01x10 - Negotiation

[bunniefuu]

You, again?!

I'm too exhausted.

I went to the wrong town.

The drop rate really tanked
with only the two of us!

Damn it!

We didn't get a single Heal Mushroom,
which is a guaranteed drop

even after we defeated four Matangos.

Such bad luck.

This means Ruche's "Lady Luck"
really works, doesn't it?

There were no adventurers deliberately
chasing after Matango, you know.

Tsk, it's just a coincidence.

I would've let her stay,
if she hadn't asked for her share

on the Blood-soaked Sword.

Want to call her back?

Listen here, Reiss.

I have my pride, too.

Do you think I can ask her
to come back after I kicked her out?

I won't bow my head to
her, no matter what.

Fortunately, we still have some
money thanks to that sword.

We don't need to worry.

We'll slowly find a sensible person,
even a low-level one is okay.

That dungeon?
They're not D-rank or C-rank?

Huh?

Who is it? I can't see!

What?

Did someone subdue
a high-level monster?

Is it that guy?

Patchwork Bear is strong, isn't it?

I've seen them before.

A newly promoted E-rank
with an F-rank adventurer?

They cleared Angel's Playbox,
the one with a recommended level of 50?!

It's impossible.

T-Those two?!

♪I held my breath in
this labyrinthine city♪

♪Hey, let's go find♪

♪Our real voices now♪

♪Gathering up those nameless days♪

♪Behind the scarred, invisible shield♪

♪Lies a wish known only to me♪

♪As long as I can keep walking
with it in my heart♪

♪I'm sure I won't be afraid♪

♪This is my story♪

♪No time for sorry♪

♪I have no doubts;
this is the path my heart has chosen♪

♪No chains can hold me♪

♪As I reached out♪

♪To a closed door, a new world♪

♪Awakens♪

♪The heartbeat that
had been dormant awakens♪

If you doubt us,

there are two adventurers who were
also involved in this event.

So you can ask them.

I understand.

The city is giving a money reward
for clearing the Angel's Playbox,

we will need to confirm this.

Sometimes, there are requests

for dungeon clearance
near cities and villages.

Besides, monsters will easily leave
the dungeon if neglected for too long.

It will easily cause an abnormal
monster-related disaster nearby.

The recommended level for dungeons
tends to vary by region.

Some regions only spawn
low-level dungeons,

while others only spawn
high-level dungeons.

It has a clear division.

Some say it's caused by the mana
flowing through those areas,

others say it's a deviation
beyond human logic

caused by Alxeros, the Sleeping God.

There are a lot of theories,

but we don't really know
for sure what caused it.

High-level adventurers are

mainly active in towns that easily
spawn dangerous dungeons.

With that, it benefits their income
and also the kingdom.

Therefore, there were no adventurers
in Rondalm City

who could clear Angel's Playbox.

The mayor is afraid of
leaving the dungeon like that

and set up a request
to clear the dungeon.

Really? There's a money
reward payment?

I thought it had no connection with us,
so I hadn't looked into it.

How much is the reward?

I-It's ten million gold.

Wha...?!

Ten million?!

Ten million gold, huh?

At this point, I'm grateful to receive
such an amount of money.

I should be happy hearing that,

but I don't know how to react because
the dropped items have numbed my senses.

W-Was it due to Lady Luck?!

Don't say you've got a rare drop from the
Dreamlord with a recommended level of 50?!

- That guy, Elymas, went out to scout Ruche
after he found out that she has Lady Luck.

- Don't say that Lady Luck's skill is
still working in a situation like that?

And then suddenly he went for a big hunt.

Moreover, he wasn't flustered at all
when told about the 10,000,000 gold!

- How much did these guys make?!

- I'm always lucky.

Furthermore, according to
the guild's regulations,

you two will be promoted
to D-rank adventurers.

Miss Ruche will skip a rank
from F-rank to D-rank.

Ruche is... D-rank?

- Without us realizing it, she's become
someone on a different level.

- Ruche... D-rank... Ruche is D...

- Hm, Cline?

Wait! What's wrong?!

We did it...
- Ruche!

It was my fault!

I've had a change of heart!
Won't you come back?!

I'll split the gold from the Blood-soaked
Sword into three equal shares!

Will you?

Lame.

Let's go, Ruche.

It seems the investigation
is going to take some time.

Okay...

Wait, just a moment!

Please listen to me!

Wait, please listen...

For a bit...

Yikes.

It looks quite luxurious, doesn't it?
- I'm looking forward to it.

Dear customer, thank you
for your patience.

With us becoming D-rank adventurers
and even getting 10,000,000 gold,

those were pleasant surprises, right?

After becoming a D-rank adventurer,
my skill point limit increased to 45.

Moreover, the Fang of Smoldering
Insanity is within reach now.

Should I think about the next
way of raising money?

W-What's wrong, Sir Elymas?

Ah, I'm sorry.

We're having a celebratory party.
Let's just enjoy it.

Yes, that's right!

Let's be cheerful! Smile!

Cheers!

Didn't you say that today we'd order
whatever we wanted to our heart's content?

As an adventurer,
I dream of coming and eating here

with my party members
if we accomplish something.

Well, I was planning to come here
with Cline and Reiss at that time.

I have given you
the minimum amount of money.

Have you forgotten my kindness?

Hmph, I didn't take it!

What?! Royal Crab Pie with
Black Mushroom Sauce is 8,000 gold?!

I never thought it'd be this expensive.

I almost ordered it.

Sir Elymas, don't order food
on this page!

Let's start by looking at à la carte items
that cost 4,000 gold or less!

One Royal Crab Pie with
Black Mushroom Sauce, please.

Eh?!
- Certainly.

I-Is it okay to order it?!

She still can't quite believe it, huh?

Here's the Royal Crab Pie
with Black Mushroom Sauce.

It's really delicious!

Such bliss!

This is also delicious!

I'm glad you're enjoying it.

We need to discuss how we'll split
the rewards and items we got this time.

First, regarding that skill book.

Will you use it, Ruche?

I'd say there's plenty of benefit for you
to learn and use Intermediate Wind Magic.

You won't use it?

No.

It's not bad, but I'm aiming
for something better.

I've already decided
my skill allocation.

In that case, I won't use it!

What? Are you sure?

If you had this skill tree,

you wouldn't have any trouble finding
other partners for a while, you know?

But that means my goals
will change, right?

I also want to aim for something better!

Besides, it would be sad to say
"Okay, goodbye" so soon, right?

In that case, we should sell it.

Frankly, I'm glad we can sell it.

Are you short on gold?

This time, the total amount after various
deductions is roughly 57,000,000 gold.

Just hearing the number
makes me dizzy...

With the 80/20 split,
Ruche's share is 46,000,000 gold.

Please! I won't let you down,
so please form a party with me!

How about an 80 and 20 split
for the reward?!

Of course, you get 80, and I get 20!

That proposal is still valid?!

Ruche, the other customers
are watching us!

You're not satisfied with
the 80 and 20 split?

No, I'm sorry...

That's not it!

There's no way I could accept it, y' know?
No matter how you see it!

Where did that 80-20 split
even come from?!

B-But, many have agreed upon
this kind of agreement.

Which neighborhood uses that agreement?!

If our roles were reversed,
would you take that 46,000,000 gold?!

I can't thank you enough
for raising my level this far!

Ruche.

I think it's a reasonable line...

I'm so happy I came across this.

In the end, we can't agree on
the split of the rewards.

To sell some items,

we are heading to
the Hall of Broken Grimoires.

Hm, you're back.

This time you bring
an adorable child along.

Is she your partner?

You still have it, don't you?

You sure are dubious.

The Fang of Smoldering Insanity, is it?
Of course, I still have it.

I value trust, you know.

So, this shop has an item
that Sir Elymas wants?

Such an innocent child.

You're not seriously planning to make
that child learn that skill tree, are you?

Don't be ridiculous.

Why would I do something so wicked?

It's for me.

Either way, it's strange
that someone wants it.

This time we've come here to ask
for an item assessment.

Eh... You seem like an intelligent person.

I never thought you'd even consider
doing business with me.

Wow, what a surprise!

There are two pieces of
Dazzling Raana Decorative Blade.

I would've treated you politely if I had
known that you were such a big shot.

That's a real loss.

I don't want unnecessary haggling.

If you buy this for thirty million gold,
I'll sell it here.

Any less than that,
I'll go to another store.

Asking for thirty million gold
is difficult at the legal shop.

There's no risk of strange rumors
spreading and being envied by people here.

Don't take unnecessary risks
over a small amount of money.

I'll take it for twenty-five million gold.

T-This old hag!

I've already said that I don't want
any unnecessary haggling.

Sir Elymas... Don't you think that
Miss Shopkeeper has a point?

Twenty-five million gold is still
a large amount of money.

Don't be tricked, Ruche!

If you show any hesitation,
they'll take advantage of you.

Asking for thirty million gold
is indeed a lot.

Even if you go to other stores,
it will still be difficult to sell.

Considering the risk,
selling it here might be a good option.

Yet, the price will be lower in the end
if I follow the shopkeeper's pace.

There's also the cash from
exchanging magic stones.

You may keep the decorative swords
as assets and sell them at the right time.

I can't coerce you then.

What a shame.

Moreover...

You must have another
main topic to discuss, right?

There's a skill book
dropped by the Dreamlord.

I hesitate to use it, but...

If you buy it at a fair price,
I'm considering selling it.

A skill book...

You've amazed me
in such a short time.

You... no, both of you!

May soon be known as noble heroes.

I see.

If you want to sell this,
it's wise to let me handle it.

She seems interested,
but how far can we raise the price...

The market value is twenty million gold.

Even I will be putting myself
at risk when handling this.

If the guild bought this, it would
probably be around 70,000,000 gold.

You seem like a go-getter,

so I might give you a little extra
as future investments.

I'd be willing to buy this
for fourteen million gold.

You'll probably put it on the shelves
with an exorbitant price, right?

It's easy to find someone who wants
Intermediate Wind Magic.

If you want to have
friendly terms with us...

Couldn't you price it at least
at twenty-two million gold?

Ouch, it's hot!

You damn brat!

Neither of you has any intention
of using it, do you?!

Don't be too greedy!

It's you who's too greedy!

I've already said that I'll use your
services as a customer from now on!

Wouldn't it be nice
if you showed a bit of leniency?!

Excuse me...

T-The Fang of Smoldering Insanity that
Sir Elymas wants... how much does it cost?

What now, little girl?

We're getting into
the most exciting part.

What this brat wants is a rare skill book
that costs fifty-five million gold.

The market value is
thirty million gold, you know.

She's very good at taking
advantage of my situation.

Fifty-five million gold...

I've steeled myself after
hearing your conversation,

but it's incredibly expensive...

Hey, Miss Shopkeeper!

I've just got an idea!

Why don't we barter

the Fang of Smoldering Insanity skill book
for all the items laid out here?

Huh? That's not even a negotiation.

Interjecting because you've an idea...

No.

To sell the Fang of Smoldering Insanity
that's less sought after by buyers

while getting easy-to-use
items individually...

I guess it's not a bad deal.

Ruche's suggestion
is indeed quite appealing.

We obtained the magic stones' value
and clearance reward

plus the Fang of Smoldering Insanity.

Little girl.

Don't get in the way
of merchants too much.

Still, betting on two future noble heroes
might not be a bad decision.

I'll accept it under those conditions.

Really?!

Hey, wait a second!

That means I can't give you
your share of the money, Ruche!

I don't mind at all.

Just think of it as a gift from me.

No... A sum like that can't be
considered a token of gratitude...

Moreover, we've done well this time,
but who knows about the future!

What will you do if we need to
disband the party for some reason?

Sir Elymas.

Are you saying that you want
to cut and throw me away?

It seems that you're trying to avoid
having any lingering issues.

No, that's not what I mean.
It's just if by some chance...

Then, there's no problem, right?!

Okay, Miss Shopkeeper!
Let's barter at once!

Before Sir Elymas says
something unnecessary again!

Good job convincing him, little girl.

Hold him tightly so he doesn't get away.

What?!

Yay!

Why are these two
getting along so well?

Isn't it too much?

Lady Malice! That's enough!

Lifeforce Transfer has finished!

It seems like a rather cruel
way of doing things.

Even though it's for leveling up...

It's a bit...

Even if you've been exiled,

I've known well since we were little
that you wouldn't be broken easily.

I need to spend some time
carefully and slowly cornering you.

Isn't that right,

my precious Elymas?

♪[Find your way]♪

♪[Come whatever may]♪

♪Shall we make some noise?♪

♪Shall we try everything?♪

♪Do you value life?♪

♪Let's do one or the other♪

♪Capacity overload
Not enough memory♪

♪Is there still room for growth?
Is it more a yes or a no?♪

♪Arrivederci
I want to run away at once♪

♪Survival instinct, afflictions, impulse♪

♪I've had enough
being surrounded by them♪

♪Failure, disgrace♪

♪It pained me a lot,
made me like a corpse♪

♪Can't you do something about life?♪

♪I want to be stronger♪

♪It's okay to be a bit weak♪

♪I want to live well♪

♪It's okay even you're being clumsy♪

♪[Find your way]♪

♪[In the night, stars will sway]♪

♪Can't live my life well
[Find your way]♪

♪[In my heart, I'll light the way]♪

♪[Find your way]♪

♪[Life is Canvas, draw your day]♪

♪Ah, I want to be known someday♪

Finally! Finally, I got it!

The Fang of Smoldering
Insanity skill book!

"Do not approach
the holder of this skill tree.

"Not even the Grim Reaper
would dare to approach the holder

who never stops even if their body
is broken and their tail ripped away."

Even the ominous descriptions
are nostalgic!

Next time: "A Haunting Past".

Oh, no! I shouldn't get too carried away.