[WN] Emperor's Seventh Son : 12 - 2 Part 1

12-2 Part 1

The Mysterious Book Says to Descend the White Stake, Seventh Pillar Labyrinth

- No Problem -

Translator : PolterGlast

「I'm Zanshi, looking forward to working with you today.」

「I-I'm Kachua! This is my first time doing something like this, but I'm looking forward to working with you!」

I think showing too serious of an attitude will actually make them look down on you, but that's probably just Kachua's personality. Unlike the adventurers residing in the Imperial Capital, the folks in Ratatosk were aggressive in both a good and bad sense.

「Heh, nice to meet ya, rookies.」

「I don't care what you do, just don't screw up.」

「If you drag us down we'll abandon you, remember that.」

「Y-Yes!」

The labyrinth brings wealth, but the danger to your life jumps up correspondingly. On top of that, there are many migrant workers from outside, so there was no fraternizing from the start in this job where you wager your life.

「Oi you, what did you do with your sword?」

「Sword? I don't have a sword, but I have something else here, I fight with this.」

「Hoh, an axe user, that's rare...」

「Well, something like that. It's a slightly unusual weapon; I'll show it to you when a battle starts.」

It seems wrapping the tip of the Shovel in a bag was the right answer. They probably never even imagined that the inside of the wrap was shaped specifically for digging holes.

They maintained a mild attitude until we arrived at the labyrinth and I revealed the tip of my steel Shovel.

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

「It's a freaking shovel!!」

「Don't mess around, you idiot! Our lives are on the line, do you understand that, you idiot!!」

「Uuu... Naturally, it turns out like this... I mean, Shinza?!」

Good grief, what a bunch of guys who can't appreciate a good thing. So I rushed forward and plunged into a pack of goblins that had spawned deep in the labyrinth.

It's different from that time I fought in Corin Village. My current self has both strength and agility. Destroying the enemies' crude daggers, punching down their low-hanging faces, sometimes digging up paving stones and throwing them, while receiving covering fire from archers like Kachua, I annihilated the enemies as the sole vanguard.

Slow. Weak. Immature. It seems goblins can no longer serve as my opponents.

「Do you have any complaints? Even if the Shovel is a substitute for a sword, there's no problem, right?」

「Th... The shovel, is strong...」

「Wh-What the hell is that... What the hell are you?!」

That's right. The Shovel is stronger than a sword. At least in my world, the Shovel is the strongest weapon.

「I'm surprised... But as long as you're strong, I don't care what you use. Alright, let me introduce myself again, looking forward to working with you, Zanshi.」

「Ooh, that's true too!」

「Ou, come to think of it, we can take it easy with this!」

「Wait, these guys switch gears fast?!」

The Labyrinth of Stakes is apparently based on 12-person formations. A group of 12 descends into one pillar every 4 hours, rotating 4 times a day.

「Yeah, I use a lot of slightly unorthodox tactics, but I don't intend to drag you down.」

「No, I think it's more than just a little...」

Thus, we began our full-scale labyrinth exploration. The White Stake Labyrinth continued as a mysterious space with white stone walls and paving stones.

It seems this is the inside of that stake. Monsters and treasures drift into the massive space spreading beneath the stake, and humans defeat them to acquire the treasures. That is the Labyrinth of Stakes.

When we reached the 3rd underground floor, an ogre-type holding a giant wooden mallet appeared leading the goblins.

「Watch out! Man, that shovel is strong, or rather, isn't that fighting dirty?!」

「Shut up, this is our chance! Beat 'em to a pulp!」

So I made a small pitfall, and the ogre tripped and fell into it, so leaving the back to the others, Kachua and I hunted the goblins.

「Alright, victory! Well done, Zanshi!」

「Holy crap, with you here it's super easy! If a big one comes, we're counting on you again, you shovel bastard!」

「These people sure are energetic...」

「Yeah. But adventurers are generally like this.」

When the dead ogre crumbled into ash, it changed its form into treasure. Is this gold ore mixed with a large amount of gold? The big guy acting as the carrier put it into the wooden box he carried on his back. Perhaps the bottom would fall out if it were cloth.

◇ ◆ ◇

As we crispily cleared out the enemies together and reached the 5th underground floor, another somewhat big shot stood in our way.

「It's a gargoyle!!」

「Damn it, if we fight that thing our swords will be ruined, are we retreating, Leader?!」

「Kuu, to be this unlucky after coming this far... You're right, rather than fighting that, we have no choice but to—」

It was a moving stone demon statue two and a half meters tall. It is certainly a natural enemy for those whose only skill is striking with swords or maces.

「Alright, retreat—」

「I'm good against those kinds of things, leave it to me.」

「Go get 'em, um, Zanshi!」

Ignoring the adventurers who chose to slowly retreat, I, who had been standing still staring at the opponent, charged at the gargoyle before my eyes. I was waiting for a guy like this. With the Shovel that doesn't show its efficacy against flesh and bone but pierces even iron, I sliced off the gargoyle's extending arm.

「So strong?! Or rather, don't screw with me, what's up with that shovel?!」

「H-He cut stone... This guy, he's a master of the shovel... he's a total weirdo.」

「No, that's weird, right! Cutting a gargoyle, this is absolutely weird!」

「Oi oi... Don't tell me it's an instant kill... Alright, no retreating. Oi Tank, get ready.」

When I put a little effort into it, the gargoyle had both its arms and legs, and its neck severed, turning into ash. As if buried in that ash, countless jewels seemed to have been born.

「This is amazing. Glad we didn't retreat.」

「Hahahahahaha! Seriously amazing, you're the best, Zanshi!」

「There's a whole bunch of 'em! Even split among 12 people, this is quite a haul! There's a whole bunch of 'em!」

「Oi, if you pocket any I'll fucking kill you, you bastard!」

The mercenary bunch threw the jewels into the wooden box the Tank was holding. There was a guy with sticky fingers among them, but he was punched down as soon as he was caught.

「Somehow, the adventurers here are rough...」

「Yeah, the drunks at the Imperial Capital guild are starting to look like cute young ladies.」

「No, that's not true... Those guys say perverted things to me...」

That might be the destiny of such a male society. I also helped pack the jewels into the Tank's wooden box, and then urged them to go further in.

「You want to go to the 7th underground floor? You're strong but you're weird...」

「Ah, I get it! She said she'd let you do her if you made it to the 7th floor, right! Eeh?」

「Uwe...」

Kachua looked disgusted at those words. Well, I don't dislike that kind of stupid thinking. Unfortunately, the reality is a request from a bizarre book, not a woman.

「Am I wrong? Ah, don't tell me that partner is this Kachua?!」

「What the heck, if that's the case just say so!」

「To be young... Uwa, it's so naive I feel like puking, dahahahaha!!」

What a noisy bunch. You're wrong. I just want to spend a fulfilling excavation life with something called 30x Shovel.

「Wh-Wh-Wh-What are these guys saying?! If you say anything weirder than that, I'll shoot you in the ass in the next battle!!」

「Calm down, Kachua. Their rough vibe is rubbing off on you.」

Pushing up my silver-rimmed glasses like a character in a story would do, I moved further ahead. The adventurers, driven by greed, started saying they wanted the guaranteed reward sleeping on the 10th underground floor.

They say you can almost certainly get something that turns into money there. Normally they don't go that deep because it's dangerous, but they told me they could do it if I was there.

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[WN] A Hero From a Remote Village : Chapter 227

Chapter 227

Act of Madness

Translator : PolterGlast

Receiving the signal, Ginia and Aoi quietly nodded to each other and made their move. Walking in front was Aoi; it seemed she would be the one to initiate the attack. Even while in a sneaking state within a forest where sounds easily echo, they were approaching while perfectly erasing their footsteps and presences to this extent. All that was left was to close in to the absolute limit without being noticed, and if they could land a surprise strike, it would be perfect.

Even I, who was just watching, was feeling nervous, but Aoi moved all at once from a position slightly further than her usual range. There was some distance, but against an opponent whose wild instincts seemed sharp, it was likely an appropriate judgment. That judgment was flawless, and by delivering a perfect strike from behind without giving it time to react, fresh blood sprayed from the King Garil's back.

At first, the King Garil couldn't understand what had happened, but it seemed the pain assaulted it a bit late, and it let out a piercing roar.

「Aoi-chan, nice! I think you inflicted quite a deep wound.」

「Hehehe! I actually used 【Limit Release】! I adjusted it well, so there's no backlash either!」

「To use it in this actual battle, as expected of you, Aoi-chan. ...I can't afford to lose either.」

Receiving Aoi's report, a fire lit up in Ginia's eyes. Stepping forward as if to switch places with Aoi, who had delivered the first strike, Ginia edged closer while slowly readying her sword. The King Garil still seemed to be driven mad with rage, and it lunged at Ginia with bloodshot eyes.

A monster of surprisingly massive size was charging in at breakneck speed, giving itself over to rage. Since a severe injury would be unavoidable if she took a direct hit, it wouldn't be strange for Ginia to feel fear from her perspective, but... perhaps she had no image whatsoever of taking a hit, as she remained completely calm.

I thought about preparing to step in and help, but looking at this state, it didn't seem necessary. My judgment was correct. While dodging the King Garil's full-body tackle by a hair's breadth, Ginia delivered a counter strike. By completely utilizing the opponent's momentum, the right arm the King Garil had swung down danced in the air.

Losing one arm caused it to lose its balance, and the King Garil collapsed onto its side where the right arm used to be. The entire area was dyed bright red, but the fact that it was all the King Garil's blood made it gruesome. Looking at the two of them showing not a hint of intimidation, I truly realized that the battle with the Kaonashi had made them grow significantly.

...I was already feeling like we had won, but the King Garil hadn't stopped moving yet. To make sure they finished it off properly, I decided to give the two of them a sharp reminder.

「That was a good attack, but it isn't dead yet. Don't drop your guard until the very end.」

「I know! We'll finish it off!」

「Leave it to us. We will defeat it perfectly just like this.」

The King Garil, whose rage had reached its peak, was emitting something like a dark, muddy aura. The type that goes on a rampage even after realizing they've lost is troublesome, and it seems he falls into that category. With its arm sliced off, it was slamming its right side—now just a shoulder—against the ground.

I didn't know what it was doing, but the meaning became clear when it stood up. It seemed to have thrust the hilt of the sword it was playing with earlier into its missing right arm, and the blade portion was sticking out from the end of its severed stump. Simply charging in with its shoulder was a threat in itself, but its behavior was so beyond abnormal that I couldn't help but draw back in reflex.

I'm glad I warned the two of them. Depending on the King Garil's movements, danger still remains. I was planning to watch the course of the battle—at that moment, the King Garil's bright red eyes locked onto me.

It seemed it noticed my presence from my callout earlier. The King Garil seemed to have switched its target from the two of them to me. Because I was standing by in the rear, it probably thought I was weak.

At a speed that Ginia and Aoi couldn't come to help, the King Garil charged. It was a charge while thrusting out the right arm impaled with a sword, and at this speed, Ginia and the others wouldn't make it in time to assist. Parrying the attack casually and leaving the rest to the two of them was an option, but... being looked down upon by a battered and bruised King Garil rubbed me the wrong way a little.

I originally wanted to have a fistfight with it anyway, so I might as well let myself get one punch in. While evading the King Garil's shoulder-first charge, I matched my fist to its face. Its jaw bent widely, and the King Garil, whose brain was violently shaken, collapsed face-first into the ground just like that.

「Ah! You stole the spotlight!」

「It came to me, so it can't be helped, right? Besides, I haven't killed it yet. You two can deliver the finishing blow.」

「It certainly isn't dead, but... looking at this state, it won't be able to move for half a day, so it's as good as dead.」

Being showered with cold words from Ginia as well made me a little bit sad. It's true I took the best part, but this much couldn't be helped. The two of them practically did all the subjugating, so it would be great if they could accept that, but... I guess it's difficult.

With the two of them getting stronger, being relied upon less makes me feel a little lonely. At any rate, we safely subjugated the King Garil. Let's deliver the finishing blow, finish the harvesting, and return to the city of Klingark.

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[WN] Jitsuwa 3-Domedatta : Chapter 315

Chapter 315

(Kyle Calendar Year 514: Age 21)

The Third Bidding

Translator : PolterGlast

Nearly half a year had passed since we began constructing the city of Kusanagi and developing the Izumo district. The foundation work for Kusanagi as a fortress city, such as the water and sewage systems and the vast outer walls, had been completed, and now construction was focused on the interior of the city.

Regarding the Izumo district as well, the numerous rivers flowing from the great mountain range towering at the old border had a portion of their abundant water volume diverted into new waterways. The irrigation canals spreading in all directions moistened the entire Izumo area, and then some flowed into Kusanagi. Land improvement in the area was also progressing smoothly, and in regions completed as farmland, crops that harvest quickly like turnips, and autumn-planted agricultural products were being planted first.

On this day, I happened to be heading out to inspect the construction of defense facilities around Kusanagi, so I left the city under construction and was making my way to the highway connecting to the Empire.

A checkpoint was set up there, conducting entry procedures and screening for the Dukedom.

「Wow, what incredible congestion and bustle. Raphael, is it always like this?」

「Hahaha, today is a bit special. Tomorrow is the bidding deadline for the third round of bids. The bidding itself has started today, so it's probably just temporarily overflowing with those placing bids, those bringing in supplies for proposals, and those trying to complete deliveries before the bidding.」

Actually, we had slightly revised the bidding system starting this time.

Previously, we issued public notices the day before, accepted bids the next morning, and announced the results in the evening, but that was too rushed for both us and the merchants. Therefore, for the public notice, we distributed specifications to prospective bidders at any time starting a week prior, and changed the format to start accepting bids from the day before the deadline, and close them the morning of the next day.

「I see, makes sense. But it looks like there's some kind of trouble?」

「Indeed... there hadn't been any major confusion recently, though...」

Raphael and the others also had dubious expressions, and Bart bowed once to check the situation and ran over there. We too, out of rubbernecking curiosity... no, to confirm the facts, followed belatedly.

※

「What do you mean you won't buy our cargo! It is precisely because we heard you were procuring food that we bought a massive amount and went out of our way to transport it here. If this is the case, we have no choice but to appeal that this country harbors ill will towards the Empire!」

Apparently, there was a trading company that visited Kusanagi fully loaded with goods we hadn't even asked for. Because one of their parties was blocking the checkpoint, I could understand at a glance that this congestion was occurring because of them.

The women at the reception desk, protected by soldiers, were explaining desperately, but the other party had an intimidating attitude that completely turned a deaf ear.

『Tch, were there still such merchants? Probably newcomers who know nothing? Or... It can't be helped, I have to teach them the methods of this country too...』

Apparently, the one raising his voice was a well-dressed man whose appearance was clearly different from that of sly, battle-hardened merchants. At that moment, putting on a sinister face, I decided to handle the reception.

「Excuse me, you are saying quite interesting things. Business is something that is only established when there is a seller and a buyer. The rules for that should have been conveyed in advance. We have no intention of treating any trading company unfairly, you know.」

「Who are you?」

「You may consider me as the person entrusted with purchasing. First, I will hear your story, so could you please move your procession to the side of the highway?」

「If we do that, those guys in the back row will get ahead of us!」

「Ah, even if you arrive first, nothing changes. For us, the order of arrival is completely irrelevant.」

I declared it with absolute composure. This is not a lie. Today is the public notice day, and the bidding is tomorrow. Until then, no purchases are made from anyone.

Since all the shops in the city also make their purchases through the commodity exchange, the only ones who can freely purchase or sell are street stall vendors at best.

「Hmm... then I will take your word for it. If I hear a story later that those who went first sold at higher prices, I will not hesitate to appeal to the Archduke, is that fine with you?」

I can tell that Bart, Raphael, and the others are desperately stifling their laughter behind me. Well, yeah... since I'm the person in question.

Upon confirming my nod, they obediently moved their procession to the side and opened the center of the highway.

Then, those in the back rows began to move forward all at once and started the procedures at the checkpoint. The merchants accustomed to it, having visited Kusanagi many times already, pass through the checkpoint one after another.

「Thank you for your cooperation. First, may I ask the name of your trading company?」

Whether he was unsettled seeing the merchant caravans passing him one after another, or if there was some inconvenience, he seemed to be hesitating a little, thinking about something.

No, don't tell me... he hadn't thought of a trading company name?

「W-We are... the Bo... Botakley… na Trading Company.」

「Pfft, Bottakuri-na (Rip-off) Trading Company?」

I almost burst out laughing unintentionally. No, I did burst out laughing.

「Wrong! It's the Botakleyna Trading Company! You insolent fellow!」

「Then, what business does that Botakleyna (Rip-off) Trading Company have with the Dukedom?」

「You can tell by looking. We came all this way from afar fully loaded with goods for trade. Let's get straight to it, buy our cargo.」

「Why is there a need to buy it?」

I decided to play with them a little. Normally I would turn them away at the door, but they somehow felt impossible to hate. I want to make them spit out their true feelings a bit more.

They are probably not merchants. If they were proper merchants, they wouldn't pull such childish harassment.

Probably... I could guess it was either harassment from the First Prince's faction, or a hastily assembled trading company dispatched to profiteer.

「It is precisely because we heard you were making purchases that we came to respond to that. Turning us away at the door looks like nothing but an act that puts a crack in the bond between our two countries.」

「In what way?」

「You troublesome fellow. A low-ranking underling like you probably doesn't even know the clauses of the ceasefire agreement. This country bears the obligation to enrich the Empire! Feigning ignorance won't work!」

I burst out laughing again. I'm already desperate just trying to hold in my laughter.

「I-SEE. YOU-ARE-VERY-WELL-INFORMED.」

「Just because we are merchants, don't underestimate us. We have the backing of a noble personage.」

「THAT-IS-AMAZING.」

「You people are destitute of supplies, and are making purchases to the extent that greedy merchants become desperate, right? I know that much. Even if it's to procure cheaply through negotiations, it's for your own good not to put up strange bluffs.」

The fragmentary knowledge of an amateur is scary. Or, do we appear that way when seen from the side?

「INCIDENTALLY, WHAT-DO-YOU-HAVE?」

When I replied thus, the man disguised as a merchant grinned and then exaggeratedly presented an inventory. I quickly read through it.

『Hahaha, they're all more than double the assumed prices. Does he think there's an idiot who would buy at such high prices?』

「How is it? Compared to greedy merchants, it's an extremely conscientious price, isn't it. For a large army to station, food is the first priority. If you're destitute of that, even an army won't be able to move properly, right?」

It's certainly a conscientious price. Though, that is compared to the prices the Empire merchants first presented before the bidding system started...

Even so, he gave himself away, didn't he. His negotiations completely expose him as an amateur. Because he's emitting words here and there that will be taken as , 'We are different from mere merchants.'

「By the way, is the 'noble personage' you mentioned earlier His Highness the First Prince of the Empire?」

「T-That's wrong! His Highness Glorious is an existence above the clouds. We receive patronage from a certain Viscount house...」

「Viscount Bottakuri-na?」

「Wrong! Viscount Kamin! Ah...」

Yes, thank you very much. You spoiled the secret.

I recalled the map I received from Sieghart previously, and the knowledge obtained through espionage since then. If I recall correctly, on the main highway extending from Galt to the Imperial Capital Griffin, about a 3-day journey along it, there was a Viscounty belonging to the First Prince's faction, right?

「Even so, it's strange. Speaking of Viscount Kamin's territory, I heard it was famous for forestry. It would have been better to trade construction materials...」

「I-If I could, I would have wanted to do that! If only I hadn't taken on debt from those greedy merchants...」

「...」

I see. So his territory was the one the Kampfer Trading Company secretly secured previously. In that case, I can't help but feel a little bit of sympathy.

「That is... Viscount Kamin must have suffered quite a bit too. So this time, you brought food to trade?」

「Y-Yeah. Ah, no, I am not a noble person like the Viscount. I am a mere trade merchant.」

「I see. Incidentally, did you participate in the prisoner return signing ceremony half a year ago?」

「Wha-, there's no way. We are mere merchants, there's no way we could participate in such a major event.」

「No, no, at that venue, besides the exchanges between countries, we requested Count Kampfer and had the major merchants of the Empire gather, and conveyed our country's supply procurement policy...」

「No, I don't know. I haven't heard anything about such a story from Count Kampfer.」

「Then is this the first time the Bottakuri-na Trading Company is doing business with us?」

「That's right. Don't make me say it over and over. It's the Botakleyna Trading Company. Are you a little weak in the head?」

「Hahaha, understood. Then, I have a proposal here. If you would listen to our explanation here and respond to tomorrow's bidding, we will hand you the planned procurement list and have you participate in the bidding. However, if you intend to forcefully sell your goods as is... we cannot let you pass.」

「Y-You insolent fellow! Who do you think I am.」

「A mere merchant... right?」

「...」

「Is there any hindrance to purchasing the desired goods according to our rules within our own country? We are by no means destitute of food. Also, we have absolutely no intention of unfairly beating down prices from the merchants of the Empire. What we desire is mutual profit.」

「Then, aren't we number one!」

「Just as you say. Incidentally... you're number one from the highest price.」

「Wh-, what!」

In front of Viscount Kamin, who leads the Bottakuri-na Trading Company and staggered from sheer surprise, I remembered the phrase 'Samurai Business (Shizoku no Shoho)'.

During the Meiji Restoration period in Japan, it was a phrase born to refer to samurai, who lost their source of income along with the collapse of the shogunate system, starting unfamiliar businesses and failing.

Even in modern Japan where Nishida lived, there is no end to similar examples. Even if public institutions, people called 'authorities', with absolutely no business experience get involved in business...

「We too wish to diligently engage in business hand in hand with the nobles of the Empire for a long time from here on. If you like, Baron Solidia von Bart waiting here will explain...」

I called out Bart.

「Lord Takuhir, I heard I was called, so I have come.」

「Wh-... Who on earth are you...」

Seeing the one called Baron Bart treating me with respect, it seemed even this man finally realized.

「I apologize for the late introduction. I am Westlights von Takuhir, who manages this land.」

「Whaaaaaaaaat...」

Viscount Bottakuri-na... no, Viscount Kamin held his head and slumped onto the earth.

Yeah. Sorry. You didn't think I'd be in a place like this, right?

But I have my ulterior motive too.

This Viscount Kamin is a somewhat comical character and a man I just can't bring myself to hate. It seems he also has a past of being made to suffer by merchants, and there are parts where I can't help but sympathize.

Besides, I find his proactiveness to lead a merchant caravan all the way here himself, and the slightly foolishly honest part that makes him impossible to hate, to be interesting.

If he considers that there will be profit in business from here on, isn't there a possibility that he won't agree to the expected reckless actions within the First Prince's faction? If this could become a piece of pacification... I was also thinking such things.

Afterward, I requested Bart and issued instructions to specially buy the food the Viscount brought this time only, at a price that won't yield much profit but won't cause him a loss either.

As a foothold so he can properly participate in the bidding from next time on...

At this time, I myself didn't even imagine that the encounter with him at this time would bring a new connection to our relationship with the Empire in the future...

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