Kays Translations

Chapter 107: Money Lover

Lutz and his companions finally returned to the fortress city from the labyrinth. Gerhardt and Ricardo were utterly exhausted.

It was late at night, and the city gates were firmly closed. Some people were forced to camp out in the surroundings. Although it was akin to inviting thieves by camping outside in this era, it was somewhat reassuring to be near the city gates.

When Gerhardt called out at the gate, a familiar gatekeeper who was on duty opened the entrance for them.

Lutz and Ricardo couldn’t help but be impressed, thinking that it was no wonder this place was close to the count’s inner circle.

Upon entering the city, the three of them exchanged a casual wave and bid each other farewell.

“Well then.”

“Yeah.”

“Mm.”

That was it. They had no energy left to discuss what they would do from now on.

When Lutz returned to his workshop, he found Claudia waiting for him with a soap in her hand, grinning mischievously. A basin was prepared, and water had already been filled.

“Lutz-kun, it’s time for laundry.”

“Ah, well, I’m really tired, so maybe tomorrow…?”

“Do you intend to let your bed be permeated with a foul smell? As the one who protects the house, I can’t allow that.”

“Ah, yes…”

“You can sleep in the basin if you want. I’ll wash it for you here.”

Lutz, fully aware of how smelly he was, couldn’t defy Claudia’s words. It was definitely unpleasant to have the smell of rotting flesh and excrement transfer to the bed.

It was a thorough washing, and Claudia skillfully covered Lutz in foam. Baths were always like this. It might be troublesome before getting in, but there would be no regrets once inside. It was also pleasant to have one’s whole body thoroughly washed by a beautiful woman’s delicate fingers.

“So, did you grasp any hints for creating a famous sword?”

Claudia asked while vigorously washing Lutz’s hair.

Originally, it wasn’t Lutz’s job to investigate the anomaly in the labyrinth. He went along because he couldn’t refuse his friend Ricardo’s request, hoping to discover something new amidst their serious battles.

“Killing each other is not a good thing.”

“You’re realizing that now?”

“I understood it in my head, but actually experiencing it is a different story.”

Splash! Lutz had water poured over his head. The floor was already completely soaked.

“It’s not good, but there are times when we have to fight even knowing that. What I should aim for is the power to resist injustice.”

Lutz turned towards Claudia and nodded firmly. Immediately after,

“Achoo!”

He turned his face away and let out a big sneeze. He tried to act cool, but he was completely naked.

“For now, what you need is not a sword, but a towel and underwear, right?”

“No doubt about it.”

Sniffing his runny nose, Lutz and Claudia laughed together.

Finally, he felt the sense of being back home.

Meanwhile, Count Maximilian Zander received Gerhardt’s report in his private chamber. He had been sent to the duchy he had dealings with to assist in the trade with the Allied Nations but was immediately called back.

The report covered the fact that the Tubris Trading Company had sold gems that turned into eyeballs, the appearance of a mysterious temple deep within the labyrinth, and the expansion of the labyrinth itself, which was much larger than forty years ago. Each and every report displeased Maximilian.

However, he couldn’t take it out on Gerhardt here. If he vented his frustration by saying “Get out” or “Be put under house arrest,” the man would gleefully respond. “I’ll go back to being a mere curse magician,” he would say.

It was rare to have a servant who would conduct a proper investigation and provide accurate reports. Regardless of how unpleasant the reports were, accepting them and devising countermeasures was the duty of the head of the family.

“…I know your intentions. I won’t let you escape, you old bastard.”

Maximilian let out a deep sigh. No matter how many problems there were, he just had to solve them one by one.

“First, regarding the matter of the gems turning into eyeballs. Although our Zander Count family won’t be directly blamed, our reputation has undoubtedly been tarnished.”

“We have sent Tubris’s head to the square and put up a sign detailing their crimes.”

“They are criminals who came from within our territory. It’s hard to believe they have no connection. It seems that every time people remember the woman who wore the eyeball necklace, they start convulsing.”

“How about if we send Tubris’s head and say that everything is fine now?”

“In common terms, that’s called declaring war.”

“I thought satisfying their desire for revenge would be the best remedy…”

“It’s terrifying how our values occasionally differ, isn’t it?”

Maximilian waved his hand, signaling that this matter was enough. Even if the reputation among the nobles fluctuated, it was somewhat inevitable.

“Next, uh, what was it? The labyrinth is expanding, a temple has appeared, and there was a cursed jar. What will happen if we leave it alone?”

“I don’t know. However, perhaps we shouldn’t take our eyes off it.”

“I see. But who will conduct the investigation? Both you and Lutz have your own tasks. Brave Ricardo, in the first place, is responsible for exterminating the monsters that appear within our territory. It’s not feasible to have him sticking to the labyrinth.”

“Let’s leave it to the adventurers. We can provide them with financial assistance and support their activities.”

“In return, we expect them to share any information they gather.”

“Yes. In that case, we could call it a ‘Let’s Dive into the Labyrinth’ campaign.”

“…It’s straightforward, but couldn’t you think of something else?”

“Is that not good?”

“I suppose I can’t blame you for that.”

Maximilian sighed, creaking the backrest of his chair, as he looked up at the ceiling. There was no one there to blame except himself.

“Your Excellency…?”

“No, it’s alright, Gerhardt. I have no intention of abandoning my responsibilities as the head of the family. Tell me what we should do next. I don’t know where to start anymore.”

Gerhardt contemplated in silence. To be honest, even he found it troublesome to be told that.

“…First, regarding the labyrinth, it’s not something that needs immediate action. We should observe the situation for now.”

“I see.”

“Let’s start by fixing our finances. If we have money, we can solve most of the problems.”

Gerhardt’s choice of words became increasingly casual. Maximilian had no room to reprimand him.

“Kick the blacksmiths in the city and get them into a production system for swords of decent quality as soon as possible.”

“What about the damage to the sword’s reputation? Making them and leaving them unsold won’t do.”

“As for that, well, there are options, but…”

“What is it? Speak.”

Gerhardt hesitated to answer, but even though he knew it would cause trouble, he couldn’t remain silent.

With a forced smile, he said, “How about presenting it to a nobleman or the Pope?”

“Not bad. So, who should we give it to?”

This would cause a headache. It would definitely cause a headache. However, he couldn’t avoid saying it, even though he knew what trouble it would cause.

With a stretched smile, Gerhardt spoke. He was already halfway desperate.

“How about the King or the Pope? Which one do you prefer?”

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