Chapter 294
Chapter 294
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Threat
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"Murin! Dugan! Is this really okay!?"
The bundle merchant Gallun finally couldn't hold it in and shouted.
He had thought the golden dwarves were practically in the bag, but they'd slipped the net because of this ridiculous guy?
Gallun glared at the man who had plopped down right next to the dwarves.
This was clearly the bastard who had snatched them away.
The man claimed he could judge the authenticity of the Demon's Tear himself.
By pulling out some random spirit, no less!
The spirit had said it wasn't a Demon's Tear, so it wasn't authentic?
Then, if he picked up a random pebble and called it a Demon's Tear, would that make it authentic?
"You can't seriously be taking this guy's word at face value, right!?"
Anyone resorting to such a cheap trick—
Anyone falling for such a cheap trick—
They were all idiots!
Gallun desperately held back the urge to scream that out loud with superhuman patience.
All for the belief that he could wrest the golden dwarves back from that loathsome con artist!
"The Demon's Tear isn't something you can authenticate like that!"
"..."
A cry of enlightenment!
The man and the dwarves blinked in confusion.
Gallun took it as a good sign and was about to continue triumphantly.
"Then let me explain."
But the man cut in half a beat faster.
"How do you authenticate a Demon's Tear?"
Gallun inwardly clicked his tongue.
From the way the man spoke, he could see exactly why those naive dwarves had fallen for it.
A handsome face that naturally drew people in, paired with an aristocratic air of refinement!
It was a talent any con artist or peddler would envy.
Flash a face like that while making a sale, and you'd already have half the deal in the bag!
'If a guy like that trots out a spirit to set the mood... Yeah, even simple-minded dwarves who only know hammering would fall for it...'
But.
Not in front of him. It wouldn't be that easy.
A bundle merchant who roamed the underworld.
He might lack the noble refinement of the man, but he had a rough intensity that overwhelmed opponents.
The seasoned presence built up over years traversing the underworld.
"You're not used to handling items like this, are you?"
Gallun kept a polite demeanor while subtly looking down on the man.
"How could anyone determine right here on the spot if a Demon's Tear is genuine or not? There's no clear comparison sample, nor enough specimens or benchmarks to judge by."
The bundle merchant's sly rhetoric slithered into minds like a snake through cracks.
The Granite Guild members, who had been shooting him dirty looks as if his words weren't worth hearing, were now listening intently.
"The most important thing when dealing with items like this is securing consultations and verifications from as many experts as possible, along with guarantees. Isn't that right?"
Gallun addressed the Granite Guild members.
They nodded as if entranced.
The logic he used was very familiar to the Granite Guild members.
In fact, the blacksmiths of the Granite Guild placed the utmost importance on certificates of authenticity when handling goods.
There were just too many cases of cheap knockoffs from who-knows-where being peddled as Granite-made, and too many buyers falling for it.
So.
The Granite Guild members always demanded certificates for anything even slightly suspicious.
The bundle merchant, who had long supplied the guild with various rare materials, knew this fact very well.
"With that in mind—here. This is the certificate guaranteeing that my Demon's Tear is undoubtedly genuine."
Gallun pulled out a bundle of luxurious documents with a smug smile.
Mage Tower masters. Renowned adventurers. High-ranking executives from major trading companies.
Emblems and signatures from various heavyweights lent the documents weight, adorning them like incantations.
It was practically a magical item in itself.
With guarantees like that, he could pass off tap water as the church's highest-grade holy water.
Just like this Demon's Tear right now.
The magical catalyst Gallun had crafted over years to pull off the 'jackpot of the century' spell!
It was about to work its magic now.
"Murin. Dugan. The truth is, this Demon's Tear already had an owner lined up. Even when the Granite Guild made that 'earnest request' to me, my talks with Sir Gavrant had already reached a meaningful stage."
"Sir Gavrant—"
The Granite Guild members' faces soured at the name.
Gavrant.
He was a big shot who controlled most of Iphrien's underground and surface logistics networks.
Crossing him would cause massive disruptions to the Granite Guild's supply and distribution chains.
When Gallun openly name-dropped such a figure to pressure them, the guild members had no choice but to feel cornered.
"Even so! I prioritized my friendship with the Granite Guild. Sir Gavrant showed respect to the guild by graciously stepping aside. Thanks to that, he took a huge loss by breaking the contract, and I paid a reasonable price in the process—allowing me to do business with you all."
It wasn't true.
It was a story Gallun had pre-arranged with Gavrant to get better terms from the Granite Guild.
No need to worry about repercussions.
If Gallun brought it up with Gavrant, the man would gladly play along with both hands raised.
Happy for an excuse to exert influence over the Granite Guild.
"But... if the Granite Guild unilaterally backs out of the deal, I wonder how he'd react—"
"..."
The dwarves' embarrassment shifted to displeasure.
By now, they fully grasped Gallun's intentions.
"Gallun. This is getting awkward. Is it really worth going this far?"
Murin and Dugan scowled and voiced their regrets.
"Look, that's not it. You're saying if we don't deal with you, you'll make sure the Granite Guild ends up in a real bind—"
"That's a misinterpretation—"
"Misinterpretation? Then what the hell is this? If it's not coercion or blackmail, what is it? You think we'd fall for that nonsense? Breaking contracts and all—that's just your side. We haven't even signed anything with you yet. At that point, it's our freedom to choose who to deal with, right?"
"Exactly. I'm just trying to be objective, like you all. Let's approach this objectively. Here, my Demon's Tear has certificates from credible sources guaranteeing its authenticity. But look at the new partner you chose over me. Did he provide guarantees like mine?"
"No! We don't need that crap!? That spirit—... No, the spirit vouched for it—"
The dwarf pointed at the gray-white fireball and yelled.
"Oh, that's impressive. A spirit guaranteeing it's a Demon's Tear!? But think about it. If I report this to the Iphrien Merchants' Guild and it goes to trial—what side do you think the guild members will take? The ones who trusted a single spirit's word and believed the Demon's Tear was real? Or—"
Flutter flutter.
Gallun ostentatiously shook the certificates.
"The side with credible guarantees like this."
This damn...
We've been bitten by a rabid dog.
Someone from the Granite Guild muttered.
The bundle merchant was vividly demonstrating just how vicious a peddler could get after losing gold right in front of them.
Peddlers treated unrealized profits as if they were already gold coins in their pockets.
The bundle merchant looked ready to do anything to reclaim those golden dwarves.
"Urk—"
A bundle merchant who procured whatever customers needed.
Through that business model, he had powerful friends in both the underworld and surface world.
If the bundle merchant went all out without regard, the Granite Guild would suffer massive damage.
Of course.
In the end, the Granite Guild would come out on top.
A bundle merchant was just one of the lawless scum infesting the city's underbelly, after all.
The problem was.
The Granite Guild was in a critical phase right now.
Its leaders, Murin and Dugan, had halted all external activities to join the Hero's expedition party.
All to complete the historic task of restoring the Demon Sword Sheath!
For honor and pride as blacksmiths, they had cast aside all calculations.
And now some rabid dog was grabbing their ankles—
They couldn't help but get antsy.
That was what the bundle merchant was aiming for.
The shrewd man had vaguely realized the situation from Murin and Dugan's absence from the guild and departure from the city.
"..."
A faint, vile smirk tugged at his lips.
"Hey, Murin."
"Ah... Yeah. Bundle merchant. Looks like that guy's got our urgent situation all figured out..."
Murin and Dugan huddled and whispered closely.
"Damn... No choice now...!"
For those artisans, money was just a byproduct that piled up naturally while hammering away.
Restoring the Demon Sword Sheath!
Moreover, the chance to gift their masterpiece to a great hero whose name would go down in history!
They couldn't let a rabid dog bite their leg and miss such an incredible opportunity.
If needed, they'd gladly chop off that leg!
In the end.
The two dwarves agreed to give the bundle merchant what he wanted.
"Wait, everyone?"
That was when Rishir jumped in in alarm.
-This is the Granite Guild's business, and I'm an outsider.
-They'll handle it however they see fit with their own discretion.
-I shouldn't butt in where I don't belong—
He planned to swallow his frustration while repeating that inwardly.
But there was a limit.
Seeing the dwarves so purely passionate they were volunteering to be suckers terrified Rishir.
'This feels straight-up like self-extortion?'
Having watched the whole exchange from the side, he realized the bundle merchant wasn't just some aggrieved peddler over a lost deal.
"If it's okay with you all—could you leave this matter to me?"
"Lord Rishir!?"
The dwarves panicked.
They hadn't made that concession lightly.
It was because they were aware of the fallout if word spread that the Hero had extracted tears from his pet demon—
That otherworldly truth.
They had seen and heard it themselves, so they knew the Hero's pet demon had become a spirit fully loyal to him.
But what about others?
Could they accept such an unbelievable story just from words?
'No way...!'
The dwarves thought.
If they'd only heard the Hero's story by word of mouth, they never would have believed it either.
"J-Just out of concern, but—don't reveal the spirit's(?) true nature to that guy...!!!"
"Who knows how he'd twist that to slander the Hero...!"
The dwarves were genuinely worried for the Hero.
They had no doubt he was a great hero.
However.
This bundle merchant was clearly different from the enemies the Hero had faced so far.
'Too dirty and troublesome for our righteous Hero to deal with...!?'
An realm of survival and politics, not force.
The dwarves couldn't help worrying for their ideal hero.
"You have something to discuss with me separately about the Demon's Tear? Heh heh, sure."
When the man first brought it up, Gallun's face was full of leisure.
To a seasoned bundle merchant, the man just seemed naive.
However.
Separately from that, a small ripple of unease stirred deep in Gallun's heart.
He had belatedly realized the man's identity.
The sword at his waist, revealed when his cloak shifted as he moved.
The holy sword.
That's right.
The identity of the man Gallun had dismissed as a con artist was actually the Hero.
Was it okay to pull these tricks on the Hero?
Gallun felt a brief anxiety—
But it didn't last long.
The Hero.
They were chosen by the holy sword for their inhumanly upright character.
What was needed in this mudslinging fight was brazen, vile scheming.
Things the honest owners of holy swords could never dream of.
Gallun was already certain of victory.
"Suppose I had those certificates—would that solve the problem you mentioned...?"
"That's not the root issue... But first off, do those certificates even exist? Otherwise, there's no basis for discussion."
"Ah, that...! Give me a moment—oh, thank you!"
The man took a sheet of paper and a pen from Murin, then began writing something.
"Done—"
Perhaps.
A letter asking for help from the Hero's connections?
'Good lord.'
The bundle merchant burst out laughing despite himself.
What honesty.
At this point, it was almost endearing and pitiful.
Curious what letter the Hero was writing, he checked the contents.
"It's a certificate."
"?"
"A certificate confirming that the Demon's Tear is genuine."
Gallun wondered if he'd misheard for a moment.
Certifying his own item himself.
Did he really think that made sense?
When Gallun voiced that doubt, the Hero replied with a small smile.
"Well then, let's just say I'm not the owner of these tears."
"...What?"
Gallun was dumbfounded by the brazen response.
"Do you understand the situation and still say that...?"
"Of course."
The Hero flashed him a bright smile.
"I understand the situation perfectly, so that's why I'm saying it. From what I see, the truth doesn't seem to matter at all, does it?"
"You—...!"
Gallun was utterly shocked.
He couldn't believe those words had come from the Hero's mouth.
"By the way—"
The Hero drew closer and continued.
The gray-white fireball was now flickering near his face.
"This isn't some spirit. It's a real demon. And that demon says your item isn't genuine. It also senses all the tricks you used to make it look real. You—"
The Hero leaned in close.
"—tried to scam the Granite Guild, didn't you?"
"...Well, I'll be. Now you're pulling total nonsense— Being the Hero, I guess you're naive about the real world? If you push like this, the one in trouble won't be me—"
True to form, the seasoned bundle merchant didn't flinch even now and tried to turn the tables on the Hero.
How to exploit the honest, rigid Hero's position.
His mind was filled with that thought.
That was when it happened.
The man placed a hand on another sword hidden deep in his cloak.
"Whoa! You gonna threaten me now? The owner of the holy sword? Scary—"
Gallun thought the Hero had lost his cool and was about to make a mistake.
He taunted to provoke him.
So he could latch onto the Hero trying to recover from his blunder—
"Yes."
"?"
An ominous aura enveloped the man.
There stood a jet-black knight—
The Demon Swordsman.
"H-Hiiik...!!"
Gallun recoiled in terror.
However, the Hero—
No, the Demon Swordsman didn't allow him to retreat.
Clank.
The jet-black knight advanced on the bundle merchant.
Exuding an overwhelming pressure impossible to resist.
Gallun was already gasping for breath.
His eyes darted to the man's waist as if fleeing.
The holy sword still shone nobly from its sheath.
"H-Holy sword...!!! Is this man truly your master!?! Threatening an innocent citizen with force—do you really intend to accept such a person as your owner!?"
Gallun thought the holy sword would be disappointed in the man—
And that the man would get scared and stop the violence.
"...What?"
"Wh-What—...!!! Y-You all...!!! You're insane!!! Insane!!! Such an ominous power! D-Dark magic!!! It's definitely dark magic!!! If I spread this around—"
Gallun's mouth moved frantically.
The knight's advancing presence halted it cold.
Gallun's words died completely.
His breaths came in ragged shudders.
In that state.
The jet-black knight took one more step toward the con artist.
"H-Hiiik...!!!"
It didn't take long for the con artist to collapse to the floor, begging for his life.
"St-Stop...!!! I was wrong, please, just spare my life—"
It seemed all issues would resolve smoothly then.
The jet-black knight paused as if remembering something, speaking in a casually everyday tone that didn't match its appearance.
The knight gestured to the dwarves.
They promptly presented a notebook densely filled with notes.
It listed the numerous auxiliary materials needed for restoring the sheath.
Unlike the main materials, these were realistically procurable—but required significant resources and time.
With the main materials already secured by Rishir's group, these were the real enablers for the sheath's restoration.
"N-No...!!! If I have to procure all that, I'll—"
"Yes?"
"N-No...!"
The underground black marketeer, who freely crossed legal and illegal lines, was reborn as a helpful neighbor.
It was the Hero's power.
The dwarves watched the process in bewilderment.
To think.
The solution was just brute force suppression?
Such a plan coming from the Hero's mind.
The dwarves felt extreme confusion.
However.
On the other hand, it felt refreshingly cathartic.
Someone, seeing the ominous jet-black knight, murmured in admiration.
"Wow... That's the Hero for you..."
In that moment, the dwarves' expectations(?) of the Hero soared.