Legend
0258 words
"Excuse me, Master Dusker. I've brought Master Keo."
When two people, Ray and Dusker, are talking about replenishment, the door is knocked and that's how I can sound.
The voice itself was familiar to Ray as well. That's the maid who showed me Ray to this room earlier.
"Get in."
A door opens to Dusker's voice and a maid with a larger basin in her hand gratefully enters the office.
While holding dishes for all kinds of tea or sandwiches prepared as snacks with one hand, I guess it's just the maid of honor that makes the trick smooth.
And one young man comes in after such a maid.
Even a young man is older than Ray, over 10 years old, a man who in his late 20s stretched his blonde hair close to yellow to the edge of his shoulder to give the impression that it looked mild.
"Dear Dusker, this is for you."
"Mm-hmm. You've never seen it in person since you only listened. This is Ray. The person with the item box is also a part of this replenishment plan. Ray, this is Keo Niggs. I am in charge of this replenishment plan"
To Dusker's words, a man called Keo opens his eyes wide and looks to Ray.
Ray similarly turns his gaze to Keo.
But the meaning of the two gaze was completely different.
Though Keo has wanted to see him for a long time, he has an interest and preference for someone he didn't see because he didn't have the opportunity.
Ray has a last name, which means that the nobles were under Dusker's command.
(No, I'm a man enough to serve as a central figure in neutralism. Naturally it is natural to have one or two aristocrats in your men)
Thinking inside like that, suddenly Keo approaches Ray with his face shining.
"Hey, hey, you're the rumored Ray. No, it's nice to meet you. Master Dusker introduced me, but I'm Keo Niggs. Dear Dusker, I'm in charge of supply work for the Knights under your banner. Nice to meet you."
That's all I'm saying. Keo getting his hands on Ray.
Exactly, even on Ray, you barely thought you'd be treated so friendly. Reach out and hold Keo's hand almost reflexively.
"It's Ray."
"Yeah, yeah. You have the same personality as I was asking, thank you. So you can assume that being here is gonna take care of the supply thing, right?
Ray nods if he is pushed slightly by Keo, who makes his face shine in anticipation and asks.
"Oh. I was originally going to participate in this war. It will take the form of this, but I'm going to let you cooperate."
"No, that would help. If it weren't for you, it would have been hard to adjust that amount by carefully selecting supplies to the limit to keep the speed of travel as low as possible. But I'd be relieved to have you with the item box. So, how long can an item box be stored inside in capacity? What about restrictions when you take them out? Or maybe you use magic when you use it?
Ray answers the question as he eats to Keo, who keeps asking questions with momentum.
"I don't know how far the capacity goes. For now, I have never been able to use it before. You can't imitate a restriction or take it all out. For example, if 20 long swords are stored separately, one at a time will be released. However, if you put 20 long swords in some kind of bin and store them in an item box, you can do the backgammon like collecting and removing them by putting out that bin. It doesn't consume magic when I use it, but the item box itself only responds to my magic, so there's a limit that it can only be used by me."
"... I see. It's convenient to put it in a bin and take it out. And, Ray, it's a little inconvenient that I can't use anything other than you, but I wonder if it helps if I don't have to worry about other people using item boxes where supplies are rounded up.... Most importantly, the fact that all the supplies are in that item box means, on the contrary, it's clear that if I kill you, Ray, or steal that item box, the power over here will be gutted in no time. What about the measures around there?
Keo asks Ray with a sharp eye, keeping his tone light until earlier.
I guess I'm just proud of what I do, and I don't see any loopholes.
Just figuring that out with Keo's gaze, Ray will also answer Keo's question without precipitation.
"First of all, I think it's hard to kill me. I'm not proud of it, but I'm still proud to say that I have the same combat ability as a Rank A adventurer, and Griffon's Ceto is always on my side. And anyone who tries to steal an item box will have a baptism of fire."
That's what Ray tells me as he remembers the magic he used to hang on Mystering.
But I turn my gaze toward Keo as I accidentally notice something.
"With that said, I still said it, I have an obedient named Ceto the Griffon. My partner, my best friend, my family."
"Oh, I'm listening. She's cute enough to be famous in the city."
"That's right. In this city... na"
"... I see"
Hear Ray's words and unwittingly nod Keo. I guess I figured out what Ray was trying to say.
As was the case in the city of Abu Ero, there are basically a handful of people who can stand to be adventurers, ordinary citizens, soldiers, knights, and griffons of Rank A monsters near themselves. The inhabitants of the city of Gilm, who in that sense tolerate Ceto, can be said to be a city on the periphery but therefore peculiar. And even in the city of Gilm, when Ray first came to the city, there were quite a few people who were afraid of Seto, even though he was wearing the devil's necklace.
In other words, suppose there was a presence called Griffon in a place where many people gathered from all over the country for the war... it's not hard to imagine what kind of noise it would be.
"I'm sure you do. So what do you say we let them know in advance that some of the forces we dispatch from the city of Gilm in the name of Master Dusker are following Griffon? I think we can hold them off from up there even if they make some noise."
From halfway through the words, Keo's gaze turned to me. It was a dusker I thought about for a few seconds, but eventually I nodded small and open my mouth.
"Right. Let me give a message to those who started it.... but Ray. Isn't that the only problem?
Ray also agrees with the gaze he just said that he sees everything.
"Yes. If Seto knew that he was following me very well, there would be no such thing as confusion caused by fear. But on the contrary, I was wondering if a few of those who knew that they would follow my word would come out thinking otherwise.... do it, don't do it"
"I guess. Except for our faction, which is particularly problematic. As far as neutralism is concerned, it's fine because I hold myself tight, but many noblemen don't see anyone but nobility as the same person. The Duke of Kelevel, the central figure of the faction, will have no problem because he places more emphasis on strength than his identity, but those who make up the aristocracy will have a bit of a problem. And the Kings, or"
"... I see"
Keo, who was listening to Ray and Dusker, understands what the two are worried about.
Griffon in Rank A Monster. If we could defeat so many high-ranking monsters, we would make incredible profits from the only demonic stones and materials that live in them.
In fact, Ray couldn't deny that possibility either, just because there was a Bornter from the Azot Chamber of Commerce who had been after Seto.
(Well, Bornter will have fully compensated by now for the sins of that ridiculous behavior)
Ray whines inside as he remembers the magic he used for Bornter, which is no exaggeration to say it was for torture.
"Anyway, if you go through the conversation in my name, you'll be able to hold down some handouts, even if they're not completely.... not entirely because of the faction's power. If someone comes up with a hand... I don't care, knock it off."
"... Huh?
Ray unwittingly asks back to the unexpected words out of Dusker's mouth.
Dusker, in the position of Larks Borderline Uncle, is the one who gets his hands on the extra hand, even though he contacted him as useless. Naturally, it's definitely someone Dasker can't do anything about with his influence. Yet I didn't expect him to beat the crap out of me.
"Is that okay? Then you'll be buying grudges from the other nobles. I'm sure I can still do anything about it, but don't even get involved with Master Dusker..."
Dusker with an invincible grin on his mouth with his nose rattling at the words of such a ray.
Only Dusker with a tough face, and that's how he laughed, all Ray could see was the bandit's best balls in his eyes.
"If the kingdom of Mireana has to unite unanimously to intercept the Bestian Empire, the kind of guy who prioritizes satisfying his own greed, when it comes to fighting, it's only in the way. I don't know how to tear this operation apart for the sake of handles. Then it's not bad for the kingdom of Mireana for not having to put him on the front line from the start.... Oh, but for once I'll just tell you this, just don't let it be awkward to kill you"
"... ok. If that's what Master Dusker will say, don't worry about me. Let me use my power in the war against the Bestian Empire."
If the factions above you force your hands, you can do whatever you want, as long as you don't kill them. Ray, so told, returns his words to Dusker with a grin.
But the grin in his mouth was like a carnivore who found his prey if Dasker's grin was a bandit's grin.
"Um, can I stay here?
Keo groans as if he had eaten the bastard, and Ray and Dusker return to me with that voice.
"Ever, you did. Let's start with the item box."
"Oh, did you remember?... So, Mr. Ray. I'd like you to let me know if there's anything useful about how to use the item box."
"Even if they suddenly say so..."
Whimpering, Ray carries a cup of tea into his mouth that was on the table. And I reach for the sandwich that is placed on the table as it is, and I think of it.
"Keo, I need to ask you something, what's the meal like when the army's on the move?
"Basically, dried meat, cheese, and then some hard-baked bread."
"I guess. Even when I was working as an adventurer, the other adventurers looked like that. So, when I take the dishes I've stored out of the item box, I'm always surprised."
I guess that word alone figured out what Ray said. Keo opens his eyes and at the same time Dusker gives another startling look.
"Right, a meal!
"It is true that food distributed in the military is a priority over nutrition and flavour, not to take a place. For that reason, it's mostly dried meat and hard-baked bread... if you use the item box."
To Dusker's gaze with expectations, Ray snorts.
"Yes, if you eat good food, you naturally get more morale"
"I guess. Even less would be very different in terms of morale than eating army food. To warm and delicious soups and stews, bread baked plump and soft without thinking about preservation. And if Ray can carry every barrel of booze that I can't usually take with me because I'm taking a place..."
"I can... I can, Master Dusker!
Keo's face as he was listening to Ray and Dusker shine and scream, I assure you.
"If that's the case, I'll immediately ask the cooks and bakers to prepare it when it comes to food. That's exactly what I made in this city, so all I can prepare is for the people who leave this city... If you want to think about the morale of soldiers, if you can prepare a meal for the whole army..."
"Keo, that's just not possible. This city alone will prepare all the meals of the army participating in the war."
In the end, Ray will receive this nomination request and will exchange contracts as a mercenary and supply officer.
Ordinary mercenaries were promised a pretty large reward with five silver coins a day, while the daily reward was one silver coin.