Chapter 51
The Negotiator, Mist
After successfully negotiating with her, Mist and I entered the main street together .
We’ve only spoken few words with each other .
But, there is no problem .
I have only asked her for help on shopping .
This is just a temporary contractual relationship .
She knows about it too .
That’s what I thought, but…
[Where is Hati-dono’s inn?]
She’s trying to open up a conversation .
[……… . . ]
There’s no reason for me not to answer .
I answered the name of the inn I’m staying at .
[Ah, so we were staying in the same inn?]
We’re staying in the same inn?
I don’t think I’ve seen her face there before…
Did we just not come across each other?
[With the money I have right now, I don’t see any reason to go towards those cheap inns . ]
The woman laughed .
[I also can’t find a single room in those inns . I can’t sleep without being in a single room . ]
[When did that happen?]
[Eh? Umm— That’s been always the case for a very long time . ]
I feel that her reply is just hastily constructed just now .
It seems that she may also have another reason .
There must be something that makes it difficult for her to share a room with others .
Just like me who wants to hide Pigimaru .
However, I don’t intend to pursue any more .
The woman points towards the signboard of the tool shop with her finger .
[If you’re finding tools for raiding ruins and traveling, it would be better to get them on this shop . ]
I am about to enter the store .
However, Mist didn’t move .
She looks like she’s pondering about something .
[I’m sorry, can you wait for a while? I have to go check some things . ]
Mist then went to the back of the store .
After just a while, she came back .
[Sorry for the wait . ]
[What did you check out?]
[I rechecked whether this is indeed the store . However— I don’t feel comfortable with this store, or rather, I think this store may be conducting some sneaky deals . However, Hati-dono entrusted the negotiating to me . I must thoroughly fulfill my duty . ]
I caught a glimpse of her seriousness on her voice .
It’s just that, I feel that she’s too strict…
[Well then, let’s go in . ]
I wonder what she had in her mind earlier .
We entered the store .
The atmosphere in here kind of reminds me of those shops that deals with outdoor supplies .
There’s also that unique smell of wood wafting in .
Mist bent down towards one of the products and checked its price tag .
[They’re a lot higher than the market price . ]
The shopkeeper approached while he have a smile on his face .
[I don’t know where you both came from, but it’s harder to acquire things in here compared to the capital . There are quite a few items that can’t be made in Mills . It’s just that the recent recruitment have increased the demand for these tools . ]
[If you had antic.i.p.ated that there would be a demand, then why didn’t you just stock up on these items?]
The shopkeeper shook his head .
[There’s a professional circ.u.mstances in here as well . I don’t think amateurs would know about it . If you look at the state of the shelves, you would know that these tools are more demanding than expected and there isn’t enough stock at all . That’s why, I’m frantically waiting for when the goods would finally arrive . Do you understand? That’s why, the current price is reasona—]
[There were some boxes that had same name as these items piled up in the back of your shop though?]
[Y- You went to look at the back of my shop without permission?]
[I just saw it when I were pa.s.sing by before . ]
[Those were just empty boxes, you know?]
[Is that so? Although they were empty, those were quite heavy for just boxes huh…]
[Why do you touch other people’s merchandise without permission?]
[I’m sorry . When I tried to pa.s.s through them, those boxes were blocking the back alley . ]
[Wha-?]
[I’m sorry if I was being rude, moving them aside without permission . ]
[T- They were certainly blocking the back alley… But there are rarely any people who walks through that path…]
[By the way…]
Mist stands up .
[You mention that it was merchandise before— I was just touching empty boxes right? Why were you so nervous?]
[Nghh… . ]
The shopkeeper looks like he’s in quite a disadvantage .
The next thing that came out of his mouth though was a sigh .
[You’re already used to this, huh?]
Mist’s expression loosens up .
[I was traveling right now, so I need to save up as much as possible . ]
[I understand… So in short, you want to have the some price cut?]
[Yeah, that’s right . If I had a bit more money, I would have been fine just buying it as is— but right now, my pouch is a bit desolate…]
[Hmm…]
The shopkeeper thinks about it .
Mist glanced at me .
[I went here today to get some luggage for two people . I think I had contributed a bit for some profits for this store . ]
[Tsk! It can’t be helped… then, how about I give you a discount if you purchase in bulk? But, I also have some terms I want for myself . ]
[What is it?]
[Never tell this story to the other mercenaries . If they were to know what I’m trying to do, my business won’t rise . If they were to know how I handle my shop— Well, have you heard about that other tool shop who had stocked up on the items but failed, which is really unusual if you think about it . No matter why that happened, this is a great opportunity for me to earn . Do you understand? If the rumor about this were to come out, I would never sell my stuff to you two here in Mills . I would also make sure to have the other shops know about you two, being troublesome customers . ]
[Yeah, I swear we won’t leak it out . ]
[Okay, we have come to an agreement then . ]
The shopkeeper is grumbling while he goes back to the corner .
[d.a.m.n it, I should have brought in those boxes when I had the chance… I slacked a bit after knowing the profit that I could yield from here . ]
I see, he’s trying to make it like there are shortage of goods .
Currently, there are only Mist and I in this store .
There are only two of us who had quickly returned after the registration in the plaza .
There were no other customers .
The first things that Mist had bought were the tools that she needed .
After that were the tools that I have to buy .
The price of what we’re buying after subtracting the discount was almost a third of what’s written on the price tag .
He really was trying to overprice too much…
The shopkeeper started to restock the products that were displayed on the shelves .
I have a feeling that they were carefully lined up .
It makes you think that there are only few of these products left if you had only seen them once .
The price tag written on the products were also quickly rewritten .
When we were about to leave, the door of the store opened .
[Okay! Let’s buy our items!]
A number of mercenaries began coming in the store .
The storekeeper nodded a bit towards Mist .
He’s probably trying to say “You must keep your promise . ”
Mist also nodded her head a bit in response .
And thus, we left the first store on the list and went towards the other stores .
v
We already have all the tools that I will need in the ruins .
Some spare clothes .
A belt .
Hanging on the back of that belt was a dagger and its leather sheathe .
I also bought a tiny hammer .
I’m going to need it when I have to peel a monster’s skin or crush their bones .
I’ve also bought some preservable foods .
When I have trouble with food, there’s also the transfer ability of my leather bag .
The rest of what I bought would be tiny tools that can be easily carried .
I also bought a sleeping bag .
I have also purchased one backpack .
The s.p.a.ce in the bag would roughly be divided into two .
One side is where I would likely store the monster materials .
The other side would be where I would put the things that I had bought .
There was still some s.p.a.ce in the bag .
In the first place, I don’t have that much luggage .
I had scoured through the Disposal Ruins with just my leather bag .
Food, water, and an appropriate bed .
If I have these three, I can pretty much survive with just the basics .
An experienced person like me is saying so .
[Thanks for the help . This is the fee for the advice, just as I promised . ]
I hand over three silver coins to Mist .
[Eh?]
Mist’s eyes widened after she received the coins .
She looked up towards my face .
[Isn’t this too much?]
[If I were to calculate the things we had bought, I could save more than three silver coins with your help today . Especially at that first store we went to, I would have lost more money if I had went there without knowing anything . ]
Mist grasps the silver coins in front of her chest .
She had this somewhat unwilling expression on her face .
[Then, I’ll be taking these silver coins just like you said . Umm… I haven’t expected to get this much when you told me about this advice fee, that’s why I’m a bit dumbfounded . I planned to ask just around this much…]
This idiotic honesty of her really resembles my aunt .
Their voice and the language they speak were certainly different, but…
[Don’t worry about it . ]
Anyway, 80% of the money I have were taken from those four-people group .
There’s also the jewels that I had yet to sell .
[Well then, I’ll be going now–…?]
Thud~
Mist is about to collapse .
I hastily went close and caught her body .
Pofu~
[…………]
She’s light .
There is certainly the weight of a person .
But, she’s too light .
I peek at her face .
Her eyes looked like they can’t focus .
[…………]
[Are you alright?]
Misit raised her face .
[Ah—]
Mist’s face was almost before my own face .
Now that I can see it closely, I can see the eyelids under her eyes .
[—-!!!]
Fwoosh~
Mist quickly got away from me .
I remember that time when the slender macho tried to touch her .
At that time, she looks like she really disliked it .
Is there some reason why she doesn’t like to be touched by a man?
Mist quickly arranged her hair .
[…Phew . ]
A sigh leaked out from her mouth .
[Are you alright?]
[—Eh?]
[I saw bags under your eyes but… did you lack some sleep?]
[Y- Yeah . There were days where I couldn’t sleep well . ]
I remembered her words from earlier .
“I can’t sleep without being in a single room . ”
Mist wants to sleep on a single room .
However, she still can’t sleep .
Insomnia?
Or, there must be another reason—
[A- Anyway, I’m fine . It’s just that I’m a bit tired . You don’t have to worry about me . Well then, I’ll be going now . I’m happy that I could provide some help . ]
Turning around, Mist walked away .
As if she’s trying not to get others involved with her .
[………… . ]
[Pii?]
Pigimaru cried out a bit .
[Hmm? What are we going to do now?]
[Pii . ]
I walked again, aiming towards the plaza on the outskirts of the town .
[Of course, it would be to start the raid in Mills Ruins . ]