After that, exhausted to the bone, we somehow managed to drag ourselves back to the royal capital.
Though we were covered in grime, we decided that making our report came first and headed straight for the Adventurer's Guild.
Seeing the state we were in, Reina-san behind the reception counter wore a look of utter shock.
"Erik-kun, Philia-chan!? What on earth happened?"
"Reina-san, we're okay. This isn't our blood. We took a few hits, but neither of us has any serious injuries."
Reina-san, who was usually the picture of composure, questioned us in a panic.
I spoke calmly in an effort to soothe her distress.
Once she settled down, we explained everything that had transpired.
"An elite goblin in the forest... and the two of you defeated it?"
"Our original plan was to flee, but it was already too close when it spotted us... We were forced to fight."
"...I'm just glad you came back alive. An elite goblin is an opponent fit for Silver Rank adventurers. To think the two of you brought it down without suffering severe injuries..."
"It's all thanks to Philia."
When I said that, Philia, standing beside me, widened her eyes in surprise.
"No, that's not true! It's because Erik-kun held the line in front the entire time! Look, almost all the wounds on this carcass were dealt by Erik-kun! He was truly amazing!"
"Indeed, these are sword marks..."
"No, no, I was only able to fight because your spell hit it and slowed its movements down. Philia is the one who was amazing!"
Philia and I went back and forth, each giving the other full credit.
Watching our exchange, a wry, troubled smile crept onto Reina-san's face.
"Even so, why was an elite goblin out there in the first place? I don't recall any reports of sightings in that area..."
Right as Reina-san murmured that, a party of adventurers rushed into the guild in a hurry.
They headed to another counter, and from across the hall, the words "goblin nest" drifted into earshot.
"...Could it have wandered out from a nest?"
"That seems very likely."
Having conveniently caught wind of the probable cause, we proceeded to cash in the goblin carcass.
Heavily damaged though it was, parts of it could still serve as materials, yielding us two silver coins.
Mutated variants fetched a high price on the market.
However, because the damage to the body was extensive, the appraisal was knocked down to this amount.
Hearing that we could have traded it in for ten silver coins had we defeated it cleanly left us with a twinge of regret.
Next, we cashed in the materials from the slimes, bringing our total earnings to two silver coins and twenty copper coins.
I split the money evenly with Philia and deposited my half straight into my guild account.
With business concluded, we stepped out of the Adventurer's Guild.
"I want to hurry up and reach Bronze Rank so I can open an account, too..."
"Yeah, carrying that much coin around makes you nervous... Come to think of it, where are you staying these days, Philia?"
"Right now, I'm lodging at the House of Strict."
"Wait, really? I knew they were training you, but they're even putting a roof over your head?"
I was genuinely surprised by Philia's living situation.
"To be honest, I planned on staying at an inn, but Roan-san told me I was welcome at the manor. The people of the House of Strict took me in with open arms, so that's where I live now."
"Huh... Don't you feel nervous living under a noble family's roof?"
"I do. Even now, honestly, but maybe I've gotten a little used to it? Since they're letting me stay, I help out with cleaning and household chores in return."
After lingering to chat for a bit outside the guild, we parted ways, both of us thoroughly worn out for the day.
When I arrived back at the inn, dinner had not yet been served.
I ran up to my room to grab my maintenance kit, then headed out to the backyard to tend to my gear.
If you leave bloodstains alone, they start to reek, and the grime sets permanently.
The Cleaning skill proved its worth in moments like this, visibly stripping the filth away with ease.
"All right, good as new!"
After spending about thirty minutes maintaining my equipment, I surveyed the spotless gear with deep satisfaction.
The dirt was completely gone, and while a few scratches remained, they hardly drew the eye.
From a slight distance, one could easily mistake the set for brand new.
Once finished, I put the maintenance tools away, returned to my room, and hung my gear up to air out.
"Erik. You're back early today. Did something happen?"
"Ah... we ran into a bit of trouble."
When the dinner hour rolled around, I went down to the dining hall, where Amanda-san called out to me.
As I recounted the day's events, Amanda-san gently placed a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm just glad you made it back in one piece."
"It's all thanks to my partner. It's a victory the two of us earned together."
"Fufu, make sure you cherish a companion you can rely on."
With a warm smile, Amanda-san brought over my evening meal.
The serving was noticeably larger than usual.
"Amanda-san?"
"Eating a hearty meal and getting a good night's sleep is the best medicine there is."
Put that way, I couldn't possibly refuse.
I offered to help clean up afterward as thanks, but Amanda-san insisted that I take a quick bath and head straight to bed.
I must have looked half-asleep from sheer exhaustion while eating, and she hadn't missed it.
Following her advice, I washed up, returned to my room, and collapsed onto the mattress.
"...I really am glad I made it back safely."
The words slipped from my lips as I stared up at the ceiling.
There was a very real chance I could have died at the hands of that elite goblin.
And yet, I had made it through alive.
Content with that truth, I closed my eyes and let sleep claim me.