Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 326

“First of all, Elan, your paintings are quite good. Are you self-taught?” As I say this, I study Elan’s face and then glance at the back of his hand. He looks young—very young.

A person’s age is often revealed in their hands. You can hide your face, but your hands rarely lie.

He can’t be older than 15 or 16.

“Elan, how old are you?” I ask.

“18,” he replies.

“Tell me the truth. I’m not asking to lower your pay.”

“I’m… 15,” he admits, sulking slightly.

“15!” Sara, seated beside him, exclaims softly.

Her tone carries a mix of surprise and sympathy. Perhaps she sees in Elan a resemblance to her younger siblings back in the countryside—a boy who had run away and is now scraping by as an adventurer with little hope for the future.

Her pleading gaze makes me decide to interfere a little.

“So, Elan, do you want to continue as an adventurer? If it’s just a quarrel keeping you from returning to your previous job, I can help mediate.”

If he had been a servant in a merchant’s household, it might be better for him to apologize and continue working there.

Adventuring is a rough, dangerous job, and success is often reserved for the big, strong, or cautious—and even they don’t always survive. Many either perish or retire disabled within a few years.

Looking at Elan’s small, wiry frame, it’s hard to imagine a bright future for him as an adventurer.

Since he stays silent, I decide to wrap up that part of the discussion.

“Well, think about it. If you want help, tell me. Now, Franz—I’m sure we’ve met before, haven’t we?”

At this, Franz straightens his back and answers enthusiastically. “Yes! Sara showed me around the market once!”

“I see. So, are you self-taught as well?”

“Yes! No! I learned from the priest back in my village!”

In some rural areas, priests serve as educators, teaching farmers’ children. Often, these efforts fail due to the locals’ lack of interest or the need for children to work. But Franz seems to be one of the lucky exceptions.

“So, can you read and write?” I ask.

“Yes! I learned everything from the priest!”

“What about arithmetic?”

“I can handle numbers, as long as they’re not too big! I learned while helping the priest!”

This guy might be an unexpected find.

However, if Franz has these skills, it begs the question—why is he an adventurer?

“Why are you an adventurer? With your skills, you could’ve joined a merchant’s household or even pursued the clergy.”

Franz beams as he answers, “I’m a big eater! I wanted a path where I could eat as much as I wanted. And I like physical activity!”

His exuberance draws a burst of laughter from Sara. She lowers her head, hiding her face, but her trembling shoulders and red ponytail betray her amusement.

“I see…” I say, suppressing my own smile.

It strikes me that while I’ve advertised for people who can draw, the process also functions as an unexpected filter—gathering individuals with elementary education.

At that moment, Kiriku, my guard, speaks up—a rare occurrence. “Leader, may I say something?”

I nod, and Kiriku turns to Franz. “Franz, would you like to join the Sword Fangs Legion? As an apprentice, you’ll be fed to your heart’s content.”

The offer comes out of nowhere.

Joining the Sword Fangs Legion—the city’s top clan—even as an apprentice, is a dream opportunity for any novice adventurer.

“Me… join the Sword Fangs Legion…” Franz stammers, his voice trembling with excitement.

Kiriku presses him. “What do you say? I won’t ask twice.”

Franz stands up straight and shouts, “Yes! I’ll join!”

It feels as though the people I’ve painstakingly gathered are being snatched away, but I can’t be upset. The Sword Fangs Legion is growing, and they need capable recruits.

Someone like Franz, who can write and calculate, is valuable. In time, he might even accompany the Legion on expeditions, documenting monsters they encounter. Knowing Kiriku, he is likely instructed by Jilboa to keep an eye out for such individuals.

“My apologies, Sub-Captain,” Kiriku says formally, offering an apology out of courtesy.

“It’s fine. This path is better for him anyway.”

Still, I made a mental note to negotiate with Jilboa later. If he is collecting monster information, it needs to be shared with other adventurers.

I dread thinking about the conditions he might demand.

As I’m lost in thought, Elan, who has been quiet all this time, suddenly bows deeply.

“Mister Kenji, please hire me at your workshop!”