“But you know, Senior, our informants don’t usually seek out new customers to open a trade, right?”
‘Did he decide to change his tactics after realizing that a blunt suggestion wouldn’t work through the look of disgust on my face?’ Pret spoke with a hint of disappointment.
‘He probably wants me to take his proposal seriously since he provided this favor, but…’
Even so, the conclusion remains the same.
While I have no shortage of money, I am desperately short on time. There is absolutely no reason for me to work for an information guild, but there are a mountain of reasons why I shouldn’t.
“You said it was a pity for Professor Vanahilda with your own mouth. Why are you transforming the act of helping her into a favor for me and acting so condescending?”
“Because it was you, Senior, who suggested sending an informant to Professor Vanahilda.”
“Why is that a problem? Regardless, your guild stands to make money, so it is a gain, not a loss, is it not?”
“But the pride of the world’s best information guild…”
“Isn’t it common sense that sales require legwork? If you just sit around and insist on your pride, you’ll lose that title of world’s best soon enough. Ah, perhaps you lack the ability to identify reliable customers? If that’s the reason you have no choice but to wait for qualified customers to find you on their own… the world’s best information guild isn’t much to brag about, then.”
He probably intended to trigger a sense of gratitude to make me feel emotionally indebted, but it won’t work. Stop it, because that kind of persuasion doesn’t work on me.
I sneered as much as I could, putting on an arrogant expression to convey that meaning.
And then.
“Senior Karbaldr. If you have no intention of joining our guild, could you please stop acting so tempting? I keep getting confused, wondering if you’re playing hard to get and appealing your competence just to raise your value.”
I ended up hearing this nonsense instead.
Apparently, the next head of this information guild took my remarks as some sort of corporate consulting.
“That wasn’t my intention…”
“Then why are you doing this?”
The moment I was asked that, the answer ‘to avoid being treated like a sucker and to gain the upper hand in the deal’ flashed through my mind.
However, I am a person with a capacity for learning.
If I were to give that answer here, Pret would likely respond that he liked that about me too.
Therefore, to end this time-wasting squabble and change the subject.
I spoke as if I were answering, while actually aiming to achieve my goal.
“There is a job I want you to do. Naturally, I intend to pay for it, but since it isn’t information gathering… I wouldn’t be able to make such a request if I were in your debt, right?”
“Does that mean you intentionally played hard to get to obtain what you wanted?”
“I never played hard to get. I was just… well… let’s just say I was bargaining.”
“I thought I’d get a cliché answer like ‘to gain the upper hand’ or ‘to not look easy!’ Senior, you really…!”
Seeing his reaction, looking at me with an expression that asked why I kept doing this and being unable to continue, I felt a sense of self-reflection.
Apparently, I am a person without any capacity for learning.
‘But isn’t it the same for him, repeating the same actions over and over?’
“Does the guild lack talent? To the point where you have to cling to someone who says no and urge them to join…”
“Why do you reach that conclusion? Don’t you think you’re an outstanding talent that the world’s best information guild would covet?”
“I have such suspicions because you’re making a fuss over nothing and praising me as a great talent.”
“What do you mean, nothing? You’re constantly gaining the upper hand in transactions against me! Just what kind of achievement do you have to show off for it to be considered ‘something’ by your standards?”
I finally understood the repeated job offers and exaggerated praise coming from him.
Since Pret is a person with high pride and self-esteem, if someone beats him with words, he must naturally overevaluate them.
“Ugh! If we keep going like this, rather than you joining our guild, your repulsion will only grow. Let’s stop talking about this.”
Before I could say anything, Pret suggested a truce first.
Being ignored every time he offered a job must have finally exhausted him. Or perhaps his pride was wounded quite a bit.
Soothing him was an action that didn’t fit Karbaldr’s character.
I decided to show my displeasure before Pret could make a move.
“You thought well. I have plenty of money, so I don’t need a job, and I’m busy training, so I don’t have time for other work… but knowing that, you kept making unacceptable offers. It was beyond burdensome; it was becoming irritating.”
“Oh my! I’ve committed a great discourtesy to you, haven’t I, Senior?”
“It’s fine as long as you know now. I will especially forgive you just for today, so do not do it in the future.”
“I can’t make any promises about the future, so I can’t give a definite answer, but I’ll try not to.”
‘Does that mean he hasn’t completely given up on hiring me, but he won’t spit out recruitment lines at every turn like today?’
The answer was vague at best, but I decided to let it go for now.
In any case, I had clearly stated that I had no intention of joining the information guild and was in no position to do so.
He would give up soon enough.
“So, what is the job you wanted me to do?”
“I want you to send four gold coins a month to Svein’s parents, on the condition that the entire amount be used for their daughter’s medical expenses. Pay off all their household debts as well. I will provide the funds, but everything must be done anonymously.”
“What? You’re saying you’ll give money to Svein for nothing in return? After you bargained so hard when dealing with me??”
Pret raised his voice, his face a mix of absurdity and grievance.
I had been stingy with him, yet I was handing over a large sum of money to someone else without hesitation.
It seemed he was genuinely stunned.
“It is strictly for my own safety.”
“What does Svein’s family situation have to do with your safety, Senior?”
“Think about it. Not only are we training together, but as we cross the line between life and death in the Demonic Realm, Svein will naturally learn about my weaknesses or personal information. And you know best that information becomes money.”
“So you’re saying that instead of feeling sorry for Svein’s situation, you’re wary because you think he might go around selling your information?”
The face of the person asking was full of skepticism.
Indeed, I had just said that I suspected Svein because of his poverty.
It was only natural that the reaction was poor.
“Is that all? A desperate human will sometimes put others in crisis just to survive. Perhaps, tempted by the promise of big money, he might act out in the Demonic Realm under someone’s orders and put us in danger.”
“……”
“Even if he doesn’t go that far, once we enter the Demonic Realm, he might cause an accident because he’s too busy sweeping up the herbs growing there.”
“……”
Since I had unintentionally raised Pret’s favorability too much, I thought it wouldn’t be bad to lower it a bit this time.
So, I poured out a lot of words disparaging Svein and watched his reaction.
As I’ve mentioned several times, Pret is a character who values loyalty very highly.
Therefore, he must have been greatly disappointed after hearing my statement.
The Awakened Special Class had only been established for one week, so there was no time to build trust.
Still, it was clearly wrong to criticize someone from the same group without evidence.
From this moment on, the desire for me to join the guild would have vanished.
Or so I thought….
“The amount spent on his sister’s medical treatment every month is three gold coins. Why are you paying four gold coins? Isn’t it because you want to use better medicine and call in a skilled healer to slow down the progress of the disease as much as possible?”
It seemed that Pret was finding it difficult to let go.
Seeing him ask such a question, he couldn’t quite accept the fact that I didn’t fit the image of the talent he preferred.
“If the disease worsens, it will cost much more, will it not? If I can prevent larger future expenses by adding just one extra gold coin now, it’s a profitable deal.”
“If you send the money in your name, you’ll receive thanks, and Svein will be willing to do anything for you. Why are you trying to send it anonymously through me?”
“You certainly talk a lot of nonsense. Svein is the kind of person who, out of pride, wouldn’t dare pick up an expensive arrow used by the Imperial Family even if it were on the ground. He’d just watch cautiously, then treat anyone who picked up the benefit he gave up as a beggar picking up scraps. With that kind of personality, do you think he would gratefully accept money from me?”
I sneered with all my might so that Pret could shake off his lingering attachment.
However, once again, the reaction I wanted did not come.
“So… you found it very detestable and unpleasant that Svein came to me and talked about picking up scraps. Yet, you were concerned that his strong pride would be hurt, so you decided to be considerate and send the money anonymously?”
“What…?! How on earth did you reach that conclusion?! Are you also a Reysir-type?”
“Reysir-type? What kind of category is that?”
“The kind that distorts others’ words and interprets them however they want… No, don’t try to change the subject. Isn’t this conversation getting unnecessarily long?”
While unconsciously answering Pret’s question, it suddenly occurred to me why I was explaining this so kindly.
When I rebuked him, he also raised a complaint.
“It’s not my fault the conversation went sideways this time. It would have been enough to just admit it cleanly, but you were the one who made excuses and piqued my curiosity by mentioning a word I’d never heard of like ‘Reysir-type,’ Senior.”
“It’s not an excuse; it’s because you have such a ridiculous misunderstanding…!”
“While everyone else tries their best to look like a good person, why do you try so hard to reject being evaluated as one, Senior Karbaldr?”
“That’s…!”
“That’s?”
“……”
“What is it?”
“I asked what it is~!”
Pret urged me, but an answer didn’t just come to mind because someone was pestering me.
In fact, my heart only started racing, and my mind went blank.
For that reason, there was only one thing I could say at this moment.
“…I’m done talking, so leave now.”
“No, no. We’re not done. You have to give me the money to send to Svein’s house and the fee for the errand.”
“Ah…”
I still felt embarrassed.
Still, I felt a sense of relief that I no longer needed to squeeze out an excuse.
“Ahem! First, pay off the debts. Then take some of the remaining money as your errand fee. Send four gold coins to Svein’s house every month, and let me know when it runs out.”
“Whoa, such a large amount all at once…!”
Just in case, before meeting Pret, I had set aside twenty gold coins as emergency funds and put the rest of my assets into one pouch. It was a good thing I did.
Thanks to that, I was able to hand over the money in the pouch without breaking character by counting each coin one by one.
“But won’t it look suspicious if an anonymous sponsor suddenly appears and sends money? We need a plausible reason…”
“First, create a fictional wealthy individual who was born into a poor family and made a fortune. Then say it has always weighed on his mind that he couldn’t provide decent treatment for his sister, who died of an incurable disease when they were young. To wash away that regret, he decided to find and sponsor a girl suffering from the same disease. Wouldn’t that be enough?”
“Oh…! That would work!”
“Then leave now.”
“Yes, sir!”