Chapter 104 I'Ve Got A Good Story To Share
Before anyone knew it, Aaron Gale was already inside the shop.
Owen and the others were shocked by his presence, and they instinctively readied themselves for battle.
Considering what they were just discussing, it was a bit awkward. It was only natural to be on guard, wondering what Aaron would say.
However, Aaron himself seemed completely nonchalant, standing up with his mug still in hand and walking towards them with a carefree attitude.
He then proceeded to sit down in the empty seat at Owen's table.
Meanwhile, Owen and the others were too stunned to react, simply staring at Aaron. The party members at the nearby tables, who had been drinking and chatting, also fell silent, their eyes fixed on Aaron after hearing Owen's shout. The sudden appearance was so unexpected that it left everyone's heads spinning.
Aaron, still sporting a gentle smile, said to Owen and the others,
"Well, it's not very comfortable to talk while standing, so why don't we sit down?"
His attitude was, to be honest, a bit unsettling, but Owen and the others exchanged glances and reluctantly followed Aaron's suggestion, taking their seats.
"..."
They sat down, still wary of Aaron, their eyes fixed on him.
A cold sweat trickled down their backs.
Despite his seemingly carefree demeanor, the man in front of them was more dangerous than the guardians of the labyrinth's depths. Even if all of them were to attack him together, they couldn't shake off the feeling that they wouldn't emerge victorious. That's the kind of man he was.
And the fact that he had been listening in on their conversation just moments before was a disturbing thought.
Not just Owen, but Elliot and Zara as well, felt a knot in their stomachs from the tension.
On the other hand, Aaron seemed completely oblivious to the reactions of those around him, his smile unwavering as he began to speak.
"Don't be so tense. Actually, I've got a good story to share."
"A... good story?"
Owen asked, his voice laced with caution, thinking to himself that those were the most untrustworthy words he had ever heard.
"Yeah," Aaron replied, nodding enthusiastically.
"it's just that I happened to overhear your conversation..."
(What a ridiculous coincidence!!)
At this point, Aaron is saying he brought a good story, but it's 100% intentional that he's here, and yet he's saying this so nonchalantly.
"Doesn't it seem like you guys have a lot of complaints about our workshop...I mean, our clan?"
"Hmm..."
Owen hesitated, wondering if he should speak his mind to Aaron's face.
But before Owen could respond, Aaron put on a solemn expression, as if he was reflecting on his actions, and continued.
"I know you guys have complaints. As the workshop leader...I mean, Clan Master, it's my responsibility. I'm the one who's done everything to make you guys unhappy. I'm sorry..."
"M-Master..."
Owen couldn't help but blurt out words at Aaron's weak and apologetic tone, which seemed to come from a sense of self-reproach.
If Aaron is reflecting on the clan's foolish activities so far, maybe it's okay to forgive him, Owen thought.
Maybe if he changes his behavior as their Master from now on, that's all that matters.
Just as Owen was thinking this...
"――So, I'll get rid of your complaints."
"Huh?"
Aaron's expression changed back to a cheerful one in an instant, making Owen wonder if his previous apology was just an illusion.
"First, Zara."
"W-what's up?"
Aaron turned to Zara, who leaned back in her chair, trying to put some distance between them.
"You're right, we haven't done much exploring since we formed the clan. Your point about our income decreasing is spot on. I wasn't neglecting it, but I did make you guys anxious. It might sound like an excuse, but I was planning to have the clan explore the labyrinth frequently from now on."
"Hmph! You can say whatever you want And even if you do go exploring, what's the point if it's just to collect wood?"
"Of course, we won't be exploring just to collect wood. We'll be going to the profitable floors. I guarantee we'll earn more than ≪Silfield≫ does solo. And also..."
Aaron pulled something out of his robe's inner pocket and placed it on the table.
It was a ring-shaped object.
Zara, who loved shiny things, immediately knew what it was.
"Is, is that a Storage Ring...?"
"That's right. It's the lowest rank, but still..."
Storage Ring.
Even if you're an Expert Explorer, it's not something you can buy with just any amount of money.
But Storage Rings aren't something you can buy just because you have money. The demand is too high, and the supply is too low. Most of the Storage Rings produced by the [Four Great Families of the Seals] are bought up by royalty and nobles, and then by wealthy merchants.
Even if you have a lot of money, as an explorer, you don't have the connections to buy directly from the [Four Great Families of the Seals]. You're at a disadvantage compared to merchants.
The explorer's guild does have a limited number of Storage Rings available for purchase, but only a select few can buy them.
Sometimes, people who own Storage Rings might sell them on the market for some reason, but the price usually skyrockets.
Because of all these reasons, Zara and the others, who had just become Expert Explorers, didn't own a Storage Ring yet.
To be honest, it was something they desperately wanted.
With just one Storage Ring, the amount of resources they could collect from the labyrinth would increase dramatically.
Aaron said, his voice sounding sincere, like a devil tempting a human.
"You know that Kirke's princess is an investor in our clan, right? Well, it turns out that thanks to her kindness, we'll be able to get a discount on Storage Rings from her."
It was the same as the barrier magic tools――Eva had made them herself, with the help of a magic tool craftsman. According to Eva, she could produce about 10 Storage Rings per month.
This ring will be bought by the clan and sold to clan members who want it. Of course, the price will be set without considering the clan's profit or Eva's gain.
"Zara, if you want it, I can give you the first purchasing right. By the way, the price is..."
Aaron told her the price.
It was much cheaper than the regular market price. It was almost the original cost, and if one considers the payment to the magical tool craftsman, Eva and the clan would even make a small profit.
"...!?"
Zara swallowed her saliva with a gulp.
Aaron whispered to her.
"Well, of course, if you leave the clan, this deal is off... I'm really sorry, but if you're determined to leave, I won't try to stop you. Who knows when, but you'll be able to buy a Storage Ring somewhere else. Good luck until then."
"What a fool... Y, you think I'd quit? I didn't say that!"
Zara panicked and raised her voice, but then suddenly put on a flattering smile towards Aaron.
"H, hehe, fuhehe... Ah, I'm going to follow Master, of course!"
"Is that so? I'm glad you understand."
It was an instant surrender.
Zara had fallen.
"H-hey, Zara!?"
Owen, who had sensed something unsettling in Aaron's words, tried to tell Zara to reconsider.
"D-don't bother me, Owen!!"
But Zara, who had been defeated by her desire, didn't listen.
Aaron, who was nodding in satisfaction at Zara's change of heart, turned to Elliot.
"So, Elliot. You want to aim higher... right?"
"Eh, yes... Well, as explorers, we want to aim higher."
Aaron deliberately used a vague expression, but everyone in the room understood what he meant.
In other words, as explorers, they wanted to increase their reputation and gain fame. Or, to put it more bluntly, they wanted to satisfy their desire for recognition and be admired by many people.
That was the "higher" goal that Elliot desired.
With that in mind, Aaron announced...
"Actually, I've got a plan to take all of our clan members to the 46th floor. And it's not going to be years from now, either. We're talking within a few months."
"Whoa, the 46th floor... in just a few months?"
Elliot's face went blank for a moment.
Then, he snapped back to reality, shaking his head with a wry smile.
"I mean, Master, isn't that... kind of impossible?"
He was about to say it was impossible, but then he remembered that the ≪Labyrinth Conquest Team≫ had already reached the 46th floor.
All of the ≪Labyrinth Conquest Team≫'s survivors were members of the ≪Wooden Sword Way≫, after all. So, he couldn't say it was impossible.
Aaron seemed to see right through Elliot's thoughts, and he smiled slyly.
"It might be tough, but it's not impossible. At the very least, I can definitely take you guys to the 41st floor right now."
"The 41st floor..."
He swallowed hard.
Lately, wooden swords and materials from the failed Ice Elemental Treant have been flooding the market, making them feel kind of worthless. But the truth is, there are hardly any explorers who can reach the 41st floor.
Just 20 years ago, there were fewer than 20 people in all of Necronia who could do it.
Even now, with half of the Labyrinth Conquest Team dead or missing, there are only around 50 people who can do it, including those who have already retired. Of course, that's just the official number.
Aaron spoke in a way that was like a scam artist tempting his mark with a fortune.
"Think about it――if you can make it to the 41st floor, you'll be one of the explorers who have reached the Dragon Mountain floor."
"R-really? The Dragon Mountain floor...?"
"That's right. At that point, you guys are definitely among the top 100 in Necronia Explorer. The harshness of the Dragon Mountain floor is actually overestimated by the general public more than the explorers themselves... If you're exploring that place, just that alone makes you a hero, doesn't it...?"
"Me, a hero...? This, me...?"
"Yeah, imagine it. You being called Hero Elliot. The charity work you're doing in the lower floors of the labyrinth (or so it seems) would get a completely different reaction. Hero Elliot and ordinary Elliot. Who would one rather have come to help people, and who would one rather have teach people the ways of exploration? Who would one be more grateful to?"
"Eh, Hero... Elliot...?"
"That's right, isn't it? So, what are you going to do? Quit the clan? You don't know what will happen if you quit, but should you try your best on your own? Do you choose the path that will definitely make you heroes, or the path that might not make you heroes?"
Elliot's answer was already decided.
He straightened his back, cleared his throat, and answered with a serious expression.
"I'll follow Master."
"Is that so? I'm glad you said that."
The suspicious conversation unfolding before their eyes. Regardless of the content, it looked like Aaron was trying to deceive Elliot from the outside.
Owen intervened, warning his friend as if he was being swindled by a scammer.
"Hey, hey, think again, Elliot!! There's no guarantee that he'll take you to the 41st floor, it's just an empty promise!! And even if Master's power does take you to the 41st floor, that's not your own strength!! Are you okay with that!!?"
"...Sorry, Owen. I've already made up my mind..."
Elliot said, looking away from his friend.
Owen's words no longer reached him.
"Damn...!! What are you planning...!!"
Owen glared at Aaron, who was swaying his friends one by one, with a sharp gaze.
On the other hand, Aaron floated a carefree smile, not feeling the slightest bit of unease, and spoke to Owen.
"Owen, your dissatisfaction is clear... it's about the clan's training policy, right?"
"Hmph! That's right!!"
Owen stood up, pointing his finger at Aaron and shouting.
"You promised to make us strong!! But what's the reality? We joined the clan and all we do is make wooden swords using some meaningless method! That's not going to make us strong!! You're a liar!! You deceived us!!"
"...being called a liar is hurtful. I think I explained the meaning behind that training from the start."
It's true that he explained it.
But―― Owen countered.
"What's the point of training our aura control power!! What's the use of that!! We're not even learning new skills!! I don't feel like I've gotten any stronger at all!! That boring training... it's better to just repeat actual battles!!"
The only sound in the store was Owen's heavy breathing.
The other customers were also holding their breath, watching the scene unfold.
Before long, Aaron spoke up.
With a sly smile, like a devil teasing a pitiful human, he replied.
"So, if you've gotten stronger, that's all that matters, right?"
"――Huh?"
"If you can prove that you've gotten stronger through that training, Owen, you'll be satisfied, right?"
"Hmph... if I've really gotten stronger."
If he had really gotten stronger, then it would all be his own misunderstanding. But he was skeptical, which is why he was denying it.
So when Aaron spoke again, Owen nodded without hesitation, convinced that he was right.
"So, if you've gotten stronger, Owen, you'll continue making wooden swords without complaining, right? You'll follow my instructions without talking back, right? After all, that's how you'll get stronger. Of course, right?"
"Hmph! Fine If I've really gotten strong enough to be satisfied with that stupid method, I'll follow your instructions without complaining and make those wooden swords!!"
Owen declared mockingly, but Aaron just smiled brightly.
"Alright, then starting tomorrow, with your members from ≪Bastard≫, ≪Holy Knights≫, and ≪Silfied≫, let's explore the Snowfield Floor. Our destination, of course, is the 41st floor."
"――Huh?"
Owen and the others were taken aback by the sudden words.
But Aaron continued without hesitation.
"Zara wants to earn money, Elliot wants to reach the 41st floor, and Owen wants to test his strength... isn't this the perfect goal to achieve everyone's objectives? I don't think anyone has any objections, right?"
"...Gh... You're kidding me!"
Owen muttered, but ultimately agreed.
Owen and the others had been complaining about their dissatisfaction. If they were told that this would resolve all their dissatisfaction, they couldn't possibly refuse.
"Then, let's meet up at the Seal Temple tomorrow morning. Let's do our best, okay?"
And so, Owen and the others decided to challenge the Snowfield Floor the next day――.
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