Searching for a Present

Fee and the others spent the better part of the day scouring the city, desperate to find the perfect birthday gift for Yuri.

"I wonder what Yuri-sama actually wants?" Elu mused, her brow furrowed in thought.

"…He’s always fiddling with Magic Stones," Fee offered.

"Would jewelry be the right choice then?"

"Maybe, but he usually just ends up leaving them scattered across the floor."

Fee’s answer only deepened the mystery. The more they discussed it, the further they seemed from a solution.

"Should we just go hunt a Monster and bring him the Magic Stone?" Emilina suggested, though she looked hesitant even as she said it.

"Yuri-sama wouldn't be happy with that," Fee replied firmly.

"True. He doesn't say it often, but he's always worrying about our safety."

"…I can feel Yuri's Magic Power," Luna interjected.

As the most powerful member of the group, Luna was the only one to notice the faint traces of Magic Power Residue Yuri had surreptitiously attached to them.

"H-He noticed? Does he know what we’re up to!?" Elu squeaked, panic rising in her voice.

"…No, we’re fine. It feels like a ward—something to protect us from a sudden Attack."

The three girls let out a collective sigh of relief, though the realization didn't help their current predicament.

"Even so, this doesn't tell us what Yuri-sama actually wants."

"W-Well, why don’t we just look around? We might see something that clicks," Emilina suggested.

"That’s a good idea!"

Unable to reach a consensus, the four of them began wandering the city streets, hoping for inspiration.

Their first stop was a High-Class Jewelry Store, a place primarily patronized by the nobility. Given that Magic Stones had been the only lead they had, it was a logical starting point.

"Welcome, young ladies. How may I be of service today?"

The clerk approached them with a practiced, sycophantic smile. Luna didn't waste any time on pleasantries.

"What’s the best item you have?"

"The best? My lady, every piece in our collection is a first-rate masterpiece. It would be no exaggeration to say they are all 'the best' in their own right."

"Spare me the sales pitch. Which one is the most expensive?"

The clerk stammered, visibly taken aback by Luna’s blunt, almost haughty demeanor. Emilina lunged forward, frantically clamping a hand over Luna’s mouth.

"It’s not about the price! We’re looking for something that would suit Yuri-sama!"

"Right. That. Which one would look good on him?" Luna asked, once she was released.

The clerk offered a strained smile. He had no idea who Yuri was, making the question impossible to answer.

"And who, if I may ask, is this Yuri-sama?"

"Elu’s fiancé," Luna stated flatly.

Elu’s entire face turned a brilliant shade of crimson at the declaration.

"I see... a gentleman, then. In that case, might I suggest this?"

The clerk presented a necklace adorned with two small gems: one red, one blue.

"This is..."

"A Pair Necklace. I thought that, as fiancés, you might enjoy wearing matching pieces."

"I'll take it!" Elu blurted out instantly.

Emilina grabbed her arm before she could reach for her purse. "Wait! You can't just say 'yes' before you even hear the price!"

"But it looks like it would suit him so well!"

"That's not the point. Look at the craftsmanship—that’s clearly not something a child should be buying."

"Money isn't an issue. My father gave me plenty to make sure I was taken care of."

Elu pulled open a heavy pouch, revealing a hoard of Gold Coins. Emilina caught the unmistakable glint of several Platinum Coins mixed in as well. She immediately began scanning the shop nervously, checking for eavesdroppers.

"You can't just flash that kind of money around!"

"It’s fine. I only showed it because it’s you, Emilina-sama." Elu teased, sticking her tongue out playfully.

"Regardless, ask about the price first. Then we decide."

"Fine, fine. I'll ask."

Their huddle broken, Elu turned back to the waiting clerk.

"Are we finished with our private consultation?" the clerk asked smoothly.

"Yes. About that necklace—how much are we talking about?"

"These gems are exceptionally rare, so the price is a bit steep. However, I can offer a small professional discount. Shall we say... five Platinum Coins?"

Emilina felt the world tilt. Her head spun. A single Platinum Coin was worth a hundred Gold Coins—a denomination an average person would never even lay eyes on in their entire life. And he wanted five. It was an astronomical, impossible sum.

But Elu didn't even flinch.

"I understand. Five Platinum Coins, then. Please hold on a sec—"

Emilina stepped in yet again, stopping Elu before she could finalize the transaction.

"Yuri-sama wouldn't be happy with something that expensive."

"H-He wouldn't?"

"Think about how he lives back in our territory. He lives a life almost entirely detached from material wealth. He doesn't care about luxury."

It was true. Yuri rarely carried anything of significant monetary value. High-priced trinkets seemed to be the last thing on his mind. Realizing her mistake, Elu bowed deeply to the clerk.

"I'm so sorry. Could you show us something else, please?"

Both Emilina and the clerk looked relieved. The clerk had likely anticipated the rejection and had already prepared a fallback. As expected, he returned moments later with a far more modest Pair Necklace, priced at a very reasonable two Silver Coins.

While Fee and the others were out gift hunting, I had finally linked up with Fritz. To my surprise, Lark and Gale were trailing behind him.

"What are you two doing here?" I asked.

"What does it look like? We were just heading to the Mercenary Guild to earn some keep," Lark replied, Gale nodding in gruff agreement.

"And I assume Fritz was planning the same?"

"I'm a Mercenary too, remember?" Fritz said with a shrug. "I figured I’d take on a simple request or two. Can't let my skills get rusty."

"I see. In that case, do you mind if I tag along?"

I had never actually set foot inside a Mercenary Guild before. Since I employed a significant number of mercenaries back in my territory, I figured it was only pragmatic to see their "office" for myself. Knowledge of their working conditions couldn't hurt.

"Well, if you're okay with it, Yuri, I've got no complaints," Fritz said.

And so, for the first time, I made my way toward the Mercenary Guild.