Chapter 76

After returning to the ground, the re-negotiations began.

The deputy commander, who had been waiting at the base, was enraged upon hearing the explanation. At first, he vehemently argued that such a contract was impossible and did not need to be honored. However, when Char said, "Then, I will inform the countries that you cannot keep your promises, and you will have to pay the war reparations in a lump sum," he was defeated.

The reparations to be paid to the Ruenet Empire are of such a magnitude that the current amount is a mere pittance. Paying it all at once would deplete the nation's operational funds.

It is certain that the deputy commander, who is responsible, will lose his head.

The knight who accompanied him was immediately arrested and taken away.

"So, what about the reparations...?"

The deputy commander was completely deflated. I am already here, and I am stronger than the hero ♯Larkus♯. This time, Natalie is also with us.

At first, the deputy commander sneered at Natalie, but when one of the knights revealed her true identity, his attitude changed dramatically. Moreover, his legs were visibly trembling.

Perhaps he had experienced Natalie's deeds in the previous war.

The reparations, including five hundred million G, are to be paid in a lump sum to the Ruenet Empire.

This amount is to settle everything.

An increase of three hundred million G from the initial deal.

Of course, the knights of the Generate Kingdom also have a considerable amount of funds from the dungeon expedition, but they do not carry such a large sum.

It was decided that they would bring it later with a messenger.

Three copies of the contract were exchanged, with one copy held by the Ruenet Empire, one by the Generate Kingdom, and the last by the commercial guild headquarters in the Siphansy Empire.

In such international agreements, it is common to store a copy in the Siphansy Empire, where the commercial guild headquarters is located.

Even if one party discards the contract, the existence of the contract can be revealed through the copy stored at the commercial guild headquarters.

The Siphansy Empire is mainly operated by the commercial guild headquarters and the mercenary guild headquarters, and the commercial guilds are spread across various countries, sometimes mediating in contract matters. Arrangements made at the commercial guild in the city are sent to the headquarters in the Siphansy Empire.

Although a certain fee is charged, the reparations to be paid are not a problem even if the fee is paid.

The contract was signed in the tent, with me, Char, and Lise signing for the Ruenet Empire, and the deputy commander and Larkus signing for the Generate Kingdom.

This is a strong request from us. Since we are not involved in the administration of the country, there is no need to sign, but Larkus is already known to be a hero.

If the Generate Kingdom refuses to pay, the hero's reputation will also be tarnished.

That is why we asked for Larkus's signature as a precaution.

Although he initially refused, when we proposed that we would hold Larkus until the payment was completed, he agreed without further resistance.

For the Generate Kingdom, losing the hero, who is their strongest force, would be disastrous. Moreover, Larkus has been taught that the Ruenet Empire is "evil."

If he is taken and sees the life in the city, his thoughts might change. In the worst case, he might even side with the Ruenet Empire.

The deputy commander, with his shoulders slumped, reluctantly signed.

We received two copies of the contract to be submitted to the commercial guild and left the tent.

"Finally, it's over..."

Everyone who accompanied me smiled and nodded in agreement.

"---In the end, we couldn't take it easy..."

I whispered quietly so no one could hear.

We came to this city for a vacation, but we ended up dealing with the dungeon expedition, the confrontation with the hero, and international negotiations, which are far from ordinary tasks.

However, if I hadn't come, the damage from the dungeon's overflow would have been much greater. When we arrived in the city, there were many injured people.

I believe that many lives would not have been saved without me.

Thinking about this, I felt a bit more at ease.

"Let's go back and take a bath quickly?"

"Yes, let's rest soon."

"I want something sweet!"

I nodded with a wry smile at Natalie's request for sweets.

"Okay, okay, I understand. I'll make something special today."

"Aww, that's unfair! I want to eat too!"

It seems that the women are particularly weak for sweets. On our way back to our base, we were made to promise to provide sweets for everyone.

◇◇◇

After leaving the dungeon, we decided to rest for a day at the guild house.

Apparently, the women were missing their baths.

"Finally, I feel refreshed."

Char and the others appeared in the living room, carefully drying their hair. The bath was large enough for several people to use simultaneously.

Seeing them, I couldn't help but look away.

"Hey, don't come out dressed like that!"

It seemed they all took a bath together and came out in shirts that were larger than their bodies.

Even Lise, in addition to Char and Al.

"It feels lazy to put on clothes after a refreshing bath, and since only Touya-sama is here, it's fine."

No, I want you to stop because I'm here...

"This outfit is a bit embarrassing..."

Lise seemed embarrassed. She must have been persuaded by Char, and I couldn't help but sigh.

"Come on, stop dressing like that and get changed quickly. I'm preparing the meal."

"Hey! Touya-sama, it's okay to be a little embarrassed!"

Char pouted, but it's wrong to dress like that in such a place.

After confirming that Char and the others had gone to their rooms to change, I resumed cooking.

When the meal was ready and set on the table, the five of them, now changed, returned.

We all gathered around the table, and I took out wine from my dimensional storage.

"Everyone, good work today. We successfully obtained the dungeon core, and the dungeon should now be stable."

A dungeon that has lost its core will take about a month to produce a new one.

During this time, the monsters inside become passive and do not attack people. No new monsters are produced either. In the past, dungeons were sometimes cleared of all monsters, but this led to the new monsters becoming more aggressive, so the adventurer guilds now prohibit entry during the period when the dungeon core is being produced.

This is strictly managed by the adventurer guilds in cooperation with the countries. The reason for such strict management is simple.

As recorded in history books, a country that cleared all the monsters from a dormant dungeon produced many aggressive new monsters, leading to a flood of monsters. The small country where the dungeon was located was destroyed.

The neighboring countries, along with the adventurer guilds, carried out monster extermination and re-conquered the dungeon to stabilize the situation. Many sacrifices were made, and the countries and adventurer guilds agreed on the current state.

"That's right. With this, the city of Arcland can be at ease."

"I hope so, but it depends on how the Generate Kingdom will act..."

When Al mentioned the Generate Kingdom, everyone fell silent for a moment.

"...That was the rumored hero..."

The Ruenet Empire was occupied up to the capital due to a single hero. Even the knight commander, Al's father, died in the line of duty. Char and Al fled to the Salandier Kingdom, and Lise evacuated from the city, with her parents being executed. They all have bitter memories.

"But now, we have Touya-sama in the Ruenet Empire. With Touya-sama, who is stronger than the hero, the Generate Kingdom won't attack again."

"Indeed. With Touya, we won't lose to anything."

...Both Char and Lise are misunderstanding. I have no intention of getting involved in the war. I might act independently, but I have no intention of fighting as part of the military.

Even the rescue of the royal family and the strategy for retaking the capital were done as adventurer requests.

However, I am now a marquis, a noble. I became a noble to avoid being absorbed by other nobles, as suggested by Gaurus, Al's grandfather, but this also means I have obligations as a noble.

The emperor has told me that I don't need to perform basic duties, but I can't ignore a battle right in front of me.

In reality, I don't think the Generate Kingdom will make