Chapter 41
Episode 41 Wizard and Barbarian (1)
“Oh no! Just once! Give me one chance!”
“What are you all doing? Why don’t we get them both out and put them in jail?”
First, after removing the begging investigator and the fainting explorer from their seats.
The compensation process was carried out swiftly.
As soon as they signed an agreement on the condition that they would not discuss this matter, a total of 6 million stones were given in cash, including additional ‘labor costs’.
Well, that wasn’t the end of it.
“All belongings in your name.”
“How is it? Mr. Yandel, check it out.”
Looking at the barbarian who was rummaging through his backpack, the wizard said with a strange look.
“Could there be something missing?”
“…A missing item?”
The barbarian hesitated for a moment, then smiled as if he understood.
“Looking at it now, it seems that something is missing, doesn’t it?”
“Oh my gosh, is there something missing?”
“It’s not a thing… About 1 million stones in cash are gone.”
A conversation with a voice that anyone can see.
The branch manager, who had been listening quietly, felt his eyes go white due to the soaring blood pressure.
What kind of bitches are there!
“What are you talking about! How could an explorer who just came out of the labyrinth carry such a large amount!”
“So you’re saying we’re lying?”
At the wizard’s cold voice, the branch manager flinched reflexively.
“That’s just a matter of course—”
“What about the evidence?”
“There’s no way—”
“Damn, are you accusing us of swindlers without proof? Mr. Yandel, now that I see it, I think this branch manager here should also be put on the punishment list?”
“That’s true too. To accuse strict barbarians and wizards of being liars, you’re sure you didn’t get a proper upbringing—”
“Stop it.”
The local chief sighed and stepped out.
“…I’ll also compensate you for the lost money.”
“I won’t say much thanks because it’s a reward I have to take for granted.”
I only didn’t pick up a knife. What’s the difference between this and a robbery?
It was embarrassing because it was so shameless, but there was nothing the branch manager could do.
All I can do is watch what’s happening right in front of my eyes.
“Here’s a million stones.”
“Wow, the Explorers Guild seems to have a lot of money, as rumor has it? If you just say it, it just comes right out of your pocket.”
“…I think I’ve expressed my respect for the Mage Tower so far. Don’t cross the line any more.”
“Yeah what.”
“Then, will you give me the crystal ball now?”
“No. I think it’s better to give it to you after you’ve made sure the punishment is right. Of course, I promise I won’t show it to anyone in the meantime.”
“…That promise must be kept.”
“Of course. Don’t worry. Anyway, we’ll be on our way, so those gathered outside can take care of it.”
After saying that, the barbarian and wizard left.
And a heavy silence settled in the hall, as if a storm had passed.
“…….”
“…….”
As a result, the guild was deprived of another 1 million stones, and even so, even the crystals were not immediately returned.
Also, the crowd gathered in front of the guild as well as the people involved in this incident had to be dealt with as homework.
The local chief, who had been forced to smile in front of the two gnomes, is now just as cold as ice caps.
Feeling the chills to the point of suffocating, the branch manager struggled to open his mouth.
“That… District Manager…? Thank you for the room just now…”
“Thanks?”
“That… didn’t you agree with those bitches’ insistence that you were protecting me?”
“Well, aren’t you my person first?”
“Kuhup! Don’t forget today’s work and
work hard for the rest of your life—”
The branch manager, who was determined to be loyal with a thrilled face, gave a bewildered expression.
“…Yes? What the hell do you mean by that……”
“Now I see you’re quite naive too. Did you think you’d be fine after making things like this?”
“Ha, but I really—”
“Okay, I’ll take care of everything after that, so if you want to save your life, be careful with your breathing until your eyes are still. It has to be a case.”
Before he could say anything, the district manager turned around and stared at his daughter.
“Daughter, I’ll tell you why you’re here today.”
“…yes father.”
“Then let’s go.”
The office was quickly emptied.
The branch manager, who was left alone inside, thought.
“Ha ha ha ha……”
It would all be a dream.
***
A black spire towering high into the sky.
It is on the 31st floor of that building.
“How is it? How do you feel about visiting the Mage Tower for the first time?”
“It must be cramped because there are no windows.”
“Uh… well, that’s true… But if it weren’t for that condition, we wouldn’t have been able to build a high-rise building like this in the city.”
Currently, this place where I am is the private laboratory of Arua Raven, a wizard belonging to the ‘Artemion’ school.
“Come sit here.”
After clearing away the pile of documents on the chair and sitting down, she served me a drink.
in an Erlenmeyer flask.
“Oh, I don’t have a cup.”
I took a moment to observe the details of the drink she gave me.
and concluded
“…it’s water.”
“Yeah, by the way? Would you like some basilisk extract?”
“No, this is enough.”
Of course I didn’t drink.
I know the contents are water, but it’s just disgusting to eat.
Not too long ago, these colorful solutions and organ specimens of monsters wouldn’t have been in here.
I got to the point.
“So what brought me here?”
“I have something to tell you. You promised to do me a favor later, didn’t you?”
It’s because of that too.
At that time, I was in a hurry, so I said I would do it blindly, but now that I’m here, I regret it.
Wouldn’t you say you’re going to do a biological experiment or something?
“As I said then, as long as it is within the possible range.”
“Okay. That’s enough.”
“So what is your request?”
“I want to do exclusive research on the essence that Mr. Yandel absorbed. It will surely be of help to Mr. Yandel. As this is unprecedented, maybe something unusual might be discovered?”
As the words continued, her eyes changed.
From calculating eyes, like when dealing with the regional chief, to the academic enthusiasm I saw at the crack in the past.
It’s not that I can’t understand the following.
Except for the mutant rift we experienced this time, there were no rifts in which vampires appeared as guardians on all floors.
“But what does exclusive research mean?”
“Oh, that’s it? To put it simply, it means that the sample is provided only to me. I want to submit it to the academic world as a thesis under my name.”
What are wizards in this world like graduate students?
It’s a motive that I don’t understand at all, but…
Originally, I heard that scholars are the worst when it comes to honor.
oh no wait
“Could it be that this was the reason why I asked you to delete the records related to vampires earlier?”
When I was writing the consent form at the guild, she came forward and asked me not to record the fact that I had eaten the essence of a vampire.
Of course, I didn’t expect that it would be a perfect secrecy, but…
I agreed, thinking that it would be better than letting go.
‘There is a saying that you should hide 70% of your abilities.’
To be honest, I thought I was grateful to see her take care of even the smallest details…….
She awkwardly scratched her cheek.
“Ummm… it’s not like it’s not……”
It’s the negation of negation, so it means it’s right in the end.
Soon, Raven openly changed the topic of conversation.
“Hmm! Anyway, I don’t ask for much, I think it will be enough if you come once a week and help me for about three hours.”
Three hours a week……
“Total duration?”
“Well, half a year seems to be enough, but…”
“Three months.”
“Okay. So, are you listening to my request?”
“I will.”
As soon as the first agenda was settled, Raven immediately brought up the next agenda.
“Then, shall we go back and finish the calculations?”
calculate?
Do you still have any of that?
When I looked at her with eyes that seemed like she was talking nonsense, she also renovated the atmosphere.
Just like when I was fighting with the regional head earlier.
“It’s not enough that you survived thanks to me, so you got a total of 6 million stones for free, right? I don’t think it’s strange to claim my share.”
haha that’s right
Now I know a little bit about the tribe of wizards.
If I was a simple efficiency bug, these guys were extreme gainers.
So, I also decided to renew my mindset.
“You’re asking for money, and you’re talking about something interesting.”
Just like when you smash a goblin’s head.
***
An altercation ensues.
In a more exasperated voice than before.
“That would have been the same for any other wizard, not you.”
“Well, if it were someone else, I would have sold the crystal ball as soon as the district chief suggested it?”
“But you must have already received the payment for that from the regional chief? That’s a whopping 1 million stones.”
Rather, I earned that much thanks to me, so if you claim a share, I swear to Behela that it must be me.
“…Then at least give me the one million stones I earned in my backpack at the end. That’s all thanks to my advice, right?”
Did you say you wanted to be friends earlier?
I decided to cancel that statement.
Do barbarians look like hukou?
“It’s a refusal.”
“Okay. I decided to help with the research, so I won’t ask for everything. I’ll give you even half of 500,000 stones.”
“It’s a refusal.”
“Huh, even if it’s 250,000 stones—”
“It’s a no-brainer.”
I didn’t make any compromises.
He is also chewing on what he wants to lose bone loss.
And I do not negotiate with the chew.
On the contrary, if you accepted it, you accepted it.
“This talk 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 let go of my nerves before I look down on them even more.’
To be honest, it’s not that I didn’t feel grateful for this incident.
But apart from that, in order to have a long-term and friendly relationship, I need to show what kind of guy I am.
No matter what you do in front of you, a kid who laughs hahahoho isn’t a good guy, he’s just an asshole.
‘The reason he was persistent in the first place was probably because he really needed money, rather than because he wanted to kill me.’
“Okay, let’s move on to the next calculation.”
“The next calculation?”
She tilted her head as if she hadn’t noticed anything.
Like a barbarian, I spoke directly.
“You must give me five million stones.”
“Oh five million stones? Why am I?”
” Because
you
fed me the essence of a corpse golem without my consent.
” Everyone gave me the essence they wanted for free, but they asked for money in return? Do you think that makes sense?”
Yes.
It’s not just nonsense.
I don’t know why everyone lacks imagination, but in fact, if you look at it point by point, it’s all a theory.
“Why do you think it doesn’t make sense? You forcibly fed the essence without my consent to keep you alive.”
“Don’t you think they all tried to save you?”
“Well I don’t know that, and I didn’t want to. So pay me ten million stones. I heard it takes that much to erase the essence from the temple—”
“Why delete that precious thing! You crazy barbarian!”
“Because it wasn’t the essence I wanted. You’ve caused me serious damage.”
Her face turned red, unlike before when they were playing price negotiations.
Anyone can see that it sounds like an argument, but in a way it sounds like an argument
. She regained her composure after spitting out,
“…I heard that explorers can’t find essence because they don’t have it. So this doesn’t make sense. Rather, I should take the money!”
“Isn’t that your prejudice as a wizard? You can also ask other explorers. What would you think if someone else ate the essence you didn’t want?”
“Ha! Are you saying that because you think there’s no explorer I know? Wait a minute. I’ll check it right away.”
Soon after, she took out the crystal ball on the desk in a state of excitement. Then, she manipulated it as if she were dialing a phone number, and it connected in no time. ” Ah
, are you Mr. Partzran?”
]
“Hello. It is called Arua Raven of the Artemion school. Did you see Master last time?”
[Ah! Miss Raven! I remember. But what happened all of a sudden…?]
“I have a question for you. What do you think if someone feeds Unscheduled Essence to Mr. Patsran without consent?” [
Hahaha! I don’t know why you’re asking such a bizarre question, but if I were to answer… I’d be very angry.]
“…Yes. ? Are you angry? E If a rank 7 integer. Even if it’s a very rare essence that can only be obtained in a rift?” [
Even so, it’s the same. Unplanned essences are essences that can only have a negative effect on me. I don’t know about Miss Raven, but if you pick up any essence, you’ll never go upstairs. I can’t go.]
As soon as the communication was connected, I put on a triumphant expression for a while.
After hearing the explorer’s kind reply, she began to look at me with a pale face.
“Yes, of course. I’m talking under the assumption that that happened… How should I compensate?” [
If it were me, I’d ask for a cash reward first.]
“How much would that be…?”
[About 15 million stones would be appropriate.]
“That much?”
[Essentials become more expensive as the number of times they are erased increases. How can the creators of worshiping gods reveal so much money… …]
“Ah ah, that’s right…”
Soon after, the communication tool fell from her hand and rolled around.
I picked it up for her and put it back in her hand. “I still have one question left to ask,” I whispered
in
my ear, and a blonde girl in her mid-teens asked with a trembling voice,
“…Mama If you can’t compensate with money, then how can Mr. Patsran do it? Do you want to do it?”
[Well, well? If that happened and the person in question was right in front of me…]
The man on the other side of the communication port responded cheerfully.
[He’ll probably break his neck to the side and kill him. Hahaha! ]