Chapter 46 – 11. Dungeon, After That. (3)
The Marquis was a handsome, fat, greasy middle-aged man. His balm-covered hair was brushed back, his neatly trimmed mustache resembled the wings of a nimble hawk, and his beard extended to his sideburns, giving him a stylish look. In addition, his body decorated with all kinds of gold and silver treasures made me feel that he was indeed rich.
Arlen, who had come to meet the Marquis with Viola, saw him and his eyes twinkled like a beast that had found its prey. However, his expression was changed to that of a gentle monk so that he could earn the favor of the marquis.
“Oh, are you here?”
The Marquis welcomed the two men and women, spreading both hands wide open with luxurious rings on each of his chubby fingers. The good man and the fairy respectfully bowed their heads.
“Your Excellency, have you been at peace?”
“I am not at peace. It would have been more peaceful if I hadn’t been pecking around in the capital because of mine work. Yes.”
“The dungeon work has been neatly finished, so you don’t have to worry anymore.”
Then the middle-aged burst into a small exclamation as if he had remembered something.
“Oh, yes. I heard you. That… , Was it the queen monster? He said he caught that huge thing. Hearing the story makes me feel like exploring something.”
“Is that so?”
The story of the 10 brave warriors defeating the terrifying queen monster and returning was spread throughout the city as well as in the Marquis. Even rumors have been dramatized over time, and now the content itself has become like a fairy tale.
Anyway.
The Marquis shifted his gaze from Viola to Allen. The middle-aged man’s mouth pursed slightly at the young man’s unusual appearance. If rumors had a picture, he would surely be transformed into a handsome prince later on.
“You are a handsome young man. Girls can’t sleep at night.”
“It’s an overstatement.”
“So, are you the Allen Danjoon of that rumor?”
“That’s right. The introduction is late. My name is Allen Dwise Pomwell, Your Excellency.”
Haha. How could such a young man do such a great job? That’s great.”
The middle-aged man chuckled. He seemed fundamentally bright and cheerful. After taking a quick look at him through the status window, Allen judged that it was not a very strict greeting. … That’s a good sign for him.
“So, is everyone’s life comfortable?”
“Yes, thanks to Your Excellency’s consideration, every day is peaceful.”
“Then I’m very happy. Talk about anything uncomfortable. I’ll do as far as I can. I can’t treat my precious guests with disrespect.”
“I will not forget your kindness.”
Viola, who thought that her face-to-face was over, quietly opened her mouth about this contract.
“Your Excellency, this contract….”
“Ohh, yes, the contract. Right, true contract. You’ve accomplished your mission brilliantly, but you have to give me money!”
Originally, the financial manager would have been in charge of negotiating the cost, but this contract is a special one because it saves face in the 10th round. That way, if something like this happens next time, I’ll get help from a high-level mercenary.
“Okay, how much do you want?”
The Marquis asked with a gentle smile. However, he is also the ruler of a huge territory. He said he touched a lot of money, but that was by no means the same thing as being sloppy. Rather, he is a person who is rumored to be meticulous. If they approached awkwardly, they would only blush each other.
“I think seven hundred gold coins will do.”
The viola sang a decent amount. I didn’t want to lose face by exchanging words with the Marquis for nothing…. Besides, it’s not just the two of them with the Marquis, isn’t there even Danju Allen right next to him?
The Marquis also knew that and nodded happily. It was a reasonable amount, so I was willing to pay enough.
But, just then, as if Allen Danju had been waiting for her, she sneaked out.
“Dismissal. Would it be all right if I could speak for a moment?”
“Yes, try it.”
The two seemed curious about what Allen Danju would say. After a moment of light breathing, he began to speak in a clear voice.
“I know, of course, that seven hundred gold coins are no small sum. However, I think it’s a bit weak to show His Excellency’s benevolence.”
“… Somewhat weak?”
“Seven hundred gold coins is usually a reasonable amount. That’s why I’m worried that His Excellency’s prestige will be buried a bit. Because normal is unsurprising and ordinary.”
“Heh heh-.”
It was a face that said, look at this guy.
“There will be no one in this central region, no, in the continent, who does not know about His Excellency’s prestige. So, I think that the amount should be a little higher than usual so that people can once again engrave that prestige in their hearts.”
If the tongue is too long, it is not good. Just poke the point in moderation, and make an intense shot.
The Marquis’ smile deepened.
“It’s a great name…. So, what amount do you think? The value of my prestige.”
“… Shouldn’t it be doubled, I think.”
Momentary silence. And laughter soon followed.
Ahahaha-.
The Marquis laughed out loud. Viola noticed that she had never dreamed that Allen would engage in open negotiations with the Marquis.
“It’s really fun. Doesn’t it sound like something you’ve done once or twice?”
Allen said nothing and just lowered her head. She’s here, because she’s more hesitant, because it’s only going to backfire if she mumbles. There were times when she needed more silent action.
The Marquis stared at the top of the prone Allen’s head, thought about her, then nodded slowly to her.
“… Yes, that’s good If my prestige value is like that. Let’s pay once.”
“Thank you.”
“You are the first to bargain with me in this way. I didn’t feel bad though. It strangely stimulated me.”
Again, Allen gave her a deep bow without a word.
“Didn’t you say Allen sober? … I will definitely remember your name.”
“It is an honor not to return.”
“Okay. Just go back.”
The two men and women bowed politely and left.
On the way back to the lodging, there was no conversation between the two men for a long time. Viola was the first to break the long silence.
“Don’t do that in the future.”
“…… Yes?”
Allen suddenly said something, she looked at Viola’s side face in such a way. But she only looked straight ahead of her.
“You don’t have to beg that much. Even cutting face like that.”
Viola didn’t like that. … She’s the kind of guy that’s doted on herself, she’s cringing about money.
“It’s not just one or two pennies, isn’t it a pretty good business if you raised twice as much?”
“Still, don’t do that. Think about your face. You know what will happen to you later.”
“I think of it as an investment for the future.”
“… Then you’d better borrow it from me. You will not be charged interest.”
She said that, and she was worried that she might have interfered too much.
“The heart that thinks of me, I will keep it in my heart. … I will think of face sometimes.”
“… What the.”
There, Viola stopped laughing.
“You speak really well. His Excellency deserves to be passed over.”
“Compliment… , Right this?”
“Yes, it is a compliment.”
Haha. The only thing I do while working in the mercenary corps is my snout….”
The viola took a deep breath in and she exhaled. … In fact, it wasn’t that Allen’s position was incomprehensible. Now that she’s just started her mercenary business, it’s time for a penny more. Because she’s been through it too.
The two quietly walked back to the building. They exchanged a light glance at each other and parted ways.
And in the hallway on the way back to her room, Allen let out the cheers that boiled within her and she jumped up and down several times. Because I ate 1,400 gold coins!
CIPAR, you succeeded!
“You bastard, sex ugh!!”
A maid passed her hallway and ran after her madman.
· · ·
The twelve mercenaries boarded a wagon early in the morning and left the silver city, Agnentia. Allen, who took a deep breath in the cool morning air, felt relieved.
Certainly, the dignity of one thousand four hundred gold coins was great. Everyone was surprised by the Marquis’ spending, and at the same time, it was said that such a large amount of money was possible because she was a Marquis. I don’t know if that name resonated across the continent like Allen’s assertion, but at least within Agnentia, rumors about the distribution of the Marquis circulated widely.
“Looks like you did well.”
Only Callis, who was looking at Allen from the other side of her, was the last to give such a sentimental comment.
Of course, this would have been the worst option for the dead, but evaluation is always done by the living….
“… Okay. I think you did well to come.”
However, the living could not stand still beside the dead.
The dead are buried in the ground, and the living must move forward again. That was life and history.
When Agnentia was as small as the palm of her hand, the day gradually dawned. As the sunlight reached the top of the towering mountain range, a beautiful crimson color flowed down like paint.
Allen looked at it with her dim eyes and meticulously played each finger she tucked into her backpack.
… Counting four hundred gold coins by hand was as happy as sex.
