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Chapter 218

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Translator: “Hakou”                             Editor: “Weasalopes”

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The first floor of the merchant guild headquarters in the royal capital is crowded with people today.
I was one of them. I was there to deliver the batch of potions.

「This time, I decided to make all the D-rank potions a cure status abnormality potion」

As I said this, I laid out the glass bottles on the counter. There were four of them.
Inside the bottles was a dark green liquid. The tough-looking man smiled when he saw it.

「Thank you very much. This will be really helpful」

A massive and powerful brainwashing incident that took place in a brothel in Awoke. In order to deal with the aftermath of the incident, a high-grade cure status abnormality potion is needed.
The last time I delivered the potions, he asked me to increase the ratio.

(I guess this much will do)

The akashic magic that was lent to me by the mysterious stone statue. With it, I can make fifteen D-rank potions in a day.
That’s more than a hundred potions in a week. It will be a great help to save the victims of brainwashing.

(But it’s not my role to do so)

The main actors are the magicians of this country, the pharmacists except me, and the Saintess from the eastern country.

『A skilled pharmacist who delivers potions to the merchant guild』

This is the extent of where I would stand. No matter how much people will appreciate it, I won’t endlessly exert my power.

「You’ve always been a great help to me, after all, and I can’t possibly refuse the supervisor’s request. I did my best this time」

I wipe the sweat from my forehead as I say this. The tough-looking man makes a praying gesture at me.
I think that this kind of relationship is just right.

「Ohh, Tauro-kun, it’s been a while」

After a short while, the white-bearded Santa Claus walked up from the back of the room. He was the vice guild master of the merchant guild.

「Ah, I see you’ve returned」

An annual Divine tournament held in the Holy City. The vice guild master was supposed to be leading the kingdom team.
If he was here, then the tournament must have been over.

「Yes, I’ve arrived just now actually. Since you’re here, how about we have some tea upstairs?」

He probably wants to talk about the Divine tournament, and besides, I’d love to hear about it too.
It seems that we share the same thoughts, and the tough-looking man begins to fidget. The vice-guild master, however, did not call out to the supervisor.

(How unfortunate. Well, I guess the vice-guild master didn’t call out to him because he still have a work to do)

The inspection finished and I looked around while receiving the guild card after the payment was processed.
The first floor of the merchants’ guild was crowded as usual. If we took the head supervisor here, it would interfere with the business.
I left my seat and headed for the stairs. The supervisor looked at me with a look of envy on his face.

「Pardon my intrusion」

Following the vice-guild master, I entered the guild master’s office on the third floor.
Inside, a petite old man sitting at the reception desk was opening a box of confectionaries and eating the content.

「Ohh, so you came Tauro-kun. Come, take a seat」

Urged by the guild master, I sat down on the sofa and took a piece of the confectionary to my mouth.
It was crispy and tasty, like a slice of baked bread.

(It’s like a rusk*)
[TL Note: A hard, dry biscuit or a twice-baked bread.]

The vice guild master, who looks like Santa Claus, made me a cup of tea by hand. I thanked him for it and reached for another piece.
It was hard to stop, partly because I was hungry.

(A souvenir from the Holy City. This will surely make me overflow)

The guild master who looked like a goblin also ate more with a smile on his face.
By overflow, it means to be blessed by the Holy City’s specialty products.
The effect is very strong. Last year, the staff of the merchant guild who had eaten the souvenirs I had handed out had even started doing it in the toilet.

(I was really surprised at that time)

As I was doing my small business, the small room behind me started to creak. I guess they just couldn’t hold it anymore because it took a while before I left.

(Oh well, I’m going to play with Light cruiser-sensei after this anyway, so I guess it’s alright)

I’ll just have her take on the full force of the blessing’s effect.
While biting down on the hard edges, I waited for the souvenir story to begin.
Santa Claus took a seat with his favorite mug in his hand and began to speak in a nice low voice.

「There was a backlash as expected huh」

I groaned as I listened to the Plain Queen’s first match.
『Sin and Punishment』 is a new type of play. She took out a tool that could be used as a weapon and wielded it to inflict pain on her opponent.
It’s no wonder that it would cause an uproar.

「As soon as the match started, her opponent’s cheering team got angry. I thought the match was going to stop for sure」

Santa Claus smiles mischievously at me and the guild master, who are curious about what happened next.

「And who do you think stopped all the ruckus? Listen and be surprised… It was the Grim Reaper!」

He said the Grim Reaper happened to be in the audience seat and glared at the perpetrator. And the whole place instantly went silent.
I remembered the Grim Reaper’s sinister aura and smiled. The guild master, on the other hand, folded his arms and tilted his head.

「I can’t think of it as a mere coincidence. He might have come there to see 『Sin and Punishment』 himself」

The vice-guild master stroked his beard as he thought for a moment.

「The information that Kingdom B was going with 『Sin and Punishment』 shouldn’t have gotten leaked. But it is certainly possible when I think about it again」

I also agree with that opinion. The Grim Reaper’s obsession with 『Sin and Punishment』 is so strong that he even opened a store in Landbarn.
And from the looks of it, he doesn’t seem to be the type to support his own country.

「And so? How was the match itself going?」

「It was like usual. She whip her opponent to get him ready and then comes around behind him, finishing him off with her heel」

The guild master’s question was answered calmly by Santa Claus. I’ve heard this before, but this seems to be the usual move for the Plain Queen.

「The same thing happened in the second round. The difference was that there was much less of a backlash from the crowd」

Unlike the first round, there were more people who showed interest than disapproval. It seems that the goal of making the name 『Sin and Punishment』 known to the world has been achieved.

「By the third round, it was quite well-received already. The audience was excited by the sound of the whip she swung at the time she made her appearance. She was probably happy too, as she gave them a service by spinning the candles」

Santa Claus reached out with one hand to his left thigh and made a gesture as if he were a gunman spinning a pistol.
His tone of voice became increasingly fluid, as if he was becoming more excited.

「And her opponent, was that Grim Reaper」

Even the guild master couldn’t hide his surprise, not to mention mine. He probably had blocked out the information until the vice-guild master told the story himself.
It’s like watching a sports game that you’ve been recording.

「She was truly amazing. She attacked without fear, and succeeded in binding him with her whip!」

He nodded lightly at us as we ate, and continued to speak.

「After kicking him over, he lit the candle. She then coated the entire death scythe with wax, and finally put the candle that was still burning on the tip!」

And here Santa Claus pauses, and says in a smug tone.

「And guess what, the color of the candle she used is black!」

「The black candle you say!?」

The guild master was surprised while I had no idea what that meant.
The guild master noticed this and told me.

「The color of the candle is different depending on the temperature. The red ones have a temperature that won’t cause burns, unlike the black colored ones」

The guild master leaned forward with a feverish expression. And Santa Claus enthusiastically agreed with him while frowning.
As expected of the higher ups of the merchant guild, they both seem to have experienced it before.

「But still, as expected from the Grim Reaper. What a frightening man」

Santa Claus nodded to the guild master, who made a grim expression.

(Isn’t it the other way around?)

The Plain Queen using the room temperature candle. That’s the one that seems scarier to me.
When I said that, Santa Claus shook his head from side to side.

「She’s the best Queen of the oldest store out of the three families, you know? And that Queen has decided that only black candles can defeat the Grim Reaper」

It is just as you said, the guild master added.

「Unlike in the royal capital, this play is only available in his own store in Landbarn. It’s amazing that he’s been able to improve himself so much there」

Apparently, they were evaluating the Grim Reaper’s dedication and growth.
Even during the truce, the Grim Reaper was not allowed to visit the royal capital. His position was different from that of ordinary citizens.

「And then she won, but there was a little problem」

「A problem?」

Santa Claus nodded at me who repeated his words.

「The Grim Reaper didn’t make any move during the match. They didn’t go as far as saying it was match fixing, but some people said it was a lethargic match」

Apparently, to them, it didn’t look like a contest of strength and skill.
It’s just Plain Queen one sidedly attacking and beat the Grim Reaper. Certainly, this may not be convincing for some people.

「However, this is just my own thought, but…」

While stroking his chin, the petite old man continued.

「Isn’t it possible that the Grim Reaper is just enjoying it?」

「That’s what I thought too」

The guild master and vice-guild master have the same opinion.
I was the one who came up with the idea, but it seems that I was already outpaced by them. Their backs are so far away that I can’t even see them anymore.
I have no intention of catching up with them, though.

「Then I guess time will tell. Once they have a better understanding of 『Sin and Punishment』, they will see that the Grim Reaper did not cut corners」

Santa Claus nodded strongly.

「It was her skill that made the Grim Reaper feel that way. There will come a time when she will be recognized for it」

You think so too, don’t you, Tauro-kun? They asked me, and I nodded immediately.

「But still, to think that she even managed to defeat the Grim Reaper. Just how far did she win?」

Could it be that she had won? As I was thinking about this, Santa Claus resumed his explanation.
Unfortunately, Plain Girl was defeated in the next match, the fourth round.

「Well well, as expected of Lightning」

Santa Claus let out a deep breath of frustration. I almost dropped the teacup in my hand when he said that.

(I see… Since Cool-san received the invitation, it’s not strange Lightning had received it too)

The overall winner and the winner of the men’s division. There are some differences, but they both won the extra prize last year.
Of course they would be invited to compete the following year.

「The first blow of the whip was flicked by his rapier. After that, he charged at her in one go」

What comes to my mind is the image of Lightning match last year. His hands clasped at the back of his head, and the rapier between his legs aimed at his opponent’s eyes and never missed.
Then he rhythmically stepped back and forth.

「She hurriedly pulled back the whip, but he was approaching at the same speed. That thing is impossible to intercept」

I was amazed while the guild master groaned.
I knew how strong his hit and run tactic is, and it reminded me of how fearsome this man is.

「After that, he finished it of in a flash using the lightning sword」

「She couldn’t endure it?」

Santa Claus shrugs his shoulders and sighs at my question.

「No, she couldn’t. She may be an expert in 『Sin and Punishment』, but she herself is not very durable」

Plain-chan was still a member of the three families, even though her defense is low. However, among the other participants of the world tournament, she would inevitably be inferior to them.

「So Lightning became the champion then?」

The Grim Reaper had been defeated, and like Cool-san, Explosive onee-sama was not participating. There were no more notable opponents that I could think of.

(Even though it was a draw last year, he ended up getting injured)

Now that he’s fully healed, he might be able to beat Explosive onee-sama.
She is like a human-shaped gambling machine. If you just keep thrusting, you might get a chance to hit the target, and then there will be a big explosion that would engulf her surroundings.

(A five consecutive thrust type Lightning Sword. If he shoot it rapidly, there’s a good chance he will get a hit)

I’m sure he will be able to trigger it before his durability drops to zero. And If he can dodge her powerful Daishuki Hug and leaps back right away, he’ll be able to stay alive.

「No, Lightning lost in the next round」

「Hou… I guess this is what they meant by “there’s always someone better than oneself” huh」

The guild master crosses his arms and turns his head around. I was surprised too and pulled back from my pleasant memories.

「So? Who defeated him?」

「It was someone who represent the eastern country」

According to the Santa Claus-looking vice-guild master, she was once the country’s leading heroine. She had retired a long time ago and had been working to teach the younger generation.
Now, she’s back on the stage for the first time in decades.

「How should I put this… it’s like Lightning’s movement seemed to have lost its sharpness. That might be a bad analogy, but he seemed to be frightened」

Hearing this, the guild master ponders. After a few moments, he raises his head and looks straight at Santa Claus.

「Was his opponent a tall woman?」

「Yes, it was a tall, muscular old woman」

At that reply, the guild master says “I thought so” while nodding repeatedly.

「I get it now, Lightning’s weakness」

Eventually, he seemed to be convinced and raised his head again.
Me and Santa Claus waited with interest for his next words.

「Lightning’s pressure point… is an old woman」

Our faces meet. The guild master looks at us from above albeit he’s in a rather low position.

「What I’m trying to say is, Lightning prefers mature women, very mature women. She’s a good woman, so it’s understandable that he’s nervous around her」

「Over ripe…」

The guild master nodded deeply at my words.

「To think he have such a good taste, as expected of Lightning」

He looked impressed as he stroked his chin with one hand.
Then he looked up, and this time he turned toward me. His gaze was quite sharp.

「Tauro-kun, you need to learn from him. Aging is an essential and important part of woman’s flavor」

I got lectured.

「I’ll take you with me next time. You can look forward to it」

I let out a single sigh while hiding the fact that my heart was darkening. I shifted my gears and turned my attention back to the vice-guild master.

「And then, is this very mature woman the winner?」

「No, she won the women’s division, but lost in the finals」

It seems that she ran out of energy in the middle of a long and fierce battle.
However, his opponent seemed to still have some leeway, and he continued to enjoy himself until the time was up.

「Stop him!」

The very mature woman pleaded as she scratched her opponent’s back. However, he showed no sign of being bothered and continued to persistently torture her.

「…So there’s still someone better, huh」

His ability to identify the opponent’s limit while holding her off was amazing. But more than that, the mentality of trying to enjoy the very mature woman for a full time was terrifying.

「The world sure is a big place, huh. I’ve fully realized it now」

I nodded deeply at Santa Claus’ words.
I’ve been called a treasure of the royal capital’s red light district, but that’s just the case in the royal capital. The world is still very big.

(All right, let’s go see the world someday. Preferably together with my familiars)

That’s one more thing that I should consult with the knowledgeable long-lived turtle.

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