Chapter 81 - 81 Baron Akogi
The Margrave descended from the second floor of the Adventurer Guild.
He seemed to be chatting amiably with a middle-aged man who appeared to have difficulty walking. Then, Leila, looking as if she recognized him, muttered, "Brad..."
The person called Brad began walking toward us.
"You're Shivans, right? I am Brad-sama, a handsome, 38-year-old bachelor who has been appointed as the acting Guild Master this time! Nice to meet you!"
He said as he reached out for a handshake, but the other guild staff were visibly recoiling.
The five members of 'White Tiger' seemed stunned, but Leila, Miki, and Maya were being approached by male adventurers saying, "You've become so beautiful!"
That Brad then spoke to me.
"Listen, Shivans. I've known those five since they were still wearing diapers."
"Is that so? And what of it?"
He brought up the Sea Dragon we captured the other day.
"That thing is a troublesome creature called a Sea Serpent! To put it bluntly, it's not something even the Navy could take down! Even magic should have been ineffective. And yet, you're saying these five defeated it! Don't you lie to me!"
Apparently, they had previously set out to hunt it and failed, resulting in many deaths. Then, Leila admitted it nonchalantly.
"That's right! Boss defeated it! All by himself. We fired arrows, but it didn't do a thing at all. It wouldn't even cause a fatal wound..."
Brad looked at me with a shocked expression.
"Just who on earth are you?"
At that, I explained that I am an adventurer traveling through the Altmea Empire and the Kingdom of Rhodesia.
"By the way, I can also perform medicine and business, you know?"
"You're a doctor?"
I sat Brad down in a chair and treated him. "It's healed!? He really is a doctor!" he shouted, jumping for joy.
"Is it about time?"
The Margrave had an angry expression. He seemed to be sulking because he had been ignored for so long, but...
Brad apologized profusely, and then the awards ceremony began.
"I thank you for protecting the seas of my territory!"
A sum of 5 million G was paid out as a reward, but I showed absolutely no interest and left it to the leader, Leila. Leila and the others seemed to be trembling with excitement at the sight of gold coins for the first time.
Other adventurers were saying things like, "Must be nice!" and "I'm so jealous!"
Brad beckoned me over.
"Shouldn't you be the one receiving this?"
"I'll be fine. I'll be receiving twice that amount from the Guild Master as medical fees!"
When I said that, he hurriedly backed away, so when I told him, "I'm joking," he looked relieved. I was consulting Brad about our trip to the Imperial Capital tomorrow.
"It certainly seems they are requesting you specifically, but..."
"If you look at me with eyes like that, it'll make me want to bill you for about 10 million G in medical fees, you know?"
Brad said, "Please don't. I couldn't pay that even if I lived my whole life. Fine, I get it. I won't pry into your business anymore!" so I replied with a smile, "A wise decision."
The Margrave clearly did not take kindly to my attitude and declared, "I shall see just how skilled you are!"
"What do you intend to do?"
"It's simple. Try fighting my guards!"
Five elites were chosen from among about thirty men.
It was decided that I would fight them at the Adventurer Guild's testing grounds, but when I muttered, "There's no merit in me winning..." the five of them shouted, "How insolent!" in anger.
The Margrave asked if I was still after money, so I said, "No. If I win, please abolish the Slum District, provide free medical treatment to the underprivileged, and clear their debts." He decided instantly, saying, "Very well!" I had him write a deed and kept it as proof. I immediately made a copy and handed it to Brad.
Hearing this, the adventurers started gathering to watch, saying things like, "Are you serious! Let's watch!" and "It's just like him to be the one who defeated the Sea Dragon!"
When I picked up a wooden sword, my first opponent shouted angrily, "This is a real fight!"
"It would be a problem if you died."
Enraged by my words, he shouted, "Begin!" and charged. However, in an instant, his figure vanished, and with a "KABOOM" sound, he slammed into the wall and lost consciousness.
"I held back quite a bit... my apologies."
When I apologized, the other four attacked all at once, but the result was the same.
"Now, please keep your promise, Excellency!"
This story spread through the adventurers' mouths in no time. I was heading to the Imperial Capital, but the five members of White Tiger asked, "What are you going to do from now on?"
"A guard request... take us with you too!"
When I asked if it was okay if Brad allowed it, they seemed to have obtained permission immediately.
Brad gave his permission easily.
"Well, fine... just don't fall behind and cause trouble for Shivans! I'll raise each of your ranks by one!"
He gave me a gold plate. And Leila finally reached her long-desired B-Rank. The other four were overjoyed to become C-Rank.
All five said, "We want to give the prize money to our family soon!" and said they would return home for the first time in a while, so I parted ways with them.
The next morning.
Liz and the five who were former sex slaves were sleeping in my room. Of course, I had done it with all of them, and I thought to myself that I was quite healthy.
"Good morning! Be careful!"
Liz and the five sent me off with smiles.
When I arrived at the Adventurer Guild, the Smith Trading Company's carriage had already arrived.
"Nice to meet you! You are Shivans-sama, correct? I am Alba, the head clerk. It is a pleasure to meet you!"
He looked to be about 30 years old. He gave the impression of being quick-witted, and his friendly smile left an impression.
When the five members of 'White Tiger' joined us, the conversation heated up as he said, "I have heard from the Great Master that you were traveling together on a ship?"
It seemed the escort adventurers had arrived.
It appeared that I was the only one taking a guard request solo. The others seemed to be taking them in teams. I observed that there was a team of four men who were former mercenaries, a harem team consisting of one man—the second son of a noble—and three women, and a team of four women consisting of noble daughters. Then, Alba began his self-introduction.
"Everyone! I, Alba, am 30 years old, and I have finally become a head clerk and reached a position where I can support my wife and child! Even though I am now a head clerk, please continue to call me Al just as before!"
Everyone burst into laughter, saying, "That's good, Al!" and applauded. Al then prompted Leila to speak.
"We are... 'White Tiger'... We heard the Boss was taking a guard request, so it was sudden... but we will join you. Leila turned 20... no, not turned, but became... she became B-Rank this time! No! It was 'became'..."
When they were laughed at again, he prompted me to speak. When I introduced myself as Shivans and said I was 17, everyone was surprised.
"I am from the Altmea Empire. I went to the Kingdom of Rhodesia, and this time I wanted to try going to the East Empire, so I boarded a ship and met Mr. Smith and White Tiger. I was made A-Rank this time."
At that, people began to buzz, hearing that I was 17 and from another country. Do I really look that old? Next, the other teams began their self-introductions.
"We're former mercenaries. We're adventuring because there are no wars! We're indebted to Mr. Smith. I'm Nick from 'Stranger.' I'm a 33-year-old, single, A-Rank."
When I said, "Women who want to be held, come on over," the women looked at Nick with cold, contemptuous faces.
"Next is me. I'm Ralph, the leader of 'Jupiter.' I'm 28 and single, so if there are lovely, cute girls, feel free to come to me! By the way, I'm B-Rank and specialize in magic."
The three women with him looked at Ralph with cold eyes. Finally, the team of four women introduced themselves.
"We are 'Moon Beauty'! I am the leader, Sion. I'm A-Rank, and they say I'm the strongest female adventurer in this country! By the way, Leila, Miki, and Maya!"
The three flinched as they were called by Sion, whom they respected.
"You all have suddenly become so beautiful and cute, haven't you? Before, you were much more flashy and filthy. What's your secret? Hey! Don't run away, tell me!"
Alba leaned in and whispered to me, "Nick has the epithet 'Superhuman Strength,' and Sion has the epithet 'Gale'."
"Everyone! Gather 'round!"
When Alba called out to the adventurers loudly, Leila and the others, who had been chased by Sion, also arrived. Stranger led by Nick. Jupiter led by Ralph. Moon Beauty led by Sion. The three teams seemed to have a very friendly atmosphere.
Leila and the others seem to only know them to a certain extent... I'll have to be careful not to stand out by myself.
"Unlike the usual members, Shivans-kun and White Tiger are participating this time, so please get along. Also, I'll leave the overall command and strategy to Shivans-kun."
"Huh? I'm a newcomer. I'm probably the youngest here, right? I don't know much about all of you... and besides..."
Looking around, I realized there was no one opposing it. While I was thinking that taking on such a role might make me an outcast, Nick approached me with a smile.
"Even though we are indebted to Mr. Smith, we actually refused at first. Even when they said we defeated a Sea Dragon or suppressed pirates, my honest feeling was, 'I'm not putting myself under a brat like this!'"
Well, that makes sense. In this world, the age difference can be as much as parent and child, I thought. Then Ralph said, "By coincidence, you were at the Adventurer Guild at the same time as us yesterday."
"I was quite surprised! You were holding a wooden sword and muttered words meaning 'It would be a problem if you died,' weren't you? Moreover, you said you 'instantly defeated' the guards of an elite knight order. To be honest, I couldn't see at all what kind of attack you launched..."
As Ralph spoke with a strained smile, Sion added, "I want to know too. When that boy was attacked by four people, I thought it was over. Even so, you were fighting while holding back, weren't you? If that's true, it means the boy hasn't shown his true power yet." She was stopped by Alba.
"It's almost time to depart. Shivans-sama, please give your instructions."
"Then, Stranger will take the lead. Jupiter, take the right side, and Moon Beauty, take the left side. I'll leave the archers on top of the carriages to Leila, Miki, and Maya. Earth and Sky, stay on both sides of Stranger. I will take the rear!"
I called Hawk and had him monitor from the sky.
I ended up following leisurely from the very back, but the road wasn't bad. Rather, while not as good as the roads in the Altmea Empire, a reasonably clean road continued.
After about two hours of progress, we took a short break for the horses. There, I became a popular figure. Roland, Nick's deputy. Naron, Ralph's deputy. Celia, Sion's deputy, all approached, wanting to ask about me.
"How did you defeat the Sea Dragon? Brad says that thing is a monster called a Sea Serpent and that it's a creature capable of using Anti-Magic, isn't it?"
As Roland asked with intense interest, Naron asked, "More importantly, it's about the pirate ship! I heard you suppressed it almost unscathed, even though there were many people and the ship was rocking! How did you do it?"
"I want to know how you fought the knights who attacked you all at once! Tell your big sister!"
Celia asked, but it was time to depart again.
For lunch, the five members of White Tiger prepared everything skillfully. Of course, the ingredients were things I took out from my inventory.
"We learned from Yaris-sama!"
The five answered with smiles and moved briskly.
The best cooks were Miki and Maya. Their dexterity was expected, but both of them were surprisingly well-endowed.
"We know! That Shivans-sama touched Leila-nee's breasts! Why don't you do it to me and Maya too? We've even cleaned our virgin pussies!"
I shouldn't be using charm, but perhaps I'm just naturally leaking information.
"Fine. Maya and Miki, someday!"
" "Yes!" "
They replied happily.
Watching this, Leila showed me her lewd underwear and pleaded, "Let me offer my virginity to Boss before anyone else!"
"Of course! As long as you become a total slut just for me, Leila!"
With a red face, she said, "Of course! I know. Tonight, make me super lewd!" before leaving to help with the cooking.
When I served the completed food to the merchants and adventurers, they were overjoyed.
"It's not hard bread or dried meat!"
Sion was moved and hugged me, but she seemed to have the least chest. To put it nicely, she had a slender body.
"Hey, hey, Sion! Isn't it a nuisance for a flat-chested old hag to be hugging Shivans?"
"Heh! It looks like the time has finally come to snap that sickly, tiny cock, Nick! I'll knock you down! It's fine no matter how small it is! Don't worry!"
Sion, slender, drew a saber-like sword. It seemed it was Ralph's job to step in and stop them.
"Do you intend to depart without eating delicious food? If so, would you mind if I ate your portions instead?"
At Ralph's words, both Nick and Sion stopped fighting. It seemed he was quite practiced at mediating. After finishing lunch, we seemed to enter the neighboring Baron's territory immediately upon departure.
"Everyone. Today we will stay in the territory capital of Baron Akogi!"
At Alba's words, all the guards nodded.
He was a Baron of a Vassal Noble territory, currently staying in Roast Town along with the Margrave. The territory capital had an atmosphere that could hardly be called prosperous.
"No matter when I come, this place is dreary..."
As Roland, Nick's deputy, grumbled, Naron teased, "No matter which town you go to, you're only interested in brothels anyway!"
"Hey, hey? Ralph, are you the same as always? You only touch first-time women, don't you? Noble young masters have such strange sexual preferences, don't they?"
In response to Celia's question, Naron said, "It's a little different."
"He just loses interest in a woman once he has held her once. That's why we also end it after the first time. Whether she's a virgin or not. The concept of a lover is missing from him."
At Naron's words, the three women of White Tiger were visibly repulsed. It seemed the four members of Moon Beauty were also being invited by Ralph. Certainly, he looked kind and was a good-looking man, but...
"Ralph is still inviting us 'Moon Beauty' as well. I'm ignoring him, though. More importantly, there's a hot spring here that's very popular with women! I think the men will go to the nearest brothel, but let's go in together, Leila and the others!"
I had been listening to the conversations of the people who were idle until we entered the territory capital, but then Leila said she wanted to go to the toilet. Apparently, "that" had arrived, and she apologized to me.
"It's fine. There will be another chance, right?"
"I... was looking forward to it..."
When I casually rubbed her breasts, she rejoiced and whispered, "When it's healed... hold me!" so as I nodded, I fiddled with her pink nipples, and she ended up in an ahegao state.
Then, our turn finally came.
The gatekeepers were starting something.
"We are members of the Smith Trading Company. The guards behind us are adventurers."
When I explained with a practiced air, a man appeared and commanded, "Adventurers, show your plates or cards!" He seemed to be an unfamiliar man. Nick asked, "Who the hell are you?"
"I am Walt, the Guild Master of the Adventurer Guild in this town. Later, I shall have you all show your faces at the guild!"
Upon entering the territory capital, the five of us—me, Nick, Ralph, Sion, and Leila—headed to the guild, where the Guild Master made an outrageous proposal.
"As you know, currently, delinquent adventurers are running amok in the streets. I suppose it has nothing to do with you all. Fufufu!"
He then said that they were charging adventurers a high transit tax.
"However, there is a way to be exempt."
He said that if we defeated magic beasts and monsters in this territory, the transit tax would be waived.
"Mr. Walt. Wouldn't that be a forced request?"
"Ralph. I am not forcing anything at all. You may pay the transit tax. Please choose whichever you prefer."
That said, an amount of 100,000 G per team was an absurd setting.
"100,000! I've never heard of such a transit tax!"
"Nick. It is something the Lord has decided. I do not think there is any fault on your part, but can you prove that, unlike other adventurers until now, you have not committed any crimes?"
There was no way such a method existed. I thought it was a clever trap, but it was an unavoidable situation.
"Fine, Walt! Specifically, what do you want us to do?"
"As expected of Sion the Gale. Your understanding is a great help."
We had to exterminate 100 pests per team. In other words, 400 pests, but it wouldn't be easy.
Because of that, many merchants and adventurers seemed to be being held up. It apparently included wild dogs, deer, boars, bears, and even monsters.
When we headed to an inn, Alba apologized, saying there was only the most expensive inn in town where we could stay.
"It's fine. We can't exactly sleep outdoors. Besides, our job is to transport important goods."
When I said that, he looked relieved. Then, when I told him the story from the Adventurer Guild, Alba complained that he couldn't understand it.
"Shivans-sama, you understand, don't you?"
Leila asked me, so I nodded.
To put it simply, it was "Stay in this town for a long time and let outsiders drop their money." We would need money for lodging, food, alcohol, and clothing. Another point was that after threatening us to pay an impossible transit tax, they would make excellent adventurers work for free.
"Baron Akogi is aiming for two birds with one stone. They must know that we cannot go against the Baron."
Hearing that, Celia became enraged.
"Calm down, Celia!"
"Lady Sion! How can I be calm about this! That bastard!"
Everyone seemed surprised that the usually calm Celia had lost her composure, but they also seemed surprised that she called Sion "Lady." Then, Naron, who had moved behind my back, whispered in my ear.
"Hey? Is it possible for you to give Akogi a taste of his own medicine? If you've read that far into it, you must have a way to get revenge in mind, right?"
Naron laughed in a way that suggested she enjoyed wicked schemes.
"It's not impossible."
"You know, I'm a married woman. My body doesn't even respond to my husband, but would you be interested?"
It seemed luck was turning my way. It looks like I can enjoy myself with Naron for this week! Then, I addressed Alba and the adventurers.
"I have understood their hand, so there is a way to handle this. Will you leave it to me? I will go to the Adventurer Guild after dinner. Everyone, please prepare for departure tomorrow morning!"
When Sion said, "I'm going with you!", Nick and the others also said they would go to the Adventurer Guild.