Just like last time, we were ushered into the audience chamber around ten o'clock.
Seriously, if the payout wasn't going to happen until the next day, they could've just said so upfront. Was this worthless king really putting his life into hassling me?
And I had to be stuck in the same room with people I couldn't even stand the sight of. What if I got an ulcer from this?
"Then, let us dispense the bounties and subsidies for the current Wave."
Bounty?
An aide scurried over with a money bag in hand.
"For each of the Heroes—"
Every gaze locked onto the money bag.
If I remembered right, the monthly subsidy alone was supposed to be a guaranteed minimum of five hundred Silver Coins.
Five hundred for startup costs alone… that was going to be a problem.
"You did it, Master Naofumi," Raphtalia said, turning to me with a smile.
"Yeah."
What should I buy with this money?
First priority was probably a weapon for Raphtalia. Or, since we were at it, I could splurge on some decent armor.
Actually, I'd been meaning to replace the equipment I used for mixing medicines too. The truth was, my Shield had reacted to that equipment before, and I'd been curious what would happen if I let it absorb it.
The jingling of the money bag sent my imagination soaring with all the things I could buy.
I was handed my money bag and checked the contents.
One, two, three… yep. Five hundred coins.
"For Motoyasu, in recognition of his distinguished service and completion of his commission: four thousand Silver Coins."
Hey?!
Stunned, my eyes were drawn to the heavy-looking bag Motoyasu was holding.
If I raised a complaint, I'd probably get hit with even more backhanded remarks, so I kept my mouth shut—but I could feel my fists clenching tight.
"Next, for Ren. In addition to his performance during the Wave and the completion of my commission, the reward comes to three thousand eight hundred Silver Coins."
You too?!
Ren was putting on his usual cool act, but his expression betrayed how frustrated he was at not keeping pace with Motoyasu as he held his money bag. He even muttered under his breath, "It's 'cause she's the princess's favorite…" with venom in his voice.
"And Itsuki. Your contributions have resonated throughout the kingdom. You completed that difficult task admirably. Three thousand eight hundred Silver Coins."
Itsuki mumbled something about that being about right, and I caught him casting an envious glance toward Motoyasu.
What commission?
"Hmph. The Shield needs to try a lot harder. This is just the subsidy."
Not even a name—just "the Shield"! Who are you calling a Shield?
I felt a vein in my head about to burst from sheer irritation.
You're the one who made all those selfish demands yesterday, and you have the nerve to say that?!
"Um, Your Majesty," Raphtalia said, raising her hand.
"What is it, demi-human?"
"…What exactly is this commission you're referring to?"
She'd picked up on it too, I guessed. Rather than raising a fuss about the measly payout, she was smart enough to probe from a different angle.
"We've been having the Heroes resolve problems that arose in our kingdom."
"…Then why hasn't Naofumi been given any commissions? This is the first I've heard of them."
"Hah! What could the Shield possibly do?"
So annoying!
The audience chamber filled with stifled laughter.
Yeah, this was bad. I was about to lose it.
Then I heard Raphtalia's fists clenching beside me. Looking over, she was trembling, strangling her rage in silence.
…Yeah. I could hold it together. Barely.
"You should be grateful we're handing over the subsidy at all!"
"Well, he never did contribute much."
"Indeed. We didn't see him during the Wave at all. What was he even doing?"
"Being dead weight—unworthy of the title of Hero."
My irritation hit its peak. Might as well get some parting shots in at least.
"Fighting the boss while letting civilians die—now that's what you'd call a 'great contribution,' isn't it, Sir Hero?"
"Ha! You just leave that kind of thing to the Knights."
"The problem is that those Knights are incompetent. If things had gone on like that, who knows how many people would have died… But someone who only has eyes for the boss wouldn't understand that."
Motoyasu, Ren, and Itsuki all turned toward the Knight Commander.
The Commander gave a miserable-looking nod.
"However, it is also true that the damage will only increase if the Heroes don't address the root cause of the Waves—so don't get cocky!"
This bastard… you're the one saying that?
You were the one throwing a tantrum in the castle not long ago, and now you're acting all high and mighty.
Besides, I'm a Hero too. Or what—is the Shield not considered a Hero?
"Sure, sure. Well, we're all very busy, so once we've got our money, we've got no reason to stick around. We'll be going."
There was no point in standing up for myself here. Best to just take my leave.
"Wait, Shield."
"What? I'm not like you—I don't have all day."
"You've been a colossal disappointment. Consider this your severance."
What?!
In other words, he was saying there would be no further subsidies as rewards for future Waves!
"That's wonderful news, Naofumi," Raphtalia said, beaming.
"…Huh?"
"We no longer have any reason to come to useless places like this. Instead of pouring our passion into wasting time on nothing, let's allocate our precious time to things that actually matter."
"Y-Yeah…"
Somehow, Raphtalia was starting to feel like the reliable one here.
When she squeezed my hand, I felt my anger draining away.
"Then, Your Majesty, if you'll excuse us."
She led me away with light steps, and we left the castle behind.
"As if the barking of a defeated dog matters."
Motoyasu, the one I wanted to tell that to, Ren silently shrugging, and Itsuki doing the same.
…Yeah. Sharing in someone else's unfairness really did make you feel better.
"Now then—let's head to that tent and have the Curse placed on me."
"What?"
As soon as we left the castle, Raphtalia turned to me and said that.
"Because otherwise, you'll never truly believe in me from the heart, Naofumi."
"No… that's not…"
Yesterday's words came rushing back.
That alone should've been enough for me to trust her.
"I told you, you don't have to do this. You don't have to be a Slave anymore."
"No. I insist."
"Huh?"
"Naofumi can only trust someone who's a Slave. Lying about it won't help."
…Maybe I really had raised Raphtalia the wrong way.
Well, it was true that I couldn't trust anyone who wasn't a Slave—but I genuinely believed Raphtalia was someone I could trust.
Yeah.
"Hey, Raphtalia?"
"What is it?"
"You really don't need to do this."
"No. I want you to."
…Why was she so insistent?
"Because I want proof that you trust me, too."
"…Sigh."
First of all, what a weirdo.
Second—and I had no idea why—Malty's face flashed in my mind, and it made me angry.
Why? I didn't understand it myself, and I certainly wasn't trying to take it out on Raphtalia.
Normally, a different kind of feeling would… emerge? It was a strange sensation.
"Come on. Let's go."
"Fine."
If she was going to push it this far, there was no stopping her.
And so we decided to pay a visit to that tent where Slaves were handled.