kscans

Chapter 220 - The Golden Mountain

After finishing breakfast, Arc walked me to my guest room, and I decided to take a bath. When I got out, returned to my room, and finished changing, I heard a knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

Could it be Arc?

"It's me."

"Oh, I'm here too!"

That was Yoshino-san and Kaede-chan.

"Come on in."

I gave them permission to enter, and Yoshino-san and Kaede-chan came into the room.

"Are you ready?" Yoshino-san asked as she entered.

"Pretty much. Where's Arc?"

"He said to wait a bit while he prepares the gold bars. He'll come get us when he's ready."

So, it's finally time to meet the mountain of gold.

"It's probably a huge amount. Oh, please, both of you, have a seat."

I invited Kaede-chan and Yoshino-san to the table.

"Are we going home after we get the gold bars?" Kaede-chan asked as she sat down.

"It's the end of the year, so it's probably best to get them and split them up quickly. Besides, we can come back here whenever we want."

"That's true. But can we really come here that easily?"

"We just have to have Arc bring us. And if Arc refuses, I'll ask through Lydia-chan."

Arc wouldn't dare defy Lydia-chan.

"Lydia-chan? You can contact her?"

"I received a communication mirror, so I can reach her anytime."

It was the same kind the King gave me.

"When did that happen... Also, you seemed to know each other. Have you met?"

"I met her last night. That idiot Arc gave Lydia-chan those disgusting gummies. I had to smooth things over."

"Those? Well, I can see why she'd be angry. Is that why she was acting like that at breakfast..."

Well, she didn't seem that furious, though.

"Eleanor, once we get the gold bars, can we just teleport to your place? We should call Satsuki-nee-san and Nanapon to split the spoils. I'm going back to my parents' house the day after tomorrow, and I want to tidy up my room."

It seemed Yoshino-san was also going home for the New Year's holiday.

"Sure. Where are your parents? In Tokyo?"

"No, Chiba. Satsuki-nee-san's are too. I don't know if she's going back, though."

So, the Kanto region. Not too far.

"What will Arc do?"

"I can't very well take him to my parents' house, so I'll leave him at your place. You're not going home, right? I imagine Arc will be hanging around a lot."

Basically, business as usual. He would just teleport to Yoshino-san's place when it was time to sleep.

"Got it. Is that okay with you too, Kaede-chan?"

"Yes. I don't mind."

It seemed Kaede-chan was fine with it as well.

"Alright, I'll look after Arc here. I'm bored anyway, so we'll just play some games."

"Sorry about that."

"It's fine. How's the auction coming along?"

"They're still deliberating, I think. The headquarters chief said he wants to reach a conclusion after the new year."

So that's finally happening too. I'll do my best.

"Understood. I'm counting on you."

"Yeah."

Kon kon.

As we were discussing our future plans, a knock echoed through the room.

"Yes?"

"It's me. Can I come in?"

It was Arc. It seemed he was ready.

"Come in."

As I said that, Arc opened the door and entered.

"Sorry for the wait. Didn't mean to keep you."

Arc approached, apologizing.

"It's fine. Where's Lydia-chan?"

"She went home."

So she did go home after all.

"We're leaving after we get the gold bars, is that okay?"

"Hmm? You're leaving? So soon."

"It's the end of the year."

"Ah, right. I think Yoshino mentioned something about that. Got it. Well then, shall we go?"

At Arc's words, we all stood up.

"Let's go."

"Okay. Here we go."

Arc said this and held out his hand, and my vision was washed in white.

◆◇◆

Arc's teleportation brought us to a certain room. It was quite a large room... or rather, it looked like a warehouse. But none of that mattered.

Because before our very eyes was a gleaming, golden mountain.

The shining mountain was shaped like a pyramid.

"Will this suffice?"

As I was gazing up at the towering pile of gold bars, a voice spoke, and I turned to face forward.

"Oh, you were here."

Looking closely, Mia was there too.

"The dumbfounded looks on your faces were priceless."

Well, you know. It's my first time seeing a mountain of gold like this. Yoshino-san, for one, was still completely stunned.

"This is amazing."

I looked up at the golden mountain again.

"It was a pain to stack."

I'll bet. It must have been done for dramatic effect, and it was certainly effective.

"Hey, can I ask you something frankly?"

"Go ahead."

"Is gold not very valuable in Frontier?"

"It's no different from iron. We can mine tons of it, but there aren't many uses for it."

For these people, it's like buying potions with iron... Which means the Golden Witch is actually the Iron Witch. How lame...

"What a wonderful world."

"I heard from Arc that gold isn't mined in Feire, is that right?"

"Yes... that's why it's so expensive."

"When I heard you were trading the Emeraldas Mountains for gold, I questioned your sanity, but if that's the case, it's a plausible story."

Different worlds mean different demands, I guess. Well, that's why these people and I are doing business, after all.

"Please don't trade gold with any country other than mine."

If it floods the market, the value of my assets will plummet.

"Rest assured. I will not make such a deal, at least not while I am on the throne."

Arc will probably be fine too. I'll stop him if he tries.

"How much is here?"

"There are 1800 gold bars of 10 kilograms each."

Eighteen thousand kilograms... My brain can't process that.

"I'm starting to not care about the auction anymore."

No matter how much I splurge, there's no way I'll go bankrupt.

"Shall we cease future transactions?"

"I won't stop, but I'll think about it. Strange items might be better than gold. You know, like that mirror."

"Well, I shall consider it. In any case, our next transaction is a long way off."

I did give him a considerable amount of potions.

"Yoshino-san, your share is 180 bars."

I spoke to Yoshino-san, who was still frozen.

"I see... Maybe I should move..."

"Don't go on a spending spree. That's how Nanaka-san got herself kidnapped."

"Right... you're right. The reason you drugged me was also because I was blinded by gold."

Gold's magic is a scary thing. It makes everyone lose their minds.

"But still, how am I going to take this home..."

I have an item bag, but should I climb up the golden mountain and store them one by one? It's dangerous and a hassle.

"You can have Arc carry it. He's staying over there for a while longer, isn't he?"

As I pondered, the King made a suggestion.

"That's true. Arc, if you please."

"Yeah, sure."

"Oh, wait a second."

I stopped Arc just as he was raising his hand.

"What's wrong?"

Arc looked at me suspiciously for stopping him so suddenly.

"King-sama, may I take a picture? There's no place I could display this much, and I'd like one for a souvenir."

"Well, I suppose that's fine."

The King agreed with a wry smile.

"Arc, take the picture."

I handed Arc my smartphone and stood in front of the golden mountain.

"Oh, me too."

"Then me too."

As I made a peace sign in front of the mountain of gold, Kaede-chan and Yoshino-san came over happily.

"Yaaay!"

Kaede-chan and Yoshino-san flashed peace signs with maximum excitement.

"I don't get what's so fun about this... Alright, taking the picture."

Arc, like the King, smiled wryly and took a photo with the smartphone.

"Let me see, let me see."

We crowded around Arc and started checking the photo.

"Whoa, the gold looks just as brilliant in the picture."

"I'll send this to Nanapon when we get back."

"Oh, I'll send it to Satsuki-nee-san too."

This will be something to brag about for the rest of my life.

"Can I put it away now?"

Arc asked as we were excitedly looking at the photo.

"Go ahead."

As soon as I said that, the mountain of gold vanished in an instant.

"You all were heading back, correct?" the King asked.

"Yes, that's right. I'd like to stay a little longer, but it's the end of the year."

"I understand. You may come whenever you wish. I have also approved the matter of lending you Lydia again."

Hmm?

"Did you ask Lydia-chan?"

"Yes, I heard all about it..."

The King pressed his temples. It seemed he heard the same things I did.

"Good luck!"

"Indeed... Well, there is no doubt she is a capable girl."

I agree with that. She's just a little twisted.

"What are you talking about?"

Arc, who knew nothing, asked.

"It's about having her help out. You don't need to worry about it. More importantly, we're leaving. I have to go show this off to Nanaka-san right away."

"Nanaka wanted to come, so she's probably going to be upset."

Probably. But that's what she gets for having Clairvoyance.

"So, with that, King-sama, Mia, we will take our leave here."

"Yes, until next time. Arc, do not forget the beer and those spicy snacks."

He's really hooked...

"Arc-sama, I would like some cookies as well."

The maid was taking advantage of the situation too...

"I know, I know. Alright, I'm heading out."

Having concluded the greatest transaction in history, we decided to return to Earth.