113-113 Travel military funds (1/2)

俺が冒険者ギルドに辿り着き、預けている金を「すぐ持っていきたい」とギルドマスターのおじさんに伝えると、「今すぐには用意できないから明日の昼頃に来てくれ」と言われた.

それで結局、リーンには早朝の出発は待ってもらうことになり、俺は翌日になってから言われた通り昼にギルドを訪ねて行ったのだが.

いつになく暗い表情のギルドのおじさんに、今まで一度も登ったことのない冒険者ギルドの階段の上から手招きされた.

「ノール. 今日はこっちだ」

そうして俺は言われるまま冒険者ギルドの階段を登り、その奥の部屋に通された.

途中、俺たちの他に武器を持った男が三人ついてきて、彼らのうちの二人は廊下に残り、一人は俺たちと一緒に部屋の中に入り、ドアの前に立った.

なんだか物々しい雰囲気だ.

「彼らは？」

「うちの警備員だ. 気にしないでくれ」

「そうか. でも、この部屋、随分暗いな……？」

俺が通された部屋は真昼だというのにほぼ真っ暗だった.

一切窓がなく、ロウソクの火だけで明かりを取っているからだろう.

部屋の中心に小さなテーブルと、その両脇に革張りのフカフカした椅子が二つある.

「まあ、まずは座ってくれ」

ギルドのおじさんはそう言って白髪混じりの頭を掻き、片方の椅子に座りながら俺にも椅子を勧めた.

いつものように金の入った袋をカウンター越しに受け取るだけだと思っていた俺は、少し面食らいつつ、その革張りの椅子に腰掛けた.

「これがお前さんに頼まれてた金だ」

おじさんは背後にあった金属製の大きな箱から、大きめの革袋を取り出し、テーブルの上にそっと置いた.

袋自体は俺が「これに入れてくれ」と渡しておいたものだが、こんなに膨らんだ姿は初めて見る. 袋の重みで木製のテーブルが軋む音が聞こえる.

「昨日言われた通り、お前さんが今までに稼いだほぼ全額(・・)をここに用意してある……当面の生活費を除いてな. まあ、実質ここにあるのがお前さんの全財産ってことになるんだろうな」

「そうか、これで全部か」

これまでの全部の稼ぎが一つの袋に収まるというのは多いような、少ないような. 少し不思議な感じだった.

とはいえ、袋の中身の重さは相当なものらしく、小さな木製のテーブルは今にも崩れてしまいそうだ. 今、この状況で横から軽くつついたら、簡単に足が折れてしまうかもしれない.

そんなことを心配している俺を前に、ギルドのおじさんはゆっくりと口を開いた.

「……なあ、ノール. こんなことは俺の立場上、言っちゃいけねえんだけどよ. でも、本当にいいんだな？　これ全部、あっち(・・・)に持ってくってことで. 絶対に後悔……しねえんだな？」

「ああ、大丈夫だ」

昨日から、おじさんは同じことを何度も念を押して確認してくる.

今回のリーンからの依頼は冒険者ギルドを通しての『指名依頼』なので、ギルドのおじさんにも俺がこれからサレンツァに行くことは伝わっている.

前の話もあり、不安に思っているというのは俺にもわかるが.

「……まあ、お前さんとしちゃあ、いちいち何度も同じことを聞く俺を、うるさく思うだろうがな. そもそも、これはお前さんの金だ. 自力で稼いだ金だし、お前さんがどう使おうと誰にも口を挟む権限はねえ. 冒険者ギルド(うちの組織)としても、使途に一切口を出さねえのは絶対の原則(ルール)だしな. 俺だってそれぐらいわかってるし、そういうルールを曲げる気はねぇ……でもな？」

The uncle took a small breath, looked me straight in the face and said.

”...... As your acquaintance, let me tell you this. You know exactly how much money this is, and you're really trying to get it to ...... Salenza, don't you?

Well, I'm planning on it.

...... Really?　You don't think it's a small fortune, do you?

Yeah. Of course, I know it's a lot of money. But I can't think of a better use for it in King's Landing. I thought it would be better to spend it all on this trip instead of letting it sleep at my place.

I tried to be honest with him, but when he heard me, he slowly shook his head and let out a small sigh.

I thought I was being honest, but when he heard what I had to say, he slowly shook his head and gave a small sigh. I've been in King's Landing for a while now, so I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. ...... Can I go over this one more time to give you a refresher?　The value of ...... currency(kore).

Then the uncle pointed to the leather bag on the table with a serious expression.

That's right.

I think I'm getting used to using money for small amounts, but there are some currencies I've never seen before that are only used for high value transactions.

I'd be very grateful if you could tell me about them here.

Please.

Let's go. Let's start with the cheapest first.

The uncle then slowly took out the contents of the leather bag and placed them on the table, one by one, so that they could be easily counted.

First, there were about 100 copper coins, which are commonly used.

Then, there are 100 square silver coins that you sometimes see.

There are 50 larger silver coins.

There are 100 small round gold coins and 10 large gold coins.

Seven shiny white coins that I have never seen before.

Five slightly smaller coins in weird rainbow colors.

As the table was lined with coins of all sizes, I heard the armed guard at the door behind me swallowing his spit.

When he finished laying out the coins, he picked up a copper coin and showed it to me.

This is a 'copper coin'. This is a 'copper coin'. It's used for eating and drinking.

”I can see that. That's the one you use most often.

That's right. One coin will buy you a loaf of fresh bread, and several will give you a good meal. And the small, square coin next to the copper coin is the 'small silver coin. They are worth a hundred times as much as copper coins. You've seen these before, right?

Yeah, I've seen and used 'small silver coins' from time to time.

Yes, I have. So, ......, I think these are the coins that are not usually used.

The uncle put the copper and small silver coins back on the table and pointed to an unfamiliar silver coin beside them.

This big round coin is a 'big silver coin' worth ten times as much as a small silver coin. With a few of them, you can buy a good weapon for life. That's a lot of money. The small gold coin next to it is a 'small gold coin' worth ten times as much. With one of these, most adventurers will have all the equipment they need for their entire body.

Is that so?

Yeah, it's a lot of money.

There are 100 small gold coins on the table.

There are 100 small gold coins on the table, and it seems like a fortune.