Chapter 570 – Along the Same Road, Continued

On the fourth night after leaving the city of Swen.

Among the adventurers and soldiers of the ancient-ruins expedition camping on their way toward the Antas Mountain Range, Tauro and his party had become an extremely welcome presence.

They offered delicious food at low prices, sold useful camping items, set up large numbers of easy-to-use temporary toilets, and even provided magical [Purification] services for those who wanted a substitute for bathing. Since these services prevented trouble for the villages and towns they passed through, they were greatly appreciated.

As intended, the popularity of Tauro’s party, the “Black-Gold Wings,” skyrocketed. Compared with the earlier days when they were known in a strange way because of the impostor team, their reputation had become overwhelmingly positive.

“He’s a fifteen-year-old honorary viscount, so I figured he’d be some arrogant brat—but he doesn’t put on airs. Seems like a team I can respect as top-tier adventurers.”

“And they’ve got beauties too!”

“Right? I can’t get over Ragune-san’s incredible figure!”

“I prefer the classic beauty Aeris.”

“You men are hopeless! I feel refreshed every time Zion uses [Purification].”

“I think their leader Tauro is the amazing one. He’s got [Magic Storage], controls those puppets like his own limbs, and he’s the genius behind all those magical tools, right? He’d make the perfect future husband!”

“Women only care about money, huh?!”

And so, their reputation only continued to improve.

“…No one’s mentioning me, though?” Ankh muttered sulkily.

He was helping Tauro cook and grumbled to Seth—the child-type autonomous-thinking puppet Tauro had created, who had also been taken out of [Magic Storage] to assist.

Seth gently patted Ankh on the back as if to comfort him.

“…Thanks, Seth…”

Ankh found himself soothed by the kindness of the autonomous-thinking puppet.

“What are you two doing sulking over there? Ankh, aren’t you giving combat advice to younger adventurers during the day? They look up to you,” Aeris pointed out with an exasperated expression.

“…They do!? Well, I do have plenty of real combat experience, so I’ve been giving them pointers… but they look up to me, huh? I see, I see! Seth, let’s get back to peeling ingredients!”

Revitalized by Aeris’s words, Ankh handed Seth a knife and resumed peeling potatoes.

“Hehe, Ankh’s easy to please. Tauro, the croquettes over here are ready.”

“Thanks! These are ready too—let’s start tonight’s sales. Sorry to keep you waiting! Tonight’s special is a croquette set meal! Salad and soup included for six copper coins. Large rice portions or refills are one copper. Extra croquettes are one copper each!”

The moment Tauro called out, adventurers and soldiers rushed forward.

“I’ll take one croquette set—with a large rice and two extra croquettes!”

“Same here—one for each of us!”

“Hey, line up properly!”

“I want that yakiniku sauce poured over my rice!”

As usual, the crowd didn’t hesitate to hand over their coins for Tauro’s ever-innovative dishes.

In just a few days, they had earned that much trust.

Tauro and the others continued serving food at a rapid pace. The scene resembled a battlefield for a while, but eventually things calmed down.

That was when a group that appeared to be high-ranking members of the expedition team approached.

“Are you the merchants who’ve been making pocket change off the adventurers we hired?” asked a bureaucratic-looking man with glasses, apparently their representative.

“We’ve simply been doing business since our route crossed for part of the journey. And you are?” Tauro replied calmly.

“I’m Negame, acting as Count Swen’s representative and overseeing this ancient-ruins expedition. You can’t simply do as you please. I can no longer overlook this. If you intend to continue, then thirty percent—no, forty percent—of your profits must be paid to us.”

The man named Negame bluntly demanded money from Tauro. 

“In that case, rest assured. Our routes diverge starting tomorrow, so tonight will be the last day.”

“Wha—! Then pay for what you’ve earned so far!”

Seeing Tauro and the others as a convenient source of money, Negame had expected them to keep doing business. When Tauro withdrew so readily, he hurriedly demanded a share of what they had earned so far.

“…There was no such agreement until now, was there? It’s unreasonable to demand payment retroactively, isn’t it?”

Tauro flatly rejected Negame’s demand.

“You attached yourselves to our expedition like parasites, and thanks to that, you’ve been able to travel safely without fear of monsters along the way. It’s only proper that you compensate us for that!”

“Safety? For the past few days, our barrier specialist has been protecting the camping groups with defensive barriers. And we installed temporary toilets so as not to cause trouble to the villages and towns along the way. Shouldn’t those responsibilities fall under the expedition leader? There must be a budget allocated for such matters, correct?”

Tauro had heard complaints from adventurers along the way and now voiced them plainly.

He suspected Negame was hoarding the allocated funds under the guise of frugality. Tauro glared at him.

“—! We’re about to venture deep into the Antas Mountain Range for many days to secure a safe path to the ruins! Do you have any idea how much that will cost? We can’t afford to waste even a single copper coin! Don’t call me a miser!”

It seemed Tauro had struck a nerve—Negame flared up angrily.

“Now that we understand each other’s circumstances, shall we leave it at that?”

Tauro remained calm as he responded to the agitated Negame.

He had even considered briefly using his [Intimidation] ability—but decided against it.

“—…Don’t ever attempt such a stunt again,” Negame growled, unable to push further against Tauro’s composed demeanour.

“Good night, then.”

At Tauro’s curt farewell, Negame stormed off with his soldiers and returned to his lodgings in visible frustration.