'There is a spell called Mindblast. Would you like to try it?'

Mind Blast is a spell that deals direct damage to the target's mind.
It's a medium-level spell among those I can use, and with the amount of mana I have left, I can only use it twice.
It is doubtful that two shots will be enough to destroy the ghost.

However, this spell is sometimes used for torture, and the victim says that it feels like 'having a hand plunged directly into your brain and chest, and having its contents stirred up at the same time'.
Even if you just use it once on her, it will be enough of a check.

Also, even if you can only use it twice now, if you recover your magical element after a night's sleep, it will be enough to make her disappear as a ghost.
In any case, we had the advantage in the negotiations.

'Ugh,......, then what should I do? I'm not sure what to do.

The girl pleaded with tears in her eyes.

You can say that you don't care, but I have a little sympathy for this ghost girl, and more than anything, Cyril seems like he won't keep quiet.
It would be no fun to get into trouble over it.

Instead of getting emotional, we should take advantage.
I decided to tell the girl what was best for both of us.

'I didn't say that. I'm just saying that if you're going to use threats to get me to do what you want, I'm not going to let you get away with it.

'............'

'The principle of negotiation is win-win - you win, we win. And we're adventurers. If you're going to ask us for something, you're going to have to ask us for a good, fair price. And it's up to us to decide whether or not to accept it. Don't disregard the will of the other party in order to satisfy your own demands.

'...... You mean money?

'If you can offer something else, some alternative benefit, that's fine too.

'...... No. Then there is a place in the backyard of the village chief's house where the gold coins are buried. I'm sure they haven't found it. There must have been no less than a hundred gold coins buried there.

The girl was careless.
If she said that, there was a possibility that we would ignore her request and make off with the gold coins.
I don't think she's lying, and I don't think she's a good negotiator.

However, there is no need to blame him for that.
In fact, I have no intention of making off with the money, and I don't think Cyril, who serves the God of Justice, would allow it.

As for us, as long as we get paid for our work, we are fine.
If there really are more than a hundred gold coins buried in the ground, it's more than enough reward considering the expected strength of the opposing forces.

The only drawback is that it's not an adventurer's guild quest, so it won't be reflected in your adventurer's rank, but we'll just have to overlook that.

'So... what about Cyril and Mee?

I asked my companions, and the two girls both agreed.

'As a follower of Ahtna, the goddess of light and justice, I personally don't want to let such people get away with it. I have no objection to defeating them.

'William has done a good job, and Mee has no problem with it. But as for Mee...'

She glanced at the girl who had taken the form of Satsuki.

I understand what you're saying.
There's a bit of a standoff between us right now.

So I've decided to make another request of the girl in Satsuki's form.

'So, I'll accept your request. But I have one request.'

'......! Ha, yes!

'You took over Satsuki's body and tried to use and destroy it for your own purposes. As Satsuki's friends, we cannot let your actions go unchecked.'

'............'

'All I require from you is an apology. If you give us a sincere apology, we'll give you our full cooperation. I won't force you, but I don't think it's a bad idea. What do you think?

I asked, and the girl, still in her caterpillar state, filled her eyes with tears.
And then...

'I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

She sobbed out her apologies.



After that, we rested there for the night.

The next morning, we went to the village, dug up the garden soil of the chief's house, checked the gold coins buried there, and reburied them.
After confirming the existence of the reward offered by Filia, he returned to the city of Atratia to report the completion of his quest to exterminate the undead.