Vol 2 Chapter 13 – I Kept Raking It In and Got Banned

Today again, in order to earn money, I transform into Alisa and head outside the Alcian Empire.

And just like always, I enter the capital of some country I’ve never been to, walk into the Adventurers’ Guild, and—

The moment I appeared, the lively chatter around me went dead silent.

“?”

Confused, I checked the request postings on the board.

Even the highest-paying ones were only large gold coins, so with a sigh, I headed to the counter…

“Please, give us a break!”

“………….”

For some reason, the receptionist was begging me with tears in her eyes.

Huh? I haven’t even done anything yet today, have I?

“Um…?”

“Y-You’re the Extermination Witch-sama, right? The one who’s been making waves in Adventurers’ Guilds lately by rampaging through monster territories one after another… I mean, freeing them, they say.”

“…I don’t like that nickname, so please don’t call me that.”

Apparently, at some point, rumors about me had spread.

“Freeing monster territories is a national duty, and it’s also something recommended for adventurers, isn’t it?”

“It is! It really is, but…! Even if it’s a good thing, we can’t afford to pay out if you’re freeing one or two a day!”

“If I put my mind to it, I could do three or four, you know?”

“I didn’t want to hear that!”

She looked genuinely on the verge of tears, and now I was starting to feel like I was bullying her.

“Mmm… Then do you have any high-bounty monster extermination requests?”

“It’s the same thing! Either way, the guild’s vault has a limit!”

“…Doesn’t the country provide subsidies or something?”

“They do! But there’s still an annual budget cap!”

“Muuh. Back in the old Alcian Empire, they would’ve just paid up without blinking.”

“That Empire was a superpower! Please don’t compare us to a country like that!”

“I see.”

So the Alcian Empire back then—before the war with the allied forces—was actually incredible, huh.

“Then which country has the deepest pockets? Where should I go if I want a place that can pay like the old Empire did?”

“If the Empire is out… then maybe the Holy Kingdom.”

“…I see.”

Come to think of it, they’re a religious state. If they’re collecting money from believers, their budget might be pretty generous.

“Alright then. I’ll go check it out.”

“Um… P-Please, please don’t tell anyone I was the one who recommended the Holy Kingdom, okay?”

“I don’t really care either way?”

Leaving behind the receptionist—who was somehow twitching with a strained expression—I decided to use teleportation magic to head to the Holy Kingdom.

And so, here I am. The Holy Kingdom’s capital—the Holy Capital.

“I’d heard it was a religious state, but it’s not like everything is religion, religion, religion.”

The Holy Capital, my first time here, had bustle and crowds on par with the old Imperial Capital… which made it seem promising.

I asked people for directions, made my way to the Adventurers’ Guild, and the moment I stepped inside…

(As you’d expect from the Holy Capital.)

Nothing changed at all.

Apparently, the Holy Capital’s Adventurers’ Guild has the composure to not so much as flinch just because I walked in.

How reassuring.

Well, it might also be that this is my second guild of the day, so the timing’s a little off.

Anyway, as usual, I moved to the board and checked the request postings.

“Hmm.”

Just like I thought—on the board, the best you could find were large gold coins. Anything worth a platinum coin or more didn’t seem to get posted publicly.

“Excuse me.”

With no choice, I went to the counter and spoke to the receptionist.

“What can I do for you?”

“Do you have any monster extermination requests with a really high bounty?”

“…Pardon?”

“I need money, and I’m looking for a request where I can earn big.”

“Um… In that case, if you’d free a monster territory, we could pay you a large sum…”

“Really?♪”

As expected of the Holy Capital.

To think they’d actually recommend freeing monster territories to me.

“Then which monster territory should I free?”

“S-So, let’s see…”

Even while looking baffled, the receptionist told me a recommended monster territory.

A few hours later.

“Even I have to admit, a platinum-class territory guardian was a bit tough.”

“No, no, no, no!”

After successfully hunting the territory guardian, I returned to the Adventurers’ Guild carrying the guardian’s corpse—only to find the staff lined up, pale-faced.

“Um… j-just to confirm… you’re the Extermination Witch-sama…?”

“I don’t like that nickname, so please don’t call me that.”

The instant I answered in a way they seemed to take as confirmation…

“Please, give us a break!”

All the staff dropped to the floor in unison, tearful, bowing until their foreheads hit the ground.

“Um… didn’t you just recommend that I free a monster territory?”

“We just got word! We just got a notice telling us to be on guard because the Extermination Witch is rampaging through monster territories!”

“Ahh…”

So they weren’t calm because they had nerves of steel—they were calm because the Holy Capital was far from the Empire, and the warning simply arrived late.

“But this is the Holy Kingdom—this is the Holy Capital. Shouldn’t your funds be ample?”

“Do you have any idea how much it costs to buy platinum-class territory guardian materials?! Add the bounty for freeing the territory, and our vault will be completely drained!”

“Oh. So you can pay, then.”

“Please spare us! Starting tomorrow, we won’t be able to operate the guild at all!”

“Muuh. I came because I heard the Holy Kingdom could pay like the old Empire…”

“…Who told you that?”

“I-It’s a secret.”

It felt wrong to pin this on that other guild employee, so I kept quiet.

◇◇◇

“Man… this isn’t going as well as I expected.”

I stack the money I’ve earned in a clinking pile on the desk in my room at House Saionji.

“About how much is that?”

“Mmm… Probably around fifteen platinum coins?”

I answer Yumeba’s question, but it still doesn’t reach the amount I had in mind.

The first amount I loaned the Emperor was ten platinum coins, the second was twenty, and this time is fifteen—so forty-five platinum coins total.

“It might help a little, but considering the cost of war, it feels like pouring water on a hot stone.”

“Does war really cost that much money?”

“…Who knows?”

Come to think of it, I was basing my assumptions on Japan’s national budget, so I’d convinced myself we’d need a thousand platinum coins.

In yen, that’s about 100 billion.

I’d heard Japan spent something like 280 times its national budget on the Pacific War, so even that felt like a drop in the bucket. And in reality, my original plan was to earn over three hundred platinum coins across all the places I’d go… but…

“Or maybe… war expenses in this world don’t actually get that high?”

“If it’s a defensive war, House Saionji just charges in solo, so it doesn’t really cost money. Hard to say.”

“Right…”

House Saionji is extremely budget-friendly in wartime.

On the other hand, the battle results and rewards we bring in are enormous.

“Well, it looks like it’ll be hard to keep raking it in any more than this, so maybe it’s time to stop.”

At this point, I need to talk to the Emperor and ask how much is actually necessary—otherwise there’s no way to plan.

“Hey. More importantly… Lio♡”

“…Yeah. I know.”

It’s already night.

It’s just me and Yumeba in the room—and on top of that, she’s wearing a thin, sheer negligee that leaves far too much to the imagination.

And from Yumeba’s body, there’s a faint hint of perfume.

If you spray on too much, perfume gets harsh and feels cheap—but with Yumeba, it’s like a single light mist, elegant and—

It smells good.

“Ah♡”

At this point, I can’t hold back anymore. I pull Yumeba close, negligee and all.

Not tearing anything away in a rush—because I want to savor this irresistible wife—I let my hands roam, slow and careful.

“Ah… hah…♡”

As I pamper her from head to toe, I lean in and steal a long kiss—one that leaves my head spinning.

“Lio… stay with me♡”

“Yeah.”

And after that, the two of us cling to each other until sleep finally overtakes us.

I’m satisfied.

After spending time together like that, drifting into this drowsy calm—this is the best part.

“~♪”

Yumeba seems to feel the same, rubbing her cheek against me, and I wrap an arm around her and slowly stroke her back, enjoying the warmth.

Touching her like this, I can tell Yumeba’s figure has grown more womanly. I’d been thinking it wouldn’t be strange if she got pregnant at any time, but—according to Yukina-san, the women of House Saionji only become able to conceive after they turn eighteen.

When I heard that, I almost started doing the math—and then I felt a murderous aura so intense I immediately stopped calculating.

Well, in other words, it means Yumeba and I can still enjoy being just the two of us for a while.

“Hey, Lio. I have tomorrow off.”

“Then let’s go on a date.”

“Yeah♪”

After we promise each other a date tomorrow, Yumeba and I fall asleep, still wrapped in that soft, drowsy warmth.

◇◇◇

It’s a date.

What is a date?

Where do you go, and what do you do?

Some people might ask that, but honestly, the question itself is meaningless.

What matters on a date isn’t where you go or what you do—it’s 《who you go with》.

In other words, if Yumeba and I go out together, then no matter where we go or what we do… it’s already a date.

That said, I’d rather go somewhere fun, so I used teleportation magic with Yumeba and brought her to the Holy Kingdom’s Holy Capital.

When I came here the other day, I realized it had liveliness on par with the old Imperial Capital, and I’d thought it’d be a fun place for a date.

“Wow♪ I heard a religious state would feel strict and stiff, but it’s not really that uptight.”

“Right? I figured you’d enjoy it here, so I picked it.”

“Yeah♪”

Of course, it’s not like there’s no religious atmosphere—but for a single day of fun, it was more than enough.

And so, Yumeba and I immediately dove into the city.

The Holy Capital had all kinds of little “event” attractions.

For example, there was a compatibility fortune-telling thing: you stand back-to-back at the central fountain and toss a coin in at the same time. If both coins land in the water, they say the two of you will be united in the future—one of those classic setups.

“It went in? It went in, right♪”

“With our compatibility, that result was inevitable.”

“Right♪”

Well, with Yumeba’s athletic ability, missing would be harder. And I can control mine with magic, so I can make sure it goes in every time.

Besides, Yumeba and I are already married—already united—so it’s not like it means anything.

Of course, I’m not going to say something that tacky and ruin the mood.

What matters is the situation that makes the date exciting. A realistic take is unnecessary.

（tch）

Naturally, no matter where you are—even in the Holy Capital—single people will secretly click their tongues at a couple flirting around, but that’s just another ingredient that feeds our sense of superiority.

There was also something like Rome’s Mouth of Truth, and we tried it together while laughing and making a scene. Then we went to a trendy restaurant that was supposedly popular in the Holy Capital, and ended up exchanging wry smiles when the food was less impressive than expected.

Time flew by like that—and by the time we left an upscale restaurant after dinner, with the sun already down, a hint of loneliness showed on Yumeba’s face.

“…I don’t want to go home.”

Yumeba had training with the Royal Guard tomorrow, and she probably knew she was being selfish.

Her words carried that guilty edge, but…

“Actually, I booked us a room.”

“!”

Of course I wasn’t about to break a promise at a moment like this. I’d already reserved a high-end inn where you could stay after enjoying dinner with a view of the Holy Capital’s nightscape.

“Lio, I love you♪”

With a beaming smile, Yumeba threw her arms around me. I hugged her back, just as naturally, and began escorting her toward the inn I’d reserved…

Ring. Ring.

“……”

A foreboding ringtone echoed from Yumeba’s smartphone.

“…What is it?”

With her expression drained from her face, Yumeba reluctantly answered…

“Wait—please, not today! I get it, I do! So please… I’m begging you…!”

After a few back-and-forths, the mind-call ended.

“…Mom says you have to come pick me up tomorrow.”

“S-Sure.”

Even the world’s strongest creature, it seems, was willing to grant us only one day of mercy.

“…Let’s go.”

“…Yeah.”

There was an annoying interruption at the very end, but I took Yumeba’s hand and resumed escorting her to the high-end inn.

The date ended with a bit of a sour note, but it was still fun.

The next morning, we returned to the Saionji estate in the Imperial Capital, and I got roped into chauffeuring Yukina-san and her husband so they could have their own overnight date in the Holy Capital… but even so, it was fun.

After all, I got to spend a perfect, private night with Yumeba at a luxury inn in the Holy Capital—so I’m satisfied!

◇◇◇

After recharging, I resume my money-making.

Today again, I transform into Alisa and head to a country outside the Empire—and before I even step into the Adventurers’ Guild, I notice a conspicuous sign planted out front.

《No Extermination Witch》

“………….”

Isn’t this basically public shaming?

Well, I don’t acknowledge that nickname in the first place, so I could ignore it… but still, this feels a bit much.

“H-Hey, that woman in black… could she be…”

“Eek! It’s the Extermination Witch!”

“She’ll hunt our monster territories! Protect our hunting grounds!”

While I was standing there in a daze in front of the sign, a crowd of adventurers started gathering around me.

A lot about this feels unfair, but for now, I decided to return to the Imperial Capital.

“…So, where exactly am I supposed to storm into, then?”

“Please, give us a break.”

When I went to the Imperial Capital’s Adventurers’ Guild and complained to Saria, she begged me with tears in her eyes.

“Isn’t this too cruel? Sure, my goal is to raise funds, but freeing monster territories is supposed to be a national duty. Why do I have to get criticized for it?”

“I know, I know, but… if you free three or four monster territories in a single day, adventurers won’t be able to make a living!”

“Muuh.”

Maybe I did overdo it.

“Isn’t there some country out there drowning in money and desperate because monster territories are in the way?”

“With those conditions, an S-class adventurer would be dispatched first thing.”

“…S-class adventuring is such a hassle.”

I know if I became an S-class adventurer, tons of requests would come pouring in—but then the nation would start issuing demands however it pleased, and my freedom would be severely restricted.

For ease of movement, A-class adventurers have it best.

“Isn’t there some country out there with money to burn?”

“…Not something you should be saying in the Empire’s capital.”

“The current Empire is drowning in debt, though.”

I can’t exactly place my hopes in a country that borrowed forty-five platinum coins from me. And I’m working this hard specifically to loan money to the Empire.

If the Empire gets crushed, House Saionji loses its place to belong.

To prevent that, I’m working hard—earning money to help cover the Empire’s war funds.

“I didn’t realize the Empire’s situation was that bad.”

“Before the scars from the war with the allied forces have even healed, we’re already heading into the next war.”

“…So those rumors about that naval battle were true.”

As expected of a guild employee, Saria gets information quickly.

“They should stop sending out the navy halfheartedly. Just lure the enemy onto land and leave everything to House Saionji.”

“I-I think that’s going a bit too far…”

“But that’s the way that causes the least damage, isn’t it? War costs balloon when you start doing pointless naval battles.”

“…Please don’t complain about top-secret information so casually.”

Saria’s eyes are watery again at my “venting.”

Maybe I did say too much, but…