human
Bearded Man:  "But the reality remains…it’s really hard for them to be grateful they’re alive." The bearded man confessed to Subaru why the members of the White Dragon’s Scale needed that money.
gpt
Narration:  The home village of the founding members of the White Dragon’s Scale was plagued by an endemic disease. They needed the money to purify the contaminated soil that was the cause of it. The disease first broke out several years ago, and the infected slowly turned to stone. It was a rare disease, a demonic plague that’d been caused by a demon beast contaminating the soil.
human
Emilia:  "Traces of a black serpent…sowing disease with wild abandon…" Emilia muttered bitterly.
gpt
Narration:  Subaru felt equally gutted. The demon beast plague could only be cured by purifying the soil it contaminated. The process required a large number of colorless magic stones, which would cost a fortune to buy. The men in white had managed to earn that fortune only to have it stolen by a traitor, and their last hope was now buried beneath the rubble. The mercenaries had family in that village. This was the cause of the desperation and anger burning in the young men’s hearts. And the distant look in the bearded man’s eyes was for his family, who had already passed away. But it was all too late now. Their hopes were dashed, and there was no way for them to save their community now…
human
Kiritaka:  "How about this? I shall take the gentlemen of the White Dragon’s Scale into my service. And as for the contaminated soil, the Muse Company shall provide the necessary funding and materials to purify the land."
gpt
Subaru:  "What? !" Subaru's jaw dropped in shock over the proposal coming from the last person he expected.
human
Narration:  Emilia, Rem, and the White Dragon’s Scale members in question were similarly stupefied.
gpt
Kiritaka:  Kiritaka gazed up at the sky, twirled his mustache. "Luckily, my Muse Company’s primary product is magic stone. Colorless ones are rather pricey, but it would not be too difficult to gather enough for your needs. Also, my firm is currently seeking extra security to protect our interests, so I believe this is a win-win for everyone."
human
Subaru:  "D…d…dude…just how many brownie points are you trying to earn here?"
gpt
Kiritaka:  "If the woman he loves begs for help, helping her is a man’s most cherished desire. And I have many points of sympathy for these men’s circumstances. As they say, mercy goes around and comes around."
human
Narration:  _I think that’s supposed to be Those who are kind benefit themselves._ As casual as he was about helping others, Kiritaka currently looked like a messiah. Funny how he’d looked like nothing more than an infatuated idiot at first. _(Well, not to say he wasn’t still an idiot.)_ But something in Kiritaka’s speech rang a bell in Subaru’s mind.
gpt
Subaru:  "Did you ask him to do this, Liliana?"
human
Liliana:  "……Yes." Liliana answered meekly, looking down and hugging her lyulyre case.