The rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed through the chamber.
Einar and Jonas turned their heads in unison, their conversation momentarily interrupted.
Tauriel had returned, and beside her stood Laura, clutching a small leather pouch.
Einar's lips curled into a smirk as he leaned slightly toward Jonas.
"Looks like our materials have arrived."
Jonas nodded, his expression eager.
"Now we can talk about your adventures fighting those monsters."
Einar tilted his head, his smirk widening.
"Now, now! That won't do. I'd rather listen to your good deeds."
Jonas scratched the back of his head, looking away in embarrassment.
"I haven't done that much. I'm still new to this job."
A sharp cough interrupted their exchange.
Laura had stepped forward, drawing their attention.
"Mr. Jonas, please check this pouch. All the creatures we have gathered are inside."
Jonas rose from his seat and accepted the pouch with a subtle glance toward Einar.
Holding it carefully, he closed his eyes and placed his fingers at the mouth of the bag. Letting the residual energy from the pouch seep into his mind.
Letting him know about the contents of the pouch.
A moment of silence followed.
Then—
Jonas's eyes snapped open, wide as a shocked goblin.
His entire body stiffened.
When he finally spoke, his voice stammered with disbelief.
"You… hunted this many creatures… in just one month?"
The horror in his expression was unmistakable.
And he wasn't the only one.
Tauriel, who had been standing slightly behind Laura, involuntarily took a step back.
The sheer shock on Jonas's face had made her uneasy.
Einar, on the other hand, simply shrugged.
"Yeah. I'm a mortal, but a slightly strong one."
Jonas's eye twitched.
"No! No, no, no! That's impossible for a normal mortal. Are you awakened, Einar?"
Einar's response was a boisterous laugh.
"Believe me when I say I'm a mortal. I have no reason to lie, do I?"
Jonas hesitated. His mind resisted the explanation, yet he found no flaw in Einar's logic.
With visible struggle, he accepted the reasoning, albeit with great reluctance.
Still, there were too many questions left unanswered.
Shaking his head, Jonas cleared his throat and moved on.
"Einar, your previous debt was around 10,000 gold. But with the addition of these monster carcasses, that margin will be reduced to… nothing."
Einar's subtle smile remained.
Jonas continued, though his tone grew sheepish.
"And now… I need to pay a grand total of 5,000 gold myself."
His shoulders slumped as he let out a sigh.
"I'm in your debt now."
He sulked slightly, realizing how quickly their positions had reversed.
Einar's smirk darkened.
"You don't need to do that."
Jonas's brows furrowed.
"What do you mean?"
Einar gestured toward the sofa once more.
"Like I said earlier, I want to help you. And besides, if we want to continue this relationship, we need an excuse—am I wrong?"
Jonas hesitated before a small smile formed.
"You aren't wrong. There would be complications if I kept in contact after the debt was fully cleared."
Einar's eyes gleamed knowingly.
"See? I'm kinda smart too."
Jonas chuckled, shaking his head in amusement.
But Laura—
From the sidelines, she was watching the exchange with suspicion.
Her lips pursed into a thin line.
'What is this bastard plotting now?'
There was no way Einar was simply helping Jonas out of kindness.
Something didn't add up.
She studied his expression intensely, trying to read him.
But all she could see was genuine honesty.
Her heart faltered.
'Is he… really trying to help him?'
Then—
Einar glanced at her—sneakily.
His once-amused expression shifted.
His scarlet eyes darkened, turning into the same soulless gaze from the previous day.
A silent warning.
A single message:
'Don't interfere.'
Laura gulped.
A chill crawled up her spine.
Her instincts screamed at her to leave.
Picking up the hem of her dress, she turned on her heels and ran.
Leaving Tauriel alone in shock.
However, just as she was disappearing down the hall—
"Laura."
Einar's voice called out.
She froze.
"Get us something to eat and drink."
Still gripping her dress, she nodded wordlessly and hurried off.
...
Einar coughed into his palm, then turned back to Jonas.
"Now, let's get back to the main topic. You earn reputation points by advertising, right?"
Jonas nodded.
"Great. Then we'll advertise these monster carcasses through you. Every time someone buys them, you gain reputation points."
Jonas's eyes lit up, but then hesitated.
"You're right about that, Einar… but don't you think this is cheating?"
Einar rested his chin on his hand, his voice soft and persuasive.
"No. I don't think this is cheating. I'm simply returning a friend's help—nothing more. Would you refuse a friend's honest help?"
Jonas's eyes shimmered slightly.
"No… I wouldn't," pausing he immediately added next. "But even if you do that. I won't get promoted as I would another realm's reputation."
Einar's smirk widened.
"See? Then let me do the same for you. Besides, this benefits me too. You'll be helping me sell my merchandise."
Jonas nodded firmly.
"Yeah… you're right. It'll help you too."
Einar's smile broadened.
"Good. And about the second realm's reputation… do you have any ongoing advertisements?"
Jonas wiped at his slightly teary eyes before answering.
"Yes. There's an emergency request from a nearby kingdom. They're under attack by bug-like insectoids."
Einar's expression darkened.
He placed a hand on his chin, voice heavy with regret.
"I would have helped… but I have no way to leave. The portals were destroyed by my own people due to my incompetence."
Jonas's heart twisted.
Seeing his friend lamenting over past mistakes… it made something inside him stir.
"But… I have a way to move."
Reaching into his ring, he pulled out an orb-like object.
It was the size of a grown man's palm, with a translucent, foggy core.
Jonas carefully placed it toward Einar.
"This is a Sporb. It allows inter-realm travel. Take it—it's my gift to you, as a friend."
Einar shook his head.
"Jonas… you don't have to buy friendship. I can't accept this just because we're friends."
Jonas stood up and firmly placed the orb into Einar's hands.
"Just take it. If you really see me as a friend, accept it."
Einar paused.
Then—
A subtle smile touched his lips.
"…If you say so."
He gripped the orb lightly.
"Then I suppose… I should go help those in distress."
A moment of silence passed.
Then Einar blinked.
"…Wait. How do I actually use this thing?"