Let's Embezzle the Budget (1)
Shaking dozens of tails like rotten tree roots, a monster with black wings spread wide took to the air. Every grotesque flap of its wings sent a chilling shiver down my spine in pure disgust. It was massive enough to swallow someone my size in one bite.
—Kyaaaaaah!
Its roar echoed thunderously through Labyrinth City.
"Eughhh…!"
"Eek! Vivi's scared!"
"What do we do~?"
As I shrank back, the guild members seized the moment to pull me into their embrace, just as I'd figured they would. For someone as powerless as me, facing a beast like that head-on was utterly terrifying. The smooth, plush layer of fat that usually felt overwhelming now brought a strange sense of comfort today.
The citizens had all hidden in places untouched by the shadow of those wings. I wished I could be indoors too, but the adventurers had dragged me out to watch them fight coolly.
A few adventurers on rooftops loosed arrows, trying to shoot it down. But its rugged wings deflected the feeble shafts effortlessly.
"You bitches. Think puny shit like your boyfriends can take it down?"
Bella appeared, hefting a greatbow nearly as tall as she was. She nocked an arrow so massive it could double as a spear if anyone else tried to wield it.
Kugugugung…!
As she drew back the iron string with her powerful arms, a strange vibrating hum filled the air around us.
Paaang!
When she released, the arrow tore through the air like a cracking whip. It flew with such ferocious momentum that it didn't just pierce the monster's neck—it blew its head clean off.
The beast plummeted to the ground without even a scream.
"Oops, was aiming for the wings… Tsk."
Bella scratched awkwardly at the base of the horn protruding from her head. The nearby adventurers moved toward the crash site to claim the spoils.
"Hey!!!! This is our guild's kill!!!! Get lost, you other guild scum!!!!"
Kali swung her greatsword menacingly, barking at them. The adventurers from rival guilds, who'd been sneaking in, scattered under her threats.
"How 'bout that, Vivi! My hunting skills! Pretty badass, right?!"
"Y-yeah, awesome…!"
I gave Bella an honest compliment as she returned with the greatbow slung over her shoulder. Bella was huge and strong, a beast in close combat, but she was even more famous for wielding that bow.
"Th-that bow… you made it yourself, right, Bella-nim?"
"Huh?"
"I've never seen a weapon like it anywhere else. Come to think of it, you said your childhood dream was to be a blacksmith."
"Haha! Spot on. I made it myself. Kinda crude, though."
"It's not crude at all…! It's really cool!"
"R-really?"
Bella seemed happier about the praise for her bow than for her hunting prowess. Her shy flush and cheek-scratching on that burly frame felt utterly alien.
"Vivi! Can'tcha praise your big sis too?!"
"Yeah! I fought hard back there!"
"Ah, e-eh, well…"
"Hah?! What're you slacking for, you bitches?! Clean up the city already!"
"Eek! Vice Guild Master!"
"See ya later, Vivi!"
The guild members who'd been hugging me—and Bella—scattered as Kali showed up. They had to go collect spoils from the monster corpses littering the city.
I tried to slip back into the guild hall, but Kali naturally hooked her arm around my shoulders. With so much bare skin on display, I couldn't bring myself to turn my head her way.
"Phew, cleanup's done for now. Who'da thought a high-grade monster would crawl out after just a month. And a flyer, no less."
"Y-yeah…"
A month had passed since the council's decision, just as planned. The adventurer guilds had swept the city clean of monsters en masse, with Bella's kill marking the end. We'd still need to scour for any stragglers, of course.
The Monster Protection Association? Not a single protester showed up, even with hordes dying right in front of them.
"Pipipi. Tell the experts the Great Labyrinth's got high-grades up to B1, so no other requests for novices for a while."
"It's V-Vivaldi. G-got it."
"Oh, and… it'd be great if we could bulk-order some vehicles or something."
"Vehicles…?"
This world had cars, just like my previous life. They weren't as common as household items back there, nor as sleek and modern.
"Yeah. Lotsa requests involve long hauls, and we've got a month's backlog, so we gotta move fast. Guild could lend 'em to adventurers, y'know?"
"Makes sense… I'll look into it."
"Cool. Though if not, no biggie. Not many places in Labyrinth City make 'em anyway."
Just as Kali said, buying cars locally would be tough. No tech firm would set up shop in this lawless dump.
We'd probably have to order from outside and ship 'em in.
"I'll give it a shot."
"Huh?"
The smithy where Bella had once apprenticed short-term. The blacksmith wiped sweat from his brow and answered casually.
From what Bella had told me, he'd worked for a big company before, so I'd come hoping for a referral.
"I never turn down a request—it's my creed. A car? I'll try makin' one."
"Y-you can really make one? Here?"
"No guarantees I'll succeed! Haha! Just killin' time with a shot in the dark."
"Ah… gotcha… That surprised me…"
"I'll name a few outfits that do 'em. Still, might get somethin' decent here—who knows? Swing by later to check."
"Will do."
"W-wait a sec, Vivi. And ma'am. I-I wanna help make the car here too."
Bella, who'd come with me, placed her massive hand on my shoulder as she spoke. The blacksmith's eyes welled up; he grabbed her hand tight.
"You've finally decided to work here! I've wanted an apprentice like you!"
"No! I mean, just helpin' with the car!"
"Uh… it's your call where you work, Bella-nim. Not my place to—"
"S-so, since this is a guild supply request too, if we could get some budget… y'know…"
"You're that serious about it…!"
"Won't let ya down! I'll make somethin' awesome…!"
Bella twiddled her fingers bashfully—adorably out of place on her frame—and the moved blacksmith nearly burst into tears.
Invest guild funds in this smithy? As vice guild master, I could swing it. Bella's childhood dream had reignited, but it was a tricky request. No way this backwater forge could build a car—what was I supposed to base my approval on…?
Then, a wicked idea flashed in my mind. I smiled at the dark impulse bubbling up inside.
"Sure. Don't disappoint me. I'm expecting something amazing."
A little time later, I barged into the smithy unannounced. Covered head to toe in grime, the blacksmith and Bella blocked my path.
"N-now's not a good time to look!"
"Vivi, can'tcha come back later? Pleeease?"
"I need to see it now!"
I pushed past their protests into the workshop. In the center sat what I assumed was the car-in-progress.
"…For 'just trying,' this looks pretty serious."
"Didn't mean to go this far… but with Bella helpin', I got carried away."
"Vivi, l-listen, don't misunderstand."
"No! No excuses."
I got why Bella was so antsy. No matter how you sliced it, that abomination didn't look like a car.
For starters, the size was insane. Cars here were basic two-seaters with optional cargo holds. But this dwarfed even the monster that could've gulped me down whole.
And no wheels. Even the crudest cars here ran on wheels. This thing looked like it had jointed legs instead.
They'd taken a huge advance for a car, but these two weirdos were clearly just messing around!
"Vivi, it looks kinda weird, but…"
"It's fantastic!"
"Huh?"
"If you need more funds, just say the word! I'll handle it!"
"R-really? You see its value?"
"Of course! I trust you, Bella-nim!"
Trust? Hell no. If word got out we'd blown guild budget on this colossal toy, Guild Master Veronica and Vice Guild Master Kali wouldn't forgive me. Even sweet Vice Guild Master Helen might despise me!
This was straight-up embezzlement. They'd have no choice but to exile me!
"O-ohhh! Vivi! I won't disappoint ya! Promise!"
"B-Bella! Don't jump around—you'll collapse the place!"
Innocent Bella bounced like a kid in glee. Her size made the whole workshop quake, of course.
It stung a bit to exploit her pure heart… but to outsiders, she was just as guilty of playing with money. No room to judge each other.