I'm Actually Not Overpowered!

For a moment, there was a stifling, uncomfortable silence hanging in the air.

Suspense was killing me, I couldn't very well snap and shout at the three to tell me what their deal was.

'Just spit it out!' I yelled within myself.

Of course, if they were trying to take advantage of me, then I wouldn't show my belly like some pushover.

"I... I..." The first to speak was Asa.

Apparently, Gu and Liebert were still finding it difficult to even open their lips.

"I... would like to officially ask to be a member of your Party!" Asa asked, placing her hand on her chest and shouting with resolve.

Her blond hair swayed, and I was a bit overwhelmed by her words.

'Whoah...'

"M-me too... please allow me to join you." Gu also added in his husky voice.

'Eh, you too?'

My eyes darted at the last guy. He looked just as miserable as before, having a thin body and a very hungry expression.

Worst of all, his stomach actually rumbled.

"Here. Have this." I inconspicuously took a pack of biscuits from my leftover stash in INVENTORY, and threw it in his direction.

He caught it instantly, as though he was moving at the speed of light.

"This too." This time it was soda.

I watched in silence as he munched down everything and drank its contents in seconds.

"Haaaa..." Liebert the glutton gave an expression I had never seen him make, and a burp even proceeded from his mouth.

'This is getting... weird.'

His appearance suddenly changed, and the emaciated body that he had donned before slowly became much healthier.

I was stunned.

"... I feel much better. I have no idea what you fed me with, but... if you can guarantee my meals, then I would also like to join your Party!"

Ah, I see what's going on now...

The System even brought a Quest window, asking me to choose. That meant everything they said was legit.

Despite it not being my intention, I had managed to win the hearts of three Adventurers—no, maybe more.

Still...

"The thing is... I'm not going to be an active Adventurer. I have achieved my mission—the reason I came here." I said with a sigh.

Surprised expressions greeted me.

"I have a group of people I am leading. They rely on me, and I care about them very much. I have to return to them now."

Their faces glowed even more for some reason. I decided to just get things over with so that there was no misunderstanding

"That's it. I'll be leaving tomorrow, and I might probably not come here anytime soon, at least... not until the time is ripe."

Gasps now echoed in the air, but I didn't know what I said that warranted something like that.

"So, that's it. I have a meeting with the Vice Guildmaster, and then I'll be going to my Inn. If you still wish to come with me, then..." I smiled.

My fingers pointed to a particular spot, by a large rock, just outside the Adventurer's City.

"... Let's meet there by dawn tomorrow."

Having Adventurers as allies wasn't a bad thing. Though, I doubted that they would throw their entire careers as Adventurers away just to follow a random stranger where he went.

I had no idea what the future held, but it was better to be honest with these guys.

"Well, then... I'll be on my way." I smiled, waving a bit as I left.

The three Adventurers simply stood, dumbfounded, as I passed them by and made my way to the Vice Guildmaster's office.

Serah and Byron were handling matters relating to eyewitness reports and detailed explanations, but my meeting with the man known as Zabdel was more intricate.

He couldn't have such a conversation with my vassals, so the Vice Guildmaster had to request for me to personally show up.

Perhaps he just wanted to see my face.

'I feel like a fraud for deceiving these people...'

But, why was there supposed to be guilt? I mean, I was currently stronger than him—no, everyone here.

'I'm not Overpowered, but I'm not doing too bad either.' A smile crept on my face as I approached Zabdel's office while taking in the rusty, metallic environment of Dulum.

'I've gotten quite used to it at this point...' I smiled and looked around even more.

I was finally going to leave.

While it was true that I made some nice memories in this city, there was also the fact that I had been traumatized as well.

Taking that into account, I was simply waiting for the time I would be able to return home and plop onto my lovely mattress.

>WHAP<

Slapping my cheeks, I rejuvenated my energy and pumped myself up for the task ahead.

'Let's just get this over with!'

*******************

"You really did it. I knew you were up to it, but I didn't know you would handle that threat so smoothly..." Zabdel spoke, his voice trembling slightly.

"Ah, there's no need sir. It was just pure coincidence."

Better to clear the air now.

"Hahaha! If you say so."

'But... it's the truth.'

I once heard that humans never liked hearing the truth, but this guy was simply brushing it off. Did he not believe me?

'I'm not capping, though.'

"In any case, you'll be promoted to S Rank, and I certainly hope we can have a more solid relationship with each other." Zabdel stretched forth his hands.

'Ah, so this is one of these events, eh? Becoming friends with the leader of a particular place, so that you had political influence as a backup.

I returned his gesture and shook his hand.

"I will do everything in my power to come to your aid, that is, if you need my help, though I doubt you'd ever need someone like me," Zabdel said, using his second hand to cover mine.

I smiled.

He was wrong, though. There were a lot of uses for a Vice Guildmaster. If he was this impressed with me, I could definitely use it to my advantage.

"Also, if I need your help, I'm hoping you can do the same. Let's be there for each other."

"Of course." I smiled further.

'Why does this feel like it's going to be something bothersome in the future?' I asked myself.

Still, the benefits of having the Vice Guildmaster indebted to me, blinded my eyes from noticing other possibilities.

In the end, we made an agreement and decided to be friends.

"Call me Zabdel."

"Call me Sam."

With a smile of comradeship, both of us shook hands, and a new comradeship was born.

****************

"So, what add you going to do with the Dragon Corpse?" Zabdel asked.

Ah, I almost forgot about that.

Dragon Corpses were extremely valuable, and I was sure that would be the same in this society.

I could sell it for money, but I was sure they wouldn't have that kind of money to pay. The best thing I could do was invest it in something good.

"I want them to be used... to make weapons," I said, staring hard at Zabdel.

"Weapons?"

"The scales of an Earth Dragon can be used as powerful ingots. You can use them to make powerful, durable weapons."

I planned on giving the Adventurer City a portion, as commission for making the weapons, since we didn't have the infrastructure to do it back at the settlement.

"The eyes can be used for Magic Items, and there are uses for its teeth, bones, and other body parts.

That Dragon was a gold mine!

"M-may I ask... what you plan on using the weapons for?"

'Ah, shit...' Zabdel was probably wary.

I wouldn't blame him.

Having weapons made from Dragon Scales, and in such large quantities, would make my military exponentially more powerful.

He probably just wanted to know if I wouldn't use that power for evil.

'Have some faith in me, my friend.' I nearly spoke in exasperation.

"A threat is coming... a big one."

Zabdel's eyes widened the instant I said this.

"Y-you mean—?!"

I nodded.

"Which is why I need those weapons as soon as possible."

Every part of a Dragon was useful, so I was sure their experts would be able to work around it.

Let's add a bit of charity, so it won't make me seem greedy.

"More importantly, the dead Adventurers had families, didn't they? Give them a sizeable amount of proceeds... so they can at least be able to sustain themselves..."

That was good enough, right? I was kind enough, wasn't I?

"T-thank you very much..." Zabdel bowed his head at this point, making me flustered for a moment.

I hadn't expected this in a zillion scenarios.

'As long as he's grateful, then that's cool.'

Moving on, we had a conversation about a few things—one of which was the matter concerning the Demons.

"I understand." Was what Zabdel said after we talked about their race.

I was simply trying to extract more information, yet it seemed like I was educating him.

'Ah, I should tell him my address, so they can deliver the weapons when they're done... or should I just come back to fetch it?'

At this point, considering they would be taking a good percentage of the weapons, there had to be delivery services attached.

And so, I told Zabdel where I stayed, showing him the location on the map.

"Come over when it's done. I'll be expecting it." I smiled.

Since everything was as clear as possible, I didn't expect any misunderstanding this time.