Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

Satou here. Every organization has its tacit understandings and traditions. Over many years, the origins of these customs are sometimes forgotten, but they rarely disappear altogether.

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“So, there’s really no way to get you to budge?”

“Sorry about that. Even if you were the king or a great noble lord, there’s just no way. Even if you offered ‘the Lost Julurhorn,’ a branch of the World Tree, or Orichalcum armor as payment, it’s impossible.”

With a look of regret, the Crimson Noble Jeryl told me this. He probably named items that are absolutely impossible to procure, but if it weren’t for the Julurhorn, I could try to prepare something. As for the Julurhorn, I might even be able to make a replica now.

“You should give up. This is an absolute and unchangeable tradition established by King Ancestor Yamato himself.”

The guild master, who had been silently eavesdropping on the conversation between me and the handsome fellow, cut in with an air of knowing. There he goes again—King Ancestor.

“About 600 years ago, when Lord Yamato was still alive, there was a huge commotion among the kingdom’s senior officials, nearly splitting the country, over a dispute about the valuable legendary-grade treasure (artifact) dropped by a floor master.”

I see. Defeating a floor master is rare, after all.

“Seeing this, Lord Yamato established a rule—”

Summarizing the guild master’s story: First, those who defeat a floor master must present all the loot to the king. Then, except for one item selected by their representative, the treasures are put up in a king-hosted auction where anyone from the Shiga Kingdom can participate if they pay the entry fee.

This auction is open to all citizens of Shiga Kingdom, but the entry fee is one gold coin per person, effectively barring anyone but the wealthy or nobles from participating. Ninety percent of the cash raised from the auction, along with the initially selected item, is given back as a reward. The remaining ten percent is collected as tax but mostly covers the cost of guarding the auctioned items.

“Normally, I would just turn you away without even talking, but since you’re a promising adventurer, I asked young Jeryl here to entertain you as a special favor.”

“Guild master, please stop calling me ‘young Jeryl.’”

Despite Jeryl’s protest, the guild master continued mumbling something about diapers, but I just ignored it. Hmm, using financial power, huh…

Oh, before that, I need to check. I don’t want him choosing the Blessed Orb as his reward.

“So, Lord Jeryl, which reward do you desire?”

“Of course, the Blessed Orb.”

Ugh!? Please be one of the other two!

“Then, which orb exactly?”

“The Poison Resistance Orb.”

Safe.

Yeah, normally, no one really wants the Chanting Orb.

“I see, you’re aiming for the light magic orb.”

“The light magic orb is highly competitive. When it appeared 200 years ago, it was sold for an outrageous 3,000 gold coins.”

“That’s incredible.”

Impressed, I checked the number of Shiga Kingdom gold coins in my storage. I could probably buy one or two just with what I have on hand. I might even win by bidding legitimately, but if other bidders use underhanded methods, having money won’t help.

I’ll make sure to visit relevant parties and power brokers to check if any cheating tricks exist.

I thanked the handsome fellow for meeting me and gave the kindly (or not so kindly) guild master a bottle of “Evil Demon Slayer” as a gift. It’s a strong liquor given by Ga Hao the Orc; ordinary people who drink it foam at the mouth and collapse. Even I get drunk for about ten minutes with it. For the next three days, no one saw the guild master around. Later, he gave me grudging looks, but since the taste was excellent, no one complained.

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Next, I headed to the prefect’s mansion.

“Hmm, unfortunately, even nobles—and especially nobles—cannot violate this unwritten rule. If anyone breaks it, their political enemies will seize the chance to bring them down,” Marquis Ashinen warned me seriously. Although his tone was serious, his expression was relaxed, as his desire was not for me but for the Statue of a Handsome Young Man I had gifted him.