“Are you sure you want me to have this?” asked Kevin. He held up the quartz key to the mysterious laboratory that the group ransacked two days ago.

“You asked that yesterday, too,” said Jagna.

All five of them were sitting around the campfire as Fili cooked dinner. It was a stew made with rabbits that Tomo had hunted, some spices, and roots. It smelled delicious.

"Well, that's because this thing is precious," said Kevin.

"We've explained this to you before," said Tomo. "To be honest, all of us feel a little guilty that we could only give you two percent of our share. But in order to rank up and deal with the politics involved, we need money now more than ever. I wish that I could give you more of my share. I just can't." The other Mountain Fingers soberly nodded.

With a rueful tone, Fili said, "George had to talk us into taking a scholar because all the money in the world would be worthless if we died from a trap. It's pretty ironic; there weren't any traps, but we still would have died without our scholar." The other members of the Mountain Fingers nodded again at this.

Kevin could acknowledge intellectually that they were probably right, but he still felt a little bit embarrassed. He twisted the key around in his hands and said, "It just feels maybe like too much." Even though the Mountain Fingers had looted the ancient structure, it was still a large, well-preserved stone building, and still even had magic power!

And for the third time, George said, "It isn't. Not only are you not being compensated enough, and we all agree with that, but there's nothing left in the ruins we explored other than that strange orb. I think it was wise that we left it alone. But if any of us were to ever come back and claim it, and make any sort of money off of it, it should be you. Not only because of the debt that we owe you, but also because of its nature. Whatever that thing is, it is obviously powerful. It is still energizing parts of the ruins, and it was obviously what the ruin guardian had been drawing power from. In fact, there is a chance that whoever goes back in the future to revisit the site will find another ruin guardian that has made the doorstep of the laboratory its new home."

Kevin nodded slowly at this. It was true that he'd heard the explanation before, but every time the adventuring team went over it, he felt the logic settle deeper into his mind. It was strange that he was having such a hard time accepting this kindness–actually, not even kindness–honor. In his second life, the concept of honor and repaying debts hadn't exactly been foreign; in fact, it's how he lived his life.

Maybe I just haven't been around many other people for too long in this life, he thought to himself. Most of his company, his entire life on this world, had been in the company of dragons. If a dragon gave him a gift, it was never much of a big deal. A gift from a dragon was easily accepted because dragons were so old, so knowledgeable, and so rich. Maybe part of the reason he was having trouble accepting the kindness of the Mountain Fingers was the recognition that they were struggling to grow and change just like he was.

With one final nod to himself, he pocketed the key and told himself he wouldn't mention it again and risk disrespecting his new friends.

***

That night, like every night since the group had left the ruins, Kevin examined the strange book that he'd taken as part of his share. Now he was fairly sure of two things: it definitely had plenty in it about alchemy and potion making, and it was also a journal of sorts. Not quite a diary, but it also hadn't been written to ever be seen by any other eyes but the author’s. Kevin was burning with curiosity about who had written the thing. It was so old he likely wouldn't recognize the name, but he probably could have done research to find out who it was. One thing he was sure of is that the original owner of this book had been a genius. No, a genius's genius. Sometimes their thoughts moved so fast, even in words on the page, Kevin needed to go back and reread a passage multiple times to follow along.

Another interesting aspect of the book was that there were multiple alchemy discussions and recipes for various potions and things, but he wasn't even sure if some of them had any utility other than building blocks for something greater. Because even though the translation was imperfect and he hadn't had much time to work on it yet, it was becoming clear that the entire tome was dedicated to crafting a few potions. All the pieces of research, the various potions described, seemed notable, and difficult to craft in various ways. He wasn't one hundred percent sure yet, but he felt fairly certain that most of the other potions written about in the book were being developed just to either build skills or build potion…parts towards the ultimate goal of the researcher. It was fascinating, and the entire time back to Clearmine, Kevin kept translating and eagerly memorizing everything that he was able to decipher.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

***

Returning to Clearmine, the first real civilization that Kevin had seen since leaving his parents’ mountain, was a somewhat surreal experience. He would have never expected to be hit so hard like this after some time in the wilderness since he lived in a dragon cave for decades. There was a simultaneous feeling of something alien but also coming home the moment he set foot in the city again.

Jagna grinned at him, her bottom tusks protruding a bit with mirth. "Head kind of going sideways now that you're back to the city, huh?" Kevin mutely nodded. The ork woman said, "It's the same for all of us when we start adventuring. I don't think I'll ever quite get used to it all the way either, but it's definitely less of a feeling now than it used to be."

"Speak for yourself," said Fili. "I never feel any kind of discomfort anywhere." Everyone promptly ignored the chuckling dwarf.

Kevin got George's attention and waved for him to slow down as he ran to one side and bought meat on a stick, his favorite snack in the city.

"Good idea," said Jagna.

"I will get one for myself as well," said Tomo.

A few moments later, Kevin was heading towards the area of the city with the guilds, while he and all his new friends munched on their grilled meat on a stick.

"Why have I never tried this before?" said Fili. "This is delicious."

"I find it quite satisfying," agreed George.

When the Magi Guild came into view, Kevin had expected the Mountain Fingers to peel off and head towards the Adventure Guild, but contrary to his expectations, they followed him all the way into the lobby. Then at the front of the counter of the Magi Guild, George explained that they had declared two percent of their own share, each, to go to Kevin.

As he listened to the conversation, Kevin came to understand that as soon as the Mountain Fingers sold what they’d found through their own guild, his share would automatically be sent to the Magi Guild to be delivered to him. Apparently, though necessity, the guilds were in close contact, and no matter what their difficult relationships might be with each other, the flow of money was sacred. Or at least that was the feeling Kevin was getting from the back and forth.

Eventually, the Magi Guild receptionist even had all four adventurers fill out affidavits giving sworn testimony to Kevin's effectiveness and professionalism. After that, they all bid him farewell, shaking his hand or clapping his back. Tomo first, then Jagna and Fili gave him a quick hug before the adventurers left the guild.

Kevin wasn't quite sure what to say, so he just stood in front of the desk until the receptionist looked up and asked him to stay in the lobby for a while. Kevin nodded and made his way over to one of the uncomfortable-looking sofas. He waited about ten minutes until the receptionist, a woman he recognized named Gessa, came out to him in the waiting area. She said, "Kevin, I've sent all the paperwork up higher, and the decision has come down to make you a B-rank Scholar of the Magi Guild. Congratulations. Probably…don’t expect a promotion like this to happen again, especially to A-rank. Things like this have happened before, but it's extremely rare, and it's usually only when a new Magi Guild member also has a background in one of the other major guilds."

"Like the Adventuring Guild or the Mercenary Guild?" Kevin asked.

"Exactly." The woman held out her hand and said, "Please give me your guild card, and I'll make the changes."

Silently, Kevin handed over his ID and then settled in to wait again. Part of him was somewhat surprised there wasn't more to do about him ranking up, not even a ceremony, but the larger part of him was relieved.

Finally, another ten minutes later, Gessa returned and handed Kevin his updated card. "Congratulations on your new rank," she said with a genuine smile. "If even half of what the Mountain Fingers say is true, you deserve it. However, we discreetly used truth-finding methods while interviewing them, and we were able to corroborate much of their story with your original test results. This is not the absolutely fastest anyone has ever achieved B-rank in the Magi Guild, but it is highly irregular."

"Uh, thanks," said Kevin. "So, about that money..."

Gessa nodded seriously and said, "All of your remuneration will be delivered to where you are staying. Do you wish to still register your place of residence as the inn?"

"Yes, that's right," said Kevin. "Thank you."

Gessa nodded, and Kevin left the guild.

As soon as he reached the inn, he got hit by what felt like a solid wall of crying, celebrating, or otherwise happy goblins. Kevin ended up drinking so much that night he almost forgot everything that had happened. Almost. The next morning, with a wince through his hangover, he remembered singing “Barbie Girl,” in English, to a crowded common room.

Just shoot me now! he thought.

Within the next two days, he got paid. His new Magi Guild ranking opened enough doors in the city that he was able to secure jobs for all of the goblins he'd rescued on the way to Clear Mind. They would be working in what was effectively a crude shoe factory. The connection, subsequent conversation, and job offers had come through extremely organically while Kevin visited the Magi guild to fill out a questionnaire.

The only problem had been how the goblins might react. They could reject the job offers.

He'd been a little worried about telling them since he thought they would be disappointed or even refuse. But against his expectations, every single one of the goblins had been overjoyed and celebrated. That night, they all got Kevin drunk again and wouldn't take no for an answer.

So of course, it was in that state, on that night, that an official messenger from the city mayor found Kevin and delivered an official summons to dinner the next night.