Read Novel Full Chapter 269
Chapter 269
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Chapter 269 – Wasn’t This About Promotion?
Quoitz Dragon Burial Mountains, Day 10:
On the night of Day 4, the dismantling site in Rosberia finally activated its “pass.” Therefore, I delivered the materials to the Rosberia Special Zone material buyer. Perhaps because they deal in cash, they issued a “pass” in just one day.
After that, I took it to Lagreath’s royal capital, Falmenta, for a few days. In the end, however, Orgu-san activated the pass, so I ended up back in Rosberia. That’s the current situation.
“Well, it’s a shame since things were finally getting sorted out.”
“What are you talking about, like it’s none of your business?! It’s impossible now! It’s impossible, do you hear me? I’ll die from overwork if this keeps up!”
“Are you pretending?”
“No—!”
I thought it was a comedian’s skit, but he’s apparently dead serious.
Still, they must be concerned about freshness. Despite looking like they’re about to drop dead, they don’t stop working. It’s incredible.
Plus, even with this much work, they only say, “We can’t keep up with the work,” and they never lower their prices, claiming that they don’t need more materials. Dragon species materials must be in incredibly high demand.
Since the town is huge, it doesn’t seem like meat becomes oversupplied either. Maybe hunting here is a good option whenever I’m short on cash.
“Oh, right, Loki. The reception staff said to call you if someone spots you.”
“Oh, does that mean a promotion?”
“Whoa! Did you reach S-rank level or something?”
“No, I’m still B-rank. If anything, it’s about an A-rank promotion.”
“…Huh?”
Come to think of it, I hadn’t been to the reception lobby since the first day.
There wasn’t anything major on the quest board, and the “Forgetting the Promotion Incident” has become a tradition since Bezart.
After thanking the staff at the dismantling site, I headed straight to the reception area.
I called out to the lady who had answered all my questions on the first day. As expected, she took me to the Guild Master’s room. A bald, chubby old man greeted me, rubbing his hands together.
Hmm, he doesn’t seem very hunter-like.
Is he the type like Yagov-san?
But the room had an air of luxury about it, making him seem like a completely different type altogether.
“No, no, no, no, Loki-san, you’ve finally come. I am Omri, the guildmaster of Rosberia.”
“Sorry, I didn’t notice. I’m Loki. Pleased to meet you.”
“Please, have a seat over here. This way, this way.”
“Uh, right…”
I sat down on the sofa, but it felt like I was being treated more like a client than a hunter.
I glanced at Omri-san’s eyes.
He’s smiling politely, but it’s the same look I often gave clients during business negotiations in Japan.
If I let my guard down, things might get dicey.
“I’ve heard the rumors. I hear you’ve been supplying the dismantling site with enough materials to make them scream these past few days. Since they’re all monsters from the Quoits Dragon Burial Mountains, it’s truly remarkable.”
“No, no, I am the one grateful for your purchases.”
“And this humility! Do you understand? You’re the ideal hunter.”
“Yes, absolutely! I wish others would learn from you!” the receptionist lady said.
“…”
“You may return to your duties now. Now then, Loki-san. While your promotion to A-rank is certainly part of why I summoned you, there’s another matter I wish to discuss.”
Having endured the farce, I sighed inwardly, relieved that they were finally getting to the point.
Ever since I began using Spatial Magic in public, I’d braced myself for this kind of conversation.
The problem was how much he intended to demand of me, given his position as guild master.
“How about utilizing that unique ability to take charge of all logistics in the continent’s central region?”
“Huh.”
Omri-san raised a single finger, declaring it the optimal solution.
I couldn’t help but gasp at the audacity of the proposal, the boldest I’d anticipated.
He vaguely referred to it as a “unique ability,” but I was certain he had overheard all the talk at the dismantling site and knew I possessed it.
Now, he’s trying to get me to say the words “Spatial Magic” myself.
Omri-san is now asking me to handle the continent-spanning supply transport that the reincarnated Marie is doing right here in the central part of the continent.
Given its scale, I thought a commercial guild, a merchant house backed by nobility, or even the nation itself would eventually step in. But for it to be the Hunter Guild of all places…
Is the guild truly for the people, as its founding principle states, or is it just a way for its members to satisfy their own desires?
Either way is fine, as my answer is already decided.
“I have no plans to do that.”
“…May I ask your reason?”
“The main reason is that I can’t get stronger doing that transport work.”
There are plenty of reasons, and I understand their desire for me to do it all too well.
After all, using Marie’s supply transport means becoming a vassal state.
If one place falls, the impact will surely ripple to neighboring countries. But everyone wants to avoid being the sacrifice.
For the nations in the center of the continent who are watching the situation around them and seeing only a dwindling future, a hunter like me, who moves solely for money, would be invaluable.
But, sorry, my goals are different.
I think Omri-san misunderstands that point.
“Strong, you say? You’ve already defeated so many A-rank monsters. Aren’t you already more than strong enough?”
In my personal opinion, I’m just starting to move beyond being a rookie E-rank hunter. I’m not even at ten percent of the strength I aspire to have.”
“Huh?”
“Besides, don’t most people train hard to get strong so they can earn big rewards?”
“What else is there?”
“I’m the opposite. I need money to get stronger, so I try to avoid tasks that don’t directly lead to strength.”
“…”
I’m aware that I have a gamer’s mindset.
But that’s an undeniable fact. I judge money spent on gear, materials, and books to gain knowledge as necessary for the goal of getting stronger.
Hunting monsters and villains is meaningful because it’s part of the process of getting stronger and earns me money. However, transporting goods through spatial transfer just for money is far from my objective.
I could understand it a little, but starting with the central continent’s logistics…
It seems like Omri-san has a grand plan that makes heavy use of me.
Even so, it seems this person still hasn’t given up.
“Only Loki-san can do it, and it should save many people. While it might not lead to strength, there’s also the possibility of gaining unimaginable wealth.”
“As a result, Omri-san and this guild would reap huge profits.”
“I won’t deny that.”
As he spoke, he pulled out a small vial from a pouch at his side—the same type used for Zeo’s stock, which I knew well.
Inside was blood that had turned dark reddish-black—no, that was likely its original color.
“It’s the fresh blood of the dragon species inhabiting Quoitz—specifically the highly potent Querebre. Dragon blood is said to be the very source of life. It’s used as an ingredient in various high-grade potions and as a base for medicines that cure many diseases.”
“…”
“The drawback, however, is freshness. Even when sealed in bottles or jars like this, its potency diminishes over time.”
“So, you want me to transport it?”
“I don’t expect you to handle all the transport. There are plenty of others who handle cargo transport and escort requests. I thought perhaps you could handle items directly impacting people’s lives.”
“But earlier, you specifically mentioned wanting me to handle the transport alone.”
“That would be ideal, but the reality is different.”
Sigh.
Hearing all this, I inwardly clicked my tongue.
I wasn’t losing out; it was actually a favorable deal for me. Still, I felt like I’d been played. I felt like I’d been played.
I guess you can’t let your guard down around someone who’s become a guild master.
He’s the same type as Yagov-san. I felt like I’d been skillfully maneuvered down to the absolute minimum Omri-san was willing to accept.
Bringing up life-or-death matters after the fact… Dragon blood is the source of life?
If you knew anything about fantasy worlds, you’d nod along, thinking, “Yeah, that sounds legit!”
Actually, both Carla and Zeo were chugging it, saying, “Delicious! Delicious!” the whole time.
After that, we finalized the transport plan using spatial transfer, incorporating my suggestions.
It wasn’t anything particularly complicated.
First, I’d tell them which towns I could reach in advance. While hunting in the Quoitz Dragon Burial Mountains, I’d notify the guild beforehand.
This way, while I was hunting, the guild would gather all the items I wanted transported at once. The items would be placed in the warehouse where dismantling occurs, as well as in several other warehouses for temporary storage after dismantling.
The guild would collect these items, and I would deliver them to hunter guilds in towns within reachable distance. Then, I would obtain a receipt signature from the receiving guild. This would mark the “designated request completed” status for Omri-san, and the payment would be deposited with the guild.
Incidentally, it’s a bit unusual, but even if I moved the deposit to the royal capital of Falmenta, they set up a separate deposit function for Rosberia.
Since the guildmaster can force it through at his discretion, not only can the designated request rewards be deposited anytime in Quoitz, but material rewards can be deposited as well.
Having my name and face remembered really pays off in situations like this.
Most importantly, I absolutely will not take on regular “jobs.”
This point was firmly agreed upon.
Requests such as “Come back in X days” or “Deliver this weekly” disrupt my schedule and are a nuisance.
The arrangement is that, when I happen to pass through Quoitz Dragon Burial Mountains, I’ll carry anything within reasonable limits as a favor. This way, there isn’t any risk of my losing out.
It seems I’ll also be contacting guild masters from other countries.
The problem is whether others will also ask me to transport things for them.
People like Orgu-san and Orlando-san will probably ask as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. How I dodge those requests will show my skill.
Well, I have a feeling I won’t be able to dodge them at all.
“So, what about the main topic—the promotion exam?”
“From the day Loki-san appeared, hunters reported strange sightings: a bizarre entity floating in the sky and slashing dragons. For some reason, the dragons’ corpses disappeared one by one.”
“H-huh.”
“And then there’s the incomprehensible amount of materials gathered day after day. Do you really think we need a mock battle?”
“…”
Apparently, I’ve already become an “A-Rank Hunter.”
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