Otoko Nara Ikkokuichijou no Aruji o Mezasa Nakya, ne? Chapter 189

Next chapter 3-6 hours~
Ah, I forgot to add a couple of notes. First a couple chapters back there was that talk about Viscount n.o.bility, I've mentioned it in the past but there's two Kanji readings for Viscount. One is the Knight n.o.ble ranking equivalent which is the lowest n.o.bility (Al's brother/father are at this one), then there's the Viscount ranking which is below Count. The Anderson family is the Viscount ranking one rank below Count and the Viscount that she was offering to Al/to their head sorcerer was the Knight ranking Viscount.
Also, the numbers from last chapter and this chapter 30, 55, 60 are referring to 55 man(10,000) AKA 550,000, etc.. Since they didn't add the man, I just wrote it as 30, 55, 60 but it probably would make more sense as 300, 550, 600 a month.
Year 7445, Month 7, Day 2
I talked about some random things that sounded appropriate until we finished our meals.
In the end Anderson brought her face close to mine from across the table and whispered "Well, we're in debt to you after all. I'll do most of what I can but..I want you to give your best" before standing up from her seat and after elegantly paying the bill she left the store.
I was sipping some tea while watching the boy clean up the tableware and a voice called out to me.
"Is it fine, over here?"
Just as I predicted, it's the wife of the Rindobel couple, Meiria.Rindobel. Laios. Commoner. 43 years old. Level 17.
"Yeah, if it isn't Rindobel-san. Please do."
I'm still sitting but I point to the other side of the table while acting politely. Since she got my permission the Rindobel couple sat down in front of me. The husband is Koritto.Rindobel. The same Laios. Commoner. 45 years old. Level 17. Unlike his wife who can't use magic, the husband has void, fire, and water magics. The elemental magics are at level 4 and the void magic is at level 5. He can use them at a decent level. You could say he's a first-rate sorcerer.
And then, next to me, the Dog-people Binsukol.Zemyunel sat down. He's a commoner as well. 27 years old. Level 17. It's not that the Rindobel couple's level is low for their age but you could say Zemyunel's level is high. Though I say that, Viruhaima who's a bit younger than them is level 19 and close to 20 and the deceased leader of {Bright.Blade} was a bit older than them but was level 18. If you think about the fact that Anderson who was just here a moment ago is level 18 then they're a bit low.
"Greed-san. I'll ask you straight out. Do you have any interest in joining us {Sun.Ray}?"
Koritto made a small smile as he said. I always think it but {Sun.Ray} sure are well-mannered and use polite tones of speech so I get a good feeling from them.
"I'll take it into consideration based on the conditions. If I can profit more than acting as a guide then I would have no complaints."
I said it partially as a joke while shrugging my shoulders. It's a joke that's often said among the {Slaughterers}. The normal cost of a guide changes between the day and the floor. The market price is 100,000 Z for 1 day on the 1st floor. Other than that there's also the entry tax for the guide and splitting things up evenly between the number of people that are considered the basic fee. It seems that some of the skilled guides even require calculating themselves as two peoples cut worth of compensation. And then, after they leave the dungeon, while calculating the bill the guide will pay back the amount for the food and consumables they used. Or at least that's the usual pattern.
Although, normal guides fundamentally have their main work places on the 1st floor and rarely~ the 2nd floor. It's extremely rare for a party that goes beyond the 3rd floor to make use of guides. Since the expenses start to get really high, even if they do make use of it them it's at best the first time the party steps foot on the 3rd floor in order to be extra careful.
If you think about it like that then the amounts {Verdure.Brotherhood} and {Black.Topaz} offered me sound appropriate but if we were supposing I'm the one that's the guide it's too cheap. Well, since it's not like something like a guide with power on the level of the top teams exists, so it can't be helped.
It seems that the top teams take about half a day to clear through the 1st floor, then after resting for several hours, they spend another half a day to clear through the 2nd floor. By that point already it would be annoying trying to calculate the total if I were hired as a guide so it would be necessary to get a guarantee of 300,000 Z for one day. If it comes to taking a full day for the 3rd and 4th floors then 1,000,000 Z for three days. After that, if we spend five days on the 5th floor then my total guaranteed amount would reach 3,500,000 Z.
Since the top teams on average only earn about 2,000,000 Z in magic stones each time they enter the dungeon, unless they were to find some valuable {Magic.Item} it would put them in the red.
"Ufufu..That's quite harsh..Though if we were to hire you as a guide I'm sure we'd gain experience more valuable than money. But, rather than a one-time thing like a guide, we were wondering if you would enter as a proper member."
After thinking about it for a moment Meiria said with a bitter smile. By the way, it seems that Zemyunel found my joke to be funny and is having trouble holding back from laughing.
"Fufu..Well then, please let me hear the conditions. I think you already know but right now I fortunately have been called out on by {Verdure.Brotherhood} and {Black.Topaz}. After I've already heard their conditions please let me take into consideration what you offer."
"Would it be alright if I ask what the conditions both of their parties offered to Greed-san?"
I honestly told them the conditions that both of their parties offered to me. Hearing that they exchanged glances and then made an offer to me.
"We'll cover all of the necessary expenses including your inn, and pay 60 a month on top of that. When it comes to income from magic stones in your case we'll split them up evenly. Other than that, in the case we obtain any items, after calculation we'll pay 10%."
Ho~ this is quite something..They sure are giving me a high appraisal for someone who was chased out of their previous party. It's a cut almost like the parties wandering around on the 1st and 2nd floors. It was only for a moment but Zemyunel made a slightly surprised face as well but soon after nodded as if he understood. I'm sure it's an even higher compensation than him. Though it's only obvious. Or rather, it would probably be best to think that they're quite troubled with clearing on the 6th floor.
"That is quite..the good conditions.."
They most likely intend on absorbing all the knowledge they can from me, then after a few months either throw me out or get rid of me. I guess that's twisting it too much huh? Though it's possible they could try to cut away at my compensation based on any mistakes I make while exploring with them.
"We enter the dungeon roughly twice a month. Taking into consideration the earnings from that month, I tell the members our plans for the next month at the end of the month. This month it's 8 days from the 6th and 8 days from the 20th, otherwise 9 days that we have planned."
"I have no objection things around there."
It seems that you're properly taking the day off for the 18th of this month which is the day the sub-moon Neitari has a full moon I see.
"Well then.."
"Well, please let me think about it for at least one night. I'll give you a reply at latest tomorrow."
The Rindobel couple lowered their heads with a slightly disappointed expression. When she saw me Meiria continued her words in a whisper.
"Also..if you were to join us there's some special and good information that we can offer you."
"Ho? What is that?"
"..There's no mistake it's something that's good. You could say it's indispensable to adventurers."
"Fumu, is it a profitable story?"
"I wonder about that. As expected we can't tell you anymore than this unless you join us but.."
"Yeah, I guess that's true. That was quite rude of me."
I apologize and lower my head and Meiria lowered the tone of her voice another couple levels. I'm sure even Zemyunel can't hear it.
"In just a mere two years? No, three years, Greed-san made the {Slaughterers} into the top adventurers in Baldukk. This time was quite unfortunate..No, it seems things ended up with quite bad luck for your but I think quite highly of you. Above all else I feel like you have the same scent as me.."
She whispered to me with her eyes narrow and then said "Well then, I'm waiting for a response tomorrow night." and stood up from her seat.
Zemyunel told me the inn they're staying at and then left together with them.
It seems they said something to Faruergaz and Hirosukol on their way out but the three of them left soon after leaving those two.
I watched that from the side while thinking, up until here it's almost exactly as Toris predicted.
At the same time I tried thinking about what would happen from here on out if it was Bel or Toris just as the first plan had. If it was either of them would things have been fine up to here? No, it can't be helped thinking about that. It's no good. There's no meaning in them becoming pieces. There's no problem in terms of stress and thought process but from here on out as many special maneuvering (smile) soldier roles will fall into our hands as we need. There's not much meaning in letting them experience things as an underling. I want to let them gain experience in places where a single failure won't end up lethal. People learn from failure after all. And also, if things even shift a slight bit from the plan, in a weird direction it could put their lives in danger. Well I'm sure they're fine on that end though.
In the case of Ralpha, who for some reason was stubbornly volunteering, things might have been fine up until now but I can't see anything but ruin a bit further beyond. No, in her case she probably wouldn't have been able to endure the stress and I can't deny the possibility of her running off somewhere while screaming "Uo~~" to relieve it. Ah, I feel like she'd drown herself in alcohol first. What point would there be turning her into an alcoholic? She was rejected for personality reasons. If Zenom was there then I feel like they would somehow be able to manage it but it's possible things wouldn't go as planned for both parent and child..Primarily in terms of the number of people in {Sun.Ray} and the compensation. In the first place, Ralpha is the one picks the most fights in the {Slaughterers} and if they avoid her because of that then they might not even call out to her so there's no meaning. Though they might look like that she's also unsuitable because they're not that easy to deceive. It doesn't matter who but I can't relax if there's no one on her side to hold the reins.

If it was Miduchi then it would be a bit better. In terms of being able to leave naturally she's the next most convenient after Toris, Bel, and Gwine. But, at the same time she's also the one they'd be the most suspicious of. After all she's my woman. In the worst case, she could be placed in a considerably dangerous situation. Even then with Miduchi's abilities it's very possible she could cut through safely but...After all if Faruergaz and the others who are there were to say something like, "That Miduchi is Greed's woman.", then I'm sure they wouldn't call out to her in the first place.
Gwine can't be taken out no matter what because of her Unique Ability and there's not a very high possibility that {Sun.Ray} would call out to Basutoral. Since Basutoral has some connection to Faruergaz and the others, if he were to make use of the fact that he's a newlywed he might be able to negotiate with them through pity but in terms of actual abilities he probably wouldn't be accepted. Or rather, it would be most natural for Basutoral to leave making use of his marriage but Faruergaz and the others would probably just say something like stop being an adventurer and start up a business. Adding to that we already know very well that he's lethally bad at acting.
Most likely I haven't given off an impression that I was "easy to deceive" or at least I'd like to think so but I do seem quite greedy, and there's also the matter of the shower on the 5th floor and how we saved their members in the past, so I think I'm the most appropriate for them to predict that I'd properly work if they give me a decent amount of compensation. Even if they were to think that I have some kind of objective I can't imagine they'd think the leader himself would leave the party he raised up that far. It's normally something you have a subordinate do. Things around there, Toris and Bel seemed to have been overlooking as well~ Though I'm happy they were trying to take my position into consideration though...
It took us quite a bit of time for it look like they naturally lost faith in me and I left but if I think about it for the sake of Toris and Bel's experience then it's still within a permissible range. If we make it to a good point from here before things fail then they should have learned quite a bit. I'm sure that will become a greater a.s.set than anything else.
Of course, I previously told them there was a possibility it would fail. However, even then they said they wanted to challenge it for their own growth. Though I might have been brought on it a bit as well but that spirit, is good. When I told them that if they can carry everything out smoothly then I'd supply them with Saya for free they got even more motivated. Give it your best trying to make good use of me to get some results.
Ah, I only know the essentials of the rough outline of the plan itself. Since the point I decided to become a p.a.w.n myself I've tried not to listen to it. If I listen to it then with my personality, I can't help but point out the parts that are lacking or missing and I might end up saying something to other members of the {Slaughterers}.
The only things I heard some amount of the details of was up until here, where I was called out on and join {Sun.Ray}. Even if I were Rindobel, I would try calling out on myself after leaving the {Slaughterers} as well. After this it's just a matter of when, how, and what kind of instructions they'll give to me? Well, if we go through Greed Company then while there's a bit of time lagg we can still communicate.
...............
"Greed-san, is it fine to take a seat here?"
After standing from their seats, Faruergaz and Hirosukol came over and called out to me.
"Feel free."
The two of them sat down in front of me and were going to say something at the same time but tried to show restraint for each other, after exchanging some glances, Hirosukol opened his mouth.
"Greed-san, how does it feel to have a reckless dream torn apart? Ah, it's definitely not that I'm looking down on you."
"Hey, Fio"
This is quite something..However, I still can't make a decision on this.
"Nothing particularly. I still don't think it's completely collapsed after all. I just need to quietly keep working towards the things I can do from here on out as well."
Without a single movement in my expression I replied immediately.
"Ho...So it isn't just making excuses...But, quietly indeed.."
"Fio, stop it already. That's not what you really want to say right? Why do you always try to charge at him so much like that.."
"Ah, sorry, Rodrick. Greed-san, I'm sorry for saying something so rude. Please pardon me."
Well, I don't really mind it that much, so it's fine.
"No, there's no problem. Please take it to mind."
Hearing my words Hirosukol made a slightly relieved expression. I guess, he just unintentionally put it into words?
"No, we're really sorry about that. Really this guy.."
Faruergaz started lowering his head together with Hirosukol who was next to him before he started talking.
"Since we started as adventurers here, you've given us a lot of advice when we didn't know anything and were struggling. I'm really grateful for it. This time that is..things ended up quite unfortunately but.."
"It should be best to talk about things from here on in "j.a.panese". Do you have any objections?"
While Faruergaz had started talking, Hirosukol cut off his words and proposed switching to speaking in j.a.panese. Since there's no particular problem I nodded. After he confirming that they exchanged glances and Hirosukol started talking.
"Greed-san, just like this human relationships are quite difficult. I think the matter this time has become quite the good medicine for you. From here on out you should have a change of heart and put in effort to gain the trust of others from the start."
"I'm very grateful, for the advice, Hirosukol-san."
"Putting that aside, there's no way you could enter the dungeon alone either way. It's not limited to just us yet but sooner or later you'll probably end up becoming a member of one of the {squadrons}. Since we have the debt from being in your care and we're the same j.a.panese people, I'd like if you join us."
Hirosukol said just {Squadron} with an English p.r.o.nunciation. Well it's not like all of the nouns in the {Common Language} are in English so he might have just brought out an English word with a close meaning.
"Certainly, the Rindobel couple offered me quite the attractive conditions. Is it alright if I ask about {Sun.Ray}? Ah, obviously only as much as you can talk about."
"Yeah, of course. It's not strange to say that we're here for that sake. I intend to talk about the details of every we can talk about.."
Relying on Faruergaz's words I tried asking several questions but the content didn't shift too far from common sense. It's only obvious though. However, it seems that they were only told about the G.o.d Notes just the other day. I was told not to tell anyone else but they specially told just me out of the friendship between the same "former" j.a.panese people.
That's quite the light mouths they have and..Well, it doesn't seem like they've reazlied the trick so from just the information they heard you wouldn't think someone loses out. Although, they themselves mentioned that they "had quite the light mouths" for saying it and I think they were just telling me out of good will. Incidentally, it seems they had a reasonable amount of knowledge about the G.o.d Notes and as expected even they saw the appeal in gaining the blessing of a super-high end healing spell.
We've used the {Cure} type spells in front of them a number of times but I've never shown them {Cure All}. Let alone that, it doesn't seem like they can properly tell the difference between {Cure Light, {Cure Serious}, and {Cure Critical}. I wonder what kind of face they would make if I said I could use {Cure All} hundreds of times?
 
.................
Year 7445, Month 7, Day 3
One day later, early in the morning, first I went to Viruhaima and the {Verdure.Brotherhood}'s place and turned down his invitation.
"Well, judging from your state it seems that things went just as planned. Just like I said before, I don't like {Sun.Ray}. I have no intention of cooperating beyond this but in the case things end up in combat inside of the dungeon when we're nearby I'll at least offer a helping hand. Of course, not for a free though."
And he said that before saying "Well, give it your best to give me some good laughs, pitiful sub-n.o.ble Greed who lost his faith and was thrown out" and started laughing out loud. You really..if this was Ralpha she'd have long since started swinging her fists.
Next I went to {Black.Topaz} to turn them down as well.
After that I went to "Mogorito Manor" the Rindeobel couple's favored inn which I had Zulu and the others watch in the past and had the brat there call them for me.
"I'm glad you made your decision. Thanks, Greed-san. No, Greed-kun. This is our emblem. Put it on your arm or something."
He said that and handed me a thin cloth dyed gold. They sure have good preparations...I tried to coil it around my left arm right away but I couldn't coil it well with one hand. Since I didn't want to use my mouth to coil it, I ended up wrapping it around my neck like a necktie.
"Ho~ that's a cool way of tying it. It seems like you can do it alone, maybe I'll have everyone do it that way?"
Korritto said in admiration. No, it's fine right now but inside of the dungeon it would be dangerous around the neck right.
"In any case come on in. Meri was looking forward to you coming as well. We have some things to talk about as well."
The middle aged man winked at me while inviting me further back into the inn. It p.i.s.sed me off how the wink strangely suited him.
Well, I wonder if with this I'm a member of {Sun.Ray} as well?