This week has not been a good week. For one, that plain-looking guy I tried mooching money off of turned out to have some security guards stationed in the alleys. Then as if that wasn't enough, he also turned out to be a noble. Robbed me blind as he left me off in the prison cells. Stingy bastard. I'll think up some kind of revenge plan when I strike it rich some day.
Well, it's not like I'm not used to it. I've been in this situation a few times. I've made debts and enemies out of most business owners in Axel. The prison has practically got a spot reserved for me full-time at this point. Sure, the moss on the walls, the cold winds blowing in through the bars and the weird smell that some previous inmates probably left is a damper on the whole thing but beggars can't be choosers. Especially with the way my financial situation has gone. At least my sentence is pretty much up.
"Hey guardsman, get some actual grub for lunch this time! This slop you call food isn't fit for someone like me," I yell behind the bars. It's actually quite an art pissing the guards off just enough that it gives them a lasting impression. I can probably expect a slightly larger portion after this.
Or so I thought. This guard was probably having a bad day, because I could visibly see that blood vessel in his head pop. It's a good thing I spotted the door opening, that'll make for a good distraction. "Oh, looks like a visitor Mr. Guard! I'm sure you have better priorities to attend to," I announced.
"Hmph, you're lucky that damn law against prisoner violence exists," he replied. What a cocky guy.
To my surprise, the woman at the doorway wasn't the person who usually picks me up but a brunette with huge tits! She's got a gold pin in her hair, a black blouse accentuating her cleavage perf-
Oh wait it's just that brat Yunyun. My disappointment is almost palpable.
Wait no it's not, if she's here to get me out she's needs me for something. And if she needs me for something, that means I can make some cheap bucks! Looks like Eris' fortune smiled upon me today, because I smell money in the not so distant future.
"U-um... Excuse me! Have y-you seen Megumin!?" she almost shouted at the guard. What, so she's not here for me? Guess I'll turn in for a nap then.
It's a little odd that I haven't been picked up yet though. Normally Lynn'd make this one of her first stops when making the rounds, but it's already evening. This doesn't bode too well for the debts I have. I was hoping to sponge some cash off of her as I got released. You've got to make habits out of these things, otherwise you'll always have an empty wallet.
"Oh, so Dust-san is here too..." she said, eventually turning her attention to my cell.
"Hey hey, don't sound too disappointed now," I replied, mentally ignoring how disappointed I was at Yunyun's arrival. "So, you here to lend me some money? Or bust me out?"
"I wish you wouldn't act like I'm a part of your criminal activities!" she asserted. How rude. Friends are supposed to help each other aren't they?
"As much as both you and I hate pinning you two together," the guardsman started, "he has served his sentence. Be a dear and haul that trash out of here, would you little miss?"
Yunyun looked pretty shook at that comment. I can take advantage of that surprise though. "Wow Yunyun, you're a great friend! Got me out of there and everything, why don't we get a treat at a bar!" I exclaimed. Your treat, that is.
"Don't think I'll go along with what you said because you said we're friends!" she yelled.
In the end, we came to the guild's bar anyway.
Seriously, this brat is too undefended against suspicious requests. Someone should take on the duty of training her, because at this rate someone weird is gonna take her away. Good thing I'm such a noble person. Wait no, scratch that. Nobles are usually terrible people.
"Ah, good to be back," I beamed, taking glances at the scantily clad bar mistresses. "Oh, and by the way, I'm broke. I'm fully expecting you to foot the bill."
"Why did I even agree to take you here..." she mumbled.
"Because if you didn't, you'd probably be stuck building card fortresses or playing chess against yourself," I countered. Honestly, it was just sad watching it play out before me and Sir Vanir started working with her. "Life's gonna pass you by if you don't cut loose and actually start trying to make friends, you know?"
"I-I wasn't going to do that!" she yelled again. "And what makes you think I'll take any of your advice!?"
"Because if you get far in life thanks to my advice, you might repay me in huge fortunes!" I exclaimed. Whoops, I let my true thoughts leak out there.
"Uwaaa..." she drawled. Wait, don't look at me like that! What's wrong with wanting a couple thousand coins to do what I want with!? It's your fault for being so unambitious!
The adventurer's guild was just as rowdy as ever. Maybe even more rowdy than usual ever since I got done dealing with that mini destroyer. A motivation sapper is probably one of the more annoying magic concoctions I've had to deal with. Either way, it was business as slightly-better-than usual here at the guild. Wait, where's my party? Keith's a frequent at that shop, and Taylor's got his own appointments, but it's a bit of a surprise Lynn isn't here. Probably found herself some discount tomatoes somewhere.
Ah, tomatoes... Hold in your tears Dust, just don't remember that incident.
"So, what did you go to the prison guards for anyway? It was about the explosion girl, right?" I asked, barely remembering what she said there. Yunyun shifted a bit uncomfortably. Jokes were jokes, but now she had a bit of a worried expression on her face. I guess whatever she wanted at the prison was a bit more important than treating me to dinner, and I refuse to let that slide. What could be more important than helping me recover from jail time?
"Um... you see..." she fumbled. "Megumin went on a quest yesterday and hasn't come back..."
Right, that is pretty worrying. That loli could only cast one spell before falling flat on her ass when I adventured with her. I'm sure Kazuma is able to handle that situation though.
"And also," she continued, "she went along with your party. I-I was hoping you would know something, but you were in jail..."
"What? They left without me!?" I yelled angrily. Damn those guys! What kind of moneymaker did they find that they could leave me out of!? "So, what quest did they take then?"
"I-It was a quest to subjugate a dragon."