The Merchant of Death’s Solicitation

「Kizuna-kun, you had Brave Peckle create a powerful accessory before. How about using that?」

Ah, the Oreikal Starfire Bracelet that boosts abilities, which I had Shouko and Tsumugi equip because it’s so good.

「It also has a drain enhancement effect. If Yamikage-kun comes, she should be able to bring out its full potential.」

「So then, until Santa Peckle calls for us… how about using the materials on the island to butter up Yamikage… cough cough, make some equipment for her?」

「It’s a bit sad how commercial that sounds.」

Well, it can’t be helped.

With Yamikage, we’ll have more attacks at our disposal.

Yamikage is the only one who can use high-powered magic of a different type than Shouko and the others.

And she can use area-of-effect magic too.

Drain magic, but still.

More than anything, going by the rules so far, if there’s a problem, we’ll be able to summon additional members.

It should be about time for Santa Peckle to say something.

So I want to call our hero, Yamikage.

「Yami-chan is a spirit, so even if she doesn’t come to the island, her stats are probably really high, right?」

「Probably.」

She specializes in magic combat, and she’s strong enough to even get MVPs in the wave.

She had a nickname like the management’s favorite or something.

Ah, no, it was the Grim Reaper.

「Rather than recklessly challenging and going broke, this plan might be better. Let’s go with this, and if it fails, we can come up with a different strategy.」

「Got it.」

「The exploration will be delayed, but I understand.」

「Finally Yamikage-kun… I wonder what she’s up to right now…」

Romina mutters wistfully.

Yamikage, huh… it’s been a while since I’ve seen her.

Specifically, a few years… no, about a month and a half.

「It might be a nuisance, but we need Yamikage.」

「Kizuna-san, I think you can’t complain even if Yamiko-san pushes you off a bridge.」

That might be true. I’ll just have to accept it gracefully.

And so, our slow island life resumed in that manner.

…Come on, Santa Peckle, respond!

For about three days, there was no particular change, and an ominous cloud continued to drift over the island.

It feels unsettling.

Like the cracks from the waves… I hope this gloomy sky becomes an SOS signal.

「Come on, listen up!」

「Peckle is not a monster-pen.」

「There you go again! If I shout, do you not give any other response?」

「I want Wrath Pengu defeated quickly-pen.」

「I want to call in members who can defeat it!」

「Let’s quickly build a castle-pen.」

Agh, Santa Peckle, you jerk!

Don’t give me multiple instructions.

Don’t try to make me do everything quickly.

「Quickly summon someone-pen!」

「Please calm down, Kizuna-san! Imitating Peckle won’t do any good.」

「Onii-chan, you do tend to get senile sometimes.」

Shut up, you’re the culprit!

Well, it does smell like a scripted event.

「Romina! Have you finished making the outfit Yamikage would like?!」

「Of course. I’ve made a ninja outfit that she’ll surely love!」

Following my instructions, Romina made some equipment for Yamikage.

Ooh… it really looks like a ninja outfit.

It even has chain-linked arm guards and tabi socks.

「I remade it over and over until I got bonuses suited for her magic style. Just by wearing this, she’ll become many times stronger than she is now.」

「It even has a ninja headband… all that’s left are scrolls.」

After all, her image of a ninja involves ninjutsu.

Things like fire style techniques or water style techniques.

Basically, Dattebayo! kind of direction.

It’s different from the Tenchu type, so this is the right approach.

「Don’t forget the Oreikal Starfire Bracelet.」

「That’s right. We’ll need a Stone of Mediation for Spirits too.」

「Poor Yamikage-san, being needed but not summoned… I wonder if her luck is good or bad.」

Around the time when the sun started to set.

「If anyone wants to meet someone――」

「Here it comes!」

As I was don-doko-don-doko dancing around, Shouko kept his distance from me.

「Don’t back away so much. It hurts, you know.」

「Then please restrain yourself a bit. You’ve been fishing while waiting, haven’t you?」

「I was securing some tilefish for Yamikage to eat.」

「You were eating what you caught last night, right? Maybe Kizuna-san should learn some magic too?」

Well, that’s one option, I suppose.

But for me, who leans more towards crafting, it’s a bit much to go that far.

I could learn it later on, maybe.

It’s just heavy, in terms of energy.

If I learn that, I’ll have to lower my other skills.

Because of proficiency levels, Spirits don’t really suffer much of a loss by lowering them, but still.

My fishing rod skills have become pretty useful in combat, you know.

「So that’s why Yamikage.」

I copy-paste Yamikage’s name from my friend list and give the order to Santa Peckle.

「Got it-pen. I hope you can meet them soon-pen.」

After saying that standard line, Santa Peckle leaves.

「Well, Yamikage will be coming tomorrow.」

Alto has a rather devious look on his face.

It really suits him.

In a Merchant of Death kind of way.

「Of course, just like when you invited me, you’ll be welcoming her while pretending to be natives, right?」

「No? I was just planning to call her over normally.」

「What more do you want to torment her for?」

Then Alto glared at us with an openly displeased look.

What’s wrong? Does he have some complaints?

「I can’t accept being the only one who receives a rough welcome.」

「That’s because your merchant act was bad.」

「…Yeah. Yamikage is innocent.」

「I agree with Kizuna-kun. You brought that on yourself.」

「Regardless, it’s unreasonable for me to be the only one given a rough welcome! I demand the same be done to Yamikage! Otherwise, I’ll quit my job and have you mass-produce Karma Pengu!」

I’m curious about what’s bothering Alto so much, but he threatens us in a way that shows he won’t back down an inch.

He seems to really be holding a grudge.

Despite it being his own fault.

「Remember this even after we leave the island!」

「Are you threatening us because you want a comrade, Alto?!」

「Heh… if I’m going to die, we’re all going together. Romina, I want a comrade. Her name is Yamikage-kun.」

Are you a demon?

No, you’re the Merchant of Death.

But will Yamikage, who was afraid of that ghost, really be okay with this?

Well, Alto was afraid of ghosts too.

But even so, I can’t imagine Yamikage becoming your comrade over this.

Or do you just want a victim in the same circumstances as yourself?

「Hah… I guess there’s no choice. For Alto’s life after leaving the island, let’s have Yamikage do her best too.」

「Great, Kizuna-kun. We’ll have another comrade.」

「Stop saying it like that!」

「You people are so cruel.」

Yeah, I think so too.

And so, we began preparing a welcome party for Yamikage, who will be arriving tomorrow.

Don-doko-don-doko-don-don-don….

I beat out a lively rhythm with Shouko, like the one for Alto.

Shouko seemed even less motivated than before when she had no motivation.

Well, it’s only natural, I suppose.

「Yar-har!」

「Yar-har.」

「Ar-har.」

「U-ei.」

Only Alto seems motivated, while the others just go along with it.

It’s like a pre-rehearsal dance.

…Who said ‘U-ei’?

「Put more energy into it! It wasn’t like this when it was my turn!」

「That was because we had built-up resentment towards you. Don’t you think it was your own fault?」

「As the Merchant of Death, I won’t fall so easily! I won’t reflect on my actions so quickly.」

Ah, Romina lets out a deep sigh.

Alto does have a somewhat selfish side, doesn’t he?

Well, maybe just with us.

But still, the Merchant of Death has finally started to develop some pride.

「Let’s not startle Yamikage-kun too much. She’s not as bad as you are. She’s actually a good girl.」

「That’s right, Yami-chan is an honest, easy-going girl.」

「yeah…」

「But she’s also socially awkward, as everyone knows.」

「Damn… I have no allies! How nice it would’ve been if it was Kizuna-kun!」

Ah, Romina is looking at me and nodding slightly.

Am I in that kind of position?

Well, I am self-aware that I’m naturally a scumbag, but still.

If this was Tsumugi instead of Yamikage, though… I’d probably be on the same level as Alto.

I guess that’s in-group favoritism.