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I Got a New Skill Every Time I Was Exiled, and After 100 Different Worlds, I Was Unmatched (Web Novel) - Chapter 364: What Was Offered Was a Helping Hand.
Chapter 364: What Was Offered Was a Helping Hand.
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
With Jinku’s determination and a week passing without any significant events, Ed and the others departed from the town, leaving with only Jinku as promised. Left behind, Doma and Kain continued their activities as adventurers as usual, but the results were not favorable.“Sigh, he managed to escape again… It’s tough without Jinku around.”
“Sorry, Doma-kun. If only I could cast magic more frequently…”
“Well, there’s no helping it. Increasing mana is more challenging than building muscles, right? If only it were as easy as getting fat by eating and sleeping like the village old man’s belly.”
“I wouldn’t want that…”
They exchanged light banter with smiles, trying to maintain a cheerful atmosphere. However, the reality was not as sweet. With the original three-person party reduced to two, the decrease in combat power was more severe than Doma and Kain had anticipated. They struggled to defeat demonic beasts that should have been manageable, and gathering quests, which were not suitable for Kain, a mage weak in close combat, became challenging for a single person. Consequently, their overall efficiency dropped to less than half.
Of course, in other areas, Kain’s knowledge and attentiveness sometimes came in handy. Being childhood friends for ten years, they knew each other well, so there were no issues with their relationship. But the harsh reality of a significant decrease in income since Jinku’s departure for just one week left the two genuinely distressed.
“What should we do? At this rate, before we can wait for Jinku-kun to return, we’ll run out of resources.”
“Worst-case scenario, we could quit being adventurers and return to the village for a living… But it wouldn’t look good if, when Jinku returns, we easily give up and go back to being loggers. Right?”
“Hey, you two, mind if I join the conversation?”
At the guild’s attached bar, where the taste was moderate but the prices were reasonable—a popular spot for novice adventurers to have meals—a person suddenly approached Doma and Kain, who were pondering with furrowed brows. When both turned their faces simultaneously, a black-haired boy of approximately the same age as them stood there.
“Huh? Who are you?”
“My apologies, I’ve been listening to your conversation. Could it be that you two are also novice adventurers?”
“Um, and you are?”
“Ah, sorry for not introducing myself first. I’m Hyde, a man who became an adventurer just last year.”
“So you’re our senior. We started this year.”
“Oh, I see. Well, one year doesn’t make much of a difference. Right?”
“Sigh…”
From the perspective of novices, a one-year difference was quite significant. This was because having a year of experience in the unstable and dangerous profession of adventurers was a considerable achievement.
However, when viewed in the broader context of being adventurers, one year was not that much. The most significant hurdle was being recognized as a “newcomer” or “beginner” and making the transition to being considered “fully-fledged,” a process that usually took three to five years.
“So, what business do you have with us, senpai Hyde-san?”
“Cut the ‘senpai’ part. You can call me by my name. Now, about the matter… Are you guys looking for additional party members?”
“Huh?! Well, not exactly looking… What do you think, Kain?”
“Me?! Well, yeah, I guess. I do think having one more frontline member would be good…”
If they could find someone to fill the gap left by Jinku and play a similar role, they could easily solve the problem. It was something they had known from the beginning, but both of them had troubled expressions.
“We appreciate the offer, but Jinku-kun’s just away for a bit. We don’t want to replace him without his permission.”
“Oh, is that the case? When is the individual who embarked on a distant journey expected to come back?”
“About two years, I guess.”
“Two years?! Did the person who went on the journey tell you not to recruit new members? That seems a bit selfish.”
“Hey, don’t badmouth Jinku without knowing anything!”
“Yeah! Besides, Jinku-kun wouldn’t say something like that! We just thought it might be a good idea…”
When Doma and the others raised their voices slightly, the boy named Hyde shrugged lightly and apologized. Though he gave off a somewhat frivolous impression, it prevented the atmosphere from becoming too heavy.
“Oops, my bad. But expecting just two rookies to wait for two years seems quite challenging, doesn’t it? I’ve been going solo for a year, and honestly, I feel like I’ve reached my limit.”
“Tch, that’s just because Hyde lacks determination.”
“Doma-kun! I’m sorry, things haven’t been going well lately, and Doma-kun is a bit agitated…”
“Who’s agitated?! Damn it!”
Sulking, Doma roughly placed the wooden mug he held on the table. The contents were a diluted ale resembling water due to lack of funds, and it wouldn’t bring intoxication even if consumed from a barrel.
Seeing Doma like that, Hyde changed his expression slightly more serious.
“I see, I understand your feelings… but if you continue like this, both of you will end up dead.”
“What?! What’s with the sudden aggression? Are you picking a fight!?”
“Doma-kun! But what does that mean?”
With an abrupt and impolite remark, Doma and the others glared at Hyde. However, Hyde casually sat at the same table as Doma and the others, continuing his words without hesitation.
“Whether you like it or not, I’ve seen people like you before. They admire becoming adventurers, but find it tougher and less profitable than they thought, quitting within half a year is not uncommon. Add those who retire early due to lack of strength and experience, and the number of rookie adventurers is cut in half in about a year. So, you guys are a typical dropout pattern. The number of comrades decreases for some reason, and as a result, earnings decrease. Trying to solve that by taking on unreasonable requests, attempting to work as if nothing changed despite the reduced strength… and then, they die. Do you have any recollections?”
“That’s…!”
To Hyde’s question, Doma struggled to find words. Indeed, over the past week, there were several chilling moments. If this was happening within just a week, considering doing this for two years continuously, Doma was not an optimist.
“…So, what do you suggest we do?”
“It’s simple. Let me join your party.”
“What?! But…”
“Of course, it doesn’t have to be a permanent arrangement. We can discuss whether to formally make me a party member when the person who went on the journey returns. Or if you insist, I can be a temporary solution until I join another party. You guys can use me as a force until your comrade returns, and in the meantime, I’ll use you guys until I find other comrades. See, in that case, I won’t betray your comrade, right?”
“Betrayal is too much to say, but… Hey Kain, what do you think?”
“Um, I think it’s okay. Like I said earlier, to use magic properly from the rear, having one more frontline member would be good. And honestly, aside from our feelings, even if we recruit more members, I don’t think Jinku-kun would say anything. Doma-kun, you really like Jinku-kun, so perhaps Jinku-kun feels the same way?”
“What?! I-Idiot! Who said I care about Jinku or… Alright, fine. Hyde! Let’s work together from tomorrow onwards!”
“Nice to meet you, Hyde-kun.”
“Yeah, nice to meet you.”
Doma and the others extended their hands with smiles, and Hyde firmly grasped them. They continued with a light meal and discussion, and on that day, they parted ways. Until the end, Doma and Kain didn’t notice that Hyde hadn’t asked for their introductions.
