#007. The Healing Party is Too Kind (3)

#007. The Healing Party is Too Kind (3)

Choosing a nanny over a house made reality harsh.

Five gold coins.

The iron sword that had performed so well showed plainly why easily earned money was so easily lost.

““The wandering lamb pleads for the Lord’s assistance, and the Lord hath revealed that three gold coins shall guide this pitiful lamb down the righteous path.””

The priest was a bandit in holy robes.

It was easy to understand the expression on her mother’s face when she recalled male priests.

Well, he *had* taken three knife wounds to the stomach.

And a throwing dagger to the arm.

The ambush location was also suitably far from the village.

It would be troublesome if guards or village adventurers were to swarm.

The amount of blood spilled was as great as the distance they had traveled.

Frankly, she couldn’t entirely fault the fact that Gorgon’s resurrection cost three gold coins, given the severity of his injuries.

After leaving Gorgon at the temple, she immediately went to the Adventurer’s Guild.

“The failure-of-request compensation is thirty silver coins.”

“…It can’t be helped.”

“Still, to give up that much gathering material to save your companion, I must admit I’m touched. As expected of Teresa, Mother of Compassion. That maternal love extends to her party members as well!”

Mother glared, her eyes narrowed into slits.

The receptionist, despite the beads of sweat trickling down his temples, stood his ground, refusing to retract his statement.

He understood the nobility of Mother’s decision.

Three gold coins spent on just one party member.

A deed one wouldn’t commit for a mere acquaintance.

Childhood friends sworn to wed.

Lifelong companions bound by twenty years of friendship.

A love that defied social standing.

Only in instances like those would such a thing be seen.

Her reputation within the guild soared.

“Is that what they call a *tsundere*?”

“Worth taking those kids along, I’d say.”

“Lucky her. Our party leader just leers at our rears…”

A single action, more potent than a hundred words or promises of benefits, bestowed trust.

“Let’s go.”

“Just a moment. I have a request.”

Mother breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she might not be able to buy a house, but at least she could afford a room at the inn with what was left.

But the complete resolution of the matter required a little further expenditure.

“The bounty on Gorgo is unjust. I want the guild to advocate for the unfair treatment of a member adventurer and to have the bounty on Gorgo rescinded.”

“You… when did you become so eloquent?”

Even Mother, not to mention the receptionist, was taken aback.

I hadn’t needed to speak much before, but to voice what no one else would, I had to step forward like this.

Being the center of attention is frightening.

But the thought of Gorgo dying is more frightening.

I still remember it clearly.

The way Gorgo reached out to protect us.

The way he clung on stubbornly, blocking the bandit even as he was stabbed.

He was an excellent guardian.

If the one he guarded wasn’t a worthy person…

Gorgo’s sacrifice would be such a waste.

Therefore, I will prove it.

That your sacrifice was not in vain.

That sacrifice was well worth it.

“The drafting of a formal letter of protest in the guild’s name, and the submission of a request for a bounty review. How much will that be?”

━━━

Title: Let’s Manage the Adventurer’s Guild

Genre: Simulation, Management, Revenge, Politics

━━━

Although I didn’t become a guild employee, my knowledge as a player still remains.

The receptionist was stunned at my ability to pinpoint the precise documents needed and request their dispatch so readily.

“Would you mind waiting a moment?”

“Yes.”

After rummaging diligently through rulebooks and documents, the receptionist finally found the relevant regulations and forms.

“It’s real. This actually existed.”

“What is it? What’s going on?”

“Ah, Senior. We had a case where an adventurer from our guild had an unfair bounty placed on them by another city’s adventurers guild, and thanks to this kid’s request, I found a way to file a complaint.”

The senior receptionist also seemed bewildered after looking at the paperwork.

“It’s understandable that a fresh, one-year rookie wouldn’t know this, but how does he know about regulations that even I, a five-year veteran, didn’t know existed?”

Mother’s gaze is rather sharp.

Still, there’s only one thing I can say in this situation.

“The neighborhood lady told me.”

“Seriously, does that neighborhood house some retired, 20-year veteran guild employee? With that kind of experience, it’d be hard to just live in the back alleys…”

“…”

“Senior. It’s not like the kid did anything wrong. He’s a little scared.”

“Ah. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. Now that things have turned out like this, should I help you out a bit?”

The senior receptionist, along with our assigned receptionist, not only finished filling out the documents, but also managed to get the guildmaster and vice-guildmaster’s approval stamps in less than an hour.

“Congratulations. Thanks to the senior’s help, we can resolve the postage costs with a debt.”

“Wouldn’t think you were a fresh-faced rookie for a year! You can’t even take what’s offered. You should be saying that with a bit of swagger.”

“Hehe. Thank you, Senior. Oh, right. The document dispatch fee can be charged as a debt to the party’s public funds, or as a debt directly to Gorgo-ssi.”

“How much is it?”

“One gold coin. The reason for the calculation is the allowance for the risks associated with our guild intervening in a dispute with another guild.”

Mother opened her pouch.

Two shimmering gold coins and several silver coins were inside.

With this, one could buy an iron sword.

More work.

More difficult work.

More profitable work.

Many jobs seemed to flicker in her mind, hesitating, but the staff did not force a choice.

Paying directly.

Incurring the debt to the guild’s public funds.

Incurring the debt directly to Gorgo in the guild’s name.

The decision rested with Mother, the party leader.

“Ian.”

“Yes.”

“Do that thing.”

“That thing?”

“The thing you’ve been annoying me with every day.”

I was genuinely surprised that Mother, who normally detested it so much, was requesting it with her own mouth.

However, if this is what Mother truly wants, I have no intention of running away either.

I am a hypnotist.

A manipulator, twisting and controlling the hearts of men.

Using this wicked power, I shall…

[Brainwash Activated]

[Designated Target – Mother]

[Command – You are a mother who cherishes her children above all else.]

I lashed at my mother’s conscience.

“Yes, I am a mother who cherishes her children. I wouldn’t hesitate to spend another gold coin for a nanny who would risk her life to protect my children.”

Without a second thought, Mother promptly paid one gold coin.

Clap, clap, clap.

Applause erupted from somewhere.

“What a woman.”

“Honestly, I’m impressed.”

“So, this is what a real party looks like.”

“Magnificent, Teresa of Motherhood!”

“Teresa, I want to join the party too!”

Perhaps she was feeling embarrassed belatedly?

Mother pushed back against the surging crowd with one hand, uttering an “Ugh!” as she sent them tumbling. Then, swinging her ponytail tied atop her head, she turned to us.

“Let’s go. Follow me.”

“Okay.”

I wanted to boast with pride, just for today.

That this person is my mother.

Teresa of Motherhood, someone I could be proud to show off anywhere.

* * *

Gorgo, overcome with emotion after just giving birth, prostrated herself.

“This debt, I will repay it without fail, even if it means sacrificing my life for the Teresa family!”

“Raise your head. Your life is worth less than dirt.”

“Ugh…”

“Stay alive and protect Ian and Anna.”

“Te-Teresa…”

As she looked down at Gorgo clinging to her pant leg in tears, overcome with emotion, Mother nonchalantly swung her feet back and forth, looking incredibly annoyed.

Each time Mother kicked, Gorgo rolled and tumbled this way and that, before collapsing onto the ground with a blank stare, only to suddenly stand up.

“She really is Teresa! Strength as powerful as her overflowing maternal love. This is the might of motherhood!”

“Don’t make a scene in the street, it’s embarrassing. I swear I’ll kick you.”

“Forgive me!”

There was a reason why Mother was especially shy.

“Oh, it’s Teresa of Motherhood.”

“It really is. Are they going on a family outing?”

“That’s the party member who was saved with 3 gold coins.”

“If the party leader saved her with 3 gold coins, she can roll around on the ground a little.”

“Instead of clinging to a man, she’s making him roll around on the ground like a dog… total alpha female. So freaking cool.”

The guild adventurers, making such a show of recognition, caused passersby to pause, glancing at us.

“A famous adventurer, is it?”

“The woman is quite handsome, isn’t she?”

“And the kids are something else, too?”

“The boy is the real deal.”

“Raising a pretty boy, legitimately? Is this real life?”

“Makes you want to get pregnant.”

Truly, I felt lightheaded.

I understood, now, Mother’s feelings about being tossed around like a Golem.

We quickened our pace, and only after leaving the area could we shake off the unwanted attention.

Still, Mother’s popularity was palpable.

Though no one openly gossiped, I was occasionally aware of furtive glances in our direction.

“I apologize. My thoughtlessness caused trouble…”

“Enough. The work is what matters.”

We, who only ever traveled outside the village, were unintentionally stuck here for a week.

“It’s a quest failure penalty. We can’t accept guild quests for a week. We’ll have to find work elsewhere.”

“I overheard at the gate that winning a match in the arena will allow you to break the placard and gain honor, or take gold instead. With Theresa-nim’s skill, I believe it’s entirely possible.”

Gorgon, sensing her confidence in swordsmanship from her obsession with iron swords, made a sensible suggestion.

Unfortunately, it was a bust.

There was that time Anna found a gladiatorial tournament flyer on the street and thrust it at Mother, yelling, “Take it!”

Mother couldn’t move for a while.

Many emotions flickered in her eyes as she stared at the flyer.

A longing to find traces of her home in a foreign land.

A piercing sadness for a past she couldn’t reclaim.

A deep, thick hatred of unknowable origin.

That day, Mother eventually threw the flyer away.

Shocked, Anna stopped playing her “Take it!” game for some time.

A job related to swordsmanship had made them both sad.

Unsurprisingly, both Mother’s and Anna’s expressions hardened.

“I have no interest in the arena.”

“Then the only wholesome job I know of is a short-term part-time job at the mana disposal facility.”

“Absolutely not.”

I interrupted before Mother could even show curiosity.

“Those who go to the mana disposal facility get permeated with discarded mana. The incidence of Mana Merging Syndrome is high, and dangerous monsters are often attracted to them because of the mana.”

It wasn’t for nothing that a nearby city had dumped their mana disposal facility on our village, turning the forest in front of the village into a monster feeding ground.

I hadn’t intended to flaunt my player knowledge so readily, but at this rate, Theresa’s family would be annihilated by Mana Merging Syndrome.

I had no choice but to unpack one of the knowledge bundles I’d been saving.

“How about trying a hit-and-run illegal street stall?”

It’s a special event you can challenge with adventurers who have been brainwashed or persuaded with diligent work during free time every holiday.

Adventurers with the power to catch monsters, or butchering skills, or the purchase of a butchering manual; adventurers with surveillance skills to monitor or evade guards, or analysis skills.

Finally, an event where anyone with cooking experience, cooking skills, or even just ownership of a professional cookbook could illegally rake in the gold!

Criminal organizations.

Guard detachments.

Village merchants.

Situations demanding mind control, or the sudden appearance of multiple enemies, were all variables that could be smoothly resolved with a proper party composition and player knowledge.

“Just one good score and I can buy a steel sword.”

“Is that so?”

Mother nodded, then called out to Gorgo.

“Gorgo.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Fetch the switch and cane Ian’s calves.”

But there was one variable even a capable player like myself hadn’t foreseen.

It was the reformed Mama Theresa’s penchant for being earnest about her children’s upbringing, even more so than earning money.

“I love my children more than anyone.”

“…”

“If a child tries to walk down a wrong path, they need to be disciplined.”

The wicked-tongued con artist was only released after enduring five swats on his calves and promising never again to speak of running an illegal street stall scheme.