"Oh no!"

After spending a while searching the market, Axel realized one thing. The time showing on the system panel was already past 8 P.M.!

In a rush, he went out, but was welcomed by the sight of the girls already cheering by the bonfire, celebrating another successful defense today.

"Oh, Sir Axel! You're finally here!"

Soon after he arrived, Arianne quickly ran to his side.

"We couldn't find you, so we just finished killing off the zombies on our own." She proudly explained. "Thankfully, we managed to clear them out, but... the stock of bolts for the crossbows and the ballistas is getting low."

Axel sat down on the log set before the bonfire, surrounded by the girls, and nodded.

"Ah, I'll restock them first thing tomorrow," he said. "And you know what? I think those weapons need some maintenance and repair, too, so I'll do that as well."

Hearing his reply, Arianne smiled. "As astute as ever, Sir."

"S-Sir Axel, about the food stored..."

After Arianne, Cherry stepped up next. Although fidgety and shy, she roused her courage to speak up. In the camp, she's the one who's managing the food for everyone, after all.

"T-The quantity is dwindling. At the moment, we only have enough ingredients until tomorrow."

Axel hummed, shocked. "Didn't I set aside a good portion of grains, bread, vegetables, and dried meat?" he asked. "Did we run through those already?"

"S-Sir... We have sixteen mouths to feed, so..."

"...Ah."

Axel facepalmed.

His estimates were for when they used the food sparingly. However, they instead were eating their fill properly. It wasn't a bad thing, but it still messed up Axel's calculation slightly.

"Ok, I'll make a proper food storage building tomorrow and store more food and water there, in rare cases where I'm unreachable."

Just like that, those with concerns to raise talked to him one after another, asking for his input. Some were critical, like food and safety, but most were just a matter of comfort or convenience.

Although it was the first time this happened, Axel made a mental note to do a regular meeting like this, catching up with the camp's state from the others' point of view.

"Lastly, regarding the workshop..." Finally, it was Eve who spoke up. "The first batch of soap is ready. We ask Sir Axel to check them tomorrow for quality inspection."

"Ok. I will."

"...And also, regarding our payment..."

"Hmmm?" Axel paused, hearing the extra bit Eve added. After tilting his head, he remembered what she meant. "Ah! Right, your wages. Don't worry, I won't cheat you all out of it."

Although that's what he said, he was troubled. After all, he had no cash to disburse to them!

'Should I make IOUs from paper, or maybe something like checks?' he thought quickly, before dismissing them.

Both were viable, but not that convenient. After all, they can't use those to buy things worth a fraction of their savings!

Seeing him look like he's constipated, with a deep frown over his lips, a voice came down from overhead.

[Just withdraw your money from the Shop Menu to distribute to them. Why don't you?]

"..."

Axel glared at the source of the voice, Navi, who was right above his head, and sighed. 'It's because you didn't tell me such a function existed!' He wanted to shout at the little penguin, but held back.

Following the tip, he explored the shop panel a bit while under uneasy gazes from all around.

Thankfully, he found the withdrawal function quickly. After tapping it, he was faced with a choice: to withdraw as Colts or as the local currency (Golds). Axel thought for a bit before tapping the second option.

"The daily wage was 5 Silvers, right?" Axel asked. "Then, since it has been five days, that means two golds and five silvers each... times fifteen..."

30 golds is 300,000 Colts; adding 75 silvers, that's 375,000 Colts in total.

He withdrew just that much from his system panel. The next moment, exactly 30 gold coins and 75 silver coins fell to the table, all seemingly sparkling, freshly minted coins.

"T-This much?!" Eve was taken aback. "S-Sir Axel, isn't this way too much? What you pay us for a few days' work is enough to last a family of four a full month!"

"Huh?" Axel tilted his head, puzzled. "But we discussed it before, right? The wage."

"What? No, we didn't..."

"What...?"

"..."

Axel began to think hard before recalling that he "did" promise to discuss the payment for the girls but forgot to "actually" do it! He realized that he had failed at the most basic level and slapped his forehead in remorse.

"Ah... Right, I forgot about it," he lamented. "But anyway, this much is a fair wage for you girls in my mind, so don't feel burdened about it and just receive it."

"B-But..."

"If you don't want it, then just leave your pay behind. Others will scramble for it for sure."

Eve opened her mouth as if about to say something, before shaking her head in silence. "I understand, Sir Axel. Then, please allow me to distribute this to everyone."

Just as she was speaking, a line had already formed beside her. It was almost automatic!

Each of them received two gold coins and five silver coins, earning their smiles. Getting your fair share of pay after a hard day's work is definitely worth celebrating, after all.

It didn't take a minute to finish distributing their pay. Whispers of excitement were heard here and there, with life brimming within their eyes. Axel saw this and smiled.

"Then, since I'm free right now, those who want to buy something from me, just ask. I'll provide it if it's available."

This casual comment from him caused eyes to turn to him, like predators eyeing their prey.

"Then, I want a keg of ale!"

"C-Can I buy time with Sir Axel tonight, if possible...?"

"I want the same thing as Princess Eve has! That fire-breathing staff!"

Various voices were raised, with Arianne's request for ale being the loudest. Axel felt he heard something weird in the middle but paid it no mind in the end.

'I'm definitely just hearing things,' he thought.

"Here's your ale!" Axel withdrew a barrel—bought straight from the shop—and passed it over. "It's one silver!"

"Too cheap!" Arianne gasped in shock. "Then nine more barrels, please!"

"Damn, you plan to drink yourself to death or something?"

Axel chuckled before doing as she requested.

Nine barrels of ale were lined up, looking grand and a bit intimidating. Arianne paid one gold coin for it and was extremely thankful.

"..."

Of course, Axel remained silent that one barrel of ale cost him just 250 Colts. With one silver, you can buy four barrels—a price hike of four times! Thus, he couldn't even imagine Arianne would mutter his price was still "low" instead.

'I really should get a full understanding of item prices in both places soon...'

While watching as Arianne shared her ale with everyone, he prayed in silence.

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