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 anticipated 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 circumstances 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 passing 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 pass 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 .

[Damn 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 space 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 space 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 . ] n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

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 . ]