Chapter 64: The Cost of a Miracle.
Notice. Target 'Masayuki' has entered a state of psychological shock. Probability of career termination: 62%. Notice. Strategic deployment of [Dragon Spirit Haki] has successfully suppressed localized luck-distortion.
The medical wing of the Tempest Executive Ward smells of high-grade potions and sanitized magic-steel. I sit in a manifested chair of obsidian-glass, watching Masayuki through the observation window. He is currently being fussed over by his party members, looking less like a "Lightspeed Hero" and more like a teenager who just realized the "Game of Life" has no respawn button.
Look at him, I think, my internal persona sneering at the display. He's a speculative bubble that just hit the ceiling of reality. He thought he was playing with house money until I showed him the interest rates on a True Demon Lord's punch.
"Lord Shinji," Vesper's voice cuts through the clinical silence. She stands at my shoulder, her red eyes scanning a magical tablet. "The Sarion merchants are demanding an explanation for the 'Technical Adjustment.' They are concerned that the Dungeon's safety protocols are... insufficient for their investments."
"Tell them the adjustment was a scheduled stress test of our emergency intervention systems," I say, my voice porcelain-cold. "And inform them that the cost of such a demonstration has been added to their next quarterly magisteel premium."
"Understood," Vesper bows. "The Dwarven King's merchant guild has also arrived. They are interested in the 'Resurrection' patent. They see the potential for... high-risk mining operations."
"Whales," I mutter. "Finally, some institutional investors. Vesper, keep them in the VIP lounge. Manifest the 150-year-old aged honey-wine. We don't negotiate with Dwarves on an empty stomach."
I stand and enter the recovery room. The chatter of Masayuki's party dies instantly. The spearman, Jin, looks like he wants to draw his weapon, but one look at my sea-grey eyes and the subtle pressure of my [Ambition] aura has him rooted to the floor.
"Out," I command. It isn't a shout. It's a fact.
"We aren't leaving him with—" Jin starts, but Vesper steps forward, her Greater Demon presence flaring just enough to turn the air into lead. The adventurers retreat, their faces pale with a very logical fear.
I look at Masayuki. He's huddled on the bed, his "Hero" armor discarded.
"That wasn't luck, was it?" he whispers, his voice shaking. "You... you controlled that monster. You made it stop."
"I am an Auditor, Masayuki-kun. I control the variables," I respond, leaning against the wall with executive indifference. "Your Unique Skill, [Chosen One], is an impressive piece of luck-based software. But it has a flaw: it relies on the environment to provide the miracle. When I am the environment, your luck is merely a line item I can choose to delete."
"I want to go home," he gulps. "I never asked for this. Everyone just... they just expect me to be this guy. I can't do it."
Notice. Strategic dissatisfaction detected. Warning. Target's current architecture is unstable. Probability of 'Hero' brand collapse: High.
"You can't go home because your reputation is currently the only collateral Blumund has against the Western Nations' crusades," I state flatly. "If you quit now, you aren't just a failure; you're a bad debt that Blumund can't pay. They will be liquidated. Your friends will be liquidated."
Masayuki looks up, terror in his eyes. "So what... what do I do?"
"You renegotiate," I say, manifesting a new scroll from [Croesus]. "This is an Addendum. I will provide you with 'Guided Luck.' My [Parallel Processing] will calculate your movements, and my [Transaction Domain] will ensure the monsters fall exactly where they need to for the cameras. You will be the 'Hero' the world wants. In exchange, I own 40% of all future endorsements and you will endorse my private estate as the 'Official Residence of Heroes'."
"You want me to... fake it?"
"I want you to be an optimized asset," I correct him. "My current architecture is stable, but not sufficient for my long-term vision if our 'Hero' is a liability. This is a merger, Masayuki. Your luck, my logic. We can corner the market on hope."
Masayuki looks at the contract. He looks at me—the cold, silver-haired monster who stopped a mountain-shattering blow with a single hand.
"I... I'll sign," he whispers.
"A wise investment," I say, my face a mask of cold satisfaction. "Vesper, prep him for Floor 10. We have Dwarven investors watching tomorrow. I want his 'miracles' to be 100% profitable."
Current Magicule Reserves: Infinite (Linked). Location: Medical Wing -> Executive Office. Status: Masayuki Contract: Renegotiated. Dungeon IPO: Investor Interest High. Soul Capacity: 38%..
Chapter End.