Chapter 10 Executions Operation Of Lowenthal Merchant Guild
"Alright, Marie, stick close to Maia."
"Yes."
"You can count on me, Marie-san."
We exchanged words in front of the Lowenthal Merchant Guild's trading post.
I had told Marie to stay back because it was dangerous, but she insisted on seeing it through with her own eyes since she volunteered for it, so she ended up being assigned as Maia's escort.
Well, leaving Marie alone might not be safe if she were to encounter lackeys of the Lowenthal Merchant Guild, so this was probably for the best.
"Stop,you suspicious person. What business do you have with the Lowenthal Merchant Guild?"
As we approached the gate of the trading post, the gate guards cautiously pointed their spears at us.
They seemed hostile, but for now, it's best to play it cool.
"I wanna talk to the head of this merchant guild. Can you arrange that?"
"Hahaha! This guy is funny! You really think the head of the merchant guild would meet with a brat like you?"
"Oh? Isn't that the flower shop girl behind you?"
"It's true. Hahaha, what an idiot to show up like this."
The other gate guards muttered and jeered at Marie.
"You're stubborn for the sake of such a shabby flower shop. You must really be an idiot ――ugh!"
Retract what I said earlier.
It's better not to play it cool.
"Hey, you, what are you doi――ugh!"
I struck another gate guard with a palm strike, and he collapsed with a similar scream.
There's no need to summon the Magic Scythe Igurima for opponents like this.
"Huh? What...?"
"Don't worry, Marie-san. Adel-sama is holding back."
"I... didn't see what happened..."
Marie looked bewildered as she glanced at the two gate guards who had collapsed.
Now, I decide to enter the territory of the Lowenthal merchant guild for now.
"Well then, I'll be intruding."
* * *
"What are you...?"
Entering the merchant guild, I was greeted by an unpleasant voice.
It was the voice of the slender man lounging behind the unnecessarily large desk in the lobby.
He was surely the head of the Lowenthal merchant guild who had harassed Marie during the day.
The interior was adorned with gaudy decorations made of gold, revealing a taste typical of the nouveau riche.
And the one which is particularly striking was the giant golden statue of a goddess behind the slender man.
――What a tacky space this is. Could it be that he's using the money he's sucked from the city's merchants for this?
I glared at the slender man.
He snatchs what others have earned with desperation, casually spending it for his selfish desires. That crappy sense of ethics infuriates me.
"Oh? Oh my, oh my, oh my, oh my! Isn't it Marie-san! What's up? Have you decided to work at the brothel we run after all?"
The slender guy notices Marie behind me and, with a creepy grin, starts creeping closer.
"As I said, it's better to make big money than run a flower shop like that, which doesn't bring in much profit. Oh, Marie-san, you finally realized that too? Money really makes the world go round. With money, you can even control people as you please. Luxury is a privilege reserved for the wealthy. Just look at this room. It's such a cozy space, isn't it? Money alone can make your heart rich just by being around it. I can't imagine living without money anymore. I'll keep gathering wealth and living an elegant life. Marie-san, if you earn money, you can easily become like this too. It might be scary at first, but I'll guide you through it."
"""..."""
The three of us fell silent, feeling incredibly uncomfortable.
At some point, I even started blocking out what he was saying.
Maia shoots a disdainful look at the slender guy, as if she's looking at garbage, either because she's irritated by what he's saying or simply finds him physically repulsive.
Even though I had my hood up, Maia, who was next to Marie, should have been recognized by him from our daytime encounter. He's naive to not notice.
"Hey, Slender Guy. You're planning to snatch the shop from Marie and make her work in a brothel? Just kidding, but your face is so unpleasant."
"What's with you? Speaking so rudely to me, the head of the Lowenthal Merchant Guild ――Huh!?"
As the slender guy leaned in closer to my face, his words faltered.
It seemed like he finally noticed.
"Oh, you're... from earlier... And that appearance... the Black-Robed Executor."
"That's right."
"Wha... what? You came to execute us... But is that really okay? Don't you know that we, the Lowenthal Merchant Guild, have the backing of the royal family?"
"I see. But it doesn't concern me."
"W-What did you say!?"
The slender guy seemed taken aback by my response.
He widened his eyes and took a step back.
Those who wield power always resort to threats.
They believe that their position or their backing will protect them, even if it means resorting to violence.
But power isn't always an all-powerful arrow that hits its mark every time.
――Well, they probably don't care about imposing unreasonableness on others, as long as it suits their own interests.
"I demand it. Return the money you've extorted from the city's merchants. And don't you dare lay a hand on them again."
"Hah, ridiculous! Why should I have to give up the wealth I've worked so hard to build!?"
"Built it up? You mean stole, don't you."
When I said that, the slender guy glared back at me with anger in his eyes.
"Disrespectful brat! You think you can tell me what to do? You're telling me to give up the wealth I've earned through my hard work?"
"So, you refuse to accept my demand?"
"Of course I refuse, you idiot! You might be some Black-Robed Executor or whatever, but the military force I've acquired with my money is superior!"
As soon as the slender guy snapped his fingers, armed soldiers emerged from the back.
They were likely elite guards he'd hired with his wealth.
I could summon the Igarima and deal with them, but taking on a whole group would be a hassle.
Moreover, considering Marie is with me, I want to keep her at a safe distance and end this without taking any risks.
"Heh, see what I mean? With enough money, you can even buy your life. I'm protected by the power of money. No matter how powerful your job class might be, you can't take on more than ten armed guards――"
――Hmm, let's give this a try.
I take a deep breath and then focus, causing a pale blue string of text to appear.
=====================================
Total Execution Coefficient: 105,069 points
Do you want to execute the [Paladin] job ability by consuming 6,000 points of Execution Coefficient?
=====================================
――Agreed.
"Now, my soldiers! Crush that eyesore of a hypocrite!"
The slender guy confidently issues his command.
However, the armed soldiers remain silent, failing to respond to their leader's voice.
"""..."""
"W-What's wrong, soldiers? I told you to attack!"
Thud, thud――
"What――!?"
Every armed soldier surrounding the slender guy collapses to the ground, their armor sliced apart, all of them unconscious.
――Wind God Sword.
It's a skill of the Paladin job that can harness the blessings of spirits, manipulating the wind.
Its original owner, Gale, seemed to recognize it as an ability to increase sword speed, but with practice, one can unleash slashing winds like this.
"Amazing, Adel-sama. It's way more powerful than what that corrupt noble was using."
"Well, I still think the control needs a bit more work. But with practice, I'm sure it'll improve."
"Even so, it's already more than enough."
Maia probably saw what I did.
She threw words of praise from behind, but I want to improve the accuracy a bit more.
"D-Did you do this!?"
"You're the only one left, slender guy. So, are you still up for a fight?"
"..."
After a brief hesitation, the slender guy bows his head as if expressing defeat.
But then――
"Just kidding!"
The slender guy lets out a strange shout, then quickly pulls something like a remote from his pocket and presses a button.
Suddenly, the floor near the slender man makes a noise and opens up, revealing a large mounted gun. Its barrel is pointed straight at me.
"This is a custom-made piece supplied by the royal family! Whoa, don't make any sudden moves. If you do, I'll turn you into a honeycomb with this thing!"
"..."
As I lower my outstretched hand, the slender man looks smug.
"Heh heh. Giving up, huh? Now the tables have turned. You brat, acting all high and mighty... If you get down on your knees and lick my shoes, I might consider ending you painlessly!"
"No, it's already over."
"...What?"
"Maia-san, don't worry about me! Help Adel-san...!"
"No need for that, Marie-san."
"Huh?"
Creak...
I hear something breaking from the slender man's direction.
Specifically, from the pedestal of the giant golden statue behind him.
The wind god's sword I unleashed caused the goddess statue to lose its support and start tilting.
"Oh nooo!"
The slender man turns around too slowly.
Just as he exposes his foolish expression, the golden goddess statue comes crashing down towards him.
"Aaaarghhh!"
――BOOOOM!!
With a deafening roar, the statue crushes the slender man.
"W-wait... I'm... the head of the Lowenthal Merchant Guild..."
As the slender man lies unconscious under the golden goddess statue, his eyes roll back.
--Being crushed by the symbol of wealth he has been siphoning, these words suit him perfectly.
"Execution complete――"
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)