Chapter 100

(The text is quite long)

The place she led us to was the best location, the most prominent spot visible from both the main street and the center of the square. Indeed, Cherina had said she would provide a good location, but this was beyond what I expected.

When I gently inquired about it, she replied, "The street vendors here fled in the night on the day of the revolution." How about that.

"There's no help for it. Normally, the Sea Dragon only invites trustworthy merchants with established shops and residents who have settled down, not street vendors who might leave at any time."

She knows the internal affairs in great detail... She must have obtained the information through the baron (or his representative).

The stall was already set up with a tarp and a makeshift counter. A young boy from the guild, who had finished the preparations and was waiting for us, was startled when he saw Frieena.

"Oh, Madam?!"

The boy hastily bowed, but she stopped him with a hand.

"Oh, my. Did you prepare this all by yourself? It's well done."

When she smiled, the boy froze like a rock. ...Like a frog caught by a snake. She must be a Medusa.

Frieena gave the boy a coin and sent him off. I only caught a glimpse, but it was probably a gold coin. The boy's face turned bright red in various ways as he ran off. ...Good luck, kid.

"Oh, Madam... Where should I put the wooden box..."

We were spoken to breathlessly from behind. He was carrying a large wooden box. Sorry, I forgot.

"Akira-san. Where should this box go?"

"Hmm..."

There's no space to think. The only place to put it is behind the counter where Yararai and I will stand. Is it really necessary to ask? But I pretended to think for a moment before answering. It's service. Service.

"Then, please put it there."

The man finally placed the wooden box on the mat and took a deep breath.

Of course, carrying such a heavy wooden box would tire even a Veriello employee in the shipping industry. Especially if he had to walk at the slow pace of the lady he was accompanying.

The man, who had wiped his sweat and finally regained his smile, silently pleaded with Frieena to go home.

"You've done a great job. Please take a break at that shop over there for a while."

With a slug-like, sticky movement, she put a silver coin in the man's hand and directed her gaze toward the stall at the entrance of the square that served drinks.

It was probably a shop that served light alcohol. Next to it was a stall selling sun-dried cups, which seemed to have a mutually beneficial relationship.

These sun-dried cups were sold at a fixed price, which was rare for a stall. The price, 30 yen, was clearly marked on a sign that looked as old as it could be. In a country with a low literacy rate, it probably didn't mean much, but it might be a way to show that they were doing honest business. After all, if someone who could read confirmed it, it would be clear.

These sun-dried cups were apparently meant to be thrown away by smashing them on the ground after use, like paper cups.

The man glanced at the stall, then turned back to the lady. His face looked like he was about to cry. Of course, the lady returned a full... seductive smile.

Under the silent pressure, the man's back, as he walked toward the stall, exuded a vague sense of melancholy.

"...Why did you send the people away?"

I couldn't help but ask directly. There's no point in being subtle with this witch.

"I don't mind if you ask, but I thought it might be troublesome for Akira-san... I'm sure that elf is fine, right?"

What, you don't mean...

"Did you get this product from Akira-san?"

She pulled out a 100-yen lighter. The guild's selling price was 1000 yen, a huge profit. For a moment, I thought someone might say it was too much, but I quickly shook my head. It was probably about something else.

"Actually, Cherina was regretting buying this."

I raised an eyebrow.

"I received the transfer of the guild in writing... Oh, that washi paper is amazing. Thank you."

She suddenly bowed, and I vaguely replied, "Yes, well."

"However, regarding the lighter, Cherina came to me directly."

"...Frieena, do you smoke?"

Oops, I used the honorific... Oh well.

"Yes, of course. ...I'll light up."

I anticipated that this conversation would make me want to smoke, so I asked for permission. As I took out my case, she offered me a lighter.

"Thank you."

I took the flame gratefully and inhaled deeply. She was also packing new leaves into her kiseru, so I returned the lighter to her. We both exhaled long purple smoke.

"So, Cherina was regretting buying this lighter from Akira. She felt it was a lack of her own ability."

I didn't say anything, just exhaled smoke.

"Moreover, she rarely came to me, crying, asking me to sell this product well. It was nice to see that cute side of her again."

Her laugh was a reminder of her lineage, but the impression she gave was completely different. She was a full-fledged monster. Yararai, standing a little away, was probably listening with those long ears.

"When Cherina was thinking about which distribution route to use for the lighter, she realized that it would be questioned where and by whom it was made. Charcoal, washi paper, and cassava can all be explained, but the lighter is not so simple. She told me not to disassemble it, but she had her subordinates investigate it."

That's to be expected. I didn't really expect much from that side, so I just gave a light warning. I also hinted that the liquid inside burned very well, so I don't think it led to any accidents...

"She vaguely understood the mechanism of the rotating flint, but the other parts were completely beyond her."

I don't understand either. Hardly anyone would know about liquefied butane. Even the case itself was a topic of interest for developers trying to safely seal methanol in small fuel cells. It's more technically advanced than it looks. If it were an electronic lighter, I might have been shocked.

At the time, I sold it lightly because I wanted money, but I later regretted it. That's why I didn't intend to sell any more rare items, even if asked for them. Though, it wasn't Cherina who asked.

"It's rare for her to jump at short-term profits. She has her father's quick thinking. Was it such an attractive product?"

Is her father more business-savvy? More than the snake woman in front of me? Hmm. I don't know.

"But it seems to have been a good stimulus? Enough to make her want to change this country."

I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

It feels like something out of a history textbook, this overnight revolution. I still can't believe it. All I remember is the prison break and the impression of Cherina being hurt.

"So, what do you intend to do, Frieena-sama?"

"Please, just Frieena is fine."

I nodded lightly as I stubbed out my shortened cigarette. She smiled contentedly.

"Don't worry, I'll sell it well. Yes... I'll let Paros, who has always wanted to, explore the new southern route. I've already pushed him too hard with the warship."

Paros... Cherina's brother.

"Is the southern sea dangerous?"

"It's a route that must be explored eventually, so the timing is good. Paros is a born sailor, after all."

I hope he doesn't go missing because of a product I came up with on a whim...

"Don't worry. We've already done preliminary checks with other ships. Of course, large cargo ships and exploration ships have different structures, but I trust Paros's skills."

Since his parents trust him, it might be wrong for me to worry.

"I see..."

Trusting family... I can't even imagine it.

"So, what do you intend to do, Akira-san?"

"Well, I was planning to spend a day preparing, but it seems you've done everything. All that's left is to prepare the products, so there's nothing more to do here."

I can't say I'll use containers to replenish.

"I see. Are you moving to another location?"

I nodded after thinking for a moment. I had something I wanted to do.

"I understand. Then..."

She walked away, ringing like a bell, and spoke to the owners of the stalls on either side of the one we were renting.

"Excuse me, I'll be away until night. Could you keep an eye out for any troublemakers? If anything happens, please contact the Veriello guild. I'll send someone over by evening."

I think the two shop owners were given silver coins.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. Of course, I can't just leave it unattended."

This isn't like Japan's unmanned sales. If left unattended, anything could be stolen.

"Don't worry. We'll send people from the guild at night as well."

"But..."

I was about to refuse, thinking it was too much to ask, but she gently declined.

"Since you're important to Cherina."

What exactly has she told them...?

"Then, I'll take you up on your offer."

"Of course."

She smiled lightly, then suddenly intensified her gaze.

With all the necessary matters in place, it seemed the prelude was over. I braced myself for the main topic, but Frieena turned gracefully and headed back to the guild.

"...Frieena?"

My awkward question was answered with a sideways glance.

"Don't worry. I won't ask anything."

Her extremely cheerful smile was terrifying.

"However... If you want Cherina, you'll have to reveal your secret to her, Akira-san."

No way.

"It's beyond me."

That's all I said. To live in this world, she would be an ideal partner. She has what I lack, and I can probably make up for what she lacks. Not just in terms of ability.

Still, the word "marriage" didn't appeal to me.

"Life is unpredictable, you know?"

Please don't give me that eerie sideways glance.

"Then, I'll see you again, Akira-san."

The queen glided away like ice. The man accompanying her hurried after her. At least say something to him...

I leaned against the wooden box and sat on the mat. I took out a new cigarette and lit it. Yararai offered me a kiseru.

"Humans are hard to understand."

"Please don't compare me to that monster."

When those ruby crystal-like eyes look at you, you feel like everything is seen through. Will Cherina turn into such a monster someday?

"What are you going to do now?"

I lit the kiseru for Yararai, and he exhaled smoke.

He's like a Native American. Does he use the feathers and hunted animals himself?

The feathers are larger than those of ordinary birds. Are there birds larger than buffalo that I don't know about?

Griffins can fly, so there must be many things I don't know about.

"I have some time, so I want to do something. I want to go outside the city, but it's okay, right?"

"No problem."

I don't know who was targeting me, but they probably died in this revolution or no longer have a reason to. The suspicious ones are the Pig King or Blow, but they can't do anything now. Yararai alone is more than enough as my guard. I decided to move, and Yararai pointed firmly at the wilderness.

"Since we have the chance, let's run."

What?

Yararai is also a Spartan.

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