Chapter 23

As you progress in the game "Auto de Scuderi," a merchant caravan known as the "Ego Guild" occasionally stops in your territory. The Ego Guild is run by a goblin named Ego. Although it is small in scale, it has great potential for growth. Ego is so skilled in business that it is expected to grow into a global enterprise spanning the entire continent. Therefore, most players, regardless of which lord they play as, try to establish and build trust with the Ego Guild.

Auto knew this very well, so he couldn't just let the Ego Guild pass by. Fortunately, the timing was perfect. In late autumn, the Ego Guild's caravan would pass through the territory ruled by Auto de Scuderi. The Ego Guild was delivering luxury goods, including spices, to a major city in the northwest of the continent. However, they encountered a band of thieves, making it impossible to meet the delivery deadline. To meet the deadline, the Ego Guild had to pass through the breeding grounds of the ogres. If the player had cleared the ogres and developed the area into a trade route, they could establish a good relationship with the Ego Guild.

This was why Auto, as soon as he woke up, hurriedly moved. "There they are!" Auto noticed the Ego Guild's caravan taking a break within the territory and rushed over.

"Oh! It's the lord!" "Oh!" The residents of the territory were amazed to see Auto. Why? Because Auto's heroic deeds were already well-known. The legendary tale of how he used a mace to defeat the chimera with sword techniques had spread throughout the territory, changing the way the residents viewed him. Of course, Auto didn't care about this. He knew he would continue to show even more impressive feats in the future, so there was no need to be overly proud just because the residents' views had changed.

"I greet the lord." A knight knelt before Auto and reported. "I was just about to report. They are merchants affiliated with the Ego Guild... They are on their way to a major city in the northwest and are likely to miss the delivery deadline."

"How do you know that?"

"Are they saying they want to pass through the ogres' breeding grounds?"

"Yes, that's right."

"I figured as much."

Auto smiled at the knight and approached the merchants of the Ego Guild. "The lord wishes to meet the leader of the guild." Camille, speaking on behalf of Auto, called for the leader of the Ego Guild. An old goblin with a white, unkempt beard approached and said, "I am Ego, the leader of the Ego Guild."

Camille was startled when the old goblin introduced himself and spoke in fluent human language. Goblins are intelligent monsters to some extent, but this was the first time she had encountered a goblin who could speak human language so fluently.

"So... you are the owner of the guild?"

"Yes, that's right."

Ego bowed calmly, as if he was used to Camille's surprised reaction. "Pleased to meet you." At that moment, Auto extended his hand to Ego.

"I am Lord Auto de Scuderi."

"Y-Yes?"

Ego was startled this time. Even in a rural territory, it was surprising for a lord to readily offer a handshake to a mere goblin.

Ding!

An alert window appeared before Auto.

[Alert: Ego's affection towards you has changed to <Surprise>!]

[Alert: You have gained Ego's affection!]

'Right, this is it.'

Auto smiled, looking at the alert window that appeared before him.

* * *

Ego was a mutant goblin. Despite being a goblin, he was born with intelligence surpassing that of an average human. Due to his exceptional intelligence, Ego could not fit into goblin society. He couldn't understand why his fellow goblins felt the need to raid and eat humans. Additionally, the culture and habits of goblins seemed very irrational to him. Therefore, Ego left goblin society and, by chance, met a mercenary from whom he learned human language.

However, no matter how intelligent he was, it was not easy for Ego, a goblin, to integrate into human society. He often faced discrimination and neglect, and there were times when he nearly lost his life to humans, more than a hundred times. But Ego survived and, with the money he had saved, managed to establish a small-scale guild.

Human victory! No, goblin victory! He had firmly established himself in human society, overcoming all kinds of discrimination, persecution, prejudice, slander, trials, and adversities!

However, Ego was not satisfied with this. To gain immense power in human society, he needed money more than anything. He had realized that humans would bow and scrape before money.

Even if the other party was a goblin!

Therefore, Ego was determined to grow his guild into a global enterprise spanning the entire continent. He had the ability to do so.

'The lord, a human, is offering a handshake to a goblin like me...'

Ego, inwardly surprised, shook Auto's extended hand.

"Oh, my lord. I am Ego, the leader of the Ego Guild."

Ego bowed deeply.

"Pleased to meet you."

"I am honored to meet you, my lord. I don't know what to do with myself that you have come to see me."

"What do you mean, you don't know what to do with yourself? It's an honor to have such a distinguished guest."

"Would you like to have a cup of tea and talk in a quiet place?"

"Oh, what an honor. Of course."

After moving to a different location,

"Your delivery schedule is tight, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is."

Ego's expression fell at Auto's question. Credit is the lifeblood of a guild. If they failed to deliver the goods by the deadline, the guild's credibility would be severely damaged, and they would have to pay a huge compensation, causing significant losses.

"Then you need to pass through here."

Auto took out a map and pointed to the area where the ogres' breeding grounds were.

"Y-Yes?"

Ego's eyes widened.

"Isn't that the place where ogres are rampant? Moreover, it's... the breeding season?"

"Yes, the breeding season. Passing through there now is... suicide?"

"Exactly."

"Of course, it was. Until yesterday."

"What do you mean?"

"Yesterday, we cleared the ogres. Now, there won't be any ogres in this area. We've eradicated them."

"Is that true?"

Ego's expression brightened. If they could pass through the area where the ogres' breeding grounds were, it would be possible to deliver the goods by the promised date.

"If you help us with this, I will never forget this favor."

"Agreed."

Auto smiled.

"I will let you pass for free, but I have a request."

"Y-Yes?"

"Take a look at this."

Auto placed a red potion on the table with a thud. "I plan to distribute this in large quantities. Is it possible?"

The potion Auto placed on the table was a restorative made from the fruit of the bearberry plant.