Peromus had mustered as much courage as he could to confess, but he was shot down instantly.
Allen began thinking of restaurants he could take him to cheer him up.
"F-Fiona, could you stop being like that?!"
Chester had to step in, hearing Fiona's instant rejection.
The reason why he had planned a group meeting instead of letting Fiona and Peromus meet alone, was because he had expected things could easily turn like this.
"I've already told you many times just how hard Peromus worked to build up his company."
Chester had told Fiona about the first condition he gave Peromus, and how well he had performed.
Peromus was the current owner of the second wealthiest company in Latash.
On a worldwide scale, he was placed 87th.
Chester's intuition told him Peromus would become far more successful in the future too, judging by how far he got in such a short time.
Chester knew from experience how hard that was, having worked to make his inn the best in Grandvelle.
He could tell Peromus' priorities were set straight, both as a person and as a merchant.
Peromus now had a strong position in Latash, some even said he could become an earl, and he was friends with the daughter of Viscount Grandvelle.
And together with Cecile was Allen.
Chester had heard of Allen's international feats.
He had a hunch that Allen had also played a role in Peromus' growth.
Peromus had a strong business sense, and he was blessed with influential friends.
Chester felt like marrying Peromus would be the ideal way to secure Fiona's future.
(Hey now, don't look at me.)
Allen felt like Chester kept glancing at him, wanting him to do something.
Marriage was a tool for society and nobles in this world, but Allen still had his past life experiences, so he believed anyone should be free to love anyone.
So if Fiona was against the idea, he felt there was no need to push her to accept.
"That doesn't matter at all!"
Chester tried to explain just how much of an excellent merchant Peromus was, but Fiona refused to listen.
It only made her even more stubborn.
"But I'm going to dungeons as well, and I'm sure I can become just as strong as you want."
Fiona had already rejected him before, saying she only liked strong men.
Peromus had been going to the dungeons, and had become decently strong.
And he believed he could become even stronger.
"You should only talk to me when you're actually strong!"
"Fiona, be reasonable for once. How do you expect a merchant to become strong?"
Cecile could not stand remaining silent either.
"B-but…"
Noticing everyone was looking at her, she felt embarrassed realizing she was the only one acting so oddly.
"What do you even want? I hope you aren't expecting someone like Peromus to be able to defeat a dragon on his own or something?"
"Huh? A dragon…hmm…"
(Oh! Nice one, Cecile.)
It seemed that Fiona simply did not like Peromus that much.
That was why she kept coming up with excuses all the time.
A merchant that could defeat a dragon on his own.
In this world where stats meant everything, that sounded like an impossible task.
Fiona felt like Peromus would give up if she gave such a condition.
"Peromus, it seems like you'll have to defeat a dragon if you want to date Fiona, think you can do it?"
Allen asked Peromus.
He tried to sound as convincing as he could.
(I'll make sure to lend you any equipment you need too.)
Allen winked at Peromus making sure Fiona would not notice.
There were all the weapons and armor obtained from the Iron Golems, and Kurena had Luvanka's Sacred Bead.
He had also planned on taking Peromus to fight the final boss of the S Rank Dungeon.
Allen felt like even someone with merchant stats would be able to defeat a dragon with all that.
"A d-dragon, alone… But you'll keep your word?"
It was hard to believe Peromus was actually willing to accept those conditions.
"Y-you aren't going to stop?!"
Fiona was shocked that Peromus would not back down even after being told to hunt a dragon alone.
"Peromus is willing to do it. So, what's your decision Fiona?"
Cecile asked her what she thought of Peromus agreeing to that.
"O-okay. If you insist that much, I'll have to consider it."
(Oh? So that'll be enough? I guess she doesn't hate him as much as I thought.)
She looked worried, thinking that Peromus might die because of her.
At least she did not loathe Peromus then.
"Alright, we'll act as witnesses then. Once Peromus defeats a dragon alone, you'll consider going out with him. Though well, if it gets too dangerous we'll step in to help."
Fiona looked worried, so Allen promised to help Peromus if things took a turn for the worse.
Knowing Allen would be there, Fiona felt less stressed.
Somehow they reached a satisfying conclusion.
Since they had decided on the conditions, Allen was already thinking of gathering the party alone to discuss which dragon Peromus would fight, and how to make sure he would defeat it.
"A-alright then, but only if he really defeats the dragon alone. Wait, Cecile, what is that on your arm?"
The discussion was about to end, but then Fiona noticed Makris' Sacred Bead on Cecile's arm.
While the group rode in the carriage, Allen had been constantly working on gathering more Skill Experience, so he had borrowed the Sacred Bead.
But the moment they stepped out of the carriage, Cecile demanded he give it back.
"Oh? You actually noticed it. It's something Allen gave me!"
Fiona took notice of the Sacred Bead, to which Cecile answered smugly.
She smiled widely as she mentioned Allen gave it to her.
(Wait…if she starts talking about that now…)
Cecile bragged like it was the obvious thing to do, saying it was Makris' Sacred Bead which Allen had gotten for her.
"Wha-?! Is…is that really Makris' Sacred Bead, that can buy an entire country…"
Even Chester, who was the wealthiest man in Grandvelle, had never seen Makris' Sacred Bead before.
"It is. Do you know the kingdom of Clebeur? They were in a lot of trouble recently, and their princess gave it to Allen to thank him for helping. But then Allen said it was perfect for me and gave it to me…"
Cecile could not stop grinning while both Fiona and Chester stared at her.
Fiona looked at the bead carefully, then at Allen.
It was said that such a bead cost multiple millions of gold coins, enough to buy an entire country. And Cecile claimed Allen had given it to her.
Fiona could tell she was being serious about it.
That slowly made a certain set of words bubble in Fiona's mind.
"I-I want one too!!"
Fiona stood up and clenched her fists as she shouted that.
She had completely forgotten about the dragon.
Makris' Sacred Bead was known as the Tear of the Sacred Fish Makris in the Prostia Empire Tale picture book.
(Well, I knew it would end like that.)
Cecile had spoken about it all smugly and without thinking, and only now realized what she had done.
"Why do you want that now?!"
"Who wouldn't! I want something better than you!!"
Cecile and Fiona began fighting again.
Allen had watched them do that all the time when he worked as a servant.
Though back then Fiona was almost always the one with something better.
She would always bring fancy sweets to the mansion, which could only be obtained in the capital, and she always wore better clothes too.
Fiona had lived her entire life as the daughter of a wealthy man, so she never really understood Cecile's feelings.
"Well, what's your decision? Are you going to give up?"
Allen asked Peromus again.
His company was valued at 1.8 million gold coins, not in revenue, but overall worth.
Selling off his company would not be enough to buy Makris' Sacred Bead.
Even if he saved up all his income, it would take him more than a decade to be able to afford it.
"I'll do it. I'll make sure Fiona gets Makris' Sacred Bead."
Fiona thought Peromus would give up, but he had no intention of doing so.
Peromus' determination could be felt clearly in his voice.
It was silent for some time after that, everyone's eyes focusing on Fiona.
"...Peromus, if you bring me the Tear of the Sacred Fish Makris, I won't just consider it, but I'll dedicate my life to you."
Fiona would do anything in exchange for the Sacred Bead.
"A-are you sure?! It's a promise then, I'll definitely bring it to you!"
Peromus stood up saying that.
He would do everything to obtain Makris' Sacred Bead.
"But like I said before, it must look better than Cecile's."
She added the condition that the Sacred Bead had to look better than the one Cecile obtained from Allen.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Peromus wondered if there really was a better or worse Sacred bead.
Allen and Cecile were also confused.
"I want one that hasn't been touched by anyone else!"
(Hm? What does she mean? She won't accept one that was bought from someone else then?)
That was a rather confusing condition.
It was almost like she was demanding Peromus go and get the Sacred Bead directly from the Sacred Fish Makris.
"Wait, isn't that just the story from the picture book?!"
Apparently there was a part like that in the picture book too, though Allen did not remember it.
"That requirement is absolute. So what is it! Do you give up?!!"
"I'll do it. I just have to find the Sacred Fish Makris then?"
"B-but why, just give up already…"
She really could not understand why Peromus would not give up.
He was willing to defeat a dragon for her, and now would set off to obtain Makris' Sacred Bead.
"It's because I love you, Fiona. Just wait a little, I'll bring it to you soon."
He only needed one reason to get Makris' Sacred bead.
His feelings had remained constant ever since the day Kurena Village's chief took him to Grandvelle and he saw Fiona for the first time.
"I see, I'll wait then…"
Fiona had nothing more to say.
At least she seemed willing to wait for Peromus to bring her Makris' Sacred Bead.
They spoke about other topics after that, and then they left Chester's inn.
Allen summoned a Bird A, and they headed to their base near the S Rank Dungeon.
Allen's Army had recently built a base near the S Rank Dungeon.
There were some rooms reserved for Allen's party whenever they came to visit, though there was no one else there now.
Kurena and Dogora were hunting Iron Golems, while Shea and Luck worked their way through the A Rank Dungeons.
"W-wait, it wasn't my fault, okay!!"
After their trip, Cecile took a few steps forward and faced Allen and Peromus, taking a defensive stance while crossing her arms in front of her chest.
She was afraid they would blame her.
"No one said anything though."
(But I do think that.)
"No, it's okay. Thanks. Fiona said she'll marry me if I do this, so I'll just do my best."
The conditions were even harder, but rather than just considering being with Peromus, Fiona said she would give her life to him, so he felt it was for the best.
"What did she mean though, a bead no one else has touched before?"
"There's a lot of stories like that. Actually, I'm sure we had them in the mansion too."
According to Cecile, there were a lot of fantasy stories that had been inspired by the Prostia Empire Tale.
A common trope was a lover having to take one of the Sacred Fish Makris' tears themselves to prove their love.
(Huh, I guess there are derivative works like that then.)
The Prostia Empire Tale was so famous and well-known that many stories based themselves in it.
Apparently there were no copyright or trademark laws in this world.
"Hm? So it's like the quest can't be completed by buying the required item, but it has to be gotten as a drop?"
Sometimes in games he played before, quests would require a certain item to be completed.
Some could be obtained through in-game stores or by trading with other players, but in some cases that would not work.
When trading was not an option, the only way to complete the quest would be to complete a different quest, or defeat a certain enemy for the item.
That obviously made the quest more difficult to complete.
"Something like that, yes."
Cecile could only barely understand Allen's gamer terms.
"So just in case, has anyone ever gotten one directly then?"
Allen asked Cecile if there were any records of people successfully obtaining the Sacred Bead.
"Of course not. Not that I've heard of, at least."
Apparently there was no such information.
But Peromus still looked determined.
He would never give up.
(Somehow I feel like Peromus is the only one playing a different game from us.)
Allen felt something on Peromus that he had also felt the first time he saw Merle and her Golem.
"I guess the first step will be to talk to Shea and see if she can get us in contact with Clebeur, maybe we can negotiate a way for you to enter the Prostia Empire."
"Eh? She can do that?"
"Well, it all depends on how negotiations go."
Allen was already planning for the future.
Peromus was going to need the help of Allen's party if he wanted a chance at obtaining the Sacred Bead.
The first step was to enlist Shea's help, since she had connections with Clebeur.
Peromus was going on a new mission, one which would determine the course of the rest of his life.
