Chapter 18: A Bountiful Harvest

“Cheers!”
At the Adventurers’ Guild, everyone wore smiles as they raised their glasses and celebrated loudly, the air filled with joy.
A bountiful harvest!
Indeed, a great bounty!
“Looks like we won’t have to worry about cabbages for a while.”
“Who would have thought someone could catch so many?”
“But thanks to him, the price of cabbages has dropped.”

The price of cabbages wasn’t fixed at 10,000 Eris; it fluctuated according to the harvest’s size. In previous years, the yield was relatively consistent, so prices remained stable.
But this year was different.
Someone single-handedly gathered a massive amount of cabbages. Roughly estimating, their team’s haul accounted for about one-third of the entire harvest.
Such a colossal quantity naturally drove the price down.
And the culprit…

“That must be them. They’re really skilled.”
“Yes, I heard it’s a newly formed team.”
“They’re formidable opponents not to be underestimated.”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward the six figures in the corner of the guild. Whispering among themselves, the adventurers at their table were surprised by the sudden emergence of this powerful team and optimistic about their future.
It seemed their debut mission had been quite a success.

————

“Wait, I have something to say!”
Megumin slammed her hand on the table, her anger flaring. “Don’t you think Kobayashi went too far? She just left the girl lying there! Isn’t it a teammate’s duty to protect the fragile mage?”

“Hey, hey, although leaving you on the ground was a bit harsh, didn’t he make it up to you?”
Kazuma Sato defended Kobayashi. “If it weren’t for Senpai Kobayashi, your haul would have been meager!”

After using her bracelet, Megumin passively gathered cabbages within a ten-meter radius, though many were mixed with lettuce. Still, her haul was worth roughly 1,000,000 Eris.
She had never seen so much money in her life!
If lying down could earn that much easily, who wouldn’t want to do it?

“Hmm… you do have a point.”
Megumin could no longer hold a grudge.

Aqua chimed in, “Everyone performed brilliantly this time! Especially Darkness, bravely charging ahead to block and delay the cabbage army—truly worthy of being the strongest defensive Crusader.”

“N-no, you flatter me… I’m just clumsy and can only serve as a shield to protect others.”
Darkness blushed, still savoring the feeling of being pelted by cabbages.

Megumin took the chance to praise, “Aqua’s Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon technique was impressive too, many adventurers were under your care.”

“Hmph, as the High Priestess, healing everyone is my duty.”
Aqua lifted her nose proudly.

She gathered little herself this time, not only because her method was childishly naive but also due to the time spent using magic to keep the harvest fresh and tending to exhausted adventurers.
Like Darkness, she earned a wave of praise, and many adventurers now knew her name.

Darkness did not neglect the chuunibyou little girl.
“Megumin’s Explosion Magic is powerful too. It’d be awesome if Darkness could withstand it head-on!”

“Alright, I’ll give it a try someday.”
Megumin was curious whether Darkness could endure her magic—after all, it was huge and intense.

“Don’t try it!”
Kazuma, having listened long enough, couldn’t help but complain, “What’s with this sudden mutual praise? Can you two stop already?”

“Oh, forgot about you, Kazuma.”
“Right, you’re amazing too! Seeing how many cabbages you caught really changed my impression.”
“Exactly, the title of ‘Cabbage Thief’ is yours.”

The three showered Kazuma with compliments.
Kazuma rubbed his nose, embarrassed, “It’s not as exaggerated as you say, I just found the trick.”

He didn’t dislike the mutual praise—it was being left out that annoyed him.

Yet, compared to Kobayashi and Ryuushi, they didn’t stand a chance.
Kobayashi’s haul alone surpassed all four combined, not to mention Ryuushi’s absurd catch that nearly wiped out the entire cabbage army.

“Should the MVP go to Ryuushi then?”
“I agree.”
“Though I’m reluctant, my magic focuses differently.”
“I think she broke the record.”

The four unanimously agreed that Ryuushi was the best performer and praised her highly.

Kobayashi also looked at her, “Ryuushi, say something.”

“I don’t think I did well; it’s just that everyone else did poorly, making me look good by comparison,” Ryuushi said with biting sarcasm and subtle boasting, considering herself the weakest in the Y-series.

If that doesn’t count as good, nothing else does.
Everyone was used to her sharp tongue and wasn’t offended by her low self-assessment.

“Ahahaha, such modesty!”
A scoundrel’s voice cut through their conversation.

“Yo, I’m here, Kobayashi… hic.”
The newcomer, reeking of alcohol, leaned against Kobayashi’s back, raising his glass to Ryuushi with a grin. “Miss, that was quite the exaggerated green rain.”

“Ugh, disgusting! Dust, drink less!”
Kobayashi shifted slightly to put some distance between them.

“...Who is he?”
Not only Ryuushi but the rest of the team was curious about this familiar, freckled, blond-haired man.

Kobayashi introduced him.
“He’s Dust, a swordsman, and once my instructor.”

“Instructor?!”
“It was just a short training period; I’ll tell you more when I have time.”

Though Kobayashi spoke plainly, many were intrigued by the drunken blond man before them.

Dust’s eyes were glazed as he looked at the group around Kobayashi, a faint smile of contentment on his lips. “I never thought the lone wolf Kobayashi would ever join a team—and with so many people, too. I’m truly surprised.”

“Don’t make me sound like a recluse kid.”
Kobayashi retorted irritably.

“I did ask both you and Chris about teaming up, didn’t I? Weren’t you the one who said no?”

“Sorry, I can’t abandon my comrades.”
Dust was a scoundrel, but a scoundrel with boundaries. He couldn’t bring himself to leave his teammates to join others, so he rejected Kobayashi’s invitation.
That made him similar to Kazuma, no wonder they got along so well.

Suddenly, Dust leaned in mischievously.
“Hey, hey, Kobayashi, you made quite a bit of money, right?”

“What do you want to say?”

“Buy me a drink! Since you earned so much, it’s only fair.”

“Sure.”

“...Didn’t you say you’d never buy me a drink again? What made you change your mind?”
Kobayashi replied matter-of-factly, surprising Dust.

Dust’s favorite pastime was extorting newcomers in Axel under the pretense of “training.”
Kobayashi had been duped badly before, hence the vow never to buy him a drink again.

“I just want to treat you. Will you drink or not?”

“If you’re paying, of course I will!”
When someone offers, refusing is foolish.

Dust came with the sole intention of freeloading; refusing would be pointless.

“Alright.”
Kobayashi stood and raised her glass, loudly announcing in the guild, “Everyone! Drink freely tonight, it’s on me!”

“Wooooooo!!!” xN

The crowd erupted in cheers.
Kobayashi had the largest haul today and cleverly appeased many; a free drink was only fair.

“Wait... wait! If you’re buying for everyone, then buying for me alone is pointless!”
Dust seemed conflicted, hoping for a private treat.

Kobayashi shrugged, “Then I’ll treat you again—any place you want.”

“Whoa—what’s gotten into you? So generous?”

“Consider it repayment for saving my life.”

During Kobayashi’s first giant frog hunt, she was caught off guard and swallowed whole. At the brink of death, it was Dust who saved her.
That led to his brief training sessions and the subsequent drinking scams.

Dust’s eyes gleamed as he whispered to Kobayashi, “In that case, I’ll take you to a great place.”

“A great place?”

“A very hidden spot in Axel, but one all men love.”

For some reason, his expression seemed rather lecherous.
Could it be he planned to take her there himself?