《Level Up!》 《Existing Skill Level Increased!》


    Well then, now that I''ve returned the favor for that surprise attack, shall I try asking them again?


    "Will you listen to me properly this time?"


    "...Yeah."


    While questioning him, I was dismembering one of the guys who attacked me and playing with the parts, and he nodded obediently. If he had just done this from the start, it would have saved us both a lot of trouble, wouldn’t it?


    "Wow, guts are surprisingly whitish, huh..."


    "Please, I''ll talk, and I''ll be as accommodating as possible, so please stop torturing my men any further..."


    "? Torture? ...Well, alright, I''ll stop playing around and we can talk."


    "...Thank goodness."


    This time, I''m finally guided to the back room. Along the way, presumably the boss''s (provisional) guards, a few people follow us, but they all stare at me as if I''m some kind of monster... It reminds me of my father, which makes me want to kill them.


    "…Hey, you guys, don''t gawk at the guests."


    "Y-yes, sir!"


    As expected of this place''s boss, he''s very perceptive. This is a plus for his personnel evaluation.


    "Here we are, please come in."


    "Excuse me."


    The room I was led to was so clean and tidy that it was hard to believe it was located in a back alley, and the furniture subtly decorated the room in a refined manner; the lack of excessive ornamentation is a plus in my book.


    "Please, have a seat there."


    "Then I won''t hesitate to."


    Ooh, this feeling of sinking in... And then a woman who appeared from somewhere brings out tea and sweets, and then withdraws. From these small details, you can get a glimpse into the Moonlight Family''s wealth. Is being in organized crime really that profitable after all?


    "So, what''s this business you wanted to talk about?"


    "Won''t you become the lord of this town?"


    "...............Sorry, I didn''t quite catch that. Could you say that again?"


    Huh? I thought I spoke clearly, though...


    "…Shall I carve it into you?"


    "W-wait, hold on! I heard you! I heard you!"Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Suddenly making jokes like that.


    "You''re surprisingly humorous, aren''t you?"


    "Heh heh, right?"


    But he doesn''t seem to be used to saying jokes; his smile is strained.


    "S-so, about becoming the lord, was it? I''d like you to explain in more detail."


    "Certainly. You see, I''ve caused quite a ruckus in the main part of town and ended up with a bounty on my head."


    "…So it was you (muttering)."


    "In this situation, I can''t go shopping openly in the main streets, nor can I use the facilities. In fact, to stay at an inn, the owner had to sacrifice two of his fingers."


    "……"


    "If it''s just for ‘fun,’ that''s fine, but having to do things against my will is no fun, and it''s a waste of time too."


    "……"


    "So, I was thinking, since this is how things are, I might as well make a puppet ruler who''s convenient for me. What do you say?"


    "……Wait, hold on, this isn''t something I can decide on my own, and I can''t make a decision right away. I understand you''re serious, but please give me some time."


    "Is that so? That''s unfortunate, but I''ll wait... However, the deadline is one week from today."


    "Understood."


    It seems it will take some time, and he seems really reluctant, but he agreed. That''s good.


    "And one more thing."


    "…There''s more?"


    "Yes, there is more. If possible, I''d like some high-performance equipment and tools and materials for making potions."


    "Take as much as you like from the underground warehouse..."


    Oh, how generous! I''m really starting to like this guy, you know?


    "I''m happy to hear that, thank you very much."


    Saying that, I stand up to head there right away, but–––


    "Wait, just one last question, please."


    "? What is it?"


    "What are you planning to do during this week you''re waiting?"


    That''s true, I''ll have a whole week free. What should I do?


    "Hmm... Let me see... Well, I can go crush the Yagan Family for you, as an advance payment of sorts."


    "…T-that''s appreciated, but it''s not like I''ve agreed to cooperate yet, you know?"


    "…………Are you going to refuse?"


    Huh? Huh? I thought things were ending on a good note, but is it just my wishful thinking...? How disappointing. It''s really disappointing, but–––


    "––––I shall look forward to the next boss."


    ––––Saying that, I raise my dagger.


    "W-wait, hold on! It''s not like I said I wouldn''t cooperate, right?! I''ll definitely negotiate with my superiors to cooperate! So please, I beg you!"


    "So you''re not the boss after all, are you? You''re probably just an executive or something, huh? Well, I don''t really care as long as you cooperate…"


    "N-no, I''m not lying!"


    "I know, well, whatever... I''m looking forward to hearing from you in a week, okay?"


    Saying that, I leave the room and head to the underground warehouse, taking absolutely everything stored inside. The person who guided me to the underground warehouse had a strained look on his face, but he didn''t complain.


    I think I''ll log out around here for today. From tomorrow, I''ll level up my Alchemy skill in parallel with crushing the Yagan Family.


    ▼▼▼▼▼▼▼


    "…Boss, was that really okay?"


    "…It can''t be helped. Neither you nor I want to die yet, right?"


    "That''s true, but…"


    The person I had been talking to just now disappeared, and a wave of exhaustion washed over me, and I leaned back against the sofa. My subordinate voices his concern. While replying to him, I rack my brains on how to explain this situation to the boss and the other executives and get them to cooperate, when one of the subordinates who had guided the woman returns.


    "Boss…"


    "How did she seem?"


    "She seemed to be in a good mood the whole time, humming to herself."


    "…Is that so? How enviable."


    And here I am with a stomach ache because of you…


    "And? What did she take with her? You checked, of course? We need any information about her we can get right now."


    "About that…"


    "…What is it? Don''t tell me you forgot to check?"


    I press him, irritated by my subordinate''s hesitant manner.


    "It''s not that I forgot to check, it''s just that, um…"


    "What is it? Stop beating around the bush and say it."


    "…………Everything."


    "Huh?"


    "She took absolutely everything stored in the warehouse, everything down to even the candlesticks for lighting up the place…………"


    And with that, I fainted from sheer stress. Please, give me a break, seriously…