Fate
Easy peasy!
So, you want me to take care of the giant slime hiding in the back street?
Exactly. Make sure it's handled. Properly.
I had to really beg Claire for this high-tier quest.
She shut me down at first—said only proven Savior Parties could take it.
So I may have... exaggerated how "crucial" this is for the Journey's training.
If we pull this off, we can wipe out your entire debt in one shot!
Haha, People love to assume stuff.
That oracles like me are totally useless in combat.
Sure, maybe that's true for your average fortune tellers.
But me...? The chosen wielder of the Moon Staff?!
The one who sees the future of destruction? I know how to deliver some destruction too!
This quest will be over before you can blink!
I couldn't help but stare at the glowing orb forming in Luna's hands.
Was it just me, or was that thing a little too big?
Haaaaah!
KABOOM!!
With a single spell, Luna vaporized the slime... and the entire back street along with it.
The reward we were supposed to get was wiped out, rerouted to "collateral damage compensation."
Huh? Looking for day labor?
Well, we are short on hands, but...
Are you sure about this? It's going to be tough.
She doesn't exactly look built for manual work.
Don't worry. She needs to learn what honest work feels like.
Also... I heard you pay a month in advance, right?
A whole month?
...Whoa! Impressive!
I like it! Kids these days avoid work like the plague, and you two are asking for more?
Alright, you're hired!
Start over there—clear out all the weeds. Shouldn't be too hard.
Alright, you heard it, right?
How cruel... to make a delicate oracle like me pull weeds...
But hey, if the Captain wants it, it's my job to follow.
So, all I need to do is yank out every last one of those weeds, right?
That's right. Work hard and you should finish within... a week.
Honestly, doing physical labor using only your physicality is such a limited mindset.
Breaking free from those limits? That's the duty of a true oracle.
Why rip them out one by one... when you can just wither them with a little spell...!
She waved her staff.
A cloud of ominous purple mist spread out, instantly turning the weeds to ash.
Fast, sure. Efficient, definitely...
But... does that count as "honest sweat"?
HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
Ah, perfect timing!
I just demonstrated how Lady Luna can revolutionize hard labor with a single...
MAGIC?!
The forest beyond this lot is filled with trees that are sensitive to mana!
Wait... what?
That fog of yours nuked the whole forest!
You think we were pulling weeds by hand for fun?!
You're fired! Both of you!
Tips for delivering mails?
Hmm... Always double-check the address, tighten your shoelaces ahead of time, and drink water every 15 minutes?
Ehehe... after sorting things out, it doesn't sound like much.
But I think that's the charm of deliveries. There's no shortcuts—just honest work that pays off in kind.
Well... but I got one tip for you all! A pro-tip from your senior to a rookie courier!
Captain, your quest covers districts 32 through 38...
Start from here, this route should give you the shortest path!
Good luck! I'll head out first!
I turned and stared at Luna.
Luna.
O-okay.
No magic. Do the job properly.
Sweat.
R-right... do it properly... s-sweat for it...
Luna and I walked the streets delivering letters until the sun set.
Nghoooh... I-I'm dying...
This is... the last one...
Good work, Luna.
I was worried, but Luna stuck with it surprisingly well.
I mean... she did lie down in the road yelling out "It's too much!" more than a few times...
But you know, encouraging your members and keep them moving is a Captain's job.
Now then, shall we go collect today's payment... hm?
H-hold on a sec!
D-did you already finish delivering all the letters?!
Yep. All done.
R-really...?
There was a clerical error at the Courier Guild!
The letters you received were actually for the district on the opposite side...
What? You don't mean...?
Yeah... we're going to have to retrieve all the ones you delivered.
Some people might've already opened theirs...
So... sorting this out could take a while...
How does that even happen?
We double-checked every address before delivering.
There's no way different districts have identical ones...
Well... This is a planned urban zone. The only thing that separates this area from the other side is the zip code.
The street addresses are completely identical, so you can't tell just by reading the details...
Even so!
If just one person had said they got the wrong letter... Huh?
Now that I think about it... We didn't hand a single letter in person today.
Everyone was out, so we just dropped them in the mailboxes.
Can I really just chalk that up to coincidence?
Luna... this is...
...
Ha... Haha...
Hahahahaha...
...
It's fine, Captain.
This is what we call fate.
Fate...? You can't be serious...
I never saw a future where I pay off my debt by working hard.
I knew it... but I was thinking if...
Ahh... It's always the same.
No. There has to be another way...!
I'm sorry, Captain.
This kind of thing... It's not really fun for me.
...
Now do you get it?
There's no joy for someone like me, who can see the future.
Unless, maybe... it's that one final gamble at the casino? Where even I don't know the outcome.
...
So yeah... I think I'll go take a little break.
Don't worry too much. It happens all the time.
Where are you going?
You know where.
To waste another day... on a boring, meaningless life.