If you don't want to just drift through life, you have to go through time.

Axel Starting Village

The Adventurers' Guild Hall was bustling with noise at dusk, like a boiling pot of soup, the clamor almost lifting the heavy oak beams.

Rough laughter, the clinking of cups and goblets, the sharp whirring of swords rubbing together, the loud shouting about the details of the mission—all sorts of sounds intertwined and collided, echoing endlessly between the rough stone walls, converging into a torrent that made one's eardrums buzz.

When the adventurers got excited during their conversation, they raised their hands and shouted loudly.

"Truman! Another glass of sparkling wine, please!"

"Me too!"

"And me!"

"I want a super-sized bowl of agar-agar slime, please!"

"Yes, yes, coming right away!"

The server quickly ran from the counter to the center of the crowd, holding the tray steadily with both hands, without spilling a single drop of the full glass of drinks.

He was about 20 years old.

male.

With short black hair, a tall and handsome figure, and a gentle smile, he easily won the favor of others. Although he was wearing the guild uniform, his demeanor set him apart from the rugged and bold adventurers, giving him the air of a nobleman.

"Truman, hurry up!"

"Here it comes! Here's yours first, then another one, and then yet another one!"

Urging voices kept coming.

Even though there are many older female service staff in the guild hall, both male and female adventurers only seek him out. This shows just how popular he is.

In just three months, he became one with the adventurers, which is a rare ability.

Just then, a man in a corner of the guild, with crudely dyed yellow hair, looking like a scumbag thug... no, a thug, raised his right hand.

"Truman, I'll have a glass of sparkling wine too!"

"...Tsk, Dust."

"How cold! Truman, isn't your attitude towards me terrible?"

"It's your imagination."

Truman gave the scumbag thug named Duster a fake, business-like smile and said, "Then, esteemed adventurer, would you like to order?"

"A glass of sparkling wine and a serving of fried frog legs."

"Okay. Please pay first."

"...Can't I give you the money? With my reputation, would I ever ask the guild for credit? Go on, I'll give you the money after you've eaten and drunk your fill."

"But actually, Dust, you already owe the guild 10 Eris, right? The guild master said that if Dust comes, he won't be allowed to order without paying, and if he makes a scene, he'll be kicked out. Besides, it's only right to pay for food, so... please pay."

Truman, wearing a fake smile, reached out for money.

Duster's character is questionable; he wouldn't even buy a glass of sparkling wine on credit. If he succeeds, Truman will end up paying for it later.

This has happened several times before, and the waitresses have been freeloaded by him on several occasions. They can't do anything about Duster, who is as stubborn as a mule, which is why Truman's attitude is so bad.

"I understand, I understand!... Please, Lynn! Lend me some money!"

"Dasster, you bastard!!"

The female mage sitting next to him looked helpless. She didn't want to help her companion who was humbly asking for money, but in the end she reluctantly paid for him.

"Here you go, Truman. And I'd also like a glass of sparkling wine, please."

"Thank you, Lynn, you're such a kind person!"

"Enough, shut up!"

After receiving the money, Truman quickly brought out bubble wine and fried frog legs.

Here's the customer's order.

"Hurry up, hurry up! You're such a lazy waiter! What if the bubbly wine doesn't cool down and becomes unpalatable? And these fried frog legs, aren't they overcooked? They're awful!"

Duster is truly a scumbag; a freeloader who dares to speak loudly, he's utterly despicable.

"By the way, Truman, I heard you've been looking for someone to teach you skills lately. How about learning the one-handed sword? For just a cup of bubble tea, I'll teach you this universal skill. By the way, do you know the four ways to hold a one-handed sword? Like this, like this, and like this and like this."

As he spoke, he demonstrated several ways to hold the hand.

Although he didn't have a sword, he still seemed to have some skill.

Truman shook his head.

"...I don't know. All I know is that if you don't pay back the debt you owe the guild within the specified time, the guild master will skin you alive and sell you like a duck."

"Wait, wait, don't do this! I'll raise the money and pay off the debt soon!"

Duster shuddered in fear, as if some unbearable past had occurred to him.

That guy is a real scumbag.

"Lynn, are you thinking of switching teams?" Truman looked at the female mage who was silently drinking beside him. "Your level is almost 30, right? You've learned intermediate magic and are about to learn advanced magic. You're very popular in Axel's starting village. Many people want to team up with you... right, everyone!?"

"Exactly! Lynn is beautiful, kind, and has a great personality. I want to team up with her too!"

"Moreover, their profession is magician; with a little training, they could become a pillar of society—a rare talent!"

"Okay, let's team up!"

As Truman loudly inquired, the adventurers of the guild responded one after another. Regardless of whether they were deliberately stirring up trouble, Lynn herself was an outstanding individual, and many people hoped to form a fixed team with her.

Hearing that she was so popular, Lynn actually started to think.

"What should we do? Duster, you don't go to work every day, you're always borrowing money from others, and you're constantly being conscripted. You're just like a hoodlum..."

"Lin, Lynn!"

Duster got impatient and started spouting obscure phrases like "There are three types of quests I won't do," "Borrowing money is my own ability, why should I pay it back," and "If I wanted to, I could be a dragon knight too," which made everyone laugh and filled the guild with a joyful atmosphere.

It's impossible to prevent Lynn from teaming up with Dust; if she had that thought, she would have abandoned Dust long ago.

Duster's four-person squad, although led by the high-ranking Crusader Taylor, actually had the real say. After all... he hadn't lied; he really was a dragon knight, and he even had his own dragon, which made others envious.

"—Truman, come here for a second!"

"Big sister? Okay, coming right away!"

Hearing Luna, a guild employee at the counter, calling out to him, Truman quickly walked towards her.

"Sorry, big sister, I forgot about work."

"It's alright. Besides, I didn't call you here because of this. Here, take this."

She handed me a bulging bag.

Truman instinctively took it, hearing the crisp, pleasant sound of the coins clinking together. There was no doubt that it contained money, and a lot of money at that.

"What is this?"

"Wages."

"...Big sister, I've said it before. I don't like money, I have no interest in money."

"I know. Although you initially said you'd work for the guild for free, everyone has witnessed how diligent and hardworking you've been over the past three months. We'd feel guilty if we didn't pay you. Even though you're a newcomer, you always help others solve problems at crucial moments. We're truly grateful... Also, today is your last day working for the guild, right? Please accept this. It's the wish of everyone, including the guild leader."

Truman looked around and saw that the guild staff and waitresses were all giving him friendly smiles.

It seems I have no choice but to accept it.

So...

After a brief moment of thought, Truman turned around, held up his money pouch, and shouted to the adventurers in the guild hall, "Everyone, the bubble tea is on me tonight! Drink as much as you like!!"

"Ohhhhh!!!" xN

After a brief silence, the guild erupted in deafening cheers, instantly transforming into a sea of ​​festive cheer, with even Duster clamoring to drink to his heart's content.

late at night.

Truman was already somewhat resentful of himself for saying he would treat everyone not long ago. He didn't care how much money was spent, but the consequence of the adventurers' commotion was that it placed a heavy burden on the guild's female staff in terms of cleaning.

Even though it was the last day of work, I felt bad and stayed to help out, not finishing the cleaning until late at night.

After finishing his work, Truman bid farewell to the older women in the guild and then, dragging his tired body, came to a very secluded alley.

Look around.

After realizing that no one was passing by, he snapped his fingers.

Snapped--

A door suddenly appeared in front of him, and Truman naturally pushed it open and went inside.