Chapter 10
Before departure, I explained the work to Caras and handed him the key.
“You’ll produce fertilizer, replace the mana stone in the magical device when it stops working, rent another warehouse and install the magical device there if the current one fills up, trade with any companies interested in purchasing fertilizer, and document the quantities and transactions. Then report to me once a week via communication. Correct?”
“Yes.”
“I understand, Serupe. I’ve done similar tasks before, so you don’t need to worry.”
Caras seemed like a reliable employee.
Well, as the head of his family, he must be a responsible person to take care of his siblings.
The work in the capital could be left to Caras, while Deruna handled the wagons and the mercenaries.
“What about transferring the produced fertilizer into sacks?”
“The spirits I’ve left behind will handle it. If you ask them to assist with organizing the fertilizer, they’ll cooperate. All you’ll need to do is tie the sacks.”
“Ah, I see. That’s fascinating. The spirits seem strong.”
“The spirits might eat some of the fertilizer, too.”
“Understood.”
I watched Caras organize the newly produced fertilizer with the help of the spirits.
With five earth spirits working diligently, the pace wasn’t as quick as when Elenien helped, but with such steady work, the sacks would be filled on time.
Having completed the instructions, I went to find Elenien.
She was crouched near a flower bed, engrossed in something.
“What are you doing?”
When I approached, Elenien looked startled, then mumbled.
“I, I was making a spirit.”
Spirit creation.
It was the talent that had earned Elenien her recommendation to the Academy.
A rare skill even among elves, Elenien could extract properties from natural materials to create new spirits.
This was one of the reasons so many spirits followed her willingly.
She was their creator.
“You’re making an earth spirit now.”
“The earth spirits are good at moving fertilizer and are really motivated….”
“But why do they all have sprouts on their heads?”
“Young earth spirits don’t have enough power to maintain a form on their own, so it’s good for them to grow alongside vegetation. The roots anchor them to the soil.”
“Ah, so that’s why Dirtling grows sprouts when you give him fertilizer.”
“Dirtling… Pu-huh, so cute.”
——“Heeeng!”
Dirtling dashed around Elenien, looking delighted.
For a moment, we both watched as Dirtling played with the newly created earth spirits. Then, Deruna’s voice called out.
“Serupe.”
“Yes, Deruna bi…is.”
“The mercenary hiring is done. All that’s left is to load the fertilizer onto the wagons. Let’s depart before sunset. I also bought food supplies with the mercenaries.”
“Understood.”
We returned to the warehouse and, with the spirits’ help, began loading the fertilizer onto the wagons.
Even after loading for quite a while, only half the warehouse was emptied.
If I sell all of this…
The thought alone made me happy.
“Young lady, are you a spirit master? That’s impressive. I’d believe it if you said you were a Great Spirit Master.”
“N-not, not at that level….”
When one of the mercenaries complimented her after seeing the spirits work, Elenien hid behind me.
Now that I think about it, she’s incredibly shy.
“Haha, she’s quite bashful.”
“Of course she’d be! If a big burly man like you stares at her, what do you expect?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? What about me?”
“Thank you all for coming. I’ll rely on you to get us to our destination safely.”
“Leave it to us! With Deruna here, we can swing our swords without a worry.”
“Mm-hmm, exactly.”
Deruna had a good reputation from her mercenary work. Entrusting her with hiring the mercenaries was the right call.
“Hey, let’s get going already. Running around all day for pocket change is exhausting.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“How about a shoulder massage, Serupe?”
“…A shoulder massage?”
On second thought, bringing her along might have been a mistake….
She’s reminding me too much of my awkward past self.
But there was no time to complain. Dutifully, I sat in the back and massaged her shoulders.
“Mmm, that’s nice. You’re better at this than I expected, Serupe. Have you done this often?”
“Yes…”
——“Dirtling…”
Dirtling let out a sound that perfectly matched my sentiments.
“Ahh, that feels good.”
After a while, everyone had taken their seats, and the wagons started moving. The spirits hovered nearby, providing a visible escort.
With both mercenaries and spirits around, no sane bandits would dare approach.
“Feeling better now, big sister?”
“…”
She had fallen asleep.
After confirming she was asleep, I leaned back into my seat, only for Elenien to gently tap my shoulder.
“Do you want me to massage you too?”
“Yes.”
Good grief…
When I started massaging her shoulders, she relaxed like a cat basking in the sun.
Soon, she fell asleep and ended up leaning into my arms.
‘…!’
Caught off guard, I froze.
Being this close, I suddenly became hyper-aware of everything—her warmth, her scent, her soft breathing….
How do I handle this? Should I move her? What if she misunderstands when she wakes up?
If there’s a misunderstanding, it won’t just cost me a few Eldershoes—it might bankrupt me.
“Mm…”
“Ah!”
She murmured in her sleep and nestled closer, pressing against me.
The contours, the warmth, the faint fragrance—…I nearly passed out myself.
I steeled my nerves and carefully maneuvered her onto the seat next to me. Exhausted, I eventually drifted off as well.
***
When I woke up, I found myself lying in the backseat of the wagon, resting my head on something.
Instinctively touching it, I felt something warm and soft—it was dirt.
——”Dirtling.”
Dirtling sat near my head, spilling soil as he looked up at me.
It seemed he noticed I was asleep and made me a pillow.
“Thanks.”
——“Heguk.”
Dirtling smiled, and I returned the dirt to him.
He scurried out of the wagon and started tidying up the dirt he’d taken.
As I followed him out, I noticed Deruna sitting on a rock nearby, smirking playfully.
“The sleepyhead is finally awake.”
Sleepyhead?
Well, I suppose I had been asleep for quite a while, seeing how the fertilizer wagons were parked and the villagers and mercenaries were cooking a wild boar.
“Hahaha, this beast caused so much trouble with our crops. Even seasoned mercenaries struggle against ones this big.”
“Of course, who do you think we are? Ask anyone in the industry about the Mine Wars; they’ll tell you how we held the outpost to the bitter end. We’ve been through it all.”
“Exactly. That’s why we can still trade even in times like these.”
“Hahaha, a bunch of petty bandits wouldn’t stand a chance against us.”
“Hey, don’t just stand there. Come over and eat; we cooked it nicely.”
One of the mercenaries gestured for me to join them.
Taking a seat, I received a chunk of well-grilled meat.
As I took a bite, it was evident they had spared no effort in preparing it—no unpleasant smell, and the seasoning was decent.
As I continued eating without much thought, an elderly man seated across from me spoke.
“Young man, are you the fertilizer merchant?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Our village is in need of fertilizer. We make some ourselves, but it’s never enough.”
“How much do you need? I can arrange regular deliveries.”
Immediately, my merchant instincts kicked in.
The village was close to the capital, making it an ideal place to establish trade.
“Well, as you might know, it’s not harvest season yet. Right now, we’re in the midst of growing crops, so funds are tight.”
In short, he was asking if I could lend them fertilizer until the harvest, even though there was a risk they might not pay me back if their yields fell short.
It wasn’t a favourable deal for me.
But the cost of raw materials wasn’t high for me—selling any amount was still profitable.
The mana stone’s production output was substantial, and I essentially had a monopoly on this market.
Providing fertilizer to build goodwill and secure long-term contracts seemed like a wise move.
“I understand. If you agree to continue using fertilizer from our trading company, I can supply it at a fixed price. As a service, I’ll also include an additional 10% of your purchase for free. Payment can be made after the harvest each year. In case of crop damage due to natural disasters, we won’t collect payment. However, in return, I’d like priority rights to buy and sell goods in your village over other traders.”
The elder listened attentively, then stammered in surprise.
“So, you’ll supply fertilizer steadily, give us extra for free, and share the risk of natural disasters—all in exchange for exclusive trading rights in the village?”
“That’s correct.”
“Are you a philanthropist? While we’re grateful, how can a young merchant like yourself shoulder such losses comfortably? We’re not starving to death.”
“A merchant doesn’t only look at immediate profits. Selling fertilizer means working with those who cultivate crops, ensuring the survival of those living now and those yet to be born. When it comes to life, how can one prioritize profit above all else?”
“Ah… Young man.”
The elder glanced around at those seated nearby, who nodded in agreement, before bursting into laughter.
“Hahaha! There’s no reason to reject this offer. What do you all think?”
“We’ll follow the chief’s lead, of course.”
The expressions of those around me softened. Even Deruna, leaning against a tree and watching, seemed impressed.
Why was everyone looking at me like that? It was just business talk.
“Ahem, please spread the word about our fertilizer and trading company.”
“That won’t be hard! At this rate, your reputation will spread across the continent. How will you handle that fame?”
“There’s no need to worry about that.”
“May we see the fertilizer?”
“Of course.”
It was only natural to inspect the fertilizer—using poor-quality fertilizer could harm crops.
Since Dirtling hadn’t been fed in a while, I opened a sack and gave him some.
——“Heh-heh.”
“Oh…”
“Incredible.”
Watching Dirtling happily eat the fertilizer, the villagers murmured in awe.
“It’s fertilizer even an earth spirit likes. While I rely on the spirits for quality assurance, you won’t have to worry about the results.”
“If it’s good enough for a spirit to thrive, what’s there to worry about? Let’s sign the contract immediately. This year’s harvest will be a blessing!”
“Chief, let’s secure a wagon’s worth. The villagers will be ecstatic when they find out.”
“Agreed. I promise to pay by this year’s harvest. As long as we honour the deal, no one will miss the payment for such excellent fertilizer.”
In truth, they were paying a lot…
“Haha…”
“You’ll have a room to rest in and meals provided. Feel free to stay comfortably.”
Following the elder, I headed to the accommodations.
Well, the deal went smoothly.
I’d taken my first step as a merchant.
If only things always went this well…
But knowing my luck, life won’t be that easy.
—
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