The Genius Necromancer of the Barbarian Race

Reward Too Great to Refuse

A heavy silence settled over the Bearded Cat Inn.

Understandable. This wasn't your everyday incident.

It's not often you see someone abruptly toss aside the request to escort the Branch Manager of the Adventurer's Guild headquarters, after all.

I was used to it.
Frankly, I expected this.
I'm sure Serena did too.

"Br-brother Dmihtan... I thought he might, but he really just hurled him out!"

She seemed a bit shaken.

So she more or less expected it, but if she was going to be that surprised, she could have stopped him sooner.

"Wait a minute! Who gave you the right to wreck my inn?!"

When the window of his inn shattered, Hordi raised his voice and began to scold me.

Barkal broke it, so why are you looking at me?

"Camilla's the one who rented the inn."

When I mentioned Camilla's name, she looked at me in dismay.

"Anything that happens while she's renting is her responsibility. She'll pay for repairs."

Why me!

That emotion flitted across her face but didn't make it to her mouth before the big figure thrown out at the entrance, Tunbald, came back in.

"You bastard."

With glaring eyes, Tunbald stared at Barkal. Naturally, Barkal didn't flinch.

Rather, he raised his right hand and beckoned him over.

Where on earth did he learn that?

"I told you to stop, Tunbald."

Blaz stepped in to stop the lumbering Tunbald approaching, huffing.

With anger flickering in his eyes, Tunbald continued to glare at Barkal, but at Blaz's words, he just returned to his place.

"We'll pay for the window repair. Now, may we begin our discussion?"

I nodded.

Since he even offered to pay for the window, I had no reason to object.

* * *

An important personage from the Iushil Adventurer's Guild.

Blaz's reason for seeking us out was simple.

"You mean you'd like us to explore the newly discovered dungeon too?"

"That's right."

The underground canal dungeon we recently discovered. He'd come to entrust its exploration to us.

Of course, given the urgency of the situation, this request wasn't being given to just one party.

Currently, all "Silver-Rank" adventuring parties in Iushil were being contacted. That meant we'd end up working alongside many other parties.

But something felt off.

The underground dungeon was classified as 'Silver-Rank', so why call us?

Two certain facts rose to my mind.

First, Iushil currently had no veteran parties to send into the dungeon.

If there were, he wouldn't have bothered meeting with a "Bronze-Rank" team like us.

Second...

"Is the abyssification process underway?"

They'd detected dangerous signs in the underground canal's dungeon.

So, wanting to resolve it quickly, they were bringing in "Bronze-Rank" teams like ours as well.

"That's right."

Blaz's face darkened at my words.

Abyssification.
I'd expected it, but hearing it aloud drew a hollow laugh from me.

"Is that why you're sending a 'Bronze-Rank' team like us?"

"Your team is the only 'Bronze-Rank' being deployed to this dungeon."

Now, what was this?

"Deploying a Bronze-Rank party into a Silver-Rank dungeon is risky, after all."

Then why are we being called?

"But you're different."

Blaz looked at us with a peculiar kind of unwavering trust.

"Dungeon Conquerors. Your abilities are above those of a typical Bronze-Rank party."

"Of course!"

"Barkal, we're listening to the discussion here."

"Sorry, brother!"

I stayed quietly, listening to the old man.

"I am confident your party's abilities exceed Silver-Rank."

He wasn't wrong.
After all, this was a party with two "Apostles" of a god.

"For that reason, I'd like to borrow your strength for this crisis."

I hesitated.

And since the threat to Iushil was real, losing our current base here would be painful for us as well.

Still, I chose to think more rationally.

Even if we didn't participate, there were plenty of parties in Iushil capable of conquering the dungeon.

The dungeon's rewards were tempting, but "abyssification" was making it far too dangerous.

Was it worth taking that much risk?

"Given the circumstances, we're offering higher rewards for what you find in the dungeon!"

Seeing me unimpressed, Blaz upped his offer like a man making his last bet.

Dungeon rewards.
Clearly, he meant 'mana stones'.

He was promising to buy them at above-market prices.

It was tempting. Money is always right.

"Hmm."

Still not enough. The very fact they were making such a good offer meant it was that dangerous.

No matter how highly they thought of our party.

"And, though temporary, we'll issue you a 'Silver-Rank Party' certificate! With this, you'll be admitted to Silver-Rank without a review!"

No review for Silver-Rank promotion, huh.
If I recalled, the Silver-Rank review was quite strict.

Still.
The dungeon undergoing "abyssification" was just too dangerous.

Even if we had two 'Apostles', I couldn't ignore the slim chance of disaster.

"Hmmm!"

Again, I let out a groan.

Isn't there anything better?!

Like, seriously! At least offer some special-grade equipment or something really irresistible!

Still, based on how hard he was trying, it was clear that Blaz, a high-ranking member of the guild, had a very high opinion of our party.

But no matter the evaluation, I still had little intent to accept. If Iushil were my hometown, maybe—but it wasn't.

Judging I wouldn't be persuaded, Blaz shifted his attention to Barkal and Serena.

"And you can also use the guild's information network to find whatever you want."

At Blaz's words, Barkal snorted and folded his arms.

"Even finding a specific adventurer should be possible."

This time, Blaz looked at Serena.

A particular adventurer, huh?
Come to think of it, Serena was searching for an adventurer with a 'rose scent'.

Judging by the offer, Blaz seemed to know why Serena became an adventurer, though I had no idea how.

Sensing the focus on her, Serena glanced around and bit her lip.

Then, slowly, her trembling lips parted.

"On whose permission did you dig into my background!?"

Contrary to the hesitation she'd just shown, she now spoke out boldly.

"Investigating individual adventurers is a c-crime!"

"Not a crime. Knowing an adventurer's details increases their survival rate."

"Even so, who gave you the right...!"

Serena approached Blaz as if to scold him. Tunbald tried to block her.

"Calm down. There's nothing wrong with what Blaz is saying..."

Crash──!

Serena grabbed Tunbald's hand and swiftly hurled him through the nearby window.

Smashed another one.

"You're compensating for this one, too."

I said to Blaz.

You said you'd pay for all the window repairs.

* * *

"I accept the request."

After the chaos from the second broken window died down, I spoke to Blaz.

Having been so close to refusal, Serena stared at me in wide-eyed surprise.

"Brother, if you accept, I will comply as well!"

Barkal didn't seem bothered at all.

"Frankly, there's no reason to refuse this. It's dangerous, but we are strong."

"The strong do not avoid! That is the way of the Barbarians of the Red Wolf Tribe!"

Barkal shouted passionately, then I continued, nodding in agreement.

"Barbarians are busy. We must quickly elevate the tribe's honor."

Blaz, seemingly caught off guard by our sudden change of heart, stared at us in a daze.

Still, satisfied with our acceptance, he soon nodded.

"A wise decision. Bronze-Rank is too low a place for you now."

We would leave today.

Given the urgency, he clearly hoped for immediate departure, but we had things to prepare.

'Dark Shade' also accepted the request. Other "Silver-Ranks" would likely join as well, but I had no idea how many teams would be involved.

"W-weren't you going to refuse, brother?"

"I wasn't actually going to refuse. I was just pretending to get better terms."

Classic negotiation.

"So, Serena, let's get ready. We're going to the dungeon."

"Yes!"

Nodding to my words, Serena headed upstairs to pack supplies.

"Brother! A moment, please!"

While preparing for the dungeon, Barkal called me over.

"What is it?"

"I think your judgment is right."

What's he talking about all of a sudden?

"I mean the reason you accepted this request! It's for honor, but also for Serena, isn't it?"

I looked at Barkal.

This guy's more perceptive than he lets on.

I guess intelligence and wisdom aren't always proportional.

He was right.

Serena wasn't from our "Red Wolf Tribe" and wasn't a barbarian, yet she'd shared these dangers with us.

It's something to be grateful for. Even if she was a physical cleric, gratitude was owed.

"She's now fully one of our companions."

Barkal nodded at my words.

Yeah.

Honestly, the most practical reason I accepted the request was this.

If complaints piled up and Serena left the party, that'd mean trouble for us as well.

It was about time to offer her some incentive.

"Barbarians do not abandon companions!"

Whether he knew my reasoning or not, a smile crept onto Barkal's lips.

"For honor, we fight together! We slay dungeons and monsters!"

That's only right.

"We slay necromancers too!"

Just spare one.

* * *

Once ready, we entered the underground canal as planned. As we neared the dungeon entrance, unlike before, there was now human presence.

Adventurers came into view. They must have been the "Silver-Rank" parties assigned to the dungeon.

"Ugh...!"

Some adventurers made faces at us.

They looked familiar. Who were they again?

"Why are you guys here?"

One of them spoke up and approached. Who was he... Ah, I just couldn't recall.

I wracked my brain to remember, when Barkal walked up to the male adventurer and pressed his fist to the man's face.

"Ah!"

Something seemed to click for him.

"You're the adventurers we beat up before!"

Wait, did he recall based on how his fist felt? What an inventive guy.

Anyway, at Barkal's words, I remembered too.

The Endal family, was it?

We're still using the "Iron Fortress Ring" we got from them last time. Say hi to your older brother for me.

"Weren't you guys 'Bronze-Rank'?"

"The guild granted us 'temporary Silver-Rank' status."

"T-temporary Silver-Rank?"

The man from the Endal family.

Given the name, he must be Endal.

Endal spoke in a flustered voice.

"There's such a thing? I've never heard of it in all my years adventuring..."

"Kahaha, it means we're special!"

Pat, pat!

Laughing loud, Barkal clapped Endal on the back. Endal's face showed clear displeasure.

"S-stop it! I'm your senior, you know!"

"Kahahaha! Funniest thing I've heard all day!"

Barkal kept patting Endal's back. After stopping Barkal, I approached Endal.

"Senior, what are all these adventuring parties doing here?"

"We're waiting to enter safely, of course."

Entering safely?

Ah, so the plan is to go in after another party clears the entrance.

"You might not know, but once it's a Silver-Rank dungeon, the danger doubles..."

Ignoring Endal's chatter behind us, we proceeded straight to the dungeon entrance.

The supply of mana stones from the dungeon was limited. The more parties, the more ways to split the profit.

Time is money.

"We're going first! You lot will be staring at my backside forever!"

With those parting words to the waiting parties, Barkal strode ahead, and I dove straight into the dungeon.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Most of the action is done by Barkal and Serena, while MC provides the commentary...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】