The Former Holy Knight. Having Lost My Job and Childhood Friend, I Decided to Start a Dark Guild - Chapter 21

Seneca’s monthly salary was sixty silver coins, with an agreement to split the earnings evenly between the Dark Guild and Seneca. Although it felt like the guild was taking a bit too much, it was still a better deal compared to other dark guilds, where it’s common for them to take more than seventy percent. Seneca was thrilled with this arrangement.

Of course, Seneca wasn’t the only bodyguard. Two other heretics found in the capital were recruited and their loyalty enhanced with the “King’s Aura” before being dispatched to the brothel.

This arrangement meant that La Bohème paid the Michino Family a total of one hundred forty silver coins per month, with half of that – seventy silver coins – being profit for the family. Including other earnings, the current financial situation of the Michino Family was as follows:

Michino Family Members:

• • “King of Heretics,” Don Michino, aka Leon Stein

• • “Hawk’s Eye Thief,” Kano Rainwood

• • “Vessel of the Demon Lord,” Nina Nightsky

• • “Speedster Assassin,” Seneca Forest

• • Receptionist, Sani Rainwood

• • Plus two other associate members

Major Clients: Residents of Loser’s District, high-end brothel La Bohème

Earnings Last Month: Seventy-five silver coins and seven copper coins (including a fee for a cat search)

Seeing it laid out like this, the Michino Family indeed seemed more like a dark guild.

With the earnings from La Bohème, there was something they wanted to do for the residents of the Loser’s District: establish a liquor store to provide them with decent alcohol.

The alcohol circulating in the Loser’s District was essentially bootleg, produced by Fatty Pitt. Located on the outskirts of the district, Pitt’s brewery was a shabby building emitting foul odors.

After trying the alcohol, which was barely palatable and could hardly be called liquor, and hearing from Kano about its frequent association with food poisoning, they suggested to Pitt the idea of properly learning how to brew decent alcohol. However, Pitt became furiously red-faced and refused to listen.

Since Pitt lacked the motivation and they themselves knew nothing about alcohol or business, Kano and I were at a loss. That’s when the perfect person offered to help.

“Don, I’m looking forward to today. The capital is home to many breweries,” Sofia said with a smile from inside the carriage, where we met. After casually mentioning our interest in alcohol during a discussion about bodyguards, she offered to show us around the breweries of the capital.

As we boarded the carriage, Sofia leaned her head on my shoulder with a familiarity that suggested the influence of the “King of Heretics” skill. Receiving such services for free from a popular courtesan, who normally costs ten gold coins for a night, felt inordinately guilt-inducing.

“Sofia-san, are you sure this is okay, considering how busy you are?”

“Of course. Introducing Seneca-kun to me was a huge help. This is the least I can do. And please, stop being so formal and calling me Sofia-san.”

“But how should I address you then…?”

“Sofie, or just Sofia, whichever you prefer. And I’m not fond of being spoken to with honorifics by men I fancy.”

Riding through the capital with Sofia Gracier, a well-known figure, made me feel truly like the don of a dark guild. Well, I am, in fact, the don.

The brewery we visited wasn’t one of the larger establishments in the capital but was on the smaller side and not doing too well, according to Sofia. The owner was shocked by the unexpected visit from the queen of the night but soon became overtly eager.

“I never imagined Sofia-sama from La Bohème would choose our alcohol.”

“No, this time the deal is with this gentleman here,” Sofia redirected, as the owner turned to me with a scrutinizing look, leaving me unsure how to react.

Sofia took over the conversation. “He’s planning to open a liquor store, and we thought to give your alcohol a try.”

“And where do you plan to open this store? The competition is fierce in every district now,” the owner inquired.

“In the Loser’s District. This gentleman here is the king of the Loser’s District,” Sofia declared as if it were the most natural thing.

The owner was momentarily speechless. “But opening a store in that filthy slum won’t make you any money.”

Sofia countered, “Pornai was once a poor area too, you know. With a capable leader, a town can change drastically.”

The owner stiffened. “Our brewery may be small, but it has history. We won’t lower our standards to supply such a cursed and filthy slum.”

“That’s a shame. I had considered a contract for our brothel depending on this deal. Our clients range from nobles to merchants, which would have been a great opportunity to spread your alcohol. Well then, Don, shall we go? There are plenty of other breweries in the capital that produce delicious alcohol,” Sofia said, preparing to leave with me. The owner, in a panic, stopped us.

“Please wait! If that’s the case, I’m willing to listen!”

Sofia then advised him, “You should take this opportunity to curry favor with this man. He’s soon to become one of the most influential dark guild dons in the capital.”

Watching Sofia skillfully negotiate a contract for ale at nearly the cost price, I was profoundly grateful for the “King of Heretics” skill that I possessed.