There are few things less trustworthy than a boss saying, “Let’s be informal,” at a drinking party.
There are all kinds of interpretations and ways to take it. Even in etiquette classes, they teach you that it does not mean you are free to be rude.
The acting lord speaks to me in a friendly manner, but I cannot mistake that for true acceptance. This is an interview. Just like yesterday’s dinner, she is observing my character. The atmosphere of the two people standing behind her says as much. Do not think you can fool a Japanese person skilled at reading the room. I am not going to slip up.
While holding back on the whiskey and answering the acting lord’s questions, the Guild Master and Kainzel-san arrived. Whew. I had been waiting for them.
「Takato. I want to buy some ice cream. Do you have any recommendations?」
Are you an elementary school kid fresh out of the bath or what?
「Pa○ko is my recommendation」
Back when I was a kid, that was the pinnacle.
「I see. Oh, this one. How do you eat it?」
The Guild Master bought several kinds of Pa○ko. Do these two not understand the concept of moderation? Here, you cut it here and eat it like this.
「Takato. Besides whiskey, do you have any other recommended alcohol? Something I can drink before going to bed」
「You should not drink before sleeping. It can lead to addiction and weight gain」
I do it myself sometimes, but using alcohol to fall asleep is not something I recommend. Drink turmeric or clam soup and go to bed instead. I have no idea if that works on people in this world, though.
「Is that so?」
「If you want to stay healthy, moderation is best. Exercise regularly too」
A senior once told me that blending tomato juice, bananas, and avocados is good for you, but I usually just chug lemon water.
「You are right. I will move around often and enjoy good alcohol」
Well, health management is not my job. That is for the butler and maids. If you do not want her to die, manage her properly.
The interview-like meal, or rather drinking party, lasted about an hour, and we broke up when the butler or attendant said it was about time for bed.
Back in my room, I drank the water I had prepared.
「Kainzel-san. I am going to Home for a bit. They probably will not attack us twice, but just in case, please keep these」
I handed him a shoulder bag containing an MP9 and a Glock 19.
「You will be reprimanded if these are found」
With a wry smile, he took out the Glock and put it under his pillow, then inserted a magazine into the MP9.
「Please go to sleep first. I will be back by morning」
There probably will not be a second attack, but I still want to restock ammunition at the very least.
I entered Home and put the randomly stashed MINIMI back on the shelf to make space.
「Cleaning this is a pain」
Somehow, I now have four MINIMIs, three 416Ds, three Benelli M4s, eight Glocks including spares, an H Sniper, a SCAR, an APC9, a P90… Wait, did I throw that one away?
「Haa… I really need to prepare more guns」
I do not know how Misaro will report this, but it is certain that the Demon King’s Army will learn about me. If I keep exterminating goblins like this, we will clash again sooner or later, and if they see me as a threat, they might come at me with a large force. I should prepare some kind of countermeasure.
「Increase manpower?」
Even so, gathering people requires capital, and maintaining them costs money too. More importantly, I do not have the ability to lead a group. I have zero charisma.
「The reward money is 7.3 million yen, huh」
It was around three million before, so about four million was added. Still, I need to buy a P90, a VHS-2, a battle rifle, and a rocket launcher in preparation for large monsters. Just getting those will probably cost an easy two million.
「I might have to widen the entrance again」
As long as you live, things pile up, but it is weapons, not daily necessities, that keep increasing…
「…What should I do…」
First, I should earn the acting lord’s trust, then establish Safety Bullet’s main base under Margrave Koraus’s territory. After that, recruit struggling adventurers and train them as contractors. Something like that, I guess.
That said, who knows how many difficulties are waiting before I can even get that far. Just thinking about it makes my stomach hurt.
「Either way, I need capital first」
No matter how much I think about it, it always comes back to that.
「Should I make money through transport?」
I have two Pioneers, and if I buy a towing vehicle, transport is possible. Still, I have no head for business. Negotiations are impossible for me. I can only see a future where I get ripped off.
「That fifteen-day restriction really hurts」
I cannot make a fortune by selling goods from my original world.
Or could I, if I opened a restaurant? No, that would not work. I am not that good at cooking, and gathering ingredients, cooking, and serving customers would leave me no time for goblin extermination.
I think about all sorts of things, but I am too sleepy for my brain to function. I prepared only the weapons I could use immediately, checked the outside situation, and when there was nothing unusual, I lay down by the entrance.
「…I will rest for a while…」
I need to cleanse my mind and body before moving on. I will refresh myself, then take the next step.
Sleepiness washed over me all at once, and I fell straight into sleep.
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