Chapter 61: In this world, it’s harder to deal with the aftermath
ㅤ”Ahaha. A promise is a promise.”
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ㅤ”Kuh, just k*ll me!”
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ㅤCretias, stripped of his armor and clothes, down to his underwear, shouted.
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ㅤ…Yeah, why did things end up like this where no one benefits?
ㅤEven with this personality, he’s handsome, so maybe there’s a demand for him from Onee-san with that kind of taste.
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ㅤAnyway, we couldn’t calmly talk in the plaza, so we decided to borrow the buy-back tent to have a discussion.
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ㅤThe participants are me, Cretias, Shizu-san, Arne-san, Warban-san （of the Warrior’s Guild）, and the Deputy Commander of the Special Envoy Knights, six people in total.
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ㅤThe Deputy Commander is the person who was trying to admonish Cretias before the duel earlier.
ㅤHe’s the one who stepped in to stop Cretias when he started saying crazy things like “Make a blood sacrifice of the adventurers around here.” （Although there’s also the question of whether this guy has ever not been crazy.）
ㅤHe’s around forty years old, with red hair and a goatee, and a distinctive bony-cheeked face.
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ㅤ”This has become a troublesome situation for both of us,”
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ㅤThe Deputy Commander said.
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ㅤ”We can’t overturn it since it’s the result of a duel,”
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ㅤArne-san added.
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ㅤ”Ahaha, I didn’t need to go this far, but they said the terms of the duel had to be carried out literally.”
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ㅤEven if I received Cretias’s equipment, the size wouldn’t fit, and I wouldn’t want to wear it in the first place.
ㅤI could sell it, but the buy-back station in front of the dungeon doesn’t handle the purchase of knight’s equipment, so I would need to take it to town.
ㅤBut, if I brought luxurious knight equipment to the town’s buy-back station, they would suspect I had robbed someone.
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ㅤI thought about having the knights buy it, but there was no way any knight would throw away their personal fortune for the hopelessly unpopular Cretias.
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ㅤSo, I gathered Cretias’s equipment, clothes, and luggage in the plaza and burned them with fire magic.
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ㅤCretias, left only in his underwear out of pity, lamenting in front of his belongings turned to ash… well, it was a nice view.
ㅤSince he took the girl with Stone Fever hostage and said things like making a blood sacrifice of the adventurers, even the mild-mannered me wasn’t going to forgive him that easily.
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ㅤShizu-san said,
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ㅤ”Speaking of which, Cretias-sama was saying something strange, wasn’t he? That Loft Count obtained the Cockatrice beak by taking it from the girl’s father. And yet, the beak isn’t in Loft Count’s possession.”
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ㅤ”That’s the first I’ve heard of it. If Loft Count obtained the beak, our role would be over. It’s regrettable that we couldn’t obtain it ourselves, but if the Prince recovers, that’s all that matters.
ㅤI sent a carrier pigeon to Loft Count to inquire. We should receive a reply soon… Commander Cretias. If there’s a reason why this important fact was kept secret, I would like to hear it.”
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ㅤ”Kuh…”
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ㅤUnable to bear the gaze directed at him by the Deputy Commander, Cretias hung his head.
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ㅤ”Hmm. It seems there’s something inconvenient,”
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ㅤWarban-san said in a groaning voice.
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ㅤ”We have no choice but to wait for a reply from Loft Count.
ㅤMore importantly, about the beak…”
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ㅤShizu-san paused and looked at the Deputy Commander.
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ㅤ”Yes. Adventurer Minato. I sincerely apologize for Commander Cretias’s repeated rudeness.”
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ㅤ”Ah, yeah. Ahaha. Well, I can’t say I forgive him easily.”
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ㅤI still can’t forgive him for taking that child hostage.
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ㅤ”I’m not asking for your forgiveness. Of course, I’m not going to say something foolish like ‘Let’s forget about it.’
ㅤHowever, in this matter, the Prince is completely innocent. I know it’s a selfish request. But would you please cede the Cockatrice beak to us?”
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ㅤThe Deputy Commander bowed deeply.
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ㅤ”Ahaha. You’re right. The sick person isn’t at fault.
ㅤBut, I’ll have to add a few conditions.”
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ㅤPrior to this meeting, I had already discussed it with Shizu-san.
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ㅤ”First, report Cretias’s conduct to His Majesty the King, leaving nothing out, big or small.”
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ㅤ”Guh, you━━!”
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ㅤCretias started to stand up, but the Deputy Commander stopped him by extending his arm.
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ㅤ”That’s a natural request. I will take responsibility and make an accurate report.”
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ㅤ”We’ll have the guild prepare the report, is that alright?”
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ㅤThe Deputy Commander nodded at Shizu-san’s confirmation.
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ㅤ”Next, the fact that I was the one who obtained the Cockatrice beak, to His Majesty the King━━”
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ㅤ”Of course, I will report it.”
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ㅤ”Ahaha, no, I don’t want you to report it.”
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ㅤ”…Huh?”
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ㅤ”So, I don’t want you to mention my name.”
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ㅤ”But then you won’t be able to receive a reward.”
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ㅤ”I don’t need a reward. Instead, I’ll have you buy the Cockatrice beak at a higher price than the market value.”
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ㅤ”Th-that’s possible, but… are you sure? An opportunity to achieve such a great feat doesn’t come along often…”
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ㅤ”I prefer a carefree position. I don’t want to stand out unnecessarily and be recommended for an official position or be ennobled, and then be envied or resented by others.”
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ㅤ”…You’re young, yet you have no greed. You understand the world well. Minato-dono, you must have gone through hardships beyond your years.
ㅤ…No, I won’t pry further.”
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ㅤ”Ahaha, I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t.”
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ㅤ”Then, what price do you have in mind?”
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ㅤ”That’s… Shizu-san.”
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ㅤ”Yes, I’ll explain. Including compensation for this incident, the purchase price Minato is proposing is━━”
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ㅤThe Deputy Commander’s eyes widened at the amount Shizu-san mentioned.
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ㅤ”U, guh… It can’t be helped. But, the Special Envoy Knights’ funds won’t be enough. We’ll pay half now, and the remaining half will be settled in the royal capital…”
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ㅤ”Then, let’s prepare a certificate in Loft. Therefore…”
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ㅤShizu-san and the Deputy Commander continued their practical discussion.
ㅤBoth of them seemed competent, and the discussion was concluded in a short amount of time.
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ㅤThen, a woman entered the tent.
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ㅤ”━━I’ve brought tea.”
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ㅤJudging from the knight’s armor she was wearing, she was likely one of Cretias’s people.
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ㅤ”Oh, thank you.”
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ㅤThe Deputy Commander received the tea.
ㅤJust as he was about to take a sip, he tilted his head.
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ㅤ”…Hmm? I thought I had dismissed everyone?”
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ㅤ”Cretias-sama told me to bring tea when the discussion was over.”
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ㅤThe female knight replied.
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ㅤ”At a time like this… No, never mind.
ㅤEveryone, since we’re here. Let’s have a tea break.”
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ㅤEveryone nodded at the Deputy Commander’s words.
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ㅤIndeed, our throats were parched after the prolonged tension.
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ㅤThe female knight handed tea to Shizu-san, Arne-san, Warban-san, Cretias, the Deputy Commander, and me.
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ㅤI was about to take a sip of the tea I received━━
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ㅤThe next moment, I fired five Ether Shots, shattering everyone’s teacups.
