"What the hell, this receipt..."
Leon, in the office in the clanhouse, held his head as he headed to his desk.
What's on my desk is a receipt from my buddies. If there is an expense that can be dropped as an expense, Leon, the sub-master, is supposed to receive the receipt. And if you decide that there is no problem as an expense, you decide to liquidate it in the clan.
For example, all expenses incurred in purchasing equipment and items, as well as technical mastery books (skill books), are treated as expenses. In addition, some of the rent and food costs are permitted.
However, many of the receipts I received from Alma and Hugo could not handle expenses, no matter what I thought. Expensive clothing and meals still include personal expenses such as the cost of purchasing fancy antiques and watching the stage.
Whoever sees it has nothing to do with the Explorer's activities. It would be an obvious tax evasion to account for something like this as an expense.
I can still understand when it comes to Hugo. According to his story, he used to leave all of his accounting to his tax attorney, so I guess he's in the habit of cutting and submitting receipts for any expenses. Explain the difference between a private owner and a clan member and they will improve from the next time.
But as far as Alma is concerned, he is a wholly deliberate offender. I paid close attention to it last time, but it hasn't improved at all. Probably licking about Leon. You must think that if you submit it many times, you will give up and receive it. It's like you don't know it's going to be a big problem if you take it.
Kouga is the opposite of the two of us, always forgetting to submit the requisite receipts. Apparently, you have the cluttered idea that you don't mind paying with your own stomach. However, the Imperial Law stipulates that the Clan should pay the necessary expenses of its members to protect individual Explorers (Seekers). In other words, if left unattended, it will resonate greatly with future clan assessments. There is no doubt that the Seekers Association (Guild) will pay close attention to you.
The only decent one is Noel, a clanmaster. Leon, who had to sort out unscrupulous receipts, sighed out loud.
"With all the extra work, I haven't had a single combat training since... I was able to rank up because of this, but this is the end of the line..."
If it's true, no matter how many sub-masters, there's no need for Leon to be in charge of accounting. All you have to do is hire a clerk for the clan or leave him to the experts.
But Noel hated doing so. Because it is difficult to be informed of the inside feelings by untrustworthy red others at a time important to the clan. So I chose not to leave it to others and how to handle it in my current members. Although inefficient, it is an understandable choice if you consider safety. So Leon also decided to work together as a sub-master.
As a matter of fact, even Leon should have been able to do this as easily as the accounting for a clan with only five people. It is all because of the self-serving members who are making it difficult.
"Phew, it's finally over..."
The collection and bookkeeping of receipts was completed. Leon rises out of his chair and heads to the water heating room. And when I made some hot tea, I carried it to the break room. The lounge has bookshelves on the sofa, board games for entertainment, and billiard stands. There was only one arrow left on the dartboard hanging on the wall. I guess one of them forgot to clean up because Hugo and Kouga were playing betting darts late last night. Probably a kouga.
Leon pulled out his darts and put them back in the case, sitting on a soft couch sipping tea. The light coming out the window is bright. The time is before noon. Good thing the bookkeeping is done in the morning. Let's grab lunch outside when we're done drinking this tea. With that in mind, I heard knocking on the door through the front door.
"Hey, is anybody there?"
The voice of a young woman. The Lord of Voices is Marion of the Seekers Association (Alliance). For a moment, I tilted my neck wondering what it was for, but I remembered that Marion said he was coming to get the paperwork he needed soon. Leon rushed back to the office and grabbed the envelope with the paperwork, running to the front door and opening the door.
"Oh, my goodness."
"Oh, are you the only one today?
Asked by Marion, Leon nodded.
"Yeah, everyone else is paying for it. Do you want to come inside?
"No, I don't have time for this. I don't mind the front door."
"Okay. This, the documents I kept from Noel"
The envelope handed over contains a report on the Battle of the Demon King (Road) and an application for the use of a training facility operated by the Explorer (Seeker) Association (Alliance). The training center is an empire-approved facility for clans, or only association (guild) officials. Underneath the city, it is robust and vast, making it possible to conduct large-scale combat training.
"You do have all the paperwork you need."
Marion put the confirmed documents in his bag, took out another envelope and raised his face.
"It looks like Noel's not here, and I'll give it to you. A new crusade request."
"Oh, I'm sorry about that, Noel tells me to say no. I'm not ready for my next job."
"Well, I'll turn it to the other clans."
Marion gave her full consent and put the envelope she had in her bag. Probably guessed what was going on here. Leon said he wasn't ready, but he's just not exactly recovering from Noel's health. He even started smoking cigarettes by calling it medicine, and Leon and his other colleagues are worried.
So Leon was lost. Noel has asked me to give him another message. Is it okay to tell Marion that...
"Marion......"
"Yeah?"
It's a message from Noel.
Leon worried, but eventually decided to tell him.
"I can't get a job for a while. But when the Red Man Demon King (Lord) shows up, he wants it turned as a matter of priority. The Demon King (Lord) has a battle axe forged by man."
"What the hell? You can't take the job, can you?
"Right...... right. But it sounds like a special demon to Noel."
"The Red Man Demon King (Lord) was the demon (Beast) defeated by the Night Rage. Why is he in custody again?
"According to Noel's story, your grandfather's hatred..."
When Leon answered, Marion turned his eyes round.
"What's your grandfather... an indestructible demon (Overdeath)?
"Yeah, that's what I hear"
When Leon asked about the circumstances surrounding the detention of the Red Demon King (Lord), Noel told me in a light-hearted manner, without any particular concealment. I remember that calm scared me to reject it.
"I see, I heard that the Immortal Devil (Overdeath) was consulted with the Devil (Beast), but the Devil (Beast) was alive... You didn't check the records around there..."
Marion muttered as he was convinced, but the look on his face is complicated.
"It is possible to make it convenient. There aren't many clans that want to hunt certain demons (beasts), even though the material isn't soaring. Storm Winged Snake (Wild Tempest) already has a proven track record of the Demon King (Lord) crusade, and no one to dispute will show up.... but really good? Noel is far from full. Even if he's going to be able to fight in the world, his chances are low."
"I guess."
"I guess... You're a sub-master, aren't you? Isn't it your job to stop the master's rampage, too?
Leon laughed at Marion's blaming tone.
"What's wrong with you?
"No, not at all. You're right, I thought. True, I'm in a position to be Noel's toothpick. I guess if it's true, we have to stop it."
"Then why won't you stop?
"Wagamama, so I guess"
"Huh? What do you mean?
Marion is leaning her neck. Even for Leon, it's hard to linguize how I feel right now. But that's why I wasn't lost.
"Noel is a cold man. If it's to win, I don't choose the means. I know that because of me. But it's all for the purpose of leading the strongest clan. So I won't go the wrong way with my personal feelings. Such a Noel wants a battle he doesn't dare to need, just for revenge. Given the mood, I don't feel like stopping it."
"In other words, sympathy?
"Maybe. But I'm not just pitying you. If you fulfill Noel's Wagamama, it'll be a negotiating material for the future, right? He said there's no more next time."
"Ha, I see"
Marion laughed with pleasure.
"You have a surprisingly good personality."
"Because the master is the master. I have no choice."
And Leon goes on.
"If we are now - Storm-Winged Snakes (Wild Tempest), then no one is afraid of the enemy. We can't lose any fight."
"Copy that. I'm gonna believe that word."
Marion laughed and nodded frankly, leaving the cranhouse.
While dropping that back off, Leon thinks about the future. Noel seems to be masterful again to become a seven-star (Legalia). I still don't know the details of that, but there will definitely be a big storm as before.
I cannot admit that evil deed. But just because I don't admit it doesn't mean I'm willing to stop it. In order to be strong - in order to show strength, it is sometimes necessary to walk in the way. The Heavenly Wings Knights broke up in the middle of the road because they could not understand it.
I'm not going to make the same mistake. Or, I'm not even going to be Noel's Jesus man. I'm also ready to bump into Noel if I have to, just like Noel himself wanted. Because that's the relationship between a healthy business partner.
"No, that's not all..."
Leon pondered his feelings now and mocked himself that he should be honest. Return inside the clan house and close the door, inhaling and exhaling heavily.
"I like it here. So I don't want to lie to my feelings"
I can't tell them face to face because I can see them teasing my buddies, but that's what Leon meant right now.