Chapter 84: The Royal Capital Adventurers Guild
A swift horse, disguised as a regular dispatch from the territory, galloped into the Marquis Grandes Estate, located deep within the Royal Capital’s noble district.
The butler of the Royal Capital residence received the message, and upon being told it was a critical report from the heir, Weruva Grandes, to the head of the family, Marquis Grandes-sama, he hurried to the office.
“Langus, what’s the rush?”
“It is an urgent report from the Darssen territory, Your Excellency.”
The butler reported, breaking the seal and presenting the letter.
Marquis Grandes’s expression changed as he read the proffered letter.
He finished reading, handed the letter to the butler to read, and pondered its contents.
With five people dead initially, and then another 108, rumors would eventually reach the Royal Castle.
“This is… What shall we do?”
“There’s nothing that can be done. The remains of the man in question are in an Adventurer’s Magic Bag. If we make a fuss, they’ll just produce the document Weruva handed over, the man with the mark of a slap, and the evidence of bee stings. More importantly, who ordered that man? There’s a fool who doesn’t understand that this scandal will only damage the prestige of the Grandes family.”
“However, with the man in question deceased…”
“I know. I’ll sternly tell the Hailwood family and Cindyrra not to lay a hand on that man, and I’ll instruct Weruva to act as if nothing happened. Also, do you know where that man lives?”
“It seems he rented a house somewhere, as the Forest Wolf he had with him was refused lodging at the hotels.”
“Once you find out where he lives, go and apologize. Convey that our house has absolutely no connection to this incident, but we apologize for the rudeness of our subordinate, and that we have forbidden those around us from any involvement whatsoever. The Royal Family will likely say something eventually, but make sure everyone is told it was merely trouble caused by some knights proud of their skills.”
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The next town after Darssen was Dorinban. I heard this was a Duke’s territory, but we passed through safely without anyone saying anything, even with Hoo-chan and the others.
Three days later, I set foot in the Royal Capital for the first time in a while.
“Finally, the Royal Capital! We’ve earned a lot, so we’ll stay at Shinya’s place and go shopping in the capital.”
“If we buy things we can’t get in Zandra and bring them back, the wives will be pleased.”
“Where’s the house of our top earner, Shinya?”
“You’re all in such a hurry. The Royal Capital isn’t going anywhere.”
After stopping by the market, we arrived at my nostalgic home after a long time.
Everyone was dumbfounded watching Mii-chan enter through the cat passage and unbolt the door from the inside.
I don’t trust the locks in this world at all, so it’s safer to have Mii-chan lock the bolt.
They were impressed by the facilities for simple cooking in the living room and bedroom, but when they heard the rent was six Gold Coins a month, they shook their heads with grim expressions.
Since we can’t stay in a hotel with Hoo-chan and the others, it can’t be helped.
The rent is directly debited by the Commerce Guild, and we have more freedom here.
Before shopping, we needed to collect the payment for our game deposited at the Adventurers Guild. I’ve deposited everything since the beginning of the compulsory summons, and Fran’s and Osius’s Fang’s deposits should also amount to a considerable sum.
Fran has an account with the Commerce Guild, so when she heard she could have it transferred from the Adventurers Guild, she said she would do so. However, upon learning about the 1% commission – one Gold Coin for every 100 Gold Coins – she made a face as if she’d tasted something sour.
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We all went to the Royal Capital Adventurers Guild. Appraising gazes from unfamiliar faces flew towards us, but Fran and the others, perhaps used to it from being stared at so much in Tanza, feigned ignorance.
We went straight to the settlement counter and asked for a balance inquiry, and the clerk was surprised by my Gold Card.
I’m still only twenty, you know.
If I hadn’t gone to Tanza, I’d still be D-rank, so I really thought I’d messed up. But since they were even issuing compulsory summons in Zandra, I guess it would have been the same.
Maybe it was a good thing I got to work with the Fangs from Tanza.
The clerk stared intently, comparing the card and me. Would someone really go to the trouble of forging a Guild-issued card just to nonchalantly come and check their balance?
He reluctantly checked the balance and looked surprised again.
“You! There’s no mistake about this, right?!”
“Are you even an Adventurers Guild employee? The Guild Card is genuine, and the one who promoted me to B-rank was the Tanza Guild Master. You know what was happening in Tanza, don’t you?”
I said it, trying to use the charm of my low voice, but it had no effect, so I thought perhaps I should try a sharp glare.
“I made a killing and deposited the whole lot with the Guild. Hurry up and tell me the balance!”
“Hey, hey, the compulsory summons was lifted nearly a month ago. Guys from the Royal Capital who went to earn money would have come to withdraw it by now, wouldn’t they?”
“Weren’t there any guys from the Royal Capital who were compulsorily summoned?”
“Are you planning not to pay us what we earned, huh?”
As Dorado and the others started to look menacing, the clerk hurriedly wrote my balance on a piece of paper and handed it over.
72,059,000 Dahla. Since I’d been depositing payment for my game with the Guild even before this, I didn’t know how much of it was from Tanza, and since one-third had been deducted for casualty compensation, it was even harder to tell.
Fran, peeking from the side, exclaimed, “Shinya-san, you earned that much?!” causing everyone to peer in and create a commotion.
I didn’t mention the exact amount, but I told them it was because I was in Tanza even before the compulsory summons.
Dorado and the others, learning of my earnings, competitively presented their Guild Cards and demanded balance inquiries.
Dorado, upon receiving the paper with his balance written on it, had a look of clear disappointment.
I peeked back in return; it was 29,748,000 Dahla. Since they joined late, this much was to be expected.
When I told Dorado that one-third for casualty compensation had been deducted, he did a quick calculation and then seemed convinced.
Everyone who peeked at Dorado’s paper heard this, understood, and demanded a lump sum payment from the clerk, causing another commotion.
29,748,000 Dahla per person, for six people including Fran, totaled 178,488,000 Dahla.
Even for the Royal Capital Guild, he didn’t have the authority to move that much money.
Adding my 72,059,000 Dahla, it came to 250,547,000 Dahla. Hearing the commotion, the Sub-Master came out from the back.
The clerk was explaining the situation to the Sub-Master, but the Sub-Master also made a grim face.
“Ah, is it not possible to withdraw it in smaller portions?”
“Sub-Master, I once transferred money to the Commerce Guild, and they took a 1% commission. If I transfer this, how much commission do you intend to take?”
I thrust my balance inquiry slip at him. 72,059,000 Dahla. How long do you think it takes an average Adventurer to earn that much? Is there some rule against cash withdrawals?
Looking at the balance slip thrust at him, he muttered, “Why is it this much?”
“You’re not unaware of the compulsory summons in Tanza, are you? I was there from the very beginning to the very end, and I deposited everything with the Guild, including what I earned before that. Everyone else, though they joined midway, participated and fought in the areas with the most game.”
As I said that, Dorado and the others voiced their agreement from behind.
“Let me see your Guild Card for a moment.”
When I placed my Guild Card on his outstretched hand, he muttered, “So you’re Shinya,” and then requested Dorado’s and the others’ cards as well.
He looked at Fran’s card, nodded once, and confirmed the party name.
“Fran and Osius’s Fang, eh? Rumor has it you’re quite skilled.”
《Fran and Osius’s Fang, they say (lol).》
《What’s that?》
《You don’t know? Parties Silver rank and above who came back from Tanza were talking about it.》
《Oh, I heard Shinya is on par with that ridiculously strong Tamer, and they’re competing in hunting big game.》
《They said this compulsory summons was on a scale not seen in decades.》
《I’m glad I’m G-rank.》
《Don’t worry, you’ll end your life as an E-rank.》
Since even the Sub-Master had come out and we were arguing, the onlookers in the back started to get noisy.
We were told he would consult with the Guild Master and to wait in the meeting room, so we went upstairs.
The Guild Master said that if he paid us all now, the Guild’s coffers would be empty. So, he would pay Dorado-san, Fran, and the others 748,000 Dahla each in cash.
He asked them to take the remaining 29,000,000 Dahla per person as a certificate, which they would need to submit to the Commerce Guild to collect.
Fran immediately asked, “What about the commission?” and got his word that there would be no commission.
I was told I’d get 22,059,000 Dahla in cash and 50,000,000 Dahla as a certificate, and I was like, ???
He ended up saying, “It’s famous that you guys made a killing in Tanza. At least one of you should receive it in bags of Gold Coins to show the onlookers that they too can earn a lot if they work hard.”
In short, it seemed I was just being used as a tool to light a fire under the asses of those idling in the Royal Capital.
“In that case, now that the compulsory summons has been lifted and there are fewer dangerous big game, Tanza is attracting people as a place to earn money. After I walk out with my bags of Gold Coins, you can just tell those guys drooling over it, can’t you?”
“Of course, I’ll do just that.”
As expected of the Adventurers Guild’s Guild Master, he’s sharp, isn’t he?
We went downstairs, and starting with Dorado-san, they received their cash and certificates.
Finally, I checked the contents of the two bags of gold coins, received the certificate, tossed it into my Magic Pouch, and then received the remaining 20 gold coins, along with silver and copper coins.
Sighs escaped from the Adventurers loitering around the counter, and their suspicious gazes clung to me.
“Yo, big bro. If you’ve earned that much, won’t you treat me to a mug of ale?”
Looking towards the voice, I saw a shabbily dressed man, who looked like a perennial F-ranker, licking his lips.
“Instead of scrounging for ale in a place like this, head to Tanza. There are still some big game there, but plenty of easy-to-hunt herbivores have also been pushed out, so Tanza is bustling with activity.”
My words would probably be more effective than the Guild Master’s instigation, so I’ll treat them generously.
“I’ll leave ten gold coins at the mess hall, so eat and drink as much as you like. Once you’ve refreshed yourselves, get serious and go earn some money!”
“Uoooohhh, he’s so generous!”
“Thanks, big bro. We’ll take you up on that!”
“Old man! Food and booze!”
“Don’t push, idiot! Gimme some ale!”
I handed 10 gold coins and the loose silver and copper coins to the old man at the mess hall, telling him to let them eat and drink until it was all gone.
While the Adventurers’ eyes were fixed on the mess hall’s booze, I left the Guild and headed for the Commerce Guild.