236 - - Episode 234 Negotiations

I came to the castle to negotiate for a wand of the light attribute. When I entered the room where the king was, I found four high level knights and four assassins in the blind spot.　There are In addition, there are wards and a pit where I sit. Then there is Barotta, the spiritualist, and the sorceress?　was waiting by the wall.

Viscount Costa seemed to like them, but was he lying when he said they were so cautious?　No, it could be just a precaution, and we should proceed ...... peacefully, right?　I'm lightly in a temper.

I've seen through all your traps, pointing fingers!　And BURN in the background!　and have Sylphy and Nomos smash all the traps, but it would be a big deal.

Oh, Barotta's contracted spirit is approaching us. I think she's an intermediate spirit of the earth.

"Oh?　Deane is not here?　The Great Spirit of the Wind and the Great Spirit of the Earth are coming... If they come, this country will die. If something happens, I'd appreciate it if you could spare my contractor.

A mid-level spirit of the earth who speaks carefree and noisy. Come to think of it, the last time we met, it was just Dine. Maybe Mr. Barotta is surprised that I've brought two great spirits with me.

"So you are Yuta, I've heard a lot about you. Don't be so formal and sit there.

While the spirits and Ms. Barotta were concerned, the king spoke to them. The king told them to sit in a seat where a pit was waiting for them. Is it possible to be dropped into a pit out of the blue?　I'm sure Sylphy said that if that's the case, there's no reason for the king to be here, so I'll take his word that everything will be fine. Unless the king is a shadow warrior. .......

I can't concentrate on the conversation with the king because I'm worried about the spirits who are talking carefree with him. I mean, there are too many things bothering me in this meeting.

Excuse me.

I sit down on the sofa as I am told, because I don't want to be scared. Sylphy and Nomos will help me if I'm in danger. Luckily, the pit did not suddenly activate when I sat down.

Sitting on a pitfall is heartbreaking even if you know you will be rescued. I wonder if this is how comedians feel when they find themselves being surprised in a surprise show, or when they go to be surprised themselves.

After sitting down, I observe the king without being rude. Well, the king ...... seems to have some dignity ......?　Well, he's the king who spoiled the Marquis de Galli. He's not a great king. I'm starting to feel better. On the surface, I wait for the king's next words with an air of awe.

"Well, as I said before, I was interested in you. Are you going to serve me?"

I've never seen anyone use the word "extra. As expected of a king, even the first person has a special feeling. But suddenly I was solicited.

"I'm sorry. I am the kind of person who can't say that I serve someone. ......"

Bow down with a bow. To be more precise, I just don't want to be a slave to someone until I come to another world. The knights on either side of the king are putting more and more pressure on me. I guess they're in a bad mood because I refused.

"Well, Barotta has also told me not to take chances with you, but it would be a shame to leave a man who could slay a fire dragon single-handedly as an adventurer. I will grant you a countship and a fiefdom. If he performs well, a marquisate would be a dream come true.

There is a lot of commotion around me. Maybe it's a good deal. I thought he'd be a viscount, but suddenly he's a count. If I were smart, I could get a fiefdom and enjoy cheating in domestic affairs, but alas, I only know what I've read in novels and internet novels. But unfortunately, I only know what I've read in novels and internet novels.

I thought that with a little help from Sylphy and the others, it might be a piece of cake, but I don't think the Great Spirits would be happy with a human managing their domain. But, it's possible to have a great harvest for the whole territory, not to mention the economy. ......No, no, no, it's tempting, but when I become a nobleman, I'll be told to go to war. I don't want to get involved in that kind of trouble.

I'm sorry.

That's all I'll say and bow. I wanted to reply with something like, "It's a great honor, sir," but I was sure he would bite, so simplicity was the best. Please don't let the knights increase the pressure every time I say a word. Don't activate the pit just because you're pissed off.

"If you refuse a countship, ...... I'll give you this."

Some gorgeous dagger was put in front of me.

"Your Majesty!"

The most important person among the knights is in a hurry. Is this some kind of dangerous dagger?

"The dagger is a sign that you are under my protection. Show it to me and you will be treated well not only in this country but also in other hostile countries."

"Your Majesty!　It is too dangerous to give Your Majesty's dagger to a man whose true identity is unknown!

It's okay. It would be a greater loss to have him leave the country over a trivial matter. Yuta, with that dagger you will be able to avoid most of the nonsense. If you are willing to serve someone, please visit me with the dagger.

......What's with the vibe. I don't need a dagger that might be attached to a string, but it sure gives off an air that I can't refuse.

If I carry this dagger, people will think I'm related to the kingdom of Chrysoprase. I guess the pompous knight is afraid that the dagger will be misused and he wants to make it clear that the king spit on me.

...... I can't say no, so I'll take it. I'm also looking forward to the possibility of doing something like an inro (a seal) for the old man if he gets involved with some troublesome nobleman.

Besides, I have a feeling that the acceptance or non-acceptance of this dagger is an important boundary line for the king. If he refuses, there is a possibility that the pit will be activated. He may try his best to kill you as a dangerous person.

I don't serve anyone, and if this dagger has some trap that I don't know about, I will be able to escape to the land of the dead or to a country that is hostile to this country. It's not likely that they will come to the castle anyway, so I'd like to finish the negotiations and go home.

Thank you, sir.

"Mm."

The king nodded his head in agreement as I thanked him, and the pompous knight was silent in his dissatisfaction.

"So, I'd like to ask you to exchange your wand of the light attribute for the fruit of the spirit tree.

Oh, yes, that's right. Let's see the fruit of the tree first. Grab your stick and bow down.

...... I don't have a problem with showing him the fruit of the tree of life, but is the king going to continue talking like this?　Don't subordinates usually negotiate on your behalf in these situations?　...... Apparently, the king will continue to deal with us. If I ask him to give me someone else to negotiate with, the knight will cut me down.

When the king called out to him, an old man who looked like a magician, who was standing next to Ms. Barotta, came to us with a box. Is the wand in that box? Should I have brought the fruit of the spirit tree in something too?　It's bare. .......

I guess it's a little late for that. Since I came to the other world, I don't have the same sense of style in terms of clothes and containers for the fruit of the tree of life. I used to be able to do such things when I was in Japan, but I guess I'm completely out of it now. Feeling a little embarrassed, I take out the fruit of the spirit tree from my magic bag and place it in front of the king.

The wand of light is also taken out of the box and placed in front of me. I can't see it, so I have to ask Nomos for it. Nomos knows this, too, and moves in front of the scepter to look at it carefully.

"Well, it is of good enough quality. "Yes, it is of good enough quality.

I feel sorry for Ms. Barotta's panic when Nomos approached the king. Well, if Nomos gave his seal of approval, it's all right. The king takes the fruit of the spirit tree in his hand, checks it over, and hands it to the magician who has brought his staff.

"How do you like it?"

"It is definitely the fruit of the tree of spirits. It is not an old one, as it has a strong magic power.

The magician was a connoisseur. That's nomos position for me. But can you tell the freshness of a piece by whether or not it has magic in it?

"This wand is of sufficient quality for my needs. Would you be willing to exchange it?"

"Hmmm, ...... a good deal for the kingdom, but what are you going to use it for?"

I can't honestly say that I will use it to build a sanctuary in the land of the dead. I knew they would ask me what I was going to use it for, and I was trying to think of a decent reason, but I couldn't think of a good one.

The most reasonable reason was that I need it to conquer the labyrinth, but I don't want them to ask me how I need the light wand.

"Can't you just say it's a secret?"

"I can't just exchange it without a clear reason."

I knew it.

"It's a silly reason. I have wands of various attributes, but I can't get a wand of the light attribute. I hate it that I don't have a wand of the light attribute.

"...... You would give up the fruit of the spirit tree for such a reason?　It is true that light wands are rare, but they do not have tremendous power. It is not as valuable as the fruit of the tree of life.

I already have another fruit of the tree of life, and my greed sensor is just scared of me. I think I can easily find a light wand if I enter the labyrinth after getting a light wand, but I don't want to have a hard time if I don't have a light wand.

I know it's just paranoia, but I just can't escape from the thought that the last one is hard to find. Is this part of my game brain?

"I know that, but as a collector, I just can't resist."

The king looks at me like I stink. He clearly doesn't believe me. And the knights are going to get mad. I don't mean to make fun of you.

"Well, that's all right. Yuta, I'm going to trust you. As a collector, I really want a light staff. Are you sure?

He's making sure of something. Is he trying to make a statement in case something goes wrong?　...... I don't have a problem with them taking a statement, maybe they want to make sure for some political reason.

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Very well. Then we have a deal.

"Thank you very much."

Thank goodness, there was some kind of a noisy security, I thought something was wrong, but I didn't fall into a pit, and the negotiation was successfully concluded. I feel like I've grown up since I've been getting into trouble every time I've met with a big guy.

Now I'm free from collecting wands. Now all we have to do is get Nomos to modify the staffs and build the foundation for the sanctuary. Okay, let's go home.

"Thank you for taking the time to see me today, even though I came on such short notice.

No problem. I was interested in you too. You can visit me again anytime. Well, if you have time, why don't you talk to some of the spiritualists in our country?　Perhaps we can be of some use to each other."

......The unpleasant invitation emanated from the mouth of the king. Would it be rude to refuse in such a case?　And I have very little to say about the genie arts. And most of all, I want to go home. I may be a bit rude, but I've got the wand of light, so I'll just say no and go home.

"I'm sorry, but there are many secrets about the art of the spirit that I can't tell you.

"......I'm sorry, but I can't force you. Don't look so pale, Barotta, but I have not forgotten your words. It's all right."

It seems that Ms. Barotta has told the king many things. I wonder what kind of things he told him, but maybe that's why there was no forced action. There were traps, though.

"It's over as usual. I would have liked to see Yuta fall into the hole just a little bit.

"Yes. It's a pity, because it would have been a good opportunity to show how terrifying spirits can be.

In the background, the Great Spirit is talking comfortably and noisily. I don't mind falling down a pit if you help me out, but what are you going to do to show me how scary spirits are? It's too scary!

The negotiations with the king are successfully concluded without being thrown into the pit or being cut down by the knight. On the way home, Viscount Costa asked me what treasures I got in the labyrinth and invited me to stay at his house.

I told him that I got a light-attribute wand and I wanted to admire it, so I managed to get the carriage to drop me off at the border of the noble town. Well, let's summon Belle and the others and go home.

"Yuta, I'm going to follow some people.

As I was walking along, listening to Belle and the others' reports on their exploration of King's Landing, 90% of which had to do with food, I received a warning from Sylphy.

...... is a pain in the ass. The king didn't seem stupid enough to think of attacking me and getting back his light wand. The irritated knight next to the king had made some kind of move?

（Are they going to attack?)

"So far there's no sign of an attack. Should we get rid of them?"

（Well, if it's just a test, there's no need to remove them. (If they attack you, please let me know.)

"Okay."

"Yuta, how long do I have to stay with you?　Sylphy is enough of an assailant. I can't wait to get back.

Nomos wants to go home. It's true that with Sylphy there's nothing to worry about, but he should be a little worried about us. Well, he would probably just laugh at me if I told him so, so I'm going to send him back home quietly.

(I'll probably be back at Izumi's house the day after tomorrow, so please tell the others.)

"Yes, a banquet. I look forward to it."

Nomos says convenient things when he disappears. I never said that. But it's going to be a banquet after all. I can just imagine myself pulling out a keg of sake, unable to resist. It's a definite future now. I walk out through the gates with my tail leisurely trailing behind me.

（Sylphy, is your tail still following you?)

"A couple of them went back just as we were leaving the gate, but the rest are still following us."

(Are you keeping an eye on the two who have returned?)

Yes, he's on his way to the castle.

I see, they must have returned to report that we had left King's Landing. Then let's take a rest here and find out who sent the tail. We turn away from the road leading to King's Landing and head in a deserted direction. This will make it harder for the followers to get close to us.

I sit down on the ground and take out a cup of tea from my magic bag. Coffee seems to fit the mood better in such a case. I'm looking forward to the coffee harvest.

I feel more at home in the land of the dead these days, with all the pitfalls and tails that come with being out in the city. Maybe it would be more constructive to explore the land of death so that I can enjoy my life there. The city is enough just for fun.

"Yuta, we both finished our reports. Do you want to hear what they say now?"

While I was thinking about the reality of the situation, Sylphy asked me if I was listening to the wiretap.　The first time I saw him, he told me that he was finished. Depending on what the king gave me, I might have a chance to use the dagger he gave me, so I might as well listen to what he has to say.

"Yes, please."

"One of them is a pawn of the first squire attached to Viscount Galli. He's suspicious of Yuta, and he's following him to find out where he's based. The other was the king's, to keep an eye on Yuta to see if anyone was stupid enough to make a move on him."

I see, that first squire is still working hard. He seems to be having a hard time fighting for the succession, but he's hanging in there. In my mind, all relations with the Gulli family are over, but they are surprisingly persistent.

If the Gulli family comes back, they will be even more annoying. So the other one is in the hands of the king.

"Then I don't think we'll have any problems. Can your tail see me?"

"Well, I can see the figures, can't I?　If only I didn't have the skills to see in the distance. ......"

It seems to me that the people who were sent to follow you would have to have skills like that. It's probably pretty well known that I can fly, but I don't need to go to the trouble of showing the Gulli family that I can fly.

"Sylphy, can you use the strong wind to block the tail's eyes while you fly away?"

It's easy.

Then, please."

Sylphy nods, and a tornado is generated in the direction where the royal city is located, and a faint scream is heard. And then my body slowly rises. ...... It's not what I thought it would be.