As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill, the Dungeonized World Is a Breeze ~The Bullied Youth’s Payback

Chapter 131 – Eye of Authenticity

“I see, I see. So you just disguised yourself like this without even knowing that. The silver fox species are all born female. And besides, that person has said that they were the only remaining silver fox. That’s why you being here is unnatural, and you being male makes it even stranger.” (Rajie)
Damn it… I didn’t know that silver foxes had such a trait. Even Izu didn’t know about it. Perhaps that meant that there were people in the Empire who had already seen through my appearance and glimpsed my true form.

“Ah, but don’t worry. There aren’t many people who know of that trait of the silver foxes, much less those who have actually encountered one. Even I only learned of that trait after having met one in person.” (Rajie)
After that, he explained that the last remaining silver fox had been living in a remote, unexplored area for the last several hundred years. And on the rare occasion that she would go out to areas that were inhabited by hurons, she would change forms so that no one would recognize her as a silver fox.

Apparently, the reason why Rajie knew about this was because his father had once had his life saved by a silver fox, so there was a connection there.

When Rajie was still young, the silver fox had been kind to him, acting somewhat like an older sister to him.

“But I never saw her again after I left the town where I had been living as a merchant.” (Rajie)
In the first place, it seemed that he had only met the silver fox about once every year or so.

“Shiki, what do you think?” (Hakumen)
“This man is not someone to lower your guard around, but this one does not feel any hostility or malice from him. It does not seem like he is trying to deceive us, however…” (Shiki)
My gut was telling me the same thing, but Shiki’s sixth sense also told him that Rajie wasn’t an enemy.

“But I sure am glad I was able to tear that mask off of you this quickly.” (Rajie)
After that, he guffawed to himself with his hearty ‘hohoho’-like laughter.

“This geezer…” I unconsciously muttered under my breath. He had already discovered my true identity, so I didn’t feel any need to continue to try and deceive him.

As expected of the wisdom bestowed by his advanced years, I suppose. It annoyed me that I felt like I was spinning around in the palm of his hand. Well, it was my own immaturity and naiveté that had brought this on.

“In other words, you were suspicious of me from the very beginning.” (Hakumen)
“That’s true, but let me continue where I left off. About my power, that is.” (Rajie)
“You did say that, huh. You’re not talking about insight or deduction… right?” (Hakumen)
“Right. I have a skill.” (Rajie)
“What?” (Hakumen)
Yet another surprise. It was really rare for hurons to have skills.

“It’s a skill called . It allows me to discern between what is genuine and what is fake.” (Rajie)
Authenticity…? What a troublesome ability.

“It was thanks to this skill that I was able to easily earn a lot as a merchant.” (Rajie)
That would make sense. It was an ability that would be the most advantageous in business negotiations. You could see through others’ attempts to deceive you, and you could even learn the other party’s weaknesses. If he made good use of it, there’s no way he wouldn’t be able to earn an incredible amount of profit.

“But because I used this skill too much, I made a lot of enemies as a result.” (Rajie)
I see. He must have gotten too carried away with his skill and made some mistakes. There had apparently been people who thought an old merchant like him was an obstacle to their business, and they had made moves to get rid of him.

Reflecting back on it now, he said that it would be better if he had been a bit smarter about doing business. But it was because of these stupid blunders that he managed to meet Shuren, so he said it was a good experience.

“So it was because of that skill that you knew I wasn’t a garbel, huh?” (Hakumen)
“Precisely. To my eye, you look like a normal boy.” (Rajie)
The fact that he could see me as Bouchi Hiro made it a truly troublesome ability. Making an enemy of this geezer would be a problem. No matter how much scheming I were to do, it would all be pointless if Rajie were there.

But if this man was really a skill user, I could buy his skill one day and use it to always get the edge in business.

However, it was true that it was better to have him as an ally than an enemy.

But if I did that, I might end up at odds with King Dragia. If it was possible, the best outcome would be to take both requests and gobble up the best parts from each side, but…

…That might be far too greedy.

If you chase after two hares, you will catch neither.

That was a reason that many powerful people in this world had fallen from power.

If you were far too selfless, you would never make it big, but if you were far too greedy, you would meet failure. The way to avoid ruin was to understand the amount of greed that was appropriate for your own capabilities and keep the greed from surpassing the limits of its vessel.

There were two options here. No matter which one I took, it would be fine as long as I picked the one that provided me the greatest benefits.

…No, I don’t even have to think about it.

Right now, this geezer had me by my Achilles’ heel. Even if I went with King Dragia’s side, it would be over if they found out.

Then what if I got rid of Rajie right here? …It was against my principles to kill an innocent person for a one-sided reason like this, in the end.

That meant there was only one answer.

“Well? Will you help me?” (Rajie)
“…….Sigh. To think an older geezer like you would set his gaze on me… It was really, completely out of my expectations. Damn it. But old man, what would you do if I killed you here and took out all the witnesses?” (Hakumen)
“Hohohoho. In the first place, my back was already up against the wall. If I failed here, I would just have to give it up. Besides…” (Rajie)
Rajie met my gaze, staring straight into my eyes.

“You can’t underestimate a former merchant’s ability to judge people, you know? You are not a man who will one-sidedly slaughter the weak.” (Rajie)
….Somehow, this old man always makes me feel out of sorts. How do I put this… Perhaps it’s because he’s somewhat like my father. It could be that easy-going feeling coming from him or maybe the way he somehow sees right through me.

“….Good grief. There’s not much choice now that you know who I really am.” (Hakumen)
I undid the [Shapeshifting Medicine] and returned to my original appearance as Bouchi Hiro.

“I surmise the fact that you’re showing your true appearance means… that I can count on you, right?” (Rajie)
“I’m surprised you can say it that way. You practically threatened me into it, didn’t you?” (Bouchi)
“Hohoho, I’m desperate too. Well then, allow me to introduce myself once more. I am Rajie Bach Fysh Lautria, minister in service of the kingdom of Allods.”
“My name is Bouchi Hiro. Bouchi is my surname, and Hiro is my first name. Also… I’m from Earth.”
“…?! You’re an inhabitant of this world? That’s outside of my expectations.” (Rajie)
“I suppose that’s something you can’t see through, huh?” (Bouchi)
“My skill doesn’t make me omnipotent.” (Rajie)
“Noted. Well, I’ll be your ally from now on, so let’s get along. Well… I’d also feel more motivated if I wasn’t working for free, though.” (Bouchi)
“Hohoh, you can rest assured. It’s not like I won’t pay you.” (Rajie)
“What do you mean?” (Bouchi)
“It’s certainly true that King Dragia and I had worked together and put together our best efforts to strike down the Empire. However, in regard to the Empire, there’s a crucial difference between them and me.” (Rajie)
“Difference?” (Bouchi)
“Yes. And that is—I am well-informed of the inner workings of the Empire.” (Rajie)
“….! Did you receive that information from Shuren?” (Bouchi)
“….No. There is another respected personage who has informed me of the inner workings of the Empire.” (Rajie)
…Respected personage?

The way he said that piqued my curiosity. It sounded like it was someone that perhaps the old man respected.

“That person delivered Shuren-sama’s letters to me. That person, too, was not satisfied with the treatment that Shuren-sama received and harbors terrible regrets for not being able to help her.” (Rajie)
Who in the world was it…? Was there someone like that in the story he had mentioned earlier…?

“That person knows where the Empire’s… no, the Chancellor’s hidden vault is.” (Rajie)
“Hidden vault?!” (Bouchi)
“In fact, this old man has confirmed it with his very eyes. It’s here in the imperial capital. As such, I am certain that I can offer you a satisfactory compensation in return.” (Rajie)
If that was true, I couldn’t help but have high hopes. A hidden vault… it had a really nice ring to it.

It was the hidden vault of the person who ran the Empire behind the scenes, so there had to be a lot of money amassed within it.

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