Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: "I Shall Make This My Castle!"
Gokigenyou. I am Violia Nico Fortesia.
I have now safely finished my first job and made a triumphant return.
Well, the return destination is underground, and the only one to praise our work is Giovan.
...However, this moment of lining up the spoils of war on the table! It makes my heart dance!
"Awesome! This is great! The inside of the bag is all gold! It's the best! Right! Hey!"
The drug addict Chesta is, as expected, a bit crazy in the head. He is cackling like mad. But well, it is much better than last time. Likely because there was almost no combat this time.
"If he had hidden this much fortune, he should have just paid our reward."
"Indeed. Honestly, this is why third-rate nobles are..."
Looking at the large amount of gold, silver, jewels lined up on the table, and the vases and tableware placed on the floor because they could not fit on the table... and above all, the mountain of hidden fortune I found in the back of the wine cellar, Doran has a complicated face. I suppose whether one pays just because they have money depends on their character and reason.
"Now then, about the division..."
"Doran. Wait a sec."
Just as we were about to start dividing the massive treasure, Giovan stepped in to stop us. What is with this skeleton man?
"Before the division, I want to ask about that guard the young lady fought."
I felt like he was throwing cold water on the division, but when Giovan turned those serious eyes toward me, I had no choice but to prioritize this.
"Young lady. What kind of person was that?"
I searched my memory to explain.
"Let's see, it was a small magic user who used lightning magic and throwing knives, but..."
While answering that... I remembered the look of surprise deep inside the hood at the very last moment.
"They had a quite lovely face."
"Love...?"
"Likely that was a woman! There is no way such a lovely man could exist!"
Lital Pia Esclan suddenly came to mind... that noble boy I had taken dragon hunting... but there is no way people like that are just lying around! In other words! That guard I met! It was definitely a girl!
"Heh. A beautiful girl guard, huh... well, whatever!"
Giovan plopped back into the sofa and glared into the void with a displeased face.
"What I don't like is that no such info came to me at all. To think that bastard Castane hired a guard."
"It's not certain that the guard was from the underworld. If he hired a guard from the surface world, it's no wonder you didn't know."
"Nooo. That was definitely someone from the underworld! Think about it, Doran! If he'd hired people from the surface, that bastard Castane would've been more dignified! In that case, it'd be even stranger if info didn't come to me. So that person is from the underworld. No doubt. No doubt about it, but... ah, damn it."
Giovan rarely raised his voice like that, and he groaned while scratching his head. You will go bald if you scratch your head too much.
"No one thinks it's your failure."
"I don't think that either. ...But thanks."
They had a short exchange, but with that, Giovan seemed to remember that he had been lacking his usual composure.
People can become calm when they realize they are being cared for, can they not? I understand.
"But you know, Doran. ...I've got a bad feeling about this."
And the words that came out of Giovan next were somehow heavy.
"...I hope it's not that someone's trying to crush us."
...Someone is trying to crush us.
That... would be a problem.
I have finally found a stable place to belong. If I am here, I likely will not have to worry about money, and I can definitely achieve my revenge!
Therefore, I cannot allow this place to be crushed. If someone is trying to crush it, I am prepared to personally crush them back!
...However.
"It's useless to think about it now."
As Doran said, it is useless to think about it now. At least, thinking is not my role.
"Rest easy. If something attacks, I shall repel it for you."
"That's... reassuring."
Seeing that Giovan had calmed down and seemed to have decided to 'let happen what may'... now.
"Now. It is finally time for the division!"
I was looking forward to this!
"I'm taking this, is that okay!?"
As soon as the division began, Chesta reached out his hand. And what he grabbed was a large ruby necklace.
It must certainly be a valuable piece. Looking at the table, it seemed to be one of the top one or two most expensive items that were in House Castane.
"I don't mind. What about the others?"
"I don't care either. Even if I had a necklace, I don't have anyone to give it to."
"I am also fine with that."
The sparkle of a large ruby is heart-attracting, but that is all. What I need now is not a beautiful necklace, but pure money, weapons, and a guarantee of food, clothing, and shelter.
"...Is it okay? Then I'm taking this, okay?"
"Yeah. Take it."
The moment Doran gave permission, Chesta grinned... and thrust the necklace he held toward me.
"Here, for you. An entrance gift."
"Eh?"
No, I have no idea what he is talking about.
"Giovan gave the bag, right? Doran gave the bow. So from me too. Here."
...I thought those things before we went on the mission were more like the provision of equipment.
But... well, I shall decide to accept it.
"If that is the case, I shall accept it. I shall work hard enough to make up for this necklace, so please look forward to it?"
It is best to say these things beforehand. Otherwise, I might be told 'you accepted the necklace, so do as I say' later!
"Try it on. Come on."
Prompted by Chesta, I put on the ruby necklace.
...The appropriate weight tells the value of this gem. The ruby shining brilliantly at my chest is so beautiful that a sigh escapes me.
"...Does it suit me?"
"Want to see a mirror? here."
Looking into the mirror Giovan held up (this was also likely a spoil of war), how should I put it... I say it myself, but it suits me.
"Oh, oh, it suits you, it suits you! Hahahaha, it's like you've got three eyeballs!"
The impression I received was quite something, but well, I shall keep this necklace. After all, it suits me.
After that, we divided the gems, weapons, and currency.
By the way, besides the currency, I received several gems and a wall-hanging mirror. The mirror is the one Giovan held up earlier. I liked the flower and small bird carvings surrounding the mirror.
"Is this okay for the gold share?"
"Well, I wasn't in the field this time, so I'm fully satisfied with this."
"I've got no complaints either."
The currency was divided in a ratio of three each for Doran, Chesta, and me, and one for Giovan. In reality, there is the division of items, so the difference in shares might be a bit less.
...However, I raise an objection here!
"I do not need this."
"Eh? Why?"
"You don't have to be modest, newcomer."
Giovan and Chesta were both tilting their heads, but I have something I have kept quiet from everyone.
"Actually, there are things I brought out from the Castane house that I have not put out here."
When I said that, everyone made a suspicious face.
"...For now, let us see everything."
"That is fine, but if I put them out here, the room will be filled."
And when I explained that, everyone tilted their heads again.
...Well, fine. It is not something to be so mysterious about, so I shall reveal the secret.
"Actually, I took some furniture I liked."
"...Furniture!? You stole that kind of thing!? Hahahaha, what's with this girl, she's quite a strange one! Hyahyahyahyahya."
Starting with Chesta cackling, Giovan shrugged his shoulders and Doran tilted his head. Yes, I have started to be able to read their reactions.
"No wonder your Spatial Bag was full."
"As for me, I'm curious how the young lady managed to steal that much furniture in such a short time..."
The wonderful thing about a Spatial Bag is that even things I could never carry with my slender arms can be easily transported once they are stored.
And as for storage... if you tinker with it a bit, you can make it so that even things larger than the bag can easily slide in. Ohohohohoho. But that is a secret.
"Are you planning to sell that furniture?"
"No? I intend to use it."
"Young lady. Sorry to say, but our place isn't that big."
"Oh. There is no need for concern."
Ignoring Chesta who continued to laugh, I made a declaration!
"I shall build my own house underground!"
"I shall make this the place! I shall make this my territory!"
And I designated a corner of the underground, the dead end of an intricate underground path, as my castle!
It is close to the hideout, and like the hideout, I have hidden the entrance with a trick door.
The interior is still no better than a ruin. I must start cleaning from tomorrow. Then I shall place the furniture and create my own favorite room! It is so exciting!
"Now, that settles things for now. How about some wine for a toast?"
I took a bottle of high-class wine from my bag and showed it to the three of them.
Then all three of them, who had been dumbfounded until now, suddenly started smirking.
"...It seems my eye for people wasn't wrong."
"Yeah. I think so too."
"You even stole wine! You're quite something!"
Now, now. From here on, it is my entrance celebration, and the celebration for achieving my first job! I shall open every single wine I stole—!