Money. I want money.

I'm a man who respects poverty. Food, clothing, and shelter are the bare minimum.
I rarely spend money, and when I do, it's only to go to a coffee shop for a sweet, not a luxury. Please lend me some money.

Hearing my words first, Ark said with a big smile on his face.

'I don't know what's going on, but I wouldn't lend you money.

Lending and borrowing money is the most common cause of conflict in a hunter's party, or rather in human relations.
There is no shortage of stories of parties that have broken up due to financial problems, even among members of the same party. Hunters make money, but they spend it.

Ark must also earn money, although not as much as the Ghost of Sorrows. His family is prestigious and he may be one of the wealthiest in our clan.
How can I persuade him? If we don't hurry to collect the money and start negotiating, the other hunters might take it. I'll definitely pay you back later!

Ark cowered his shoulders. Even if it was the same action as mine, it looked very good when done by a man with good eyes.

'Didn't you find a new treasure anyway? Come to think of it, it's almost time for the auction to start.

Everything was known. Incidentally, this is not the first time he has asked Ark for money.
Although Ark and I are not on bad terms, he is a person with a good sense of humor.

'No, no, no, no, this is different. It's a dangerous treasure. I definitely want to get it.'

'There's nothing different about it. ...... How much do you want to lend me, by the way?

You'll have to negotiate with the other hunters. Treasure is hard to price. I don't know how much I'll need.
I replied with a serious expression.

'As much as you have.

'...... Why do you want that treasure trove and how does it work?'

'By changing your face, you gain your freedom. I can go to the sweet shop alone.
I answered with all my might and sincerity.

'I can't tell you that.

Of course I can't, it's illegal. ...... Are you stuck?

'Huh. ...... I know you're secretive, but that's no way to talk.

Well, that's a perfectly legitimate answer. I gave up on Ark and turned my gaze to the other members of his party who were huddled by the wall.

Ark's party, the Ark Brave, was a party that had been certified as level 7 by the Explorers' Association.
There is a difference in standards between the level certification of a party and the level certification of hunters. The average of the hunters in a party is usually taken, but the fact that his party has been certified as level 7 when all the members except Ark are level 6 or below shows the excellence of the members.

But what makes his party stand out from the rest is the fact that all of his party members are women.
In addition, they are all beautiful. This is the reason why Arc's party is known for its excellence and at the same time is sometimes ridiculed as a harem party.

One of the people standing at the far end of the room, Saint Yu of the Ark party, shrank back, made a frightened gesture and said.

'I'm not going to lend you my ......

The other members of the team, Isabella the Magi and Armer the Swordsman, also have no intention of lending their services, and they glared at me with grim eyes.

'If you're a level 8 hunter, don't rely on Ark-san, at least do your own money shopping!

'Good grief, ......, you're as soft as ever, leaning on your rival. I don't understand how a guy like you can lead that party.

There are different professions and a wide variety of personalities, from the feeble, to the pungent, to the warrior. I don't know.
I don't have any sense of rivalry with them, but they seem to have a sense of rivalry with us, the Ghosts of Sorrows, and are often very hostile.
Perhaps the reason why Ark is the easiest to get to know is because it takes a lot of talent to lead a harem.

Isabella who is the most outspoken is the one who closes the distance.
She has the same good looks as Ark. Her light purple hair and eyes and snow-white skin are proof that she is from the northern part of the country but it is spoiled by the fact that she glares at us as if to threaten us.
It is also a pitiful girl who is often poked and prodded by Lucia and is not taken seriously.

In the event that you've got a lot of money, you'll be able to take advantage of it.

'What ...... irony......? I was just stating a fact: ......'

I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't know why the fact that I don't know anything about etiquette leads to sarcasm.

'Oh, ...... you guys may be fine with it after all this time, but we're in the same clan now! What will you do if Rodin's name is damaged?

She's as perceptive as ever. She should be younger than me, but she has a different kind of annoyance than Liz and the others.
But unfortunately, no matter how much she curses me, it doesn't hurt me. Because I understand better than anyone else the fact that I'm incompetent. I'm used to being abused.

And I don't like it when people ask me what to do. I'm not going to do anything because I can't. I don't think Rodin's name will be damaged so easily. .......

'You rude bastard! What kind of accusation is that against a master-- Mwah! Mwah! Mwah!'

I quickly stepped in between Isabella and I, blocking Tino's mouth as he tried to bite me.

'Yes, yes, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but I've got to go borrow some money from someone else, okay?

Down on your knees. I'm sorry. I know a thing or two about keeping my mouth shut. I'm weak against my enemies, but strong against my friends. That's called being an intransigent person.
Arc's party members have strong characters but they are not indiscriminate like my friends.
Isabella was shocked when I suddenly covered my mouth.

Tino protests to me with tears in his eyes. Yeah, yeah, I guess so.

'Well, Ark. I'll see you later!

We don't have much time. In response to my short greeting, Ark waves his hand with his usual smile, not knowing what I'm thinking.
Anyway, I'll check with the members in the lounge to see if I can borrow some money before crying to Citry.

§ § § §




That "Thousand Transformations" is on a desperate money-grab.
This information soon spread throughout the clan.

The exchange took place at the entrance of the Clan House. There are many clan members, but there are also people from outside the clan. The two leaders of the clan, both in name and reality, talking to each other couldn't go unnoticed.

It's an open secret that the Thousand Transformations has a large collection of treasures. Normally, hunters would hide their methods, but the collection of treasures by the Thousand Transformations was beyond the realm of secrecy.
Few people have actually seen the collection with their own eyes, but it is said that there are rare, expensive, and even cursed items in the collection that are too dangerous for ordinary hunters to handle. There is even a rumor that the treasures held by the members of the Ghosts of Sorrows are degraded products separated from them.

For hunters, debt is something to be avoided. If you borrow from another party, your trust, which is the most important thing for a hunter, may be damaged.

A level 8 hunter, a collector of treasures, is willing to go into debt to acquire such treasures.

What kind of power does it really have? The effect is unknown, but it is said to be a dangerous treasure.
I'm sure it's a rare treasure that rarely appears. It may even be a trump card for level 8 hunters.

Rumor begets rumor. Originally, the rumors of the upcoming Zebrudia Auction were the focus of attention for many merchants, hunters, and nobles in the Imperial City.

A powerful treasure was something that everyone wanted with open arms. Treasure hunters wanted it for their own hunting, nobles wanted it for their authority, and merchants wanted it as a trump card for their business.

What kind of power does this treasure have?
Those without money dream of its power and anticipate each other, while those with money want to acquire the treasure at all costs.

The merchant thinks. The merchant thinks to himself, "My opponent is level 8, but he is only a hunter, and there must be a limit to the amount of money he can gather.
The hunter thinks. Perhaps the treasure will raise his certification level significantly.
The nobleman thinks. If only I had that treasure, it would give me an edge. Wouldn't it greatly increase the strength of the force at hand?

It's just a rumor. But it was too tempting to dismiss as a mere rumor.


§


'Mr. Arnold, I heard that there will be some dangerous treasures at the auction.

A corner of the tavern. A one-armed stingray says to Arnold, his eyes shining with excitement.
The tavern is filled with alcohol and heat, and is overflowing with hunters. The "Foreign Mist" from the outside has completely blended in with the crowd.

The search was going well. Even though he was certified in the countryside, Arnold was a level 7. He is one of the top hunters in the Imperial City.
It was only at the first tavern that he had gotten the short end of the stick, but since then, he hadn't seen a hunter who could match Arnold and the others.

Slamming the downed mug of ale on the table, Arnold asks.

'How ......? What kind of stuff is that?'

'That's more ...... detailed, but it's the kind of treasure that level 8 hunters will be begging for money for all over the place.'

'Level 8, or .......'

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.


I'm not sure what to do. There is no pain. But since that day, Arnold has developed a habit of scratching his head.
His body has healed. But his soul has not forgotten the humiliation he suffered.

Arnold says nothing in response to the apology and clicks his tongue loudly.

The Misty Thunder Dragon has no money to spare.
The Misty Lands and the Empire have different currencies. On the long journey from Nebula Nubes, Arnold and the others had converted most of their money into goods. It would be very difficult for a high level hunter to acquire a treasure that he would have to borrow money to obtain.

Well, even if I had the money, I wouldn't pay a lot of money for an unknown treasure just because other high level hunters are looking for it.
The party's financier, Ei, probably thinks the same way.

'Tsk. It's a good deal. ...... Speaking of which, Aei, what's going on with that treasure you asked me to appraise?

'Heh. It seems that the item is stuck in an auction and it will take some time to appraise.

'...... I see.'

Arnold frowned as he recalled the disgusting treasure he had found in the treasure house near Nebula Nubes.

The mask looked as if it had been made by kneading raw meat.
The feeling of raw flesh itself frightened Arnold and the other hunters, who were accustomed to the feel of blood and flesh. It was such a fearsome treasure that after returning to the city, they regretted why they had brought it back.
The appraiser in Nebulanubes refused to appraise it, and it was a cursed item.

It's probably not worth much anyway. Judging from its appearance, there is a possibility that it is a treasure that gives disadvantages to the user.
I was going to have it appraised, and if it was worthless, I was going to ask for its disposal.

'It would be nice if it could at least pay for the alcohol, though. It's not free to bring it back.

Arnold groaned instead of agreeing with Aei's heartfelt words.