Chapter 61

"Lord Blantark. The Barons Bauvester have barely managed to conquer the underground ruins, have they?"

"Well, that's how it is."

I, who had accompanied the newly formed monk adventurer party as a guide, was nearly killed there.

The forced relocation to the 'reverse binding execution' by the absorption magic circle, which I had never experienced even in my active days, the battle with over ten thousand golem groups and two dragon golems.

I never thought I would experience fainting from magic exhaustion, which is something only beginner mages usually do.

Fainting is something that usually only happens to beginners.

There were a few times during my active days when I thought it was dangerous, but this time it was even more dangerous than when I defeated the old fire dragon.

Still, we managed to conquer the underground ruins.

I went ahead to report back to the royal castle and the headquarters of the adventurer guild.

I could have returned with the monks, but this matter could potentially turn into a responsibility issue.

The monks are probably quite upset inside, so it would be better to let them cool down a bit.

Although they usually don't openly express their dissatisfaction with the important figures in the capital, their original personalities are cautious, and they know that even if the other side is at fault, speaking out can cause problems.

However, this time they unusually expressed their dissatisfaction with the top of the adventurer guild and the kingdom.

In this situation, I should convey the monks' feelings to the important figures as an adult.

Since the other side also knows they are at fault, it seems that this informal meeting of the relevant parties has begun.

"Not in the usual audience chamber... It's because we can't talk openly, right?"

That's probably why.

Now, I am not in the audience chamber of the royal castle, but in a conference room equipped with anti-espionage equipment.

Those present in the room include His Majesty, Master Armstrong, Finance Minister Rookner, Cardinal Hohenheim, the Grand Master of the Adventurer Guild, the Deputy Grand Master, and several top officials.

Although I don't get along well with the guild headquarters, they don't seem to have the time to make snide remarks to me.

Before, they had caused the complete annihilation of two excellent joint parties and nearly the complete annihilation of the monks.

These bastards had planned to attach a mediocre swordsman as a guide and pretend to be thorough, but His Majesty found out.

However, why did they try to do such a foolish thing?

It seems that His Majesty and Master Armstrong have some idea, but according to the guild officials, it was different.

They tilted their heads in confusion.

"In other words, since there was an excellent mage, a skilled healer, and a martial artist of the magic combat style, the party was considered stronger than the previous two?"

"As a guild, due to the previous losses, we had to..."

More than twenty top adventurers have died, and they are very busy trying to fill the gaps.

The officials, who explained with nervous expressions, were hard to believe as they were once top adventurers themselves.

After retiring, they have not trained much, and their bellies have become flabby. They explain nervously in front of His Majesty for their own safety.

This was one of the reasons I wished to retire early.

Such people are called old pests.

"That's your mistake, isn't it? Well, that's fine. More importantly, if I hadn't gone along forcefully, the Barons Bauvester would have died too."

"Regarding this matter, we have no words to apologize to His Majesty and Lord Brechreiter."

"Of course, to Lord Blantark as well."

The officials bowed deeply, but in their hearts, bowing to me must be a humiliation.

Their faces seemed slightly red.

"The guild's miscalculation of necessary forces due to the lack of manpower?"

"Yes."

"Is that so?"

His Majesty is still tilting his head, but perhaps he has some other information.

Similarly, Master Armstrong and Finance Minister Rookner also had puzzled expressions.

"However, not only the guild, but we also have responsibility..."

Master Armstrong continued to speak.

"If I had gone along... Over the past two and a half years, Baron Bauvester and Louise have become stronger. So, it should be fine."

"To say that, I also have responsibility. I made the judgment based on the opinions of Master Armstrong and Lord Blantark alone."

Since everyone has responsibility, the meeting did not focus on individual accountability.

I also have the responsibility of not asking for additional support.

I overestimated the monk's abilities as a mage and as an adventurer.

And because of that mistake, I nearly died myself.

"By the way, Grand Master Werner."

"Yes, what is it?"

Here, Finance Minister Rookner finally began to ask questions to the guild master.

He seems to have something he wants to ask.

"Was the selection of the guide influenced by a certain auditor?"

"No. In the operation of the adventurer guild, we cannot allow such interference..."

Finance Minister Rookner, who is usually straightforward, is asking directly.

There are few people present in this conference room, and the anti-espionage measures are perfect.

However, I was surprised.

I didn't expect the topic of his younger brother, with whom he has a poor relationship, to come up here.

That man's reputation is not good.

His poor relationship with his brother, Finance Minister Rookner, is well-known, and there are suspicions that he deliberately weakened the monk's guide to attack his brother and his faction.

But that's probably a conspiracy theory.

Because the guild strongly resists interference from nobles and the kingdom.

Even when I, a retired adventurer, became a guide, they strongly opposed it.

Because I was acting on the intentions of His Majesty and the lord of the manor.

In front of the actual people, it was like this.

Even as an auditor, he shouldn't be so weak as to yield to the pressure of a baron.

"I believe you are not lying, but if you are, His Majesty will not forgive you."

"I swear by the gods."

Basically, Grand Master Werner is a coward.

He wouldn't lie to His Majesty.

And there's nothing wrong with an adventurer being a coward.

Cowardice leads to caution, which is a valuable trait for an adventurer.

But after retiring, they suddenly seem pitiful, which is inevitable.

"That guy is bad at gambling, isn't he?"

"Bad at gambling?"

I couldn't help but ask, and Finance Minister Rookner answered.

"That guy wants to oust me from the position of finance minister and take my place. But he doesn't take risks."

He is protecting his position as an auditor and continues to engage in petty gambling with leftover resources.

Under the current system, the possibility of him ousting his brother and taking the position of finance minister is low.

Then, he should take big risks and commit major misdeeds.

But he can't, which is why he is bad at gambling, according to Finance Minister Rookner.

"That guy thinks he is more competent than me."

"Surely, that's not the case..."

"I can tell, as a brother, that there isn't much difference."

Then, it's almost impossible to oust his brother, who has already achieved a position of power.

Yet, he maintains a pose of opposition and shows lingering attachment to the position of finance minister.

To me, he is an incomprehensible man.

From a seemingly safe position, he acts as if he is smart.

I can't help but think he will eventually face unexpected consequences.

"Because of his pride, he can't say, 'It's impossible after all.' The goal is not the position of finance minister, but to show the surroundings that he is aiming for it."

"Is that how he maintains his faction?"

"Nobles are such creatures."

If he can maintain his faction, there is no particular problem.

And he still believes, somewhere in his heart, that he can achieve the position of finance minister.

That's how it is.

"Because of that guy's petty gambling, some men are also victims... But let's leave that for later. By the way..."

There is a problem, but at least Baron Bauvester has survived.

When that happens, the next problem arises.

"Blantark. Is there any mistake in the summary of the items found in those underground ruins?"

"No."

I have seen them myself, so there is no mistake.

A dock for magic flying ships, a magic item workshop, and research materials related to magic items.

Many items require expert evaluation, which is why I am reporting ahead.

"It's a great discovery."

Indeed, as Finance Minister Rookner said.

An ordinary adventurer would not earn as much as a leg of one of those dragon golems even after retiring.

In such a harsh world, the monks have achieved tremendous results.

Even discounting their excellence as mages, the monk might have some luck that is different from others.

The monk often says he has bad luck.

(I often get caught up in that bad luck too...)

"But, it's troublesome..."

At the same time, there is a troublesome aspect.

Even I, who am not well-versed in the kingdom's finances, can understand this with a little thought.

After evaluating the results, the evaluation amount must be paid to the monks.

The royal family is the wealthiest in the continent.

Their wealth is at a level where even the border barons in the east, west, and south would not consider rebellion, and even the royal family of the neighboring Arkart Holy Empire cannot match it.

That country has seven duchies designated as electors, and candidates for the next emperor come from there, and the votes of the noble council, which is mainly composed of nobles and major merchants, are held.

It is not as centralized as the royal family.

What I'm trying to say is, can the royal family even pay the reward for this achievement?

It's not impossible, and if the royal family effectively uses the purchased items, they can certainly recover the money paid.

No, they might even increase their wealth.

But Finance Minister Rookner thinks it's not good for the kingdom's economy for a large amount of platinum coins to end up in the monk's magic bag.

He cannot accept a sudden reduction in the royal family's cash assets, even temporarily.

"Then, should we seize it by royal authority?"

"That would be unwise..."

At that point, the monk would have no lingering attachment to the kingdom.

Originally, he could live even if he was left penniless in the wilderness.

He might even enjoy it, given his strong spirit.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have reached such a level of detachment despite his circumstances until he was twelve.

When I heard a rough outline of the monk's life at home from Lord Ehrlich, I was shocked.

I think any ordinary child, or even me as a child in that position, would have gone crazy.

The monk's calmness comes from the fact that if things reach their limit, he would abandon the kingdom like a piece of snot.

And from the fact that he can start a new life the next day with a straight face.

Surely, His Majesty and Finance Minister Rookner are well aware of this.

And that new land would undoubtedly be the neighboring Arkart Holy Empire.

They would gladly accept an excellent mage, and the reduction of the virtual enemy's strength would make them laugh uncontrollably.

They would receive the monk with great respect.

"First, we should dispatch experts to determine the evaluation amount."

"Defense is also necessary."

For the construction and maintenance dock of magic flying ships, and seven usable magic flying ships.

Especially the former, which is closer to the capital than expected.

If this is maintained, it can serve as an important base for the air force in peacetime.

In times of crisis for the capital, it can even serve as a temporary royal palace or government.

There are also the large number of golems, the unmanned repair workshop, and the actual dragon golems.

There are also the research materials and prototypes of Baron Ishlburg in the workshop.

We need to strengthen security early to prevent anyone from trying to take them away.

"That, just a trapezoidal rock mountain. It was a blind spot."

I can't even guess how much the evaluation amount will be.

(I never thought I would encounter treasure of this level after retiring...)

On the contrary, it's so great that it has led to this troublesome situation.

"Then, about the reward for Baron Bauvester and his party..."

"Hmm, it's troublesome..."

We can't not pay, but we need to consider the impact.

After a while, Finance Minister Rookner sent a glance to Grand Master Werner, who was sweating coldly.

The adventurer guild resists interference from the kingdom and nobles, but this is not their home, so Grand Master Werner is intimidated.

Despite being a famous adventurer in his active days, his cowardice makes me sigh.

Many people in the field would say, "What do the royal family and nobles think? Screw them!" but many become like this when they move from the field to management.

You could say they have become more realistic.

"The guild usually takes 20% of the profits earned by adventurers..."

It's strange for Finance Minister Rookner to confirm such a basic fact.

Even a child would know this.

The adventurer guild is run on the 20% tribute.

Their financial situation is not bad.

Compared to other guilds, the adventurer guild has a