“I know,” he said.
“Huh?”
The fox-eared girl, or rather, since it’s too much trouble to call her that, a fox girl. If she doesn’t want to give her name, she probably has a good reason, and it’s more convenient not to ask if it means getting involved in trouble. And the meaning and content of the fox girl’s warning were within his expectations. He had provoked them so blatantly. It was impossible for the organization to do nothing due to pride. If he had done this to the Japanese police, he would undoubtedly be listed as a person of interest. He was aware that he had done something to that extent. Therefore, he had no choice but to use this topic.
“What’s with that dumb look on your face? I’m telling you, that’s why there will be retaliation later. If you wanted to live peacefully without any trouble, honestly, you didn’t need to go that far. If you really intended to do so, you should have just slacked off and lost when you realized they weren’t going to pass you.”
“But you didn’t do that, did you? Are you sane? They’re the army.”
“I’m sane, and I didn’t act thoughtlessly. They didn’t believe me, but I’m part of that army, so I have countermeasures and a chance of winning.”
Although she was worried about his head, he was calmly furious. His heart was burning, but his thoughts had been racing like a roaring engine. If they were to break the rules for a mere reason, he had no obligation to follow them, but if they were going to retaliate by breaking the rules, they still had a long way to go. He would perfectly shut them down, following the rules precisely so they would have no room to argue.
“Heh heh heh, think carefully about the justification. That will be the reason for your execution.”
Just imagining it made it possible to predict their actions to some extent. False arrest due to criminal acts, assault using thugs from the neighborhood, elimination using assassins. If they were to be more insidious, they might also try to undermine his social status by pulling strings behind the scenes. However, no matter what justification they used, no matter how much they fabricated his actions, he would fight back perfectly. Even if they were his colleagues, he would make them regret it if they made an enemy of him.
“Jiro-kun, you’ve been completely swayed by the Demon Lord’s Army.”
“Indeed, he’s reliable.”
“Yeah, is that going to be your reaction? Am I the one who’s strange in this situation?”
“What, you don’t know? If you just give in, you can’t work for the Demon Lord’s Army. I was taught by my instructor to retaliate and show my strength so as not to be underestimated.”
“I don’t know.”
Probably with a mysterious glare passed down from his instructors and the eerie fighting spirit he could now unleash, his face would be wearing a fiendish smile. After all, he wasn’t scared; he was actually looking forward to it, so a smile was inevitable. While looking forward to how he would deal with them, he tried to control his exhilaration and do what he needed to do, but…
“Ahahaha, I’m the one who ended up talking to you, big brother.”
“Ah, they probably think you’re one of us. Rejoice, I’ve involved you just as you wished?”
“The opposite! I was planning to involve you!!”
Before he could react, the fox girl began to sweat profusely as she grasped the current situation. What was this? To be flustered by something like this. Compared to attacking the deepest part of the dungeon, this kind of danger was still in the safe range. After all…
“Because I still believe I can win.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh, it’s just me talking to myself. Now, Fox Girl, we’re now in this together, aren’t we? What do you say?”
“Big brother, you know what you’re saying, right?”
“No? Not really. But…”
“But?”
He let his muttering slide. And he had already decided what he would do next.
“I just think it’s best to deal with trouble quickly.”
It was impossible, but if nothing happened, that would be fine. Returning to the company and submitting a single report would pretty much seal their fate. And if they took action, he would respond accordingly. They seemed to believe he was a powerless human with no strength, but he would make them understand that they had stuck their hands into a tiger’s mouth, let alone a cornered mouse. Let them be condescending and careless. That would be convenient for him. He would act while he could.
“……”
“That’s right, Fox Girl. It may be too late, but it’s better for you to hide quickly. We have things to do, so we need to get out of here.”
She seemed to be thinking about something, but this would be goodbye with the fox girl. He had his own plans, and frankly, he had no obligation to get involved with someone he barely knew. Depending on their counter-move, it was highly likely they would do something. If attacked, he would retaliate. And he wouldn’t return the favor empty-handed; he would return it doubly. Conversely, if they did nothing, he intended to let it go at that. What he had said so far was entirely from his heart, also a threat, to prevent her from getting involved in what he was about to do. He thought that this would make the fox girl scared and leave, but…
“Hey, big brother.”
Instead of being scared and running away, this fox girl had become even more involved. Even though he had waved his hand dismissively, the fox girl in front of him didn’t move. In fact, it seemed like his bluff had only strengthened her resolve. He thought he could say goodbye to her naturally, but he realized he had handled this a bit wrong, yet he didn’t look away.
“If entering the dungeon wasn’t illegal, would you enter it?”
“Huh?”
“If you could enter through the proper procedures, you wouldn’t object either, right?”
“Well, yes, of course.”
What was this fox girl trying to say? To be sure, or rather, it was more accurate to say, in consideration of this fox girl’s circumstances? He thought he had rejected her story because she knew some loophole and knew a route to enter from there. And he suspected that, as a slave, she might be offering to teach him something to repay a debt or something, and then try to make money based on it.
“Then it’s fine. If you can’t enter as an explorer, you can enter as an adventurer.”
“…Ah, there was that option.”
Now that she mentioned it, that was true. He had been trying to register as an explorer because he belonged to the Demon Lord’s Army, but there was no problem with registering as an adventurer.
“Are you an adventurer?”
“Correct. Well, to be more precise, it’s a little different. I’m a receptionist at the Adventurer’s Guild.”
“Even though you’re a slave?”
“Hehehe, this is just a disguise. I’ll be properly dressed when I return to the guild. It’s more convenient sometimes. For example, when approaching a powerful individual like yourself who was rejected by the Explorer’s Guild.”
She briefly showed him that she removed the collar, so it was invisible from afar, to show she wasn’t a slave.
“So, you are from the Foxle clan.”
“That’s right. As expected of Tris Trading Company’s number two, you know even a little girl like me. It’s an honor.”
“Foxle?”
“I had heard that there was a clan of fox people who were involved in the operation of the Adventurer’s Guild, so it was indeed so.”
He wondered if it could be easily put on and taken off, and when he asked Gray-san, who had noticed her true identity, for an explanation about the clan, he gave him a brief one.
“Then, allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Amiricia Foxle of the Adventurer’s Guild. Feel free to call me Amy-chan?”
Her gestures were undeniably cute, but to him, it was nothing more than an act.
“Oh? You don’t like this kind of greeting? Everyone at the guild likes it.”
“Come back when you’re a little more mature.”
“Oh, what a shame.”
As he let out a sigh, hinting at his disgust at her hostess-like demeanor, she looked at him as if surprised. At least, the men at the Adventurer’s Guild must have been popular.
“Well, shall we end this idle chitchat? Miss Amiricia, why did you introduce yourself?”
She had probably tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but the situation was still the same. From her perspective, they were troublesome individuals who had gotten themselves into trouble. There was no benefit in introducing herself. It would be better for her personally and for her organization if she disappeared and returned to being a receptionist. Amiricia’s expression turned serious as she raised her index finger.
“Let me be blunt. I want your combat power and your connections.”
“You’re so direct. I personally like being direct. It’s good not to beat around the bush.”
She was truly telling him her honest intentions. He found it easier to understand and more likable when people told him the answer directly rather than explaining it in a roundabout way.
“Do you know that the Adventurer’s Guild and the Explorer’s Guild don’t get along?”
“Ah, I’m aware of that.”
National operations and private enterprises, it was unlikely they would get along.
“Actually, that bad relationship is a problem.”
“A problem? Is it alright to say that here?”
“It’s not alright, but would you come with me without any explanation?”
“Impossible.”
“I thought so?”
He raised his doubt, asking if it was okay to discuss organizational problems in such a public place, even though they had moved to the side of the plaza. He understood that she was trying to be thorough.
“The problem is territorial disputes.”
“Territory?”
“Yes. Due to the dungeon’s structure, there are several convenient hunting spots, and by unspoken agreement, the Adventurer’s Guild and the Explorer’s Guild have been sharing them.”
Ah, I see. He had kind of expected it.
“But recently, the head of the Explorer’s Guild changed. Since then, their arrogance has increased. We can no longer enter areas we used to, they’ve lured away our capable members with money, and there are even reports of people being attacked within the dungeon. As a result, there are many injured people and resignations, leading to a decrease in the number of adventurers. This, in turn, has caused our request completion rate to drop, and it’s been a disaster.”
She stated this as if she were chatting about everyday matters, as if she had no other choice. He wondered if this wasn’t a very serious matter while committing this valuable information to memory.
“I see. And you went scouting around to improve the situation even a little when you found me?”
“Yes! It was a godsend!! At first, I just thought so and secretly watched the test, but I want to praise myself for that moment!! You were strong enough to make watching you feel satisfying, and from your attitude just now, it seems like you really have connections with General-sama, and more importantly, you already have connections with Tris Trading Company, one of the top three trading companies on the continent!! And they just threw away such a talent! So, we have no choice but to pick them up!!”
So, she was grateful for my luck, which fell on her due to their human-disdainful attitude. Being glared at by them was a disadvantage for the Adventurer’s Guild, but they judged that the benefits far outweighed it. However, wait.
“Gray-san, they didn’t change their attitude when they heard Gray-san’s name, did they?”
“Well, I suspect they have a major trading company backing them besides the country.”
No matter how much they held disdainful thoughts towards humans, would they so easily let go of a talent guaranteed by the powerful Tris Trading Company? Rather, it would be normal to act vaguely and try to recruit them. Could they really reject him so openly?
“……”
“Is something on your mind? Jiro-kun.”
“There is, but I don’t know what it is. I just have a nagging feeling about something.”
Mait-san asked, but he didn’t have a clear answer. It was just that point that was strangely unsettling. That was all. The rapid deterioration of relations with the Adventurer’s Guild, which they had managed to maintain, and the act of throwing away connections with a powerful trading company. From the perspective of organized movements, both of these were clearly disadvantages.
“Um, if possible, I’d like to have a more detailed conversation, so could you come to the Adventurer’s Guild with a positive response? After all, we are an organization that has been countering the Explorer’s Guild, so they won’t be able to easily lay a hand on you if you come to the guild. That way, you’ll have time to think about it.”
Brooding would be futile. Currently, he could only think of the choice between returning to the company to report or being attacked and intercepting them in the meantime. Having more time wasn’t a bad thing. In a way, it was a convenient development for him. It might be a good idea to go along with the fox girl’s story, who was pushing to get more out of him after showing all her cards.
“Is that alright?”
“Yes, I don’t mind.”
“Hmm.”
Both of his adoptive fathers also agreed.
“Well then!”
“Ah, will you guide us?”
“Yes!!”
For now, I guess I’ll head to the Adventurer’s Guild that I’ve only heard rumors about.
Today’s word
Whether it turns out for the best or for the worst will be determined by future developments.
That’s all for now.
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