Chapter 10: The Return of the Ear Stud

The bodies of the five ‘Hunter’s Edge’ members presented a dilemma.

Leaving them was improper, yet carrying them back was impossible. Leon and his companions had no choice but to return to Howling Mountain Town first, planning to send the Adventurers’ Guild to handle the aftermath.

This time, Leon and Naya received fifty gold coins, paid by the commissioning party, the Church. The Second Prince was truly a magnate.

At this very moment, within the Adventurers’ Guild, the clerk presented Leon and Naya with brand new one-star badges.

“These are well-deserved for both of you,” the clerk stated. “Especially, congratulations to you, Priestess. To reclaim what you lost in just a few short days is truly unprecedented.”

“It’s all thanks to Leon; he is simply too powerful,” Naya replied with a smile.

“And your judgment in people isn’t bad either,” Ael remarked, standing nearby with her arms crossed.

“Ael, why did you refuse the bounty?”

“I couldn’t care less about that; I only care about honor,” Ael declared with an air of nonchalance.

She gestured towards the ceiling, which was still undergoing repairs. “I also contributed one gold coin to compensate for the ceiling I damaged.”

‘One gold coin to repair a ceiling? It seems Ael has no concept of money.’ ‘Naya herself had little understanding of finances during her time with her previous team. Is this a common affliction among the Aio Church maidens?’

“The Church is truly generous; they even provided some compensation to the families of the ‘Hunter’s Edge’ team,” the clerk continued.

“Beyond your share, Priestess, even One-Eyed Owl received a portion of the bounty. After the defeat of the Dark Armor, he became the only solo adventurer in the Guild’s history to earn a one-star badge.”

“Everyone contributed, and he was the only survivor from the group who challenged the Dark Armor alongside the ‘Hunter’s Edge’ members. He must possess considerable strength.”

Counting it all, including the previous Cockatrice bounty, she and Leon now possessed fifty gold coins and one hundred fifty silver coins.

“I’d like to buy Leon a Mithril sword, but I wonder how much it would cost—wait, where’s Leon?”

“He ran out in the middle of our conversation,” Ael explained. “I need to hurry back and report, so please bid him farewell for me.”

“Are you leaving so soon?”

“Indeed. You two should head to Dawn City soon. With that man’s strength, this small town is no longer enough for him to truly shine.”

Ael then pulled Naya aside.

“Why don’t you come with me? That clerk is a heretic from the Integration Faction; it’s truly unsettling to deal with him all day!”

“Then… I’ll go ask Leon?”

The day was drawing to a close, and once again, it was dusk, just like last time. Naya hadn’t walked far before she encountered Leon, who was hurrying back.

He waved to her, a hint of a mysterious smile gracing his lips.

“Where did you go? Ael asked if we wanted to go to Dawn City with her.”

“Can we already leave the beginner village? Of course, that’s great! I just went to the weapon shop.”

“Oh? Did you want to buy a weapon, Leon?”

“This is what I bought,” Leon said, pulling something out and dangling it before Naya.

Naya was utterly stunned.

“My… ear stud…?”

Indeed, the exquisite ear stud crafted by a mage, the very one Naya had traded for Leon’s Roaring Light Sword, now lay before her once more.

“You—you—you—how much did it cost to buy it back??”

“Fifteen gold coins. After defeating the Dark Armor this time, I finally had enough money to buy it back.”

“You… you fool…” Naya couldn’t help but cry. Was it out of emotion? In any case, it certainly wasn’t from regretting the money.

“I told you… it wasn’t that important…”

Leon then uttered words that Naya would engrave in her heart: “I don’t want you to lose anything else after meeting me, not even an ear stud.”

The next second, Leon wondered if he had said or done something wrong, for he had inadvertently made the girl cry, and he had no idea how to console her.

“As long as I have you, I can lose anything; nothing else matters…” Naya murmured, her face streaked with tears, as she leaned closer to Leon.

“Can you help me put it on?”

“Oh, alright!”

Leon gently parted her silvery-white hair, his fingers brushing against her fair neck.

Naya closed her eyes.

‘Leon’s hands are so warm, unlike what I imagined. These hands, which show no mercy when wielding a sword against hobgoblins, cockatrices, or the Dark Armor, giving me an impression of iron and blood, are actually so warm…’