I Got 30,000,000 Gold!

Misha suddenly brought over a promissory note for 30,000,000 gold.

It was such a sudden development that I had no idea what was going on…

“I told you my old stomping grounds were Piptat Magic Academy, right? So I have connections there.”

As Misha said that, she sat down on the chair at the table. While stroking Nyankoromochi, whom she held against her chest.

“They use Alchemy Stones at the magic academy too. So I brought them ten Alchemy Stones and asked them. We’re prepared to deliver them regularly, so what do you think?”

“…And?”

“They want them. What we negotiated is that.”

The document said this.

Misha would deliver a minimum of twenty Alchemy Stones per month to Piptat Magic Academy. The academy would buy them for 110,000 gold each.

I muttered.

“110,000…? That’s a better price than the Adventurers’ Guild.”

“Nfufufufu♪ Well, if they buy them from the guild that stocks them from us for 100,000, it’s obviously going to be even more expensive.”

That made sense. Even like this, it was profitable for the academy.

“The minimum number could’ve been anything, but, well, I calculated it assuming twenty workdays, so that much. Just in case, I asked the academy if giving them thirty would also be fine, and they gave me the okay.”

If I collected them diligently every day, that would be thirty a month.

…A monthly income of 3,300,000 gold, huh.

3,300,000!?

An amount like an annual income, every month!?

It was outrageous.

“The academy has a confidentiality obligation, so they won’t leak information about us outside. They won’t take an interest either. It’s ideal.”

Misha softly stroked Nyankoromochi.

“We could steadily save up with that, but since we’re doing this anyway, I wanted to take another shortcut. I asked them to let us borrow money because we have a way to pay it back.”

So that was this 30,000,000 gold…

“For now, repayment is 1,500,000 gold every month. Of course, it’s fine to pay more than that. The interest is 2% a year. I think those are pretty good terms?”

“Those are the conditions?”

“Yeah.”

Misha smiled brightly.

At that expression—I threw a question at her.

“…Are you hiding something?”

“Huh?”

“With those terms, they aren’t accounting for the possibility that we’ll run off with the money. All we have are the first ten stones. After that, we could borrow the money and run away—there’s even the possibility that we’re committing fraud, right?”

“Hahahaha! True! Well, that’s just how much the academy trusts Misha-san!”

“I don’t know the details of your connection to the academy, but surely an amount this large wouldn’t go through, would it?”

“Hmm… Fufufu.”

Misha released Nyankoromochi onto the floor. With her now-free hand, she scratched at her unruly hair.

“You’re surprisingly sharp, Ios!”

“Well, sometimes.”

“Sometimes.”

Misha narrowed her eyes happily.

“There is a condition. My return to the academy.”

“Huh?”

“I’m talking about if we can’t pay the money back. In that case, I’ll return to the academy and become a researcher.”

Returning to the academy? They were fine with that condition?

Misha read the color of my face and smiled.

“Well, I was a student with a surprisingly high reputation. It seems the academy side thinks I have that much value.”

“But with that condition—what if you ran away from Piptat?”

“I can’t run.”

Misha shook her head.

“Because the moment the contract is signed, a compulsion spell will be placed on me. I won’t be able to leave Piptat until I finish repaying the money.”

“I see.”

With that, my thoughts came together.

I returned the document to the table.

“Then we can’t accept this offer. I can’t cause trouble for you, Misha.”

“Hmm… Well, I thought you’d say that.”

Misha wore a troubled smile.

“Being kind is a good thing—but I’d like you to also understand the feelings I had when I brought that promissory note here.”

Then Misha continued.

“Please accept people’s goodwill honestly, Ios.”

“…Can’t we just steadily save up and buy equipment after that? Based on the previous estimate, in one or two years—”

“That’s too slow.”

Misha dismissed my words in a single phrase.

“If we sign this contract, you can have powerful equipment as soon as tomorrow. You can buy those one or two years. During that time, which do you think will grow more: you hunting only Grey Ghosts, or you diving deeper into the dungeon?”

It was completely correct.

I was at a loss for words.

“And also, diving deeper into the dungeon quickly is advantageous in terms of repayment too.”

“Why?”

“If you advance deeper into the dungeon, the monster varieties increase, and their strength increases too. Even magic stones that sell for so-so amounts in the upper layers will sell for high prices, right?”

“That’s true.”

“The same goes for drop items. The deeper the layer gets, the more valuable things appear.”

Snap, Misha snapped her fingers.

“That’s where your Schrödinger’s Cat comes in, Ios.”

Misha continued her explanation like this.

“We’ll use your guaranteed drops to gather expensive items in piles. There might even be monsters more profitable than Grey Ghosts, you know?”

—!

At those words, my heart gave a heavy throb.

Certainly, if that was the case, our repayment speed would accelerate. If I had my Schrödinger’s Cat.

It was not an absurd dream story.

“That’s why, Ios. We should advance deeper into the dungeon as quickly as we can. For that, we need this money.”

My reason accepted Misha’s words. As expected of a plan made by Misha. There was not the slightest flaw in it.

But my emotions were another matter.

“…I can’t let only you shoulder the risk, Misha—”

I said that.

Misha sighed.

“You really are stubborn! Even after hearing this perfect presentation of mine, you still won’t bend! Though that’s one of your good points!”

Misha laughed, hahaha.

“Listen, I want you to let me help.”

“Help?”

“The adventurer who will become a legend—you.”

“…Huh?”

Certainly, we had talked about something like that at the tavern. But that had only been a wish. I had merely spoken of a feverish dream.

Did Misha believe them? Those words.

“It’s not like there’s no basis for it. Schrödinger’s Cat—that ability feels tremendous. Because, you know… it’s still level 2, right?”

Misha grinned and continued.

“If it’s level 2, that means there must be a level 3 or 4, right?”

I unconsciously held my breath.

Misha’s point was completely correct. Schrödinger’s Cat still had more beyond it—

That fact shone inside me like a small flame.

“I want to see how far you can reach!”

Misha thought for a little while, then said.

“We’re young. We have a future. Our destiny is shining. But you know, that’s only now. Only this single moment right now. If you think there’s still plenty of time—before you know it, it’ll be gone.”

That was why, Misha continued.

“I don’t want to let you regret it. Back then, I could have done something for you. I could have done more for you. I slowed his steps because of me, things like that.”

I clenched my hand.

She had said this much to me. I had made her say this much.

I had to accept Misha’s resolve—

And then overcome it.

“…You’re sure about this, Misha?”

At my words, Misha gave a wry smile.

“Don’t make me say it over and over. I said it’s fine!”

Then, after laughing, nishishishi, she said this.

“Or is the legendary adventurer going to get cold feet over 30,000,000 gold?”

“That would be bad. The legend would cry.”

I laughed.

“Thank you. I’ve accepted your feelings, Misha. I—no, the two of us will definitely become the greatest adventurers.”

The next day, 30,000,000 gold was handed over from the academy.