The Synthesis Magician

"Th-that comes to... 124,000 yen," the receptionist stammered.

"Thank you very much."

Hah... haha... HAHAHA!

I couldn't help but laugh. Who knew goblin hunting was so lucrative? Breaking the six-figure mark felt surreal.

After hunting non-stop, my Strength F had evolved to Strength E, and my Swordmaster Gift had even made slight progress. However, the road to Sword Saint was still a long one. Over fifty goblins defeated, and Swordmaster'sanalysis had only risen by 3%. Patience would be key.

But now, a new problem loomed: What was I supposed to do with this much money?

"Should I upgrade my equipment first? A proper sword would make a huge difference... but it costs at least 100,000 yen," I muttered, deliberating.

"Or should I hand most of it over to Mikoto for household expenses?"

The practice sword had served well enough, but slashing through enemies was leagues better than bludgeoning them. A new weapon seemed like the logical step.

"Wait, D-Date-kun?"

Startled, I turned to see Aida-san, looking me up and down.

"Good morning, Aida-san."

Her gaze narrowed. "Have you... been training all night?"

Ah, right. My unchanged clothes made it look like I'd been at it since yesterday.

"Well, I might've overdone it a little," I said, scratching my head with a sheepish laugh. It wasn't entirely untrue.

The receptionist who had just processed my magic stone exchange glanced at us, her eyes betraying mild amusement. I had a feeling Aida-san would catch on sooner or later.

"Wait here a moment, Date-kun," Aida-san said suddenly.

"Huh? Oh, sure. I was just about to head home, so I don't mind waiting."

After a short while, Aida-san returned, her usual name badge hanging from her neck. As always, her professionalism was matched by a warmth that seemed to attract geniuses from far and wide.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," she said. "I just wanted to settle something before you left."

"Settle something? But the payment's already been deposited..."

She smiled knowingly, holding up a cash tray.

"Oh, not that. I'm talking about the monster you defeated."

"...Ah."

The Goblin General.

"After questioning everyone on Udota's team, we confirmed that you were the one who took it down. There's a processing fee for dismantling, but the rest of the reward is yours."

With a wink, she set a thick bundle of bills in front of me.

"The Goblin General's magic stone is worth 250,000 yen," she explained. "After deducting a 10% dismantling fee, that leaves you with 225,000 yen."

"Tw-twenty-two... twenty-two... two hundred twenty-five thousand yen?!"

Aida-san chuckled. "It's your accomplishment, so don't hesitate to accept it."

I reached out with trembling hands, my eyes darting around the room before I carefully pocketed the money.

"You don't have to be so paranoid," she teased.

"I-it's just... so much money...!"

"Fufu, well, good job," she said warmly.

Grateful beyond words, I clasped her hands tightly.

"Thank you, Aida-san! Thank you so much!"

Her eyes widened in surprise, a faint blush creeping across her face.

"Uh... um... y-you're welcome, Date-kun... b-but could you, um, let go? Everyone's watching..."

Realizing my mistake, I quickly released her hands.

"S-sorry! I got carried away!"

To break the awkward tension, Aida-san cleared her throat and said, "Oh, right! I almost forgot."

"Forgot what?"

"The disciplinary action for Udota and his team has been finalized. As you were involved, you're entitled to know the details. Do you want to hear it?"

"Yes, please."

According to Aida-san, the Talent Dispatch Agency had handed down a one-month suspension to Udota Masaki (Warrior), Hasegawa Ikkei (Archer), Fukada Hibiki (Mage), and Tanaka Go (Healer).

Their crimes included:

Assaulting a teammate (me).Submitting an incomplete mission report.Abandoning a teammate during an active mission.

While Aida-san was frustrated by the leniency, the primary reason for the suspension instead of harsher punishment was simple—I survived.

If the Goblin General had killed me, they would have been sentenced to forced labor under the agency's jurisdiction.

Still, their suspension would carry heavy consequences.

The news of their misconduct would spread quickly. With no income for a month and a tarnished reputation, they would struggle to find teammates or receive work referrals from the agency. The road to regaining trust would be steep, if not impossible.

"Well... what should I do with this?"

I patted my pocket, feeling the weight of the day's earnings:

East Dorm cleaning job: 10,000 yenMagic stone exchange: 124,000 yenGoblin General reward: 225,000 yen

Total: 359,000 yen.

How was I supposed to explain this fortune to Mikoto?