Chapter 450 - Negotiations?

"By the way... is the price of the branches fixed?"

"Yes, there is a rough estimate."

""Rough estimate~?""

"Yes, that's right. An estimate. Because we can't obtain them easily. So, we directly appraise the branches of the trees on the first floor and determine the value of the four kinds of gemstones. Therefore, if you happen to obtain one, we calculate the price based on its weight."

I see, so they deal in grams.

"It would be different if you had fragments, though."

"Fragments? Is it better if they are small?"

"""""Wha...!?"""""

Kaiser suddenly took the branch on the table, and with a sharp snap, broke it in half.

"Is this still too big?"

"""""Eehhhhh~!?"""""

As everyone was in shock, he continued breaking it into smaller pieces. Only I and the children weren't screaming at his actions.

"Kaiser, maybe you should stop soon."

"Hmm? Is this size okay?"

"Not okay, rather... it might have been better not to break it~"

"Is that so?"

When I stopped him, the branch that was about thirty centimeters long had become about five centimeters. The thinnest part looked like a toothpick.

Everyone couldn't even speak anymore; they covered their faces with both hands, bowing down.

"Um, well... I'm sorry about that."

Observing everyone's reactions, Kaiser quietly apologized, realizing that what he did might not have been a good idea.

"No, it's fine. It's your possession at the moment, so you're free to do as you please. It was just a bit surprising, that's all."

The first to recover was the Director.

""Is unusable now?""

"Hmm? No, it's a gem, so I don't think so."

If it were still a branch, it could be used as it is for decoration. However, if it's in smaller pieces, it should be possible to process them into accessories. Still, it seems harder than ordinary gemstones, so whether it can be cut or not is uncertain.

"Yes, indeed. There are many who would like to obtain even fragments, so if you have the intention to sell, we would gladly take them."

"I truly apologize for what I've done. As an apology, I'll give these fragments to you all."

"Huh!?"

"Excluding Dill, who already has one, that makes five for you all."

Kaiser placed the broken fragments one by one in front of the five members of the headquarters.

"There are two left."

""Kaiser, give us~""

"Hmm? This? Sure."

The fragments totaled seven, and the remaining two were handed over to Allen and Elena.

"Takumi-san? What does this mean?"

"Hahaha~ I'm happy for you. It seems Kaiser wants to distribute the fragments to everyone here."

Since it was becoming too troublesome to stop him, I decided to let Kaiser do as he pleased. After all, the branch belonged to Kaiser.

"No, no, no! Takumi-dono, what are you saying!"

"Yes, Takumi-san! What are you saying!"

"No, it's not me saying that."

"Don't just watch silently, stop him!"

"You're the leader, right!"

"Ehh~ I guess~"

But somehow, I was the one being blamed. Especially the Guild Master and the Director of the Headquarters had intimidating looks.

""Hey, it won't break~""

"Hey, what are you doing!?"

""N? A challenge?""

While I was being scolded, it seemed that Allen and Elena were struggling to break the toothpick-sized fragments.

"Is it tough?"

"Yeah, it's hard~"

"Kaiser is amazing~"

It appeared that the children couldn't break it with their bare hands. Well, considering the force needed to break the branch with a pickaxe, it required a certain level of strength.

""Oniichan, can you do it?""

"Hmm, I wonder? Lend me try."

"Here."

I received a fragment from Allen and tried to bend it.

"Ah!"

""Ohh~""

""""""Eeeehhh!""""""

Surprisingly, it broke with a snap quite easily. Allen and Elena sounded delighted, while others expressed amazement.

"This shouldn't break so easily!"

"It's impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Perhaps because I demonstrated it, everyone took the distributed fragments and tried to break them. However, they didn't budge at all.

Moreover, Dill also took a fragment from Elena and attempted to break it. It seemed he couldn't bring himself to try it with the branch he possessed.

"Look, the fragments that the Director and the Guild Master have been thicker, that's why they're not breaking~"

"That can't be the reason! Besides, call me Chris! I don't like being called Guild Master by you; it feels too formal!"

While it might be normal to use titles when addressing the head of an organization, Chris, formerly addressed as the Guild Master, seemed upset and requested a more casual form of address.

"I agree! Takumi-dono, please call me Ethan from now on."

The Director also sought a change in addressing.

"Oh, I'll say this in advance, please, absolutely do not add 'san' to it!"

"Eh? … Okay, Ethan-san."

"I told you not to, right!?"

"Hahaha~"

""Ethan-san~""

"So, please don't call me like that!"

"""Hahaha~"""

Certainly, adding "-san" to the name "Ethan" would sound a bit odd. However, it's not quite suitable to address someone in a leadership position too casually. So, should I go with "Ethan-sama" or "Ethan-dono"? "-sama" might sound a bit much, so "-dono" it is, probably.

"Ethan-dono, Chris-san. Is this good?"

When I addressed them again, both of them nodded satisfactorily.

"Once again, do you have the intention to purchase the branches?"

"Yes!"

"I do!"

"Kaiser, for now, can we sell about three each to both of them, so around six in total?"

"Umu, I don't mind."

I asked Kaiser to sell six branches from the ones he had collected, holding them in reserve.

""~~~""

When Kaiser took out the branches from the magic bag, Ethan-dono and Chris-san made voices that couldn't quite form words.

"It's impressive to see this many at once~"

"Incredible~ It's like I am in a dream."

They were gazing at the branches with admiration, almost entranced.

"Um... we would like to go back before it gets dark..."

"Oh, right. Yeah, that's true..."

I subtly hinted that it would be good to wrap things up, but Ethan-dono's words were hesitant. He seemed to want to take his time.

"Okay then, I'll leave them in your care. Can we discuss the appraisal results and such tomorrow?"

I wanted to go back to the inn and have a peaceful dinner with the children. We had a simple lunch while walking, so a proper meal would be nice.

"Are you sure!?"

"N?"

"I mean, aren't you afraid of leaving such valuable things in an unfamiliar place for the first time?"

"Well, I trust Ethan-dono and Chris-san, so it should be fine."

"Thank you! I swear not to betray that trust."

"Indeed. Oh, but please take the receipt, we will prepare immediately! And, could you come back tomorrow at a convenient time, preferably in the afternoon?"

"Yes, understood."

So, as the negotiations from the appraisal seemed like they would take some time, we decided to leave the branches and let them take their time after we left. With that settled, we left the headquarters to find accommodations.