Chapter 31: A Mission for Viktor

Viktor looked directly at Qiu Nuoya.

"Nuoya’s existence is like a treasure chest that could infinitely expand the possibilities of magic! There is no way I can simply let someone like that go!"

"...That’s what he says, Nuoya."

Qiu Nuoya could only laugh awkwardly.

"Hahaha... Viktor, aren’t you exaggerating a little?"

He could only give a dry laugh.

Viktor’s energy became strange sometimes.

However, in the end, Qiu Nuoya was completely overwhelmed by Viktor’s enthusiasm and because of that, the three of them ended up moving into a three person room together.

The three person room was more expensive than the six person room, but still cheaper than a two person room.

Because of the extra money saved by Igor and Viktor switching rooms, Qiu Nuoya’s lodging fee remained at one copper coin per day.

For now, Viktor paid for an entire month in advance.

Qiu Nuoya officially secured a place to stay with the arrangement that he would repay Viktor over time.

It was still technically a form of debt, but since Viktor refused to accept any other option, Qiu Nuoya decided to gratefully accept his offer.

After declaring that Qiu Nuoya would become his disciple, Viktor stopped accepting missions and began following him everywhere.

Since Qiu Nuoya still knew very little about this world, having someone explain various things to him was extremely helpful.

However, he could not help wondering if Viktor should not be doing his own work.

That said, Viktor was an Rank A Adventurer.

If reaching Rank D Adventurer was enough to earn the kind of money needed to build a house, then perhaps someone like Viktor no longer needed to work as desperately as Qiu Nuoya did.

Igor sometimes accompanied them, but other times he would casually head out alone or accept invitations from other adventurers and go on missions with them.

When Qiu Nuoya asked Viktor whether he should not always go together with Igor, Viktor explained that this was normal for adventurers who worked independently like them.

Even among adventurers, there were many different styles.

Some adventurers formed parties with several members and worked together.

Others chose to operate alone, relying on no one but themselves.

Apparently, Igor and Viktor were closer to the lone wolf type.

Qiu Nuoya had assumed that the two of them worked together as a party, but that was not actually the case.

They would form temporary groups if a mission seemed too difficult to handle alone, but if they judged they could complete it by themselves, they often accepted missions individually.

"Has it always been like this?"

"When we were younger, we did form parties with several others," Viktor replied. "But as we grew older, some of them retired from adventuring after starting families. In the end, I suppose I was the only one left."

He laughed softly.

Qiu Nuoya noticed Viktor lowering his eyes slightly, looking a little lonely.

Although Viktor appeared young, Qiu Nuoya remembered that elves were long lived.

He had never been given Viktor’s exact age, but he also remembered being told that, by human standards, Viktor would be considered an old man.

Living for a different length of time than the people around you must be a lonely experience.

The Viktor who had cried while drunk, begging him not to leave him behind, might have experienced many painful farewells throughout his life.

Qiu Nuoya thought he understood that kind of sadness.

He had also lost his family through death.

The emptiness left behind when someone who had always been there suddenly disappeared one day was something that words could not fully describe.

"You’re not alone."

"Huh?"

"Right now, you have me and Igor too. You’re not alone." Qiu Nuoya smiled. "You’re going to teach me magic as your disciple, aren’t you? Then I’ll stay by your side until I’ve learned everything I need to know. So you should be prepared."

Viktor stared at him for a while, blinking in surprise. Then, after a moment, he gave a gentle smile and said, "That’s right."

...

About ten days had passed since Qiu Nuoya began spending his days with Viktor.

As usual, the two of them headed to the Adventurer’s Guild.

As soon as they arrived, the receptionist informed them that a specially assigned mission had come in for Viktor.

Qiu Nuoya was surprised. "There are missions that specifically designate certain adventurers?"

"There are very few Rank A Adventurers," Viktor replied with a troubled expression. "So it happens from time to time."

"Excuse me," Viktor said to the receptionist. "Would it be possible to decline this request?"

"Is there a problem?" she asked.

"Actually, I’ve decided to take on a disciple. From now on, I’d like to focus less on accepting my own missions and devote my time to training him."

"A disciple?" The receptionist looked back and forth between Viktor and Qiu Nuoya.

Being examined so closely made Qiu Nuoya feel a little uncomfortable.

"I’m afraid we hadn’t been informed about that," the receptionist replied apologetically. "So we processed the mission as usual."

Viktor gave a helpless laugh. "That’s understandable. I should have told the guild beforehand. By the way, what kind of mission is it?"

"It’s an investigation regarding a series of dragon sightings in the mountains near the border. Depending on the findings, an extermination force may be assembled and this is a request for your participation." She paused before continuing. "This mission has been issued by royal decree to every adventurer of Rank A or higher. Unless there are extremely unusual circumstances, the Adventurer’s Guild cannot refuse it on your behalf."

"And if it becomes an official dragon extermination mission," she added, "the kingdom is offering a reward of one hundred platinum coins."

Qiu Nuoya’s eyes widened.

A dragon extermination mission!

As expected of a Rank A Mission, the scale was on an entirely different level.

It was also a direct request from the kingdom and the reward was even the legendary platinum coins.

If one platinum coin was worth ten gold coins, then one hundred platinum coins was an absolutely unimaginable fortune.