/
「Can’t make light of you as usual. 」
Gold let out a tiny sigh.
「 I wanna see that slight smile wiped off from your face. 」
Silver is frowning slightly.
「I have been reluctantly expressive these days. 」
Stop looking at me, Butler.
「Please disregard this discussion
 」
I refused with the ambiguous smile characteristic of a Japanese.
「Is it here in Canum? 」
「Nah, Nalluahdid. 」
「The merchant and ship’s town, huh. 」
Gold confirms the location, while Silver thought about it for a while. Ah, Butler froze.
Come to think of it, I didn’t tell him the job location, huh.
「According to the job description, you are looking for a person who will be in charge of giving orders to the construction workers building the houses, as well as acting as an agent on your behalf for the trade negotiations for the merchandise, is that correct? Is it alright with you if the conditions are within the typical range? 」
「Nah, based on what happened today, isn’t it weird you’re asking about the hiring conditions? 」
I retorted to Gold, who was trying to push the discussion with a smile.
I asked Butler beforehand, and he told me that stewards’ salary is one small silver coin per day. It’s way below a full-fledged butler, but the employers typically give a bonus every three months. They set a high amount for the bonus and expect their employees to work diligently until they release it. Apparently, they want to make sure that they’re not cheated on the job for at least 3 months. The clothes and residence are also provided for.
「They are eccentric people, but they are capable. It may take a lot of work for them to master the job, but as long as they are given explicit instructions, they will be able to accomplish that, so they are well-suited for short-term employment
 And they will be entering an oath, after all. 」
The oath is said to be far more binding and effective if the two parties have something they mutually wanted to protect. In the case of these two, it’s probably the desire to keep their other 「job」 a secret.
Eh? Did Butler purposely mislead them so that we can set tighter restrictions?
Seems like Butler put a lot of thought in this, so I decided to go ahead with the contract. We’re going to meet up at Nalluadhid three months from now, and that’s when the job will start. I got the feeling that the Gold and Silver will move faster, but I don’t mind.
My plan is to prepare materials, blueprints as well as instructions during that time. Alright, time for the contract — just a simple one for the job, then we swore an oath not to tell anyone about each other other than the typical info.
The paper for the oath has an intricate pattern on the back. A spirit will be summoned once signed. The strength of the spirit depends on the skill of the person who created the oath as well as the desired level of the person signing it.
Well,  Khadar appeared when I signed but he vanished right after. Are oaths also part of Khadar’s territory? Eh, why do I feel like I can talk about the two guy’s sideline business without any restrictions now? What happened to the system?
Gold and Silver froze while Butler looked like he had a headache.
「Alright, it’s done. See you in three months, I’ll be in your care. 」
Wondering if this was a scam, but I didn’t let that show in my face, of course.
「I-Impossible. This is just a mere oath
 」
Silver is fretting all over.
「Deep green robes reminiscent of the forest, white beard, a budding cane — it’s as if it’s Khadar himself
! 」
Yep, that’s the person himself, I think.
「Jean-sama, you have been keeping a secret this great— 」
Butler had a glazed look on his eyes.
Ah, you don’t have to be that anxious. An acquaintance of mine just popped out for a bit.
「Alright, it’s done. See you in three months, I’ll be in your care. 」
I tried repeating those words again.
「Jean-sama
 」
「Anyway, those two still haven’t snapped out of it, huh. 」
I ignored Butler when he worriedly called my name.
「The oath’s curse must be coursing within their bodies as of the moment. Well, it’s inevitable given that such a personage appeared. Yes, I did think it was inevitable. 」
‘But why are you fine!?’ — There’s a sense of pressure from Butler’s smile as if he’s questioning me, but it’s probably just my imagination.
「Here’s the allowance, and here’s some snacks. 」
They’re still out of it, so I decided to finish this business by leaving the two bags to these two, wide-eyed, stupefied guys still standing rooted on the spot.
I’m leaving the house and clothing preparations to them as well as the transportation, so that’s what the allowance is for.
Not sure if this room is designed for private talks since it can be locked, but Butler just locked it without a key. Since it can be closed like that, they can probably open it too, right?
Butler gave those two an indescribable sort of glance while closing the door. He left the key on the table inside the room.
I informed the pub owner that the other two are still using the room, and also paid more for the fee of their extended stay.
「Jean-sama, are you planning to depart for Nalluadhid? 」
「Yeah, once I’m free? Well, I’m basically leaving everything to those two. 」
Shiva and the kids already told me the swords they wanted, so I have to start making them.
Chris and Ash will probably make up their minds by the time I finish smithing those, so it’s quite busy. Though Dean doesn’t look like he ’s going to decide any time soon, he, Butler, and Retze told me that I can do them when I’m free.
I don’t want the furnace to get cold, so I want to smith everyday.
「I’m relieved. So you will be staying in Canum, is that right? 」
「Yup. I’m staying here for the most part. 」
We walk through the hustle and bustle of Canum’s town. The drunks walk shoulder to shoulder while making a big show without a care for who they were with. Both the people and the alleys around here are quite in a mess.
In contrast, the area around the houses are pretty quiet, with the occasional sound of talking spilling out of the louver windows.
「Noth, thanks for today. 」
「Please don’t mention it, I am glad to be of help to you. 」