The Girls Grow Up
Character stats increased!
Hoyeong, who had been in the middle of a conference, blinked in bewilderment when the status window suddenly popped up.
Due to a string of furious outbursts, Peach has awakened the proper use of aura! Peach’s combat rank rises dramatically from F to C.
Meyril’s mana concentration speed increases sharply. Her minimum mana capacity rises.
It didn’t take long to figure out what had happened. A frantic telepathic message had come in from Goblin 10.
Gob-gob! Gooob! (Just before a fight. It’s between the ladies. Terrifying, gob.)
Huh? Why are the girls suddenly fighting when they were fine a moment ago? How do you even fight so hard that aura and mana surge like that? Just stop them for now.
Gob-goblin gob. (The m-misunderstanding between them seems to have piled up. If you intervene clumsily, it’ll backfire. We need another way, gob.)
The goblin’s speech was such a chaotic mess that it made his head hurt.
Damn it. Useless little gremlin. I should have put the gremlin with the girls instead. Should I send it over right now with [Remote Command]?
The thought rose naturally: if only he could use remote command on people too, not just monsters.
“Mayor, pardon me, but I need to use the restroom for a moment.”
Since speaking to thin air and gesturing to himself while using Remote Command would look bizarre, Hoyeong first excused himself from the mayor’s office.
It’s hard giving complicated orders to low-intelligence monsters like goblins. Wait—low intelligence? Come to think of it, there was a way to increase intelligence.
The newly learned skill tree, Influence Precursors. A power that allowed him to designate one specific individual from each monster species as a “Precursor.”
The Precursor’s edification level and intelligence rose dramatically, and they could then lead their kin down the right path—that is, along Hoyeong’s teachings.
“I got a good skill tree at last, but I was so busy I forgot to use it. Designate Goblin 10 as the Precursor!”
As you are currently far from Tamer territory, even if Goblin #010 is designated as a Precursor, he will not be able to lead the goblins within the territory. Would you still like to proceed?
“Rubia’s been managing the monsters well for now, and I’m bringing Goblin 10 back to the territory later anyway, so it doesn’t matter. He’s got a good personality for a goblin, and he’s a natural at socializing, so he’ll probably be good at mediating fights too.”
Even in the middle of all this, Hoyeong had kept a close eye on the character of the monsters. Goblins might only be low-tier monsters, but he didn’t want to promote just anyone to Precursor. The role was that important.
Goblin #010 has been designated as a Precursor. 10 EP will be consumed. Goblin #010’s intelligence and intellect have risen dramatically beyond the racial cap.
“What do you mean it costs EP? And ten points at that? Converting a goblin completely only takes about 0.5! That’s nearly twenty times as much! Let’s see just how smart he gets—huh?”
Hoyeong, who had been grumbling over the unexpected expense, froze in surprise.
Gooob gob-gob. Goob gob. (It seems a misunderstanding piled up between them. If we try to stop it clumsily, it will only make things worse. We need another method, gob.)
Goblin 10, who had spoken so awkwardly before, now poured out polished, flowing eloquence.
Gob-goblin gob. (Why not create a common enemy, gob? That’s how goblins fight too. Even when they’re snarling at each other like they want to tear one another apart, if they run into a goblin, they’ll unite as one.)
Not only that, he was actually offering an opinion.
Achievement Intelligence Booster accomplished! By appointing a worthy individual as a Precursor, the monster’s mental abilities have improved far beyond what was originally intended. Reward: 10 EP obtained.
With the achievement unlocked, a new section appeared in the corner of the status window.
As long as you share senses with a Precursor, you may do so from a distance. Would you like to share senses with Goblin 10?
“Yes. And sorry for doubting you, Daliha. I acknowledge this as a worthy EP expenditure.”
Hoyeong was satisfied with the added benefit of even sharing vision. It seemed he would now be able to issue precise commands, not just simple errands as before.
“Then let’s try to reconcile Meyril and Peach by creating a common enemy, just as 10 said. Come to think of it, there were events in the game where you ran into rowdies in the market street too. This is a big market square, so this ought to be totally doable.”
His plan was simple: get some weak thug to pick a fight, then have the furious girls give him a proper beating.
It’ll settle the girls down and improve the merchants’ opinion of us. Two birds with one stone.
With Peach having grown stronger than an ordinary man, one or two street punks didn’t seem like they’d be much of a problem.
“10, start looking around and find someone who looks shady. The weaker, the better. You already found one? A skinny guy with a scar on his cheek, huh. Good, let’s take a look at that face.”
Seeing through the goblin’s eyes also let him check a person’s stats, which was convenient.
“A sleazy thug with an F in combat power... perfect. We’ll use that guy. This really does feel just like a scouter; kind of fun.”
* * *
The thug Hoyeong had marked out was picking a fight at the fishmonger’s stall.
“Hey. Your stand is sticking out into the road, and I tripped and fell because of it!?”
He had deliberately acted as though he’d fallen while passing by.
“Oof, my leg. Feels like it’s cracked. How are you going to make this right, huh? Give me 30 gold for treatment.”
“I’m sorry if you fell, but 30 gold is a bit much... It doesn’t look like you’re badly hurt, and if you go to the temple the treatment fee shouldn’t even be 3 gold.”
“Ah, that includes future medical expenses and compensation for lost business, too. Hurry up and pay. If you don’t, I’ll report you for sure. For not following regulations and leaving goods in the road where they hurt people.”
The owner, a woman running the fish stall alone, looked plainly troubled. To a small extent, her stall really did jut out into the roadside, after all.
“Nothing for it, then. I’m a good guy, see, so I’ll take the goods instead of the money.”
The thug strode into the shop and fixed his gaze on a string of dried fish.
“I’m sorry, but those are special-order dried fish for an adventurer party. They aren’t even for sale, and twenty of those fish are worth more than 30 gold.”
Because the Kain Kingdom was inland, seafood and fish were scarce and expensive.
“I don’t care. Chew on jerky instead.”
Just as the thug shoved the woman aside and started out of the shop—
- Eek!
Goblin 10 darted in and snatched the dried fish away before making a clean getaway.
“W-what the hell? That monkey!”
The thug, who had rushed after him, found himself at a dead end in an alley.
Peach and Meyril, who had been glaring at each other, turned their eyes toward him.
Ughk. Ughk-gigik. (That man is very bad. I saw with my own eyes how he bullied and extorted small business owners.)
“Eek...”
Meyril, who had lost the ferocity she’d shown earlier, shrank back in fear.
Ughk. Ughk. (Don’t worry. Miss Peach will handle him.)
Goblin 10, acting as though he too were frightened, grabbed Meyril by the hem of her pants and whispered to her.
“Is that monkey yours? You’d better keep a proper leash on your beast.”
The thug sauntered toward Meyril with a mocking swagger.
“Get lost. Before I start screaming.”
Peach stepped forward and blocked Meyril with her own body.
“Hah. This one’s feisty. Screaming, huh? Fine, let’s go to the inn where I’m staying. Want to see how loud you can scream there?”
The thug gave Peach a slimy grin.
“Pink-haired girl, come have some bacon and beer with a handsome big brother. Then I’ll let the green-haired girl and the monkey off easy, just this once.”
“If our gob—no, our monkey did something wrong, I’ll apologize for him, so please don’t bother this older sister.”
At Meyril’s words, Peach looked at her in surprise.
“I don’t need anything from a kid~ You can just apologize on this pink-haired girl’s behalf.”
The thug closed the distance and put a hand on Peach’s shoulder.
“Even Shrakhim wasn’t this bad...”
Peach muttered quietly under her breath.
“Huh? What’d you say? I can’t hear you. Come closer and say it again.”
The thug even draped an arm over Peach’s shoulders and pulled her close.
“Your hair’s the color of peaches, but your face is all red like a ripened apple. Oho~ Are you embarrassed or something?”
Peach gathered her overflowing anger and aura into a single point at her elbow.
* * *
“You were already claiming your leg was cracked, and now you say your ribs are broken too? Enough already!”
“M-my ribs really are shattered... Kheh! It hurts when I press here. I think it’s splintered...!”
“Tripping on a stall might have sounded plausible, but being thrown five Metena by that frail little girl? And you still expect anyone to believe that? You pitiful bastard.”
The thug, handed over to the guards, had tried to protest his innocence, but it hadn’t done him any good whatsoever.
“How can we ever repay you? Just recovering the stolen dried fish would have been more than enough, and yet you even bought so much. I’ll make sure to throw in a generous bonus.”
Peach smiled sweetly at the fishmonger, who was expressing her gratitude.
“I only acted as my master, Joren Tamer, Count of the Border Region, taught me. Thank you as well for the fine dried fish and the fishery. Heehee.”
She emphasized her master’s name so the crowd that had gathered to watch could hear it clearly.
“By the way, ma’am, may I ask you one thing? Which fruit sellers around here have the worst reputations?”
“Hmm? Not the good ones, but the bad ones?”
“Yes. Even better if they’re the kind who fleece wanderers.”
The fishmonger found it deeply puzzling, but with her edification level raised, she answered in detail.
“Big sister... thank you so much. I was really scared earlier.”
Meanwhile, Meyril had crept over and offered her thanks.
“I’m the one who should thank you. You were trying to protect me before, too. And... I’m truly sorry. I may not have meant it that way, but I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. I was cruel.”
Peach answered with a sincere apology of her own.
Ukii, uki. (Miss Peach was really cool. That guy totally knew Peach was pretty and kept hitting on her, the nasty goblin.)
“Honestly, you came with us as a bodyguard and then hid away. Still, you did well stopping that thief, so I’ll praise you for that.”
Though she was scolding Goblin 10 outwardly, Peach was actually feeling pleased.
Come to think of it, that thug only went after me, just as the goblin said. Meyril’s pretty cute too, so why was it only me? That must mean I’m that much more charming, right? Yes, that’s it! My master is madly in love with my charm too, but because of appearances he’s deliberately keeping his distance. That has to be it!
Setting aside the fact that the one who flirted with her was trash, Peach was delighted that, as a woman, she had beaten Meyril in charm.
“By the way, big sister, why are you looking for fruit shops with bad reputations?”
“Hmm? Ah, because I’ve got orders from the master. This operation needs your power, Meyril. It’s your turn to shine this time.”
“My power?”
“Right. Your specialty—weather magic. What we’ll do is...”
When Peach whispered her plan, Meyril blinked in surprise.
“What? Buy fruit, then use my magic to deliberately ruin its freshness? How?”
“Shh, your voice is too loud. What I mean is... hmm, maybe lower the temperature and freeze the fruit solid? Or on the flip side, raise the temperature and make it all mushy? I heard your magic got pretty precise, so I’m sure you can manage it.”
“When I said ‘how,’ I wasn’t asking about the method. I was asking how you could even think of something so bad...”
Meyril’s cheeks flushed in disbelief. “Using magic to extort people is just... well, of course, the method itself is brilliant. Just like a lord!”
As far as edification went, Peach—no, the entire world—was second to none in Tamer territory. Naturally, Meyril was also the one who had been most strongly influenced by Hoyeong’s Influence.
“Heh. I think it’s brilliant too. Anyway, all of this is being done because the lord has a plan. We caught a nasty customer earlier, right? This time, we’re going to expose a crooked shopkeeper and teach him a lesson.”
“B-but isn’t this still deceiving them? It’s no different from that man earlier...”
“Meyril, that’s not it. That guy earlier cheated an innocent merchant, while we’re choosing a bad one and punishing him. You understand now? That’s why I asked the fishmonger lady that question earlier.”
“Ah, I see! If a merchant has a reputation for overcharging, then the odds are high they’d do the same to us too.”
Meyril finally understood Peach’s intention.
“But... what if they don’t overcharge us?”
“Then we just go to another shop. There were at least three shady places mentioned earlier.”
“You’re so thorough, Meyril. But Peach, isn’t whether something counts as overcharging kind of subjective? Like the mayor of Rainpa said earlier, this market doesn’t have fixed prices... so how do we decide what counts as overcharging?”
“That’s... um...”
Peach was at a loss for words. “Agh, Meyril. You’re too pure for your own good. Can’t we just let it slide?”
Just as she was failing to answer that unexpected question, Goblin 10 supplied the answer.
Ukiik. Ughk uki-uki. (What are you worrying about? Priest Rubia always says that if you can stand before Hariad with a clear conscience even after committing a sin, then you haven’t betrayed your faith by breaking the law, so you can still be forgiven, gob.)
“Oh! Then that should work. Yes, if we think it’s overcharging, then it’s overcharging!”
Meyril was being won over by Goblin 10’s flexible reasoning, just as befit a Precursor.
“I’ve never heard Priest Rubia’s words hit me this hard before. But you—how did you suddenly get so smart? A goblin quoting scripture? If I went to the central square and told people this, not a single soul would believe me.”
“But, big sister. I still can’t help feeling uneasy. Just thinking about the fruit going bad makes me sad.”
“Meyril, your heart is truly kind, but... isn’t worrying about fruit a bit much?”
Peach was exasperated, but Meyril’s hesitation came from a different place.
“No, I mean... we’re spending the precious money of our territory to buy the fruit. If it spoils, isn’t that a waste?”
“Huh? That’s what you meant? Now that you say it, I guess so. Fruit doesn’t exactly cost one or two bronze.”
“Exactly. What we’re doing is for the sake of helping Tamer territory’s household finances in the long run, isn’t it? Then we should save money even more carefully.”
At Meyril’s serious expression, Peach nodded too.
“But... then doesn’t that undermine the whole premise of the plan? The fruit we buy has to be in bad shape if we want to make the fruit seller look even more villainous.”
“I already thought of that part. What I mean is...”
When Meyril explained her idea, Peach clapped her hands before she even realized it.
“Wow, that’s amazing. You really are a mage. To come up with something this clever... what I thought up feels like child’s trickery.”
“No, this plan was your idea first, Peach. If my mana is added to your charm, it’ll definitely succeed.”
Having found common ground at last, the girls moved into action.
In the Tamer territory, where rough dust winds raged, delicate greenhouse flowers could never hope to survive.
* * *