When I arrived at the Alchemy Guild, I slowly pushed open the door and peeked inside.
There was only the receptionist, stretching and letting out a big yawn.
Before talking to Reinrich, I figured I'd ask her if it was possible to pay for the alchemy lab later.
「So? How'd it go? Sell anything?」
「Uwaaaah!」
A voice called out from behind me and I jumped in surprise as I stepped inside.
It was Reinrich, grinning at me with a mischievous look.
The receptionist, startled for a moment, greeted me warmly with a gentle welcome back.
「Ah—uhm—」
I had to say it.
Even if we'd only known each other for two days and I wasn't sure I could even call him an acquaintance… I still had to say it.
「…No need. I can tell from the smell and that pitiful look on your face. Riito, from today onward, we're done selling recovery potions to the Adventurers' Guild.」
「Uh, ah, okay. But… are you sure about that?」
「Of course. If they're not going to act, then there's nothing we need to do for them.」
「Um…」
「Hmph. They probably mistook you for someone from the Pharma Guild and decided to harass you. I went out of my way to introduce them to someone talented, and this is what they do.」
「A-Are you really sure? I mean, the guild's already struggling financially with all the talent flowing to the Pharma Guild, and the ones left are only interested in their own research…」
「Riito, we've worked together a long time. You should know by now—I'm angry.」
「Y-Yes! Then starting tomorrow—」
「Today. Unless they come crawling with an apology, they can buy overpriced potions from the Pharma Guild for all I care.」
「Understood!」
So the receptionist's name is Riito. She zipped off into the back room.
More importantly, Reinrich is seriously scary.
「So… um, would it be okay if I paid for the alchemy lab later? I was thinking of crafting some ingots to sell…」
「What? That's nothing. Don't worry about it. But really, after what happened, you're still going to get to work right away? You're such a good kid, always thinking about the guild. Sorry I ever said it was a shame.」
「I really just don't have any money… Besides, I forgot to sell the necklace.」
「If it's a necklace, take it to the armor shop. They'll probably only give you half the value, but they'll still buy it.」
「R-Right. Then I guess I'll—」
「Leave it for tomorrow. Going to the armor shop then will save you the hassle.」
「Yeah… you're right. Hey, Reinrich?」
「What is it?」
「Thanks… for getting mad on my behalf. It helped me feel a little better.」
「…Hmph. It wasn't for your sake. I just plan to make good use of you, that's all.」
Not a tsundere… probably.
Well, even if Reinrich is using me, I doubt anything bad will come of it.
She does look like a villain, though. Yeah… it's fine… right?
「Ah, hey. Do you know how much it costs to buy a slave or a house?」
「What do you need a slave for, huh?」
「No reason. Just curious…」
「Men, honestly… Well, whatever.」
That's not it, okay? It's not because I'm a guy or anything.
But, I mean, if I had to choose, a cute girl would be nice.
Still, there's a lot of heavy lifting, so a guy might be useful too. Yeah.
「Slaves range in price. Some start from 100,000 nohl, but others can cost tens or even hundreds of millions. The expensive ones are usually fallen noble daughters, or defeated royalty from some fallen nation. They're usually sold at auctions.」
Cheap! The lowest price is only 100,000?
Nobles and royals seem like they'd be selfish and useless, so I don't really care about them.
「Houses are also all over the place. A normal one costs at least 10 million nohl. At that price, it'll probably be small and run-down. If you're buying slaves, you'd want a house worth at least 80 million nohl to have enough space.」
Whoa, 80 million, huh… What kind of mansion is that?
Still, even if the goal's far off, it doesn't feel impossible if I work hard.
-0-
I shut myself in the alchemy chamber and start by making accessories.
I can't stay here for days on end, after all.
I need to earn enough for food and lodging, and for this and the next session's chamber fee too.
I guess I'll go with a Twisted Iron Necklace for now. If it turns out well, I can get a silver coin for it.
It's not a bad item to get used to making.
I create ingots, divide one into eighths, then pick one up and focus on the alchemy.
『twisted iron necklace』
No effects, no bonuses, and it's written entirely in hiragana. This one's a failure.
It's no good. Even though I feel a bit better thanks to Reinrich, there's still a fog in the back of my mind.
It's a sign I'm not fully focused.
I don't like relying on work as an escape when something bad happens, but right now I need to take it slow and concentrate.
I kept at it, and in the end, only the last two succeeded.
Both had Defense +2, so I can probably sell them for 10,000 nohl each.
Ah, but armor shops pay half price, don't they?
That's not enough. I'll need to make more.
I was just about to lay some iron out on the table when—
「My deepest apologies!!」
A loud voice called out from behind the door, echoing with regret.
「You apologizing doesn't change anything. I stick to my decisions. We're not supplying potions to the Adventurer's Guild anymore. I'm planning to work with traveling merchants instead.」
「Please, I'm begging you… The Pharma Guild only sells Medium or higher-grade healing potions. New adventurers can't afford them, and even the mid-level ones can't buy more than a few.」
「That's none of my concern. This is the result of the mess your people made.」
「But that was a misunderstanding… If you're going to say that, then…」
「I don't care what those who left the Alchemy Guild are doing now. Didn't someone from your own guild quit and turn into a bandit? Did you take responsibility for that?」
Reinrich seemed fired up, her voice growing louder with every word.
「And what about that girl over there? Why didn't she confirm the guild affiliation? Deals only start after that, and she skipped it. That's what caused this. Wasn't she hired by your guild?」
「No, that's…」
「Then spit it out already. My cute, talented apprentice poured his heart into those potions, only to get them thrown back in his face and come home crying. You really think you can walk away from this like nothing happened?」
Hey, Reinrich. When did I ever come back crying?
And wait, apprentice? …Ah, so this is what she meant by using me.
「Reinrich-sama, please, won't you at least hear us out…」
「Quiet, Red Girl. You think you're mediating, but from where I'm standing, you're just covering for your own. That's not mediation. That's helping them run away.」
「Hey, old lady! Aina was trying to help!」
「Stopping a man's pride with brute force is your idea of help? Then I guess dying with honor is just dying for nothing. By that logic, Heyron, the S-Rank adventurer who saved Einzheil, died for no reason too.」
「That's not what I meant—!」
The red-haired beauty's voice echoed through the room.
Wait, who was that… I feel like I've heard it before…
Ah! The tiny dog-eared girl who was with that red-haired lady.
She's here too? Ugh, I'm bad with her type.
She seems like the kind who doesn't listen to a word anyone says.
「…Anyway. Could you let us talk to him directly? If he agrees, I'd like to settle this.」
「Absolutely not. I won't let you have any more negative influence on him. That boy managed to make a Small Healing Potion in just one day. He's a brilliant alchemist. I won't let some adventurers who think brute force solves everything ruin his potential.」
Stop it, Reinrich. Saying I'm "excellent" or whatever… that's a bit embarrassing.
Ehehe.
「What…!」
「You get it, right? From now on, that little one will only get better and better. He was supposed to make a large quantity of healing potions (small). But you all ruined it yourselves.」
Reinrich seems to be enjoying this.
He's raising his voice as if he's just captured the head of a demon.
Good. Keep going.
「And also…」
Oh, looks like Reinrich has a trump card ready.
Go ahead, say it!
「That little one was brought here by Hayato. Surely you're not so stupid as not to understand what that means?」
「What!?」「Eh…?」「The Dragon Slayer Hayato!?」「Hayato, that Hayato? The S-Class?」
「Yeah, that Hayato. S-Class, Dragon Slayer, Count, and a hero known far and wide.」
「「「「......」」」
Hayato is amazing!!!
S-Class must be the highest rank, right? And a Dragon Slayer? Did he actually slay a dragon? A human did that?
It's not some Komodo dragon, is it?
And then he's a Count and a hero?
In a story, that's already past the midpoint, right?
I'm sorry that someone like me had to meet him at this point!
Wait, didn't Reinrich call me a little one when he introduced me to Hayato?
You only praise me when it's convenient for you, huh?
「I'm sure you understand what I'm saying. Earlier, you said you helped that little one. But if even a single arm had been cut off, I would've ordered the entire Alchemy Guild to prohibit deliveries to the Adventurers' Guild. That's my way of showing respect to Hayato, who introduced him to me. Even so, are you still going to say you helped him?」
「U-Um…」
「Hmph. That's enough, dog girl. And how are you planning on taking responsibility? Guild master of the Adventurers' Guild?」
It's decided. I can clearly picture Reinrich, arms and legs crossed, looking down on the utterly defeated guild master of the Adventurers' Guild.
The two from the Red Front also fell silent once Hayato's name was mentioned.
The receptionist girl probably looks pale as a ghost right now.
Well, she had a foul mouth and a bad attitude, so I don't feel any sympathy for her.
「…The adventurer in question will be expelled from the guild… and she will be asked to resign as well. Also, for the next three years, how about we give you 10% of our profit margin?」
Ohhhh?
Aren't the first two a bit dangerous?
But the latter part… that's a pretty incredible offer.
「That's a guild-to-guild agreement, isn't it? What about for that little one personally? No compensation or anything? This is just ridiculous. Go on, get out of here.」
「I-I understand. We'll give 1 million Nohl from the Adventurers' Guild to him…」
Wow. That's over fifty times more than the 2,000 to 3,000 Nohl potions.
「My hearing's bad, you know. Isn't the figure a bit off?」
「No, no! 10 million Nohl, that's just… you're taking advantage of us, aren't you?」
10 million!?
Is this an accident that won't be covered by insurance?
This is outrageous, even for an inflated price.
「You still don't get it, do you? You haven't even considered how much that little one will contribute to you adventurers in the future. Once things get messed up like this, they can never go back to normal. I'm telling you, I'm going to fix it, and you think 1 million is enough? That's ridiculous.」
「But the guild's assets…」
「Fine. I'll cover the compensation for him.」
「Aina!?」
Huh? What does that mean?
「I'm sorry, Sorte. This is my fault.」
「It's not your fault! And besides, that money…! You're not—!」
「Yeah. I'm thinking of becoming a slave. I'm rough around the edges, but my name as an adventurer is well known, and it will probably cost a lot.」
「Why would you go that far? There's no need to take sides with the guild like this!」
Become a slave? That beautiful person is going to become a slave?
「I was the one who took responsibility and intervened in that conflict. Since my intervention was a mistake, I have an obligation to take responsibility for it.」
「Are you stupid!? How seriously are you going to take this!?」
「I'm sorry.」
「…What about your adventuring?」
「I'm sorry…」
「Stop apologizing all the time…」
「Can we discuss this somewhere else? Now, what's your decision?」
Reinrich, you… oh, no, this isn't the time to be making jokes like that.
It feels like this is spiraling out of control.
Honestly, I'm just grateful for the 1 million Nohl.
I'm a commoner, after all…
「That's…」
「As for compensation, I'll pay it with my body. I'll become his property and then leave the decision to him. For the rest of the transactions, you two guild masters can settle it.」
「I don't care anymore! Do whatever you want!! But I'll go with you to the slave trader's office!」
「Ah. Understood. I truly am sorry.」
「Hmph.」
「Alright. So for that girl, personally, we'll say 10 million Nohl, right? And as for the guild-to-guild transactions, we're going to make it 10% profit for your side for the next four years, right?」
You sly fox, Reinrich-sama. Adding an extra year, huh?
You truly are an oni.
I'm sure you'll experience retribution in the future….
「Understood… I accept your terms.」
Ah, the Adventurers' Guild master is so downcast he's agreed to it without a word…
「Here are the contract documents.」
Riito-san is well-prepared. As expected, she's been serving for years. She was already planning to add that extra year, wasn't she? She's quick, that one!
「Alright, you're probably already listening, so come out now.」
Baretera.
TN: is a joking internet slang of "Baretera", used when something about you or someone else is revealed.
So, you're making your appearance now, huh? Honestly, I'd rather not show my face. This atmosphere is so heavy, and I'm worried I'll be looked at like I'm the enemy of their family.
「What are you doing? Hurry up and come here.」
Reinrich-sama, your voice is so scary.
But, I'm a man too. I'll steel myself and open the door.
As soon as I opened it, all eyes turned to me.
Yeah, I don't like this feeling.
As expected, the two from the Adventurers' Guild look pale, and Aina-san is glaring at me with determination, but Sorte-san is giving me a death glare.
It's not my fault!
「I'm truly sorry… You probably heard this, but as an apology to you, I've decided to become your slave. I'll go to the slave merchant, find out my price, and then you can decide whether to keep me or sell me. Will you forgive me like this?」
Wow.
Wooooow.
That hits right in the heart.
A beautiful woman like Aina-san becoming your slave? Woooow.
And she has an amazing figure, too. Her curves are perfectly shaped. Everything that should stick out does, and everything that should be tucked in is just right.
But, but,
This is too heavy!
It's way too heavyyyyyy!!
All I did was get some potions splashed on me!
Well, sure, back then, I was really angry, but…
This is different! This is just… different!!
Aina-san isn't even at fault that much in all of this!
Do I have some hidden luck stat, like Luck EX?
Do I have some hidden LUK stat maxed out or something?
If I did, I wouldn't have run into a caterpillar at the start of all this, right?!
I don't need that kind of stuff…
I just want to live peacefully…
So, I said this.
「I refuse!!!」