Manuke FPS Chapter 70

This day was when the Emerald Demon Labyrinth was predicted to close . Yesterday, I had bought excavation tools and participated in the labyrinth explorati– non-attribute magic stone mining . These were magical stones that held no elemental properties . If one gave them a good look, they’d be able to see something like a black vortex or black hole .

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The morning wasn’t hot .

I thought to put the excavated stones into my pouch and continue digging . I had spent the entire day just like that .

The ceremony would begin shortly . A crowd had already gathered at the venue, at the front of the labyrinth’s entrance . An impromptu stage with a podium had already been prepared . The stage itself had been decorated with a crest, an eagle and a sword . Was it Duke Barga’s crest?

The first to appear was the Western Barga Knights, signaling the official start of the ceremony . Three knights appeared this time . At the front, was their vice-leader, Viscount Butler Keymand . I saw the two other knights behind him before at the Labyrinth’s entrance . They were probably squad leaders, but I didn’t know their names . The crowd cheering grew louder, the next ones up were the Sasanqua members . Lapitirica wasn’t with them . Only Frau-san, Mitche-san, Malindsan, and Ruu-san in their knight-like yellow uniforms; most likely their clan’s uniform .

The two groups took positions on the left and right sides of the stage . Who’d make the next appearance? The surrounding people also stared in anticipation at the side of the stage .

“So there you are, Schwartz-kun . ”

Someone behind me called out to me . When I turned to see, I saw Barold-san, an officer from the General Guild, standing there .  

“Barold-san, long time no see . What brings you here?”

“True, you haven’t visited the guild even once recently . Not to mention, you’re hard to contact . Could I have some of your time? I have something urgent that I need to confirm . ”

“Yes, of course . I don’t mind . ”

“Well then, follow me . ”

I actually wanted to watch the ceremony, but I couldn’t just refuse Barold-san said it was something urgent . I followed him to the General Guild’s tent, built behind the ceremony’s stage . The tent was empty, which made me wonder what Barold-san wanted to confirm . I was told to sit at the table and Barold-san sat opposite to me .

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“Schwartz-kun, do you know how long it’s been since a Labyrinth was subjugated in the Barga region?

“I heard it’s the first in only a few years . ”

“4 years to be exact . The previous labyrinth was a bit south of here . A harvest festival was held then also . The lord of the territory, Duke Barga, was pleased with the labyrinth’s subjugation this time . ”

Why of course . One of his three daughters, Lapitilicsama participated in the subjugation . She would be finishing her training period with Sasanqua soon . She would then join the circle of nobility, and be married off to another powerful noble house . I don’t know the marriage age here, but I’m quite sure that she had to be young to be married off . Furthering the bloodline and bestowing the house’s knowledge on magic, would undoubtedly, take a long time .

“That’s why the Duke wishes to invite all who participated in the subjugation to a dinner party . ”

“I see, but I’ll have to decline the invitation . ”

“I thought you’d say so – but we couldn’t just report back without hearing it . So I had to confirm your rejection . ” 

“Sorry for the trouble . ”

“No it’s alright, subjugating a labyrinth wouldn’t have been possible without your help . Even if it were, it would have taken much longer . ”

“I merely drew some maps, though . ”

“That was certainly a great help . Records of the labyrinth would never last long . Labyrinths expand the more adventurers tried to explore it . That said, very little is known about your contribution . We just wanted to make sure you got the well-deserved reputation for your work . ”

“No, it’s not a problem, really . I was enlisted for a request, and I simply did my job accordingly . That’s is . If anything, I don’t want my reputation to hinder me when I want to do something freely . ”

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“Very well, we’ll add you to the absentee list . ”

“List? Does the duke know about me?”

“No . We only have the name of the participants . We didn’t list what they were responsible for . Many of the guild’s employees were also invited . So, it’s like a job in a way – some also aren’t able to attend, so I’ll add your name on the same list . ”

“I see . Thanks then . ”

If I was on the Duke’s watch list, the subjugation of the Wolves’ Labyrinth would be delayed further . Since we’re making money on the magic water, it’ll be best if I remained unnoticed . I don’t want to be the center of attention here . I just don’t like it .  

Afterward, I caught up with Barold-san . I could hear the cheers of the crowd outside, followed by a speech . This voice belonged to Duke Barga himself . The speech’s held praises for the Barga Knights, Sasanqua, and most importantly, his daughter Laptilicsama .

More cheers followed afterward .

“– It’s closing?”

Barold-san muttered .

I couldn’t witness the moment myself, but one labyrinth had finally closed . Not only did the cheering not stop, but it also got louder . How do the people in this world feel about it? I thought as I listened .

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The Kurtmerga Kingdom was in the middle of celebrating the new year now . People here didn’t know what “New Year” was, but they had the custom to celebrate the coming of the new year . now that I mentioned it, they also didn’t have Christmas, or New Year’s Eve either .  

I was in the Marida Company’s Reception room in the Fort City of Barga . It was January 14th, and up until yesterday, I’ve been exploring the Wolves’ Labyrinth . To be more precise, I took a break on the 3rd because it was New Year’s holiday . During it, I went out with Ashley-san to eat . I also checked on the sales of the magic water . To be honest, it was a busy day .

Inside the Wolves’ Labyrinth, I drove the M978 around . As I mapped the floor, I was collecting the water in the process . The magic water was being sold to the Magician and Alchemist Guilds ended up at 20% less than the price of a regular magic recovery potion . Maltsan appeared to know ahead of time, but it was still a rip-off… 

Furthermore, we apparently brought too much . The Guilds couldn’t buy it all at once, for the time being; we had to content ourselves with signing a contract to split the purchase . The share between Maltsan and I was set at a 6:4 ratio

“Not many adventurers could get their hands on a platinum coin (10,000,000 ol) in their lifetime . ” .  

Maltsan joked .

Since the value of things was different compared to my world,m I had to estimate 1 ol was equal to 1 yen . Our supply would increase after this trip as well . We’ve also decided to take small orders to avoid tanking the price . Also, I’d only the water to the Marida Company .

“Schwartz-san, sorry to call you all of a sudden . ”

“No, it’s okay . Is it an urgent matter?”

“Yes, it’s the Rot Poison Dagger . I’ve found a buyer . ”

“Ah, that’s good, but why is it urgent?”

“No, that’s not the only thing . Apart from the dagger, have you heard about the cases of the ambushes around the Capital? The buyer also wanted to make a short term escort request and specifically asked for Shaft-sama . ”

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“… So that’s why . ”

After I registered myself as Shaft at the Mercenary Guild, I’ve been in and out of Barga . However, if someone checked with the guild, they may have found that Maltsan was my last employer . Thus, they decided to contact him on my whereabouts .

“I’ve heard that you received a recommendation to raise to C-Rank recently; is there a similar system in the Mercenary Guild?”

“No, only the General Guild uses that rank system . The Mercenary Guild merely acts as a middle-man to hire their members . ”

Mercenary, simply put, was a sub-profession . While guilds, like General Guild and Blacksmith’s guild, could be considered as a main-profession . The Mercenary and Research Guilds were sub-professions . Production-based guilds are different from an adventurer in terms of their ranking . Their ranks were grades, divided by their specialty, such as Black Smith rank-3, or Leather Craftsman rank, etc .

“Shouldn’t they hire an adventurer with a higher rank than Shaft instead?”

“Normally, it’d be sensible to do so . Any adventurer can receive a request to escort a merchant without being affiliated with the Mercenary Guild . But they won’t be allowed to access special places without being a member of said guild . ”

“What do you mean by ‘special places’?”

“Banquet held within a noble’s mansion or the Royal Palace . ”

As if I wanted to go there .

“Who is the client anyways?” 

“… His Excellency, Duke Franklin Barga . ”

So he’s the client… I couldn’t help but feel that this was a bad idea .

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Chapter end