Chapter 219: Dark clouds

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TDADP chapter 219: Dark clouds

The frenzy of the monsters caused by the wood dragon´s sudden appearance in the idyllic village of Wood Payne, gradually subsided with the subjugation of the wood dragon that caused it and the quick response of the Udon Kingdom´s Army, now the surrounding cities, towns, military, soldiers and adventurers were able to cope with it well enough. Initially, there was a small mess by residents who escaped in search of an evacuation destination, but when the report of the suppression of the wood dragon was transmitted through the aristocrats and adventurer guilds governing each city and town, the kingdom gradually regained its calmness.

「Master, please listen to me!」

From the living room of Yuu's mansion, the voice of Vanamo, one of the slave maid apprentices, echoes.

「Vanamo, be quiet. Master is talking to Agafon」

「But, older sister」

Vanamo seemed unsatisfied, but when she received an ice-like look from Marifa, a groan which is like a short scream was raised, and her mouth was opened. Tin, right next to her, says 「You´re angry」, but Vanamo remains silent with regret.

After successfully defeating the wood dragon, Yuu recovered Nina´s party and Agafon´s party and returned to Comer City. And in the living room are Nina´s party, Agafon´s party and the slave maid apprentices such as Vanamo, etc. Now, what Yuu is doing in the living room is listening to the reports of monster subjugations that was left to them.

「I've heard Vanamo´s report before, how you fought and what happened. However, I also want to hear it from your mouth. So from the herd of monsters――」

「Usu. I ran away. No, I went to a good place. Or rather we were outnumbered」

Agafon says that he has run away majestically without being terrified.

「That's right! Agafon´s party has ran away!!」

Vanamo breaks into the conversation between Yuu and Agafon. Then Melanie, who was on the left of Vanamo, whispered with a small voice and slammed Vanamo's feet with her tail to urge her to stop, but Vanamo's anger overheats rather than subsides.

「The trial given by Master! Unnecessarily! Abandoned and ran away!」

Next to the excited Vanamo, Tin whispered, 「Vanamo becomes serious」, and other slave maid apprentices sigh 「Idiot」.

「Vanamo, do you know what you say」

「Uh. Older sister, this is different」

To the quiet but undoubtedly angry way of Marifa, Vanamo retreats. Coro and Ran were familiar and had already escaped to the sofa where Yuu was sitting.

「Hu, Huhu. Why did you run away?」

Yuu laughs unintentionally without being able to endure. Nina gazes at the rare figure of Yuu that he usually doesn't show and Lena gazes at him saying 「……Oh」. By the way, Marifa was expressionless, but her cheeks and ears were stained red.

「Why, because we didn't want to die. We won't continue our adventure when we die, and my dream of going on an adventure with Leader someday will end」

「Hu...... ahahaa. That's right」

「Th, This」

Vanamo, who judged that Agafon's attitude was unsatisfactory, swallowed but didn't make any noise any more before Marifa.

「Was it Agafon´s decision to withdraw or Flavia?」

「It was me. I ordered to withdraw at my discretion」

Although it may be surprising at Agafon's party, as Agafon basically gives instructions as the leader. When Agafon is unable to give instructions, Flavia will provide instructions instead. So Yuu asked if it was Agafon or Flavia who had made the decision to withdraw.

「But we didn't withdraw for free, because we have defeated the monsters that have a prominent name and have stripped the magic balls and the most expensive parts」

「So nya! We´re doing well nya」

「Fl, Flavia, now Agafon is talking to Leader, so you should be silent」

「Even I want to report to Leader nya」

It was Flavia that didn't move even when she was hit by Beibu, but when she noticed Marifa staring at her, she hid behind Beibu's big body.

「What did you do after you withdraw?」

「Small――Vanamo and the others gathered monsters with bewitching magic and insects――」

Before Vanamo shouted, 「Who is the small assistant!」, Grafira closed her mouth with all her might. On the side, Pokori and Ariane made thumbs-up signs.

「I've beaten them!」

Namari jumps on Yuu's lap without being able to endure.

「Was Namari cleaning up for others?」

「Usu. I feel offended, but Namari has definitely defeated them」

Namari, sitting on Yuu's lap, looks up at Yuu with a proud face.

「Namari, well done. You can eat up to three snacks at today's afternoon refreshment」

「Three things!? I did it!」

Namari smiles with a big smile and looks at Agafon´s party. Although Agafon´s party seemed to regret, it was true that Namari defeated more than half of the flock of monsters.

「Damn it. Namari is cheeky」

「Be~ee. I was more helpful to Odono-sama than Agafon!」

「Say it again. I'll show you that I'm more useful than you are now. That’s why Leader. This time´s trial, we――」

「Shameless! It’s decided to fail! That’s right. Master!!」

Vanamo, who grabbed Grafira's hand and escaped from her restraint, comes close to Yuu.

「No, it’s a pass. From now on, you can dive into 『Bewitching Tree Garden Labyrinth』」

「「「Hooray!!」」」

In contrast to Agafon´s delighted party, Vanamo did not hide her surprised expression. No, not just Vanamo. Even the slave maid apprentices seemed unconvinced by Yuu´s word of passing.

「Master, why did they pass?」

Tin asks Yuu to represent the slave maid apprentices.

「Why, Nina, Lena and Marifa do you agree?」

「Generally speaking Nina-san and Lena-san. Older sister will accept whatever Master decides」

Tin thinks that Marifa would be angry with her words, but she has a bright face.

「You speak your mind reasonably」

「Master, there is nothing to praise」

「I'm not praising you. Listen. The most important thing for an adventurer is not to die. I didn't think they'd be able to defeat the herd of monsters that I left to Agafon´s party, on a scale that obviously can't be dealt just with the abilities of Agafon´s party. Agafon´s party withdrew after deciding that they couldn't do it. In other words, they withdrew without dying in vain, knowing the strength of the monsters. And since they have dismantled the parts from famous monsters that can be exchanged for gold, therefore it's enough to pass as adventurers, right?」

After comparing the report from Vanamo and the report from Agafon, Yuu said they passed. Although the reports of Vanamo were somewhat prejudiced, it can be said that it was a satisfactory result considering that the tactics and situational judgments taken by Agafon´s party and the fact that all of them survived although they have just become adventurers.

「Hmm. Master's story is complicated, and my head hurts」

「I'm sure you've heard it. But why is Momo sulky for a while now」

Momo sitting on Nina's head is in a bad temper for some reason with her cheeks inflated.

「Momo-chan. She is sulky because she didn't have a turn～」

「She didn't have a turn? Momo followed Nina´s party, right」

「That's right. However, only Lena and Mari-chan killed the monsters」

「......The insects and trees were terrible」

「That's why Momo is so disappointed that Namari-chan is praised the whole time」

「Did you take the monsters down without Momo´s help?」

「That's right～. Because Mari-chan was amazing」

「......No younger sisters are better than older sister......」

「Who is a younger sister?」

Nina begins to make a fuss, but Momo remains unchanged. Meanwhile, Akane lying on Agafon's head jumps over to Nina's head.

「Hey, Momo. Even though you said you were going to play an active part with so much confidence, you didn't do anything, right? Unlike Momo, I've defeated some monsters」

「!?」

Akane looks down at Momo while crossing her arms. Her face was so brilliant that it looked like she was immersed in the sense of superiority.

「This is close to the day I overtake Momo」

「!!」

「He, Hey stop. It's frustrating, isn't it? You're frustrated because you lost to me」

「Wa, Wawaa. Momo-chan and Akane-chan don't fight on my head～」

On Nina's head, a fight between Momo and Akane begins.

「Emm....... I have a favor to ask Leader」

「What is it」

「What is it」

Agafon talks to Yuu in an apologetic manner with the dispute between Momo and Akane. Namari, who imitated Yuu, is struck lightly by having her head hit.

「Can you give skills to Flavia´s and the others weapons and armors with the perfect magic balls you got from the labyrinth and the herd of monsters? Especially, I'd like you to give priority to Akane and Beibu」

「Agafon is considering?」

「I'm fine because I have a big sword made by Leader」

Agafon lightly patted the obsidian sword, Seven Star, on his back.

「It's fine to give it, but today I can't do it until nighttime because I´m going out for a business talk with Mago」

「Thank you very much! We’ll decide what skills to grant before Leader comes back」

Flavia and the others lined up behind Agafon who also smiled, saying 「Great」, 「We did it」, 「What should I do」, 「Thank you, Odono-sama」, 「Hey! I´m ahead!」 and didn't hide their joy.

「I'm going to follow you!」

「Not good」

「Why」

「Namari, stop bothering Master with your selfishness. You're a grown-up, and you're studying at the mansion」

Namari, who is judged by Yuu and urged to improve, unreasonably blames Marifa.

「No, I don't have to follow Marifa」

「Wh, What!?」

「Yaii! Mari-neechan is an unpopular caretaker」

「Namari, wait!」

Marifa tries to catch Namari, but Namari flies off Yuu's knees and avoids lightly. The deceived Marifa lost balance and fell as if she was hugging Yuu.

「So, Sorry, Master」

「I’m fine, so calm down」

「......Disgusting. Lewd younger sister」

「Lena! Who is lewd!」

「Mari-chan is lewd～」

「Nina-san!」

「Yaii. Mari-neechan is lewd～」

「Namari!」

As Marifa began chasing Namari again, Yuu sighed, and Nina watched them with a big laugh.

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Casa Hill. On that hill overlooking the capital city Tencassi, there is a mansion that everyone knows if you live in the capital city. The owner of the mansion is Finance Minister Balue Voli Nox, who is said to have the most power in the Udon Kingdom. In the corridor of the mansion, there was the royal civil official Francois Arnardi. He is heading to the private room of Lord Balue he serves.

「Oya」

A man appears from the private room of that Balue. The slit-eyed man who dressed up in superior men's clothes so that there was no inferiority even if the aristocrats in the king's capital wore it. However, the beautiful men's clothing could not hide that man's rising muscles.

「Reinart...... sama, long time no see」

Reinart, as Francois said. He is the leader of 『Dragon fang』, Reinart Helter.

「Ah, it's you」

「What is your business today?」

「Kuku. You know that, right? Your lord slapped me」

「So you finally move」

「I don't think so, but your Lord doesn't seem to be convinced by the sweet way as he used to」

「My goodness. It's hard」

「Say it. You don't even think about it」

「Not at all. I was worried just before introducing 『Dragon Fang』 to Lord Balue」

「Huh. Well fine. I hope you'll keep your word」

「Yes. Well then, I have business with Lord Balue. So I'll excuse myself around here」

Reinart refrained from seeing Francois's back as he walked away with a cold-hearted look.

「Get in」

When Balue grants permission to enter, a dwarf girl opens the door of the room. This dwarf girl is, of course, Balue´s slave. Her eyes are muddy as if they were dead, and her emotions are sparse. And it was the same with the dozen slaves in this room, and only a little life was felt in their eyes.

「I’m sorry. Balue-sama, I just passed the leader of 『Dragon Fang』 Reinart, but have you scolded him?」

「Scolded? Even if such a useless thing is done, it does not profit a penny. To move those people like that. There are tricks」

When Balue crossed his legs with vulgar laughter, the dwarf girl, who is replacing a foot stand, clenches her teeth and endures the weight and pain of the giant Balue. The shoes worn by Balue were decorated with uselessness, and gems were scattered everywhere. Every time Balue moves, the gem bites into the back of the dwarf girl. Still, the dwarf girl never makes a painful voice. If she lets out a little moan, she knows what the girls around her will see as well as herself because of the bad Balue. Many of them are younger than her. The dwarf girl was not allowed to speak at all to protect the little ones.

「A trick......」

「Yes, you can call it bait. I’ll hang it in front of them like this」

Balue shakes his hand in front of his face.

「Then they'll just wave their tails like dogs and do their best. They usually care about the aristocrat’s feelings, but if I hang the bait for a moment, they'll shake their tail to make it interesting」

Balue laughs like crazy by what is interesting. Each time the legs clatter, the dwarf girl at his feet distorts her face in pain. The skin on the dwarf girl's back was already torn off, and the clothes were bloody. When the blood comes to Balue´s shoes, Balue´s face becomes ugly and distorted like a lie to his previous cheerful attitude.

「You. The blood of a filthy demi-human, th, this me! I´m the head of the Nox family, who has served the Udon Kingdom for generations! Don't play with me!」

Balue kicks the dwarf girl. There is no control. Still, no one stops this brutality. No, there is no one who can stop it.

「Haa, HaaHaa....... Well fine」

He kicked the dwarf girl until she stopped moving, and finally, Balue´s anger was settled. The dwarf girl who stopped moving is put away by the slave girls who are around silently. It is something that happens on a daily basis. Everyone was confused every time someone died, and everyone realized that they could not live here――no, they gave up.

「More than that, François, how are you preparing for the evening party?」

「We are proceeding smoothly. We are also preparing for the next evening party. We have plenty of money for the auction」

「Umm. I heard that the next auction is going to be once a year and it's also selling a ridiculous thing」

「A ridiculous thing?」

「Yes, because the auction in the capital city is managed by the royal family, I couldn't find out the details. Anything from the national treasure class, even the five powers class, will be exhibited」

「Balue-sama, I can't believe it at all. Speaking of the five powers class, Udon Kingdom´s 『Abundant Breadbasket』, 『Zoroven´s Ring』, 『Philosopher´s stone』, Derim Empire´s 『Fake God Killing Spear』, Set Republic's 『Kukunochi Ocarina』, Liberty State Hamelin's 『Golden Hen』 and the Holy Country Jadark’s 『Infinite Holy Bag』, all of them are just tremendous goods. Even though an annual auction is held, what is comparable to those items?」

「I also doubted my ears at first, but it wasn't a lie. In fact, the royals and high nobility of the countries are heading to the royal capital one after another」

「Who really brought such items to the auction?」

「I don't care whoever it is, because it’s one of my greatest pleasures to see people face down and regret their wealth from seeing my financial strength. This time, it will be filled with the faces of royalty and nobles from other countries. I'm excited just by imagining their faces!」

There was no one in this room who agreed with the word of Balue. Even Francois listened without changing his facial expression.

「Balue-sama, how about Earl Muss?」

「He is giving instructions to someone else on his side. I don't think he can turn down my invitation to the faction forever. It's time for Earl Muss to return the loan」

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A residential area in the capital city Tencassi. Among it, there is the mansion of the 『Dragon Fang』 clan in a place where only the wealthy can live. In the countless small and medium-sized clans in the capital, the mansion owned by 『Dragon Fang』 was a splendid building on a large site that could not be purchased and maintained.

「Reinart-san, welcome home」

「Is the Minister of Finance really angry?」

「It’s a foolish bastard who calls our Leader and doesn’t come to meet him」

「What did the Finance Minister say?」

There are a variety of people who call out to Reinart, who is an A-rank adventurer, to express their anger at the Finance Minister who never picked them up or who cared about what the Finance Minister and Reinart talked about.

「Don't panic. The story is told after everyone gathered in the living room」

The clan members gathered in the living room shout out with surprises on Reinart's words.

「「「10, 10 billion Madoka!?」」」

「Yes. That's not all. It seems that he will become 『Dragon Fang』 backing when we have succeeded」

「Th, That means......」

「Yuu Satou's item pouch is definitely 『Timeless』」

「But Reinart-san, do we really have to take such a legendary item pouch from the adventurer called Satou?」

「I was listening to reports from Dominik and Boris. I didn't believe it, but I was convinced by the Finance Minister's attitude and remuneration this time. Where's the idiot who pays a hundred billion madoka bucks to get an item pouch? It's not just that. The Finance Minister who we didn't even meet even though we piled up money for him many times will become the backing of 『Dragon Fang』?」

「We've failed many times so far, but this time the rewards are raised abnormally」

「But what do we do? Satou is a B-rank adventurer, and I have heard from Boris and the others that he is also a high-spirited fighter. And hanging around the guys who belong to 『Nameless』 there are other clans and mercenaries, aren't there?」

「That's why, 『Nameless』 has recently increased the number of clan members. The item pouch that the newcomers have is also different in shape, but it seems to be no doubt that they´re 『Timeless』. I don't know if the others know the value of 『Timeless』, but they rarely put it on the spotlight, but one of them, a cat-woman named Flavia hangs her item pouch on her waist to show off」

「So we take away 『Timeless』 from that woman named Flavia」

「Yes. Those newcomers are just adventurers, and their ranks are only G to F. They act different from Satou, Nina, Lena, and Marifa, usually they go to 『Golgo Labyrinth』 or 『Large Forest』」

「Arent rank F to G small fries?」

「It's like saying you're attacking them」

「Even if you say that, Boris´s group are the only ones who're worried. Reinart-san, I will prepare immediately and go」

「Let me do it!」

「I'm more suited to a job like this」

The clan members start to make noise, but when Reinart says 「Shut up」, the place quiets down.

「We have decided to send reinforcements to Comer City. Kiringirin, you there?」

「Here!」

「Your party will go」

「I understand. Hey, we're all here, aren't we?」

「Yes, we can go anytime」

When Kiringirin speaks, about 10 people come out from the surroundings. None of these people were B-ranks or C-ranks, but they have confidence in their own abilities.

「What do we do if a clan other than 『Nameless』 gets in the way?」

「It doesn't matter. Those who get in the way can be eliminated by you」

Everyone understands Reinart´s remark, who had been holding down the clan members so far as not to provoke the adventurers of Comer City.

That means――

「There is also killing」

Reinart quietly nods at Kiringirin´s words.