It's Troubleso in Many Ways
Platinum rank, "Golden Wind."
Even if you didn't count Leonhart, the leader here, the other guys were showing a strong hostility toward the "Red Wolf Tribe".
I didn't know the reason. You could guess it was simply because we were "barbarians", but honestly, aren't there other tribes besides ours?
So why single out the "Red Wolf Tribe" in particular?
But right now, that wasn't the important part.
"The sales of the Petrification Antidote Potion you listed at the auction aren't doing well, custor."
I got a ssage from the auction.
The sales of the "Petrification Antidote Potion" hadn't reached my expectations.
"Tsk, is it already happening?"
To be honest, I'd sensed this problem coming to so extent.
That the "Petrification Antidote Potion" was being priced higher than before—actually, that didn't matter much.
The minimum requirent for taking this "Lagmor Mountain" commission was "silver rank."
Those kinds of people could fork out a few gold coins even if it felt pricey.
And yet, sales were lacking.
"Maybe it's because there's not enough publicity?"
Miriam tilted her head as she spoke.
"That's a fair point."
Most adventurers use the auction, but I suppose the news that antidote potions were being sold there hadn't spread widely yet.
But was there a way to advertise this?
"Do you have any good ideas?"
I asked Miriam, but judging from her expression, she didn't seem to have one.
Then let's try asking one more thing.
"How long are you planning to follow around?"
Now that we'd reached Iushil, shouldn't we go our separate ways? That's what I was thinking when I asked, but Miriam just wore a superficially pleasant smile.
"We've spent so much ti together! Once you form an attachnt, it's hard for people to just walk away, you know?"
We haven't spent that much ti together, you know.
I looked at Miriam with half-lidded eyes.
"You can be honest, miriam. What are you really after?"
"You seem to have made so money this ti—if I stick around, maybe I can pick up a few crumbs?"
That's... a little too honest.
"It's not wrong to say I've been useful, right? If anyone's been putting themselves out there, it's !"
Miriam said it proudly—and she had a point.
She was the very one who leaked to the Adventurer's Guild that the "Petrification Antidote Potion" went up for auction.
"So I'll just stick around for a bit longer. Co on, we're close, aren't we?"
Since she had actually contributed, I couldn't argue. In fact, her shalessness was almost endearing.
Still, the publicity issue was back on my plate.
"I guess we'll really need to co up with a way to grab people's attention..."
Miriam muttered worriedly.
Grab people's attention... Oh, that reminded of one thod.
"If a famous person got involved, sales would pick up."
"Huh? Well, yeah, obviously."
So-called influencer marketing.
"But who would that be?"
To Miriam's question, I answered.
A very famous adventurer party.
One of the rare "platinum ranks."
They'd taken the "Lagmor Mountain" commission.
And they needed Petrification Antidote Potions.
"There's really soone that perfect?"
There is, actually.
"Then let's do it right away!"
"As you say, miriam."
"Huh?"
I put my hand on her shoulder. Miriam looked startled, her pupils shaking.
"I'll leave it to you."
A lot of those people didn't seem to like .
* * *
"You're saying you want to provide us with Petrification Antidote Potions?"
Roml, a mber of "Golden Wind," frowned as he looked at Miriam, who had suddenly brought them such an advantageous proposal.
Getting sothing sweet for nothing was unheard of.
"What's the catch?"
So asking for a reason was only natural.
Adventurer or not, even as a "platinum rank," you're never free from 'contracts.'
If you get yourself tangled in a strange deal, it can beco a pain.
"It's nothing special. All you need to do is make a post on the Golden Wind's forum."
"A post?"
"Yes!"
Miriam smiled brightly. Her smile was enough to break through anyone's psychological defenses, but Roml saw through it.
A business smile. This woman was wearing a mask—well, of course she was; this was their first encounter.
"Just post about the Petrification Antidote Potion that's being sold on the auction! That's all you have to do."
"Ha."
Roml let out a hollow laugh at how ridiculous it sounded.
"You're shifting the bla for hoarding the Petrification Antidote Potion onto us, aren't you?"
It was clear why Miriam had co here.
The dungeon associated with "Lagmor Mountain" had a close connection with petrification.
So, of course, adventurers needed Petrification Antidote Potions. But now, soone had already hoarded all of Iushil's potions.
Whether that was just a coincidence...
Or if the Adventurer's Guild had leaked word, who knows.
"Of course not."
Miriam still smiled, hiding nothing.
"Even if that were true, is it really important right now?"
Her voice felt like it was squeezing him tight.
"Golden Wind" had taken the Lagmor Mountain commission, desperately needed the antidote, and here was soone offering it.
Roml started to get a headache from her irrefutable logic.
He looked toward Leonhart, who seed to bow his head in apology.
"Isn't that enough?"
Sss...
Roml took a breath and looked at his teammates.
If they had money, they could just buy from the auction.
But—
"How much cash does everyone have right now?"
"I left it on the adventurer party debit card."
" too."
Everyone who replied shifted their gaze to Leonhart.
The fancy accessories that always covered his body—all those ca from the "debit card."
But currently Leonhart wasn't wearing any equipnt.
"Where'd all your gear go?"
Smiling at Roml's question, leonhart replied, "Hehe."
"Where is it?"
"It got taken."
Where did it get taken?
He explained, but it didn't seem recoverable.
"I went to buy Petrification Antidote Potions... and got beaten up and robbed by other adventurers."
Roml put a hand to his forehead, his headache refusing to subside.
He'd thought he could always make more money—this happened because no one saved up.
"We really should've been more frugal."
"Leonhart, I want to kill you right now, but I'm barely holding back."
"Mhm."
At Roml's biting remark, leonhart covered his own mouth.
Well, there's no helping it.
Roml turned his attention back to Miriam.
"Fine, we'll cooperate."
* * *
Later that day, after Miriam finished her talk with "Golden Wind."
I got another ssage from the auction.
Petrification Antidote Potions.
All stock sold out.
I couldn't hide my smile.
I now held 400 gold coins—not sothing I could just carry around in my pocket.
I unfolded the pouch of gold coins across the bed in my room at the inn.
With this, couldn't I just live the rest of my life in leisure?
"Hehehe."
I chuckled as I gazed at the pile of gold. Miriam stood beside , laughing as well.
It was the kind of laugh that asked, "Don't I get a share?"
Ten gold coins.
When I handed her that, miriam's face twisted in visible outrage.
"This isn't right! I basically handled the entire marketing side!"
"These are my goods, my money."
"No! I put in my effort—so it's our money!"
What do you an, "our" money?
With my own information,
spending my entire fortune,
these are the gold coins I earned.
Handing her ten was already generous. I'd essentially given her double what she got paid in Odheim.
"Uwaaaaah!"
Miriam started to wail. What the heck?
"I've been cheated! Cheated, I tell you!"
Suddenly, she flopped onto her back and started throwing a tantrum.
Is she out of her mind? Was she always like this?
Uwaaaah!
I glared at her in disbelief, but she didn't change.
"Brother, what's going on!"
Suddenly, Barkal threw open the door, probably attracted by the commotion. When he entered, miriam quickly pulled herself together.
"Huh!?"
Barkal frowned, glancing between the bag of coins in my hand and Miriam, coming to his own conclusion.
"You little rat! Were you trying to steal from my brother's fortune?"
"It's a misunderstanding, Barkal big bro!"
"The truth will be revealed by my axe! Cry, Erindal! Reveal what's real!"
"Aaaah!"
Red eyes flashed through his skull helt. Sensing Barkal's seriousness, I quickly cald him down.
Miriam wasn't actually stealing.
And if the uproar got worse, Hordi would show up.
After I said that, Barkal nodded.
"Ugh, uhh..."
In the end, miriam left the room. If I didn't have to give her any extra, I ought to thank Barkal.
"Brother, there's sothing I need to discuss."
Before I could thank him, Barkal spoke first.
"I'm listening."
"Mhm."
Like he was struggling, Barkal hesitated for a mont.
A brief silence.
I waited, and he finally spoke.
"It's about the priest."
The priest?
That guy, rugar or whatever his na was?
The one who requested our assassination from the Disguiser.
"I know the priest dislikes you, but this ti, what he did cannot be tolerated by any mber of the Red Wolf Tribe."
"You an the assassination request?"
"That's right, brother."
Then he paused for a mont and spoke.
"I will return to the Red Wolf Tribe. There, I will expose the priest's cris."
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