In FBO, there are quests that make you think, "Wait, there are quests like this?!" and make you question the sanity of the developers.

  One of the most famous things in the capital of the southern ti, Rendel, is the "Garbage Mansio."

  Officially, it's called "The Lament of t Clermont," but we FBO pyers refer to it as the Garbage Mansion up Quest.

  The reason we call this fantasy quest by such a disgraceful niame is that the mansion, located in a er of the noble district of Rendel, is pletely filled with all kinds of garbage.

  The quest begins like this:

  "Please exorcise the ghost of t Clermont, the former owner of the Clermont Mansion in the northern part of the noble district."

  When the adventurer guild receives such a request, the receptionist expins it to the pyers t it, and what awaits them is a garbage-filled mansion. The mansion is so filthy that it disgusts even the pyers who are blinded by the rge reward.

  Even though it's just a game, I got goosebumps the first time I saw it.

  "That's not a pce for people to go. Not only is it full of garbage, but t Clermont's ghost hides irash and 't be found. The ghost's attacks involve throwing filthy garbage, so no one wants to deal with it. A by it suffers from a high fever for three days and nights. Some people thought about burning the mansion down, but if that much garbage were to burn, it would spread to the surrounding mansions and potentially cause a massive fire that could engulf the entire capital."

  Its infamy seems to be well-known in this world too, as Dent-san, trying to ease his disfort from the bad-tasting alcohol, took a swig from the bottle in his hand.

  Hearing this, I realized that the t's quest still hasn't been cleared. For now, I feel relieved.

  If someone had told me that such a quest did, I would have had to ge my pns signifitly. Fortunately, due to its notorious reputation sihe game era, this quest is sidered high-difficulty.

  This makes it even more imperative that I find a way to get information.

  Holy, I don't care about the reward from the adventurer guild. What I want are the items ihe mansion.

  t Clermont is set up as a h a colleg habit, which started after he obtained a certain treasure. However, he had no eye for treasure and was repeatedly deceived by merts, buying worthless junk until he went bankrupt.

  But instead of passing on peacefully, his desire to tinue colleg turned him into a malevolent spirit, and he tio collect both treasures and garbage to this day.

  "That's why, kid, this isn't a pce for someone like you to go. If you're looking for treasure, I'll take you to some ruins outside the city ime. For now, go home aient."

  "Yes, I will."

  Even if I pressed Dent-san for the location here, he wouldn't tell me. So, it's wiser to pretend to accept his advice, retreat for now, and e back ter to search.

  "Hey, wait."

  "Guh!"

  I turned on my heel to head back the way I came, but I was stopped by a hand grabbing the bay colr.

  "You're awfully quick to leave. You were in such a hurry to expin why you wao buy a woman earlier."

  Did that make him suspicious?

  "e o-san, I'm not stupid enough to ignore your advice, am I?"

  "Yeah, that's true. But usually, bratty adventurers overestimate themselves and argue with us. But you're different. You tried to leave quickly and e back ter. Spit it out. What are you hiding?"

  Well, I'm just a serious pyer, not an actor. I 't deceive anyone, and I'm not cut out for it.

  "Do adventurers usually share their trade secrets for free?"

  "Ah, so that's what you're saying. You're talking like a real pro."

  So, it's better to shift gears and try to involve Dent-san, a veteran adventurer, in my pn.

  "I'll tell you. Even a kid has to worry about tomorrow's meal. It's no joke to go hungry after giving away information for free."

  "That's true. I'd be mad too if someone joked about that. So?"

  "So? What do you mean?"

  "Don't py dumb. From the way you're talking, you're pnning t me into this, aren't you?"

  The entrao the pleasure district is a bit crowded. The sight of an adventurer grabbing a kid by the colr could cause a sdal.

  "Will you listen to my money-making idea?"

  "It's not free, is it?"

  "No, but could you let go for now? We're drawing a lot of attention."

  "...Yeah, you're right."

  Dent-san, notig the sharp looks from a woman who looked like a prostitute, relutly let go of my colr and started walking ahead.

  "Let's go to my usual spot. Is that okay?"

  " kids go in?"

  "Yeah."

  "It's not a weird pce, right?"

  "You're so suspicious... Don't worry, adventurers value trust above all."

  Since Jinx-san trusts Dent-san, I decided to follow him.

  "Dent!! Did you finally get married!? When did that happen!?"

  "Wrong!! He's not my kid!!"

  "What's this? I thought you'd finally settled down."

  We were taken to a shop run by a well-built woman.

  "What's with that look?"

  "Nothing, I just thought we were going to a bar or something."

  "If I brought a kid into a bar, I'd be the ughingstock."

  The pce had a chic, café-like atmosphere, a calm spot in the northern district. Sensing my surprise, Dent-san asked if something was wrong, and I shook my head, saying it was just ued.

  "Alright, let's take the seat at the very back."

  "Sure, but hey, you finally got a boy to—"

  "Don't even start!! I only get excited if there's a mountain of cleavage!!"

  The owner, realizing that Dent-san and I weren't reted, gave us a suspicious look, but Dent-san loudly de and made a gesture with his hands to emphasize his point.

  "Good to hear. But you should get married soon. You're not getting any younger."

  "Mind your own business!!"

  They seemed to be on very familiar terms. Was he a regur here?

  "What are you doing? We don't serve ale until evening."

  We were led to the back seat, and the owook our orders.

  "I'll have this. Give the kid some fruit water and some nuts."

  "Normally, we don't allow outside drinks, but fine."

  The seat we were given was in the er of the shop. Normally, it wouldn't be the best spot, but it erfect for a private versation.

  After the owner brought the fruit water and nuts as ordered, Dent-san leaned in.

  "Alright, let's hear it."

  "Sure, but first, let's make a few promises. If you run off with the info, it won't be funny for me."

  "...Fine, but make it quick."

  Talking about "The Lament of t Clermont" isn't a problem, but if Dent-sao run off ahe items I want, it wouldn't be funny.

  "First, about how to clear the mansion, I'll tell you on the day itself."

  "...And you expect me to trust you? That's too ve."

  That's why I o hold back the most crucial part until the st moment. Normally, there would be a way.

  But saying "I 't tell you now" sounds like a scam.

  "Dent-san, we've only go together once. I trust Jinx-san, so I trust you to some extent. But this is a different matter. For me, having your cooperation would make things easier, but I clear the quest on my own if I have to. I don't o force this versation."

  But this part is noiable.

  In the game era, this quest was reended for Css 4/Level 80 pyers, making it ary-level quest for mid-tier pyers. However, with a certaihod, it's possible to trap and kill the ghost, making it easy to clear even for pyers like us with no levels. The items needed aren't that expeher.

  Yet, the rewards are quite substantial, making it a lucrative quest.

  This line must be defe all costs.

  That's why I'm being so assertive.

  "..."

  "..."

  After all, Dent-san is in a position to cooperate with my quest. If he doesn't like my proposal, he try to clear it on his own.

  I already have the key items. I manage.

  "...Fine. I'll judge based on what you tell me now. If anything seems fishy, I'm out."

  "That's fine."

  Seeing my firm stance, Dent-san backed down.

  "Alright, let's talk about the rewards first."

  "Yeah, how about we split it between me and you guys?"

  Holy, Dent-san's calm and mature response is appreciated.

  "No, the distribution will be a bit special. For this quest, you take all the rewards from the guild."

  "Whoa, whoa, hold on."

  That's why I'm taking a step back here.

  If the reward from the guild is the same as in the game, the success reward is 200,000 zeni. Additionally, if we recover the treasure hidden in the mansion and deliver it to the t, we get ara 300,000 zeni.

  In total, it's a whopping 500,000 zeni.

  I'm fident I get both. And sidering what I want to obtain, I don't mii-san have the rewards.

  "You're not pnning to use me as a shield, are you?"

  "If I did that, Jinx-san would kill me."

  There's always a catch to a good deal. That's a universal truth, a-san is naturally suspicious of the rge reward distribution.

  "In exge for letting you have all the rewards, there are a few items in the mansion that I want. I need you to guarahat I have them."

  During the Garbage Mansio, you explore the mansion while fighting t Clermont's ghost.

  At first g's all garbage. But as the saying goes, even a broken clock is right twice a day. Among the garbage, there are a few rare but highly useful items.

  "inally, the request includes ing up the garbage, so colleg items from the mansion shouldn't be a problem. That's fine, right?"

  "...Are you going to tell me what you want?"

  "Nht now."

  Dent-sa think of me as a kid who doesn't know the value of things. That's why he's intrigued by the idea of items wiving up 500,000 zeni for.

  "If you're not saying now, does that mean you'll tell me on the day?"

  "Yes, there's a ce I might not find anything, but either way, I pn to search thhly after defeating the ghost."

  This is a pretty unreasonable iation.

  But Dent-sa seem to have a pn to clear the haunted mansion on his owher.

  He takes a sip of his drink and starts stroking his , deep in thought.

  "...You're fident?"

  "Yes."

  After a few minutes of deliberation, he seems willing to sider it.

  "But it's a noble's mansion, you know? Even if it's a garbage dump now, everyone knows there's treasure inside. Even for a rge sum of money, I 't just give you unlimited access."

  "Clearing the quest will also improve your reputation with the guild, right?"

  "Having a better reputation is a double-edged sword. If I succeed, people might start requesting me specifically for simir tasks. That could lead to more trouble."

  However, his i seems to be shifting from the moo the valuable items.

  "Thinking about it, letting you have all the items you want doesn't seem fair."

  "..."

  This is getting tricky. I quickly recall the list of items that be obtained from t Clermont's mansion.

  There are three items I absolutely need. In total, there are een items. Ten of them are exgeable for money or are mohemselves. My target is...

  "Then how about priority for fifteen items?"

  "That's too much. Five."

  Good, I've crossed the minimum line.

  "If that's the case, it's better for us to do it alohirteen."

  "You he request form to ehe mansion. Think about the disadvantage of leavi. Seven."

  "But you 't do it alone, right? Twelve."

  "Who knows? Maybe I'll figure it out eventually. Eight."

  "I'll clear it before that. Ten."

  "Kids wandering around a pce like that will stand out immediately. Plus, I have an idea of where you're looking. Nine."

  This is a careful iation. If Nel were here, she might have ha better. But for me, this is a passing grade.

  "Theime I have a guard request, you'll do it for free. Also, introduce me to two reliable people. In exge, ems. If you don't agree, it's ten."

  "...It's not a troublesome pce, is it?"

  "It's a beginner-friendly area. Just a bit into the forest with the ras."

  "Ah, that pce. Fine. My pockets will be warm after this anyway. ems it is."

  This seems to be the promise. I shake hands with Dent-san, agreeing to the reward distribution, aart pnning the details.