The Next Stage
Lufen's business sense had far exceeded anything I imagined.
In just a few weeks, we'd managed to sell almost everything I had in stock.
The total came to twelve gold coins, five hundred and six silver coins, and one thousand two hundred fifty-seven copper coins.
It was more money than I'd ever seen in my life.
"At this point... couldn't I just spend the rest of my life doing nothing...?"
"Don't be ridiculous. I told you one gold coin is about half a year's wages for an average person, remember?"
Ah, right. So even if I didn't spend extravagantly, it'd only last about fifteen years.
Honestly, that still sounded pretty good to me.
Lufen finished updating the ledger, then bundled the money into separate pouches.
"All right. We've got more than enough capital now. Time for the next stage."
"We're buying more cheap, high-quality goods?"
"If we keep doing only that, the secondhand shops will eventually run out of stock, won't they?"
She had a point. We'd already gone through every secondhand shop in town.
To be honest, there wasn't much worth buying anymore.
"So what's next? Buy more expensive stuff and sell it for even more?"
"That'll hit a wall too."
Lufen placed another book on the table beside the ledger.
I couldn't read, so I had no idea what was written on it.
"This is a list of the craftsmen in town and what each of them specializes in. I made it from everything I've heard from customers at the tavern."
"Y-you went that far for me...!?"
"Of course. I intend to earn every bit of that one gold coin you paid me♪"
Apparently she'd treasured the gold coin I'd given her. She took it out and planted a little kiss on it.
S-So embarrassing. How am I supposed to react to that?
I looked away from Lufen and continued the conversation.
"S-so... if you made a list of craftsmen... that means they're important for what's next... right?"
"Exactly! Good boy, Dyrel!"
"Quit it. Stop patting my head."
I brushed her hand away and took a step back.
"So the next stage is..."
"Yes, exactly that."
"”Making things.””
◆◆◆
[First, we need to prepare a shop. Leave that to me, and you go pick out some good materials.]That's what she told me before sending me to the Weapons Merchant Street.
… Can I really negotiate with people by myself? I'm seriously nervous.
For now, I'd come to an ore shop.
The building looked as though it had been carved straight out of a giant boulder.
The people going in and out all looked like craftsmen.
I was completely out of place.
I wanted to turn around. I wanted to go home.
But... if I backed out now, Lufen would make fun of me again.
I refused to let that happen.
I'd prove I could handle things on my own.
I took a deep breath and opened the wooden door.
The smell of iron and dusty earth brushed past my nose.
Wooden crates filled the shop, lined with iron ore, magic ore, magic stones, and more.
Customers were haggling with the staff.
I see. So this was the kind of place where you negotiated prices.
Now then. Lufen had specifically told me to buy a large quantity of iron ore suitable for making swords and knives.
Let's see...
"Hey, you guys. If you got made into something, what would you want to become?"
(Huh...?)
(We're gonna get made into something?)
(Maybe we are?)
(I kinda wanna protect somebody.)
(Protecting people suits me just fine.)
(I think I'd like to be eaten?)
(I'd be so happy if someone put me in their mouth.)
So these guys wanted to become armor... or spoons.
Unexpectedly, there really wasn't much iron suited for swords.
"This one's... no good. This one too... not right."
(Aww~)
(Nooo~)
(How heartless~)
Ggh... my conscience was taking a beating...
But sorry, guys. Right now, I need iron that's perfect for blades.
As I sorted through the crates, a shadow suddenly fell over me. Huh?
I looked up to find a tough-looking middle-aged man standing there with his arms crossed.
Eep.
"W-what is it...?"
"... Kid, you a customer?"
Looking closer, he was wearing a filthy apron and a bandana around his head.
He worked here... probably.
"Y-yeah. I was looking to buy iron for blades."
The man's eyebrow twitched.
"You said... iron for blades? Iron's all the same. What're you talking about?"
"N-not at all, sir. This one's better for armor, this one's for spoons, this one's for structural beams, this one's for nails... they're completely different."
But… it was strange that there wasn't any suited for swords despite all this stock.
As I wondered about that, the man suddenly snorted and tossed me a piece of iron from the next row over.
"Looks like you've got a good eye after all. This is iron meant for swords."
… Really?
(Nyo waaay~ I wanna grill meat~)
"That's for cast-iron pots."
I muttered it under my breath.
Maybe he'd heard me, because the man shot me a sharp glare.
"Ah, no, umm..."
"... Fu, fuhahaha! Sorry, sorry! Just wanted to test you! You're the real deal!"
… Huh? W-what?
The man laughed heartily and headed deeper into the shop.
"Follow me."
Well... if he told me to follow him...
I didn't exactly have much choice.
Trying not to panic, I followed him into the back.
Beyond another door, there were rows and rows of wooden crates.
There were hardly any people here. Apparently this area was off-limits to anyone except authorized personnel.
"This is where we keep the iron for blades. We don't sell it to just anybody. Only people with a damn good eye. Weapons made from this stuff are dangerous."
"I see..."
I walked over and picked up a piece of iron.
The feel of it was obviously different. The weight and density too...
(I can cut real good~)
(I wanna slice things to pieces.)
(Personally, I really feel like cutting stuff.)
Oh… he was right. Every single piece here was suited for blades.
"Th-thank you very much. I'll take one crate."
"Sure... is what I'd like to say. But seeing as you've got such a good eye, I've got a little favor to ask. Interested?"
Ugh. Seriously? Man, what a pain...
"I'll sell it to you for half price if you help."
"I'm in!"
What? You think I'm greedy? How rude.
What do you think about this chapter?
