First Quest
Alright... so what am I supposed to do first?
I don't really get it, but they said it's my job to train Saviors.
Guess I should find out if there's any kind of training ground or equipment I can use.
Oh! Did you say training ground?!
Of course it's available for rent, human!
This horned girl is Scarlet.
She's in charge of renting out equipment and spaces here at Candle Square.
Then, I'd like to rent one...
Excellent decision, human!
To become a proper Savior, one must sweat and roll in the dirt daily!
Hold on—I had a price list here somewhere...
Price list...?
Ah! Here it is!
Let's see, renting just the training grounds will cost you... this much.
But if you take the equipment package, you get a discount!
You charge money?!
Of course I do! Do you think anything in the human world comes free?!
Even I, a proud and mighty Dragon, understand that much!
...
They expect me to pay to train for saving the world?
It's ridiculous the more I think about it... but the truth is—I'm broke.
Wait... wasn't Asherah from some kind of rich family...?
...Huh? What is it, Captain?
No, forget it. I'm not doing something that scummy.
She's my responsibility now.
Is there... maybe some kind of part-time job?
Part-time job?
Hmm, I'm not so sure about that...
Wait, are you low on funds, human?
Yeah, we're a brand new Savior Party, so...
Ah! I knew it!
Brings back memories.
Back when I first descended into the human world, I was penniless.
Before I landed this job at Candle Square, I went an entire month drinking only water! Wahahaha!
A Dragon, huh.
If a human did that... they'd be dead...
Anyway, seeing you two really reminds me of myself back in the day.
Come here, come closer.
Technically this is against the rules, but...
Since it's your first time—I'll secretly let you use it for free.
Really?! Thank you so much!
K-keep your voice down!
If she hears about this—!
Scarlet!
Hiiieeeek!!
How many times have I told you?
You are not allowed to arbitrarily discount Candle Square's official rates.
B-but they said they didn't have any money...
They've got potential! I thought I'd just... help them out a little...
Help them out a little?
Hiiieeeek!
Scarlet, the rental fee barely covers basic maintenance costs.
If you really want to waive that too, then we can start by cutting your daily rations of snacks and pancakes.
H-how could you say such a horrible thing!
Without your pancakes, Claire, I might collapse from hunger!
Please... anything but that!
Scarlet ended up getting chewed out by Claire—for a long time.
*Sigh* So you're short on funds.
I'd like to help, but rules are rules.
Instead, how about taking on a [quest]?
A quest?
Yes. In fact, most Savior Party activity revolves around this system.
You can take on various quests registered here at Candle Square and earn rewards for completing them.
Ah, right. This kind of setup... I'm familiar with it.
Our first quest?! My heart's already pounding!
This is it, Captain! This is where our legend begins!
Let's see, something that's appropriate...
Here it is.
Would you like to take a look?
Come on! Read it!
Monsters in the ancient ruin? A spy hidden in NOA? Western Disaster Zone expedition?
I bet an epic adventure is waiting for us!
I looked at the title of the quest form, leaving Asherah to her excited rambling behind me.
..Scammer capture?!
To meet the client, Asherah and I left the city and headed toward the outskirts.
The wide road that had been packed with traffic gradually narrowed, and fewer and fewer people passed us by.
At the end of a narrow alley—so dark even sunlight couldn't slip through—we finally reached our destination.
[Happy Smile Workshop]. This place's owner is the client.
We stood in silence, staring at the building in front of us.
Cables, gears, and strange mechanical parts clung to its exterior like ivy, completely covering the structure.
Ahaha... the place has... a lot of personality.
As we hesitated in front of the cluttered, machine-covered entrance...
...A pile of mechanical junk by the door rustled. Then, two small cats wearing smiling masks popped up and stared.
Kyaaah! Wha—
Wait, are those... cats?!
A closer look revealed thick stitches running down their sides.
...Dolls?
Dolls?! But they're moving?!
The two stuffed cats approached Asherah, their steps stiff and mechanical.
Attention! At ease!
Attention!
First guests of the day! Welcome!
Welcome! First guests of the day!
Uh...?
Thanks...? For the welcome?
Please select a service!
Option one: Crafting quest!
Option two: Repair quest!
Option three: Comedy appreciation!
...
Wait, uh... we're actually here to meet the workshop owner...
Please select a service!
Option one: Crafting quest!
Option two: Repair quest!
Option three: Comedy appreciation!
U-uh... Option one?
...
...
Guess that was the wrong answer?
Th-then... Option three?
Repeating question. Were the jokes performed by Meowbot No. 1 and No. 2 amusing?
If so, please provide detailed feedback on how amusing they were.
Um... feedback?
Collected feedback is used to refine and improve Meowbot comedic routines.
A girl in yellow handed us a sheet filled top to bottom with evaluation criteria, speaking in a bizarrely mechanical tone.
Which part made you laugh the most?
At approximately what second did you first start laughing?
And... h-hang on!
There's over fifty questions here! Are we supposed to fill all this out?!
...Cooperation requested.
Upon completion, you will receive a 2.5% discount coupon for use at Happy Smile Workshop.
Additionally, one free repair quest will be—
We're not here to take a quest, but...
We're here to resolve a quest.
R-right!
So... you're the one who sent the scammer capture quest, right?
The owner of [Happy Smile Workshop]...
[Smile].
...
...Positive.