Afterword - Book 1 - Chapter 27 (Patreon)

Chapter 27: Adventurer IV

(Original Chapter title: Adventurer III (barely))

Most of this chapter was newly written during my editing stage. It has everything a Ranthia could ask for. Adventure! Payments! Chaos! Sticking it to Seira! Mentions of her girlfriend!

The Slasher of Goblins bit was new, of course. Using goblins for her getting back into Adventurering seemed fitting, for several reasons. It's also a glimpse of what her class was SUPPOSED to be, but I'll discuss that in a future Afterword.

The undercover mission was an idea I'd come up with while I wrote book 2. The source of her (semi-minimal) investigation prowess, and a chance to stick her thumb in order's eye. A non-event that she made into an incident.

And then I had to write it.

I should have saved my attempt, but when I tried to write it... I didn't enjoy it. Everything felt petty and awkward and Ranthia was oddly restrained by the timing of this—it just wasn't working. So the next day I yoinked it and wrote this version instead where I immediately skipped to them getting kicked out and dealt with the aftermath instead.

My beta readers loved it, a couple of them called it Ranthia's Pastos moment. I hadn't even considered the similarity.

I adored The Enigmatic Travelling Merchant. I want to use him again someday, but I haven't figured out HOW just yet. My original plan was to have an Adventurer ham-fistedly overacting as their father, but no, having it all somehow being legitimate—against all reason and sense—worked so much better!

Still, chaos was wrought so it was time to visit Xaoc's temple; the only bit that was in the original chapter. Except in that Ranthia just visited and prayed, I wanted more.

And so a crowd favorite character was born, the Irreverent Priest. Also, full admission? I am in awe of "I must unpolish the silver" as a conversation ender. I mean what do you even say to that? It's either Extremely Weird(tm) or it's the most transparent way ever of saying "I don't wish to speak to you anymore, good day." It's glorious and I will probably NEVER top it.