"Alright, I decided to change our approach," Evan said as he put on his clothes.

Natalie had also freshened up and was getting ready for the day.

"Wha—Master, what do you mean?" Natalie immediately corrected herself when she sensed someone approaching their door.

Knock. Knock.

"Sir Evan, I have brought your meal."

A young girl's voice came from outside. She seemed to have brought the meal that Leo had ordered.

Natalie opened the door, and after giving a curt nod, the girl—who looked barely 10—walked off.

"The innkeeper is sure comfortable with loudmouthed adventurers like me. She shouldn't be sending her vulnerable daughter around like this," Evan muttered as they both began eating.

"Hehe," Lily giggled.

"When you went out yesterday to look around the city, the innkeeper cautiously approached me to check on my well-being. She was worried that you might be mistreating me and asked if I needed any medication. But when I explained that you take good care of me and are simply loud and hot-blooded because of your upbringing, she got a good impression of you."

Leo looked confused.

"What upbringing? We never decided on that."

"Nothing. Just something I came up with on my own. A kid who got separated from his parents during a festival and lived among the trash until you were old enough to apply as an adventurer."

Leo raised a brow.

"Why that? And how come a slave who has been with me for barely 6 months knows it?"

Natalie shook her head as if it were a foolish question.

"Because how else do you explain that you have such a unique talent like levitation unless your parents were special? Since you were lost, you don't know your parents' origin, so nobody will question how you have it."

Leo nodded. Lily had indeed come up with a cover story for him after he recklessly revealed one of his powers—excited to use it and even try mastering it since he was a newbie.

"And how do you know it?"

Natalie grinned.

"Because after hours, and sometimes even multiple days, of gruelling work, you seek comfort on my lap while you sleep holding me tight, and I massage your head. Then, when in some cases you're drunk, you end up spilling things unconsciously about how hard you work."

Leo formed an 'o' with his mouth. But he couldn't help thinking that this excuse wasn't really an excuse at all.

"So, you still want to be my mommy here too, huh?"

Natalie simply lowered her head, continuing to eat. Not bothering to answer him. Then she recalled something Leo had said.

"What change of approach were you talking about?" Natalie asked.

"Just watch."

---

In the common room of the inn...

"I am really sorry!" Evan said, bowing slightly before Patric, who looked completely bewildered.

"W-what happened?"

"I'm sorry for my behaviour yesterday. I was in a bad mood and ended up speaking rudely to a respected adventurer like you, who was only trying to help someone in need," Evan apologised before straightening back up.

"O-oh... a bad day," Patric repeated, seemingly understanding. The party members standing to the side were equally surprised that someone who had won yesterday would speak like this to a loser.

Then the bewilderment on Patric's face suddenly gave way to joy.

"Wait! Are you willing to be taught? I promise, you won't be disappointed. I was an experienced instructor in a club back in my original city!"

Evan nodded.

"Of course, but may I know why you chose me? There are many other people who use swords."

"Yes, because I can tell you'll achieve great things with proper guidance. You also seem to have a great body... just a bit old," Patric said, glancing at Evan's exposed arms and face with wrinkles.

"But that doesn't matter once you grow stronger and increase your lifespan. Didn't you say you had a talent? That means you're bound to become stronger. Look at me! I only have a 1-star [Stone Arms] talent, and even this made me this strong. Your levitation talent is surely ranked higher. Have you gotten it tested?"

Evan nodded.

"Yes, but I'm sorry; I don't like disclosing the details of my talent."

Patric laughed and patted him on the back.

"And here I thought you were the loudmouthed one yesterday. Turns out it was me. I probably just approached you at the wrong time. You're right to be cautious. Don't reveal your talent to everyone you meet like I just did. I was simply excited after securing another student."

"Another?" Evan frowned.

One of Patric's party members chuckled.

"Leader picks up a student everywhere he goes and teaches them swordsmanship for 10 Silver as a side income. Which is to say, it's not bad. Look—"

He gestured toward his own back, then at the others.

"We all use swords as secondary weapons because of him, even though our classes are different."

Evan looked around.

One woman carried a bow. Another large black man had a huge shield strapped to his back. Another woman held a wand. The last man also carried a bow, though it wasn't as fine as the archer's. He also had daggers, numerous pouches hanging from his waist, and several maps tucked away.

All of them had swords in common, just as the man had said.

The last was, of course, Patric himself, carrying a broadsword.

A good composition.

"But I won't give back the bet I won yesterday..." Evan muttered cautiously.

"Hahaha, don't worry. You get to keep what you earned. I'll still make that 5 Silver back by training you," Patric said.

After that, they agreed to meet at the Adventurer's Guild for training during a hunting mission where Leo would pay the sum.

Thankfully, he had exchanged his Gold Coin for Silver, Bronze, and Copper at the appropriate establishment yesterday evening.

"Waaaahhhaaatttt?!" Patric was shocked after hearing that Evan had a mage slave who could use major elements, and it was even a girl, with gorgeous looks to top it off.

When the party members stared at Natalie as though she were an alien, she acted frightened and hid behind Evan.

"Master... I'm scared..." she said quietly, clutching the back of his shirt and pressing herself close.

"I know, right? She's the best thing that has happened to me. She can even cook well, and with her magic, she makes me delicious food while we travel," Evan said proudly, puffing out his chest.

Patric's party members all turned toward the woman who served as their group's mage. She immediately grew flustered.

"D-don't look at me like that. She is a slave; she naturally has to do everything. I am not. I am a proud dual-element mage. I cannot stoop so low as to be a cook for you people," she huffed, shooting Natalie a displeased look that made her flinch and bury her face against Evan's back.

Apparently, the woman was a Low 2-star Fire and Water element mage. She also received the highest share of the party's earnings—30%. Patric and the shield user each took a 25% share. As for the archer and the last member—who was revealed to be a scout—they each received a 10% share.

The combined rank of the party was Peak 2-star, and they had 43,460 Adventurer's Credits to their name.

After making their introductions, Evan and Patric's party accepted a joint mission to slay a Peak 2-star Boar that had suddenly appeared near the city walls.

Once the joint party was formed, their combined credits rose to 56,170. This pushed their overall party standing high enough to qualify for Pseudo 3-star missions.

Patric looked surprised.

"You earned over 12,370 Credits all by yourself? That's some dedication... Even your slave has over 340 Credits."

Unlike the city, which did not require proper identification for slaves, the guild also registered slaves and awarded them Credits based on the experience they gained under their master.

This was done because many people preferred to walk around with a slave combat team; needless to say, some even had a whole group of woman slaves under them. Though the reverse was also seen in many places.

Evan rubbed his nose proudly.

"I needed to work so I could eventually make my life easier," he said, wrapping an arm around Natalie's shoulder and pulling her closer, silently conveying that this was what he had worked for.

Natalie blushed and lowered her head.

The archer and the mage—both women—raised their brows at the sight.

"See that? Looks like she loves him," the mage said, sounding a little irked that a mage—especially one with multiple elements—had allowed herself to become a slave.

"Good for her, then. Her life won't be hard," the archer shrugged.

Patric couldn't help feeling a little jealous of Evan because, unlike him, Patric constantly had to send money back to his parents. That was why he took on the side job of teaching.

With everything settled, Evan and Patric's party threw themselves into hunting, training, and gradually becoming familiar with one another, marking the first true step of Leo and Lily's mission.

The days passed quickly, and before long, an entire week had gone by.