#484 Destined Pair

Who’s this new guy?

Unlike Mr. Shax, I don’t recognize him at all.

His dark skin tells me he’s a demon with a well-built physique and looks fierce like the hotshot of a small but shady business.

“Well, I certainly wasn’t expecting the guildmaster himself to make an appearance.”

“I just knew my men wouldn’t make progress if left alone. What can you say about yourself, Mister CEO? Quite the curious turn of events here to see you here on-site. What of your fancy little office?”

“What a shoddy way of thinking. As company president, I cannot sit back for even a moment in order to maintain my business’ and, in turn, the nation’s wealth. It is my obligation to rush to wherever there is a profitable opportunity and conclude negotiations.”

“You’re just saying that because you haven’t gotten over the habits you had when you were a low-ranking employee, aren’t you? No matter how pretentious and arrogant you try to act, you still prefer working on the frontlines at the end of the day.”

“No industry allows you to just sit back and wait for money to come your way. The assumption that the top brass doesn’t go out into the field is prejudice born of your imbecility.”

“Who are you calling an imbecile?!”

Just who is this man exchanging harsh remarks with Mr. Shax?

Oh. He must’ve noticed that Belena and I are staring, taken aback.

“What? This isn’t a freak show. If you’re done eating, get the hell out of here. And get back to work. You eat, then work—that’s the proper way to live.”

“Watch your mouth, Samijrah. You really are a rude man through and through, talking to this gentleman like that.”

“What did you say?!”

If we let them bicker another second, this conversation is never going to get anywhere.

“Mr. Shax, could you introduce him to us?”

“...He’s not someone worth acquainting with, Lord Saint. Please ignore him like a pebble on the roadside.”

“You know we can’t do that, Mr. Shax.”

I insist, and he speaks, albeit grudgingly.

“This man is Samijrah, the guildmaster who now runs the Izakaya Guild. He’s like the chief brigand of sorts.”

So, he’s an important figure?

The Izakaya Guild and Pandemonium having a staring contest in front of Bacchus’ shop... now that’s definitely not something you’d see every day. 

Just what in the world does Bacchus’ business have to do with their dispute?

“It’s nothing complicated, Lord Saint.”

Mr. Shax, perhaps reading my puzzled expression, explains, “If anything, it’s natural, considering the restaurant’s excellent menu...”

“Okay, but I really don’t think we should be calling it a restaurant...!”

An oden shop is an oden shop. No questions asked.

“This establishment has been garnering quite the attention in the capital nowadays. Never-before-seen delicacies and never-before-drunk high-grade alcohol found in some nameless alleyway. Moreover, the shop owner is none other than Bacchus, the god of alcohol...”

...Well, if the god himself is running the place, it’s understandable that people would rave about it.

“I heard the rumor and immediately began to investigate. That’s when I found out Lord Bacchus’ restaurant was real!”

“Like I said, it’s not a restaurant...!”

“We are aware that Lord Bacchus, the god of alcohol, is related to you! That’s why we thought you also have something to do with the food here, which explains their exquisite taste!”

Mr. Shax is excited.

“And of course, food brings in a lot of profit! We would love to be a part of that! We hope you’d form a business partnership with our company!”

“Ah, so that was your intention.”

“Many senior demons have heard the rumors and wish to feast on the fine alcohol and delicacies served by Lord Bacchus! We, at Pandemonium, would like to take on the task of taking such large orders and bringing them to Lord Bacchus! Please!”

Mr. Shax is a wealthy merchant.

If he smells profit, he’s the first to come running to the source and try to visualize how to profit from it.  

It’s already in his nature, so I don’t really have anything to say against it.

“We’ll even provide a prime location, so it’s not just here in the back streets! The best products deserve the best storefront. Pandemonium will cover all needful expenses!” 

“Wait.”

Someone places a hand on Mr. Shax’s shoulder.

Thick, stubby fingers. They remind me of a man expert in doing labor work.

“Samijrah...?!”

It’s the guildmaster Mr. Shax just introduced us to. 

“That’s very audacious of you, Mister CEO. As long as there’s a place to enjoy food and drinks, it’s under the Izakaya Guild’s jurisdiction. Outsiders should stay out of this.”

“We at Pandemonium have to right to intervene wherever there is profit to be made. We would appreciate it if you would not impose your old-fashioned territoriality on us.”

“This is why a lot of people hate your business’ ways. You take away all the stores, projects, and trademarks we, the guilds, have carefully nurtured!”

“The fact that you have caught our attention and interest means that you are worth it. Isn’t that an honor?”

“This isn’t always about you and your oh-so ‘professional’ antics!!!”

They’re back to arguing again.

Why do they get along so badly? Someone here is going to have to explain their relationship to me.

“Guilds and Pandemonium have been loggerheads with each other for ages.”

The perfect person for the job was, of course, Belena.

“Many guilds besides the Izakaya Guild hate Pandemonium. To them, it’s their enemy.”

“But why?”

Can’t they get along?

“Pandemonium is a large commercial organization. They have secured distribution routes backed by large capital, made huge profits through trade, and even transacted with His Majesty. The scale of their business can be said to be on a national level.”

Uh-huh...

“On the other hand, guilds are groups of small private entrepreneurs. They are established to provide a means to solve problems with other individuals in the same profession.”

Big capital and individual business owners.

I’m starting to see the situation here.

“So the guild members are working together to confront...?”

“As you guessed, it’s Mr. Shax’s company. As soon as they find a profitable opportunity, they seize it by allocating a large capital and monopolizing it. Talented artisans, new products on the verge of becoming a craze, and much more. The number of things they’ve snatched from the hands of private entrepreneurs is innumerable.”

Protecting the interests of private business owners from a huge company. So that’s the role of a guild, too.

Individual vs. organization.

The weak vs. the strong.

The lower class vs. the upper class.

That is the relationship between the guilds and Pandemonium, isn’t it?

“So this time, they’re at odds over Bacchus’ oden shop...?”

“Since it’s a business directly operated by Lord Bacchus, the Izakaya Guild’s guardian deity, they want to continue worshipping him. They don’t want Pandemonium intervening for the same reason.”

No wonder neither side is willing to yield. 

“We won’t let you have Lord Bacchus!”

“Please understand that it’d be better for Lord Bacchus if he works with us.”

Now, the respective leaders are arguing, no different from what their subordinates were doing earlier.

“...Hey, Bacchus. What do you want to do?”

In a situation like this, it would be best to ask the concerned person, so I threw the matter to him.

“Both sides want to do business with you. Would you prefer working with the people from the guild? Or with Mr. Shax?”

“I only want as many people as possible to enjoy delicious drinks and nothing more.”

Thought so.

In the first place, a god is not concerned with money.

Since Bacchus himself is uninterested, he might as well close up shop and go into hiding.

I don’t see him staying as the owner of an oden shop forever, either, anyway.

“Therefore, I will share my path with someone who loves my alcohol and oden more.”

“Hmm?”

“Show me how much you love alcohol and oden. Only the winner will be crowned.”

Man, what is it with gods that they’re always trying to pit humans against each other?!

“...So you’re saying we’re going to decide by a contest?”

And the winner gets to do business with Bacchus’ oden shop?

“That sounds fantastic! I’ve been in the izakaya business for 40 years, so I definitely have the advantage! There’s no way I’m going to lose to a bunch of stuck-up merchants!”

“Oh, I’m sure this contest will make you realize the extent of the common people’s business. No matter how hard you try, you’ll never win against a company’s big capital!”

Both Samijrah and Mr. Shax are raring to go.

And so, a battle devoid of formality as determined by a god (or at least half him) is about to start!