Chapter 24
In FBO, there are quests that make you think, "Wait, there are quests like this?!" and make you question the sanity of the developers.
One of the most famous things in the capital of the southern continent, Rendel, is the "Garbage Mansion Quest."
Officially, it's called "The Lament of Count Clermont," but we FBO players refer to it as the Garbage Mansion Cleanup Quest.
The reason we call this fantasy quest by such a disgraceful nickname is that the mansion, located in a corner of the noble district of Rendel, is completely filled with all kinds of garbage.
The quest begins like this:
"Please exorcise the ghost of Count Clermont, the former owner of the Clermont Mansion in the northern part of the noble district."
When the adventurer guild receives such a request, the receptionist explains it to the players who accept it, and what awaits them is a garbage-filled mansion. The mansion is so filthy that it disgusts even the players who are blinded by the large reward.
Even though it's just a game, I got goosebumps the first time I saw it.
"That's not a place for people to go. Not only is it full of garbage, but Count Clermont's ghost hides in the trash and can't be found. The ghost's attacks involve throwing filthy garbage, so no one wants to deal with it. Anyone hit by it suffers from a high fever for three days and nights. Some people thought about burning the mansion down, but if that much garbage were to burn, it would spread to the surrounding mansions and potentially cause a massive fire that could engulf the entire capital."
Its infamy seems to be well-known in this world too, as Dent-san, trying to ease his discomfort from the bad-tasting alcohol, took a swig from the bottle in his hand.
Hearing this, I realized that the Count's quest still hasn't been cleared. For now, I feel relieved.
If someone had told me that such a quest didn't exist, I would have had to change my plans significantly. Fortunately, due to its notorious reputation since the game era, this quest is considered high-difficulty.
This makes it even more imperative that I find a way to get information.
Honestly, I don't care about the reward from the adventurer guild. What I want are the items inside the mansion.
Count Clermont is set up as a noble with a collecting habit, which started after he obtained a certain treasure. However, he had no eye for treasure and was repeatedly deceived by merchants, buying worthless junk until he went bankrupt.
But instead of passing on peacefully, his desire to continue collecting turned him into a malevolent spirit, and he continues to collect both treasures and garbage to this day.
"That's why, kid, this isn't a place for someone like you to go. If you're looking for treasure, I'll take you to some ruins outside the city next time. For now, go home and be patient."
"Yes, I will."
Even if I pressed Dent-san for the location here, he wouldn't tell me. So, it's wiser to pretend to accept his advice, retreat for now, and come back later to search.
"Hey, wait."
"Guh!"
I turned on my heel to head back the way I came, but I was stopped by a hand grabbing the back of my collar.
"You're awfully quick to leave. You were in such a hurry to explain why you wanted to buy a woman earlier."
Did that make him suspicious?
"Come on, Dent-san, I'm not stupid enough to ignore your advice, am I?"
"Yeah, that's true. But usually, bratty adventurers overestimate themselves and argue with us. But you're different. You tried to leave quickly and come back later. Spit it out. What are you hiding?"
Well, I'm just a serious player, not an actor. I can't deceive anyone, and I'm not cut out for it.
"Do adventurers usually share their trade secrets for free?"
"Ah, so that's what you're saying. You're talking like a real pro."
So, it's better to shift gears and try to involve Dent-san, a veteran adventurer, in my plan.
"I'll tell you. Even a kid has to worry about tomorrow's meal. It's no joke to go hungry after giving away information for free."
"That's true. I'd be mad too if someone joked about that. So?"
"So? What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb. From the way you're talking, you're planning to drag me into this, aren't you?"
The entrance to the pleasure district is a bit crowded. The sight of an adventurer grabbing a kid by the collar could cause a scandal.
"Will you listen to my money-making idea?"
"It's not free, is it?"
"No, but could you let go for now? We're drawing a lot of attention."
"...Yeah, you're right."
Dent-san, noticing the sharp looks from a woman who looked like a prostitute, reluctantly let go of my collar and started walking ahead.
"Let's go to my usual spot. Is that okay?"
"Can kids go in?"
"Yeah."
"It's not a weird place, right?"
"You're so suspicious... Don't worry, adventurers value trust above all."
Since Jinx-san trusts Dent-san, I decided to follow him.
"Dent!! Did you finally get married!? When did that happen!?"
"Wrong!! He's not my kid!!"
"What's this? I thought you'd finally settled down."
We were taken to a shop run by a well-built woman.
"What's with that look?"
"Nothing, I just thought we were going to a bar or something."
"If I brought a kid into a bar, I'd be the laughingstock."
The place had a chic, café-like atmosphere, a calm spot in the northern district. Sensing my surprise, Dent-san asked if something was wrong, and I shook my head, saying it was just unexpected.
"Alright, let's take the seat at the very back."
"Sure, but hey, you finally got a boy to—"
"Don't even start!! I only get excited if there's a mountain of cleavage!!"
The owner, realizing that Dent-san and I weren't related, gave us a suspicious look, but Dent-san loudly denied it and made a gesture with his hands to emphasize his point.
"Good to hear. But you should get married soon. You're not getting any younger."
"Mind your own business!!"
They seemed to be on very familiar terms. Was he a regular here?
"What are you doing? We don't serve ale until evening."
We were led to the back seat, and the owner took our orders.
"I'll have this. Give the kid some fruit water and some nuts."
"Normally, we don't allow outside drinks, but fine."
The seat we were given was in the corner of the shop. Normally, it wouldn't be the best spot, but it was perfect for a private conversation.
After the owner brought the fruit water and nuts as ordered, Dent-san leaned in.
"Alright, let's hear it."
"Sure, but first, let's make a few promises. If you run off with the info, it won't be funny for me."
"...Fine, but make it quick."
Talking about "The Lament of Count Clermont" isn't a problem, but if Dent-san were to run off and get the items I want, it wouldn't be funny.
"First, about how to clear the mansion, I'll tell you on the day itself."
"...And you expect me to trust you? That's too convenient."
That's why I need to hold back the most crucial part until the last moment. Normally, there would be a way.
But saying "I can't tell you now" sounds like a scam.
"Dent-san, we've only gone out together once. I trust Jinx-san, so I trust you to some extent. But this is a different matter. For me, having your cooperation would make things easier, but I can clear the quest on my own if I have to. I don't need to force this conversation."
But this part is non-negotiable.
In the game era, this quest was recommended for Class 4/Level 80 players, making it an entry-level quest for mid-tier players. However, with a certain method, it's possible to trap and kill the ghost, making it easy to clear even for players like us with no levels. The items needed aren't that expensive either.
Yet, the rewards are quite substantial, making it a lucrative quest.
This line must be defended at all costs.
That's why I'm being so assertive.
"..."
"..."
After all, Dent-san is in a position to cooperate with my quest. If he doesn't like my proposal, he can try to clear it on his own.
I already have the key items. I can manage.
"...Fine. I'll judge based on what you can tell me now. If anything seems fishy, I'm out."
"That's fine."
Seeing my firm stance, Dent-san backed down.
"Alright, let's talk about the rewards first."
"Yeah, how about we split it between me and you guys?"
Honestly, Dent-san's calm and mature response is appreciated.
"No, the distribution will be a bit special. For this quest, you can take all the rewards from the guild."
"Whoa, whoa, hold on."
That's why I'm taking a step back here.
If the reward from the guild is the same as in the game, the success reward is 200,000 zeni. Additionally, if we recover the treasure hidden in the mansion and deliver it to the client, we get an extra 300,000 zeni.
In total, it's a whopping 500,000 zeni.
I'm confident I can get both. And considering what I want to obtain, I don't mind letting Dent-san have the rewards.
"You're not planning to use me as a shield, are you?"
"If I did that, Jinx-san would kill me."
There's always a catch to a good deal. That's a universal truth, and Dent-san is naturally suspicious of the large reward distribution.
"In exchange for letting you have all the rewards, there are a few items in the mansion that I want. I need you to guarantee that I can have them."
During the Garbage Mansion Quest, you can explore the mansion while fighting Count Clermont's ghost.
At first glance, it's all garbage. But as the saying goes, even a broken clock is right twice a day. Among the garbage, there are a few rare but highly useful items.
"Originally, the request includes cleaning up the garbage, so collecting items from the mansion shouldn't be a problem. That's fine, right?"
"...Are you going to tell me what you want?"
"Not right now."
Dent-san doesn't think of me as a kid who doesn't know the value of things. That's why he's intrigued by the idea of items worth giving up 500,000 zeni for.
"If you're not saying now, does that mean you'll tell me on the day?"
"Yes, there's a chance I might not find anything, but either way, I plan to search thoroughly after defeating the ghost."
This is a pretty unreasonable negotiation.
But Dent-san doesn't seem to have a plan to clear the haunted mansion on his own either.
He takes a sip of his drink and starts stroking his chin, deep in thought.
"...You're confident?"
"Yes."
After a few minutes of deliberation, he seems willing to consider it.
"But it's a noble's mansion, you know? Even if it's a garbage dump now, everyone knows there's treasure inside. Even for a large sum of money, I can't just give you unlimited access."
"Clearing the quest will also improve your reputation with the guild, right?"
"Having a better reputation is a double-edged sword. If I succeed, people might start requesting me specifically for similar tasks. That could lead to more trouble."
However, his interest seems to be shifting from the money to the valuable items.
"Thinking about it, letting you have all the items you want doesn't seem fair."
"..."
This is getting tricky. I quickly recall the list of items that can be obtained from Count Clermont's mansion.
There are three items I absolutely need. In total, there are nineteen items. Ten of them are exchangeable for money or are money themselves. My target is...
"Then how about priority for fifteen items?"
"That's too much. Five."
Good, I've crossed the minimum line.
"If that's the case, it's better for us to do it alone. Thirteen."
"You need the request form to enter the mansion. Think about the disadvantage of leaving me out. Seven."
"But you can't do it alone, right? Twelve."
"Who knows? Maybe I'll figure it out eventually. Eight."
"I'll clear it before that. Ten."
"Kids wandering around a place like that will stand out immediately. Plus, I have an idea of where you're looking. Nine."
This is a careful negotiation. If Nel were here, she might have handled it better. But for me, this is a passing grade.
"Then, next time I have a guard request, you'll do it for free. Also, introduce me to two reliable people. In exchange, nine items. If you don't agree, it's ten."
"...It's not a troublesome place, is it?"
"It's a beginner-friendly area. Just a bit into the forest with the raccoons."
"Ah, that place. Fine. My pockets will be warm after this anyway. Nine items it is."
This seems to be the compromise. I shake hands with Dent-san, agreeing to the reward distribution, and we start planning the details.