74 - Episode 72 Talking with Marie

Sarah in the slum. MARCO. Successful scouting for Kikka?　While shopping, I talk to Marie at the general store about materials.

"So, Mr. Yuta. What is it that you want to talk about?"

But first, may I ask how much you know about me?"

"You mean Yuta-san?　He's a spiritualist, he's in trouble with Guilmouth, and he's called a fraud."

That's pretty well known. Well, of course they do, as soon as they get to the Adventurers' Guild. It's better to know and be able to negotiate with them than to have them find out later.

"Is it all right for you to listen to me, a so called con man?　Also, I'm in trouble with the Adventurers' Guild, so you might get in trouble."

Don't worry, we have the proof why they call us frauds. The power of the Adventurers' Guild in the labyrinth city is so great that we may have to decline your offer, depending on what you have to say."

I'd appreciate it if you'd clarify. Considering the possibility of a deterioration of relations with the Adventurers' Guild, it would be difficult to negotiate unless we can offer benefits that outweigh the risks.

"I see. Also, since it is related to the labyrinth, there is a possibility that the type of business we are in may not be compatible with the general store. Do you have any contacts in that area?"

"Our company, Pollius Trading Company, is not only a general store. My father handles the materials for the labyrinth, so I am sure we can answer your request.

That's a helpful development. You look so smug, though.

"Okay. We can certainly offer you something big in terms of profit, but our relationship with the Adventurers' Guild may be damaged. Do you hear me?"

"A sure-fire way to make money? Mr. Yuta. I feel as if I'm listening to a scam artist.

Indeed it is. There's nothing more suspicious than a story of guaranteed profit. Japan and other worlds are no different in that respect.

"It's a bit suspicious when you put it that way. Well, if you listen to what I have to say, I'm sure you'll understand. It's a big profit."

"Hmm. You are very confident, aren't you? I have very high hopes for you.

Oh. Marie-san smiled suspiciously, and an aura of money started to blow out from behind her. Hallucination?

"Yes. "Yes. It's definitely a big profit."

I smile suspiciously, too. For some reason, we both laugh suspiciously, and an atmosphere like that of an evil representative and a merchant covers the reception room.

"Well then, please continue with your story.

After a few moments of suspicious laughter, Marie-san seemed satisfied and moved on with her story.

I understand. Well, to put it simply, I've broken through the 50th layer, and I want to get the materials out of the way so that the Adventurers' Guild doesn't get involved.

"Huh?"

I don't know what ...... said, but I know you're surprised. It feels kind of good.

"Well... Can you repeat that?"

"We've crossed the 50th layer, and we'd like to get the materials out of the way so that the Adventurers' Guild doesn't get involved."

"You're not joking ......, are you?　What happened to the fire dragon?"

I beat him.

Sylphie.

"At ......, can you also provide us with Fire Dragon materials wholesale?"

We've got a whole bunch of them in our magic bag, so we can sell them to you, except for the ones we're going to use.

Even if we wholesale everything, if we need it, we can take Sara or Marco or Kikka with us and the boss will come out. I'm sure Sylphy will take down the boss again, but I don't want to rely on Sylphy too often because I think it's dangerous to make money from him.

"I don't believe it at all, but if it's true, I'd really like it if you could do it for me.

Marie's eyes are glinting. I wouldn't be surprised if her motto was "a miser" or something like that. As a merchant, I'm worried about him.

I'll show you the actual product later, don't worry. But there is a condition for the wholesale of materials. The Adventurers' Guild will try to find out about me, but please keep it as secret as possible. I know you don't want to cause any friction, so you can tell them after you've waited until the last minute.

"Yuta-san. Do you hate the Adventurers' Guild that much?"

I'm an adventurer myself, and I don't dislike adventurers. I just don't like the Adventurers' Guild and the adventurers in Labyrinth City.

Huh?　Marie. Are you backing away a little?　But it was the Adventurers' Guild that started the fight, so it can't be helped. I may have been wrong a little bit, but they were the ones who started it, so there's no problem.

"...... understands. I will fulfill the conditions. I will prepare a contract for you.

After thinking for a moment, Marie nodded her head. Well, the Adventurers' Guild might not like it a bit, but it's not a bad deal in general.

"No, sir. You don't need a contract or anything. As long as you keep to our terms, we'll come here to wholesale the materials, so don't worry about it. And if things with the Adventurers' Guild really go bad, you can cut me off."

I don't want to come all the way to another world and be tied down by paperwork. Besides, Marie is obsessed with money, and she would not be so foolish as to be caught up in the immediate money and then be careless about the profit afterwards.

Well, it's an arrogant act that he can do because he doesn't mind being betrayed.

"...... understands. Then, what kind of materials can you supply wholesale this time?

"Yes, that's right. Oh, by the way, do you need materials for peppercorns, assault dragons and wyverns?　I think you can get these at the Adventurers' Guild."

"By all means, please. We do have a few in circulation, but they don't meet the demand at all, so they would be a nice enough feature."

The material is said to be of high value because it is from the front line of the labyrinth. After seeing the fire dragon, it is not so impressive, but it is an A-rank dragon. No wonder it is valuable.

"Okay, I'll sell you peppercorns, assault dragons, and wyverns. Fire dragons will be no problem as long as you send us all the materials. The rest is just these herbs.

Magic grass. We will give you about one-fifth of the number of all-purpose plants we have collected. This is quite a lot, since we collected a lot of it.

This is .......

Marie is looking at the medicinal herbs as if she were devouring them. Marie is drooling ....... They must be making a lot of money. She must be making a lot of money. It's a pity she's a pretty girl, too. I wonder if it's a bad luck that she came to the other world, or she encounters unique people more often than not.

"I'm sure you'll make a lot of money... Do you like it?"

Yes, yes, of course. I wouldn't be a merchant if I couldn't make a profit from this.

He seemed satisfied.

"That's good. The demon is big, where do you want to put it?"

"Oh, yes. ...... would be very helpful if you could visit us at the warehouse, would you?"

Yes, no problem. But I would like the Adventurers' Guild to have a hard time reaching me, so could you please make arrangements so that we can proceed as quietly as possible?

"Awe! I'll go ahead and get rid of the people. Also, Yuta-san's breaking through the 50th level will attract interest not only from the Adventurers' Guild but also from the nobility and other merchant associations, what do you think about that?"

That's true. It's a bit complicated because we had a falling out with the Adventurers' Guild, which was going to protect us by showing its ability.

"It depends on the other party. If they try to mess with us before we improve our relationship with the Adventurers' Guild, we may ask for protection from a place that will let us do things freely.

After seeing Sylphy's power, I don't think I need to ask for protection, and it doesn't matter who is messing with me, so I don't have to think too hard.

In that case, I'm sure the Pollius Chamber of Commerce will be able to help you.

"Thank you very much. I may ask you for a favor when the time comes.

In the meantime, I bow to you. It is good to have choices, and it is better to have contacts than to have none. After we have settled on a plan, I leave the reception room and go to pick up Sarah and the others.

"Hey, guys. Did you choose what you need?

"I've chosen one, are you sure?　A lot of them, you know?"

I approached Sara and the others who were anxiously waiting for me, and Marco asked me worriedly. There was a considerable amount of merchandise on the counter. The quantity seemed to have made them uneasy.

"It's no problem. It would be better if you don't have what you need.

I reassure them by making my voice as gentle as possible. ...... They don't sound reassured at all. Well, let them get used to it. I pay and put away the goods.

"Yuta-san. This way please."

Marie leads me out of the store.

"Master. Where are you going?"

......It's the first time I've been casually called "master. I'm pretty happy about that.

"I'm going to get the demons I killed in the labyrinth.

"Did your master defeat a demon? ......"

"I'm an adventurer."

He urges Marco, who is pondering something, to start walking. Marco and Kikka's eyes are glued to a food stall on the way, so I refuse Marie's offer and buy a skewer of roughbirds for the three of them.

I'm worried about the first meat since I'm skinny, but I'm not a sick person, so I guess I'll be okay. I thought about asking Mr. Toruku to make some kind of soup for my stomach, but I guess I don't need it.

"This way, sir."

Marie took me inside, and we found a fairly large space with various tools and materials for demons. It looks like a warehouse for demolition.

"Can I put them out here as they are?"　

We will dismantle the fire dragon soon, so please put it out here. Please put the rest in the back.

Marie's exclamation and the children's screams echoed as she took out the head and body of the Fire Dragon as instructed by ...... Marie. ......The Fire Dragon was too much of a stimulant for them. This lack of consideration may be the reason why they are not popular.

"Sarah. Marco. Kikka. I'm not afraid of you. I'm already dead, I'll be fine."

The three of them are at a loss for words, and I try to calm them down and soothe them. The way they look at me as if they can't believe what they see makes me a little sad. He tells them once again that everything will be all right, and they are not sure what is okay with them, but he makes the best of the situation.

I managed to calm down and turned around to talk to Marie, and there she was, approaching ...... the fire dragon, checking the materials. I guess I'll have to calm her down next time.

"This is the Fire Dragon. It surely looks just like what I have seen in the materials. Is it decapitated by a single blow?　The material is clean and new. This is amazing. It's amazing. The money and the fame will be great. ......

I transferred the wholesale materials to a magic bag I found in the labyrinth, and it's still new?　Come to think of it, thanks to Sylphy, they are coming back much faster, so maybe the materials are newer too. It's hard to know what to expect, because it comes out in the places we don't think about. Let's calm Marie down for now. Goofing off is not a woman's thing to do.

"Marie-san. There are still some demons... please give me some instructions.

"Oh, yes. I'm sorry. Uh, this way, please."

Assault dragons and wyverns are sent out to the locations indicated by Marie.

"This one is in good condition. It's great. And Yuta's magic bag is also in excellent condition. If you ever decide to part with them, please do so with me.

My eyes dart back and forth between the assault dragon, the wyvern, and the magic bag. Their eyes are glowing and scary. Let's change the subject. Sara and the others are frozen and not reacting, maybe too much stimulus.

"Marie. I have a firebird and a magma fish.　Firebirds have destroyed the nests, and a lot of them. We eat the magma fish ourselves, so we only need two fish. I would be happy to learn how to cook them.

Firebirds galore!　Magma fish!　Marie's tension is soaring even higher. It's going to take some time to settle down.