First Encounter
As I headed toward the plaza, a young voice called out from behind.
Excuse me, sir walking up ahead! Just a moment!
Black hair, black hoodie, and a huge, unusually shaped sword... Hmm-hmm, it has to be you!
Just to confirm, are you the Journey Captain of the Savior Party?
Yeah, that's me.
Nice to meet you! I'm Vera, delivering with heart!
A letter has arrived for you, Captain. It's registered mail and requires direct confirmation. The sender is...
Whoa, it's from the Observation Council?!
Wow, getting a letter from someone that high up, you must be a big deal!
I-I wouldn't go that far...
Oh, right, my bad! Didn't mean to hold up someone so important.
Could I get your signature right here, please?
Thank you very much and have a great day! This was Vera, delivering with heart!
Thanks, I appreciate it.
After seeing off the cheerful courier girl, I opened the letter.
...
...?!
I quickly turned around.
But in that short moment, the girl was already a blur in the distance.
Hey, wait up!
Huh?
Eeeh?!
W-was it... a fine notice?! I'm afraid once it's signed for, there's no taking it back...!
You've been accepted into the Journey!
...Huh?
Whaaaat?!
..."This individual failed to respond to two prior Journey notifications and could not be located..."
"Thus, we are resorting to a special method by delivering the candidate directly to you."
Please do not let the courier who delivered this letter get away...
Ehehe, I didn't even realize I got a notice because I haven't been home in a while...
So, are you interested in the Journey?
Of course I am!
But... I'm a freelancer, technically self-employed.
If I leave for Journey training, that means I stop working... and no work means no income.
Freelancers don't get paid time off, you know...
Are you short on money?
Ehehe, I wouldn't say I'm desperate or anything...
But there's something I've been saving up for, no matter what.
A big, shiny cruiser!
A cruiser?
Oh, I should probably explain. Cruisers are special delivery vehicles for couriers.
They're huge and have massive cargo compartments on the back.
Isn't that just a truck?
But it's got thick armor plating, a fully sealed cockpit, a turbocharger, and a steam-boost system!
The high-end models even come with ejector seats, auto-defense turrets, and giant drills to break through obstacles—
Okay, definitely not just a truck.
Ehehe, just talking about it gets my heart racing!
I'm working hard right now so I can buy a decent cruiser one day.
But at this rate, even if I saved all my money, it'd still take me three more years...
You get support money if you complete the Journey.
Support money?
I explained the support money to Vera.
Th-that much?!
Just a sec...
If I stop delivering for a year... factor in a loan... and add the support money...
...Whoa!
Just say the word, Captain! If you pick me, I'll give it everything I've got!
You've already been selected though...
Thank you! I'll do my absolute best!
Our first meeting happened in a bit of a blur.
At least she seemed brimming with enthusiasm...