However, Kai did not give up.
Desperate to secure Ren’s help, he offered a concession, his voice frantic. He went so far as to press his hands together in a prayer-like gesture and bow his head.
"T-Then just the way there is fine! I won't ask for a round-trip—if you can just do the one-way leg, it would be a lifesaver...!"
Ren felt bad about the desperate plea, and a part of him was honored to have his skills valued so highly, but he still wouldn't nod. Even if it were only a one-way trip, a quick calculation suggested the journey would take two weeks and some change. No matter how he looked at it, the job wasn't suited for someone who had been entrusted with the care of the Old Wing.
Ren tried to decline once more, but then another voice cut in.
"With an explanation like that, there’s no way the Lord Hero would agree. You need to be more thorough."
This time it was the Werewolf who spoke, backing Kai with a perfectly reasonable point. Beside the Werewolf, who chuckled and bared his white canines, Kai let out a short sigh.
"It's just as Maydas says."
(Maydas?)
When Ren tilted his head at the unfamiliar name, the Werewolf laughed.
"That's my name. I didn't expect us to introduce ourselves like this, given the circumstances."
Maydas, the Werewolf, gave a self-deprecating laugh and shook Ren’s hand. "Nice to meet you," he said, before nudging Kai in the ribs with his elbow. "This man is always like this. He’s either short on words or leaves out the important details... I’m constantly telling him he’s too blunt."
"Wh-Hey! You didn't have to say all that!"
Wearing a sullen expression, Kai propped his cheek on his hand against the table. As Kai grumbled a bored "Good grief," Maydas watched him and laughed as if he couldn't help himself.
"Just ignore this guy’s interruptions. Now, regarding the job details, this is the route we’re planning to take."
Kai slid his finger across the map he had prepared. Ren recognized the route immediately. It was the exact same path he had taken recently when he traveled through the villages with Licia, Weiss, and the other knights.
Except for one thing.
Kai’s finger didn’t stop there; it kept moving north, tracing a path straight through the Baldur Mountains. Ren’s eyebrows twitched for a moment.
"We don't need much backup until we hit the Baldur Mountains. But once we're in the range, the roads are terrible, it's the middle of winter, and the monster count shoots up. That's why I want the Lord Hero to be part of our escort through the mountains."
Ren felt a surge of relief that he hadn't jumped at the offer. To have the Baldur Mountains come up now was a complete curveball.
(That makes it even more of a 'no'...)
Naturally, his answer remained unchanged. To be honest, considering the treasure on the Hidden Map and the fact that a Steel-Eating Gargoyle was a guaranteed spawn there, he actually did want to go. Despite that, he still wouldn't agree.
"I hear the cold is going to be brutal this year. Are you sure you’ll be alright? I mean, why go out of your way to cross the Baldur Mountains at a time like this?"
It seemed suicidal. Ren knew that if he were a Chartered Merchant, he would avoid the mountains at all costs, but Kai’s response offered some logic.
"Look, I have my doubts too. But the merchant says he absolutely has to deliver these goods to a noble. They're paying a fortune, so it's a sweet deal. There’s even a bonus if we finish the delivery safely."
The merchant was likely desperate to stay in the noble's good graces. It wasn't surprising that adventurers who smelled the gold would get involved. Kai then wrote a number on a piece of paper. Looking at the figure, the pay was indeed quite lucrative.
"How about it? It’s not a bad deal for the Lord Hero, right?"
"I... suppose not."
"Still a no?"
"Yes. If I have to guard you through the Baldur Mountains, it’s going to take a significant amount of time. Even more so when you factor in the weather. I’m currently in the service of the Clausel family, so I’ll have to decline this time."
At that, Kai slumped in resignation. He collapsed onto the table with a long sigh, his limp body projecting an aura of pure patheticness.
"...Figures."
"It couldn't be helped. We agreed it was a long shot from the start, didn't we?"
"I-I'm sorry..."
"Ah, no, don't sweat it. Actually, since Maydas over there can't make it because of another job, I just wanted to bring someone I knew I could count on. I'll try asking some of my other acquaintances."
According to Kai, he didn't always work with Maydas. They occasionally took separate requests, and acting independently wasn't unusual for them.
"I really am sorry. I appreciate you reaching out to me."
"It's fine, it's fine! We still have nearly two weeks before the job starts, so I’m sure I’ll find someone soon!"
"Oh, you still have that much time?"
"Well, it depends on the merchant’s schedule. Personally, I’d rather go and get back as fast as possible, but there’s no point in complaining."
Still, the Baldur Mountains in winter would be a hellish environment. The cold was predicted to be exceptionally severe this year, and the snow was expected to be relentless. But Kai surely knew that. Over the summer, his partner Maydas had traveled through the Clausel Territory delivering Magic Tools for winter preparation; he must have heard plenty of warnings about the coming season.
"Well, since you came all the way to the Guild, let me treat you! Have a drink before you head out!"
"...I'm still a minor, so I'll stick to juice, please."
Come to think of it, the age of adulthood in Leomel was fourteen. As he sipped the juice that was brought over, Ren whispered to himself, "I really have grown up."
Ren had considered what to do about hunting during the winter, but he soon found he didn't have the luxury of leaving the Old Wing for long. As the caretaker, he was kept busy with a never-ending list of winter chores. Because of that, even when he did manage to leave town, he could do little more than scout for monsters.
Then, a few weeks after he had declined the recruitment offer, a disaster struck.
A section of the Old Wing's roof gave way, unable to support the weight of the snow. When looking up from the entrance hall, a massive hole had opened up, offering a direct view of the winter sky.
"Now that the boy has moved in, the heat from the mansion must have seeped into the roof. The melted snow likely refroze, and the weight became too much as more snow piled on top."
Weiss had rushed over that morning after hearing the news. He looked up at the roof from outside the building and laughed, while Ren stood beside him, his expression strained.
"I was trying to clear the snow off regularly, but..."
"These things happen. It was particularly freezing last night. It wouldn't be strange for this to happen in a single day. Still, that's quite impressive. You've got yourself a magnificent hole there."
"It's not exactly a laughing matter."
"True. At any rate, we have to fix it."
"Are we calling in a professional?"
"Hmm? Ah, eventually, yes. But the craftsman who handles our carpentry doesn't live in the city. He's within the Clausel Territory, but we’d have to travel to his village to fetch him."
The thought of the hole staying open that long made Ren’s eye twitch. However, Weiss had no intention of leaving the roof exposed.
"We’ll have to perform emergency repairs ourselves."
"Oh, right. We can just do that."
"Umu. We might not be as skilled as a master carpenter, but we can't have it snowing inside the Old Wing, can we? It would be a disaster if the snow piled up indoors, and I'm sure the boy living here would rather not freeze."
And so, it was time for a bit of carpentry. Weiss told Ren he would go explain the situation to Baron Lezard and retrieve the necessary materials from the warehouse.
As he left, Licia arrived in his place, her breath coming out in white puffs as she spoke.
"Is it true? Are you really fixing the roof?"
"Yeah. If we don't, the inside of the mansion is going to be ruined by the snow."
Licia giggled, the hem of her white coat swaying with her light footsteps. The hair ornament she had worn every single day since her summer birthday party swayed gently in her hair. It had a striking presence against her locks, which had recently begun to look a bit more mature.
"You're going up on the roof, aren't you?"
"I have to. I can't fix it otherwise."
"Then—"
Seeing the mischievous spark in her eyes—one that shone just as brightly as the Platinum Feather—Ren knew exactly what she was going to say next. He cut her off before she could even finish the thought.
"You're not allowed."
"—I haven't even said anything yet!"
"I don't need to hear it to know. I knew the moment you looked interested."
"But—"
"You are not climbing onto the roof. You can watch, but even then, snow or lumber might fall, so you'll need to get permission from Lord Lezard or Weiss-san first."
"...Stingy."
"...Haha."
No matter what she called him, he wasn't going to budge. Ren let out a dry laugh and looked away.