Chapter 7

"Well, what should I do from now on?"

The defeat of the Demon King, to be honest, didn't really matter to me. It was just something that happened as a result of being picked up by Ryan's party and following along.

The defeat of the Demon King was, I think, quite a challenge, but I was just in the back, constantly providing support items.

In the end, it was the power of the hero Ryan and his party that accomplished the defeat of the Demon King.

"Come to think of it, I... am a merchant, right?"

When I was 15.

I was still naive, dreaming without knowing the limits of the world or myself.

"The 'Warehouse' innate skill is perfect for a traveling merchant. After all, you can carry as much cargo as a cart full of goods, even without a cart!"

I took the words of the skill appraiser seriously, and later, I was captivated by the tales of ancient great merchants told by a wandering minstrel.

Starting with traveling commerce across the continent.

Eventually building a vast fortune.

Then owning vast lands and multiple shops in various places, and having several wives.

Finally, living in a prime location in the capital and becoming a powerful figure with connections to the ministers of the castle.

I had such dreams.

I think I called myself a "merchant" as a start.

But in reality.

I had given up on "first completing monster extermination quests to save up for capital" and was picked up by Ryan's party.

And then, 15 years passed.

In Ryan's party, I was somewhat in charge of the party's financial management, but in the end, all the money came from the quests Ryan and his party completed.

"Wives, huh..."

To be honest, I've envied Ryan, who has five wives, more than once.

Whether in an inn or a campsite, I was always the one who got kicked out at night.

And I was told to stay as far away as possible.

The "executive meeting" held every night.

I had a pretty good idea what the husband and wife were doing, holed up together.

"Alright, then I'll look for a wife too."

Now that I'm over 30 and still a virgin, and it's been proven that I won't get the 'Sage' skill, I think I should just give up on that.

What I need for that is...

"Money, of course."

Even if I can't achieve the grand dreams I once had, I should earn enough money to live a normal life by using my 'Warehouse' skill in the traveling merchant business.

"If I do that, maybe some village girl will come to me."

Traveling from town to town, looking for a wife while being a traveling merchant.

Isn't this a two-for-one deal?

And then, finding a wife and traveling together as merchants.

Creating a harem of beautiful women like the one Ryan made...

It doesn't have to go that far.

I just want one wife.

I need to build a normal life foundation for that.

Even though I'm over 30.

It's never too late.

"This is the youngest I'll ever be in the rest of my life, right?"

The initial capital is 50,000 mana.

It's not a lot, but it's not insignificant either.

And my new life goal is set.