The next afternoon, at the Labor Dispatch Center.
【System Weekly Commission Completion Rate → 69%】
Lin Gui handed the last letter to the only recipient who had come by that afternoon.
Right on time, the system's prompt echoed in his mind.
【Ding! System Weekly Commission Completion Rate → 70%. The Weekly Commission has been completed.】
【System Weekly Commission Completion Rate → 71%. The Weekly Commission has been completed.】
【...】
【Details: 48/54 of the 54 deliverable family letters have been completed.】
【Distributing rewards...】
【You have completed the delivery of 48 quest letters. You will receive 48 random Novice Magic spells.】
【Would you like to begin the draw?】
Hearing the system's query in his mind, Lin Gui merely curled his lips.
He kept his head down and continued tidying up the remaining hundred or so letters on the desk.
The quest completion notification meant that the recipients of the remaining six letters were likely no longer in this world.
Since he had waited all afternoon only to deliver a single letter, it was time to prepare for his return journey.
He patted his bulging travel pack, which was filled with heavy reply letters.
Slinging the pack over his shoulder, Lin Gui turned to leave.
“You're leaving? Why not stay another night? I still want to eat your cooking.”
Theia's voice carried an obvious reluctance to see him go.
Especially after tasting that unexpectedly delicious meal last night.
At first, she had been highly skeptical of Lin Gui's culinary skills, as it was rare to see adventurers cook.
But afterward, she had swept the table clean, devouring every single dish.
She reflexively licked her lips.
It was as if she was still savoring the wonderful, lingering flavors from last night.
More importantly, Lin Gui was her only friend.
If he left, she would return to a lonely life where she had no one to talk to.
Lin Gui summoned his giant lizard, secured the heavy pack into the saddlebag, and looked back.
“Then why not come with me? Join my delivery adventure group.”
“...”
Theia shrugged, a helpless, bitter smile appearing on her face.
“I... would still like to live a few more years.”
Last night, she had also suggested forming an adventure group with Lin Gui.
But he was clearly determined to walk the path of a mailman to the very end.
And he wouldn't limit himself to just New Covenant City and Caran City.
According to him,
as long as there were feelings that needed to be delivered, he would eventually go even to the fortress of the Demon God.
Upon learning of this nearly suicidal future goal,
Theia had tried to dissuade him for a long time. Not only did it have no effect, but she was almost persuaded by him instead.
“Alright then, take care. If I pass by here in the future, I'll come visit you,” Lin Gui said.
His invitation for Theia to join him was sincere. Her eyes, which could perceive danger, would be incredibly useful to him.
However, he had only brought it up half-jokingly.
If she actually agreed, he would probably have to dissuade her by mentioning the "pitiable pay and heaven-defying risk factor."
He urged the giant lizard forward. Just as he was about to cross the threshold,
Lin Gui suddenly turned his head and said to Theia with a light smile:
“Then farewell, Theia Windrunner, my friend.”
Theia's long ears twitched sensitively, and her eyes widened.
This was the first time Lin Gui had called her by her full name, and the first time he had explicitly referred to her as a "friend."
She suddenly rushed out. Watching Lin Gui's receding back, she waved her hand vigorously and shouted:
“You must stay alive!! Lin Gui!!!”
In the distance, Lin Gui made a gesture she couldn't understand as a response.
...
【...】
【...】
【Cough, cough~】
【So, Host, do you want to draw the 48 random Novice Magic spells?】
After turning through several deep alleys and following the clues provided by the laborers,
Lin Gui arrived at a secluded tailor shop.
Pushing open the door, a woman wearing an old apron looked up at the sound.
At first glance, Lin Gui noticed the deformity of her hand.
This was Marina, the long-lost wife of the item shop owner.
Before leaving Caran City, Lin Gui had two letters that he had to deliver personally.
One was the suicide note of the adventure group leader who had been brutally killed by the Demon Hero.
The other was from the item shop owner, and the envelope also contained several hundred gold coins.
The dispatch center was crowded with all kinds of people. If anyone with ill intentions saw this, it would likely bring lethal danger to Marina.
He had to be cautious.
“Hello, esteemed adventurer. Is there anything I can help you with?”
Marina bowed respectfully, a trace of imperceptible fear in her gaze.
Her small tailor shop was in a secluded location, and her customers were mostly nearby laborers and farmers.
The sudden visit of this unfamiliar big shot made her feel uneasy.
Lin Gui placed a heavy pouch of gold coins on the counter.
He then pulled out a letter and handed it to Marina, explaining:
“This is a... divorce letter and... compensation from your husband in New Covenant City, Carlo.”
Marina was stunned, and then her eyes lit up. She said to Lin Gui:
“Ah! You must be that mail-delivering adventurer from the slums!”
Lin Gui knit his brows in confusion.
He didn't know that his actions had already spread throughout the entire underclass of Caran City.
People were full of curiosity about this mage who risked his life to deliver letters, and they speculated about his motives.
Some said he did it to collect bounties from each household.
Those six hundred-odd letters, at one gold coin per family, would amount to a full six hundred gold coins.
But this theory was quickly disproven.
Delivery commissions were not uncommon in the Adventurer's Guild.
However, most were exclusive to nobles, starting at a minimum reward of a thousand gold coins, and only for a few letters.
Meanwhile, Lin Gui didn't even charge for the reply letters.
According to him, the families in New Covenant City had already paid for them.
After thinking it over, everyone ultimately agreed on one thing.
He was a soft-hearted do-gooder, a breed nearly extinct in this dark age.
Judging by his casual, down-to-earth way of talking with the laborers,
he seemed just like a boy next door...
This only solidified everyone's opinion.
In any case, after recognizing Lin Gui,
Marina visibly let out a sigh of relief and let her guard down.
She tore open the envelope. As she read its contents, her expression gradually turned sorrowful.
Carlo poured out his feelings of powerlessness in the letter.
He confessed that the adventurers of New Covenant City were unable to escort an ordinary person to Caran City.
He feared they would never see each other again in this lifetime.
Reading up to this point, Marina wiped the tears from her eyes.
Lin Gui stood quietly to the side, waiting in silence.
【...Dear Host.】
【At least give me a response.】
【If you look down on the Novice Magic rewards, you can also check out the bonus rewards. Those directly grant Mana points.】
“Even if the quest isn't fully completed, there are still bonus rewards?”
Lin Gui was somewhat surprised. He had originally thought he had to complete the quest one hundred percent.
【...Host, you have already done an exceptional job.】
【As long as you complete seventy percent of the target, the bonus quest is considered passed.】
【As for the undelivered envelopes in the Weekly Commission, it is actually impossible to deliver them anymore.】
“Is that so? Then let's wait a bit longer.”
【???】
【Host, what are you still waiting for?】
【Shouldn't you be happily checking out your first quest rewards?】
【These are rewards, you know!】
【Besides, if you don't claim the rewards, I can't start the next Weekly Commission, retrieve the reply letters you collected, and issue the commission quests!】
“Every little bit counts. Isn't there still one last reply letter here?”
Wiping away her tears, Marina put away the letter and said to Lin Gui with deep respect:
“My apologies, Lord Lin Gui. Please wait a moment longer. I will write a reply right away.”
“No rush. Take your time, write as much as you'd like.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
Forty minutes later, Lin Gui received the final reply letter, along with a payment of one gold coin.
Marina had originally wanted to pay Lin Gui half of the gold coins according to standard custom.
Out of her own personal wishes, she had even taken some extra out of her private savings.
But Lin Gui simply shook his head and refused.
Taking only a single gold coin, he left the tailor shop.
“Alright, System, let's draw the rewards. It's time to take these letters back to New Covenant City.”
Rate on N.U.
