Chapter 9: 5.2: Ihoujin, Dungeon ni Moguru Chapte

I lined up the documents that had been printed out. Wording issues were pointed out and explained.

「Then here is our catalog. However, these are only the items inside the destroyed container. With regards to the items that are currently missing, they are not included in our claim. Makina, please proceed」

『First, regarding the gun attachments, there were three magnification scopes, so we're claiming 10 gold coins for each, for a total of 30 gold coins. We're not claiming the others as similar goods do not exist in this world』

The attachments category was crossed out using a marker.

『There were 20 AK47 assault rifles and eight M1911 handguns. For the AK47, your son had priced it at 100 gold coins per piece, so we’ll follow that valuation. Is it okay to set the same price for the M1911?』

「I’ve heard about it from my son. Such a small firearm is unthinkable in our world. Double the amount」

『Thank you very much. Then, adding that up, we will claim 3,600 gold coins』

The woman was smiling.

「And then, the claim for the ammunition」

Well, I wondered if she could keep smiling until the end?

『According to Makina’s investigation, dwarf firearms and gunpowder are not currently not being stocked, right?』

「Yes, that’s right. The dwarves stopped the production of firearms and gunpowder after an accident six months ago. During the production of fresh gunpowder, they blew up their entire city. Since then, the country has been managing the remaining gunpowder. Circulation of gunpowder in the regular market is prohibited, hence no price has been set」

Ehh, were the dwarves making a nuke or something? And, her son was trying to foist firearms with no gunpowder off on customers.

『That’s true. No price has been set for our gunpowder. Souya-san, please give a demonstration』

「Understood」

I took out a piece of meat from my backpack and placed it on the table. Its thickness was 40cm.

「Everyone, please cover your ears. It’s going to be loud」

After the warning, I fired one shot using the Government. I quickly picked up the spent cartridge that had rolled onto the floor and put it into my pocket. Surprised by the gunshot, the military policeman had a comical expression on his face.

『Do you understand the difference?』

「It’s the smoke」

The owl answered Makina’s question.

『Yes, the gunpowder in this world is called black powder in Makina’s world and is obsolete. The smokeless gunpowder that is used by these bullets is a different thing with similar properties, thus it isn’t subjected to the trading prohibition. Do you agree, Gravius-sama?』

For that reason, I won’t allow sophistry that says that the price can’t be set.

In response to Makina’s question,

「The gunpowder isn’t the only thing that’s different. Is that okay with you?」

『Yes, that’s fine. Given that we are forbidden from revealing everything to the inhabitants of this world』

「Why? Explain」

『We came here to explore the dungeon. We don't wish for anything else, especially things that will become the seeds of war』

「You’re denying a merchant's most profitable industry. But, it’s fine. In consideration of your wisdom, I’ll allow it. Let’s set the price」

The woman turned pale.

For the time being, I had won.

『There is something called the Misuranika gold coin. Coincidently, it has the same name as the god Souya serves. It has value other than being the coinage of a lost country. A small amount of magic is sealed within them and its explosive nature can be activated at will. We are claiming each lost bullet as having the same value as a Misuranika gold coin. The presence or absence of magic is knowledge that is beyond our understanding, so that will not factor into our claim』

「Hmm, that’s fair」

『Thank you very much』

I could feel her agitation.

Seeing her look at Makina, who was bowing respectfully, and me, smiling behind Makina, I wished that I knew what the woman was thinking. Truly.

These maggots that were being burnt by their own greed.

『There were 2,580 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition. 300 rounds of .45ACP ammunition. Today's rate for the Misuranika gold coins is 22 gold coins. Using that rate to convert, it totals 63,360ーーーー』

「Excuse me, Gravius-sama. Can you suspend the mediation?」

The woman threw in the towel.

The parent’s panicked expression was just like the child’s.

「Holzald. Do you know what it means to ask a god to mediate and then suspend it?」

「Yes」

The air trembled. Rather than saying she looked agitated, the woman was actually shaking.

The owl appeared small. However, the pressure that emanated from it was like one from an unfathomable, savage beast. The good thing about my god was that she gave off no such pressure.

「You fool. For one year from now, I will not give you my blessing. Start over from vegetable peddling」

「I'm sorry」

「Souya, and then Makina」

The owl proffered two of its own feathers with its beak.

「I'll lend you my authority. If you want to resume this mediation, raise that and call my name. If you want a new mediation, again, raise that and call my name. Farewell and see you again, my new kin from foreign lands」

It was my turn to be shocked by our good fortune. No, wait, what did it mean by kin? Before I could ask, the owl flapped its wings and disappeared into a swirl of light.

『Please give Makina that one with the better shape! Please properly write my name on it!』

「Yes, yes」

I wrote the name『Makina』on the feather as a reward for Makina, who did very well. Would I get scolded for scribbling on its feather later?

「Could I trouble the two of you to leave?」

Came the woman’s trembling voice.

「I'm busy so I’m heading back」

Said the Guild President.

「Same for me」

Said the military policeman. As he left,

（I'll pretend I didn't see that metallic thing you put into your pocket. So don't get me involved again. Got it?）

He left after whispering that.

「Now then」

I straightened my back and put on a serious expression.

「I'll have you answer a few questions. Is that okay?」

「Ask away」

She clicked her tongue.

That's a nice attitude you have there, you old hag.

「Who's the real culprit behind the theft of my containers?」

「The Eruomea West Phoenix company. It has a young Chairman that my foolish son is associated with. Even though he only did unprofitable business with poor people and the beastkin in the past, he suddenly changed after a woman who used to be a mermaid came to serve him. Good grief, we were caught up in this mess because we associated with a fool」

「As if I care」

『There are such words in Makina's country. The customer is god』

Hey, the only ones who still say that nowadays are those malicious people who make unreasonable demands.

「If it's a god of misfortune, then there's one right in front of me」

「Should I raise the feather?」

「63,360 gold coins is an amount that you can't get unless you open the nation's treasury. Are you going to make an enemy out of not just a merchant company, but the Adventurers' Guild as well? Well, the royal family will do its utmost to take it back as well」

She had the misconception that she hadn't lost yet. Not just that, she thought that she could still reverse the situation.

As I was pretty much at my limit, I tore into her.

「So what? I'll dump the gold coins at the bottom of the sea. What do you think will happen to a country that has lost such an enormous amount of money? Can this country function completely independently? What are they going to do with the goods that have already been imported from the center continent? Sure, I certainly might get killed. But, "that's all". What about you people? This entire affair originated from an incident where a foreigner was angered by the Zavua Night Owl company's Lonewell Zavua and Holzald Zavua, who were the kin of Gravius, the sister god of Minerva. The royal family and other merchant companies will curse you. No, this entire city will curse you. They will blame and vilify you down to your last drop of blood and curse your god's name. Can you people withstand that infamy? Can you people endure abject poverty so bad that you would resort to eating rats to stave off your starvation? Or do you want to see blood? Why don't I decorate both parent and child’s limbs with bullets that are worth 22 gold coins each? I still have enough of them to sell, you know? Try answering me after you've thought carefully about it」

The old hag froze as if she had run out of fuel.

She had been overwhelmed.

Putting aside whether it was possible or not, I would go that far if I was really going to lose my life. I wondered what my god would think of that. No matter what kind of infamy or curse, it would probably be of no concern to her.

『To be exact, it's 66,990 gold coins though』

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Remarked Makina, unable to pick up on the mood of the conversation.

「Th, then, what else did you want to ask about?」

Her hands were shaking. This old woman had probably realized the position she was in at last. The opponent she was facing was someone with no self-interest. That was the last sort of person that a merchant should have dealings with.

「Where is the other container?」

「I don't know, I swear」

「Did you people send the adventurers who attacked the camp?」

「No」

「Did you people ask the fishman to transport them?」

Depending on the response to this, I might really open holes in her limbs.

「No, we did not. The goods were really just left with us」

「Is that so? We’ll put the matter on hold for now. You owe me one, no…, including your son, that’s two you owe me. I’ll make sure you pay up. If you run, I’ll raise the feather」

For starters, I had capped the first confrontation with a victory, after a fashion.

I didn’t know whether to call it a disappointment or a letdown, but the real opponent was way too easy.

I had intended to roll up my sleeves and challenge the last boss, but I was faced with the unbelievable development that the mid-boss before that was much tougher.

I couldn’t remember its title but I remembered playing a game like this before.

One bullet was all it took to deal with the Eruomea West Phoenix company.

When I went to Eruomea’s store with the idiot son from Zavua, we met the young Chairman, who had a dead-eyed woman beside him, and when I was eagerly about to start negotiations with him, I caught sight of some sort of orb that was placed on his desk.

It was placed there so casually that I was immediately suspicious of it. Maybe it was because I was weirdly on edge after the affair with Zavua, but I fired a bullet at it without any hesitation.

Just as I was about to use the idiot son from Zavua as a shield to get past the Eruomea guards, there was a scream. There was now a mermaid whose lower body was flopping about energetically. In addition to that was a Chairman who had been freed from being possessed, and had a stunned expression on his face.

I explained the situation to the Chairman, who had lost his memory, and the little mermaid.

With that, this affair was completely settled.

【6th day】

「Is there anything that looks usable?」

『Four intact AK47s. Two intact M1911s. Six guns that require servicing. The rest is junk. I have to check the quality of the bullets one by one』

The remnants of the recovered firearms were lined up, and Izora had checked their condition. Almost all of them were sooty lumps of melted metal, but surprisingly, there were some that were usable. Unfortunately, I didn't particularly care.

「No, there’s no need to check if they are functional. What’s the possibility that the merchant company has hidden and kept anything else besides these?」

『It’s zero. I’ve set-up a threefold monitoring system. There is no oversight』

「Understood」

I wrapped everything up in a blue tarpaulin and placed them into one of the empty containers. I also put in all the destroyed AKs. Taking out the Government, I removed the magazine and pulled back the slide. I thought that there might be some changes in my feelings, but there were none in particular, so I threw it in too.

「Izora, is there anything that I’ve forgotten to put in?」

『There is none. Have you properly dealt with your regrets?』

「No problem. I’ve put those in already」

It was a good joke.

「Geto-san, please throw the contents into the bottom of the sea. Somewhere very deep please」

「Okay, there is a deep chasm that fishmen cannot approach in a ravine on the sea floor. I'll throw it there. What do you want to do with this box? If you don't want it, give it to me. I want to use it to carry fish to the market. I can’t carry a great deal of them using handmade fish baskets」

「Sure, I'll give it to you」

「Oh, I’ll take it happily. Then, well, many things happened. But, ………………see you」

「Likewise」

He dropped the container into the river then disappeared while pushing the container. His grandchild still wished to become human. The fishmen’s treasure had taken away their love for each other, in exchange for giving her legs.

In the dungeon, there were many hidden treasures that were beyond human understanding. One day, a treasure that would fulfill their wishes would probably be found. I asked Geto-san to pass on the message telling the two of them to wait for that, then gave him the shattered treasure, and my job was finished.

The medical supplies were recovered from the Eruomea West Phoenix company. I received 40 gold coins as a reward. The ransom that Geto-san had paid so far was also given to me to return to him, but he said『I’ll give it to you』and did not take it, so I had plans to go give it back. It was a pretty large sum. It was too much for me.

「Eating the same meal, betrayal, forgiveness, and finally, being able to trust each other. We humans really are such troublesome creatures」

「It’s merely a betrayal of that degree, don’t act like you know everything, you dunce」

My words were intended for Makina or Izora, but Misuranika-sama answered.

She got on my shoulder and continued talking.

「Humans easily betray, steal, besmirch, envy and deceive. At the beginning of a history book that I read a long time ago, such words were written.『Here, we record our mistakes and stupidity』. The author of that history book was executed」

『Izora’s world also has such a saying.「History is merely a record of humans' crimes, follies, and disasters」』

Izora said.

「What's that? Your world isn’t that much different from ours then」

『Yes』

The sound of the city's large bell came from afar. Dusk dyed the edges of the plain red.

I was about to make dinner when I lost my balance and went down on one knee. I immediately supported Misuranika-sama so that I didn’t drop her.

「Hmm, what’s wrong?」

「No, I’m embarrassed to say this but I’ve sort of run out of steam and I’m feeling tired」

Come to think of it, I hadn’t slept well since I arrived here. Hmm? Actually, I had a question.

「Izora, how many days have I been here?」

『Six days. If you consider the time difference, then it’s seven days. On top of that, you’ve been placed into a tense situation, so you’ve probably only been able to sleep lightly. Your vital signs have become very unstable. It is recommended that you take in nutrients and sleep as soon as possible. Because you’ll be exploring the dungeon starting tomorrow』

「Really? I’ve lost track of the days」

I'll have to start making curry on Fridays. Was there curry powder? *(see below)

「Souya. Do as Izora says and quickly go to sleep」

「Alright, Misuranika-sama. Right after I cook some food」

「I don't need it. Go to sleep. I’ll just snack on some dried meat or fish」

「But…」

「Go to sleep」

I should go and get some sleep. I was experiencing flickering vision and my knees were trembling.

After freshening up by brushing my teeth and wiping my body down with a wet towel, I went into the tent and took off my equipment and threw them into a corner. I changed my underwear and changed into a comfortable T-shirt and chino pants.

The temperature was neither hot nor cold. But I wrapped myself in a towel so that I wouldn’t feel cold from the chill of night. I didn’t need a pillow because I no longer had the energy to look for one.

Since I came here, I hadn’t been lying down except when I was in jail. I had been sleeping in a sitting position while hugging my gun. There was no way I was getting any decent rest that way. It was ironic that I could finally sleep soundly only after I had let go of my gun.

The merchant companies would probably not mess with me anymore. There would be no profit for them if the goods they stole would explode. Other crimes committed by that trio of adventurers kept coming to light so the Guild made the decision to detain them for a long time. Other criminals would be too afraid to enter the fishmen’s territory in the first place.

Just as how human law did not apply to fishmen who were on land, fishmen law did not apply to humans at the water’s edge. Even though I had talked big about forgiveness, my life and death had depended on Geto-san's conscience from the very beginning.

When I closed my eyes, my consciousness began to melt into the darkness. It was the pitch-black abyss that I had seen when I fell here. Despite that, warmth permeated the darkness. I heard a distant howl of wind. I heard the sounds of something small approaching.

Hands touched my cheeks, lifted my head, and then, there was a soft feeling at the back of my head.

I opened my eyes just a crack but there was only darkness.

I was probably dreaming.

There was a woman wearing a black dress with an open chest. I couldn’t see her face, which was hidden by her flowing, jet-black long hair. I saw the pale skin of her chin, cheeks and ears.

My brain was no longer functioning properly enough to figure out who or what that was. What was certain, was the tranquil darkness that enveloped everything like mire.

That darkness.

Melted.

Into darkness.

The Japanese navy has a tradition since the early 1900s of serving curry on Fridays to help the sailors keep track of the days when they were out in the open seas. Apparently, each ship would have its own unique recipe.

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