Chapter 145: Interesting, Aren’t You?
The adventurer glared at me and took one step back.
The adventurers here currently have no work.
The reason is that because of the recent stampede, monsters temporarily no longer exist nearby.
Slimes are probably spawning, but only Dil and the others and the shoe shop Boaz would have demand.
This situation resembles the situation of the adventurers who had gathered at Suzuya after the war.
At that time because the war continued for a whole year the return of monsters was slow, but for this stampede I had expected the return to be early.
To the adventurer whose judgment is a little slow I let out a small sigh and spoke.
"What will you do?"
"...If we don’t accept the negotiation?"
"Die for me."
"Wha!?"
At my words the adventurer in front of me made an expression of astonishment; the surrounding adventurers were making a stir and panicking.
The ones not surprised are Sagua who is letting out a large sigh, and probably Roll, Elysia, and Fia are also not surprised.
From my perspective I do not understand what they are so surprised about.
Even though if I do not put out killing intent they seem about to attack, being surprised when they themselves seem about to be killed is strange.
They have done well as adventurers with this kind of mental preparedness.
"You, do you understand what you yourselves were about to do?"
"W-we were only asked to threaten!"
"That is your circumstances. The side being done to does not know those circumstances. Moreover, you tried to lay hands on my precious ones; don’t you think that normally it would not be strange to be killed?"
"That is..."
"I understood your situation. Therefore I am compromising and offering negotiation. If you say you will not accept, then for our future die for me."
The adventurer was looking at my face with a blank expression; the surrounding adventurers’ clothes are wet perhaps from cold sweat.
Even if I overlook them here, there is no guarantee that they will not attack us again.
Can one trust a guy who accepted a dangerous request even once.
I have not said anything wrong, and I am compromising.
Because he understands that Sagua is quietly watching our state.
The adventurer swallowed saliva, let one drop of sweat flow from his forehead, and spoke in a tense-like atmosphere.
"Please... tell me the contents of the negotiation."
"In exchange for withdrawing from this request, I want to request work from me. I’ll say in advance, it is ordinary common adventurer work. Also I’ll have you give a written pledge that you will never accept such a request again, okay?"
"...Instructor."
To Sagua who made an apologetic expression I waved one hand as if saying don’t mind it and checked the adventurer’s state.
The adventurer looked over the surrounding adventurers, then looked at me and lowered his head with a serious face.
"Please. Not only me, but also request the guys here as well?"
"...I’m a little relieved; you haven’t rotten that far. Roll..."
"Yes yes, write on the paper in front of you that you will never do such a thing again, okay?"
When I turned behind intending to request Roll, Fia lightly clapped both hands and was distributing paper floating with magic to the adventurers.
The adventurers while surprised grasped the paper, took out pens from magic bags, and began writing.
When Fia looked at my face she tilted her head slightly and floated an alluring smile.
Elysia requested Roll to look at the contents, looked at my face, and was smiling troubledly.
Truly reliable lovers; I also have to do properly.
Leaving this place to Sagua, I, Elysia, Fia, and Roll headed to the back room.
This tavern has private rooms; that had become the promised gathering place.
I walked ahead and opened the door without knocking; then ten men with tense faces were sitting at a round table.
I surveyed the men, smiled enjoyably, and called out to the slightly aged summarizing man Bis sitting at the very back.
"Even though it’s been a while, quite the reception?"
"I... didn’t do anything..."
"There are plenty of witnesses. Stop the excuses; it’s unsightly. Well, fine... so start the gathering for me."
If there is content of the gathering? I murmured in my heart and sat in a seat.
Elysia and Fia sat on both sides; Roll stood at the door and was cautious of the men.
From Roll’s state, if someone tries to move she can respond immediately.
The men here are those who have been running taverns in the royal capital since Father’s generation.
Therefore I know everyone’s faces, and also know the locations of the taverns they manage.
What is regrettable is that they set a trap for the comrades participating in the gathering.
I know the circumstances, but how pathetic.
Thinking that these are the men who have long protected the taverns of the royal capital, I cannot help being truly disappointed from the bottom of my heart.
I let out a sigh and spoke to Bis tiredly.
"Selling out comrades; something is wrong with you?"
"For us the shop is everything. For that... we become villains."
"I see... I’m disappointed. The men Father boasted about have gone somewhere."
When I said that the men lowered their eyes; Bis made a sad face.
Operating a tavern long in the royal capital is not simple.
Reputation also comes into play, and the response to adventurers also differs.
Because they are taverns long loved in the royal capital, Father took me to the gatherings many times and boasted.
That the men gathering at this gathering are giving peace to the adventurers of the royal capital...
That conversely advancing them on the path of crime is unforgivable.
"If you also think that, my feelings were not wrong."
I was surprised at the voice I had heard before and stared at the woman who appeared from behind Bis.
The elegant lady who appeared from behind Bis; her name is Setenia.
Age 43, height 175, fluffy black hair grown longer than the shoulders, considerably slender body type.
With that slender body type, the breasts bear watermelons.
Wearing an elegant yellow dress, she was putting out an unapproachable atmosphere.
With a young beauty that does not seem 43, she smiled seductively at me and tilted her head slightly.
Feeling a bad premonition and being glad I prepared various things, I think looking at Setenia’s face.
Setenia is the woman who tries to keep Roy as a pet in the story.
By Roy being active she catches Setenia’s eye, and she tries to bring him into her hands with every possible means.
This is troublesome; every time Setenia tempts Roy a crack enters the relations of the lovers.
If the crack is only one person it is still forgivable.
But when tempted, a crack enters even the relations of all the lovers not present at the place; the worst event.
It is possible to repair for the time being, but... it takes time, and I remember players often lamenting.
What Setenia makes her livelihood is investment; different from Erika’s investment in several shops, she goes not only to the royal capital but also to other countries and invests considerably.
It was examined that she holds wealth incomparable to nobles.
"Because I felt a somehow interesting atmosphere, I had him recognize my participation in the gathering."
"Hmm... First let’s introduce ourselves. I am Raide; and you?"
"...Fuhn, I am Setenia."
At my words Setenia narrowed her eyes and smiled as if looking at something interesting.
Crossing my arms and rubbing my chin with one hand I quietly waited for Setenia to begin speaking.
Elysia without collapsing her smile stared at Setenia; Fia also smiled enjoyably and was looking at Setenia.
"You... are interesting, aren’t you?"
"Haa, please don’t make me a target... Look, this is it, right?"
"...Why is this?"
I let out a sigh, took out a certain thing from the magic bag, slid it across the top of the table, and moved it in front of Setenia.
While making a suspicious expression Setenia took the thing that moved to her hand.
Thinking it would be troublesome if made a target by Setenia, I quickly give her the thing she desires.
"A magic tool that lifts the petrification curse."
"What did you say?"
"Shall I say the conditions for giving that. Do not search why I know the circumstances, do not add harm to us... Ah, do not try to keep us as pets."
"What are you...?"
"Just an ordinary shop owner of the Suzuya tavern."
Setenia looked at my face suspiciously and dropped her gaze to the magic tool.
The men had become air; Setenia began touching and looking at the magic tool she had held with one hand with both hands.
Incidentally Elysia and Fia were quietly laughing enjoyably while looking at my face from the corner of their eyes; I also felt the atmosphere of Roll behind laughing with my back.