Learning?

"But what could I do? I couldn't exactly go over there and clean for you, could I?"

Thinking about his situation, Lynch asked worriedly.

The Nighthawks had recruited Klein because he had studied history. What about him?

His job at the import-export company sounded respectable—he was a clerk—but that was only because the original owner of his body had taught himself to read. Among people who couldn't even write a single word, that counted as quite an accomplishment.

But surely there weren't many Nighthawks who couldn't read?

What would they need an ordinary clerk like him for?

As a mascot?

"That's something you'll have to work toward. I hope you can get into Tingen University and graduate within five years. During that time, you'll study while drawing a salary and help out with whatever tasks you can manage. If you can't meet that goal, you'll have to leave the Nighthawks."

For the first time, Dunn wore an expression of schadenfreude.

Lynch felt as if the sky had fallen.

Study?

He'd graduated years ago, and now they wanted him to study?

"I looked into your background. You learn quickly, and you taught yourself two languages. That's an impressive talent. Do you really want to waste it? Don't you want to make up for the regret of never having gone to school?"

No, not at all!

Lynch wanted to shout that out loud.

But when Dunn mentioned his weekly pay, he immediately caved.

"Our salary is two pounds and ten soli a week, plus another ten soli as hazard pay. That makes three pounds a week."

Lynch lifted his head. "I'm willing! I'm willing to work hard for the Nighthawks!"

That was life, after all!

What was the point of living if you didn't work hard?

"Don't rush into it. Think it over. Once you agree, you'll be stepping into a very dangerous world. Joining us doesn't mean high pay and great benefits. You'll also have to live with the fear that danger could strike at any time."

Dunn was right, but Lynch didn't care.

Being an ordinary person in this world was just as dangerous.

Besides, he wasn't exactly an ordinary person.

Still, if he told Dunn now that he'd made up his mind, Dunn might think he was being impulsive. Better to go with Klein later. At least they could look out for each other.

Thinking of Klein, Lynch noticed that Dunn was already explaining the job's conditions to him.

Klein would get the same salary as Lynch and work as a clerk.

They wouldn't know exactly what the job involved until they officially joined. Dunn had only emphasized how dangerous the world of Beyonders was.

"All right. I need to take you back. Get in the carriage! You can think it over some more; there's no rush. If you agree, go to the Hound Tavern on Bessek Street and find the owner. Tell him you'd like to buy his mercenary squad a drink."

By the time Klein and Lynch returned to the house, Dunn had already driven away.

"What do you think? Are you going to work there?"

Klein turned to Lynch, asking for his opinion. He hadn't made up his mind yet, but Lynch seemed to have already decided.

"Of course I'm willing. Three pounds a week means I can move out of the place I've been renting and get an apartment on Daffodil Street. It has its own washroom, so I won't have to crowd in with the other tenants every day. There's a separate kitchen, too, and I could even hire a maid. Just thinking about it sounds so much more comfortable than things are now!"

Klein might still be worried about the risks, but Lynch wasn't concerned at all.

He remembered that the most dangerous thing in Tingen in the original story was the divine descent Lanevus had brought about.

But that could be avoided. If he took the day off or went out on a mission, he'd be fine.

After Klein and Leonard, those two with protagonist templates, left, wouldn't he be able to thrive in Tingen?

He had nothing to worry about.

"What about you?"

He asked Klein again, but Klein shook his head.

"I don't know. I need to think it over. A lecturer's job at the university is safe, and it's easy."

Klein muttered, but Lynch knew he'd eventually choose to join the Beyonder team.

He'd say he didn't want to, but in the end he'd run farther than anyone.

"Take some time to think about it. There's no need to hurry. You can decide whenever you're ready."

Lynch casually reassured Klein, then pushed open the door to Klein's room.

He saw Melissa standing by the door, her hand raised as if she'd been about to open it.

"Sorry. I was looking for Klein and couldn't find him, so I came to knock on your door. It opened, but I didn't mean to come in."

Melissa looked embarrassed.

It was Klein's room, but Lynch was staying there now. She really shouldn't have barged in.

"Oh, it's all right. But shouldn't you be asleep right now?"

Lynch glanced at the sky outside. It had to be around five in the morning. Why was she out here?

"I was asleep, but I woke up in the middle of the night and wanted to use the washroom. Then I noticed Klein wasn't in his bed, so I came to ask you. I didn't expect you to be gone, too."

As Melissa spoke, her gaze turned reproachful.

Before coming in, she'd knocked and called Lynch's name several times. When there was no answer, she'd thought he'd fainted again, so she'd hurried inside without thinking. She hadn't expected him to have gone out with Klein.

"It was Klein. He couldn't sleep, so he asked me to go for a walk with him. You know how it is—he has an interview coming up, so he's under a lot of pressure."

Under Klein's astonished gaze, Lynch shifted all the blame onto him, and came up with an excuse so convincing that Klein couldn't even deny it.

Unless he wanted to tell Melissa that he and Lynch had been pulled in to help investigate a case, he had no choice but to go along with Lynch's excuse.

"Ahem. Yes."

Klein looked at Lynch speechlessly. The guy had just risked his life for him, and now he was making him take the blame.

"Klein, you could've gone for a walk by yourself. Why did you have to drag Mr. Trance along? He's still recovering!"

Melissa complained.

It had cost five pounds to treat Mr. Trance!

If he fainted on their doorstep again, they'd really go bankrupt.

Of course, she was worried about her brother, too.

"Actually, Klein, you don't need to put so much pressure on yourself. You're definitely qualified to teach at Tingen University. And even if you don't get the job, you can find something better."

She reassured Klein, then turned to look at Lynch.

She was just about to tell this money pit to hurry back and get some rest when she noticed a tear in his shirt.

"What's this?"

Melissa asked, then quickly realized that Lynch must have torn it while accompanying Klein outside.

Without waiting for Lynch to answer, she gestured for him to change clothes.

"I'll mend it, but it'll take some time. You don't want anyone else to notice the tear in your shirt, so if you have another one, change into it for now. If you don't, you can go back and get one—but wait until it's light out."

Melissa spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.

Lynch hesitated. The shirt had been torn for a while. The original owner of his body hadn't known how to sew, but as a bachelor, he hadn't cared.

As for Lynch, he planned to keep wearing it, especially after joining the Nighthawks. He'd find a way to claim the shirt as a work-related expense.

But would refusing Melissa make him seem ungrateful?

Especially with Klein staring at him. Lynch felt as if Klein might start punching and kicking him at any moment.

"All right, but don't sew it too well. Just patch it up however you like!"

He didn't want that to mess up his reimbursement later.