Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Wizard and Barbarian (1)

"N-, no! Please, just one! Just give me one more chance!"

"Whatre you standing around for? Take them both away and put them in jail!"

After removing the investigator who was still begging, as well as the unconscious adventurer from the scene

The compensation process was carried out swiftly.

As soon as we signed the non-disclosure agreement stating we wouldnt leak this outside, a total of six million stones was given on the spot, including the additional labour fee'.

And, well, that wasn't the end of it.

"Herere all your belongings."

"How is it, Mr. Yandel? Please check carefully."

Looking at the barbarian rummaging through his backpack, the wizard said with a curious look.

"Maybe something is missing?"

" Missing?"

The barbarian hesitated for a moment, then smiled as if he understood.

"Oh, something really seems to be missing!"

"Oh my gosh, is there something missing?!"

"Its not a thing just, about a million stones in cash have disappeared."

They werent very good at acting no matter which way you sliced it.

The branch manager, whod been listening quietly, was about to faint because of high blood pressure.

What kind of people were they?!

"What do you mean! How could an adventurer who just came out of the labyrinth have such a large sum !"

"Then are we lying?"

At the cold tone of the wizard, the branch manager flinched.

"Th-, th-, thats, obviously "

"You got evidence?"

"How could there be "

"Oh my god, are you again accusing people of lying without proof? Mr. Yandel, now that I see this, I think this branch manager should also be added to the punishment list, right?"

"Really. To call an honourable barbarian and a wizard liars, he mustve not been taught well at home, growing up "

"Stop it."

The regional chief, who'd been quiet so far, sighed and stepped out.

" Well also compensate you for the missing money."

"Its a reward that I definitely deserve, so I wont say thank you."

If one ignored the fact that they werent waving any weapons, what was the difference between this and daylight robbery?

It was so shameless that the branch manager could only stand frozen on the spot, because there was nothing else that he could do.

He could only watch what was happening in front of him.

"One million stones, here."

"Wow, as rumoured, the Adventurers Guild seems to have a lot of money, right? You just say a word and it just comes out."

" I think we've shown enough respect to the tower already. Do not cross this line."

"Ah, yeah."

"Then will you give me the crystal ball now?"

"No. I think itd be better to give you this after confirming that the punishment was properly meted out. Of course, I promise I wont show it to anyone in the meantime."

" That promise must be kept."

"Sure. Dont worry. Anyway, we'll see each other for a while. Please take care of the people gathered outside."

With those words, the barbarian and the wizard left.

And in the hall, a heavy silence fell as if a storm had passed.

""

""

The guild was deprived of another one million stones, but they didnt even get their hands on the crystal ball.

Also, the crowd gathered in front of the guild, as well as the people involved in this matter, had to be dealt with.

The regional chief, whod been forced to smile in front of the two, was now looking cold as stone.

Feeling that suffocating chill, the branch manager struggled to speak.

"R- R-, Regional Manager? T-, thank you"

"Thank me?"

"That, that Didn't you agree to their coercion to protect me?"

"Because you belong to me, not anybody else."

"Oh! I wont forget what happened today! Ill work hard for the rest of my life to make it up to you "

"So even if you do need a beating, it should be me who dishes it out."

The branch manager, who was showing off his determination to be forever loyal with an excited face, showed a puzzled expression.

" Eh? Wh-, what are you "

"You really are naive. Did you think you'd get away scot-free?"

"B-, but I really "

"Enough. I'll take care of the rest, so if you want to save your own life, be on your toes until things calm down. Even if you have to die, you cant die in a way that relates to this case."

Without saying anything further, the regional manager turned and stared at his daughter.

"Daughter, youll have to tell me later why you are here today."

" Yes, Father."

"Then lets just go."

The office became empty in an instant.

Only the branch manager was left alone inside, thinking

"Ha, ha ha ha"

If only all this could be a dream!

A black spire soaring high into the sky.

On the thirty-first floor of the building

Rather, you only managed to earn that much thanks to me, so if anybody can claim a share, I swear to Behel-ra, it should be me.

" Then give me at least the one million stones that you got with that backpack stunt in the end. That was purely thanks to my advice."

Did I ever say that I wanted to be friends with her?

I decided to cancel that.

Did barbarians look like pushovers or something?

"I refuse."

"I see. You agreed to help with my research, so I won't ask for too much. Just give me half, 500,000 stones."

"I refuse."

"Huh, then even if its 250,000 stones "

"I dont even need to hear it. Refuse."

I didn't make any compromises.

Anyone trying to inflict a loss on me was a fucking asshole.

And I never negotiated with assholes.

Whatever I earned, was mine.

"The story ends here."

"What? Do you know how much I lost because of you in the rift?"

Eventually, I made up my mind.

I'll have to break this flag before the water gets more muddied.'

To be honest, it wasnt that I didn't feel grateful to her for this incident.

But aside from that, in order to have a long-term, friendly relationship, I needed to show her who I am.

If you just agreed with a smile no matter what the other party did, you wouldnt be the good guy in the equation, just a scoundrel.

In the first place, she mustve been so persistent not because she needs the money, but because she wants to subdue my pride.'

"Okay, lets move on to the next calculation."

"The next calculation?"

She tilted her head as if she could think of nothing else to discuss.

I spoke directly, as a barbarian should.

"You should give me five million stones."

"F-, five million stones? Why should I?"

"Because you fed me the essence of a corpse golem without my consent."

"What, what?"

She groaned as if she was feeling short of breath.

"H-, hey! I gave you such a rare essence for free, and then youre asking me for money instead? Do you think that makes sense?"

I did think that, in fact.

This wasnt some simple whim.

I didn't know why everyone around me lacked imagination, if you just looked at it in enough detail, it'd all make sense.

"Why do you think it doesnt make sense? You forcibly fed me that essence without my consent so that you could survive."

"Damn you, dont you know I was trying to save you too?!"

"Well, I cant actually know, and I didnt want it. So pay me ten million stones. I heard that it takes that much to remove the essence at the temple "

"Why would you remove that precious thing! You crazy barbarian!"

"Because it wasnt the essence I wanted. Youve done me some serious damage here."

Unlike before when she'd been negotiating a price, Ravens face was now flushed red.

To anyone looking at it from the outside, this might sound like extortion, but it did make sense in a way, so she mustve gotten annoyed.

She took a moment to regain her composure, with only the constant sound of exhalations, whoo, hoo-woo'.

" I've heard from adventurers before, that they want essences but can't find them. So this doesn't make sense. Rather, Im the one who should get paid!"

"Isnt that your preconceived notion as a wizard? You can also ask other adventurers. How would you think you feel if someone else fed you an essence you don't want?"

"Hah! Are you saying you know adventurers better than I do? Wait a minute. I can ask someone right away."

The wizard was very excited as she took up the crystal ball on the desk, and operated as if pressing a phone number. The call connected soon after.

"Ah, is this Mr. Patsran?"

[Who is this?]

"Hello. I am Arua Raven, of the Artemion School. I was with my master when I met you last time?"

[Ah! Miss Raven! I remember. But why are you calling me out of the blue?]

"I have a question for you. What do you think would happen if someone fed you an essence you hadnt planned to eat without your consent, Mr. Patsran?"

[Hahaha! I don't know why you're asking such a bizarre question, but if I had to answer Id be really angry.]

" Yes? Angry? E-, even if its a seventh-grade essence? Even if its a very rare essence that only drops from a rift?"

[Even then. An unplanned essence means that its an essence with only a negative effect for me. I don't know what happened, Miss Raven, but if somebody just picks up any which essence and eats it, theyd never reach the higher ranks.]

The wizard had initially held a triumphant expression as soon as the call had connected.

But after hearing the adventurer's kind reply, her face turned pale.

"That, that, I see. Assuming that's what happened how should I compensate?"

[If it were me, Id first ask for compensation in cash.]

"How much would that be?"

[Fifteen million stones would be appropriate.]

"T-, t-, that much?"

[The more expensive an essence is, the more it costs to erase. I dont know why those god-botherers hanker after money so much]

"Ah, uh, um, I see"

As if she didnt have the strength to keep holding it, the telecommunication device fell from her hand and rolled on the floor.

I picked it up for her and put it back into her hand.

"I still have one question left to ask."

As I whispered into her ear, the blonde girl in her mid-to-late teens asked in a trembling voice.

" Um, no, if the money cant be paid back, then what would you do, Mr. Patsran?"

[Um, well? If that happened and the other party was in front of me]

The man on the other side of the telecommunication device answered with enthusiasm. [I think I'll probably shove their head down and cut it cleanly. Hahaha!]

<