I left the guild immediately, but what should I do for now? I have enough money for the time being and depending on how many silver coins I have left, maybe I will come back again to the guild tomorrow. Though I believe that with this money I will be able to live for at least 10 days, that's why I don't have to work hard for the time being.

...Since I made and sold the potions earlier, that means I don't have to work hard for the time being, right? Wait, who am I making my excuses right now.

Well then for my future goals. First, I'm going to beat up that crazy guy, wait, it looks like he has some influence, so the first thing I needed to do was to strengthen myself so that I can beat him up. Maybe I can hire a bodyguard. I think if I make enough potions I can hire one. But who am I going to hire, an adventurer? A mercenary perhaps? Maybe a veteran warrior? Hmmmm all of them are a possibility, but I'm afraid that if I hire someone it will backfire on me.

As I look like just a kid right now, and if a kid with money who looks like he doesn't know anything and has no backing from someone hired a bodyguard, he'll be likely to be attacked by that same bodyguard. For the time being, maybe I'll just have on rely to someone I know.

...


"Hmmm? What's wrong Yamato-kun?

I went to the front gate of the city, as the only person that I know in this city is Melvin-san and he seems to be a good man.

I fidget for a bit when I looked at the soldier's face, I saw that it was Gale-san whom I had met earlier. I explained to him why I'm there and Gale-san immediately called Melvin-san.

"I'm sorry to bother you while working. Actually I've wanted to consult to you about something and there's also something I wanted to ask you about. What time do you finish your work?"

"Don't mind my work as it's a soldier's role to help townspeople. Since we are already here why don't we talk at the reception room."

Melvin-san then led me to a room near the gatehouse. Inside the room I could see a sofa, a table, and what appeared to be a kitchen in the back.

He then asked me to sit in the sofa while he put two cups of tea on the table then he sat on the opposite side of where I sit.

"So what is the thing that you wanted to consult to me? Did something happened in the Merchant's Guild, by any chance?"

"Well, yes, actually..."

I told him that I had an argument with a man and it turned into violence at the guild and that I couldn't buy the medicinal herbs that I needed because of my rank. Of course, I didn't mention Serga's name because I want to do something about that myself, also an aristocrat, is too powerful for a soldier like Melvin-san.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I will protest to the Merchant's Guild immediately. Sorry I didn't realize that it had come to that."

"No, it's fine you don't have to protest. They bought the potion from me properly and if you made a scene they might not purchase my potions in the future and that will be a bad thing because I won't be able to live in this town anymore.

Besides, I don't think a protest from Melvin-san, an ordinary soldier, will make any difference to the way on how the merchant's guild operates. As it's so obvious from what happened earlier that the guild tolerates those kinds of things, and that's why I don't want to make that issue any bigger than it is, because if that happened maybe they might lower the purchase price of my goods or they might refused to buy any of my potions at all, and when that happened, I won't be able to earn any money. That's why I had no choice but to tolerate what had happened.

"If they have such a dishonest employee, then they should have fired them from the start! Yamato-kun you are too kind for your own sake, you could have just told them that you won't sell them any of your potions again if they treat you like that."

No, I don't think I could do that, because if I did that then that would be the end of me! Also, he knows that I don't just make potions out of a hobby, right? This is my livelihood; besides, I want to fight them on their own rules. And fortunately for me, making potions doesn't require that much effort, so my chances of winning against them are really high.

"I'm sorry after all I want to do something about it on my own and I really appreciate your concerns Melvin-san, but since I plan to live on this city for a very long time from now on I want to face it on my own without relying on anyone."

"...so you're already a man huh? All right, if you have any troubles don't hesitate to talk to me! As I'll do everything in my power to help you!"

"I'm really happy to hear that. Well then Melvin-san there's one thing that I hope that you could help me with."

"What is it? Don't hold back and just tell it to me."

"As I've said before, I'm worried about getting involved with shady men as I've moved up in ranks, that's why I want a bodyguard that can protect me, because I'm worried that other people would try to sabotage my work or use forced on me to do their bidding. Do you know someone who can act as my bodyguard?"

I'm hoping that Melvin-san might know some soldiers who have retired from the frontlines that can act as my bodyguard. I trust Melvin-san's judgement to introduce me to a reliable bodyguard.

"A bodyguard huh? If you really need it, I can lend you a soldier or two but I think that it will turn into a huge deal when people saw that you are being protected by the soldiers of the city."

"Melvin-san! I don't want to stand out so please don't do that, okay? I just want one or two reliable bodyguards! Do you know any retired soldiers or helpers that can be my bodyguard?"

I wonder, what Melvin-san is thinking saying things like that?

When I look at Melvin-san, it looks like he's somewhat disappointed.

"Retired soldiers, huh? Well you do know that guarding someone's life isn't a job for an old man right? Besides I doubt that a man with a family would even risk his life for someone else after retiring from the front lines."

...I see. In a place where the world revolves around potions, there aren't that many soldiers who retired from the military due to an injury, unless that person has an injury that can't be cured even with a potion, but I don't see how someone can be a bodyguard with that kind of injury.

"Are there any mercenary or an adventurer around?"

"There are a lot of mercenaries and adventurers around but I don't recommend them to be your bodyguard because they could betray you if someone pay them a much higher salary than that you pay them. And in an instance that you give them a lot of money, they might get carried away and say "If you can't pay me more, then I'll quit being your bodyguard." If it's a mercenary or an adventurer group that you can trust then it's fine, but that also has a problem on its own as most people won't agree to protect someone for a long period of time, if it's only for a short period of time then there won't be any problems as most people guard caravans for 20 days or so. Also, a lot of people don't want to be a personal bodyguard."

No way. Does that mean that I have no choice but to give up finding a bodyguard? ...but it's true I really need someone trustworthy to protect me from all directions; so settling for someone who is suspicious or untrustworthy is out of the question. What am I going to do? And because of that I'm suddenly at a loss.

"That's right, Yamato, how much money are you carrying right now?"

"...I have 30 silver coins from the potions that I sold at the guild."

"What? Just 30 silver coins? .......No, but, maybe.... hmmmm."

Huh? It looks like Melvin-san is worried about something? Did he think that I had more than 30 silver coins? Maybe it's because I didn't sell any of my D rank potions? But even if I sold those, I don't think they would sell for a lot of money because they're at the same rank that Serga can make.

"....Yamato-kun, I have a perfect person that will be your bodyguard, but it will cost you a lot of money."

"If I can cover their salary by making and selling potions then I don't think there would be any problem."

"I see, well then, let's go there first and see them before you decide."

I quickly get up from my seat and I follow Melvin-san to the front door.

"Ah? That's right, Melvin-san, what is the profession of the bodyguard that you would introduce to me?"

"...a slave."


Note:
1. The actual title translates to Protect Everything Up, Down, Left, and Right.