Chapter 12
“So… you must be Sonia, correct?”
I spoke with a smile.
Yet the moment the words left my mouth, the atmosphere froze.
Gulp.
The girls swallowed nervously. The men glanced at them with quiet pity, as if already mourning what was about to happen.
Because beneath my pleasant expression, something unpleasant leaked out.
Not anger.
Not exactly.
More like… pressure.
I wasn’t truly upset. I had my reasons for that.
Still, I couldn’t deny how entertaining this was in its own way.
Because how previously unrepentant and shameless Sonia was, that old woman suddenly turned pale at my expression.
Knowing well I'm not only just an ordinary middle aged man but also a so called "Forest Spirit.."
Something to not be offended
I guess it's similar to offending a nature goddess on one of those Mangas I read and the transgressors ended up getting cursed.
But I'm not that sort of person, even if I have that ability.
“Y-yes…” Sonia answered weakly.
Her voice trembled.
Sonia trembled before him, part of that because he's a man.
And due to the trauma of angering his house husband reminded her of that atmosphere.
Everyone's eyes widened at her Sudden change in demeanor, though they would be the same regardless of their gender.
The Guild master who was known to be fearless and laughed in the face of danger turned into a nervous puppy before him.
"Then would you come with me, please?"
The intensity increased even further.
Without hesitation she bolted up and said "Yes..!" Like a soldier before a drill sergeant
"Goodluck guild master.." Keila cheered her on quietly
"W-will she be alright..?" Mina added
"Well, she did brought this upon herself" Says Kyle crossing his arm while showing a worried expression
The two men nodded in agreement as Sonia walked behind Soobin while hunched nervously.
—
“So…”
Gulp.
“Is there anything you’d like to say?”
“I..”
“Hm?”
“I APOLOGIZE FOR MY RUDE AND HEINOUS CRIME OF DARING TO PEEK UPON YOUR MAGNIFICENT, DIVINELY-SCULPTED FORM, LORD SOOBIN!”
“…Um!?”
She slammed her forehead to the ground.
“I REPENT FOR GAZING UPON YOUR RADIANT SKIN, YOUR GRACEFUL LIMBS, YOUR—!”
“Please stop describing it.”
“YOUR PERFECT BALANCE OF MASCULINITY AND SPIRITUAL ELEGANCE—”
“I SAID STOP.”
Is she doing this on purpose!?
What… an incredibly descriptive apology.
Being the subject of it felt deeply uncomfortable.
Is this what women in my world went through?
And I felt bad making an old woman kneel in front of me. I only felt like I teasing her a bit.
And I was hoping I would use this opportunity to create an atmosphere where I'd have the upper hand on our negotiation.
Psychologically..
But goodness I didn't expect this!
SIGH~
I let out a heavy sigh, Sonia noticed this flinched and looked at me hesitantly.
"Please stand up"
"B-but.."
"I felt bad letting an elderly person like you kneel and you know I only intend to lightly scold you. It's not like I'm going to curse you or anything~"
I shrugged playfully, hearing this she took it seriously her expression darkened.
Seeing this, I smiled wryly and helped her up.
"It's not your fault, you're only human. It's wrong to scold you for your inherent nature and I know you're not a bad person, Guild master."
Sonia hearing this seemed slightly lightened up.
"But know that you should know when to do such things seeing as you are a person with a status to uphold. It would be a shame if anything happens to it, so you should be careful."
"I will do so.."
"Good, now are you ready to start our negotiation?"
"What?"
"Didn't you come here with that purpose in mind? Don't tell me you came to peek at little bo—"
"Y-YES, YES! The negotiation, right! Hehehe.."
"Goodness.."
With that, the negotiation began the Guild master cleared her throat before her expression turned serious.
Switching to business mode I see, so it wasn't a vain title. Good, good this would go smoothly.
Seeing the atmosphere turned serious, on the bushes 5 pairs of eyes watching the scene unfold.
“…Wow,” Marco the party mage wore brown long robes muttered, green hair rustling as he leaned forward. “I never thought I’d see the Guild Master brought down that easily.”
“Well,” Liam, the thief added with a grin, adjusting the light leather armor strapped snugly around his waist, daggers glinting at his thighs, “I did see her get scolded by her husband the other day. Quite the sight"
"Are we suppose to be eavesdropping?" Keila said nervously
"I-it feels like we're peeping.." Mina added
"Hey, you don't get a say in this. Perverts." Kyle retorted
"Hey, it's not like we were watching voluntarily..!"
"Y-yeah we also tried to stop the Guild master.."
"B-but you still saw..!"
“Oi.”
A low voice cut through them.
They froze.
Slowly, they turned.
Sonia stood there, glaring.
“You kids know I can hear you, right?”
“…Oh crap.”
“…Urkh.”
“Go bugger off,” she snapped. “The grown-ups are having a confidential discussion.”
“Go.”
They trudged away, shoulders slumped, faces flushed. Half embarrassment, half disappointment.
Sonia sighed and turned back to me.
"These kids.. I apologize for that Lord Soobin, they're still young. I hope you won't take It to heart and I apologize for such unsightly display."
"Oh no, I completely understand your role. There's no need really."
"Thankyou for your understanding. Now, shall we begin?"
"Of course"
With that the air between them turned serious.
Sonia folded her hands atop the rocky table between us, posture straight, eyes sharp.
“Very well,” she said. “Let us hear your terms, Lord Soobin.”
I tilted my head slightly, thoughtful.
“First, let’s establish intent,” I said. “I have no desire to isolate this forest from civilization. Conflict benefits no one, least of all those who depend on it.”
Sonia nodded. “Agreed.”
“The Forest of Igrad will remain open,” I continued, “but regulated. I will provide a steady supply of medicinal herbs. Basic, intermediate, and seasonal variants.”
Her eyes widened just a little.
“…Steady?” she repeated. “Not scavenged?”
“Cultivated,” I corrected calmly. “Sustainably.”
Sonia’s fingers twitched.
“That alone would reduce adventurer casualties by nearly a third,” she muttered, half to herself. “Alchemists would line up just to bid—”
“On one condition,” I added gently.
She looked up at once.
“Respect.”
The word settled between us.
“No reckless harvesting. No burning. No unnecessary monster provocation, no hunting within designated zones. And especially no harming my companions.”
I raised a hand, spectral light tracing an invisible map in the air.
“These areas will be marked as Safe Zones. Spirits will not interfere with compliant parties. Beastkin under my protection are not to be harmed.”
Sonia leaned forward.
“You’re offering sanctuary zones,” she said slowly. “In monster territory.”
“Yes.”
“And in exchange?”
“Your guild will enforce these policies,” I said. “Violators lose access. Repeat offenders are barred entirely.”
She exhaled.
“That’s… unprecedented.”
“Not entirely,” I replied. “Just rarely attempted.”
Sonia was quiet for a long moment.
Then,
“What about protection?” she asked. “If a large-scale threat emerges?”
“I will provide early warning,” I said without hesitation. “Migrations. Calamity-class beasts. Unusual mana disturbances.”
Her breath hitched.
“…Those are things even royal scouts struggle to detect.”
I smiled faintly.
“I live here.”
Silence.
Sonia stared at me now, not with fear, but something closer to awe.
“…You speak like a seasoned strategist,” she said slowly. “Like a druid who’s managed borderlands for decades.”
I scratched my cheek.
Well I can't tell her I have the system that would remind me ahead of time.
“Well,” I said lightly, “I’ve had time to… observe patterns.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Forest spirits don’t usually understand guild logistics. Or trade impact. Or long-term ecological agreements.”
Ah.
There it was.
I felt it, the line where curiosity turned into suspicion.
So I shrugged.
“Let’s just say,” I said, “this forest has seen many ages. And I… remember fragments of them.”
That was lie. Reading too many fantasy novels and working under a logistics head was my only experience.
And besides, I'm a modern person. I at last have some general knowledge for such things.
Though my excuse..
Vague enough to be safe. Mystical enough to be believable.
Sonia exhaled slowly, then laughed under her breath.
“…I see. So that’s how it is.”
She stood and extended her hand.
“On behalf of the Adventurers’ Guild,” she said firmly, “I accept these terms.”
I took her hand.
The pact was sealed.
As we released, Sonia glanced toward the forest canopy beyond the window.
“…You know,” she said, “if word of this spreads..”
“I know,” I replied calmly.
She smiled. Sharp, excited.
“Then I suppose we’d better be very careful.”
I smiled back.
“Yes,” I said.
“Careful.”
