Bjorn Yandel the Barbarian

Episode 649: Barbarian Business (2)

After finishing the conversation with his grandfather, I visited the dwarf for the first time in a long time.

“Hikurod Murad.”

“Bjoruuuuuck! Why now…! Why did you come here now…! “I wrote several letters…!”

The reaction of the reunited dwarf was more intense than ever. That’s because their blacksmith shop was unable to avoid this incident and became unemployed.

So he is meeting this person in the lobby of the Com Mel B Inn, which is not even in Palja.

“sorry. “I wanted to come a long time ago, but I was busy with work.”

“You were busy? “It’s been over a month since I came back!”

“Oh, you were busy?”

“….”

Actually, I could have seen it at any time if I took the time, but I put it off for a day or two and now it’s now.

‘It looks like most of the assets, including the Mystic I entrusted to you, have been fully preserved.’

Should I say that the situation is not that urgent?

According to the contents of the letter, it seemed that as soon as the incident occurred, even in the midst of the chaos, they succeeded in taking refuge with all their important assets.

Well, I still couldn’t avoid losing the blacksmith shop.

“So Hikurd, how are you doing now?”

“Hehe… For now, we are just monitoring the situation. I thought about mobilizing all of my connections to repair the blacksmith shop, but… as you know, there is no way that reopening the blacksmith shop would make a difference in the current situation. So, I’m thinking about starting over at Commel B…”

“however?”

“Recently, the average monthly rent in all areas, including Commelby, has risen significantly. I guess it’s because there are a lot of people who think the same way as me. “I heard from someone I know that the number of explorers who want to open a store is increasing significantly.”

Oh, this is information I didn’t know.

Is this because people from Districts 7 and 13 are flowing into other districts, and there is also the negative news of the labyrinth being closed?

‘…The nobles who own the land are also in dire need of money.’

It is said that the more chaotic the times become, the more common people are dying.

That’s exactly what it says.

“So, before I decide anything, I wanted to meet you and hear your story… Do you know anything? What will happen to this situation…”

…Anyway, was the dwarf this small?

The subtly asked tone seemed as if he was asking a stock expert if he had any good information.

Well, since I’m a noble, you probably thought I might know something.

“I don’t know when this situation will end.”

“Hehe… I guess that’s true….”

“But if you’re thinking of opening the blacksmith shop again, open it in District 7 as soon as possible.”

“What is the reason?”

“Reconstruction work will begin soon. Even if you just make and deliver rebar and shovels, you will be able to break even. “Maybe I can give you some work to do.”

Afterwards, when I informed him that I would be participating in the order competition on behalf of Melves, the dwarf’s expression changed.

That’s what this guy knows too.

In any world, businesses related to the ‘government’ make a lot of money.

“ah! Well then, we better hurry! Just trust me! “I will work hard!”

“Ah, but there is no need to rush now.”

“huh…? “There’s no need to hurry?”

Looking at the dwarf tilting his head, I pushed him away and explained the method called ‘jeonse’.

“what? “Is there a way to rent for free without having to pay rent?!”

“okay. If you purchase land in the near future, you can sign a contract using the method I mentioned. So until then, think about how to build the building.”

As he said that and patted the shoulder of the guy who must have been going through a hard time recently, the dwarf’s eyes got watery.

“Bjorn…! No matter how close we are, this is too much of a benefit…! Thank you! “Thank you so much!”

…People in this world are really naive.

***

The conversation with the dwarf continued further.

He said he is now a businessman, but since he used to be an explorer, he asked me various questions about exploring the first underground floor.

Ah, isn’t this a story that everyone in this city would be curious about, even if they aren’t particularly explorers?

anyway.

“The silver sea spreads out on the first basement floor. And above that, the labyrinth closes and the discarded items float around.”

As he is a dwarf with a rather light mouth, he left out all the things that required security and filled the conversation with things that he didn’t mind being known about.

but….

“It’s a silver sea… If he had seen it, he might have liked it.”

“I would have liked it even if it wasn’t specifically the sea. “He was a very curious guy.”

“I guess so….”

At some point, the dwarf’s eyes, who were happily listening to my story, sink.

And like a drunk drinking and reminiscing about his younger days, he looks somewhere blankly.

“Bjorn, what do you think?”

“How do you feel?”

“If… if that hadn’t happened then, do you think I would still be exploring?”

A voice full of deep regret and disappointment.

Because of that, I hesitated for a moment about what to say, but I soon came to my senses and spoke jokingly.

“Well, that could be true, but you wouldn’t have been exploring with me anyway.”

“…huh?”

“Because I’m not a weak-hearted person enough to forcefully drag a lagging colleague along.”

Even the dwarf laughed at my words.

“You’re a colleague who lags behind… I’m sure I can’t refute you when I see you now. If it were me, I probably wouldn’t have been able to keep up. “If it’s that friend, I don’t know.”

“Well, to be honest, Dwalki, I think you had more potential than that guy?”

“Haha, is that so? Anyway, we would have followed you anyway.”

“No, what did you hear? “There was absolutely no intention of accepting it from this side?”

“This guy is joking. “Aren’t you the type of person who can abandon your comrades?”

What a joke.

In fact, I was thinking about disbanding Team Banpuni right before the incident happened.

That’s why I regretted it so much afterwards.

I should have made that choice sooner.

“….”

After a moment of silence, the dwarf was the first to bring up a new topic.

“Still, I feel somewhat relieved that the entire forge has been destroyed.”

“Are you relieved? “Do you have a headache?”

“It hurts. I only said that because I felt like my friend had my back. Now let’s shake off the past and move forward…”

At those words, I became solemn for a moment without realizing it.

Come to think of it, this is the blacksmith shop that this guy ran.

‘It was originally a remodeled Dwalki’s house….’

Afterwards, the dwarf expressed his ambitions, saying that he would build a larger and more up-to-date blacksmith shop.

And how much time has passed?

“I don’t know why I always talk so much when I see you. I’m sorry. “But can I ask you one last question?”

“Of course.”

“What do you think that friend would think if he saw me now?”

“…?”

“I became neither an explorer nor a blacksmith… I became just a merchant. Do you think I would find it pitiful?”

At the question asked in a trembling voice, I burst out laughing without realizing it.

I feel a bit sorry for doing this while I’m being serious.

“It sure looks pitiful.”

“…As expected, you think so too—.”

“When I hear you talk about such useless things.”

I really heard something, but I was wondering what kind of nonsense they were talking about. A lot of time must have passed now, so I slowly ended the conversation.

And getting up from your seat.

“Oh, and this shouldn’t be known yet.”

He spoke into the dwarf’s ear.

“Dragon Slayer, Regal Vagos.”

“…!”

As soon as he heard that name, his body trembled as if he had been traumatized.

Thanks to that response, even the slightest hesitation I had was erased.

“Don’t worry about him anymore.”

They say that the fewer people who know about an Amman secret, the better.

This guy deserved to be heard.

“Because it is no longer in this world.”

Maybe he just didn’t show it to me because he didn’t want to be a burden, but it was a wish that he was desperately hoping for on the inside.

However, it is as if that wish has come true.

“Right….”

Nevertheless, the dwarf just continued his silence after those words.

Why is that guy?

How did I know that.

Are you by any chance?

There was no such thing at all.

As if he was considering my situation.

After a long period of silence, he finally managed to utter one word.

“…Thank you.”

With that one word, I awkwardly turned my back.

“…Thank you.”

There are still a lot of people who need to pay back.

***

As expected, it didn’t take long for Grandpa Hoeju to contact me.

Did it take about four days?

In fact, it’s safe to say that at this point, I went home and just sorted out my thoughts to the bare minimum before contacting them.

‘I said I would start looking for nobles to sell land starting tomorrow, so I can leave this part to you…’

After receiving the reply, I made an appointment with Count Alminus and had a meeting.

“This is truly a genius idea. Did you say Shabin Emoor? “Why am I only now discovering such a talented person?”

Anyway, they covet our administrative secretary general.

After laughing and taking pictures, the Count gave me advice on the lease contract method and provisions that I had devised(?).

and….

“It would be good if the provisions just mentioned were required to be included in the contract. “I will treat the ‘deposit’ you mentioned as ‘collateral’ and ensure that you receive the same treatment as existing secured loan products.”

He confirmed the purpose of his visit today.

To be honest, I was a little nervous.

Should I say that I became anxious because the situation was going much smoother than I expected?

Because of that, I thought about this and that, but surprisingly, Count Alminus answered without hiding anything.

“Do you think the business will succeed? In fact, as of now, it’s half and half. “It is a business that can be done because of times like these, but on the other hand, because of times like these, you can’t be sure of anything.”

“Hmm….”

“As much as there are big profits when you succeed, there will also be big losses when you fail. “Currently, we, the Count of Alminus, do not have the capacity to make such an investment.”

Of course, I didn’t really understand until this point.

“Then wouldn’t it be right to not approve a mortgage loan?”

A mortgage loan provided by Alminus Bank.

In fact, just from this alone, Count Alminus is taking on the same risk as me.

But why did Count Alminus make this choice?

“I decided there was no harm to be done up to that point.”

“…Why?”

“That’s because you are there.”

Count Alminus’ eyes were so explicit that I unconsciously covered his chest with both hands.

“If the business goes bankrupt, won’t you owe me a big debt?”

“….”

“I just looked at it from the perspective of a businessman and judged it. “I believe you will be able to pay off that debt safely.”

“….”

“Even if it takes a lifetime.”

It was only with the last words that the question was finally resolved.

“ah….”

Even though you will lose money, you will be able to treat me like a slave for the rest of your life, so it is a business worth doing.

Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine.

but….

“How is it? “Do you still want my help?”

“Of course.”

As he nodded his head without a moment of hesitation, the Count burst into laughter.

“As expected, I knew it would be like that for you. But now that you’ve gotten used to it, it’s a lot more comfortable than you thought, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“This kind of conversation doesn’t matter. Since you don’t have to hide your true feelings from each other and procrastinate, you can save time and reduce mental energy consumption, so it’s even efficient. “I wish everyone else was like you…”

The Count, who must have lived his entire life in a world where scheming was rampant, seemed to find this Bavarian-style business refreshing and appealing.

“Anyway, then I’ll just leave.”

“Why don’t you go and eat at least?”

“I have plans for next time!”

“Haha, next time, please clear your schedule. “Once I got used to it, I surprisingly found conversations with you to be very enjoyable.”

“i get it.”

After finishing my meeting with the Count, I headed straight to the Prime Minister’s mansion.

“Baron Yandel…?”

The butler of the mansion looked very embarrassed at my unexpected visit.

“Excuse me, but I haven’t received any word from His Excellency the Marquis…”

Well, who else in this noble world would come to visit without an appointment other than me?

And that too against the Marquis, the second-in-command in this country.

“It’s natural that you weren’t informed, so don’t make such an apologetic face.”

“…yes?”

“Is the Marquis inside?”

“Chu, are you out on a trip?”

“Oh, then we can just go inside and wait. “Please give me some guidance!”

“Well… this is a presumptuous thing to say, but His Excellency the Marquis is busy with government affairs and I don’t know when he will come, so in many ways, it would be better to make a new appointment and visit again at a later date—.”

what.

I already tried to make an appointment, but everyone ignored me, so I ended up coming in person.

“done! The Marquis and I don’t have a relationship that’s so formal! “I’ll just relax and wait inside!”

Soon, I entered the mansion as if pushing the butler who didn’t know what to do, and as things progressed like that, the butler had no choice but to welcome me as a guest.

and….

One day, two days, three days…

Well, I didn’t plan on waiting this long, but anyway.

The butler’s plea to please go back falls on deaf ears.

From the second day onwards, I was not given any food, so I filled my stomach with the beef jerky I had, and silently withstood all the interference from the drivers who tried to force me out.

“Hehe… we don’t have time, so speak quickly. “What on earth is the purpose of doing this?”

Soon the Marquis appeared.