Black Cat Chapter 91: Cordobas

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　The Guild Master, Cordobas, speaks softly throughout, but he is a person who makes you tense to the core just by being face to face with him.

　To use an analogy, it is as if you are facing a fierce beast that is chained in front of you and you do not know how strong the chain is.

　As long as he has the Guild Master chains, I don’t think I will be harmed, but if I let myself get him riled up in any way, the chains can easily be shattered and the fangs Cordobas will bite me to death.

“I’m surprised you came up with the idea of solidifying air containing magical elements and activating it as a magic tool.” (Cordobas)

“For a child from a mountain village like Atsuka, magic tools are an expensive commodity. There are substitutes for fire, water, and wind, but I wanted to use something useful, so I decided to make it myself.” (Nyango)

“As mentioned in the report of you on subjugating the Bronze Wolf, you are already familiar with multiple magic tools, aren’t you?” (Cordobas)

“Yes, I am practicing fire, water, wind, light, cooling, and other magic circles I learned from Professor Lembolt of the Academy since I came to Ibouro.” (Nyango)

“In the long history of the country, it is said that no one has ever mastered more than one attribute, but you, Nyango, seem to have mastered multiple attribute magic.” (Cordobas)

“It looks that way, but only void attribute is used, and it is the Engraving Magic that is being invoked.” (Nyango)

“Speaking of which, the magic that decided the final match against Bode in the hand-to-hand combat was also void magic?” (Cordobas)

“Yes, that is also void magic.” (Nyango)

　When I explained about the rubber string that knocked out Bode, Cordobas smiled deeply like a ferocious beast.

　When I entered his office, he looked like a dandy Guild Master, but I think the plating is slowly coming off and the bare metal is coming out.

“Not only size and shape but also hardness and softness can be willed, I didn’t know it could be so… flexible.” (Cordobas)

“My void magic is the result of ingenuity because of necessity.” (Nyango)

“I see. …By the way, Nyango, did you eat the heart of a monster?” (Cordobas)

“Eh! N-no way… What are you talking about… the heart of a monster? (Nyango) [T/N: Poker face, laugh or smile, Nyango. Too fidgety and transparent just like a cat.]

　Since I was suddenly cut in from a casual conversation, I don’t feel like I’m deceiving you at all.

“Hahahaha… you are quite skilled, but you are a horrible negotiator. I am not a devout follower of the goddess Fatima. I know that eating the hearts of monsters is a way to increase the magic index, and I know of people who have lost their lives due to the magic element rampage. No matter how efficient void magic is, I don’t believe you could use magic on such a large scale, even if you had grown a lot from the Magic Index measured at the time of your registration.” (Cordobas)

“W-well, I-I’ll leave that to your imagination.” (Nyango)

“Well, that’s all well and good. But you’d be doing yourself a favor by not getting greedy.” (Cordobas)

“Yes, I intend to strengthen the rest with my own practice and discipline.” (Nyango)

“I see, then I have nothing to say.” (Cordobas)

　Well, in the case of catkin, even if their magical power index is high, it is below the average of other races, so it is natural that they would be suspicious if I use magic as much as I do.

“Now, Nyango, I understand your situation very well. Let’s talk about the reward for you. Do you know how much is the guild’s fee when you submit a request?” (Cordobas)

“As I recall, it’s five percent of the reward… I think?” (Nyango)

“That’s right. If the request’s reward is one gold coin, the fee to the guild is five silver coins. This is also the basis for determining the reward.” (Cordobas)

“Um……?” (Nyango)

　Don’t tell me that they can get five percent of five hundred large gold coins as a reward?

　If it were 25 large gold coins, it would be about 25 million Japanese yen.

“Hmm, you are quite quick-witted, aren’t you? If it is five percent of the value of the reward for saving or protecting, that is 25 large gold coins, but… that is indeed too large a sum.” (Cordobas)

“Yes, that is too much money for a day’s work, no matter who the adventurer is.” (Nyango)

“However, Nyango. You also saved the lives of the academy students, so even twenty-five large gold coins isn’t enough.” (Cordobas)

“No, no, I think it’s too much, and if people knew about it, they would definitely be envious.” (Nyango)

“Well, that’s true… But that could be a hindrance tripping you on your future activities. The reward is ten large gold coins. …In exchange, we will announce to the outside world that it will be five large gold coins. What do you think?” (Cordobas)

　Cordovas leaned forward and gave an intimidating toothy grin.

　Probably, if you look at the current situation from the side, it will look like a cat glared at by a lion.

　In other words, he’s probably saying that they’ll reduce the degree to which people around me become jealous of me, and in return, I’ll have to accept a reduction in the reward…

　I appreciate the fact that they are reducing the degree of envy, but I think the percentage of reduction is too large.

　However, it would be bad for our future activities if I sour the Guild Master’s mood, and on the other hand, if I accept the conditions, I will owe him a favor.

　In conclusion, I had no choice but to accept the offer, but it was a little annoying to accept it, so I pretended to be worried for a little while.

“Okay, that amount is fine.” (Nyango)

“I see, excuse me…” (Cordobas)

“However, I have one request.” (Nyango)

“A request… Huh?” (Cordobas)

　The temperature in the room dropped about two degrees, I thought, just because Cordovas had erased his big smile and switch to a serious face.

　Still, I can’t let this opportunity slip away.

“Well, I’m not asking you to increase the amount of money or raise my rank.” (Nyango)

“What do you want from me, then?” (Cordobas)

“I need advice.” (Nyango)

“Advice……?” (Cordobas)

“Yes, advice for a normal catkin to live a normal life in the city of Ibouro.” (Nyango)

　I hid the fact that my brother had fallen to the slums and told him about my situation, where he had no luck in finding a job and was in dire straits.

“Not only my brother but also other catkins like me who are not blessed with unusual magic are in a difficult situation to make a living. Of course, catkins must change, but please advise me how they can change and how they can live a normal life for the rest of my race.” (Nyango)

“Fufu… Fufufu… Fuhahahaha! Interesting, interesting, you are going to use the deduction of fifteen large gold coins to advise on how to improve the status of catkins. Good, very interesting indeed!” (Cordobas)

　Even though both Shure and Ms. Jessica said he was troublesome and bothersome, I had thought that it was because he was an intimidating person, but I guess he was a former adventurer on the lookout for interesting things.

“I don’t mean to suggest that you should give every catkin protection. It’s just that it’s for those who are working hard to live a normal life.” (Nyango)

“I see…it certainly seems like the present world is hard for Catkin to live in. That’s fine, the guild will be grateful if more people can live a decent life. I’m happy to give you any advice you need.” (Cordobas)

“Thank you very much.” (Nyango)

　Cordobas himself is very busy as the Guild Master, so he said he would be happy to use Ms. Jessica as a contact person for advice.

　He told me that she could make a decision on the spot if it was something that Ms. Jessica could do, and that she would get back to me later if she had to ask for a decision from Cordobas.

　Having a connection with the head of the Adventurers’ Guild, one of the fundamental organizations of the city of Ibouro, will be significant in improving the lives of the catkins in the future.

　After the tense meeting, I was about to leave the room after quenching my parched throat with a cup of cold tea when I was stopped by Cordobas.

“Oh no, no, I almost forgot. Nyango, from today you will be promoted to C-rank. Have Jessica take care of the procedures.” (Cordobas)

“Yeah! I just went up to D rank a while ago. Is it okay for me to go up in rank so quickly?” (Nyango)

“What are you talking about? You overwhelmed Bode, a C-rank, and this time you captured 60 ruffians all at once. Even C-rank isn’t enough.” (Cordobas)

“But if I rank up so quickly…” (Nyango)

“The others will be jealous of you? If you don’t rise in rank, they’ll be jealous enough. I’ve heard rumors in the tavern.” (Cordobas)

“Meooow, ah, that’s just because Ms. Leila is using me as a toy…” (Nyango)

“Fuhahahaha! Nyango, it is not only adventurers, skilled people go higher, that’s the truth of the world. It’s not just because of your recent achievements that you were able to rank up. It’s because you trained and worked hard until you get to this point… am I wrong?” (Cordobas)

　It is true that since my days in Atsuka Village, I have continued to use void magic and have become able to hunt deer, wild boar, and even orcs, starting with Forest Mouse and fish.

　The fact that these kinds of accumulated experiences have become my flesh and blood and led to my promotion, I felt so happy to be promoted to C-rank that I shudder to think about it.

“Nyango. People who advance in rank are envied, but you don’t have to deal with those who envy you. If you want to rise in the ranks, you have to improve yourself and rise in the ranks by your own ability. The difference in race or anything else doesn’t matter.” (Cordobas)

　Cordobas smirked and waved his hand in the air telling me he was done talking.

　I left the office, thankful for the initial advice.

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