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Chapter 71

 

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             Translator: “Hakou”                             Editor: “Weasalopes”                

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A few days later, I was riding the Old lady alongside a golem carriage.
My job this time is to be an escort on a round trip to the Holy City.
By the way, the Old lady is in a very good condition.
After the fight against the dark-brown golem, which the herbivorous mechanic said to be a heavy stone golem apparently, during which the Old lady kept letting out white smoke. But it’s okay now.
The day after returning to the royal capital, the herbivore mechanic asked me to cast D-rank magic into the drive system.
And the result was great.
There’s no more smoke and shaking. It can also produce the same strength as when we defeated the heavy stone golem now.
I was worried that if the power and the burden were too high, the Old lady wouldn’t be able to hold out.
However, according to the herbivore mechanic, there would be no problem.

(If the expert himself said so, then it should be alright)

I feel like if the engine output is too high, the frame will be damaged.
But I am an amateur in this subject and I only know a little when it comes to golem technology.

(It just that when he said that, he somehow had a grim expression on he face)

The inspection result said that no problem was found.
Of course, nothing was broken.
It should be all good, but for some reason, the herbivore mechanic had a difficult expression at that time.

(It seems that recently he’s been working until late at night)

I was able to go home early, but the herbivorous mechanic always remains.
I’m wondering what he was doing to the extent he had to stay until late at night like that but, I didn’t ask him about it and leave it at that.
Wouldn’t you feel bad if someone in a different division asks you, Why are you working overtime until late at night every day?

(I should probably buy him some souvenirs from the Holy City to cheer him up)

I think so and take a look at the golem carriage the guild master rides.
Inside is the guild master of the merchant guild, the tough-looking old man of the merchant guild, Explosive onee-san of Jayanne, and The unicorn, Cool-san of the Doom squad.
She seems to like the nickname Unicorn and attaches a unicorn-shaped brooch I gave her on her chest.
Explosive onee-san who saw it said, Wow, that’s so pretty.

(Mannn, Explosive onee-san is attractive as ever huh)

Explosive onee-san is the number one at Jayanne and she is also an active student at Royal Magic Academy.
Elegant facial features as if a sculptor had poured his soul to craft it and a body line like an hourglass.
It seems she decided to wear a less revealing semi-casual clothing today. But because her natural sex appeal is high, it makes her more erotic instead.

(And her reaction when she saw me was great too)

When she knew that the escort was actually me, she went 「Eh?」 at first.
But she immediately fixed her expression and said, 「It’s been a while」.
When I offered my hand for a handshake, she looked panicked and retreated back a little.
As I stepped forward, she went further back and shouted abruptly.

「DON’T.TOUCH.ME!!」

Her blushing face at that time was cute.
My heart is tickled by her cute onee-san act so I tried teasingly chasing after her.
Explosive onee-san was running away while shouting kyaa kyaa.
I ended up enjoying teasing her until the guild master warned us.

(I wonder if I overdid it a little)

I reflect for a bit.
Finally, Explosive onee-san crouched, holding down her crotch from the top of the skirt.
Apparently, something happened to her when I chased her around.
The destructive power of her figure was too great, the tough-looking old man making a difficult expression while the guild master kept his plain expression while setting up the tent.
Now then, the story got sidetracked but I would like to explain the job this time in detail.
I said it’s work, but it’s actually playing. You can also call this a holiday trip or something like that.

「Tauro-kun has made a great contribution to the merchant guild. For that, I thank you」

The guild leader said to me.
The temples of the influential god are built in the Holy City.
By the way, an influential god is not a god who has a high ranking in mythology.
It is a God that has someone with a high economic or social power worshiping them.
To put it bluntly, their believers are the ones who are influential.
Of course, the god of business that we, the merchants, worship is an influential god who rivals the top ranker.
It seems that the annual event, the match before God, is held inside the temple of the god of business.
He wanted to let me watch it as I do my escorting job.

(So the reason explosive onee-san and Cool-san are coming is to participate in the match, right?)

I made a lewd face after imagining the content of the match.

(And there seem to be many things that can be enjoyed aside from the match. I can’t wait for it)

It’s been a long time I feel this excited about going on a trip.

On the way, we had lunch by a water spring.
If we keep going at this pace, the Holy City is just a breath away.

「By the way, why only prostitutes participate in the game?」

It’s a culture that makes me happy. I can’t help but want to know why, so I asked the tough-looking old man.
the tough-looking old man replied with another question after thinking a little.

「Tauro-san, do you know what is the oldest business runs in this world?」

That’s quite a strange question.
I answered with 「is it buying and selling crops?」.
the tough-looking old man shook his head from side to side.

「I don’t know how true it is but, it is said to be “prostitution”」

I was surprised and eagerly listening to the continuation.

「The god of business is the oldest god that rules over trade and business. In other words, it’s “the god who sells spring*”」
(*TL Note: doing prostitution)

I opened my eyes wide in disbelief.
The tough man who was satisfied with my reaction continued his word.

「A prostitute appeared in the dedication match for “The God who sells spring” is a matter of course」

I finally understand.
And since there’s a chance, I asked one more thing.

「There are only prostitutes from Jayanne with us right now, is there a reason for that?」

the tough-looking old man’s answer is that this time it was Jayanne’s turn.
Cassabell, Jayanne, and Cione, known as the Three Family in the Royal Capital.
It seems that these three brothels are playing their role in turns.

「Why the Light Cruiser-sensei is not coming?」

I asked Cool-san.
She answered that the light cruiser-sensei wasn’t selected because she had participated once.
It’s a great honor to go to the match, and many want to. It is said that inexperienced people are given priority so that even one person can experience a lot.
No wonder Cool-san is here.
She is only biased in her taste and has an ability called Origami.
It’s an undeniable fact that she’s one of Jayanne’s strongest special elite members.

(The guild master sure thought of something good huh)

I’m ignorant of information regarding this world.
So taken outside the country to play and have fun was more valuable than anything for me.
I’m sure if I’ve experienced it once, I can go by myself with my own money.
As I was thinking about that, I boarded the cockpit to depart for the Holy City.

***

「So this is the Holy City…..」

We arrived at The Holy City just before evening came.
And I was standing on a vast cobblestone square, looking around and breathing in exclamation.
The circular square is surrounded by towering magnificent stone buildings.
And the statue of the gods on the roof was making a distorted elaborate figure on a wide stone pavement.

(Wow….)

Such buildings, which are regarded as a historic heritage in my original world, exist for real here.
It is not a ruined aesthetic structure.
And not a structure which had its paint fade off.
It’s right in front of me as an active facility that is respected, time-consuming and has a crowd of worshipers.
For me who learned the history of western architecture at school, I can only be speechless.

「Tauro-san, over here!」

Just like a tourist who saw St. Peter’s Cathedral for the first time, while walking unsteadily, I was pulled by the tough-looking old man.
I collected myself and followed behind in a hurry.
We arrived at the hotel we will be staying at. It is just like a noble’s mansion.

「Is it really okay for this lowly me to stay in this luxurious place?」

I invertedly feel scared.
Even though the payment will be handled by the merchant guild, I still feel like I would faint.
The tough-looking old man laughed.

「You’re a member of the Kingdom’s merchant guild. It won’t fit the appearance if it’s not this much」

That might be true.
I’m glad they brought me along, this will also be a good experience.

***

「Well, then. You are free to do whatever you want after this」

The tough-looking old man said, after soaking in a big bath like a hot spring and having dinner together.
It seems that the match will be held tomorrow so tonight should be used to cultivate their spirit.
The girls said that they will go to the hot spring again and then to the spa in preparation for the match.

「What about everyone else here?」

I asked the guild master and rough uncle who still remains here.
The guild master took a glance at the tough-looking old man.

「There’s a place you wanted to go to, right? I’ll show Tauro-kun around so you should just go there」

The tough-looking old man felt grateful towards the guild master’s word and went out to the hallway.

「Where he want to go, I wonder?」

I asked the guild master while looking at that back.

「He probably going to the God of business’ temple」

The guild master answered while grinning.

「Well, let’s head there too. It’s one of the famous places in the Holy City after all」

I was asked if I had my merchant guild card with me so I tapped on my chest pocket and said that it’s alright.
The guild master nodded and chased after the tough-looking old man.

***

「Please show your guild card. If you are not a merchant guild member, you cannot enter~!」

At the entrance of the temple, a guy who seems to be an employee shouts.
The entrance is quite crowded.
There are long rows of queues.
But I and the guild master line up in a row far away from them.
The tough-looking man is already a few people away.

「This row is only for merchant guild member with E rank above~!」

A different guy from earlier shouts.

(Even if it’s just a preferential treatment at the entrance, it was worth it being a rank E)

This is the first benefit I get since I ranked up in the merchant guild.
By the way, the guild master and the tough-looking old man didn’t do business by themselves but have the qualifications of E rank or higher.
More specifically, the guild master is the D rank, a so-called senior merchant. And the tough-looking old man is E rank, the same middle-class merchant as me.
Because the tough-looking old man is an official in charge of the guild so he is ranked E rank. While the other staff is ranked F rank apparently.

(The inside is quite crowded to huh)

We can smoothly enter from the entrance of the intermediate rank merchant above, but there were many people inside the temple.
From the normal entrance, people who seemed to be an F rank were entering one after another.
The tough-looking old man walks without hesitation while looking at the small map he pulls out from his pocket.
Me and the guild master followed shortly after.
Soon, a gate similar to the temple entrance could be seen.
Above the gate, it says, F-ranks cannot enter.
the tough-looking old man entered hastily.

「There’s even another gate inside the building」

I start a conversation with the guild master.

「It’s a popular temple after all. If you don’t put a restriction like that, the true believers won’t be able to play」

According to the guild chief, there’s only one god who controls the world’s oldest business and the temple itself is like a huge brothel.
Because of that, it seems that many people enter the merchant’s guild just for the sake of entering it, so they have established a checkpoint that only an E rank above that can enter.

「Even in the guild, only the E rank above that can be truly regarded as a guild member」

I remembered something when I heard those words.
Even in my case, I can easily become an F rank member just by paying some amount of money. There were no tests or checking required.
Now I’m convinced that an F rank is just an apprentice through and through.

There was a wide and gentle ascending staircase when passing through a gate that refused an F rank.
As we climb up, I can see more clearly.
It’s a large space with a large atrium.
Looking up, the dome-shaped canopy of the temple covered this large space.

「Ohh…….」

I unconsciously let out a voice of admiration.
There are many buildings underneath even though it’s indoors and many people enter and leave.
There are many people, but it’s not that crowded.
If it’s like this, it’s possible to do anything comfortably.

「The F rank people can only play on the outer part of the temple. The main attraction lies here」

The guild master said while smiling.
「Come, let’s follow after him」

Then I saw it, the tough-looking old man was about to enter a giant tent.
We followed after him.
Inside the tent, there was a large stage, with dozens of women singing and dancing.
And there are a lot of men in front of the stage, dancing, and shouting.

(It’s a live stage)

A girl on the stage calls out to the audience with enthusiasm.
The audience is screaming.
It looks very fun.
Looking closely, the tough-looking old man is also cheering with his eyes sparkling.
No, he’s not just standing there, he’s dancing and shouting, matching the song.

(Oh yeah, when he talked about the adventurer team 「Robust」, this uncle’s gesture was amazing)

I remembered that time.
He described「Robust」 who defeated Lesser Salamander and their leader, Dolba, in the most realistic way.

「He’s a big fan of them. That’s why he’s completely fired up like that」

The guild master that was standing beside me told me.
They say that they perform live all over the world and are very popular regardless of age or gender.
Both he and his daughter are a big fan that when she heard he was going to The Holy City, she asked him to get some of their goods.
Certainly, everyone is young, beautiful and full of energy.
Not long after, the song ended and a girl full of energy called out to the audience.

「We will change member now~ Member number 1 to 10 are waiting in the private room so have fun~」

With that said, he jumps down the stage.
Shouting cheers coming from the audience seat.
At the same time, half of the girls on the stage get off.
And from the back, about the same number of girls appeared.

「Hello~! the song this time will be sung by member number 11 to 30~ So please listen~!」

A different girl shouts. The audience seats also returned loudly.
By the way, I was watching the girls who just got off the stage.
There are small doors next to the stage, at the same height as the audience seats.
Each of them went into the door.
Shortly afterward, the lamp above the door glowed blue.

(Don’t tell me! This is the same system used in the hot spring town!?)

I stared at it.
When I was in my original world, I went to a hot spring resort and went out for the second party. It felt similar to the store I entered at that time.
Apart from the guests who pay attention to the stage and cheering, some men line up in front of a door.
Men go inside when the lamp on the door turns blue, then the lamp on the door will turn red.

「It’s a system where the singer and the audience can touch each other freely from the bottom of their heart, right!?」

Before I realized it, I got excited and looked back at the guild master.
The guild master grinned before answering,

「Even though they are popular around the world, you can only freely interact with them is in this temple」

It was those girls today but it seems that another group will come on another day.
It is said that the god of business is also the god of song and dance.
Singers and dancers, who have become popular to some extent, will do a live concert here as thanks to God.

「Do you finally understand the value of being an E rank in the merchant guild?」

The guild chief laughs mischievously.
Until now, I just thought that I was pushed to be an E rank and there’s no advantage to being one.
But now it’s completely different.
Perhaps just for the sake of coming here, some people are even willing to give their entire fortune just to become an E rank.
Of course, you can’t be one by just doing that.

「I’m truly thankful for making me an E rank」

I lowered my head deeply.

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