140 - Rauno the Information Broker
"Is this the place?"
The place Miranda led me to was not on the main street of Beim.
It seemed like it would become noisy at night, but during the day, there were so few people passing by that it felt devoid of vitality.
Walking behind Miranda, we entered a building where a girl greeted us.
"Welcome. Oh, Miranda-san. Aren't you with your younger sister today?"
She was a cute girl, but she possessed a composure that made her seem somewhat mature.
(Is she a Gnome?)
As I was thinking that, Miranda spoke.
"He's my lover. We're dating with the intention of marrying."
Just as I was about to burst out laughing, the Gnome girl covered her face, pressing both hands to her cheeks.
I tried to make an excuse, fearing I would be misunderstood, but—
"So this is the enemy of women? I'm surprised he looks kinder than I expected. Oh, Rauno-san is in the back room."
Miranda nodded and confirmed the reward with the girl.
"Thank you, Inis. Now, how much is the fee?"
The Gnome girl called Inis told Miranda the cost for this request.
"It's just for confirming rumors. Only certain information, and since they're recent rumors—how about this much?"
The amount she proposed felt a bit high. It seemed the previous heads within the Jewel Orb felt the same, and the Fourth Generation remarked,
"Even if they're capable, there's no use for them here if they can only do work that doesn't match the price. Besides, it clearly looks like there aren't many people here."
There were probably Rauno and Inis, but it didn't seem like they employed many people.
However, Miranda looked satisfied.
"That's fine. I'll give it to Inis on my way out."
At that, Inis beamed with a happy smile.
"Thank you very much. Now I can pay my rent."
Since I heard words that were clearly alarming in the latter half, I began to doubt the information broker Miranda had approved.
(Is this really okay?)
Following Miranda, I headed toward the back room.
Upon entering the room, there was a man lying on a sofa, covered with a blanket. And he smelled of alcohol.
Alcohol and snacks were scattered on the table, and he was sleeping despite it being broad daylight. I glanced at Miranda's face.
"His skill is certain. He meets deadlines, and excluding his personality, he's excellent."
Then, perhaps reacting to Miranda's voice,
"Sorry my personality is problematic. What is it? Bringing a man today, are you?"
The man who sat up, yawning and stretching, must be Rauno-san. When I greeted him, he roughly cleared the table and told me to sit.
Inis opened the door and entered, hurriedly wiping the table and preparing tea.
Meanwhile, Rauno-san went to get the documents.
Miranda received the documents, but she handed them over to me.
"Don't you need to see the contents?"
"I'll read them after Liel has. You read first."
Told to do so, I opened the documents, while Rauno-san sat sleepily on the sofa, looking back and forth between me and Miranda.
And then—
"So the rumored adventurer is our guest."
Miranda narrowed her eyes and looked at Rauno-san with her legs crossed.
"Is there some problem?"
"No, no problem at all. Clients who pay well are important. If possible, it would be a help if you paid the fee to me instead of Inis."
Miranda tilted her head with a smile.
"Too bad. I said I'd give it to Inis."
"I see."
While Rauno-san looked a bit disappointed, I looked through the documents and nodded.
(He's written out the accurate information. Uncertain information is listed separately.)
From within the Jewel Orb, the Fifth Generation looked at the documents through me.
"Rolfis and Zain are small. In fact, they're smaller than the territories of my era?"
The Sixth Generation added,
"Moving an army of ten thousand with this scale... should be difficult. Is there some groundbreaking method?"
I also looked at the documents, but they didn't look like territories capable of moving an army of ten thousand. Total war—it might be possible if they gathered every available man, but doing so would surely cause problems.
(Zain is larger than Rolfis, but Zain doesn't look like it can move ten thousand troops either.)
Furthermore, the documents contained information about other countries.
The countries around Beim were all smaller compared to Vanseim. It seemed to be a situation where small nations had been fighting for hundreds of years through skirmishes.
Then, the Third Generation spoke.
"...Ah, I see. It's because Beim exists. The Capital of Adventurers—mercenaries and adventurers exist here in large numbers normally. If a problem occurs, mercenary groups and adventurers gather from Beim."
Hearing that, the Seventh Generation noted,
"There's a possibility that the guild is pulling strings behind the scenes and managing things well. Also, it feels like the surrounding areas wouldn't just watch silently if one place became extremely large."
It was thought that such circumstances existed among the countries in this region.
(Then, is the upcoming war also a farce?)
As I looked at the documents thinking this, my head began to ache.
The content written there was worse than I had imagined.
Seeing my expression, Rauno-san looked amused.
"What, did you find out about Zain's internal affairs and get disappointed? The world is full of stories like that."
I shifted my gaze from the documents to Rauno-san.
"If it were just Zain, it would be fine. But if Rolfis is also terrible, then Selva, a surrounding country, is also suspicious. Galleria, where a heroine resides, and Lusworth... isn't every place just constantly at war?"
Rauno-san laughed.
"From the perspective of the heir to a former Earl's house of the great nation Vanseim, this would be a mere skirmish. Well, there are circumstances different from a great nation. Besides, this is the capital of adventurers and merchants. The fact that many people rise to power through war means that's exactly how much war there is."
Thinking I had heard something unpleasant, I handed the documents to Miranda. Miranda checked the contents, but her expression didn't change.
She didn't seem shocked.
However, within the Jewel Orb, the previous heads suddenly began to make a fuss.
"What is this... too terrible."
"Rather than terrible, what on earth are they doing?"
"Even if you combine one or two of these, they can't win against Vanseim. In fact, they aren't even at a scale where they can fight."
"Even if they were united, how many soldiers could they put out... it would take time to seize one and pacify the surroundings."
"If we're going to do it, we must govern them all at once. But if that's still not enough... as expected, we'll need the surrounding nations of Vanseim to move as well."
Vanseim was certainly a great nation, but it was small and underdeveloped compared to my family home.
They did nothing but fight wars, and their development was lagging.
Also, Rauno-san had made a comment that suggested he knew my circumstances.
I looked at Miranda, but Miranda shook her head.
(Did he investigate me?)
The rumored adventurer. He called us that. In other words, I should assume that a certain amount of information is already circulating.
The Seventh Generation noted,
"His personality is problematic, but his skill isn't bad. There's no loss in maintaining a connection."
I thought for a moment.
"...Could you investigate Zain and Rolfis further as an addition?"
Rauno-san's expression became serious.
"What do you want to know? For information beyond that, I'd have to go in directly and investigate. The fee will be high."
Miranda was beside me, but she didn't offer an opinion. She likely intended to leave it entirely to me.
(I guess he's an information broker with that kind of skill. It seems he has the ability to go and procure information himself, not just collect it.)
"You go in yourself?"
When I asked that, Rauno-san shrugged his shoulders and spoke as if joking.
"Since there's only me and Inis here. Well, if I'm given the time and money, I can investigate a reasonable amount of information."
From within the Jewel Orb, they told me what they wanted investigated.
Listening to them, I spoke to Rauno-san.
"Then, I'll have you confirm Zain's objective, as well as their stockpiles, the scale of their army, and the mercenary groups and adventurers participating. At the same time, the same for Rolfis. Also, could you investigate the state of the surrounding countries?"
Rauno-san opened his mouth and, after a while, shook his head.
"Hey, you don't actually intend to participate in the war, do you? It's not impossible, but I'll demand a considerable sum of money. At this rate, even if you participate as a mercenary, the request fee will be higher than the reward."
The quality and quantity of information... it would be worth that much.
"Is it not possible?"
At that, Rauno-san scratched his head.
"What's the timeframe?"
"I intend to handle requests at the guild for a while. I'll leave someone here, but how much can you investigate in one month?"
Hearing "one month," Rauno-san made a difficult expression. It was physically impossible, but he also wanted to know how much could be done in that period.
The voice of the Sixth Generation came from within the Jewel Orb.
"Liel, I think you know... but don't trust this guy. Don't forget to gather information from other brokers as well."
As I gripped the Jewel Orb, Rauno-san spoke.
"I can investigate the stockpiles and the domestic situation. However, the gathering of mercenary groups and adventurers changes quickly. Even if I investigate, by the time I tell you, they might have increased or decreased. Also, investigating the state of the surrounding countries is impossible."
I nodded and confirmed the fee.
Necessary expenses such as travel costs, lodging, and food at the location, along with the reward, were proposed by Rauno-san.
The Fourth Generation remarked,
"Hmm, as I thought, it's a bit expensive. But he seems skilled, though I don't know to what extent."
I nodded and decided to formally make the request to Rauno-san. I paid the advance and completed the paperwork. After Miranda and I paid the reward to Inis, we left the building.
Within the Jewel Orb.
Called out by the Sixth Generation, I was made to hold a halberd.
"Um, my weapon is a saber?"
To me, who was troubled, the Sixth Generation looked exasperated.
"Are you an idiot? Do you intend to keep using a saber on the battlefield? No, you look like you could... but you'll need a weapon that can excel on the battlefield too."
Excel on the battlefield. In other words, I had to fight a battle that would leave an impression on the battlefield.
Against an opponent clad in full metal armor, there might be cases where I couldn't hold my own with a mass-produced saber.
"In those cases, I can use the First Generation's greatsword or the Second Generation's bow."
The Sixth Generation said "not bad," but still recommended the halberd to me.
"The First Generation's greatsword is good, but its mana consumption is too great. The Second Generation's bow is... how should I put it, it's not the flower of the battlefield."
"Ah, that's true."
Bows and magic are active on the battlefield, but naturally, means of defense are prepared. And when it comes to standing out while excelling, it is indeed fighting directly with a weapon.
Rather than taking down five people with arrows, taking down five people with a sword or spear leaves a stronger impression.
"It'll be good to increase your options. You know how to handle it, right?"
"You've taught me the basics."
As I took a stance, the Sixth Generation put his hand to his chin while looking at my posture.
"It looks the part. Now, show me a thrust first."
As told, I delivered a thrust with the halberd, and next, I made a movement to slash with the axe part.
The Sixth Generation watched my other movements as well. When the basic movements were finished, the Sixth Generation spoke.
"Not bad. But there's no leeway. It's a textbook movement. Well, if you gain a bit of experience, you'll probably become decent."
Hearing "experience," I made a subtle expression.
"You're not planning to fight as usual, are you? Without holding back?"
If I were holding a saber, it would be one thing, but with a halberd, I felt uneasy.
The Sixth Generation laughed.
"What, are you anxious? Polearms aren't bad. They have reach, after all. Besides, a halberd can thrust and slash. It can even be used from horseback."
As I took a stance, the Sixth Generation also took a stance.
Holding the halberd and taking a stance felt different from the usual saber, creating a sense of incongruity. When the Sixth Generation delivered a thrust, I parried it to defend. Then, in the next instant, the axe part closed in on my stomach.
A horizontal flash.
I leaped back, but the distance was closed, and I was forced into a purely defensive position.
"What's wrong! Why don't you try swinging it skillfully like a saber!"
"Suddenly like that is a bit—"
The memory room of the Sixth Generation. It was the garden of the mansion. Because the Sixth Generation kicked off the ground, dirt flew into my face.
Having been blinded, I took distance and stopped, sensing the fountain behind me with the Second Generation's skill [All].
Then, the Sixth Generation swung the halberd down toward my face without hesitation.
—When I opened my eyes, the spear part of the halberd was right in front of me.
The Sixth Generation grinned.
"Still a long way to go, Liel."
Pulling back the halberd and resting it on his shoulder with one hand, the Sixth Generation looked happy.
(I wonder if he's enjoying teaching the halberd, which he's proficient in? Come to think of it, the weapon the Seventh Generation has is a gun.)
Though I had been turned into a honeycomb many times, the Seventh Generation preferred to use guns, which were used by extremely few people.
(I mean, why are the weapons of the previous heads of the Walt family so different? I use a saber too.)
I handle a saber due to my father's influence, but from the First to the Seventh Generation, they chose their weapons freely. There was no fighting style passed down through generations.
The First was a greatsword. The Second was a bow. The Third was a standard sword. The Fourth was dual-wielding daggers. The Fifth was a whip-sword. The Sixth was a halberd. The Seventh was a gun.
The variation was staggering.
"Are we finished already?"
To the Sixth Generation who asked that, I leveled my halberd.
"Not yet. I have to take at least one hit from the Sixth Generation."
When I said this with a smile, the Sixth Generation was surprised at first, but soon burst into loud laughter and took a stance with his halberd.
"That's the spirit! I'll be your opponent until you're satisfied!"
I thrust the halberd toward the Sixth Generation.