With the escort mission completed, the next step for the Rock team was to visit the Adventurer's Guild to submit their commission and claim their reward.
However...
Despite Captain Dosari's fully healed leg — thanks to Sakeer's magic — he and the rest of the Rock team exchanged hesitant glances, their faces clouded with guilt. Without a word, they quickly approached the carriage.
"Lady Bareare!"
Captain Dosari bowed deeply to Lizzie, his expression filled with gratitude.
"Thank you for taking care of us along the way. We didn't contribute much in the end... so we won't be accepting payment for this commission."
If Lizzie hadn't dealt with the two ogres, their entire team might not have made it out alive.
Lizzie glanced at Dosari's weathered face, her sharp eyes narrowing briefly before she finally smiled — her first smile toward the Rock team.
"Alright, I understand."
That was all she said.
Yet, despite her brief words, the hint of satisfaction in her voice was unmistakable. Saving money always seemed to brighten her mood.
Captain Dosari then turned to Nfirea, who was seated in the carriage.
"Thank you as well," Dosari said sincerely.
Nfirea nodded in response, offering a warm smile. As the carriage began to roll away, Nfirea leaned out the window and called back to Sakeer.
"Sakeer, remember to visit me!"
Sakeer smiled and waved. "I will."
Yet despite the smile on his face, his eyes remained calm and calculating.
Nfirea...
Sakeer was genuinely grateful to him. Not only had he learned the powerful general class Genius through their interactions, but he'd also acquired the two vital life professions — Pharmacist and Alchemist.
However...
The more I interact with Nfirea, the greater the risk...
If Nfirea accidentally revealed details about him in the future...
Sakeer's hand instinctively drifted to the hilt of his short sword, fingers tightening around the cold steel.
If that happens...
The icy touch of the weapon startled him, dragging him back to reality.
...Am I overthinking this?
Exhaling deeply, Sakeer shook his head to clear his mind.
"Alright," Sakeer said, turning to the Rock team. "It's time for me to head out."
"Hahaha!" Rand, one of the twin brothers, clapped Sakeer's shoulder with a hearty laugh.
"Thanks for everything, Sakeer! If you ever need anything, you know where to find us."
Sakeer waved his hands dismissively.
"No, no... I should be the one thanking you. I learned a lot from your experience."
Ding! Ding!
The sound of coins clinking broke the moment.
Captain Dosari suddenly pulled out a small black cloth pouch from his pocket and handed it to Sakeer.
Before Sakeer could react, Dosari had already pressed it firmly into his hand.
The weight and texture were unmistakable — gold coins.
"This is..." Sakeer looked confused and tried to return it.
"I know it's not much, but please take it."
Captain Dosari's voice was firm. "If it weren't for you, this leg..." He stomped his foot hard against the ground, proving its restored strength.
Given how badly the ogre had crushed his leg, the recovery potion they'd brought wouldn't have been enough.
In the wilderness, miles from the nearest city, even if they had managed to return and find a healer capable of advanced magic...
By then, it might've been too late.
The damage would've likely left him crippled, forced to retire from adventuring altogether.
If not for Sakeer's timely intervention, that grim outcome would've been inevitable.
Seeing Dosari's unwavering insistence, Sakeer fell silent for a moment.
"...Alright," he finally said, accepting the pouch. "I'll take it."
He nodded to the rest of the Rock team before turning and blending into the crowd.
Captain Dosari watched his retreating figure disappear into the bustling streets of E-Rantel.
His face carried a smile — but beneath it lingered a trace of pain, as if each gold coin he had parted with stung just a little too much.
"It's a pity... this commission was a total loss," the archer Basque grumbled.
Rand and Lehr exchanged glances and sighed in unison.
They had kept a friendly attitude toward Sakeer throughout the journey, hoping to invite him to join their team once the mission was complete.
But in the end...
Just as they were nearing E-Rantel, disaster struck. They had nearly been wiped out, and worse yet, Sakeer had ended up saving them.
Under those circumstances, inviting him to join their team now felt... awkward.
"What's with the long faces?"
Captain Dosari's voice broke the silence.
"Sure, we didn't get to invite Sakeer this time... but we know him now. There'll be more chances in the future," he said with a grin.
He clapped his hands against his cheeks, rousing himself.
"For now, let's focus on improving ourselves. We'll work hard and aim to become a Gold adventurer team soon!"
"Yes, Captain!"
"Yes, Captain!"
"Yes, Captain!"
The three teammates responded with wide grins, their spirits lifted.
Meanwhile...
In the carriage bound for E-Rantel, Lizzie sat quietly, her eyes flicking toward her grandson.
Nfirea looked a little downcast, clearly affected by parting ways with Sakeer. Lizzie sighed softly and shook her head.
Her grandson had always struggled to make friends due to his reserved nature.
That boy, Sakeer...
He seemed slightly older than Nfirea — not by much — and given that he practiced Faith magic, he showed promise as a magic chanter.
Not a bad friend for Nfirea to have...
But still...
"Nfirea," Lizzie said softly as she steered the carriage.
"Hm?" Nfirea looked up.
"In the future... unless absolutely necessary, try to limit your contact with that boy," she said firmly.
Nfirea blinked, surprised.
"But, Grandmother—"
"I know what you're about to say," Lizzie cut him off before he could protest. "But this old woman still has some sense when it comes to people... and I wouldn't warn you if I wasn't certain."
Her gaze remained fixed on the road ahead, yet her voice carried undeniable weight.
"That boy may seem gentle and easygoing, but deep down... he's not."
Nfirea's brows furrowed.
"He's polite, sure... but he's pretending. There's a wall between him and the people around him — one he's built deliberately."
"Someone like that..." Lizzie paused, her tone grim. "They either have a complicated background... or they're carrying some sort of trouble with them."
Nfirea stiffened.
"But, Grandmother..." He tried again.
Crack!
The sharp sound of Lizzie's whip striking the horse silenced him.
"Nfirea," Lizzie said quietly, "did you notice the way the Rock team treated me after I handled those ogres?"
Nfirea faltered.
Of course, he had noticed. The Rock team had treated his grandmother with immense respect.
But that wasn't the point she was making.
She was talking about Sakeer.
Nfirea's mind drifted back to Sakeer's behavior.
He, too, had shown respect... but now that Nfirea thought about it, it felt different from the Rock team's admiration.
Sakeer's politeness seemed... calculated. Detached.
"The acting's too obvious," Lizzie muttered.
"People like him... they don't look down on me because I'm old," she added with a faint smirk. "They're just careful... too careful."
Nfirea opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find the words.
In the end, he fell silent.
(End of Chapter)