Chapter 78

Chapter 78: That time when we had a negotiation and the heros report

TL: kizen

ED: Filip/Gecko

I welcomed my long-awaited craftsmen to the island .

There were no particular problems with the carpenters, mason, and woodworker but the blacksmith needed a dedicated facility for him to be able to work .

The fuel isnt a problem and I already have the tools I need but I wont be able to do anything without a furnace

Because of that, I immediately assembled a furnace in the hut that was hurriedly constructed in the industrial district .

Ill fix your tools first

Thats what I was told but the only thing that needs fixing is my machete .

This is the only one I have that needs to be fixed

I brought over my machete and showed it to him .

The things beaten up . The blades been chipped all over the place, and its been sharpened down to nothing . Ill have to reforge it again and polish it up

Ill leave it to you

I said that as I left him to do his work .

He started up the furnace, heated the blade part of the machete, used his hammer to remove all the imperfections, then polished it .

Thank you

Dont worry about it . Just give me the tools that need fixing

After saying that, he went back to working on the other tools he was entrusted with . I guess its fine to leave him be . Even the other craftsmen were doing their jobs without any problems so I can go back to my work .

Im thinking of extending the road to the western part of the island . That way, we can easily access the coffee trees . We can also gain access to the olives that are nearby to the south . The only question is whether the road should go along the coastline or through the center of the island .

Considering that cutting through trees and removing the roots would take time, it would probably be easier to just lift the soil along the shore to create a path . Theres also that strange cocoon in the southeast part of the island but I hope well be able to find some while were exploring the southwestern area .

The estimated circumference of the island is about 150 kilometers . Even if we divide the island into four, its still going to be around 40 kilometers away . If I go at a pace of 5 kilometers each day, it would take 8 days to get to the south . It would take even longer to make it go west . Theres nobody else who can do this other than me . This will be a lonely struggle, wont it?

The next day, I told everyone that Ill be moving alone for a while to build a road to harvest the coffee thats at the western part of the island .

Instead of having the islanders farm the coffee, we could just keep giving rabbit meat to the harpies but well eventually need to make this road . Thats why it would be better to start building it early . I dont need accurate surveying since it would already be enough just to have a passable road there with our current circumstances . Our population wont increase yet anyway . It cant be helped if it increases but I wont purposely do it yet since we still have food problems . If it looks like there wont be any problems based on this years harvest, well try to increase it .

When building the road, I picked out the flattest area I could . Even if I needed to make a curve, I purposely do it where itll just be a gentle one .

I kept an eye for places that I needed to clear out and made sure that I was at least 10 meters inland, away from where the dirt and sand meet . I raised the soil at regular intervals while marking where the roads shoulder should be . I also leveled the uneven surfaces and removed the large stones . This should be good enough for now .

Huh? It wont need to be maintained that much you know? The only thing that will need to be maintained is the cobble paving once I add it . Just driving stakes on the ground and connecting them with ropes would be enough . I didnt really pay attention when I was exploring but Ill be able to finish quickly if its just this much .

I dont need to worry about the elevation difference, or how Ill lose a couple of centimeters a kilometer away because the angle is off after all . If I needed to do accurate surveying, I would have needed to pay attention to those things as well .

Apart from that, we still have the problem of how to transport the harvest .

Should we buy a horse and use it for transport or just harvest the coffee then use transfer magic to transport it once a certain amount has accumulated? Either way, well need quite a lot of personnel no matter which choice we go with so we should also consider negotiating a long-term deal with the harpies . It would be great if we could negotiate using meat, wheat, fish, or potatoes but Well, its pointless if its just me speculating so Ill go and negotiate with Chiarore-san .

A few days later, I walked all the way to the south of the island but there wasnt a place in particular that caught my attention . Unless I was feeling sleepy, I continued to lay out the road so I was able to finish the road to the south . While I was at it, I decided to raise the soil a bit at the area that I deemed to be the southernmost point of the island as a landmark . Its really great to be able to do this earlier than I had planned . I should continue to finish up the rest of the road at this rate .

I transferred to the hot spring in the mountain while carrying a deer that I had hunted in the morning .

I completed the preliminary inspection of the road that the carriage will travel through to the east so I was on my way to negotiate the collection of the coffee fruit with a gift in hand .

Whats up, Caam? Whats with the meat?

Facile must have seen me holding a deer so she approached me .

I have something to ask of your father so I brought this along as a gift

Youre bringing meat!? Thats the same one we ate a long time ago right?

Thats right . So, is your father around?

Well, he probably is . They dont hunt more than what they need for the day so I can only imagine that hes flying around somewhere .

He is~ . Want me to call him?

I want to have a proper conversation with him so you dont have to ask him to come . Just go home first and let him know Im coming

Got it

After saying that, she immediately flew away .

Well, from what I could see, their houses are just a pile of branches so its not really that different from where I am . It should be the one close to where Facile dropped stones at me right? Now that I think about it, I should have asked for directions . My bad, I didnt think about that .

In the meantime, I just went to the place where their nests were and waited for Chiarore-san .

Oh, its the Demon Lord . What brings you here?

I already introduced myself before, didnt I? Did you forget perhaps?

Hello . I came because I have something I want to discuss . But first, here is a gift

I appreciate it

After saying that, we dropped off the meat at their storage place before I continued .

Its about the red fruit we talked about a while back but

Wait

He stopped me in the middle of my sentence .

Is this going to be long? If it is then do me a favor and summarize it

okay

I contemplated for a while and decided to just go with the main points .

That red fruit has become essential for us . Our village is located on the opposite side of the island so I want you guys to harvest it in our stead . If you do that, well exchange it for meat

How much do you need?

Were not sure yet but for the meantime, well just get 5 sacks that are the same size as last time

Is that all you need?

Yes . We still have a lot left from last time after all

Since one sack is 30 kilos, if we have 5 sacks, it will be enough until it becomes popular in that town .

It would be great if a merchant wants to buy it but Im still worried about how popular it will be or if people will like it . Well manage somehow if we run out of supply but with this, Ill be able to tell the lady from the town guard that well be able to proceed earlier than planned .

I want Chiarore-san and the others to have enough to eat though . Will everything be alright?

Dont worry about that . We have quite a large supply . And besides, we dont need a lot . Taking a hundred or two of those sacks wont cause us any problems

Thank you . However, Im still not sure if any would get sold . And besides, I would feel bad for having you transport it to us all the time so lets negotiate again once we need more

Do you really need that much!?

We might actually need a hundred or two you know? Its something thats only available on this island as of this moment after all . Because of that, once we need a hundred sacks of the stuff, well build a hut near the forest that were going to use as storage . That way, well be able to use wagons to transport them

Muu . If that happens, well run out of food once theres no more meat

Im also keeping that in mind . Well make a separate fenced area thats reserved for your consumption . We will also continue to trade your excess supply for meat . It will be fine if we do it that way

As expected of someone who became a Demon Lord . Youre pretty smart

Hmm . Im conflicted when people call me smart for saying something pretty normal .

Were breeding rabbits and pigs at the moment so once their numbers increase, we can use them to trade for that red fruit . Well use the meat we get from the livestock in exchange for the fruit that you harvest . Is that alright?

Sure

That was quick . You should probably think about this a bit more you know?

Then, how about we go with the rate of 1 sack for half its weight in meat?

Ill leave it to you

You answered too quickly again .

Uhm, since Chiarore-sans tribes food is connected to your survival, are you sure you dont want to think about it some more?

I dont think youre a bad guy so I trust you . You brought meat just to talk with me after all . Based on the rate you said, the meat you brought is worth about 3 sacks, right? If thats the case then I have no complaints . Also, Ive heard from my people that you are raising pigs and rabbits for eating so there will be plenty of prey left in the forest for us to hunt . Thats why we dont have to worry about the red fruit being taken . If we get betrayed, well get betrayed so whats there to think about?

After saying that, he started laughing as he flapped his wings .

Everyone says Im completely naive and kind but what will you do if I actually do betray you? Well, since they can fly over this vast island, we can get them to help us transport light objects or have them carry our letters in the future . Thats why its a good idea for us to maintain our friendly relationship .

I see . Then well go with six sacks instead of five . In exchange, Ill give you another similar-sized deer

Umu . Its better for us to get the whole thing so that would be great . Everyones preference differs depending on the part so if there are enough legs and body parts to go around, there wont be any quarrels or fights

Well, Ill leave it to you

Umu, alright . Forgive me but you should write down what we just discussed . It would be bad if I forgot after all

I was already thinking of doing that . If what was promised has been written down on paper, well be able to avoid problems later on

Its just a contract but hell probably understand it better if I call it a promise . I wrote the contents of our discussion on a piece of paper, signed it, then gave it to him .

The contents are simple .

When Caam asks for the red fruit, bring it to him and he will exchange it with meat equivalent to half of the weight of what was brought .

Secure a place in the forest where the harpies will get the red fruit for their food supply that wont be touched .

If the situation changes or theres something you are not sure about, immediately ask Caam .

I also wrote on another paper our exchange of six sacks of the red fruit for 2 deer . This much should probably be enough .

As I thought of that, Ryuze-san brought us some tea . To be honest, I didnt think they had a custom of drinking tea . I dont even know where their kitchen is in this place .

Thank you

Its fine . You were talking about work after all

It certainly was about work but I didnt think our conversation would take so long that well need refreshments . Well, she went through the effort to make this so I guess Ill just drink it .

Ugh! Bitter

A bitterness that was on a different level from tea and coffee spread in my mouth . I think it probably is also acidic and has a harsh taste . 1

Hahaha . Its going to be bitter unless youre used to drinking it . I hated it too when I was a kid . Its made by boiling short branches

It reminds me of the senburi tea and megusuri tea that my grandparents drank . It was boiled using those small Nanbu teapots . Considering that theyre a tribe that mainly eats meat, I think they drink this to make up for the other nutrients they need . While thinking that, I drank the rest of the tea while enduring its taste with a smile . 2

The Heros Report

Ten days after they parted ways with Caam in Corundum

Its a pain but Im going to the castle . Caam-san told me he doesnt mind how I do it so Ill give them a proper report

Even if he said that, hes our benefactor so shouldnt we help him out?

I was already thinking of doing that . Ill try to choose my words so that it would be favorable for him

Alright . It would be great if I could go with you though

Only heroes or more like the people taken against their will, can meet with them so it cant be helped

Dont look so gloomy . Like what that guy said, if anything happens, you can just go back to that island . Although I cant really tell you not to worry, its fine for you to rely on us too

Thats right . Lets have fun drinking like before

Thanks . Im off

I went to the castle and was immediately let through when I said that I was there to talk about what happened to the Demon Lord . After waiting for about 5 minutes, the important-looking old man came out .

Lets hear your report

Hes completely become the princess and the kings representative when it comes to these things .

Regarding the rumors about a Demon Lord in the island, there were demonkin there, but there was no Demon Lord

I see . Go on

We asked all of the demonkin to cooperate and searched them for the Demon Lords sigil but we didnt find it . In addition to that, humans were living there and they were developing the island together with demonkin . It was the demonkin who were leading the development but they werent oppressive and everyone got along well3

I see . Its unacceptable for the demonkin to be taking command but its great that there was no Demon Lord . The quest was to defeat the Demon Lord but since there wasnt one in the first place, we wont reward you . Are you fine with that?

Yes

Then, I shall retire4

After saying that, the old man was about to go back inside but I stopped him .

One moment please . I would like you to listen to my request

What is it? If its not something within my scope of responsibility, it will take five days to get a reply . Is that fine?

I dont mind

Then go ahead

Im thinking of honing my skills so I would like to take a break from taking Demon Lord subjugation quests . To that end, would it be alright if my comrades and I travel around the continent for a while?

In that case, the monetary allowance the kingdom provides you will be temporarily halted . Is that fine?

Yes

Then lets end this meeting . Report to me when you get back

After saying that, he was finally able to go back inside .

It was already evening by the time I was done so I went to the crowded tavern we frequented .

The princess didnt show up again . Whats even the point?

Watch what you say, you dont know whos listening . Rock might be fine but the rest of us are expendable

Thats right

My bad, my bad

So, how was it?

Everyone stopped drinking and waited for me to speak . Because of that, I told them about my conversation with the old man .

I see . It would certainly cause all sorts of problems if they just let the summoned heroes play around

But I told them I want to improve my skills you know? That reason should be more than enough . Im not sure though

Still, there are other heroes so they might think youre lacking since you want to improve your skills

You think so? Instead of having them compete with each other, I think the reason they have a lot of heroes is so that they can send them to all sorts of places to defeat strong Demon Lords . Thats why a newbie like Rock keeps getting asked to subjugate Demon Lords even though there are stronger senior heroes

You have a point . They can use them for diplomacy as well . I dont really understand how the higher-ups think

Well, thats not something we should be worrying about . Oi, Rock . Start drinking already!

Ah, thats right . Excuse me! Mead please

Thats really the only thing you drink, isnt it?

I cant help it since the others are hard to drink . And besides, you know Im not a great drinker

Yep . Just two beers are enough for you to get wasted after all

Thats right . Thats why I drink a little at a time

So, what are we toasting for?

Ah . How about for we have a toast for the start of our journey?

Lets go with that

Cheers!