"Grizz, you believe me that easily?"

"Yes, because you have no reason to lie about that information. I'm not just the son of a lazy merchant. Besides, even if I lie, it gives me an excuse to go into the dungeon of fire.



　Grizz wants to go into the dungeon of fire.

　Is he curious or just plain stupid?



"Me and Lucky met in the tenth level, but that doesn't mean we'll be in the same place again.

"Oh, that's no problem. A man lives for romance. Besides, it's fun to see me with my money's worth conquer a dungeon that no one else has yet conquered."



　Well, I thought it was nothing but tasteful, but I didn't say it out loud.

　It's not impossible ...... or even difficult to run a dungeon with money.



　If you want to conquer a high-ranking dungeon, it is not enough to gather a large number of people.

　If you don't gather people with the right skills, you will end up running back to the dungeon in no time at all.

　The more people are injured, the slower the speed of progress becomes, and the more people are weak, the lower the morale becomes.



　People are easily influenced.

　It may be fine as long as morale is high, but it is quite difficult to recover people once they are in a weak mood.

　The more people are on the run, the slower the group's progress becomes and the more it is forced to retreat.



"The dungeon of Grizz-sama is good, but I heard that the day after tomorrow, the demon in question will be on display.　If you go to the dungeon of fire, you won't be able to buy that one. You can go to the dungeon at any time, but there is a possibility that you may not be able to get that item again.

"Oh, that one. I want it, but I don't ...... know what to do. I want to go to the dungeon of fire. I'm sure that fluffy stuff is really nice to touch."



　The demon Grizz and the others are talking about is probably a mermaid.

　If they don't show up the day after tomorrow, it will be a lot easier to get the mermaid.　

　If we can convince them not to buy it here: .......

　I'm going to pretend I don't know anything about it and ask.



"What's this thing you're talking about?"

"Shut up!　It's none of your business, so shut up."

　I guess Marquis must have disliked me a lot, even though we've never met before, because he said these words to me in a very strong tone.

　From his reaction, it seems that he is well aware of the dangers of the dungeon of fire and does not want to go there.

　However, as if ignoring Marquis, Griz simply told me.



"Oh, ...... that demon is a mermaid. The slavers are going to sell them at the next slave market."

"Master Griz!　You can't say that in a place like ......."



　Marquis is looking around to make sure no one is listening.

　Luckily, no one stopped to ask if they were interested in us.

　Or maybe they just don't want to get involved with Grizz. .......



　I dare to deny paying for a mermaid with a broad smile.



"Mermaids?　Wahahaha!　If you're going to spend a fortune to buy a mermaid, a demon that can be found in abundance in the ocean, you might as well go looking for Lucky. Lucky is one of the few demons in the world that you can find."



"Are there a lot of mermaids?"

"Yes, we see them quite often when we sail the seas. Mei.



　Mei is at a loss for words when she is suddenly rejected, but she seems to have understood my intention and is willing to talk with me.



"Uh-huh. I guess so. There are a lot of mermaids in the ocean. I've seen mermaids in person, but Lucky's are much more pleasant to the touch, and you'd have a hard time buying a mermaid. You'd have to keep her locked up in a tank for a long time. And they are selfish, annoying, and arrogant. If you leave the seawater in there, it will smell worse than a ditch, and I bet the neighbors will complain. It would damage your credibility too.



　May's complaint about the mermaid came out without hesitation.

　Perhaps she was being honest, too.

　Did she have a bad experience with a fellow mermaid?　



"I see. I didn't know it was such a pain in the ass. I was going to buy it because of its rarity, but if it's not that rare, I guess I don't have to pay a lot of money for it. Besides, I've thought about getting one, but I haven't thought about the environment in which I'd keep it. Marquis, what do you think about that?"



"Ha!　If you don't want it, I don't think you need to buy it at all. However, we will not be able to train for underwater combat, as Master Grizz said.



　Marquis does not want to antagonize his master's opinion, but he also does not want to go to the dungeon of fire and brimstone.



"Oh, that reminds me. Then I guess I'll buy it before I go to the dungeon of fire.

"That's a good idea. Besides, you'll need to be prepared if you're going into the dungeon.



　Marquis bowed his head to Grizz, but his mouth was a little loose.

　He was probably trying to buy some time so that he would not have to go.

　Underwater combat training with mermaids. ...... I can help with that.

　If I can get this story going, it might make the mermaid bidding easier.