Chapter 173: Rather Talk
———Lerim———
<2: 52 pm>
“<What's going on on our end? I guess that would be interesting for you, ain’t it?>” Seemi said semi-sarcastically. “<It’s been kind of a mess. Got a big intimidating guy robbing everyone and trying to kill people yesterday. He was way stronger than an average guy, but he’s not immune to guns, thankfully.>”
“<Good to know police brutality is still there, over here the police force is dismantled because they pissed off too many strong people.>” Jackman replied sarcastically. “<As it stands right now, those guys hijacking the local authority haven’t tried anything. I mean, they probably have no freaking clue what they’re doing, but nothing bad happened afterward, so I can’t complain.>”
“As for me. Things have been quiet. Not a lot going on.” If it was just about me specifically, a lot happened, but for the town as a whole, things are relatively quiet. “Not a lot of crimes or accidents going on. I rarely ever run into any miscreants.”
“<Same on my end. It’s been kinda boring, to be honest.>” Idea chimed in. I’m kinda surprised they aren’t mugged or whatever, from the sounds of it they are pretty well-off. “<What about you then, Kara?>”
“<Well, you know how it goes. With that person running about, things are quite cozy. She acts as a very good deterrent it seems.>” She answered. More or less what we expect. “<I’m surprised the government didn’t try their darndest to attack this place since it’s pretty clear she frequents this town of mine often, they must’ve been scared shitless.>”
“<I mean, didn’t they already try provoke her once and now the capital city is in chaos? Surely they’re not pulling a stunt like that for a while.>” Seemi pointed out. It would be suicidal to try something funny against someone like that again, whether it be sooner or later.
“<They’d be completely out of their minds. Thankfully that nutjob didn’t even get to go to the starting line before that happened. Imagine someone like that being the president in this kind of time.>” Jackman remarked. I wonder… I mean, even if someone like that got in power, the situation would’ve remained mostly the same, I think. This kind of situation is too overwhelming for anyone to make that big of an impact.
“Eh, I wouldn’t worry about the what-ifs right now.” I said just so things don’t get too off-topic. “So in terms of safety, it looks like Seemi had the worst out of all of us.”
“<Yeah, throw it in my face why don’t you…>” She bitterly said. “<Good thing they hire workers to help rebuild the place and I’m one of them, otherwise I’d be out of cash by now.>”
“<Right, financial situation. Great.>” Jackman said, sounding a bit worried. “<Being a family man means a lot of mouths to feed, and nowadays there aren’t anything for me to do! I’m out of a job!>
“<Did you not get any relief fund at least?>” Idea asked. Haven’t heard about that in a while.
“<Nah. They don’t wanna touch the place I’m at because of the takeover. The government ain’t providing shit.>” He bitterly said. “<In fact, most people here still have no idea what they should do with their lives right now.>”
“<Huh. Well that sucks.>” Idea remarked, sounding a bit disinterested.
“<You could stand to be more helpful and sympathetic here!>” He protested.
“<I mean, shouldn’t you at least go into the dungeon and get loot to sell? You have a dungeon near you, right?>” Kara mentioned.
“<Yeah, but the exchange rate is at an all-time low. Bet they’re putting their money somewhere stupid instead of helping us out! They’re the ones who set up this whole new business in the first place!>” He complained even more. Hopefully his wife and children aren’t hearing all of this. “<What about the rates at your guys’ place?>”
“<It’s been about the same where I am. Guess we got lucky.>” Kara said.
“<It’s also down where I’m at, what a bunch of cheapskates…>” Seemi answered.
“As for me, it is also down a bit.” Might as well put down as much point of reference as possible.
“<You guys have been doing all that? I’m just lazing in my big mansion doing nothing.>” Idea said with a clear smug tone of voice. You privileged bastard…
“<Kinda insensitive, don’t ya think?>” Kara can’t help but say despite probably being the one of the more well-off people in this group.
“<Eh. I can throw money at them if they’re angry. Hey, Jack, how does ten thousand dollars sound?>” They retort by flaunting their wealth a bit more. <Seemi, since you’re alone, you get four thousand. Lrem, you get one thousand. Kara, you get nothing.>”
“Wha- Why am I the one getting the short end of the stick!?” Shouldn’t I at least get the same amount as Seemi at least?
“<You’re fine financially, right? Those photoshoots of yours get a lot of bucks, and you’re plenty strong aren’t you? There are rumors about someone who looks suspiciously like you.>” They said, as if they know the full story already.
“Did you forget what I said about one of my contacts? He got in trouble with something problematic and now is in a lot of pickle and can’t help me find any gigs, and other people I have worked with before aren’t picking up. I think in this day and age people aren’t all too keen on fashion and beauty and more on survival, which is just peachy ain’t it. This place is plenty safe so why not bring the whole crew here or something? Or maybe be a bit discreet and don’t make a big fuss about it until the photoshoot is over.” They are right that that’s where I got most of my income, which is why I’m doing a lot of dungeon diving nowadays as my money and food source, which just sounds barbaric if said out loud.
“<And I haven’t heard you complain about your current living condition. I assume you’re doing fine, but being excluded would’ve left you quite bitter. Aren’t I considerate?>” They teasingly said. This little shit…
“<Hey, can you two tone it down with the banter?>” Seemi said, interrupting this rather important negotiation. “<Why doesn’t Kara get anything?>”
“<You can split the money and give it to her if you want, but she doesn’t really need it.>” Idea said, vaguely alluding to something I sorta know but can’t say anything definitive.
“Give me money you stingy bastard.” I’m not gonna let them just pivot the topic just because someone else said something.
“<Okay fine, three thousand it is.>” They caved in quickly, probably because they have a lot more and that the amount they’re giving us is chump change anyway. “<...You know what, I’m gonna double the amount given. Now we all shut up about it.>”
“<I still don’t get why Kara doesn’t get anything though.>” Seemi said, looking a bit dissatisfied.
“<Don’t worry about it.>” Kara said, clearly not minding the lack of charity coming her way. “<...What were we talking about again?>”
“<How bad the money situation has been for most people, basically.>” Idea summarized. “<...Do you think the fact that the rest of the group chat barely frequents this place is because of that? They’re super busy with work and stuff?>”
“<I mean what else would it be?>” Seemi sarcastically replied.
“<Huh… Well, they don’t interact much here anyway. I’m just gonna give everyone premium stuff on here and leave it at that.>” Idea said, throwing more money at people. “<By the by. What do you guys think about all the magic stuff? I think it has been long enough, surely you guys got something fun and interesting up your sleeve.>”
“<I mean… I haven’t really done much outside of maybe fire magic to scare some monsters off momentarily.>” Seemi said.
“<Yeah, same here. I mean, mana recovers slowly anyway, I can barely practice anything before running out of juice.>” Jack chimed in. These two haven’t been doing too much it seems. Can’t really blame them, the best way to improve is to risk your life, not everyone is gonna be up for it, and even then I probably only just tip-toe around that line more than full-sending it.
“<...You two have been slacking, huh.>” Idea said, probably with a smirk. No idea what they even look like when their profile picture is a fat cross. Maybe blonde?
“<What in the world do you want us to do?>” Seemi asked.
“<I mean, with Jack I get it, he has family to feed and all, but you’re still single and alone, surely you can be more active.>” Idea explained.
“<What if I get asked to do more work? I need to keep myself from getting tired just in case of that. I can’t risk being super exhausted before work day.>” She argued. “<Why would I even need to get that strong in the first place?>”
“<Really now? You wanna get your ass kicked and jailed like the last time?>” Idea suddenly brings that incident back up. <I thought you’d toughen up a bit since the incident, I guess not.>”
“No need to lay it in like that.” I said, not wanting things to get heated. “I do see the merit in it, not to mention the health benefits. I think I have looked the best I have looked in years.”
“<Oh shut it you narcissist.>” Seemi brushed off my comment.
“<Both of them are right though, if you don’t have much else to do then training would help with any incidents at least. There might be less troublemakers nowadays, but their danger level also increases each day as well. Kinda like in those survival games.>” Kara chimed in. I haven’t been playing any games for so long, which one is she talking about?
“<Can’t say I follow.>” Seemi replied. Looks like she isn’t all too keen on putting more time in gaining strength. “<By the way, why would a fashion model like you need to get all buff for?>”
“Lifestyle of the strong is also the lifestyle of the healthy. Besides, like I said earlier, I don’t have much to do nowadays, I can use all the time to go to the dungeon and loot everything inside. Not to mention, I’m the strongest person around so staff at the guild can’t bother me even if I stay there and hog a table to laze at for an entire day.” I proudly said.
“<...Are you a freaking gorilla?>” What the hell!?
“You take that back!” She can’t say that when I look much more beautiful and elegant than she is!
“<Alright you two, pack it up.>” Jack said, interrupting this serious offense.
“I’m gonna come to your house and remove the entire thing if you said that one more time!” I declared, not wanting anymore of this meathead nonsense.
“<Seemi, I think you should retract that statement before someone gets hurt.>” Idea said, surprisingly taking my side here.
“<What? What did I say wrong?>” Just admit what you said is wrong and get on with your life!
“<You know what you said wrong.>” Kara chimed in in my defense as well. It’s nice to have people agreeing with me on this. “<Also, let me be clear here, you’re gonna get slaughtered if you two ever fight, so don’t provoke her.>”
“<You’re talking like she’s actually going to kill me!>” Seemi pointed out. I probably wouldn’t, I would beat her up though. “<Whatever, sorry for saying that.>”
“<Good to hear.>” Idea replied. “<Alright then. What else is there to talk about… Oh right, wasn’t there a talk about demi-humans gathering in a few places? Kara, Jack, if it was me, I wouldn’t go there, personally.>”
“<Trust me, I know about that already.>” Kara ominously said. What in the world are they talking about now? I think I heard a rumor about it, but no event like that is happening where I am, so I didn’t follow it.