Chapter 174 - Chapter 173: Refrigerator
The first month of Wind, the third week, Saturday.
Mika had come to the Adventurer's Guild on his way back from training with the Fifth Knights Order.
It had been about a year since they had stopped accepting new "Curse Removal" requests.
Strictly speaking, it was a little less than a year, but if you exclude the time he spent away from the Royal Capital on a long vacation, it was about ten months spent on commissioned requests.
Thanks to that, he had managed to reduce the number of commissioned requests, which had once exceeded thirty, down to just about two remaining.
That was why he had asked Yunressa last week to resume accepting requests.
"Forty-six...?"
After being shown to the reception room and hearing the number of commissioned requests submitted within one week of resuming acceptance, Mika's mouth hung open in shock.
"I heard you were planning to stop accepting again once it piled up to fifteen or twenty requests, so I explained that as a precaution..."
Yunressa explained with a somewhat troubled expression.
People who had been watching from the sidelines last year seemed to have felt a sense of crisis due to the suspension of acceptance.
Once acceptance is suspended, no one knows when they will be able to accept requests next.
It seemed there were many people waiting to apply as soon as it resumed.
"And, about the reward..."
Saying that, Yunressa placed part of the document she was holding in front of Mika.
"Five million Rats for one request, three million Rats for..."
"Five million!?"
His voice cracked involuntarily.
It seemed the suspension of acceptance had truly incited a sense of crisis.
Clients offering high rewards had even appeared, thinking that if they couldn't get this done, it might be a year before the next chance.
Knock, knock.
While Mika stared blankly at the documents in his hands, the door to the room was knocked on.
Yunressa stood up and opened the door, and there stood Chirensta.
"Yo, Mika-kun. Long time no see."
"Ah... Chirensta-san."
Mika, who had been in a daze, was somehow pulled back to reality.
"I heard you were planning to come today, so I stopped by."
Chirensta had a clearer expression than when Mika had seen him last.
He then sat opposite Mika alongside Yunressa.
"I've heard the news about officially joining the upper echelons, but what happened?"
Mika asked Chirensta.
The incident involving the fake "Dispeller" had led to the arrest or resignation of four guild executives, leaving positions open.
Rumors circulated that Chirensta, who had been waiting for an opportunity to join the upper echelons, would take one of those spots.
Of course, the one who fed that rumor was Rosalinde.
It seemed there were several other people waiting to join the upper echelons.
They were the branch managers of large cities.
However, Chirensta, who had contributed to exposing major corruption within the guild, was said to be taking the posts, leaving the others in the dust.
Incidentally, as part of the guild reform, the number of upper echelon positions was also being reduced.
Therefore, Chirensta was the only one joining the upper echelons this time.
"This matter was bought, and I've been appointed as the Auditor. Well, it's a role where I'll be hated."
Saying that, Chirensta let out a bitter smile.
"Until now, things had been managed thanks to the hard work of the field staff. But the organization known as the Adventurer's Guild has become too huge. There are still people sitting on their haunches, taking advantage of the fact that the field staff supports them. My job is to expose and eliminate such people."
"So, does that mean the guild reform will be handed over to someone else?"
"No, that is also my job."
Mika was stunned.
(Isn't that not what an Auditor does!)
It seemed the position of Auditor that Mika knew was interpreted differently.
Or rather, isn't the guild too black?
(I understand wanting to entrust it to capable people...)
He had to monitor the upper echelons and also reform the organization known as the guild.
(But in a way, isn't that an incredible exercise of power?)
If someone tried to obstruct the reform, he could use the audit to fire them. It wasn't impossible.
(Is there anyone who can stop Chirensta...?)
Such thoughts flashed through his mind, and he secretly broke out in a cold sweat.
"...Let's take it easy, shall we?"
"Yes. The field staff was quite shaken by the previous incident. I won't relax my watch over the upper echelons, but regarding the guild reform, I intend to tackle it carefully."
Chirensta nodded with a serious expression.
He really is excellent, Chirensta.
It's surprising that someone like him was buried in Sarbengeal.
His serious work ethic must have been evaluated, leading to his transfer to the Second Branch in the Royal Capital.
Until then, he might have just been the type to "faithfully complete assigned tasks."
When Mika got involved in the chaos of the Royal Capital branch, Chirensta woke up.
He started actively thinking about "it would be better to do it this way."
If Mika hadn't gotten involved, wouldn't he have just been lazily serving as a branch manager at some regional guild and ending his career?
Whether either way of living was better would depend on the person.
While Mika was thinking such things, Yunressa handed part of the documents to Chirensta.
(...?)
Were documents for Chirensta prepared from the beginning?
That means...?
Just then, Chirensta cleared his throat lightly.
"Ah... by the way, Mika-kun, how many requests did you plan to accept this time?"
He started off like that.
Mika couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Chirensta-san, that was too obvious. Did someone tell you to come?"
It seemed Chirensta hadn't come to the Second Branch today just to meet Mika.
When Mika said that, Chirensta smiled with a somewhat awkward look on his face.
Then he sighed and shook his head as if to say "good grief."
"Well, well, as the guild, since these are commissioned requests, it is true that we want you to accept as many as possible."
Chirensta continued, crossing his legs.
"There are people in trouble. There are people who can help. Connecting them is the guild's mission and its reason for existence. That is something I think myself, without needing anyone to tell me."
He spoke with such a serious face.
"However, the number is indeed large. I understand Mika-kun's feeling that he doesn't want to take on too much. So, I am just a messenger today. I was chosen simply because we know each other."
Yunressa listened to Chirensta's words and let out a bitter smile.
She was probably told to persuade him to accept everything.
Maybe even to accept continuously without suspending acceptance.
(Well, if Chirensta-san asks, I'd want to accept everything for him.)
But forty-six requests is too many, isn't it?
Would it take a year and a half to finish them all this time?
No, I want to focus a bit more on alchemy, so it might take two years.
(There is also the method of not suspending acceptance and accepting the highest-paying requests at that moment...)
If you want to maximize profit, this method would earn the most.
But there is a slight resistance to choosing solely based on the amount of money.
(But money is important. I can't say things like "it's not about money.")
The reward and Mika's vague feelings, or ethics?
With those mixed together, he couldn't decide on a policy easily.
Mika quickly scanned the request contents.
Until now, almost all had been "Curse Removal" for mansions, but this time about forty percent were requests for items other than mansions, such as ornaments.
Jewelry, figurines, paintings, etc., at a level where the guild refused custody services.
Mika also checked the order in which requests were submitted to the guild.
But then he suddenly thought of something.
Mika counted the requests with his fingers.
Chirensta and Yunressa watched Mika intently, holding their breath as he crossed his legs and rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought.
After thinking for a while, Mika smiled brightly at Chirensta.
"This time, I'll stand on your face. I'll accept all forty-six requests."
When Mika said that, the two of them looked surprised.
"Is that okay, Mika-kun?"
"Are you sure? The guild would be grateful, but taking on that much..."
"Well, I'll manage somehow."
Mika said cheerfully, and the two of them looked worried.
They had originally planned to accept about fifteen or twenty requests, so accepting more than double that amount was worrying.
"However, please suspend acceptance. Even if I clear them out, if they don't decrease at all, it's mentally a bit painful..."
"Oh, ah... That is of course fine, but are you really sure?"
"You don't have to force yourself."
"I'm fine."
Mika nodded firmly.
What was the most time-consuming part of "Curse Removal"?
It was identifying the cause of the curse.
You had to find it without any hints from within a vast mansion.
It would be nice if there were obviously suspicious items, but those were only a small part.
Sometimes the cause was a black stain like blood left under a carpet or in a hidden room.
Incidentally, that black stain would rise to the surface no matter how many times you wiped it.
They said they hid it under the carpet because they hated that.
Of course, that was the cause!
Just say it beforehand, you idiot!
And, among the commissioned requests this time, twenty-seven were "Curse Removal" for houses like that.
The nineteen requests were for items like ornaments or figurines where the cursed object was already identified.
That meant for those nineteen requests, it would be possible to handle a few per day.
It was a delicious request where the most laborious work was omitted.
The number of requests was large, but I think I can finish them in a period similar to the previous time.
Well, even if it took a little longer, it would be a little over a year.
And, the breakdown of rewards for these forty-six requests.
One request for five million Rats, five requests for three million Rats, eleven requests for two million five hundred thousand Rats, with many high-reward requests.
Roughly, the total sum of all rewards exceeded ninety million Rats.
If I plan to finish the requests over a year, an annual income of over ninety million Rats is confirmed.
Moreover, there is also the custody of cursed objects and the Magic Bag separate from this.
Probably, it is certain that it will exceed one hundred million in the coming year.
While Mika's face was beaming with such mental calculations, Yunressa looked at him with a sharp gaze.
All worries until then were gone, and she had switched to a crisp older sister mode.
"Mika-kun... your cheeks are slackening too much."
"Oh."
Mika hurriedly lifted his slackening cheeks with both hands.
"Really! If you don't tighten up, it's dangerous!"
"I know! I'm fine! I understand!"
Mika answered with a crisp face, pressing his cheeks while Yunressa fumed.
Watching Mika and Yunressa's exchange, Chirensta burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, I'm relieved that the two of you are still the same."
He laughed so happily.
BANG!
Just as the atmosphere was so pleasant, the door suddenly opened with a loud noise, ruining it.
"Yah-hoo, Mika-kun! Let's go eat!"
Rosalinde had arrived like that.
When will this person learn to knock?
"Again, Rosalinde! You're barging into a meeting seat---"
"A meeting? You're just chatting, right? Never mind that, let's go eat soon."
"Um... could you stop saying it as if we had a promise?"
Rosalinde's intrusion made the reception room noisy all at once.
"Anyway, what about your work, Rosalinde!"
"I'm off for today. Come on, Mika-kun, let's go. Yunressa, the shop from last week."
"The shop from last week? It's not a tavern again! Besides, I'm at home today---"
"Oh, yes, yes, your husband is waiting, right? Tsk, you became difficult to deal with as soon as you got married."
"Difficult to deal with... didn't you just say the shop from last week?"
It was getting out of control.
And so, the four of them, Rosalinde forcibly dragging Mika, Mika forcibly dragging Chirensta, and Yunressa, went to eat together.
"Sorry, Yunressa-san. Please take care of it."
"Yeah, it's fine. I'll go soon too."
Yunressa proceeded with the procedure to accept all the commissioned requests currently submitted.
Furthermore, she would deliver a note to Mika's house.
'I'm going to eat with the guild people. Sorry for the sudden notice.'
By issuing the usual letter with 'Commissioned Requests' and having her take Mika's note along with it.
It was completely for private purposes.
Even in front of Chirensta-san...
Chirensta-san had a reluctant face, but he closed his eyes.
(I'm really sorry! It's all Rosalinde's fault!)
And so, the three of them from the Adventurer's Guild in Sarbengeal went on a fun but noisy meal.
Chirensta scolded Rosalinde many times for saying and doing foolish things, so his voice was hoarse by the end.
It was fun, but I'm tired!
■■■■■■
The first month of Wind, the fourth week, Wednesday.
Blacksmith District.
"Hello!"
Mika entered a blacksmith's shop and shouted loudly.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be heard amidst the sound of metal striking, echoing around as gakin! gokin!
However, even shouting, he couldn't be heard easily.
Mika shouted a few times, and finally, the master noticed.
"Oh, you came. I was waiting."
"It's finished, right? Can I see it?"
"Don't rush."
The master let out a bitter smile at Mika, who looked impatient.
Guided by the master, Mika entered the blacksmith's workshop.
"In the end, the price went up again. If it were now, it might have gone up a bit more."
"Is it rising that much?"
"It's going to ruin me. This business is getting ruined too."
While talking like that, they walked through the hot workshop.
As they walked, they found an object that stood out.
"Uhyaa~~..."
A black object towering up with a doon sound.
Its height was about the same as Mika's line of sight.
It exceeded one point two meters.
The width was about ninety centimeters.
"Looking at it like this, it really is abnormal. Even though we made it ourselves."
"But, placing it vertically was definitely the right decision."
The giant black object before his eyes.
Actually, this was a cooler box that had been rejected once.
Since a plan to turn it into a refrigerator had materialized, he had ordered it from the master again.
As part of studying alchemy, he had learned basic knowledge and techniques of circuits and [Enchantment].
This allowed him to create a device that leaked weak cold air.
Then, if he could just enclose that cold air and block heat in a box, it would become a refrigerator.
So, he had ordered a cooler box.
However...
"Still, the floor might give way, huh."
"Well, if you don't reinforce it at all, it will give way, won't it?"
He wanted to put it in the dining kitchen, but the weight would probably make the floor collapse.
It was made of iron plates with a thickness of more than one centimeter, so the weight was incredible.
Should he sneak under the floor and support it with "Iron Wall"?
Mika tried opening and closing the cooler box door.
It moved quite smoothly.
"I see. As you said."
"Right?"
Mika looked at the master, and the master puffed out his chest.
Mika had only told the master the functions for the purpose of a refrigerator, such as simple insulation and resistance to corrosion.
However, he was advised that it would be better to use different metal for the hinge part to make it easier to open and close, so he added some materials.
The inside of the box was divided into three sections.
This was because he made some modifications to the design by changing it to vertical placement.
It was completely a refrigerator.
There was a reason for changing it to vertical placement.
It was simply the problem of weight.
Even the door part was super heavy.
If your hand slipped and your finger got pinched, you would probably be crushed.
It was that dangerous.
So, he made it a vertical type and designed the door to open sideways.
To avoid the weight of the door itself bearing down.
Therefore, although called hinges, they were very bulky.
And, he decided to use a sturdy and smooth material that could withstand an incredible weight.
"Can I try this?"
Mika tapped the soft thing attached to the inner edge of the door with his fingertip.
The same thing was attached to the main body side.
The master nodded solemnly.
Seeing that, Mika closed the door with considerable force.
But, there was only the sound of air hooof, and the door never made a sound hitting the main body.
However, perhaps it couldn't absorb the impact completely, the door opened a little due to the recoil.
Was the magnet a little weak?
"Heh, as you said, it's an amazing shock absorber."
Mika had asked if there was any rubber-like material to fill the gap between the door and the main body to enclose the cold air.
This was the answer.
"Except that it's made from monster intestines, it's perfect."
"Don't worry about that. It's processed well, so you wouldn't notice unless I told you."
"I wouldn't have worried if I didn't know."
Mika let out a bitter smile.
"I can't just silently attach it to the client without permission, can I?"
"That's true."
Anyway, this shock-absorbing material.
It was said to be processed from the intestines of aquatic monsters.
It was sturdy and extremely strong against impact.
However, it was a little weak against heat.
Well, even if it was weak, it was to the extent that there would be no problem unless you poured boiling water on it.
"So, should I leave it here for a while longer?"
"Yes. I'll do something about the floor so it doesn't give way soon, so please keep it here until then."
"Oh, that's fine."
The master crossed his arms and nodded.
After that, it was about seeing how many problems arose when actually using it.
Probably, the inside of the cabinet would get wet with the cooled air, but how to solve that part.
For now, he had made a slight slope at the bottom to let the water gather in one place.
After that, Mika had to think of "something" to automatically remove that water.
"And, regarding the four million five hundred thousand Rats you were holding, I don't think I'll be able to give much change."
"Well, since the materials cost quite a bit, that can't be helped. I was prepared for a shortage anyway."
When he first considered the cooler box, he was told it would exceed three million Rats.
But this time it was four million five hundred thousand Rats.
It was due to the increase in materials and the rise in ore prices.
"The price of ore has been rising a little bit from before. One of the mines in the Earldom of Latajis stopped, and that accelerated it. ...It feels strange that the price keeps rising just because of one mine."
The master grumbled like that.
It might not just be a lack of supply; there might be an increase in demand for some reason.
"Then I'll come again when it's ready."
"Oh, we'll arrange the transport, so don't worry."
"Please."
And so, Mika left the blacksmith's shop and headed home.
He had to think of reinforcing the floor somehow.
"I guess I have to go under the floor."
He didn't think it was okay to do something like reinforcing the floor in a rental house, but well, he could clean it up when he moved out.
...If he didn't forget.