Chapter 244 Negotiation (I).
Chapter 85: Negotiation (I).
Kein's POV
"You'll have to get through me first."
…
I challenged the descendant of the hero who looked angry with me.
"You do not want to mess with me, or my family." (Iyashi) took upon her wooden staff and pointed it towards my face. "The both of us are not in the same level of skill and experience, I have wandered and killed the dangerous beasts in my home island. You cannot take me on."
Iyashi kept a cold face throughout her words.
I placed a hand on my waist, forming my right hand into a thumbs up before pointing to myself using it, giving her a mocking smile. "Tough luck, I've been known to be a bitch that doesn't care where you came from especially if you're born into some high class family that doesn't matter."
"You-!"
"So don't make the mistake of getting any close."
Kazari's sister didn't seem pleased with what I said to her, having said that I don't give a fuck where she came from it looked like she was more hurt than I expected. "I only came here for my sister, everyone needs her back at home. I've been searching for Kazari for almost a decade now."
"You know why we had to leave, Iyashi. The island… is not safe for someone like me." (Kazari) answers, having her arms protectively wrapping around herself. I could feel her reminiscing on the past memories of her home, I don't think it was anything good.
"Kazari our family is in deep ruins, ever since father has died everyone wanted to find where his fortune is and everything he owned! We have a birthright! We deserve what our father left for us!" (Iyashi) tried convincing Kazari to go home with her, to possibly find the hidden load of treasure that the old deceased had hidden from their children. "Please just once, go home- once and give us the key- tell us the place where father hid it."
I had no more say in their conversation, I knew my place.
"..."
Iyashi kept her distance after I showed her much hostility. I don't like her getting too close to Kazari seeing what effect she has towards the girl.
At least she got that message, that just because she's family it doesn't mean she can do whatever she wants. Now it will be up to Kazari's choice if she takes the offer to go home.
Kazari takes a deep breath before replying, "We came here to find a healer, I have no intention of going home, not… until my mission is over."
"Mission?" (Iyashi) mutters out in question before walking a few steps back, "You are not kidding… when that Merchant Valentina told me of your desire to kill the demon lord I thought it was one of her ruses or jokes that I don't find funny but- it is true?"
Kazari nods, looking determined as she did. "Yes. it is true.."
Iyashi shakes her head seeing that her answer was a serious yes, "Are you a fool? Don't you know that the current demon lord is from the dragon race? Father might have been a strong summoned hero but it took him years before-!"
"I have heard you also explore the dungeon to kill the demon lord, how could I be a fool and you are not?!" (Kazari) replies back in Japanese making Iyashi shocked on hearing her little sister talking back to her.
I listened to whatever they were saying and decided this may take a while.
"..."
Right now, we don't have a lot of time.
I got in between them, urging Kazari to calm down. "Well then, I know I should let you two finish talking your feelings out but we're sort of losing time. So how about we sit down and properly negotiate this like proper adults?"
"We got off on the wrong foot, please Miss Sato Iyashi let us sit down and negotiate."
Kazari blinked in my direction, understanding what my intent was, it was to not waste time and get down to negotiating so if her older sister is not willing to adjust and be our healer- we will have the time to find another one.
"Thank you, Miss Kein. I have almost forgotten that we...." She smiles towards me in thanks, and I held her shoulder protectively motioning for us to sit down inside the living room of the V.I.P place.
"It's alright, now come on. You too, Miss Sato, let's sit down." I made sure to never call Kazari's sister by her first name- it would be a sign of closeness and we're not close. I would further offend her if I at least didn't show any manners.
Sato Iyashi considered my words, and finally she sat down on her own, keeping a straight posture. "...fine."
Kazari and I sat together, while Iyashi sat in front. I was thankful that I somehow fixed the mood from before, now no one was yelling or doing any sibling fights. "Let me introduce myself first, I am the heiress of the noble household of the Hills. Lady Kein Hills, as you've heard we've come far to slay the demon lord and take something important from her."
"You and Kazari know one another, I know that you are related… and you have mentioned your wish of her getting home to hero island. However, we can't do that at the moment- we have our priorities." I explained, she tried taking it in and listened intently.
"Does it really have to be soon, can we do it after defeating the demon lord?" I asked, trying to negotiate for the hero island home tour after.
"...I fear that after we take down the demon, my little sister will go into hiding once more. She is able to teleport wherever she wishes after all." (Iyashi) raises her concerns, to which Kazari frowned.
"If you become our healer, Iyashi. It would help us tremendously in our journey to the demon dungeon." (Kazari) didn't look away from eye contact, both of their black eyes staring at one another. It was as if two mirrors were talking to one another, "I know the powers you possess, your skills in healing- it could rival any other high monarched light maiden I know."
Does that mean this one's power of healing is nothing compared to the royalty blessed by the light of healing? Not even the three light princesses could compare?
"Is she that much of a big deal?" I leaned over to Kazari in a whisper and she nodded, we started whispering to one another while ignoring the person in front who was giving the both of us a raised eyebrow.
"Hai, my sister has once brought someone back to life- when one of my stepmothers was having a heart attack. She was announced dead, but not long after Iyashi tried to help, she miraculously came back to life."
"Wow… that certainly is something."
"It would be beneficial for her to join our party, she can increase our attacks and stamina for a long period of time."
I get that Sato Iyashi here will be a valuable asset to our party but- "I'm all up for it I don't mind her joining the party but will you be comfortable being with her?"
"I… will make do."
We stopped whispering to one another and turned back to the healer at hand.
"If you come with us, Iyashi. I won't escape- I will come home to hero island and lead you to our father's hidden treasure- and give everyone's rightful birthright like what you said. You can even have my part, I have no use of it." (Kazari) offered her own share of birthright and that made her elder sister happy.
"You're certainly sure that you're willing to give up your share of your father's treasure? You know how many of our mothers have urged us to not share." (Iyashi) chuckled, placing her foot into a cross position leaning down. "You're nothing like the rest of the Sato Clan."
"I have no desire to partake in such a thing. I will honor my father's memories instead." (Kazari) holds her chest, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I have someone more important waiting for me at home than a birthright."
Iyashi widened her eyes upon hearing that her little sister found a place that she would call home, one that was not called the hero island.
"I see you've found your own home." (Iyashi) crosses her arms, the look on her eyes softened looking at her sister whom she hasn't seen for years. "Are they… at least treating you right? How about oba-chan?"
"Mom died… three years after we left from hero island."
"Oh… I-I'm sorry for your loss."
"It's alright, a good family took care of me and I was even fine being on my own."
The vibe around the two was no longer heavy, I could tell that Iyashi regretted how things started off by demanding for her little sister to go home and Kazari- it was obvious that she missed some of her family and reconnecting with her roots.
"Gomene… for my forceful attitude. I wanted you home quickly, because we're in a little bit of a jam financially. With all the families getting larger- having more mouths to feed… our crops could barely keep up with the population and the monsters are still a problem." (Iyashi) held her head looking tired, now that I got a good look at her I just noticed the huge dark spot under her eyes.
"We're not allowed to go outside the border, but those who are exempt like I are encouraged to wander around [Sprivanto] and take on adventurer jobs."
I raised my arm, I'm curious about something. Sato Iyashi is a well renowned adventurer/healer in the area and she must get paid quite a lot but if she sends it to her family, she still needs money.
"Yes, you're raising your arm. Do you have a question?" (Iyashi) turned to me and I nod.
"A question- how big is your population exactly?" I asked.
"We are… more than eight hundred living on a small island. Many of these people are called the elders, or women taken in by our late father to be one of his concubines to join his harem." she explained, I looked at Kazari to see if what her older sister was saying was true.
"Mm." (Kazari)
"...damn."
"Indeed, damn." (Iyashi) agreed with me with a chuckle. "Kazari, was the youngest of his line and the first child to ever escape the island. No one else followed, after you left everything got more stricter and that was years ago."
"Our money was gone- not many people are allowed off the island and the last record count of us Sato Clan that was allowed to wander to send money back home is only ten people." (Iyashi) revealed.
Eight hundred people, and only ten people working outside to get money- that's definitely… going to be a huge burden of the ten wanderers. "That's horrible! I mean surely the other Sato Clan members can pitch in?"
"They cannot, Miss Kein. There are only a few of us born with the gift and blessing, to have the body and skill of a hero. Those who do not have this are weak, fragile and expected to die at forty." (Kazari)
"I can't believe you still remember that, Kazari." (Iyashi)
"It's hard to forget…"
"That is the reason why only a few are chosen to go outside. Many stay to protect the clan but perhaps if Kazari had stayed home, she would've become one of the best wanderers in our clan." (Iyashi) seemed to give her a genuine compliment that Kazari enjoyed, the personal maid lowered her head slightly with a smile.
"I don't think I would've but thank you, Iyashi."
Well, look at these two now getting along. I crossed my legs, seeing that the two of them were making amends and making up for lost time.?"If you need money, the quest to kill the demon lord is already a hefty sum of bounty. Maybe that could help your clan with some of your financial problems, and if we give the heart to our kingdom I could pull a few strings to find a way to help the Sato Clan."
I pitched in and Iyashi's eyes light up, "Y-You would do that?"
"Yes, after all I'm sure I'm not the only one who would be happy to help Kazari's family as long as you come with us to the demon lord's den." I continued and she didn't even hesitate on accepting.
"May I suggest hiring a few more adventurers? I don't think the three of us would be enough to journey out to the demon lands. Have you ever been there?"
"Not me but I did read a few books about it when I was a little kid." I remembered the book I borrowed from my cousin, that got burned by Lucas. "That book was pretty biased about demons, comparing them to monsters and such."
"Demons are not… monsters per se but just another race. A powerful one, that is why we will be needing more people to join us, perhaps a tank and a marksman? Lady Kein if you don't mind, may I know what your skill and career are?" (Iyashi) asked.
"I'm a knight? A dual wielder before but now I'm good at having one sword since a friend of mine borrowed my divine weapon. I know knights have shields but I find them too heavy to carry so I rely on just dodging and parrying." I answered casually, and Iyashi nodded a few times while her arms were still crossed.
"I see, you were a dual caster before but a friend borrowed your divine weapon-"
Thud!
"You own a divine weapon?!"
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