Back at the headquarters of the Blue Bound, the sound of laughter and the faint clinking of coins filled the air.

The grand room smelled faintly of polished wood and mead, the kind that lingers after victory and hard-earned rest.

Auren stood before a large round table, his eyes locked on the glittering pile of gold laid neatly at its center awarded to them by the Guild master himself a while ago.

'wow. With this much money, I can buy a lot of herbs and ingredients for my potion supply!'

At least thirty gold coins rested there, reflecting the sunlight that streamed through the tall arched windows.

His mouth parted slightly in disbelief. The light bounced across the table and danced against his wide eyes.

Blas leaned closer with a smug grin, arms crossed over his chest as if he owned the world.

"Amazing, right? That's how much we're paid for a full adventurer team. Are you feeling lucky now that you're with the famous Blue Bound?"

Blas gave Auren a playful nudge, his grin stretching even wider. His gold tooth glinted under the lamplight as if mocking the poor herbalist's stunned expression.

"Haha, yeah. It's quite overwhelming for me as a humble herbalist," Auren replied, scratching his cheek acting shyly.

"I've never held this much money before."

Blas's eyes gleamed with mischief.

"How about it? Wanna sell me your artifact?" he asked, leaning closer like a merchant about to make a shady deal.

His gaze fixated on the sleek, rune-etched bazooka that Auren used during their mission—the same weapon that almost blew him off to dust.

"Since I'm feeling generous today," Blas continued dramatically, "I'm willing to buy it for one gold coin!"

"Pass." Auren's tone was flat and quick.

Blas froze for a moment, his grin twitching.

"I see, you wanna play hard to get, huh? Fine then! How about a gold and fifty silver? That's enough for a nice house and feed for a whole month a family of three, you know!"

"Pass." Auren didn't even blink this time.

Blas's brow twitched. He gritted his teeth, pretending to think hard as if this were the negotiation of a lifetime.

"Alright! Final offer! And you better accept it this time!" He raised three fingers dramatically. "Three gold coins!"

Alyssa and Essel's eyes widened.

Even they didn't expect Blas to offer that much. Three gold coins could buy a farm, a carriage, and still leave room for a year's worth of food.

But Auren just crossed his arms and replied calmly,

"Still a hard pass."

The room fell silent for half a second before Blas threw his hands up in defeat.

"Alright, I give up!"

A burst of laughter filled the hall. Alyssa shook her head while Essel tried to hide her giggle behind her hand.

Blas's exaggerated pout only made them laugh harder.

"Nice try, Blas," Alyssa teased. "You really thought he'd sell that thing for three gold?"

Essel chuckled softly. "Good call, Auren. That artifact's worth far more than any of us could pay."

Auren smiled faintly, brushing his fingers across the weapon's smooth metallic surface.

"Thank you. It's my baby," he said with quiet pride.

Unknown to them, the weapon wasn't just rare—it was one of a kind.

Crafted by Auren himself using the elven technology back at Runewood, it responded only to his mana signature and fingerprint. To anyone else, it was nothing more than a fancy hunk of metal.

Blas sighed dramatically, falling back into his chair.

"You're all heartless," he muttered, crossing his arms while Alyssa and Essel continued to chuckle at his expense.

Auren glanced down again at the gold coins in his hand, the reflection of the lamplight dancing on their polished surface. He blinked twice, still caught between disbelief and quiet satisfaction.

'Such money is mine… hue hue hue,'

he thought, barely hiding the grin tugging at his lips.

The memory of his old self—a boy who once counted copper coins for meals—flashed through his mind.

"Yeah. No wonder our headquarters is a mansion that even nobles would envy," Herbon added from the side, his tone mixed with humor and genuine disbelief.

Alyssa chuckled softly. Her calm presence seemed to anchor the group.

"Ahem. You better get used to it,"

She said, straightening her posture.

Confidence radiated from her as she picked up the ledger from the side of the table.

"We're only getting paid what we deserve."

The team's leader began sorting the coins with careful precision.

Her movements were deliberate and methodical, the clinking of metal echoing faintly across the hall.

Auren watched silently, his heart still racing. The smell of parchment, oil lamps, and freshly polished armor surrounded them—a reminder of just how far he had come.

"Here's yours." Alyssa finally said, handing him a small leather pouch.

Auren reached out, and the weight of it landed in his hand with a satisfying thump.

"Seven gold coins and ten silver. That's your share after expenses."

He opened the pouch slightly and couldn't stop his grin from spreading.

His eyes gleamed like a child seeing treasure for the first time. "Thank you," he said, his voice light but full of energy.

He transferred the coins into his storage ring carefully, almost ceremoniously. Each glint of gold represented not just money, but survival, growth, and proof of his worth.

'With that, I should check if the blacksmith can finally repair my Divine Rapier,' he thought, feeling the familiar pull of purpose returning to him.

For context, a single gold coin in their world could easily buy a small house in a modest village. One gold equaled a hundred silver, and one silver equaled a hundred copper.

A copper could pay for a full meal or a warm loaf of bread. In short, Auren was now—by local standards—rich.

He took a deep breath, smiling to himself, though a small whisper of caution tugged at the back of his mind.

Don't get carried away, Auren. Money can turn you into a fool faster than a blade can cut.

Alyssa continued her task, distributing each member's reward.

Her expression softened as she handed over Blas's share.

"Here you go," she said, sliding a heavier pouch across the table.

Blas caught it mid-air with a grin, his reflexes as sharp as ever. "Thanks! My wives are waiting for me," he said proudly, puffing his chest out.

Alyssa raised an eyebrow. "Make sure to avoid the red light district today,"

she teased, folding her arms with a smirk.

"Huh? What do you think of me?" Blas replied quickly, turning his face away as if the floor suddenly became interesting. The others burst into laughter.

Essel, sitting quietly on the other side, received her portion gracefully with both hands.

Her movements were slow and respectful, her posture dignified.

"Thank you. With this, I'll be able to send aid to the Light Worker's Guild and the orphanage."

"As usual," Alyssa said softly, a faint smile forming on her lips. "Your heart's still too kind for this job."

The healer bowed her head slightly.

"Kindness is also strength," she replied gently.

The leader nodded approvingly before moving on to Herbon's share.

The group's archer counted his coins twice, his sharp eyes glinting with quiet satisfaction. "Finally, some peace of mind," he said with a small sigh.

The atmosphere in the room mellowed into a comforting rhythm. The team's chatter mixed with the faint sound of wind brushing past the mansion's tall curtains.

Once the coins were distributed, Alyssa clapped her hands lightly to regain everyone's attention.

"Alright. Since everyone already has their plans, we'll disband for now. Take the time to rest, settle what you need to, and be back here the same time next week. Understood?"

Blas, Essel, and Herbon all nodded in unison.

"Good work, everyone," she said warmly. "See you around."

With that, the group began to disperse, each heading toward their separate paths.

Blas was the first to leave, coins jingling in his pouch as he waved from the door.

"Don't get too serious while I'm gone! I'll drink one for all of us!" he shouted, disappearing into the sunlight.

Essel followed quietly, pulling her hood up as she stepped into the street. The faint sound of temple bells echoed from afar. Her silhouette faded into the busy marketplace where she often volunteered.

Soon, the hall fell quiet.

Only Alyssa and Auren remained except for their butler and maid working outside. The silence between them was calm, not awkward—just the kind that came after long days and well-earned victories.

Alyssa exhaled softly, gathering the remaining ledgers and coins. "You did well, Herbon," she said finally. "The truth is I am grateful of you joining us. Our effeciency had been through the roof since the day you joined us."

Auren scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed. "I just try to keep up in the future," he replied modestly.

Her lips curved into a faint smile. "You'll do more than that," she said. "Trust me."

Auren smiled faintly in return, then gave a small nod of respect. He turned to leave, but paused near the doorway, glancing back at her. "You going home to your uncle again?"

"Yes," Alyssa answered, her tone shifting slightly. "Back to the Katana household. Duchess Absol's estate."

Her expression softened when she mentioned her uncle.

"Every other week, I return home to train and report my findings. The swordmaster of our clan is still tutoring me. It's… exhausting, but I owe them much."

Auren could see a flicker of weariness in her eyes despite her composed tone. He smiled lightly. "Well, sounds like you've got your hands full."

She gave him a small wave,

"You too. Try not to get into trouble this time."

"No promises," he replied with a grin before stepping out.

The cool air outside greeted him, carrying the scent of bread from the nearby bakery and the distant chatter of merchants. The streets of the capital were alive again, full of stories, laughter, and coin jingles.

Auren looked down at his hand where he had held the gold pouch earlier, feeling its weight still linger like a phantom on his storage ring.

His heart swelled—not from greed, but from pride. He was finally standing on his own feet.

He tightened his cloak, eyes turning northward where the forge smoke curled into the sky.

Time to visit the blacksmith.

The sound of his boots against the cobblestone faded as he walked away from the mansion, unaware of the paths destiny was already shaping ahead of him.

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