Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken (LN) - Volume 17 - Chapter 1.5

“Arlecio , what are you doing?” 

“Oops, Gabbana-san. Nothing really, I was just saying hello to my old friend for a bit.” 

“Yeah? I guess so. You there, you’re hurt. Here, use this.” 

What a bloody farce. 

Threats and intercessions, trying to do me a favor and holding my head down. 

Arlecio knows just what to do. He’s just sprinkling Bydd with the restorative without a second thought. 

A sprinkle on Bydd’s suit instantly restored Bydd’s ear. That kind of efficacy can only be the complete recovery potion (full potion). 

“Ooh, to use your precious “full potion” on such a low-ranking person!” 

“As expected of Gabbana-dono! For him, he doesn’t even mind using a rare, secret potion.” 

“That’s right. Arlecio-dono’s prowess combined with Gabbana-dono’s financial strength is truly invincible.” 

What’s that? I went pale as soon as I heard that voice. 

Suddenly I wasn’t scared anymore and I felt like I’d just woken up from a nightmare. 

I look at Bydd and he’s very puzzled. I guess he’s feeling the same way I am. 

Because, ain’t that right? 

The full potion is a familiar sight to us. 

Every now and then, Gobemon-dono trains Bydd too, but I can’t tell you how many times he’s had his arms and legs chopped off in one day. If he didn’t have the full potion, he wouldn’t be alive today. 

That’s why we’ve always had the full potion on hand. 

Listening to those who appreciate it made me realize again how blessed we are now. 

“Oh. and look! Behold the bright badge on Gabbana-dono’s chest!” 

“Oh, I see it too. That crest is shining.” 

“Right. That means it’s made of genuine magisteel.” 

“No doubt, it’s just as they say. An up-and-coming, mysterious organization is absorbing all the illegal organizations. And this organization’s very crest is exactly what it looks like. 

The voice from the outside intrigued me, so I looked at Don Gabbana’s chest, only to be astonished. 

There, shining in a familiar pattern, were three snakes intertwined, snaking their way around. 

No wonder they were so familiar. I had spent three days and three nights thinking about it. 

As I recall, Rimuru-sama said, “Why not just make it a snake? Rather than dragons and phoenixes… simple is better. Besides, the snake symbolizes wisdom, desire and eternity, which is perfect for the Three Drunk Sages, right?” And older sister agreed too. She said, “Well, snakes also have the image being drunk, so it might suit us.” And I said, “Wahahahaha! Then let’s make the three snakes intertwine. Let’s make them snake around like the three of us. No matter how you look at it, it’s the Three Drunk Sages!” 

I haven’t heard about the members in detail, but was Don Gabbana’s organization also absorbed by it…? 

Now that I know, I’m feeling a bit jumpy. 

But this is my chance. 

Let’s make sure Don Gabbana stands out from the crowd to showcase my position. 

“You are, I believe, the chairman of the Gabbana Trading Company. Now, how do you wish to make amends for this?” 

“What did you say?” 

“You are not aware? Apologize for injuring my escort. Bydd wouldn’t go against that thug just because of a situation like this. And now he’s gone too far, just because we wouldn’t hurt him!” 

“…I’m a thug?” 

This is great fun. It seems that both look bewildered by my counterattack. 

“What’s with that man!? What’s that man doing challenging Gabbana-dono?” 

“Gabbana-dono is a member of the mysterious Three Drunk Sages, isn’t he?” 

“Yes. I heard that a major militant group has fallen under the umbrella of the Three Drunk Sages. And yet…” 

“You’re a daredevil… or do you have a secret plan?” 

“I can’t believe it, but the Four Nations Trade Federation has a plan to counter the Three Drunk Sages. You really think you can!?” 

The outsiders may be annoyed, but it seems to stand out in the public eye, so I shall bear it. 

Now, more than that— 

“You’re dead, man.” 

“Well, wait, Arlecio. It’s not good here. Besides, it’s not much fun if you kill it easily.” 

“All right, Gabbana-san. This one’s for later.” 

First, I’ve got to do something about these bastards who are hiding in plain sight. 

“Shut up!” 

I shouted to him on the spot. 

My voice didn’t shake. I can feel my voice returning to normal. 

It’s almost as if the fear Arlecio had instilled in me a moment ago was a lie. Now that I think about it, it’s only natural. 

After all, I’ve had conversations with much scarier beings. 

Don Gabbana would be no better than a bug from Veldora-sama’s point of view. All he’d have to do is release his aura and Gabbana would be no more. 

Arlecio might be able to hold out, but it’d only be putting off the inevitable. All Veldora-sama would have to do is turn on the killing intent, and he’d be gone. 

In other words… 

I usually deal with Veldora-sama and others who are that scary. I’ve even refused to bargain for a raise in pocket money. 

And there are also many calamity-class majins living in that town. 

It’s my job to manage the accounts of the inhabitants of the monster country. Even those that could easily wipe out small nations are begging me to make their budgets work. 

I’d yell at them and chase them away… it’s hard to believe it, but it’s become my daily life now. 

Speaking of which, Cien-dono and I had a little chat the other day. 

“Well, Testarossa-dono is very good and fast at what she does, which is a great help to me. And she’s beautiful. I envy you, Cien-dono.” 

“What? Well, well, well, hahaha! Myourmiles-sama has a very good sense of humor. I haven’t laughed so much in a long time!” 

He was laughing a lot even though he was usually so calm and collected. After that, he liked me for some reason, and we became good friends, so much so that sometimes we went out for drinks together. 

Then I remembered that Testarossa-dono was a terrible demon. Her appearance was deceiving. Her graceful demeanor and soft smile made me think she wasn’t so scary. 

It’s well known that Testarossa-dono gave the council a hard time, so I tried to keep a modest attitude. 

Sexual harassment, no! Absolutely never! 

That’s our slogan at work. 

This is a digression, but there are many great people in our office. Now that I remembered, there was no reason to be afraid of Don Gabbana or Arlecio. 

“You—!” 

Don Gabbana and his friends are all red-faced and furious, but that doesn’t make me feel anything. 

It’s not only me, but Bydd too, seems to have had a reality check. 

“Hey, Myourmiles-san is a gentleman so I’ll say it for you instead, but your tone of voice is not very nice, is it? Myourmiles-san can’t talk to you like you do!” 

Or so he says. 

However, with this, the line of sight in the venue was nailed, and it was a great show. Let’s beat Don Gabbana to the punch and complete the ratings. 

*** 

Here’s where I showed a fearless smile. 

I’m not much of a fighter, but I have a reputation for having a bad face. 

“That’s true. Bydd is right. I should have disciplined him from the start, not chided him for his old friendship.” 

“That’s right, Myourmiles-san. That way, I wouldn’t have to put up with it, and I wouldn’t have been hurt.” 

“Smart man. And how am I supposed to make him pay for what he did?” 

“First, he should apologize to you. It’s not too late to learn from that attitude!” 

“You’re right. Oh, Arlecio, and Gabbana-dono. I can close my eyes for this if you apologize now. But if you insist on making things worse, that’s another story. I, Gard Myourmiles, Minister of Finance of the Jura Tempest Federation, and representative of the “Four Nations Trade Federation,” will buy the quarrel! How about it, eh?” 

I said that as if I were about to make a big spectacle of myself. 

Their faces are twitching as they listen to me. 

“Y-You…” 3 

“Wait, Arlecio. Calm down. If it looks like there was a misunderstanding, and you were offended by us, then let’s apologize. Myourmiles-kun, wasn’t it?” 

“And you?” 

“Oh, no…Myourmiles-dono…” 

When I asked him back, Don Gabbana sounded frustrated. 

We’ve won, I thought. 

There are many great merchants here. Not only from the Ingracia Kingdom, but also from other nations, whose wealth is valued by these merchants. 

Don Gabbana was forced to recognize me in front of these great men and women. 

I guess it was out of the calculations, but it was sweet. 

He is staring at me with cold, snake-like eyes, but I am not afraid. I’m sure I would have cried and apologized if it was in the past. 

“Hmm. So, what’s the misunderstanding?” 

Don Gabbana bowed, a blue streak on his forehead as he set out the rescue ship. 

“My guards got ahead of themselves this time, and I’m sorry for the inconvenience. I think he was a little too excited, and I think you can tolerate one thing—” 

“Ahn? Do they teach you to laugh and easily forgive people for hurting you? My Bydd had to suffer the shame of losing an ear, remember?” 

“The full potion…” 

“Hah! You don’t know what you’re talking about if you try to fool me with such cheap medicine!” 

I laughed out loud. 

In fact, I still have a few of those potionos because Rimuru-sama let me keep them. It wasn’t a lie, so I said so emphatically. 

“You are not worthy of participating in the grand scheme I have planned to call upon you to carry out. Leave this place!” 

Don Gabbana scowled as I shouted at him. 

Then, in a chilling voice… 

“Don’t you regret it.” 

“Don’t you regret it” he said, for me only, and left the hall with Arlecio. 

It was a complete victory for me. 

The hall had been quiet for a while, but as soon as Don Gabbana disappeared, the audience erupted in cheers. But there were not just positive reactions. There were also some malicious voices in the crowd. 

I’m sure the consensus was that they didn’t think I would get rid of Don Gabbana. 

I, seeing my chance to get the attention, made the opening statement. 

Then afterwards, I unveiled the “Blumund Distribution System” that I had discussed with Rimuru-sama and Veryard-dono, and succeeded in attracting the interest of many people. 

However, they did not agree to join the project on the spot. 

The reason is simple. 

By Don Gabbana, or rather, by the Three Drunk Sages, they thought I’d be killed off for fighting with them. 

If the organizers are going to be gone, then go after their replacements. If the core group is gone, the project may go down the tubes. This is not a matter for the big merchants to rush into, is it? 

But that’s good for me. 

I will have more credibility if I can survive here. 

And that’s with the Three Drunk Sages. 

I am one-third of the Three Drunk Sages, and victory is guaranteed. 4 

And so, I gave a passionate speech to my heart’s content. 

The venue was filled with enthusiasm and the meeting was very lively.