The protagonist, Kenji, a former consultant from Japan who was transported to this new world five years prior, finds himself dismissed from his adventuring party due to a knee injury sustained during a quest. Despite his five years of experience, he lacked magical talent and relied on his swordsmanship skills, which were superior to most common adventurers but not enough to compete with knights. Now, at nearly thirty, Kenji is unemployed and contemplating his next move.
He is approached by Sara, a red-haired archer who joined his party two years ago. Sara, who seems to have a mixed-race heritage and an unclear age, is direct and often says what she thinks. She expresses concern about Kenji's situation, but it's more out of a lack of social nuance than deep friendship. Kenji had previously helped Sara manage her finances by teaching her to buy arrowheads in bulk, allowing her to craft the rest of the arrows herself, significantly reducing her expenses. This experience sparks an idea in Kenji: to offer "management consulting" services to adventurer parties.
Sara eagerly becomes his first client, agreeing to a performance-based fee of three copper coins. She reveals her true problem isn't her own finances, but those of a friend, another archer, who is struggling with the high cost of arrows and considering leaving their party due to their inability to earn enough. Kenji identifies two issues: the cost of arrows, which he reiterates can be solved by bulk purchasing with Sara, and the lack of clear rules for sharing expenses within the party. He proposes creating a manual for expense sharing and market prices, a task he believes the Adventurer's Guild, which he views as inefficient and unsupportive of novice adventurers, is incapable of handling.
Kenji devises a practical solution: accompanying parties on shopping trips to teach them about market prices and proper negotiation. He also suggests joint shopping expeditions for supplies and post-quest reconciliation of expenses. This "shopping and settlement accompaniment" service is born from his observation that parties often lack financial literacy and fall into debt, hindering their progress.
His services are soon sought by a new party consisting of archer Kimberly, mage Ginger, swordsman Galan, and the agile Golem. This "newbie" party, formed two months prior, has taken on ten quests but remains financially stagnant due to high equipment and supply costs, particularly Kimberly's arrows. Kenji takes them on a goblin-slaying quest, not for the challenge, but as a practical lesson in party operations. He guides them through purchasing food, alcohol, arrowheads, and magic catalysts, demonstrating how to get better prices by shopping in different areas and buying in bulk. He also explains the fluctuating prices of materials based on market conditions.
After the successful completion of the quest, Kenji meticulously calculates all expenses, including repairs and sharpening costs, and deducts them from the party's reward. He then divides the remaining earnings, ensuring each member receives a fair share. The party, realizing how much they would have lost without his guidance, is humbled. Kenji charges them a modest fee, recognizing their financial limitations.
Sara, intrigued by Kenji's business, brings him more potential clients. Kenji establishes a payment system: a small upfront fee and a success fee for the parties, and a referral fee for Sara. He explains the tiered payment structure is due to a lack of trust and available funds from novice adventurers and to ensure quality referrals.
A significant world-building element is revealed when Sara questions Kenji's need for scheduling. It becomes clear that this world lacks the concept of a weekly schedule, relying instead on a system of "months" composed of sixteen three-day periods. Time is perceived more loosely, with no mechanical clocks and only church bells marking time. Kenji, accustomed to modern scheduling, begins creating a reservation system using carved wooden sticks, dividing days into morning, noon, and evening slots. This highlights the stark difference in temporal perception and organizational methods between Kenji's former world and his current one.
