Ihoujin, Dungeon ni Moguru

【5th day】

『Understood. I have grasped the current situation. Makina approves of that proposal』

「I see」

The next day, Makina had restarted, so I reported a summary of yesterday’s events.

『Oh~ Souya-san. Izora seems to have questions so I’m going to switch, okayー?』

「Sure」

I was feeling a little low-spirited. It would have been better to continue in a light-hearted mood, like with Makina.

『Team member Souya, first of all, please state a rational reason for self-destructing and disposing of the armament containers』

「I can’t manage them all by myself」

『What about the option of hiring a guard using money?』

「You can’t buy trust in people using money」

It would be nice if it was sold.

『If it’s keeping watch, it is possible with the capabilities of the Makina unit』

「If it’s keeping watch only, right? Can you guys hurt humans?」

『That is impossible. Direct harm to humans is prohibited under Article 2 of the Law of Artificial Intelligence』

「That’s what I thought」

It’s obvious, but artificial intelligence could not hurt humans. It’s the same even for humans in alternate worlds. Be useful to people, but don’t hurt people. That contradictory oath had repeatedly led those girls to mental deaths.

『But we can help you set up traps』

「That’s true. But there is no guarantee that the opponent will give up because of such obstructions. In the worst case scenario, I’ll be re-enacting the Battle of the Alamo here, all by myself」

Speaking of which, Izora was an expansion program made in the United States.

「Was my decision wrong?」

『No, it is correct. Your actions are correct even if they are wrong』

I had asked a mean question. Even if they could suggest things, these girls couldn’t go against my decisions.

『Izora will cooperate in today’s negotiations』

「No, I’ll have Makina do that instead」

『Is that so?』

The tone of her voice had dropped.

Eh, could it be that she was sulking a little? I was perplexed by this unexpected reaction.

「There’s a reason for that. Look, Makina seems kind of stupid, don’t you agree? That will cause the other party to drop their guard. It doesn’t mean that I’m particularly dissatisfied with Izora’s capabilities」

『Is that so? I’m switching』

「Hey!」

『Hi? It’s the Makina that seems kind of stupid. Let me say this because it seems that there has been a misunderstanding. This is not simply a personality setting. The heavier the stress they are under, the more humans seek cheerful and easy-going things. In addition, the reason Izora was created with a stuffy personality is so that the personalities won’t overlap and result in confusion. You can change the settings as much as you like, you know? Do you want to? Do you not want to?』

I had stepped on a landmine.

「I like the cheerful and easy-going Makina」

『Isー that soー?』

I wanted to change the topic, so I introduced Misuranika-sama. I lifted her up and held her in front of Makina.

「Makina. Cancel the non-interference order and start user registration. This is Misuranika-sama, the god that I’m contracted to. Please introduce yourself」

「What’s with you two, are the both of you inside that column? Are you spirits of human sacrifices?」

She was touching the screen with her paws pads.

『Hello, god of the alternate world. Makina is a sixth-generation artificial intelligence made in Japan. I was made for space exploration. My capabilities are still in the midst of being repaired, but I can support up to three more people』

「You’re like a golem, is that what you are?」

『The law prohibits me from full autonomy, but it’s roughly something like that』

「Makina, do whatever you possibly can to give her whatever she wants. That’s an order」

『Understood』

Makina’s arm came out and saluted.

Thinking of what was to come, I couldn’t eat too full so I only ate some bread and cheese. I prepared a chicken soup with a lot of vegetables and meat for my god.

Some time passed, and the person that I was waiting for came.

「Souya, so you are alright」

「That’s right, Geto-san」

The person that I was waiting for came from the river.

「I’m sorry. Were you worried about me?」

「Well, of course I’d worry if the camp got ravaged and you were nowhere to be seen」

「Yes, I’m going to talk to the merchant company about that later. Therefore, there’s something small that I wanted to ask you」

I stood up. Both of us did not have topics that we could sit and talk about today.

「Those two containers. How much did you sell them for?」

「………」

A close investigation of the camp site had revealed one thing.

Those adventurers had ravaged the camp but they did not steal the containers. Those containers were not light objects that could be carried away easily. However, there were no traces of them being dragged. There were also no signs of carriages or carts being used. In that case, the only way left was using the river to transport them to the city.

According to Makina, the containers were likely to float on water because they were waterproof.

However, there was no evidence that Geto-san had done it. It might have been possible that the adventurers had used a boat.

But he was the most suspicious.

This person had a full grasp of my actions. He could easily predict when I would be away, and figure out that the containers were valuable.

And one other thing.

「You are a good person. You care for your loved ones and are affectionate. Your concern for me is also probably real. And it’s for that reason that you’re easily exploited」

「………」

He had an indescribable expression.

「Geto-san, I won’t do anything bad. So just tell me the amount」

「Twenty gold coins」

Cheap.

Or was that thought just me being haughty?

「Thank you very much. I have one request」

「What?」

「Just in case I die, I want you to throw this one to bottom of the sea」

I placed my hand on Makina.

「And it’s fine if it’s just what you have left over, I want you to give Misuranika-sama fish to eat」

I petted my god’s head.

「And in exchange for that, you are free to sell whatever is here」

「Do you trust me?」

「I do」

He replied my immediate answer with silence.

I wasn’t naively trusting this person. I trusted him because I knew how he betrayed me. I trusted him because I knew the reason he betrayed me.

Geto-san had not replied to me. That was also a form of response.

As I turned to leave, I said,

「In the name of the god of misdeeds, Misuranika, I forgive your actions」

※

I reached the city, took a detour, then went to the store.

The liveliness from yesterday was gone, and there were no customers at all. Instead of customers, there were fierce-looking clerks, who looked suspiciously like adventurers, standing in a row.

「Yesterday and today, you’re involved in this kind of thing again?」

The military policeman beside me was messing around with his troublesome-looking hat. I had called him along the way here and he had been grumbling the entire time since.

「No, but at least I’m an adventurer today」

「Provisionally. Not officially acknowledged. What the heck are you doing?」

Said the Guild President, whom I was surprised to find behind me.

「I thought of leaving you in the lurch, but it would be troublesome if Evetta came and made things unnecessarily complicated. I’m here against my will, so I may abandon you depending on how things go. Therefore, think before you act」

「Understood」

I was guided by one of those creepy-looking clerks and was shown to the same room as yesterday.

It was the same man as yesterday again, and a plump elderly woman was beside him. I had a vague impression of her, she was the clerk I had met yesterday.

「Hello」

I greeted them lightly and sat down on the sofa before anyone else and placed my feet on the desk.

The man’s face twitched. With an indescribable expression, the woman poked him in the back.

「First of all, introductions have not been made, foreigner. I’m the storekeeper for the Zavua Night Owl Company. Lonewell Zavua」

「A replacement please, I can’t leave this matter to you」

The man, who had gone stiff and was spouting cold sweat, stepped back, and the woman behind him came forward.

「I will deal with this matter in place of my unworthy son. Zavua Night Owl company, Chairman Holzald Zavua. First of all, I apologize for our repeated rudeness」

The woman bowed respectfully to me.

This wasn’t going to according to plan. It might get a little unpleasant.

「The two companions that are with you, please take a seat as well」

「Then, pardon me」

The military policeman and the Guild President sat down next to me. The woman gave orders to the man before she sat down.

「You, make your friends downstairs leave」

「What?! But Mother! Just in case」

「Merchants shouldn’t show off such a half-hearted show of force. If the Guild President goes wild, even the nearby stores will vanish. We would have to pay the compensation for that. Besides, that person hasn’t said anything yet, right?」

She turned her gaze to me after saying that.

I no longer had enough ammo left to go wild but it would be imprudent to reveal that.

「First of all, I came here today to hear your opinions. That’s all. For today」

My words were dripping with hidden meanings.

「Ohー, then can I get down to business?」

The police officer took out some troublesome-looking documents. No one stopped him.

「Errー, Zavua Night Owl company-san. You are suspected of theft. Does anything come to mind?」

「No, nothing comes to mind」

The woman answered with a gentle smile.

「Did you know that there was an explosion in a warehouse yesterday?」

「Given that it was our warehouse, yes」

「The explosion was caused by this Onii-san. I was told that it was a mechanism to blow up and dispose of anything stolen」

「I see, but those were items that were left with me by another merchant company. I see, so they were stolen goods」

Was she shameless or actually deceived?

「The name of that merchant company?」

「I can’t say. Because it is a matter of trust」 𝗳𝔯𝙚e𝒘e𝚋𝘯𝚘ν𝙚l.𝑐o𝙢

So that was what she was going with.

（Hey, Ni-chan）

The military policeman whispered into my ear.

（I don’t know much about the connections that the merchant companies have with one another. It’s not something that I can look up in a day or two. Didn’t you say that everything will be settled by today?）

Now now, it’ll be fine, I whispered back.

「There is one issue from our side as well」

It came.

「The explosion at that warehouse caused an enormous amount of damages. There were substantially large amounts of materials that had been entrusted to us by the adventurers that hadn’t been priced yet」

There were times when buyers for the expensive materials obtained in the dungeon couldn’t be found. However, as the tax was taken only when the price of the materials were set, it was very common for them to be temporarily stored with a merchant company or the Guild.

「It’s not a problem that affects only our merchant company. There were damages to the adjacent warehouses as well. For the time being, we have compensated the affected parties for what was mentioned, but the damages are already quite a hefty sum. Hmmm. Foreigner, you said that it was a mechanism that caused an explosion, right?」

「That’s right」

I answered softly.

「At the time of the explosion, there were no people from our merchant company inside the warehouse. Then, it is inconceivable that we were the ones who triggered the mechanism. In other words, you destroyed it at your own volition. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that you had sent that thing to us in order to destroy our merchant company’s warehouse」

「No no, that’s impossible, right?」

The military policeman defended me in a simple manner.

「I wonder about that. Why don’t you ask him? About whether he is a follower of the evil god Misuranika or not」

「I formed the contract only after the theft」

「I wonder if that’s true」

Although I understood what she was doing, it was still infuriating.

But I could endure it. For now.

「Get straight to the point」

This trifling conversation was troublesome so i hurried her a little.

「Yes, you’re right. Zavua Night Owl company is claiming the cost of the goods destroyed by you, as well as inconvenience fees to other companies and the medical costs for the guards. In all, we are claiming damages of 9,705 gold coins」

「What?!」

The Guild President, who had remained silent, cried out.

「Of course, this sum of money can’t be paid by an individual, so we’ll have the Adventurers’ Guild compensate us instead」

「Excuse us, we’re stepping outside for a moment」

The Guild President grabbed my collar and dragged me outside.

「You shithead, they’re claiming an amount that’s nearly the Guild’s operating funds for a year!」

「Guild President, I’m sorry for having made you come all this way. But in the first place, whether it’s my things being stolen, or the explosion, they’re all events that happened before I registered. Therefore, in the worst case, you can use this fact as much as you like to talk your way out of this」

Even though he said all that about abandoning me, I wondered what he was flustered about.

「Is that true?」

「It’s true. If Evetta-san was here, you would have been able to confirm that immediately」

「………Understood」

The Guild President put on a stony expression immediately and went back into the room. I followed behind him.

「I understand your claim. But I have one too. The goods that had exploded were stolen goods. However, you did not reveal who the culprit was because it was a matter of trust in your merchant company. Then, along with bearing that trust, you should also bear the costs of the goods I lost」

I knew that they were collecting and examining the wreckage from the explosion. They probably had an idea of its value.

The woman hesitated slightly.

Then she smiled.

「Very well」

For now, she was only nudging the bait.

「We have one condition. In order to ensure that the negotiations are fair, I will ask my god to mediate」

「Okay, please do」

The military policeman elbowed me then whispered.

（The sister gods of Minerva are rumored to be merciless at collecting debts. Do you have money?）

It’ll be fine so keep quiet, I whispered back to the military policeman.

The woman took out a bird feather and raised it.

「My god, the sage of night, the raptor of knowledge, Gravius. Share that wisdom with me, your kin, and bestow fairness upon the world of those who quiver in front of your keen insight」

A dazzling light.

An owl descended onto the woman’s shoulder.

「Holzald, my kin. What are you using my keen insight for?」

「For the sake of having fair negotiations, please mediate between us and the foreigner」

「Very well. The one opposing my kin, name yourself and your god」

I was feeling slightly pressured by the gaze of that small owl. It did not feel like an animal, but rather, it felt like it held more intelligence than humans. She would probably be of no help, but I felt lonely without my god.

「Follower of Misuranika, Souya of Japan」

「Misuranika, you said? Souya, is your god not going to attend?」

「My god is currently sleeping. This one will take a seat at the negotiating table instead」

I took off my glasses and switched it to holographic mode. An image emerged from the glasses that I had placed on the table.

『Good morning, everyone from the alternate world. Using the words from this side, Makina is like an artificial spirit that is intended to assist Souya-san. Today, I will do my best to achieve a result that is good for both parties』

The 14cm projection of Makina lowered her head in a bow. Her appearance was that of a beautiful twin-tailed girl around 14 years of age, who wore a top with a low neckline and frills at the midriff, and a miniskirt. I was glad that she didn’t have a stick with a heart on top. 𝗳𝘳𝒆𝘦𝑤𝐞𝚋𝗻𝚘𝘷𝘦𝙡.𝑐𝐨𝘮

「What? Do all the women in your country look like that?」

「It roughly matches but no」

I gave the military policeman a perfunctory reply. He better not spread this after going back to the center continent.

At the sight of Makina, the woman instinctively smiled. Sure enough, she had taken the bait. These people still thought that they could profit off me. They weren’t mistaken, but it was a big mistake.

「Then, we’ll start with me, Gravius-sama. Here is the amount claimed and the catalog of the goods that we lost」

When the woman lined up the documents, a mysterious power made them float into the air and spread out in front of the owl.

「9,705 gold coins, I see, it’s somewhat fair」

『That’s not accurate. The up-to-date market price is 9,802 gold coins, 3 silver coins and 6 copper coins』

Makina said.

『The 200g of the fossil pieces of the millennial tree and the liver of Daio turtle in the catalog were sold first thing in the morning. Even if you combine the inventory of two merchant companies, there won’t even be 300g of fossil pieces left in stock. As the price has increased due to the lack of stock, I set the price to 1.8 times. And, in order to brew the fossil pieces into a third-class magical elixir, a large amount of the pseudo-ghost’s pure water is needed. Since this was also in the inventory, I have set the price to 1.2 times for each 955 liter barrel. As for the others一』

「Makina, that’s enough」

I stopped Makina, who was answering smoothly, for the time being. The woman was stifling her surprise. The military policeman spoke out, impressed.

「It hasn’t been that many days since you guys came to this city, right?」

『Yes, but I can grasp all the market fluctuations in this city』

「The one called Souya, you’ve sent out eyes, haven’t you? Hmm, are you using insects? No, are they metallic?」

Said the owl, which was turning its head around.

Bug drones had been placed in all four corners of this room, but it seems like they had been found out.

「But it’s not unfair. Whether you used money, people or technology to acquire such eyes, it doesn’t change anything」

This god was more understanding than I thought it would be.

「Then, Holzald. The amount claimed is 9,802 gold coins, 3 silver coins, 6 copper coins, is that OK?」

「Yes」

The woman nodded. Then, it was my turn.