Volume 2 Chapter 24 Merchant. A Species
There are a lot of thoughts that come to mind.
The unforgettable plea still burns in their minds, and as Horace and Ivan reflect on various things, they continue their conversation.
"...After parting ways with you ten years ago, I made the announcement to disband our combo at the guild branch... Then, after that, I created the guild 'One Hit Wonder'."
"Now it's 'Worldsworn'... Did it change along the way?"
"Yeah. We decided to change it when we reached SS rank."
"I see."
As the two of them talk quietly, the door to the private room opens.
"I see, so this is where you were."
"Guildmaster, may we join you?"
Entering the private room are Rangella and Leona.
"Rangella..."
"Leona. What are you doing here?"
"I assumed you'd be drinking here, Guildmaster, so I invited Rangella to join us."
Saying this, Rangella sits next to Horace, and Leona sits next to Ivan.
...Of course, since it's a room meant for 2, it's not very spacious, but both of them are slender, so they manage to sit comfortably.
"...I've brought the glasses."
"...Did you?"
Ivan turns his gaze to the tavern master, who carries 2 glasses...
"No tavern owner can resist the glare from both the 'Hero' and the 'Prelude'──that's just how it is."
"...Guess you're right."
Ivan seems to agree.
Thus, Ivan fills the glasses with wine.
"Now, with former companions reunited and their closest allies gathered, let's have a toast!"
Leona says with a smile, and the other 3 clink their glasses together.
They drink in silence...
"...This is some excellent wine."
"It was quite a hassle to get my hands on it."
"I see... By the way, what were you and Mr. Ivan discussing?"
"Oh, just talking about how we had our struggles and how we did things our own way back then."
"I see."
Ten years since they parted.
Before they separated, Horace and Ivan had been a team for 5 years.
They had been adventurers, partners in crime.
There's always so much they want to say to each other.
"Heh heh, Mr. Horace. Pleased to meet you. I am Leona, the top-ranked member of the Guildmaster's personal guard unit, 'Fantasia.'"
"...Back when I was working at the castle, I always had a feeling someone was lurking around in the background. I had a hunch it was you."
"That's right."
"Well, Horace, with the Guild expanding so rapidly, we needed to step up our intelligence game. We crushed a slave market here and there, and you were an exceptional find. I've been leaving that department to her ever since."
"That's so like you, finding someone in the most unexpected of places."
Even a woman who escapes the Demon Lord's invasion might not survive, let alone thrive, in another country.
It all depends on the individual.
Of course, many women fail in such endeavors, and a 'beautiful woman' often falls prey to 'systematic malice' in the form of fraud.
Not many have a keen nose for such deception.
When such a market sprang up in the shadows, it was Leona who crushed it.
"So, Leona, you didn't gather these 4 here just to make small talk, did you?"
"Oh no, I have no intention of limiting it to that."
"'Here,' you say... Ah, indeed, the soundproofing and anti-eavesdropping measures are impressive. The architect must be quite talented."
"It seems they've incorporated magic into the construction, resulting in remarkable performance. The wine is delicious too; I discovered this place on my first day and have taken a liking to it."
"I see... Then, what sort of matters did you bring us here for?"
When Horace asked this, Leona couldn't help but let a smile slip.
"What is the current state of the Cedal Alliance, do you know?"
"The Cedal Alliance now? Without Pastor and Cedal, the 'Court Adventurers' framework is beyond reach, isn't it? Have they completely disbanded?"
"No, currently, the Cedal Alliance is being led by a man named 'Alvaro.'"
"Alvaro?"
"He is the guildmaster of the S-rank guild 'Parasite.'"
"Never heard of him..."
Horace tilts his head in confusion, but Rangella seems to recall something.
"He was active as Cedal's deputy during the formation of the Cedal Alliance, Master. With Cedal gone, he has taken on the role of the coalition's leader."
"Huh... That guy figured the whole Alliance would collapse on its own."
"Yeah. Soon as Cedal vanished, every Worldsworn member close to him got booted from the guild. No more SS-rank banner──big deal for them."
"So why bother keeping that mess of an alliance going? What's the point?"
"──There is one."
Leona kept on with her explanation.
"This S-rank guild, 'Parasite'──their thing has always been working with big merchant guilds. Most of our contracts come from them, not the Adventurers."
"'Big merchant guilds,' huh..."
In other words, they were building deep connections with some of the most influential merchants around.
"So if Alvaro, top dog of that guild, runs the show... this Cedal Alliance? It'll start moving to keep the merchants happy, too."
The real question──who'd end up head of the Alliance now?
It actually mattered. And if the top advisor to the last head just got bumped into that seat? No one would be shocked.
With the whole 'Court Adventurers Project'──the Alliance's biggest goal──crushed, everyone involved must've been thinking the same thing: this ship's about to sink.
But then, thanks to Parasite's Guildmaster and his merchant ties, suddenly the whole Alliance had a new angle──direct access to the big guilds. Maybe sticking around wasn't so pointless after all.
"So... the next ones to get cocky are the merchants, huh."
"Yes. Or rather, most of the merchant guilds have their sights set on the metals flowing through the Great Mine of Gold World──the rare stone market is heating up. But those massive veins are locked behind 'special privileges,' and overturning a world conference decision? That's not something anyone can just do."
"...Even with every merchant in the room, can they really mess with a world conference ruling?"
At its core, this was power versus money──the world conference against the merchants, plain and simple.
The nations, of course, ran on conscription.
They could throw as many soldiers as they wanted into the dungeons if it came down to it.
No matter how big a merchant guild might be, their wealth can't match a 'national budget.'
However, merchants know the 'kind' of money.
They understand how to hold assets, the different ways to pay──this 'kind' of knowledge.
Business isn't just about lump-sum cash payments.
It's the understanding of money derived from years of doing business.
That's what 'wealth' is.
The amount of cash one holds is important, but it alone doesn't define 'wealth.'
"Normally, it wouldn't be possible. But... when Cedal formed the alliance, Alvaro was among the first to join. A man with connections to many large merchant guilds, he must have seen the advantage."
"Well, there must be some 'scheme'...!"
"!"
Horace muttered to Leonas's explanation, as if he noticed something.
Ivan seemed to have an idea at the same moment.
"Ivan"
"Yeah, 'Adventurers' Guild collaborating with the merchant guilds'──the kind of chaos they'd love."
"Ugh, this is why I hate 'this guild.' Adventurers are neither mercenaries nor errand boys..."
The Adventurers' Association and the guilds, to achieve the 'dissolution of dissatisfaction,' have the authority to issue quest sheets.
But this is only possible because they've stored up power without hindering the 'journey'──only then can they share it.
Moving to please merchants is, in a clear sense, 'beneath the merchants,' reducing Adventurers to mere mercenaries, to errand boys.
"...I think it's out of the question for the country to hire Adventurers, but I don't like how it's practically the merchant guilds hiring them either."
"I don't like it either, Horace. But it's always the same story──those who forget what they can argue for, riding high on their position."
Horace and Ivan seemed to see 'something.'
"Master, just what is going to happen from here..."
"Yeah, um... Ivan, what should we say..."
"Yeah. For now, let's just lay out what actually matters."
Ivan glanced over at Rangella.
"Rangella. Make sure that 'Dragon Silver Sword──Tel Agatha' is ready. No excuses."
"..."
So, it's merchants they're up against, but in the end... violence is still on the table?
Rangella couldn't help but wonder. And honestly, who could blame her?
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