kscans

Chapter 307 - Information Exchange and Famous People

The information exchange with the Bandit tamers was decided for this morning.

The reason was that it was better to do it sooner rather than later, and the Bandit tamers were rather excited.

This surprised both Hayato and Jolto, but apparently, Maris and Surya were quite famous NPCs in the tamer community, and they were grateful for the opportunity to exchange information with them.

The participants in the information exchange would be Maris, Surya, and Hayato.

Since they had the goal of sealing monsters in the Monster Sealing Encyclopedia, they couldn't act separately from the other members, so they decided to take a day off from conquering the dungeon.

However, they had spent yesterday afternoon on vacation, and it would be a waste to laze around again today. So it was decided that the members not participating in the information exchange would split up and gather materials that could be found on the Floating Island.

Their main task would be to collect coconuts to make the juice that granted the Dinosaur Special Attack effect, but some of them would be fishing in the lake. Hayato didn't know the details, but there was talk of fishing for a giant shark monster called a Megalodon.

Those members had gathered outside the building they were using as a campsite since early in the morning, but Hayato tilted his head as he looked at them.

For some reason, the members of the Black Rose were saluting Suien, one of the Genesis Dragons.

He approached Rosalie, the only one not saluting and standing a little apart.

"What are they doing over there?"

When Hayato asked, Rosalie let out a deep, long sigh that could make any happiness flee.

"Various things happened last night, so they are paying their respects."

"To Suien-san? Were you having a girls' night out last night?"

"That's right. A girls' night out is mainly for love talk, but, well, various things happened, and that person became an object of respect. Lunaria-sama, Ney, and Ren-san were still too young, so I had them retreat."

"...What kind of love talk makes you an object of respect?"

"I think it's better if you don't ask. Sometimes it's happier to maintain your illusions about women. For example, words like 'trap,' 'locked room,' and 'alibi' come up, but do you still want to hear?"

"A mystery story?"

"A love story. Barely."

"Barely? I see, that content would certainly be a bit too advanced for those three."

"For those three, and I feel like it might be too advanced for humanity in general."

(For Rosalie-san to say that much. But it's enough to earn respect from some. I kind of want to hear it, but also kind of don't...)

Hayato turned his eyes toward Suien and the others again.

The words he could hear were things like "love is war," "a woman needs courage," and "tomorrow is another day." Suien would say them, and the members of the Black Rose would repeat them.

They weren't saying anything good. That was Hayato's impression.

Suien noticed Hayato and approached him.

"Oh, good morning. You saw something a little embarrassing."

"A little...? Ah, no, good morning. It seems like a lot happened, huh? You seem to be respected."

"Yes, when I talked about a past love, it turned into that. I had my share of experiences when I was young... I'm still young now!"

"...Ah, yes, that's right. But for that, I heard some rather unsettling words."

"Oh, did you? But you should remember this too, Hayato. Any woman, you see, becomes a hardliner when she's in love...!"

He had the retort that she was talking about the Genesis Dragon factions on the tip of his tongue, but he managed to hold it back.

But he did wonder. He wondered if there were any moderate faction women around him.

As he was thinking that, he felt a presence behind him.

"Suien-san was even called a love guerrilla soldier, you know."

Before he knew it, Randa was behind them. And she was saying something unsettling.

"Randa-chan, I always say this, but love is war. And there are as many men as there are stars in the sky that you have to fight. Surprise attacks, ambushes, traps, seduction... you have to use every means necessary to win the battle...!"

"I heard that whether you won or lost, nothing was left after those battles."

"It's true that after a battle, it's always empty..."

Hayato and Rosalie gradually moved away from Suien and Randa, who were still talking, trying not to be noticed. Hayato's honest feeling was that he didn't want to hear the details.

When they were a certain distance away, Hayato sighed.

"I now understand very well that you did a very good job, Rosalie-san."

"It would be a disaster if Lunaria-sama became like that. And Ney and Ren-san too. The Black Rose girls are a lost cause, but I'll deprogram them eventually. Putting that aside, you're going to the information exchange, Hayato?"

"That's right. I think Maris and Surya-san would be fine on their own, but as the clan leader, I'll participate just in case."

"The other party is Bandit, I see..."

"Is there something about Bandit?"

"That clan periodically comes to the Demon Lord's Castle to fight, so if I had to say, I don't like them. Some of our girls have lost to them. Recently, we've been cooperating with Gil and the Black Knights to drive them back, though."

"Ah, I see."

(Did I raise the game's difficulty... ?)

The members of the Black Rose and the Black Knights didn't get along very well, but after various incidents, their relationship had improved considerably.

Hayato hadn't actively intervened, but it was undoubtedly the result of getting the members of the Black Rose and the Black Knights involved in the various commotions of his clan members. If their cooperation had raised the difficulty of the Demon Lord's Castle, then it could be said that it was Hayato's fault.

If it became so difficult that even Bandit couldn't defeat it, then other parties wouldn't be able to defeat it at all. In other words, it would become an impregnable Demon Lord's Castle.

Perhaps seeing Hayato's anxious face, Rosalie said, "Rest assured."

"It's just my personal feelings, and I won't attack them outside the Demon Lord's Castle. I will if Lunaria-sama says so, though."

It was different from what Hayato was worried about, but she was probably trying to be considerate. Hayato didn't correct her and just replied, "That's a relief."

In the end, Hayato settled on the thought that since it was the Demon Lord's Castle, it was fine if it was strong.

After that, the members who were going to gather materials or fish at the lake arrived and went their separate ways.

Finally, Maris, Surya, and Siegfried the calico cat arrived.

"Good morning, Hayato-san! Let's go right away!"

Hayato said, "Well then, let's go," and started walking toward the Bandit campsite.

The Bandit campsite was almost no different from the one Hayato and his group were using.

They were staying in a metal building. Outside, several members of Bandit were creating items with production skills.

One of them, who wasn't doing anything in particular, noticed Hayato's group and approached.

Hayato recognized him. He was an opponent who, like Jolto, had fought on the field until the end in the Clan War. He was a skilled player who fought by changing his equipment.

"Hey. I hear you're exchanging information today? All the tamers were happy... oh right, Maris-san, was it? Sorry about the Clan War, knocking you off your Griffon."

Maris tilted her head, but then she seemed to remember and waved her hand in denial.

"It's fine! That was during the Clan War!"

"That's a relief to hear. Now, this way. I'll guide you, so follow me... what is it?"

The members who were outside gathered and surrounded Hayato's group. Then they suddenly bowed their heads.

"Please teach us how to make the Arondight Replica!"

"A-and I want the replica of that gothic lolita's weapon!"

"We beg of you, the Super Eclair and Bucket Pudding! Seriously!"

He was surprised to be told that so suddenly, but he understood the situation. Some of the items Hayato created were high-performance, and they were rare items that could be said to be made only by Hayato.

They were also asking about some items Hayato couldn't make, but they probably thought he could.

He didn't have a strong desire to monopolize them, but the recipes for the items Hayato could make were given to him by his companions, and he felt reluctant to give them away without permission.

Just as he was about to refuse, the male guide stood in front of them as if to protect them.

"I told you guys not to do that, right?"

"Please, somehow!"

"I said no. Now, open a path. I understand how you feel, but do it through the proper channels. Or are you planning to throw money around like that other clan?"

At those words, the surrounding players flinched.

Then they apologized to Hayato, saying, "We're sorry," and moved away. Though their eyes were full of hope until the very end.

"Sorry about that. The production-class guys have been interested in the items you can make for a while now, Hayato."

"No, I don't mind. If there was an item that only that person could make, I might charge in and ask for the recipe myself."

"If you'd like, set up a discussion for us next time. I'm interested in the Arondight replica too!"

The man said that and then prompted Hayato and his group to enter the building.

The place he led them to was a reasonably large room. The metal walls gave it no glamour, but there were various sweets and drinks on a round table in the center, creating a welcoming atmosphere.

"I'll go get Jolto and the others, so wait here for a bit. Feel free to have anything on the table."

"Thank you."

When Hayato expressed his thanks, the man gave a slight wave and left the room.

Hayato, Surya, Maris, and Siegfried the calico cat were left in the room.

"As expected, Hayato-san is highly regarded by the production classes, isn't he?"

Surya said as she picked up a cookie from the table.

Before he could say that wasn't the case, Maris, for some reason, puffed out her chest with a proud look on her face.

"Amazing, isn't he!"

"Why are you the one boasting... oh well. But, Bandit, huh. This clan is famous, isn't it? It comes up in conversation at the Tamer Guild quite a lot. Being highly regarded by the craftsmen of that clan is amazing in itself."

He wondered what kind of clan becomes a topic of conversation among NPCs, but he supposed such things happened.

For his part, Hayato was a little curious about whether his own clan was famous.

"Hey, by the way, what's the deal with Daedalus? Is it maybe a little famous?"

When Hayato asked, Maris, Surya, and even Siegfried gave him an exasperated look.

Surya let out a small sigh and then spoke.

"You don't seem to understand, Hayato-san, but normally, it's impossible to have the Demon Lord in your clan, you know? And you have that Esha-san and Maris too. It was a huge topic of conversation during the Clan War, you know? But after the Clan War, the topic died down for about half a year, so it's cooled off now. I had forgotten about it too."

"It's not that I dislike it, but I would have liked to be famous for things like the quality of our products."

Just as he said that, the door to the room opened.

"You're pretty famous, Hayato. For being able to make so many replica unique items."

Jolto said as he entered the room. Behind him were two men and one woman. The three of them had small monsters with them.

Perhaps because he had been trained by Esha, who never knocked when entering a room, Hayato didn't feel particularly annoyed and gave Jolto and his group a slight bow.

"Thank you for today. This is a big help."

"The pleasure is all ours. We get to exchange information with two such renowned individuals. Well then, shall we begin?"

After everyone greeted each other, the information exchange began. First, they talked about dinosaurs. The three tamers listened to Maris and Surya's words with serious faces, as if not to miss a single word.

Hayato listened at first too, but gradually, the conversation shifted to topics that were common knowledge for tamers, and it became difficult for him to understand, so he gave up listening.

"Hayato, would you like to talk over there? You don't understand what they're saying, do you?"

Invited by Jolto, he thought that was a good idea and moved away from the central table.

He sat down on a chair provided at a long, narrow table by the wall. Jolto sat across the table from Hayato.

"About what I said earlier..."

"Huh? What did you say?"

"The part about you being famous, Hayato. It's partly because you've made so many replica equipments, but it's also pretty well-known that you're enjoying this game with the NPCs. That's especially the opinion among the major clans."

"That's the first I'm hearing of it. But major clans?"

"Clans like ours. Don't you know any other large-scale clans besides ours?"

"I know a few, but information online disappeared around the time the Clan War started. I haven't really looked into it since then. The famous ones back then were 'Imperial' or 'Over the Top'?"

Both were famous clans at the time, and along with Bandit, they were known by any player of this game.

They were also high up in the rankings during the Clan War. Hayato didn't know the final results, but he remembered that they were in the top five, which awarded prize money, until just before the end.

"Right, right, clans like those. The leaders of those clans sometimes ask me to tell them about you, Hayato."

"What? Isn't that a leak of personal information? Even if it's in a game."

"No, no, I wouldn't tell them even if they asked. We're rivals with those clans. It'd be a different story if there was compensation, though."

"So you would tell them if there was compensation."

"A suitable compensation. If they could teach me how to make a real Excalibur, not a replica, I might consider it."

"In that case, teach me how to make it too. I'll tell you anything."

Putting that aside, it was nice to be famous, even in a game. And if it was among clans with a reputation that even Hayato knew, the joy was even greater.

"By the way, it seems you're famous among the NPCs too, Hayato? I heard something like that earlier."

"It seems so. Well, I have the Demon Lord in my clan, so I guess it's only natural... Oh, right, it seems Bandit is famous among some NPCs too."

"Huh? Really? Why's that?"

"I don't know the reason you're famous at the Tamer Guild, but it's because you're resented by the Demon Lord's forces. You've defeated the gothic lolitas in the Demon Lord's Castle many times, haven't you? I think you should be careful not to have your base attacked by the Demon Lord."

"...What kind of game has the final boss attacking you outside of a Stampede event? And wait, does defeating them too much lower your affection level?"

"By the way, the Demon Lord and the gothic lolitas are on this island."

"...I'd like your cooperation in getting on their good side."

"I'll at least convey that you feel apologetic."

While having such a conversation, Hayato and the others engaged in a different kind of information exchange from the tamers.