Chapter 28: The Talk About Money
When I arrived at the rented house, the grass in the courtyard was overgrown. It had been normal yesterday, but it seemed to have grown overnight. I had no choice but to start mowing it. There was a sickle available since the grass had been long when I first took over the house. I piled the cut grass in the corner to dry, planning to use it for kindling later.
Cleaning two houses is such a hassle!
Today’s plan is to sell potions at the Merchant Guild and then head to the Adventurer’s Guild.
The buyback price for each potion is one gold coin and one silver coin. It might be easier to think of it as three silver coins. A silver coin is worth half of a gold coin, so the size itself is also half.
The market price for selling potions to the general public seems to be around three gold coins.
Normally, it appears that one has to buy water from the Spirit’s Branch, which can be quite costly. Moreover, there’s a limit to how much one can purchase in a day.
While Spirit’s Branches can be found in any city, their scale varies. This place, being a frontier area with frequent battles against demon beasts, is larger than the Royal Capital but lacks its grandeur.
It seems that the amount of Blessed Water one can obtain depends on the spirits. From what I’ve observed, the water in the water basin, after the spirits drink or bathe in it, is what’s referred to as Blessed Water.
Spirits seem to prefer flowing water, so they don’t use the water basin much. The reason the water in my house is blessed is likely due to the strong spirits that created it and the fact that many spirits drink and bathe in it.
Wait? The water Az used… Well, whatever.
When I looked into it, it seems that once the water flows out of the territory, it becomes ordinary water. Even the water from the Spirit’s Branch turns into regular water after about half a day once taken out.
The time it takes for the water to revert to its ordinary state also depends on the strength of the bathing spirits, and the water near my house is likely stronger.
Well, considering the territory itself, the water situation is what it is.
I can produce potions in large quantities, and the only cost involved is the herbs. I only sell two at a time to avoid drawing attention.
Twelve silver coins equal one gold coin, and twelve copper coins equal one silver coin. Gold coins, silver coins, and copper coins are used as currency in every country, but they can be inconvenient on their own, so there are also half-value small gold coins, small silver coins, and small copper coins, as well as quarter-value four-bun gold and four-bun silver coins. Thanks to both the Merchant Guild and the Adventurer’s Guild, the values of these intermediate currencies are becoming more standardized.
Even though the gold coins are the same, they often bear the likeness of the king of that country or have different names, but their size remains consistent.
The smallest currency is called “Mon,” with twelve Mon equaling one copper coin. The copper coin has a half-value small copper coin and a twelfth-value Mon, differing from the rounding units of gold and silver.
A roast pig costs about two silver coins. Now that I know it’s been in the sewers, I definitely won’t buy it in this town.
The sewers are like tunnels, with wide sections having walkways on either side of the irrigation channels. The sewage from households flows into a basin first, where the excess water drains away, while leftovers and waste accumulate there. And then there’s the pig.
Pigs are indeed omnivorous, and I think cleaning the sewers is important. But who came up with that idea? They should have gone with slimes or something more fitting for a fantasy setting! By the way, a roast pig from a farm costs about one small silver coin more. That makes sense.
While keeping track of the items I see for sale and their prices in my head, I made my way to the Adventurer’s Guild.
“A horned bear, if it’s large, is currently worth about one gold coin,” I heard someone say.
“Lord Jean?”
Upon entering, I spotted Ash. This season, there’s a high demand for fur, and since they’re storing nutrients in their stomachs and hearts from eating various foods in the fall, the buyback price is high. However, it drops significantly in spring.
For a normal-sized bear, it would only fetch one small silver coin. The large, unblemished pelts sell for one gold coin to the wealthy. Ash was aiming for a big catch.
“Lord Jean, could I have a moment of your time later? I’d like to settle the potion payment properly.”
“I didn’t give it expecting anything in return—let’s wait until you’ve settled into your new home and your life is stable.”
I was about to refuse the payment, but Ash didn’t seem like he would back down, so I added, “Well… I apologize.”
Has Ash developed some sense of economic awareness? He seemed reluctant but accepted it. Behind him, Note was bowing his head. Despite his bowing, his gestures were graceful.
Basically, those who aren’t affiliated with this city can’t buy on credit; they must pay upfront. Renting a house comes with its own set of challenges. After all, people from outside the city face strict conditions for buying a house, and renting costs fifty percent more.
Even though the bear savings from the overpriced inn have returned, there are still various expenses after securing a house.
“Ah, you’ve arrived.”
At a tavern table, Dean waved at me, and there was a bearded man sitting at the same table. He was of average build, though he seemed a bit lanky, perhaps? He looked to be in his thirties, but his skin suggested he might be younger than he appeared. The beard and his tired, half-closed eyes, along with his slouched posture, made him look older.
Apparently, this man is what Dean refers to as a “practical adventurer.”