01-20 · 015

Chapter 15: Miscalculation

At the entrance gate of Shinjuku Dungeon.

Amidst countless flashing lights, I was dumbfounded behind my gas mask helmet. Reporters fired questions at me in rapid succession. I was in a complete panic and tried to hide behind Seira's back. But she held my arm tightly and wouldn't let go.

"Eh… wai—"

"Relax. I told you, it's a promise. …Everyone from the media, I have a major announcement to make today."

When Seira spoke in a clear, composed voice, the clamorous press fell instantly silent. Camera lenses were all aimed at us.

"This sword, and this shield. These were all repaired and purified by a singularly talented craftsman."

Seira raised the 'Holy Sword Excalibur' at her waist and the 'Aegis Shield' on her left arm for the cameras to see.

"The name of that craftsman is 'Master_Eye,' who's been making waves on the online auction site. And—"

Seira pulled me closer by the shoulder and declared clearly into the microphones:

"The man standing beside me now is Master_Eye-shi’s agent, and also my, Seira Jinguji's, exclusive equipment maintainer."

"Wha—!?"

The reporters erupted in commotion, and even more intense flashes went off.

(Ah, so that's it. I should probably keep quiet. I might slip up.)

By introducing me as an "agent," she concealed the fact that Master_Eye equals me, while publicly declaring my connection to an S-Rank, thus protecting the existence of Master_Eye from countless potential enemies. I felt it was a bit too flashy, but… well, I couldn't complain.

"Now, here's the main point. Are you ready?"

Seira's tone dropped an octave. At that moment, the same overwhelming pressure she'd shown when she cut down the Minotaur in the dungeon dominated the area.

"Anyone who interferes with his or Master_Eye-shi’s business. Anyone who tries to extort unfair profits. Or anyone who rudely tries to expose his identity—"

Seira's blue eyes narrowed as if aiming through the camera lenses at someone.

"—consider that the same as making an enemy of me, Seira Jinguji. If you're prepared for that, by all means, go ahead."

A declaration of war from the strongest explorer, cold as ice. Not only the press but even the surrounding explorers gasped and shrank back in fear.

In a sense, she had fulfilled her promise to "become my backer" in the most definitive way possible. An overwhelmingly effective and forceful declaration. I could feel her sincere intention, and it gave me some relief.

"Well, that's all for the announcement! Let's go, Agent-san."

Seira withdrew her pressure casually, said this, and leaving the stunned reporters behind, she took my arm and got into the car she had called.

The car door closed, cutting off the noise outside.

"Pwah! That was nerve-wracking!"

Seira's expression switched from the cold, calculating one she had moments ago back to her usual innocent face as she leaned back in her seat.

"How was that, Toru-san? Did I do well?"

"Yes. Thank you for everything… you really saved me."

Thinking about it calmly, this was an incredible situation. In a place where media from all over Japan had gathered, a top explorer had spoken directly. The name 'Master_Eye' and the existence of a 'mysterious agent' would surely be all over the news by the end of the day.

I took off the gas mask, let out a deep breath, and looked up at the car ceiling. This was a far cry from my initial plan to stay out of the spotlight, but my biggest concern—Rin's oppressive interference—should now be completely prevented.

My final contract negotiations with Rin. I could easily tear it up, but I had my connection with Seira, and I also had the 'Seed of Servitude' I'd obtained in the deep layers, which I'd rather not use if possible. Maybe I could still manage to conclude negotiations favorably.

◇ ◇ ◇

Side: Rin Sakai

“…Huh? What is this?”

At a lounge café in a high-end hotel in Tokyo. The teacup slipped from my hand and clattered onto the table as I was enjoying an elegant afternoon tea.

A tablet device was propped up on the table. On it was a live broadcast from an explorer-specialized news channel.

“—consider that the same as making an enemy of me, Seira Jinguji.”

On screen, the Sword Saint was pulling a suspicious man in a gas mask close to her shoulder and declaring this in a cold, clear voice. I couldn't see his face under the gas mask. But his build, his mannerisms… Above all, the fact that he was Master_Eye—

It was him. There's no way he'd use an agent. It was Toru Soma himself.

"N-No way…?"

With trembling hands, I took out my phone and checked the chat history I'd exchanged with him yesterday.

'About the appointment with Seira-sama… the soonest we can meet is next month.'

"He lied…!? That idiot got the better of me… He negotiated directly with an S-Rank behind my back!?"

He's incompetent, a small fry. I absolutely hated him for this.

I gritted my teeth. He was supposed to be just an easy money tree, unsuspectingly signing the 'Exclusive Management Agreement' I'd created to skim 70% of his profits. An F-Rank with no combat ability. A bottom-tier pack mule bossed around by Goda and the others. If I acted a little cunning and flattered him appropriately, he'd become a convenient ATM, earning money for me for life.

That assumption had been turned completely upside down.

'Anyone who tries to extort unfair profits… If you're prepared for that, by all means, go ahead.'

Seira's words through the screen echoed like a death sentence for me. What would happen if I tried to push a contract practically amounting to fraud on someone under the protection of an S-Rank explorer? Worst case, permanent expulsion from the guild. If things went badly, I might even lose my life.

"Don't fuck with me…! Don't fuck with me!!"

BAM!!

I slammed the table. The surrounding eyes turned toward me, but I didn't care about that now.

"That piece of garbage!! Looking down on me!! Getting cocky!!"

My perfect plan. My future, where I would have monopolized billions, tens of billions, and stood at the top of the winners' circle—had been so cruelly crushed in the palm of that unremarkable man's hand?

"I really got outplayed? …Me? By that bottom-feeder?"

I gnawed at my nails. Not caring about ruining my perfectly manicured nails, I glared at the tablet screen.

It was frustrating. It made me angry.

But I absolutely wouldn't let it end like this. We'd soon have the final contract negotiations. Even if an S-Rank was backing him, he was still an amateur with little legal knowledge. There should still be an opening to exploit. I wouldn't let him escape. I'd use any means necessary to bring him to the negotiating table. I'd make him understand who was superior.

"Just you wait, Toru Soma…! I'll squeeze you until you're crying on your knees, begging to lick my shoes…!"

As the surrounding customers looked on with suspicious eyes, Rin Sakai ground her teeth alone, a mad, grating sound.