Chapter 143 : Companions - 3
Chapter 143: Companions - 3
A week had passed.
In the meantime, I had explained the next quest to my companions until my throat ran dry.
“Listen carefully. The next quest is…….”
I stopped there and looked at Armelia Kerr Dneroum.
She was wearing an awkward smile.
Seeing the corners of her lips trembling slightly, it was obvious she had forced it.
“Is something wrong? You’re smiling rather awkwardly.”
“A-Ah, no. It’s nothing.”
Then Aina Noel cut in.
“She’s probably just sick of hearing it, Your Highness.”
“Wait, Aina. I have never once found Mason’s explanation tiresome.”
“Then why that expression?”
“I just suddenly thought of something funny…….”
“Karin Oblang, who’s a fool, has heard it enough times to memorize it. There’s no way Your Highness would forget. Of course you’re tired of it.”
Karin, who had been minding her own business and got hit out of nowhere, raised her middle finger at Aina.
I scratched my head.
“My apologies. I was a bit oversensitive.”
“No, I understand. We’ve finally been given a chance to eliminate Edgar Tyler. There’s no need to wait until the Twelfth Quest.”
That was right.
In the upcoming Ninth Quest, we would be placed together with Edgar Tyler.
If we could eliminate him there, there would be no need to wait for the Twelfth Quest, where he had borrowed the First-place reward.
I recalled the contents of the Future Diary I had checked a week ago.
<Year 325, June 5.
-The Ninth Quest ended safely.
The quest I carried out together with Edgar Tyler.
I had hoped that perhaps I could eliminate him this time, but in the end, that did not happen.
The Ninth Quest. Intermediary Trade.
It was a game where we sold items brought from the human world at high prices to a high-ranking Monster designated by Magireta.
The key to the game was quickly figuring out ‘what item the high-ranking Monster desired.’
Just because something was rare in the human world did not guarantee the high-ranking Monster would buy it at a high price.
It was a game where we had to quickly grasp the Monster’s taste and procure matching items from the human world to sell.
I only realized it midway through the game, but the high-ranking Monster designated by Magireta had a taste for jewels.
After learning that, I purchased all kinds of precious jewels from the human world without hesitation.
The high-ranking Monster was overjoyed and paid more than double what we had spent.
Judging by the game’s outcome alone, it was a success.
But I failed to eliminate Edgar.
He had realized almost at the same time as I did that the high-ranking Monster favored jewels.
And incredibly, he managed to bring the most precious jewel in the human world, ‘Tears of the Goddess.’
In the end, he took first place in the game and claimed the First-place reward.
Failing to eliminate him was irritating enough, but the fact that he defeated me so completely went beyond irritation—it was downright unpleasant.
……
…….>
After reviewing the diary’s contents, I spoke.
“I’m sorry for repeating this, but please allow me to say it one more time. Karin’s here too.”
“Stop dragging me into it, will you?”
“The next quest is Intermediary Trade. The core of the game is to quickly determine the taste of the high-ranking Monster designated by Magireta and bring from the human world the item the Monster wants, then sell it.”
Benjamin Noel nodded.
“In the future you saw, Edgar took first place, correct? Which naturally means you failed to eliminate him.”
“That’s correct. But this time will be different. Because…….”
“Because we already know the Monster’s preference.”
“Exactly.”
That Monster liked jewels.
Without any trial and error, we could immediately secure the most precious jewels.
Especially the one Edgar had brought in the Future Diary……
“‘Tears of the Goddess.’ We must obtain that jewel before he does.”
“How on earth did Edgar manage to get his hands on something so precious?”
“Do you know what kind of jewel it is, Brother?”
“Of course I do.”
Berseum Ferux stroked his mustache as he spoke.
“Actually, it would be faster to ask Her Highness the Princess.”
“Pardon?”
“‘Tears of the Goddess’ is a treasure passed down through the Imperial Family. According to legend, when the founding Emperor established the Crotica Empire, the Goddess bestowed it as a blessing for the future.”
“If she bestowed it as a blessing, why is it called Tears of the Goddess?”
“You’ll have to ask His Majesty the Emperor directly.”
I let out a small chuckle.
Then Armelia spoke up.
“It’s simply because the jewel is shaped like a teardrop.”
“Have you seen it yourself, Your Highness?”
“Yes. When I was young, His Majesty showed it to me personally and even let me hold it. Back then, he still cherished me quite a bit.”
“…….”
“Ahem. In any case, I’m curious how Edgar managed to smuggle that item out of the Imperial Palace. The security must be extremely tight. Though, considering his abilities, it wouldn’t be entirely impossible.”
I deliberately spoke in a bright tone.
“If he could do it, then so can we.”
“Mason.”
“Let’s secure that jewel first. ‘Tears of the Goddess’ would surely be happier in Your Highness’s hands than in Edgar’s.”
“Ahaha. That’s kind of you to say.”
She nodded with a bright smile.
And just as we refined our plan once more—
Whoosh.
My field of vision shifted.
When I regained my senses, we were standing in the center of a lavish palace.
It was as splendid as the Emperor’s Audience Chamber I had seen during the Hide-and-Seek Quest.
A sparkling chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the bright, transparent windows were adorned with intricate patterns.
There were twenty people present, including us.
And.
“Edgar Tyler.”
As expected, Edgar was there as well.
He glanced around before spotting us and smiling faintly.
“Well now. I had a feeling it was about time we ended up doing a quest together.”
“…….”
“It’s already the Ninth Quest, isn’t it? The number of participants must have decreased significantly by now, so the probability of running into you would have increased as well. A pleasure.”
“What’s so pleasant about it? Did you forget what happened between us last time?”
“I remember. You offered Kaid Bel as alms and pushed me into a trap. And I made you fight with your wife.”
Aina Noel cut in as if she couldn’t believe it.
“Wasn’t fighting with Louis Danahan entirely your fault? I heard you forced her to eat maggots.”
“Wasn’t it Mason who created the situation where I had no choice but to make my wife eat maggots? If Mason hadn’t dug such a vicious trap, I wouldn’t have had to make her eat them.”
“If you hadn’t tried to take the Invisibility Cloak, Mason wouldn’t have needed to set a trap.”
“Let’s stop. This could go on forever.”
“People who have nothing to say are usually the ones who say that.”
“Hah. More importantly…….”
His eyes gleamed sharply.
“How did you know I fought with my wife?”
For a moment, my companions flinched.
I shrugged.
“You just said it yourself.”
“Yes. I was probing to see your reactions.”
“…….”
“When I mentioned that I fought with my wife, none of you seemed particularly surprised. Originally, we were quite close, so you should have been taken aback or puzzled.”
“No. I always thought you two were heading toward ruin from the start.”
At that, he growled low.
Even his tone completely changed.
“That’s not it, is it? You heard it directly, didn’t you?”
“…….”
“From Kaid Bel, who’s completely on your side now. Or…… directly from Louis.”
“Who knows.”
“So it’s true. It is. Louis went to find you. After killing and killing me until she grew tired of it, she came looking for you.”
His face twisted savagely.
“What did she say? Did she ask you to kill me in her stead?”
“Don’t be jealous.”
“Jealousy is not…….”
“If you’re that furious, you should’ve treated Louis better from the beginning. After being treated like that, who would love you? Frankly, it’s impressive she endured as long as she did.”
Edgar Tyler pressed his lips tightly together.
It was the first time I had seen that kind of expression on him, and I even found it a little fascinating.
That was when—
“Alright, alright. Enough chatter! Focus, everyone.”
It was Magireta.
She floated in the air, leisurely looking down at us.
“You all never get along, do you?”
“Edgar is the one who keeps picking fights.”
“I’ll admit that. Still, focus on the quest for now.”
Snap.
Magireta flicked her fingers.
<Ninth Quest. Intermediary Trade.>
For this game, Magireta designates one high-ranking Monster.
Participants will conduct Intermediary Trade once per day, five times over a total of five days.
Participants will descend to the human world for 10 hours to purchase items that the high-ranking Monster might like. Any item is acceptable as long as it is obtained in the human world.
The high-ranking Monster will price each item based on how closely it matches their personal taste.
There is no limit to the quantity of items purchased in the human world, but the price will not vary based on quantity.
The high-ranking Monster must disclose the price assigned to each item every time.
After five rounds of Intermediary Trade, total revenue earned and total expenses spent will be settled.
After settlement, those whose remaining gold coins rank within the top 50 percent of the final participants will pass.
After settlement, those whose remaining gold coins do not rank within the top 50 percent of the final participants will be eliminated.
If participants fight or cause disputes during the quest, they will be eliminated.
At the same time, the Diary Book opened.
<Hidden Quest. Ensure the survival of Armelia Kerr Dneroum in the ‘Intermediary Trade’ Quest.>
<Hidden Quest. Ensure the survival of Aina Noel in the ‘Intermediary Trade’ Quest.>
<Hidden Quest. Ensure the survival of Berseum Ferux in the ‘Intermediary Trade’ Quest.>
<Hidden Quest. Ensure the survival of Sienne Katrin in the ‘Intermediary Trade’ Quest.>
<Hidden Quest. Ensure the survival of Benjamin Noel in the ‘Intermediary Trade’ Quest.>
<Hidden Quest. Ensure the survival of Karin Oblang in the ‘Intermediary Trade’ Quest.>
I hurriedly raised my hand.
“Wait a moment, Noona.”
“As expected of a little brother who loves to nitpick. What’s your complaint this time?”
“It’s not a complaint exactly…… but each participant’s starting gold amount should be different, shouldn’t it?”
I had claimed the First-place reward numerous times.
That was, of course, a good thing—but in this quest, it worked against me.
When receiving the First-place reward, I hadn’t been given a sack of gold coins.
Compared to participants who had steadily received gold coins, I was probably quite poor.
“Of course, all participants’ starting gold will be set to 100. Don’t worry.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Since it’s come up, shall we handle the preparations right away?”
Magireta waved her hand lightly.
At once, gold coins slid out from the participants’ bags and pockets.
They piled up neatly behind Magireta.
A mountain of gold coins.
If it weren’t during a quest, it would have been a sight to make one lose their senses.
Magireta then divided them into sacks of 100 each and distributed them back to us.
“The gold I’ve temporarily taken will be returned after this quest ends. Exactly as you originally had it.”
“…….”
“Now, the important matter is who will be buying your items……. Come in.”
Behind us, a massive door slowly opened.
Creeeak. Thud.
Step. Step.
Someone approached slowly…… no, a Monster.
At first glance, he looked like an ordinary human.
A middle-aged man in his forties.
‘That’s the high-ranking Monster?’
If he was high-ranking, then communication with us should be possible.
Sure enough, the man spoke.
“A pleasure. At Lady Magireta’s request, I will serve as the judge of this game…….”
“Ah, wait. Don’t say your name.”
“Lady Magireta?”
“One of the participants can extract all sorts of information just from a name alone. Since the key to this game is discovering what you like.”
Damn.
I clicked my tongue lightly.
Magireta smiled mischievously.
“Disappointed, little brother?”
“No. Not particularly.”
“Hehe. Just call him A. Though there probably won’t be much need to call him at all.”
The man moved away from us and plopped down heavily into a massive chair.
‘Well, it doesn’t really matter.’
There was no need to check with Encyclopedia lv.2. I already knew that he liked jewels.
All that remained was to secure ‘Tears of the Goddess’ as quickly as possible.
“Shall we begin? From now, you have 10 hours to visit the human world. Purchase items that A might like.”
“Understood.”
“Good. Then—”
That was when—
“Wait a moment, Noona.”
It wasn’t me.
Aside from me, the only one who called Magireta ‘Noona’—Edgar Tyler.
He raised his hand high and said something completely unexpected.
“I request a reshuffle.”