"N-no! Just once! Please, just give me one chance!"
"What are you doing? Put these two in jail, quick."
First, the pleading investigator and the unconscious explorer were removed. Then, the reward process proceeded swiftly. As soon as they signed a letter of agreement stating they would not discuss the matter further, they were given a total of six million stones with an added bonus, but that wasn't all.
"These are all the items in your name."
"So? How does it look, Mr. Yandel?" The magician watched the barbarian rummage through his belongings and spoke with a strange look in her eyes. "Something might be missing."
"…Is something missing?" The barbarian shuddered, then smiled as if he understood what she meant. "Now that I look at it, it does seem like something is missing."
"Well, well. Could it be that something was left out?"
"Not an object... but nearly a million stones in cash have disappeared."
Anyone would have thought they were acting. The branch manager's eyes glazed over with fear. What kind of con artists were these?
"What are you talking about! How can an explorer have such a large sum of money straight from the labyrinth?"
"So you're saying we're lying?"
The branch manager shuddered at the magician's cold voice. "T-that's obvious-"
"Your evidence?"
"Of course I don't have..."
"My God. Are you calling us scammers without any proof? Mr. Yandel, I think this branch manager should be included on the list of people who need to be punished."
"That's true. To call an innocent barbarian and magician liars clearly shows a lack of education."
"That's enough." The district chief intervened and sighed. "We'll also compensate you for the lost money."
"Since that's a fact, I won't say thank you."
They may not have been wielding knives, but they were no different from a handful of robbers, shameless to the point of absurdity. However, the branch manager could do nothing but watch the scene unfold.
"Here are a million stones."
"Wow, the Explorers' Guild must be as rich as the rumors say, seeing how the money comes out of your pocket."
"I believe I have shown you my utmost respect for the magic tower. Do not cross the line again."
"Sure, why not?"
"So, will you hand over the crystal ball now?" asked the branch manager.
"No. I think it's best if I keep it to myself until the punishments are properly carried out. Of course, I promise not to show it to anyone until then."
"You will have to keep that promise."
"Of course. Don't worry. We'll be on our way now, so please take care of the crowd outside."
With that, the barbarian and the wizard left and a heavy silence fell over the room, as if a series of storms had just passed through it. In the end, the guild had lost another million stones, and could not even recover the crystal ball immediately. Furthermore, the matter of the crowd gathered in front of the guild, as well as the other individuals involved, had to be dealt with. The face of the district chief, who had been forcing a smile at the man and woman, was now as hard as the polar caps.
Feeling a suffocating cold, the branch manager barely managed to open his mouth. «Hey... district chief? Gr-thank you for the above...»
«Thank me?»
«B-well... you lent yourself to his coercion to protect me».
«Of course, because you are one of mine.»
«Lord! I will not forget what happened this day and I will work for the rest of my life-»
«So if I have to get rid of you, I'll do it myself».
The branch manager, who had been speaking with a deeply moved face, now looked stunned. «... Sorry? What do you mean?»
«How naive you are. Did you think you would come out unscathed after what you have done?».
«B-but really...»
«Enough. I'll take care of everything from now on, so if you at least want to save your skin, you better breathe easy until the audience calms down. Whether you lose your job or that bastard meets a sudden death, it will have to be unrelated to this incident». Before he could reply, the district chief turned around and looked at his daughter. «I'll hear your reasons for being here later today».
«...Yes, father.»
«Then let's go».
The office was empty in an instant. Left alone, the branch manager thought this all had to be a dream.
«Jajaja...»
***
A black needle rose high in the sky. I was on the floor
31
floor of this building.
«AND? Your first impression of the magic tower.»
«It's a little sweltering with the lack of windows».
«Um... Well, something like that. But without that condition, we would not have been able to build such a tall building in the city».
At that time I was in the office of Arua Raven, a magician associated with the Altemion school.
«Here, sit».
Pushing aside the stack of documents on top of the chair, I sat down and she brought me a drink in an Erlenmeyer jar.
«I don't have glasses here».
I took a moment to look at the drink he gave me and came to a conclusion. «...It's water».
«Yes, what do you think? Did you want Basilisk extract instead?»
«No, this is enough». Of course, I didn't drink it. I knew it contained water, but I still felt uncomfortable drinking it. Not long ago, this jar would have contained colorful liquids and monster organ specimens. I got straight to the point. «So why did you bring me here?»
«I have something important to discuss with you. You promised to owe me a favor, right?»
Of course. At the time I agreed in a hurry, but now, sitting here, I was beginning to regret it. You wouldn't ask me for a medical experiment, would you? «As I said then, as long as it's within reason».
«Good. That's enough for me».
«So what's your favor?»
«I want you to grant me exclusive rights to research the essence you consumed. It will definitely be helpful for you too. As unheard of as it may be, we may even discover something special».
The more he talked, the more the look changed from his eyes, from the calculating eyes as he negotiated with the district chief to the jealous eyes I saw in the crack. True, I could understand that look. Aside from the rift variant we experienced this time, there had never been a rift where a vampire had appeared as a guardian.
«But what do you mean by exclusive research rights?»
«Oh that? Simply put, it means that you will only provide me with samples. I want to present the thesis on my behalf to the academy».
Were the wizards of this universe something like graduate students? He couldn't understand that reason, but... He had also heard that academics had a great desire for honor. Ah wait. «Did you request to get rid of all records related to the vampire before for this reason?»
When we were signing the letter of agreement in the guild, she had been the one who had asked that my consumption of the vampire essence be omitted. Of course, I didn't expect that alone to guarantee perfect secrecy, but it was better than doing nothing, so I agreed.
They say you have to keep 70% of your abilities hidden.
To be honest, I was starting to get grateful that he took care of even small details like this.
He scratched his cheek awkwardly. «Uh, mm, well... I can't say it's not that...»
Denying a denial. Ultimately, he was right.
Soon, Raven completely changed the subject. «Ahem! Anyway, I'm not going to ask for much. Come see me once a week for about three hours».
Three hours a week, huh? «For how long?»
«Mm, half a year should be enough.»
«Three months.»
«Okay. So you will listen to my request?»
«Use haré.»
After the first agenda item was resolved, Raven immediately brought up the next topic. «Now... should we finish the calculations?»
Calculations? Was there still something to resolve? When I looked at her with eyes wondering what nonsense she was hearing, she approached me at a different angle, just like when she negotiated head-on with the district chief.
«You managed to get out thanks to me. Not to mention, you also earned a total of six million stones. I don't think it's strange to claim my share».
Haha, of course. Now, he had a better sense of these wizards. If I was just an efficiency freak, these people were top profit freaks. So I decided to change my mindset, like I was crushing a goblin's head.
«Give you money? What an interesting conversation».
***
The dispute continued in slightly louder voices than before.
«Any other magician would have done the same».
«I'm not sure about that. If it had been someone else, he would have sold the crystal ball as soon as the district chief had made the offer».
«But the price for that has already been paid. A whopping one million stones». Rather, since he had gained so much thanks to me, in Behellah's name, I should be the one to claim my share.
«...Then at least give me the million you got for the backpack in the end. That was purely thanks to my advice».
Did I say before that I wanted to be your friend? I decided to cancel that. Do barbarians seem stupid to you? «I refuse.»
«Okay. Since you agreed to cooperate in the investigation, I will not ask you for everything. Give me half. 500,000 stones.»
«Me him.»
«Ha, so 250,000 stones...»
«I have nothing more to hear. I refuse.» I wouldn't make the slightest commitment. That was because anyone who tried to rob me was a fucking bitch, and I didn't make commitments to bitches. On the contrary, I was the only one who could steal. «End of conversation.»
«That? Do you have any idea how much money I lost in the crack because of you?»
Soon, I decided. I have to kill his spirit before he despises me even more.
To be honest, it's not that I wasn't grateful. But other than that, to have a long-lasting and friendly relationship, I needed to show her what kind of man he was. The bastard who only laughs at the treatment he receives is not a kind person, but a complete idiot.
The reason it's so persistent is probably not because I really need the money, but to kill my spirit.
«Let's move on to the other calculations», I said out loud.
«What other calculations?». Raven tilted her head as if nothing else occurred to her.
I spoke bluntly, like a barbarian. «You have to give me five million stones».
«Five million stones? And why do I have to do it?»
«Because you fed me the essence of the corpse golem without my consent».
«W-what?» He shouted as if that were absurd. «Ha! I gave you an essence that anyone would kill to have, but I have to pay you money in return? Do you think it makes logical sense?».
Well yes. It wasn't just a crazy request. I didn't know why everyone present lacked imagination, but if analyzed piece by piece, it was a reasonable argument. «Why do you think it doesn't make sense? You force-fed me with that essence without my consent to live».
«Don't you think he was trying to save you?».
«I don't know, nor do I want to know. So, give me ten million stones. I heard that it costs that amount to remove the essence in the temple-»
«Why would they take it away from you, you crazy barbarian?»
«Because it wasn't the essence I wanted. You have done me serious harm».
Unlike before, when he was negotiating a price, his face turned red. My words sounded like a total exaggeration, but at the same time they made some sense, so it was infuriating.
After breathing hard for a while, she finally fell silent. «...I've heard that explorers can't even buy an essence with money. That's why this doesn't make sense. I should be the one to get paid».
«That's just your preconceived notion as a magician. You can ask another explorer if you want, how they would feel if someone forcibly gave them an essence they don't want.»
«Ha! Do you think I don't know other explorers? Wait here. I'll ask you right now». Raven frantically grabbed the crystal ball from her desk. He then manipulated her as if he were dialing a phone number and soon established a connection. «Oh, is that Mr. Patzran?»
«And who speaks?»
«Hello. I'm Arua Raven from Altemion School. We met last time together with my Master».
«Ah! Miss Raven! I remember. But how can I suddenly help you?»
«I have a question for you. How would you feel if someone fed you an unplanned essence without consent?»
«Hahaha! I don't know why you ask me such a strange question, but to give you an answer... I would be very angry.»
«... Sorry? Why get angry? What if it is a rank seven essence? And a rare one that can only be obtained from the crack?»
«Still, my answer is the same. An unforeseen essence means that for me it will only have a negative effect. You must not know this, Miss Raven, but the explorers cannot advance to the upper floors by consuming any essence».
His triumphant expression did not last long. After hearing the explorer's kind response, he began to look at me with a pale face. «Of course. But, assuming something like this happened... How would anyone have to be compensated?».
«If it were me, I would demand cash compensation».
«About how much...?»
«Oh, 15 million stones would be appropriate.»
«¡¿So much?!»
«For an essence, the cost of erasing it increases the more it is erased. I wonder where those godwors use the money, but... tsk».
«Ah, ahh, it's true...» Losing feeling in his hands, he dropped the crystal ball and rolled on the floor.
I picked it up and put it back in his hand. «You still have one more question to ask».
While whispering in his ear, the blonde girl who looked like a teenager asked in a trembling voice: «...S-if you couldn't be compensated with money, what would you do?».
«Hmm, I'm not sure. If something like that happened to me and the culprit was in front of me...». The man on the other end of the broadcast responded enthusiastically: «I would probably rip off his head. Hahaha».