Akatsuki Translations

Golden Phoenix: Greed Branch 

A massive trading company that operates across two major continents, Isralia and Westria. It is an esteemed guild with a long history dating back to the age of the Great Dungeon Flood several hundred years ago. While they engage in various businesses and reap significant profits, their primary trade is “money lending.” 

The Golden Phoenix was famous for providing loans to adventurers. 

Adventurers, by nature, had the least stable profession, akin to gambling, where even if they had a secure workplace like a dungeon, it wouldn’t be strange for them to die the next day. Even for “ring-owners,” borrowing money was a struggle, highlighting the lack of trust placed upon them. 

However, the Golden Phoenix dared to lend money to such individuals. They would “acquire profits punctually.” It was truly remarkable how they could discern successful adventurers, or even those who concealed “treasures,” and provide loans and collect them accordingly. 

Their methods were often criticized as unscrupulous, but they adhered to the laws and contracts of the Grand Federations and the Temple, never breaking them. If a proper contract was made, they would lend money regardless of the adventurer’s profession during times of need, resulting in more expressions of gratitude than resentment. 

Rumors even circulated, claiming that “those who borrowed money from them would achieve great success,” but let’s set that aside for now. 

They were kind to those who kept their promises but showed no mercy to those who betrayed them. That was the Guild of the Golden Phoenix. 

“…Phew.” 

Ganen, a man employed in that guild, was the newly appointed overseer of the Greed Branch 

He was a stern and imposing figure, a self-made man who had risen through the ranks of adventurers. When Zaza, who had been managing the dungeon outside the city, fell into corruption, it was Ganen who compiled the evidence of that corruption and reported it to his superiors. It was not for personal advancement, but rather a decision made to admonish Zaza, who had gone so far as to incur the wrath of the Temple, and to protect the guild. 

Now, Ganen was known to be a stickler, a serious and diligent man, which often resulted in him being resented and unable to climb the ranks. However, due to the recent incident involving his whistleblowing, he skyrocketed to the top, achieving a significant promotion. The work that had previously gone unrecognized was now acknowledged. Furthermore, surprisingly, there were more supporters than detractors among those who harbored ill feelings toward him. He could not refuse this opportunity. 

While this should have been a cause for celebration, he found himself faced with two dilemmas. Both of them brought about by the arrival of a certain person. 

“Ganen, I’ve prepared the reports for you to review. This month’s collection is on the desk.” -Diz 

“Miss, that’s not something for us to…” -Ganen 

“Since Zaza’s departure and the major personnel changes, everyone is busy learning their new roles. I’ll take care of the temporary gaps. This was my personal judgment.” -Diz 

Diz Gran Fenex. 

She was the one who arrived when he reported Zaza’s corruption to the guild’s headquarters in the City of Sin, Proudia. According to her, she came as a substitute for Goufa Fenex, the current top executive and guildmaster of the Golden Phoenix. 

　―― ……Could she be the guildmaster’s relative? 

　――It’s his daughter, although not by blood. 

The daughter of the top of his organization had come. His heart couldn’t fully embrace this as a splendid occurrence. 

Moreover, for some reason, she held the title “Gran,” meaning she held a “Temple rank” (although it was truly unclear why she had it, as the guildmaster himself didn’t hold such a position). 

If only she were a mere figurehead, it would have been somewhat bearable. Unfortunately, she was remarkably talented. Her work was swift, and she had a sense of consideration. Due to the chaos caused by Zaza’s downfall, the organization’s operations had been paralyzed, and he had been heavily reliant on her assistance. Ironically, this resulted in a stomachache for Ganen. 

And there was the second dilemma, which she had brought upon him. 

《”Uncle, whatcha doing?”》-Akane 

“Hey, get out of the way, you’re bothering me.” -Ganen 

《”Can I play too?” 》-Akane 

“I know you’re bored, but please spare me.” -Ganen 

Currently clinging to his neck was Akane, a “spirit-bound.” This was the second troublesome issue. 

For some reason, a nameless third-rate adventurer borrowed money and offered Akane, the spirit-bound, as collateral for repayment. Ganen couldn’t fully grasp her value, but Zaza had become fixated on acquiring her. He had induced the third-rate adventurer, who had no hope of returning the money, to use his daughter as collateral. 

In hindsight, his judgment had been correct. Even after Zaza’s downfall, Diz had frowned and sighed with a mix of admiration, acknowledging Zaza’s precarious methods to secure the spirit-bound. Ultimately, the spirit-bound became the property of the Golden Phoenix, as stipulated in the contract. 

That should have been the end of it. 

“Akane, uncle is busy with work. Don’t disturb him.” -Diz 

For some inexplicable reason, the young lady abruptly halted that transaction. 

《”Diizzzz I’m boreeeed” 》-Akane 

“How envious you are. Allow me to play in uncle’s place.” -Diz 

《”What about Nii-tan?” 》-Akane 

“I believe Ur will come today. So until then, you must be a good girl.” -Diz  

The young lady spoke to Akane, the spirit-bound, saying “Right?” The spirit-bound nodded in agreement, transformed into a snake, and coiled around Diz’s neck. 

Akane was not a possession of the Golden Phoenix. Not completely. 

Against the outrageous proposition of the boy, Ur, known as the “Sibling of the Spirit-Bound,’ she inexplicably agreed. Normally, being exceptionally capable, it was incomprehensible to Ganen why she would entertain such whims. 

“Oh, you have a perplexed expression.” -Diz  

“Please refrain from reading my mind, miss.” -Ganen 

“Well, I do feel guilty. After all, this is purely for my amusement.” -Diz 

“Amusement, you say?” -Ganen 

Though she always wore a smile and had a carefree demeanor, her dedication to her work was beyond reproach. The word ‘amusement’ seemed out of place when applied to her. 

“I’ve been working too hard lately, you see. Someone I know suggested I take a break and have some fun.” -Diz 

“And that ‘fun’ involves that brat?” -Ganen 

“I don’t really understand what constitutes as ‘fun,’ but what do you think?” -Diz 

“I’d call it sadistic.” -Ganen 

” You, despite your considerate nature, can be quite merciless when it comes to matters of necessity. Allow me to commend you.” -Diz 

“Thank you.” -Ganen 

He lowered his head and was struck with two sharp knocks. It seemed that she was indeed forgiving, to settle matters with just that. However, if that was the case, the severity of her retaliation against that brat seemed all the more cruel. 

“To be honest, I think the brother of the Spirit-Bound is doomed.” -Ganen 

The conditions presented by her (or rather, by that brat) were far too harsh: becoming a gold-ranked adventurer. Quite frankly, it seemed impossible. Only legendary heroes could achieve such a feat. And that brat had no prospects of becoming one. 

In his line of work, he had seen countless dreamers. Hence, he could assert with certainty that the brat was nothing more than an ordinary child. He was definitely not a candidate for a future hero. 

“On that point, I agree as well.” -Diz 

“So, do you find pleasure in watching the brat meet an untimely demise?” -Ganen 

“I wouldn’t go as far as saying I find pleasure… Well, maybe it is a bit of sadism.” 

She made a slightly troubled expression, tilting her head as if pondering while playing with her hands. Then, she spoke. 

“You know, I actually want to be defeated.” -Diz 

Before Ganen could grasp the meaning behind her words, the sound of a bell announced the arrival of a visitor.” 

　　　　　　　　　　　◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆ 

Separated from Shizuku, Ur visited the Greed branch of the Golden Phoenix alone and immediately came face to face with Diz, the master of this place. Just as during his previous visits two weeks ago, she warmly welcomed Ur. 

“Hey, Ur-kun. It’s been a while. Well, it’s only been about three days, but still.” -Diz 

“I’ve been well, Diz. So, where is Akane?” -Ur 

“Maybe you could spend some time chatting with me a bit more?” -Diz 

Ur fell silent for a while and slowly turned to face Diz. 

“… What are your hobbies?” -Ur 

“Watching adventurers burdened with debt struggle and laughing at them, perhaps?” -Diz 

“May I take her away since you’re not good for Akane’s education?” -Ur 

“How about presenting a thousand gold coins and we’ll consider it?” -Diz 

“You damn wicked debt collector.” -Ur  

“Everyone who incurs debt says the same thing, wahahaha.” -Diz 

《”Wahaha―”》-Akane 

Wahahah, Diz seemed to be having a great time. And right behind, Akane imitated Diz and appeared equally delighted. It was a bittersweet sight. However, despite the sadness, there was solace in Akane’s apparent vitality, which brought comfort above all else. 

“Akane, come here.” -Ur 

《”Nii-tan!”》-Akane 

Calling out to her, Akane laughed and leaped into Ur’s arms, embracing him tightly. He returned the hug, thinking she was such an adorable child. After a while, Akane transformed into a small girl, clinging to Ur’s body and closing her eyes. 

“You’re showing off again. At most, I can give her a piggyback ride.” -Diz 

“How’s it feel? You Jealous?” -Ur 

“I’m envious, and it’s always surprising no matter how many times I see it. A spirit-bound is rare, and the power differs depending on the type of spirit. She’s like the ever-changing metal… well, I supposed slightly different, however.” -Diz 

Diz filled a teapot in the room with water, placed it on a magical device he had never seen before, and started boiling the water. While efficiently preparing tea, Diz observed Akane closely. 

“How did you find her… no, rather, how did she become a spirit-bound?” -Diz 

Diz stared at Akane, narrowing her eyes. Akane tilted her head as if she didn’t quite understand. As Diz had mentioned, Akane was originally an ordinary human. At least, she wasn’t a spirit-bound from birth. 

“Well, it happened when as usual, my old man returned from the dungeon, carrying a massive amount of junk that weighed down the carriage. There was a strange egg, a mixture of gold and crimson.” -Ur 

Presumably, it was what was called a “spirit egg.”  

The state before a spirit is born into this world. The nature of spirits has hardly been unraveled, and it can be said that no one has ever seen their pre-birth state. 

In the ordinary course of events, Ur’s father was known to spout nonsensical remarks about the junk he brought home as if it were a mountain of treasure or an ancient relic. Little did anyone anticipate that he would stumble upon a genuine treasure, and not just any treasure, but an artifact of the highest order. The sheer unimaginable nature of this discovery left everyone dumbfounded. 

“And then, Akane, who was playing with it like a toy, was ‘devoured’ by the egg.” -Ur 

“Devoured?” -Diz 

“At first, I thought she was attacked by some sort of slime.” -Ur 

It was a terrifying sight. The infant Akane held the sphere in her hand, and suddenly, it engulfed her completely. Ur screamed and tried to pry her away, but he couldn’t separate her. 

Ur’s father, who was nearby, hurriedly approached upon hearing his son’s screams. However, the next moment, Akane was completely swallowed by that mysterious red object and turned into a spherical shape. 

“… A sphere. So, it was an egg or a cocoon?” -Diz 

“It was something like that. Since there was nothing I could do, I just placed the sphere in a safe place and watched over it. I think I did that for about a whole day.” -Ur 

Honestly, it was worrisome. During that time, Ur continued to resent his father, who had brought such a monstrous and incomprehensible object into their midst. But the next day, when he woke up, the egg had cracked, and Akane emerged from it. 

“Then her hair turned red, and her body became smooth like metal.” -Ur 

“And she gained the ability to transform at will?” -Diz 

“That’s right. She gained that ability. And a priest acquaintance who saw it said she was a ‘spirit-bound.’” -Ur 

A power to transform one’s physical form at will, akin to magic. A being who wields extraordinary miracles, beyond what it means to be human. An amalgamation of the power of a spirit and a mortal. Upon hearing this, his father exclaimed, “What a discovery!” in an exuberant manner, his face beaming with delight. When Ur heard that, without a second thought, he violently struck his father’s face with a nearby piece of garbage. 

“That’s the story. It’s not a particularly pleasant memory.” -Ur 

《”Nii-tan, you okay?”》-Akane 

“I’m fine, I’m fine. We were just talking about how good it is that Akane is doing well.” -Ur 

While stroking Akane’s head to reassure her, Diz continued to mutter to herself, lost in thought. 

“Hmm… a rare case of a spirit’s self-preservation… perhaps compensation for a lack of faith and magical power?” -Diz 

“Is this your first encounter with a spirit-bound as well?” -Ur 

“Well, yeah. I’ve come across a few cases in records, but this is my first time seeing it in person. Moreover, the specific way in which it occurs varies from person to person, so her case is entirely new to me.” -Diz 

With those words, Diz stroked Akane’s neck as she transformed into a snake, shaking her head in apparent comfort. Her gesture resembled that of a cat. Diz chuckled. 

“Spirits are extraordinary beings. They are high-dimensional life forms capable of causing phenomena that humans could never handle, without any risk. To house that power in the body of a human, is the embodiment of one such miracle.” -Diz  

“What do you aim to achieve by controlling her?” -Ur 

As Diz herself stated, spirits were the incarnations of the world. They reflected all phenomena, encompassing everything. They were life forms clearly superior to humans. Normally, attempting to gain control over them would be considered a heinous act, deserving punishment by the very “Temple” they were associated with. However, it was difficult to associate this idea with the mindset of a moneylender’s guild. 

“When it comes to the Temple, there’s no problem; I hold the third highest rank there. I can conceal it well.” -Diz 

“That only confuses me more. You’re a ‘Gran,’ which means you hold an official position, right?” -Ur 

“Yes, indeed. You lack respect, Nameless-kun.” -Diz 

“Should I prostrate myself and grovel?” -Ur 

《”Haha-?”》 

That would not provide a very enjoyable mood, so do not worry.” -Diz 

Diz brushed away Ur’s attempt to kneel on the ground with a swish of her hand. 

Indeed, Diz Gran Fenex was the holder of the “Gran” official position designated by the “Temple” that governed each city-state. In other words, she belonged to the privileged class. By all rights, for Ur as a Nameless, speaking disrespectfully, even directly addressing her would be considered an act of disrespect. Depending on the country, it could lead to imprisonment or even capital punishment. 

In that case, it would be appropriate to change his attitude from now on, but it was already too late. Ur realized she was a priestess only after the reckless move of having impossible demands placed upon him. 

It was, in essence, an act of defiance, or one could say, recklessness. 

“Well, I separate myself as a merchant and as a priestess, and I have no intention of wielding my authority as a priestess against you as a business partner, so you can rest assured.” -Diz 

“There’s not a shred of reassurance, but if that’s the case, I have no choice but to believe you since death is the only other option.” -Ur 

“Well, even as a priestess, I’m a bit of a ‘delinquent.’ So don’t worry too much.” -Diz 

Ur swallowed the words “The fuck do you mean, “don’t worry too much?” that were on the tip of his tongue. 

He had no right to speak, but he was starting to realize what an odd woman Diz was. 

“So, why do you want to study someone like a spirit-bound?” -Ur 

“Because it’s necessary.” -Diz 

“Necessary? For a priestess like you?” -Ur 

If one belonged to the privileged class, they should have a certain degree of freedom within the city. Moreover, if they were a Gran, they held considerable power as the third-ranking official. Yet, he couldn’t fathom what she needed. 

“For the sake of this world, filled with malice, enmity, and irrationality.” -Diz 

“…Is it okay for you to say such a thing? After all, you serve the Sun God Zerudia.” -Ur 

This world was the like the Sun God, the leader of the spirits, Zerudia’s, miniature garden. 

The spirits were the messengers of the Zerudia, and the priests were his servants. Diz’s words seemed like an insult to that divine garden. However, she shrugged her shoulders without seeming to care about the criticism. 

“I’ve told you before. I may be a delinquent priest, but I still hold reverence for the One True God.” -Diz 

“Well, no matter what trouble you cause as a priest, it’s none of my concern. I can’t blame you either.” -Ur 

There was no benefit for him to act as a tattletale. What he understood was that she had no hesitation in dismantling Akane. Although this had become apparent over the past two weeks. 

In the end, there was no change in what Ur had to do. He finished the seemingly high-class tea that was presented to him when he was ushered into the guest room and stood up. 

“Well then, Akane, be a good girl.” -Ur 

《“Nii-tan, don’t die, okay?” 》-Akane 

“I can’t guarantee anything, but… I’ll do my best.” -Ur 

Because his younger sister pouted, her precious and adorable face spoiled, Ur nodded. She seemed satisfied. Returning to her soft and cute smile, she gracefully moved back into Diz’s embrace, coiling herself like a snake around her. With Akane held gently in her arms, Diz smiled at Ul. 

“Good luck with your training to become an adventurer.” -Diz 

“Well… I’m doing my best.” -Ur 

He was still desperately training under the chaotic instructor, Glen. There was no doubt that his efficiency in exploring the dungeon had improved compared to the beginning. He was also able to earn magic stones. He felt that his flesh had become stronger through replenishing his magical power. However, 

“I still haven’t received the copper ring from Glen. He hasn’t even given me permission to go for it.” -Ur 

No matter how much Ur exerted his will and clung to Glen’s guidance, he never gave his approval. 

“No matter the circumstances, if you don’t obtain the copper ring within the next two weeks, we won’t have a deal.” -Diz 

“I got it, you evil bitch.” -Ur 

With her audacious smile behind him, Ur left the room, and headed towards the training facility.