Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 427: Verbal Agreement
After returning to the empty house being used as their lodging, Black-Gold Wings began discussing whether to accept Gaze’s request.
“I’d like to hear everyone’s opinion.”
As he spoke, Tauro removed paper, a brush, and ink from [Magic Storage] and began writing.
“Personally, the offer makes me uneasy. Five times the normal guild reward is almost too generous.”
(This house is being monitored by villagers with an eavesdropping ability. We’ll hold the real discussion in writing. Pass this around and add your thoughts.)
Tauro placed the warning on the table.
“Five times the reward is certainly tempting,” Ankh said aloud, “but if the guild learns about it, we could be demoted or sentenced to months of menial requests.”
(Eavesdropping? I had no idea anyone here possessed that kind of ability.)
He added his written response.
“That’s true,” Ragune said. “I’d rather not be demoted or punished. Still, if neither we nor the client speaks of it, how would the guild discover the arrangement?”
(What do you want to do, Tauro? Do you intend to accept so that we can learn what Gaze is planning?)
“I’ll follow Tauro-sama’s decision!”
(I’ll follow Tauro-sama’s decision!)
Zion was still improving her reading and writing, but she carefully copied the same answer onto the paper.
You said exactly the same thing aloud. You didn’t need to write it too.
The other three silently shared the thought.
“There’s a risk,” Tauro continued aloud, “but plenty of adventurers accept private work for extra money. If everyone involved remains silent, discovery is unlikely.”
(If we refuse, Gaze will simply hire someone else. Then we’ll have no way to learn what they intend to do at the unveiling.)
“The stakes are high, but the reward may justify them,” Ankh replied.
(It’s dangerous, but we should investigate and report everything to Count Graunewald.)
“I’m not enthusiastic about it,” Ragune said, “but I’ll leave the final decision to you.”
(Going undercover may reveal the truth, but if anything happens to any of you because of this, I’ll regret agreeing for the rest of my life… Damn it, kill me!)
That last part really is just one of her habits.
Tauro resisted the urge to comment.
“Then everyone is in agreement? I’m fine with accepting as well!” Zion declared.
(If danger comes, Pella and I’ll give our lives to protect Tauro-sama… Damn it, I’ll live!)
Zion, please don’t imitate Ragune’s strange habits.
Tauro kept that retort to himself as well.
“Very well. I’ll inform the village chief that we have agreed to accept.”
Their real decision was clear: they would take the assignment in order to uncover Gaze’s intentions and warn Count Graunewald.
Tauro returned to the chief’s house.
Gaze greeted him with a broad smile. He had probably already received a report from the person who had overheard the spoken conversation.
“Well? Are you willing to take the job?”
“Yes, but I have one condition.”
“A condition?”
Gaze glanced sharply at a villager beside him, as though demanding, Why was I not told about this?
So that’s the eavesdropper.
Tauro recognized her as the wife from the middle-aged couple living next door to Cross and Haku.
“I can’t accept a request this serious without knowing more about its purpose. Whatever you reveal will remain confidential. But if I’m expected to investigate, I must understand enough to distinguish useful information from irrelevant details.”
Tauro immediately began negotiating for the truth.
“The fivefold reward reflects those circumstances. For now, I can tell you what I need regarding the important gathering in the capital. I want to know the scale and arrangement of its security, and whether there’s any route by which more than one person from our side could enter.”
“I understand what information you want, but I still know nothing about what you intend to do with it. I won’t allow my party to become involved blindly. This is a question of trust. If you refuse to trust us, we can’t confidently hand information over to you.”
“Hmm…”
Gaze looked toward the woman who had been listening, then continued with a sour expression.
“You should understand that those gathered here act in the name of justice. We don’t intend evil. There’s risk involved, but if the information you provide satisfies us, I’ll add a success payment. I’ll reveal our true purpose when I pay the reward. Deliver the information no later than one week before the gathering.”
“Very well. I’d normally insist on a written contract, but carrying physical proof of an arrangement this sensitive seems dangerous. Shall we proceed through a verbal agreement based on mutual trust?”
Tauro’s true reason for avoiding a contract was to prevent Gaze from binding the party to every stage of the plan. The contents of a formal agreement might restrict how they could respond once the truth emerged.
“…That’s acceptable. No written contract.”
After a long silence, Gaze agreed.
From his perspective, he could judge whether Tauro’s information was accurate before paying. Because he still withheld the operation’s purpose, he may also have believed that Tauro had nothing concrete to betray—and that the party could be dealt with before learning enough to become a threat.
At first glance, the absence of a contract appeared to favor Gaze.
Tauro believed it protected Black-Gold Wings.
Each side convinced itself that it had secured the advantage, and they sealed the verbal agreement with a handshake.