That's Why I Decided to Become a Miser (6)

Across from David, four chairs were lined up, with Kagami, Alice, Rex, and Tina seated from right to left. Of them, only Rex looked uneasy, arms folded and wearing a troubled expression.

"Do you know why I came here?"

Across from them, David held a coffee cup in one hand. He turned a sharp gaze on Rex and asked quietly.

"You came to bring Kururu... the princess... back, didn't you? We've been staying in this city for quite some time now. It wouldn't be surprising if someone had reported that to the capital."

Rex seemed to have guessed as much. He looked troubled for a moment, then answered.

"As you surmised. You have a keen eye, Rex-sama."

David sighed, took a sip of coffee, and set the cup back on its saucer. At David's words, Rex lowered his head, looking uncomfortable.

"Could you two stop having a serious moment all by yourselves? So what does this mean? Give us the explanation already."

Kagami spoke while sucking up melon soda through a straw, looking bored, as though he hadn't understood a word they were saying.

Alice and Tina seemed to agree. Their faces covered in cream from the parfaits they'd ordered at the café, they nodded along.

"Oh, pardon me. So you're the Villager who, according to the reports, has led Rex-sama and Kururu-sama astray?"

"Reports? I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm Koji Kagami. As you know, my Role is Villager."

Kagami said that, then introduced the two beside him: "The little one next to me is Alice, and the one over there, covered in cream and looking every bit like a child, is Tina." David bowed without so much as a flicker of expression, as if he already knew who they were, too.

"I've heard about you from my subordinates."

"No, but what are these reports you're talking about? You said you came to bring Kururu back. Explain all of it properly, including that."

"It is true that I came to fetch Princess Kururu. However, that would only be the case if she had strayed far from her original purpose."

David's words left not only Kagami but Rex looking confused.

"What do you mean, David-dono? If you had your subordinates investigate and report back, then you must know that we aren't working to defeat the Demon King, don't you?"

"A moment ago, you said that you were living in this city, Rex-sama. Is there a reason for that? According to my subordinates' reports, 'You have not set out on a journey to find and defeat the currently missing Demon King, but you have not neglected your training and spend each day working toward some goal.'"

Hearing that, Kagami said, "Ah, I see," finally understanding. Although Kagami and the others had been staying in Valman for the past month, they'd been fighting monsters to complete quests and earn money. Kagami figured that this had served as camouflage, making them appear to be striving to grow stronger to whoever had reported on them.

In fact, there were days when Kagami and the others acted separately, and Rex and Kururu's levels had risen a little.

"That is what I came here to confirm. If you had given up on defeating the Demon King and were simply staying in Valman, then I would have to take Kururu-sama back, as she is a princess and the beloved daughter of His Majesty. But if that is not the case, I will not force her to return. After all, defeating the Demon King is what Kururu-sama, as the Sage, must prioritize above all else."

As he said this, David raised his coffee cup to his lips again. At that moment, Kagami quickly made eye contact with Rex, then immediately brought up his status window and showed David his level.

"That's right! We were just making it look like we weren't trying to defeat the Demon King while we prepared! It would take too long to search for the missing Demon King. It's much faster to wait for him to show up, then beat him to a pulp once we've gotten really strong!"

Kagami said this with a sharp, perfectly serious expression. After hearing David's explanation, he'd immediately decided that explaining the actual situation would be a hassle, and chose to go along with David's assumptions.

Honestly, they were already so short-staffed that losing Kururu would be a huge blow. And since Kururu was beginning to understand demons, it would be a problem for the future if she were sent somewhere beyond their reach. Kagami also figured that Kururu herself wouldn't want to return to the castle.

"That's right! We had absolutely not given up on defeating the Demon King! We were training under our master's guidance so we'd grow strong enough to defeat him the moment he appeared!"

As if agreeing with Kagami, Rex abruptly stood up and said this.

"I have heard about that. I have already received a report on what happened in Salmaria as well. I hear you played a major role. I never thought a Villager could reach such heights... With you around, the Demon King should be easy to defeat. So why are you trying to run a casino and the like in this city? The reports say you intend to have Kururu-sama and Rex-sama work there, too."

David asked, eyeing Kagami suspiciously, as if waiting for him to slip up. Rex looked pained for a moment at the question, which seemed to hit the heart of the matter. But then Kagami's gaze hardened—

"You idiot! Don't underestimate how weak Villagers are! Even at Level 999, we're ridiculously weak!"

He slammed his hand on the table and snapped back at David.

"You say I played a major role in Salmaria? I barely managed thanks to Kururu and the other adventurers supporting me with enhancement magic and all kinds of other help! If that's what one of the Demon King's subordinates is like, then there's no way I could beat the Demon King himself! That's why I'm earning money to buy powerful equipment. With money, I can recruit more companions and equip them properly... Perfect, right? In exchange for helping them get stronger, Kururu and Rex are helping me out."

Tina was a little surprised by the fluent torrent of lies and let out a "Whoa." Kagami, meanwhile, gave David a smug look, as if daring him to keep doubting him after that.

In fact, the lie made sense.

The attack on Salmaria hadn't been revealed as an attack by the Demon King himself. It was believed to have been carried out by one of his subordinates. So the lie held up, and running a casino to earn money to defeat the Demon King could be interpreted as an efficient way to make money while the Demon King was missing.

"I see... So that's how it is. Your aim is the various pieces of equipment worth over 1,000 gold that can be purchased through the Quest Issuing Guild, is it not? There's an old tradition that such items must not be given to those who lack the ability to wield them; they can only be obtained by those who purchase them for themselves. You know this, which is why you're gathering money."

Hearing information that none of them knew—not even Kururu, a member of the royal family—the group once again thought, "That's so Kururu."

Though Kururu had been training since childhood, Kagami couldn't help thinking, At least ask your father, the King, why he can't give you those weapons. As he waited for David to speak again...

"If that's the case... allow me to help you as well!"

David had answered with words no one expected.

At the unexpected offer, Kagami was stunned. "Wait, we're keeping this lie going?" He shuddered at the thought of this troublesome person trying to join their group.