Chapter 85: Commerce Guild
“Well, I don’t know if you’d call it generous, but you certainly managed to turn their attention to alcohol.”
“Even so, there are still some guys following us.”
“I’ll have Mii-chan memorize their scent, so if they get too close, I’ll make them regret it. Don’t worry about it.”
“Can we also make deposits at the Commerce Guild?”
“Your Adventurer Card will be fine. If you get a Commerce Guild card made, you won’t be stopped at the entrance either.”
“Come to think of it, you did say you also have an account with the Commerce Guild.”
“For now, let’s go to the Commerce Guild and exchange the certificates for money.”
“29,000,000 Dahla… that’s 290 Gold Coins, right? Carrying that many Gold Coins is, as expected, dangerous.”
“That’s why you should only take about 20 or 30 Gold Coins and deposit the rest at the Commerce Guild. You can withdraw it even in Zandra.”
Fran explaining things to everyone with a knowledgeable look on her face was endearing.
It had been a while since I was last at the Royal Capital’s Commerce Guild, but because a crowd of Adventurers showed up, they became wary. I hurriedly showed my Guild Card and was allowed inside.
The lady at the counter who saw my face smiled brightly and asked, “How may I help you today?”
Seeing that, sighs came from behind me, and my coattails were tugged – a silent urging to state their business.
First, Fran presented her certificate issued by the Adventurers Guild and her Commerce Guild card. She requested 10 Gold Coins and 3,000,000 Dahla in silver coins, stating she would deposit the rest.
“4,000,000 Dahla, huh… With that and what I have on hand, I should be fine even if I splurge a little.”
“Maybe I’ll do the same.”
Dorado and the others presented their Adventurer Cards and, like Fran, requested 10 Gold Coins and 300 silver coins, stating they would deposit the rest.
From the side, I requested that they all be registered with the Commerce Guild and have cards made for them.
Lastly, it was my turn. I deposited a certificate for 50,000,000 Dahla and one bag of Gold Coins, and requested a balance inquiry.
On the paper I was handed, the figure 266,400,000 Dahla was written. Since I have no use for it other than rent deductions, it had increased again.
In addition to this, I keep 10,000,000 Dahla and one bag of Gold Coins in my Magic Pouch, totaling 20,000,000 Dahla, as emergency escape funds.
After leaving the Commerce Guild, we first went to a shop frequented by Adventurers to buy new clothes – a model Adventurer-like behavior.
However, the clothes and boots they bought were high-quality items worn by high-ranking individuals, and they were flustered by the 600,000 Dahla expense in the blink of an eye.
“Whoa, this is a different ball game from when Fran went on that shopping spree before.”
“Back then, even if they were somewhat high-quality, they were mostly everyday items. I think clothes and boots are worth spending money on. The only other expensive things would be off-the-rack clothes for their families, I suppose.”
Convinced by Fran’s words, everyone went to a clothing store to buy off-the-rack clothes with peace of mind.
After a day of shopping, we returned home to relax, but the “goldfish droppings” were annoying.
《Master, there are seven with the same scent. I’ve memorized their faces too.》
《Thanks. We’ll continue tomorrow, so come on back.》
Mii-chan, who had gone out through the cat passage to check on the “goldfish droppings” and returned, was relaxing on top of the cat walkway.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
“Is it just me~?”
“Let the young ones handle it. The old folks will stay home and guard the house.”
“I don’t like being treated as old, but make sure you give those guys tailing us a thorough punishment.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m weak in person-to-person combat, so I’ll leave it to you.”
“Fran, do your best!”
“The two top earners are the bait. I’m sure they’ll bite.”
“Such kind companions you are.”
“But even if we go hunting together, they won’t let me join their party, saying I’ll find compatible people eventually.”
“It’d be unnatural for one kid to be among a bunch of old guys. You’ll find some eventually. If anything, train a compatible Magician from your village. They can’t all be like that bedwetter Rebun, right?”
“Well~, aside from Rebun and his buddies, there aren’t many that bad.”
《Master, they’re following. Their numbers have increased slightly.》
《How many more than seven?》
《Two.》
Those “goldfish droppings” probably don’t realize they’re being watched by Mii-chan, who’s relaxing on the carrying basket.
Using the nobles’ passage, we exited through the South Gate and leisurely walked south along the Tanzas Highway.
“Are they following?”
“They panicked when we used the nobles’ passage, but it seems the prey is too big for them to let go.”
“Even though that ‘prey’ is more ferocious than a Golden Bear, huh~”
“Oh? In that case, will the kind Fran be their opponent?”
“Aren’t you going to use Bee-chan?”
“Of course, I’ll ask him. Dealing with thugs is a pain for me too, and if they die attacked by Killer Bees, it’ll just be chalked up to bad luck, and no suspicion will fall on me.”
“As expected, Shinya-san, you’re invincible, aren’t you?”
“Only when Bee-chan is around. If we’re attacked at night, I’ll have to rely on Hoo-chan and Mii-chan.”
“So, day or night, it’s all up to your Tamed Beasts, huh?”
《Master, they’re catching up.》
“Looks like they’re catching up.”
“They probably don’t realize they’re being watched by Mii-chan on the carrying basket, do they?”
“Alright then, shall we head into the Grassland soon?”
While walking towards a tall thicket, I gave permission: 《Bee-chans, you can kill the guys behind me.》
Listening to the panicked voices and screams coming from behind, we took a wide detour and headed back to the Royal Capital.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
The day after seeing off Fran and Dorado’s group as they returned to their village, I went to visit Milene-sama on Laurence Street.
“It’s a little early for Flower Nectar season, but did something happen?”
“Actually, there was a bit of trouble in the town of Darssen, and this document contains the details.”
Saying so, I presented two documents signed by Weruva Grandes.
As Milene-sama read through the documents she received, her brow furrowed, then a smile appeared on her face.
Indeed, this person is a formidable woman. She didn’t seem bothered at all by the risk of conflict with a marquis house.
The damn old man looked like he wanted to know the contents of the documents, but Milene-sama rolled them up after she finished reading.
“If this causes any trouble for your esteemed house, please just say that I am merely a business associate.”
“Are you alright with that?”
“I’m confident in my ability to escape, and I have no particular reason why I must stay in this country.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you held onto this?”
“It’s not necessary. Please use them if it seems they would be disadvantageous to your esteemed house.”
She shrugged and nodded, so the discussion was over.
“I’ll give you this year’s share then.”
Saying so, she asked the maid waiting nearby to prepare a wagon.
“Have you already obtained Flower Nectar?”
“It’s from last year, but I have enough remaining to give you some.”
On the prepared wagon, just like last year, she placed three Medium Bottles of Flower Nectar and ten bottles plus one large bottle of Honey. I placed two Medium Bottles of Gold Mash next to them.
“What is that?”
“It’s Gold Mash. An apology for the trouble I brought.”
“You, you can gather Gold Mash too?”
“Mii-chan finds them for me.”
Saying so, Milene-sama looked at Mii-chan, who was being held by Mina, and sighed.
“You really are something else, aren’t you? Do you even know how much value such a large quantity of Gold Mash holds?”
“I heard it’s worth the same number of silver coins as its weight when completely dried.”
According to Milene-sama, when it’s powdered, an amount weighing the same as a silver coin is reliably worth 50 Gold Coins or more.
Since it can only be obtained in small quantities, it’s not put up for auction but is secretly traded among the Royal Family, high-ranking nobles, and wealthy merchants, or so she said.
Of course, the Adventurers Guild also requests its collection, but it’s rarely gathered. If anything, she told me it’s more often circulated through the Apothecary Guild.
Well, one can’t make a living by exclusively searching for Gold Mash.
Unless it’s completely dried, it tastes no different from other mushrooms when cooked and eaten, so people might collect it without realizing.
It’s enough to make you think that nobles and wealthy merchants know the effects of Gold Mash well; the rich have a keen sense for food in any world, huh?
He was being quiet, but the damn old man’s eyes were gleaming, so I decided to give him a warning.
“Chairman Moran, if you let anything unnecessary slip, even if you are Milene-sama’s father, I will not show any mercy. I warned you before, didn’t I?”
“I-I understand! I have no intention of getting involved with you!”
My thoughts exactly, damn old man.
I was invited for lunch, so I offered some Gold Mash for everyday use and had them try how much the taste would change.
I lined up two identical soup bowls, one with a light sprinkle of Gold Mash powder mixed in, and the other with the usual soup, and had them compare.
The damn old man was groaning as he cradled his soup bowl and drank, and Mina was wolfing down her soup in a daze.
Milene-sama also froze after one sip, then continued eating in a state that barely maintained her manners.
Mina was completely stuffed by the time she finished the main meat dish, and Milene-sama muttered with a wry smile that it couldn’t be used regularly.
At the same time, she asked if it would be alright to present a single Gold Mash to the Royal Family, so I told her that since it was something I had given her, she was free to do as she pleased.
If I become known as the supplier of Flower Nectar and Gold Mash, then even if my dispute with the Marquis Grandes family becomes public, as long as I wasn’t the one who initiated it, I’ll probably be protected to some extent.
There’s also the matter of Former Earl Halewood, so I’ll take measures to ensure no harm comes to Dorado, the others, or Fran.
However, it seems my name became quite well-known from the subjugation in Tanza, and getting into disputes with nobles twice by the time I return to the Royal Capital was unexpected.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
《Master, someone’s here.》
Mii-chan woke me with a swat of her tail and informed me of a visitor.
It had been three days since I gave Milene-sama the Flower Nectar and other things, and while thinking it was too soon to hear from her, I checked on the visitor through the secret peephole.