〜♪♪

　An electronic beep sounds to announce the receipt of a text message.

　I look at the screen of my smartphone and see that the sender of the email is Demon King Kaoru.

'Can I check one thing before I send you a list from here?
What?

　I send a brief reply.

'It looks like there are all kinds of unique items, are you sure about that?'

　There were three unique items for each type, and there were a total of 81 unique items, but the list listed the weakest item among the three types, excluding the spear, was listed for all types.

　There is one unique item for each type that can be smelted when the smelting is B-ranked. Demon King Kaoru probably doesn't know that he can refine three types of items when he gets to A rank.

　Do you want to feign kindness and mislead people here?

''No problem. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that the spear is not included in that list. The spear is my signature weapon, so it's impossible for me to agree to an exchange.

　I weave in some truths and feign kindness.

'You're afraid of Theon's kindness,'
"Don't worry. You'll have to pay a fair price for the exchange.
"It's a fair price to pay. All the more frightening. Can I ask you one more question?
What?
"What's this 'artifact' on the list?
A showpiece.
You don't have an explanation?

　Explanation...... I'm going to list in my head the advantages and disadvantages of explaining a divine weapon.

　There's no problem with teaching it.

'A divine weapon is a special item that can be smelted when the smelting reaches A rank. If I were to explain their properties, they are equipment that grows.''
Growing equipment?　Is that a limited number?'
''There are a limited number of them. To be precise, only one of them can be refined for each type.
Do I get to choose the type?
I can't. We can only give you the big sword.

　It was difficult to decide which divine artifacts to put on the list, but in light of the equipment under my command, I chose the great sword with the fewest number of users.

''I see. Is that why you were so excited about a unique item?''
"Do I need to respond to you so kindly?
'First time I've ever been allied with one?　I think I could be a little nicer to you. Can I ask you one more question?'
"You have a lot of questions. How come I haven't received your list yet?
'I'm sorry, I'm sorry. That's the last time I'm going to ask you a question.'
What?
'If I tell you I want a sacred artifact, you'll ask for a fair price, right?
"Is that the last question?
'No, no!　Let's see, did Theon know of a subordinate who could create if creation was ranked A?''

　Demon King Kaoru asked me in a roundabout way if I knew about the existence of the 'unique subordinates'.......

　Well, how should I respond........

''You mean 'Unique subordinates'?''
'Oh?　I knew you knew. I thought there wasn't that much information about this unique group of people out there.......where did you get it?　A locked bulletin board for "Laplace"?　Or does Theon have a lot of knowledge?'
'That was the last question you asked me, wasn't it?　How is it that the people with whom you have made alliances can so easily renege on their promises?''
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, this was my mistake. I withdraw my earlier question and apologize.
"I'll give you one answer. "Laplace's locked message board - 'Senior Demon Lord's Gathering Thread' does not contain any information on the Unique Squad.

　It would be profitable if Demon King Kaoru misjudged my high rank of knowledge with this, but it's only a check.

''Thank you for your sincere response. Well, I'll be honest with you too. I can't agree to trade a unique group for a weapon. Of course, the same goes for trading unique items for unique subordinates.

　--!

　I didn't expect to be rejected.

　Is a unique subordinate such a powerful subordinate?

　Shit I want it when they say no. But the negotiations are just beginning. We can't afford to be bad at it.

''Then we can't offer you a unique item and a divine weapon either, can we?
'You will. I didn't say enough. I guess the correct answer is that I can't accept a one-on-one exchange of unique subordinates for a divine weapon or unique item.''

　It seems that Demon King Kaoru has embarked on a negotiation.

''Are you saying you'll agree to an exchange if I give you more than one?　You've been underestimated.'
"I'm not trying to be lenient. I have a deal--equivalence, right?
"Are you saying that a unique item that can be smelted with A-rank is not equivalent to a unique group that can be created with A-rank?
'Yeah. It's not equivalent at all. Do you know how many unique families Theon can create?

　I know this because I've heard about it beforehand from canon.

　The answer is eight.

　However, I'm not going to answer honestly.

"I don't know.
'You don't know. That's right. If you knew, Zion wouldn't have proposed such an unreasonable exchange, would he?''
"I don't know the meaning of the word?
'You can only create 8 unique subordinates. Even if the number of unique items that can be smelted is the same as the B-rank, there are still 27 unique items. If we believe the words of the email from Theon earlier, then the divine artifacts are also 27 types, right?''

　Each of Demon King Kaoru's words are full of irony.

　Nevertheless, I can feel the justification........

　

''Are you saying that the unique subordinates are worth seven unique items or divine weapons?''
'Hmmm ... yes. Well, even if you compare it to only one of them, I think it's worth more than three, what do you think?''

　Have you negotiated with three that you feel could be a deal-breaker by only raising the value of the unique distribution?

　However.....

Then we reject it.
'What?　Really?　I think I've compromised a lot by saying three.

　I remember when I raised my smelting to an A-grade. Why did I raise my alchemy instead of creation--

''Creation A and Alchemy A are different in their rarity value to begin with.
'I don't know what you mean?　Are you saying that the points needed to raise smelting to an A-grade were more points than the points needed to raise creation to an A-grade?''
''No, it's 50 points as well. What I'm trying to say is the scarcity value of a Refinement A-ranked demon king. Looking around, I can see a few Creation A-ranked Demon Kings but what about a Refinement A-ranked Demon King?''
''In other words, items that can be made with an A-ranked smelter are more rare and valuable.
''That's right. The possibility of being able to have a unique subordinate as your subordinate or the probability of obtaining an A-ranked item... which one is more difficult?''
'Then what are the rates?　Are you saying that unique items are more valuable?　I can't relate to that idea, can I?

　Demon King Kaoru also desperately plays the tug of war.

I'll tell you the answer. A total of two sacred objects or unique items in exchange for a unique leader. This is still the biggest concession I've ever made to my alliance partner, Kaoru. If you can't accept this, then we'll return to the matter of this exchange to the drawing board.

　I decide on a drop-off point and start to finish the negotiations.

　A few minutes later.

'All right. I'll accept Theon's offer. I'll send you a list now.

　Demon King Kaoru had accepted my proposal.