Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 173

As I stand up to leave the headquarters of the Sword Fangs Legion, Jilboa offers some advice. “You’d better take an escort when you go to persuade Gooljin. Do you have anyone in mind?”

I nod and then decide to ask him while I have the chance. “Of course, I’ll bring an escort. But honestly, I can’t fully predict Gooljin’s reaction. Expanding the business might make him feel like his monopoly on selling the Guardian Shoes between cities is being infringed upon. While the increased production should benefit him financially, I’m not sure if he’s the type to be satisfied just by the numbers. He could take it personally. What do you think? I haven’t known him long enough to get a good read on him.”

Jilboa toys with a quill on his desk as he answers slowly. “Well… Gooljin leads a caravan of over 100 people. If he ever seems to be acting on emotion, the real reason is probably not emotions but a matter of pride.”

“Pride?” I am a bit thrown off by the unexpected word.

Jilboa repeats himself. “Yes, pride and profit.”

Mercenaries and adventurers live in a world where losing face means the end. If they feel their pride has been wounded, they might retaliate, ignoring all other calculations. While I personally don’t place much value on things like pride, Gooljin is not only a merchant but also a former adventurer. He’s surrounded by former adventurers too, so he lives by that same mindset.

I had planned to convince Gooljin by showing him how profitable this would be for him, but now I realize I might need to rethink my approach.

The number of potential problems never seems to decrease, and there are always more things to consider.

“Troubles just keep piling up, don’t they?” I accidentally voice my thoughts aloud.

Hearing that, Jilboa chuckles and comments. “No, you’re wrong. You’re the one causing the trouble. You walk around with this ‘I’m just an ordinary guy’ look on your face, always acting timid, yet you constantly stir up trouble. And in the process of solving one problem, you create even bigger ones.”

I can’t just let that slide, so I retort. “I’m only trying to solve problems. I just think on my feet, doing what needs to be done in the moment.”

But Jilboa’s smile deepens and he adds. “That’s exactly the source of the trouble! And I mean that as a compliment, Kenji. Most people don’t try to solve problems. They either avoid them or adapt to the situation. But you’re different. You try to eliminate the problem entirely, as if you want to change the world itself to suit your way of thinking. That means you’re one of those people who believe they can reshape the world.”

Being told that by a future hero only makes me more uncomfortable.

“Come on, I’m not that kind of person. I just can’t stand leaving problems unresolved in front of me.”

I try to deny it, but Jilboa seems completely unfazed.

“Heh, is that so? Well, maybe it’s less of a talent and more of a curse. Still, people sometimes call that kind of crazy behavior heroic. Just remember that.”

The backhanded compliment from a future hero is hard to swallow.