The Village Chief Conference

Still though, Cid -sama?

You can call me by name, Kehma-dono.

Alright, Ill call you Cid-dono, then. Cid-dono, you dont seem to have a Pavueran accent? It surprised me a bit.

Mm, umu. Im careful to not use the local accent. I had to avoid using it when I went to the Imperial Capitals academy.

Cid folded his arms as he answered a question that had been on my mind.

So thats how it was? Kind of like going to Tokyo and having your regional dialect exposed and feeling embarrassed, huh. I think it sounds kind of nice though.

So whyd you make Draco? And with this timing.

Because of profits. Although it wont be as lucrative as Golen with its dungeon, it was my fathers idea.

Looks like Draco becoming a thing was due to Pavueras lord himself.

A road with guaranteed merchant traffic on their side of the tunnel would definitely be an attractive prospect.

If I were a merchant or something looking to profit, Id definitely have placed a village here too. But Im a Dungeon Master and my only goal is to sleep, so doing that just sounds annoying. Honestly I just hope Cid, who was sort of forced into creating Draco and becoming the Village Chief, has everything work out for him.

As for the timing, wed been preparing it ever since the tunnel appeared. We simply decided to do everything a little ahead of schedule due to your Dragon suppression, Kehma-dono.

That so? Well, theres no reason the Tsuia sides the only side that can make a profit.

Still though, since I was getting DP from the people here in Draco as well, Im pretty sure Ill be coming out way ahead. Uwahahaha and all that.

Incidentally, it seems that Dracos name did indeed come from the Red Dragon living in Tsuia Mountain as for Redra being an existence close to being a guardian deity for this region, well, thats news to me.

Theres something Id like to ask you, though. Why are your attendants wearing masks and maid outfits?

The maid outfits are our inns uniforms. As for the masks well, there are some Pavueran people they dont want to meet.

I didnt really have a reason to hide the reason, so I decided to answer him. I mean, if I kept it a secret, he may have started scrutinizing them.

Hmm could you show me their faces?

Not No. 1, but I guess its fine for No. 2 since you know who she is? Kuro, take off the mask.

Yes, Goshujin-sama.

Meat removed the mask. But that was all. I didnt say to do anything.

Her characteristic black hair, black ears, black tail, and dark brown skin stayed the same. Even her expression waswas well, no different from when the mask was on, I guess?

But the moment Cid saw Meat, his eyes went wide. Was he surprised by something?

Even seeing your face, Kuroinu-dono, all I can see is a woman.

Well

Thats because she is, is what I started to say, but I kind of just remembered that Meat is supposed to be playing the role of Maidences fianc. Given his statement [All I can see is a woman], I figure that Tsuias Lord, Yudence-sama, told Cid that [Meat Kuroinu is a man].

Therefore, I had to choose my words carefully.

Maids are maids.

Maids are maids?

Man, maybe I could just say the whole sex thing honestly? There are magic drugs for that, anyway. I could just buy one for appearances. Theyre sold in that town on the way to the imperial capital, Corky.

But a woman having the name [Meat] just leads to a ton of annoying stuff, so maybe Ill just not bother? Still though, lets stick with the frame of mind that its fine even if he finds out.

I mean, theres no need to care about someones sex, right? Theres a magic drug for that.

A magic drug, huh? I see, thats true

Meat, who was still being stared at by Cid, inclined her head to the side.

Is there something on my face?

Huh? O-Oh, no, you dont! Just your skin is so beautiful.

Of course. I take care of it in our hot spring.

Hot spring, huh? Sounds nice, I want to give it a try. Id love to build a public bath if we had a hot spring here in Draco, too.

Speaking of which, there was a public bath in Pavuera too, huh. I remember Ichika telling me about it ages ago. Pavuera has a bathing culture that doesnt just rely on [Cleanup].

So that means it wouldnt be off for some of them to come to visit an inn just for its hot spring yeah. Theyd definitely feel chilly if they had to walk back through a tunnel after taking a bath.

Sounds like doing that would be troublesome, it might even cause some trouble. I guess having a bath house on top of a hot spring really would be desirable for Draco.

Oh, now thats an idea.

How about I lend you a magic tool I got from the dungeon that can make a hot spring?

What!? Something like that exists?

Hook, line, and sinker.

Looking back toward me, Cids face was entirely serious.

No, I mean what sort of thing is it? Is it something that finds a hot spring? Or is it a magic tool that creates hot water?

Its the type that creates hot water. However, theres a lot of weirdly varied restrictions to it, so I cant be sure itll work here without trying it. We have a natural hot spring, so I havent had to use it.

By the way, the magic tool I was planning to loan him was a customized [Riverhead] placed inside a stone pillar. Although it was expensive at 2,000 DP, Draco was at the level that its income could cover that much in a day.

The thing itself that Id stuck inside it like a trap would only work if it was installed within our dungeons floors, so it would have to be installed within this Draco floor. However, it would be better for me to hide what I was doing by saying it required a special ceremony or something. I could even make keeping the conditions a secret a part of the loans conditions.

And this would be a [Loan]. That part is important.

By taking in the rental fee, Id be able to replace the lost income from people going through the tunnel!

Moreover, since we would be the ones to own it, if there were ever an issue between our two villages, I could always threaten them about taking it back. Kukukuku, I doubt theyll ever kick up a fuss like that. I can sleep safe and sound!

Frightening. So the hero of the Dragon suppression is also a skilled negotiator?

Im not that good at fighting, you know.

Cid smiled wryly. He probably figured out my [Weakness] right away.

It was the same with Maidence. Man, aristocrats children are geniuses.

Also, if in the tiny chance he refuses to give it back, I can just use the dungeon to make it [Fail] and stop the water from coming out. Well be the only ones who know the ceremony to repair it. Its perfect.

How much do you want for it?

Thatll depend. Still though, I dont know fair prices for magic tool rentals. That being the case, I would like to leave those negotiations up to Dyne, the merchant that manages my villages finances. You can pay through him, too.

Pass all the work onto Dyne!

Being able to pass everything onto dependable people is the best thing ever. Dynell even be able to make commission off of it, so its not like hes going to complain. I will spare no expense in making myself live in comfort!

Hes also a friendly guy. I hope we can all get along, Cid-dono.

I will absolutely have you loan it to us. Under a fair price, of course.

The smile Cid had felt like it held some complicated emotions.