a year. I think it’s about time you stop calling me guildmaster, and start calling me Isolte, don’t you think?”
Wao!
Isolte is giving me permission to call her by her name.
“Are you sure?”
“I just told you that.”
“Then… Miss Isolte…”
“Too formal. Try again.”
She laughs again.
It’s not the smile of a holy knight, or a noble, or a guildmaster. It’s the smile of a nice girl.
That alone makes it worth it to give her advice. It’s the moment we really become friends.
◇ ◇ ◇
The adventurers have been hard at work clearing rubble while waiting for the dwarves to arrive.
It’s inspiring to see men and women all working together to clear this rubble. A wonderful sight that could be a model for the future.
When the dwarves get here, Isolte follows my suggestion, and holds a dwarf wrestling tournament.
In the end, it’s the dwarves who get command.
With the dwarves here, work progresses efficiently. They have knowledge about construction, and the muscle to carry heavy lumber on their own.
Yes, it’s going well. Like the world champion said, muscles are justice.
But starting from the fourth day, a disquieting air spreads.
An unprecedented muscle training boom reaches the male adventurers.
It all starts with something Iris says while watching a dwarf carry heavy lumber.
“It’s so cool how he can carry something so heavy on his own!”
She says casually.
“I love muscular guys!”
Is what it seems the adventurers got from what she said, so many try to become dwarves.
One collapses after trying to carry heavy lumber by himself like the dwarves. One gets muscle augmentation medicine from Luminous, and his stomach gets wrecked after he takes six doses in one go. And a whole lot start training while on the job.
And many of them are mages that have never really done that sort of muscle training.
“Hey scrawny, face me in a magic battle.”
One of the mages turns to me, ready to fight, and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve sighed today.
Work efficiency? What’s that? Is it tasty? Is the feeling I’m getting from all this.
It was all fine for about a week, but now it’s hellish.
It’s probably because the training made them more confident, but the area where I’m working has turned into one of those where if you look a person in the eyes, it turns into a magic battle.
“Hum, sorry. We’re in the middle of a quest. Isolte would get mad.”
I try to sound as polite as possible as I refuse. But of course, he isn’t happy with that.
“Ah? You’re refusing to face an A rank like me? You’ve got some nerve for a new guy.
I can’t forgive you for getting all chummy with Miss Isolte and calling her by her name, just because you’re a bit better than the others with magic. It’s not fair, I’ve never called her by her name.”
That last part is just personal jealousy. Pretty much everyone trying to start something with me is like this.
This muscle training monster is smiling widely, showing his white teeth.
I feel a dangerous group of people that would strike people if they saw an opening is being mass produced. It just goes to show how important it is to have an instructor that trains people’s spirits too.
I’ve been ignoring people trying to start stuff with me.
That night, I talk to Mars and Lela about what’s been going on.
Lela bursts out laughing and rolls on the floor while holding her stomach.
Mars on the other hand, is sympathetic. He’s better than this cold-hearted elf.
“Now now, calm down sensei. Putting aside the reason, it’s good that more people are talking to you.
You used to seem unapproachable, so I think it’s nice that people are starting to talk to you, even if it’s for a stupid reason.”
Mars has a point, but being talked to in this way doesn’t make me feel happy.
Wait, I was unapproachable? That’s shocking actually…
“That’s right Loyd. Let’s accept this situation.
Think about it, if you win all those magic battles, and take half their money each time, you’ll be rich soon. Fuhihi.”
Says Lela while wiping a tear from her eye.
“People accept that money collection system like it’s no big deal, but I think it’s pretty bad.”
I say with an awkward smile.
It’s true, these magic battles do come with a strange rule that the victor can take half the loser’s money.
Being an adventurer is a lawless territory where power rules, so this kind of bet is common.
I became an adventurer because Lela suggested it, but I’ve been thinking more and more that it’s a pretty dark occupation.
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