Chapter 178
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 178
Seeing the utter lack of playfulness in his expression, Scobina immediately bowed her head in a sharp, ninety-degree angle.
"It's a shame about the human trade market," Swallow began, "but I need you to do me a favor."
Fifty thousand ounces of gold.
Before explaining the situation, Rene had laid out the sum before Scobina. It was a figure she had only ever seen in the guild's ledgers, and her eyes widened instantly.
"First, we will provide you with the relevant information. I need you to accompany the Yaksha on their way here. And second..."
"Bring us monsters," Swallow took over. "You know our dungeon is completely empty from Room 1 onward, right?"
"...I am aware."
"I tried to recruit them myself, but I don't have the luxury of time anymore."
Humans had a saying for enduring until spring: 'weathering the winter.'
In short, winter was a season of hardship, and in that regard, monsters were no different. The bitter cold made everyone sluggish. Humans refrained from dungeon subjugations, and dungeon monsters—struggling just to find their own food—likewise avoided conflict with humans.
Of course, some monsters are active in the winter... and others raid human villages when their food runs out.
"Frozen" was the perfect word for it. In a season where everything ground to a halt, setting out to recruit monsters was bound to be an uphill battle.
"But we can't wait until spring, either."
On the contrary, spring was the season of war.
Once early spring arrived, human nations typically launched large-scale subjugations to shake off their winter stagnation. This practice, already a long-standing custom across several kingdoms, had even evolved into a festival known as the Subjugation Festival.
"You get what I'm saying, right?"
"Yes," Scobina nodded.
Spring, along with autumn, was when humans poured the most effort into dungeon subjugations. The slightest suspicious movement would quickly reach their ears. It was by no means a good season to go around recruiting monsters.
"And as it happens, Riaze was just smashed to pieces. I don't know what they'll do this winter, but come spring, the humans are definitely going to march on us."
Swallow's conviction was well-founded. In his memories of the past, humans had always chosen aggression whenever a similar incident occurred.
"I understand."
—If they missed this window, the dungeon would remain empty until spring. Since a human invasion was now a foregone conclusion, they needed to fill the ranks immediately.
"Understood. Since this is a massive undertaking, our entire guild will do its utmost. That being said, what are the specific requirements and the deadline...?"
"By early winter."
At Swallow's nonchalant reply, Scobina's shoulders tensed. In truth, the current weather could already be considered early winter. She didn't know what his definition of "early winter" was, but at most, they had less than three weeks.
The protest, We don't have enough time!, rushed to the tip of her tongue, but she didn't dare voice it. Instead, Scobina cautiously pressed on.
"And the quantity...?"
"As many as possible," Rene chimed in from the side.
As Scobina stood there, struck dumb by the response, Swallow—slouched in his chair and staring at her—spoke up.
"You can do it, right?"
* * *
「Don't overthink it. If they seem useful, just bring them all. Gender doesn't matter, and you don't need to worry about species compatibility. We can adjust the environmental conditions on our end. We'll handle the screening ourselves.」
「The fifty thousand ounces isn't a down payment; it's a retainer. Don't waste time haggling. For instance, if a decent prospect demands double their usual price, just pay them and bring them along. That's what the money is for. We'll make the final call.」
If they're useful, bring them no matter what.
Looking back, it was an absurd demand. The caliber of monsters the Primordial Core wanted had to be at least A-rank. Dealing with even one of those creatures was a nightmare, yet they were expected to round them all up in a mere two weeks? It was madness.
When Scobina returned to the Leprechaun Merchant Guild, the Guild Master, Valer, was waiting for her at the entrance. His face, previously clouded with anxiety, lit up with relief the moment he saw her return in one piece.
"Scobina, Scobina! You're back! Thank goodness... Well? What did Lord Swallow say?"
"He smiled and asked, 'You can do it, right?'"
"I see. Right... It's an emergency! An emeeergency! Lord Swallow said he'll slaughter every last one of us if we fail this mission!!!"
Having translated Swallow's words into merchant-speak, Valer threw a massive fit, triggering a whirlwind of chaos throughout the guild.
Every single member of the Leprechaun Merchant Guild suspended their ongoing operations. Departmental divisions and systematic procedures were thrown out the window as they scraped together every ounce of available manpower. Armed with centuries of accumulated intelligence, they scattered across the continent in search of powerful entities.
The money was astronomical, but more than anything, the identity of their client made the guild desperate.
—They risked their lives entering the desolate wasteland known as the 'Gates of Hell' to bribe a Balrog with a fortune.
—They ventured deep into the perilous 'Barren Withered Land' and, after three days and nights of intense negotiation, barely managed to recruit a Basilisk.
—They bought up and burned every feather rumored to belong to the divine bird, Simur. Just as they were about to give up, Simur manifested using a genuine feather as a medium. It took Valer himself an entire week of persuasion to win it over.
—They chased rumors of Glacia, who was said to have once resided in Room 1 of the Primordial Core, all the way to the western edge of the continent. Though they failed to find her, they stumbled upon a Hydra hiding in a canyon on their way back. When the Leprechauns offered a massive sum, the Hydra gladly handed over its offspring.
...
They repeated such desperate feats for two grueling weeks.
The lead carriage slowed to a crawl and came to a halt. A small golden emblem was engraved on the side of the luxurious vehicle, drawing the attention of the surrounding monsters. The crest belonged to the Leprechaun Merchant Guild, one of the three major monster merchant guilds.
The Leprechaun who stepped out of the carriage was dressed in formal attire, a stark contrast to the other species around. While the legendary tycoons of the merchant guilds usually exuded an overwhelming presence regardless of their physical size, she, though not quite at that level, still possessed an aura that prevented anyone from looking down on her small stature.
"We've arrived," Scobina, the Leprechaun, muttered.
She had arrived at a monster settlement nestled deep in the mountains. Lacking a proper name, it was simply referred to by wandering monsters as the 'Resting Place.'
Run by monsters, the Resting Place existed strictly within monster territory. Its layout was not much different from a human town—just smaller, cruder, and far more secretive.
Stepping away from the carriage, she passed a marketplace and a few eateries before entering an area lined with inns.
"...A night parade of a hundred demons," a vagrant Lizardman watching from a distance muttered in awe.
Naturally, the Resting Place was not Scobina's final destination. Her goal was the Primordial Core. This was merely a halfway point on the journey, a place where she had business to attend to.
Trailing behind her was the massive host the Leprechaun Merchant Guild had spent two weeks of blood, sweat, and tears gathering. From colossal beasts to rare, ancient species, hundreds of creatures marched in relative harmony, presenting a spectacle that looked like an army of death.
As Scobina made her way toward the most lavish inn in the area, the monsters of all shapes and sizes followed in her footsteps. Naturally, the colossal beasts like the Balrog and the Basilisk couldn't squeeze inside the building with her.
"I am Scobina of the Leprechaun Merchant Guild. I contacted you earlier regarding a reservation."
Once she briefly verified her identity at the entrance, the innkeeper rushed out in a flurry to guide her.
Following Scobina's instructions, the smaller monsters filed into the inn to find their assigned rooms, while the larger ones retreated into the surrounding forest to conceal themselves.
Declining the innkeeper's offer to escort her, Scobina headed up to the top floor alone. Just as she opened the door at the very end of the hallway—
"Whoa, this is insane!"
"Sister, we have a guest."
Two voices of starkly contrasting pitches rang out simultaneously.
The Yaksha sisters were waiting inside.
"I am Scobina of the Leprechaun Merchant Guild. To briefly introduce myself—"
"Come in, come in! Talk inside."
The smaller of the two Yaksha spoke. Noting the pristine state of the floor, Scobina realized she was expected to remove her shoes before she stepped inside.
Once she entered, she noticed that both sisters were barefoot. Judging by the soles of their feet, it seemed they had never worn shoes in their lives.
"Hey, are all those monsters out there joining the Primordial Core?"
"Yes, they are."
"I knew it! That is so cool!" the smaller Yaksha squealed with excitement.
Meanwhile, the more mature-looking sister merely cast a brief glance at Scobina, remaining seated in a formal, upright posture.
I've heard that Yakshas focus heavily on meditation and training to refine their physical vessels, Scobina thought. Was she meditating just now? So these two are the new recruits for the Primordial Core.
When she was first tasked with bringing the Yaksha along, Scobina had inquired about their status. At the time, Patrick had replied, 'If their skills are as expected, we plan to appoint them as administrators.'
Their strength isn't outwardly obvious.
Still, she didn't dare underestimate them. They hadn't shown a shred of fear even when looking down at the Balrog and Hydra outside. If anything, their delicate appearances might be inversely proportional to their true power.
It wouldn't hurt to get on their good side, Scobina decided.
The Primordial Core was bound to remain the Leprechaun Merchant Guild's most valued client. If this massive recruitment drive succeeded and a clear hierarchy was established, she would likely have to interact and negotiate contracts with these Yakshas much more frequently in the future.
"Your guild seems highly capable."
While Scobina was lost in thought, the sister sitting in the formal posture spoke up. Scobina took a seat opposite her.
"You must be the older sister," she said.
"No, I am the younger sister."
"Pardon?"
"The one over there is my older sister."
At the mention of "older sister," the Yaksha perched on the windowsill turned her head.
The first thing that caught Scobina's eye was her horns. Rising from either side of her forehead, the black horns had a strangely seamless transition where they met her skin. They were also remarkably small compared to those of a dragon or a Demon King.
I've studied the Yaksha race before, but...
Seeing one in the flesh was quite different from what she had read. She had been taught that they only wore a few ornaments made of human bones, but this girl was adorned with various accessories all over her body. Some were indeed made of bone, as rumored, but others were surprisingly refined, high-quality crafts.
More than that...
Scobina lowered her gaze slightly, scanning the girl's body. It was as if her entire form was made of patterns; every inch of visible skin was covered in intricate, ritualistic tattoos.
At a glance, the designs resembled Orcish war paint, but a closer look revealed them to be far more complex and esoteric. She wore traditional attire that left her shoulders and midriff completely bare—yet because every inch of exposed skin was blanketed in these markings, the effect was far from provocative. It was simply eerie.
"You shouldn't stare too much," the older sister said, noticing Scobina's blatant gaze. "They disrupt the flow of mana."
"..."
So the eerie sensation hadn't been her imagination. Indeed, if they rely on pure physical might to fight, they would need a way to suppress their enemies' magic.
Scobina quickly shifted her gaze to study the younger sister sitting across from her.
The younger sister was massive, enough to make one wonder if they were even of the same species. While the older sister was barely larger than a human child, the younger sister possessed a frame that rivaled an adult human male. The difference in their sizes was easily twofold. The younger sister looked fully matured.
"Are you sworn sisters?"
"We are flesh and blood, born of the same lineage," the younger sister answered without hesitation.
Realizing her slip of the tongue, Scobina bowed her head apologetically.
"...Forgive my rudeness."
"It's fine, it's fine! Everyone makes the same mistake. Anyway, more importantly..."
The older sister slid closer and sat down, shifting and crossing her legs until she found a comfortable position. Once she had settled into a thoroughly informal slouch, she let out a hearty laugh and suddenly leaned in.
"Scobina, the Leprechaun Merchant Guild's dedicated representative to the Primordial Core!"
"...Yes?"
"You've met Swallow, right? What's he like? Is he really the strongest creature alive? What about the strongest gatekeepers? Tell me, tell me!"