Chapter 9
During the school break, I packed my bags to travel with Elenien and stepped out into the street.
As usual, Elenien stood there with a blank expression, clutching her bag straps with both hands. I pointed a finger in front of her.
“First, let’s stop by the trading company. Even though it’s only been a day or two, we should check if the goods have shipped properly.”
“Okay.”
“Then we’ll take care of the fertilizer stored in the warehouse.”
“Okay.”
“We’ll also need to hire some employees, so we should visit the mercenary employment office.”
Seeing Elenien nodding earnestly, I began walking.
When I turned to check if she was following, I saw her wearing a faint smile before she suddenly switched back to her usual blank expression.
Was she thinking of something funny?
Staring at Elenien’s face for too long felt awkward, so I looked ahead and continued walking.
After walking for a while, we passed in front of the Tails Trading Company. The head of the company recognized me and greeted me.
“Oh, it’s our fertilizer merchant friend! The shipment you entrusted to us has been sent successfully. You should receive payment soon.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried, but it’s good to know everything shipped safely. I’ll be bringing more fertilizer to sell soon.”
“Ah, do you have more goods? The demand for fertilizer is steadily increasing, and prices are climbing. Now’s a good time to sell.”
“I’ll visit again later with the goods.”
“Looking forward to it. Where are you off to now?”
“I’m going to check the fertilizer inventory and then head to the mercenary employment office.”
“Sounds like you’re busy. Best of luck!”
After a polite nod, I made my way to the warehouse and opened the door.
Inside, there was even more fertilizer than I had expected, piled high.
“Whoa… I didn’t think it would produce this much. The mana stone engine is more efficient than I imagined.”
——Heek!
Dirtling came running out at the sight of the fertilizer.
“You can have a bit, Dirtling. It won’t make much of a dent.”
As Dirtling dove into the fertilizer, spirits emerged from beneath Elenien’s feet.
Oh no, these are supposed to be for sale.
But then again, if Elenien’s spirits get stronger, that’s not a bad thing.
When I nodded at Elenien, she smiled and whispered to her spirits.
After the spirits had their fill, the Earth and Wind Spirits began packing the fertilizer into sacks we had prepared earlier.
With their help, the process was incredibly fast.
Come to think of it, if the fertilizer the spirits eat is considered their wage, then this is a win.
It’s efficient, and when selling fertilizer to people, there are always middlemen taking a cut.
“Serupe, looks like we’re done.”
“Yeah, the spirits are really quick.”
“The Earth Spirits say it was delicious.”
“Well, they’re helping with the work, so it’s only fair to give them some.”
“Hehe.”
After tying up the sacks filled with fertilizer and counting them, we stepped outside.
“Now we just need to hire someone to oversee fertilizer production and warehouse management while we’re away.”
Before leaving, I checked the security system on the fertilizer generator.
Everything seemed fine.
If someone other than me tried to operate it, they’d need a key valid for a set period.
Even if someone stole the generator, the mana stone would be a loss, but the completed operational formula can’t be reverse-engineered, making it safer than modern machines.
There’s no need for patents; only I know the secret.
It should be safe to leave it in someone else’s care. I’ll prepare some temporary keys for use during the break.
“All done. Let’s head to the employment office.”
“Okay.”
The office was supposed to be near the warehouse district.
After wandering for a bit, we ran into a familiar face—Deruna.
“Oh, what are you two doing here?”
“What about you, Deruna?”
“I asked first. You cheeky thing.”
“Ahh! Even Karon doesn’t hit me like this!”
“Hmm, should I go easier on you next time?”
“Is hitting me a given…?”
Deruna, dressed in leather armor, seemed lightly armed. Considering we were near the mercenary employment office, was she job-hunting?
Elenien spoke softly to Deruna.
“Uh, we’re, um…”
She whispered shyly into Deruna’s ear.
Whispering to a lion… Only Elenien could get away with it. If it were me, I’d be dead.
Whatever she said made Deruna brighten up.
“Really? Well, I’m heading to the employment office too, so let’s go together.”
Wait, she’s joining us?
“Okay, but only if you don’t hit me. I’ve had enough of that.”
“Serupe, you need to man up a bit. Karon’s training seems to have bulked you up, though…”
“Y-yes.”
“You cheeky little thing.”
Ahhh!
I dodged Deruna and hurried into the employment office.
Hiding behind a pillar, I held a spirit in my hand and surveyed the people inside.
“Is there no work? Please, I haven’t even received payment for my last job. If this keeps up, my siblings and I will end up on the streets.”
“I’m sorry, but there’s nothing we can offer at the moment…”
A sturdy young man was pleading for work.
The job I had in mind wasn’t particularly difficult.
“Hello, are you looking for work?”
“Oh, are you job-hunting too? There’s nothing available here right now.”
“Well…”
Before I could explain, the receptionist gave me a sharp look.
If I talked here, I’d have to pay a commission.
“Could I get your advice on something?”
“Hm… I’m not sure if I can help, but since there’s no work for me anyway, I can spare a moment.”
“Thank you.”
I led the young man outside and got straight to the point.
“Actually, I’m looking to hire someone. It’d be nice to save on commission fees, don’t you think?”
“Hm, you’re hiring? I’d feel more secure going through the office, though. And…”
The young man didn’t seem entirely convinced about taking orders from someone who looked younger than him.
“I don’t cheat people. Just because a job comes through the office doesn’t mean the employer is always trustworthy, right?”
“Well, that’s true.”
“This job involves simple tasks like managing the warehouse and checking the product’s condition. When the warehouse is full, you’ll need to rent another and move the magical device there to keep it running. Also, if you could handle communications with me and help with paperwork for the trading company, that would be great. You’ll be contracted as a trading company employee.”
“You’re already a merchant at such a young age. So, you’ll be my employer. What are the contract terms and the salary?”
“How about starting with 200 gold per month? You could earn more as you gain experience. I heard you mentioned needing rent money. I can provide an advance from your first paycheck to help. The salary isn’t high, but the work will leave you time to care for your siblings. Things might get busier later, but you’ll earn more then.”
“That’s quite generous. I’ll take the job.”
Considering how poor labor conditions are compared to the modern day, this seemed reasonable enough.
“Ah, I haven’t finished explaining yet.”
“Yes?”
“If you get injured, I’ll cover medical expenses, and you’ll be entitled to vacation time. I’ll include these benefits in the contract.”
“…”
The young man nodded slightly, looking surprised.
Finding employees is easy, huh?
“I’ll do my best, Master.”
“Great. Here’s my communication device code. I’ll cover communication costs, so keep track of your calls.”
“Understood.”
Having him alone should be enough for now.
As we drafted the contract, I asked for his name.
Caras.
Once the contract was signed, we shook hands.
“Serupe!”
“Let’s head to the warehouse and go over your responsibilities…”
Both Caras and I turned toward the voice at the same time.
Deruna and Elenien, who had been nearby, also turned to look at the approaching person.
If I recall correctly, that’s someone from the Tails Trading Company.
“The, uh, fertilizer shipment you entrusted to us…”
“Did bandits attack?”
“Well, not exactly… I mean, yes, but no. Huff, huff…”
“Take your time. It’s okay.”
After catching his breath, the employee continued.
“There’s been an outbreak of bandits taking control of several trade routes. Your shipment could be at risk of being ambushed during transport. The master asked me to let you know there might be delays with payments.”
“Ah, I see. Let the master know I understand and hope the company can complete the transport safely.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
The employee, still in a rush, left to notify other clients about the situation.
“Is the trading company going to be okay?”
“Hmm, they should manage. The real issue is having the stockpile grow too large. I was planning to sell fertilizer while traveling to my hometown, but warehouse rental costs might start to pile up.”
Even with Elenien and her spirits, it was still risky.
I couldn’t let my ambitions put her in danger.
Maybe I should postpone going to my hometown for now.
“Heh, so you’re aiming to be a merchant, Serupe? Looks like you’ll need my help.”
Deruna approached, forming a coin shape with her fingers.
Is she really a noble lady?
Honestly, she seemed more like a thug than anything else.
“You’re thinking something rude, aren’t you? 500 gold a month.”
“Excuse me? Typically, contracts like this are short-term, just for the duration of the trip.”
“A scrawny guy like you wouldn’t make it without me. Elenien helps, but with bandits swarming the roads… I’ll give you a great deal: 1,000 gold for the whole break. That’s basically charity.”
“Well, you’re not wrong…”
“See? Your big sister here is offering you an incredible deal. Consider it a gift.”
Even with Deruna, it wouldn’t eliminate the risks entirely.
She could probably fend off five bandits at once, and with Elenien’s firepower, they could handle up to twenty.
But battle situations are unpredictable, and things could go wrong.
If I wanted to pursue trading, I had to be prepared for anything.
Getting rich isn’t easy.
I sighed. Maybe I should’ve stuck to developing fertilizer.
“All right, I’ll entrust the mercenary hiring to you. Can you also manage and lead them during the trip?”
“Got it. What’s the scale of the shipment?”
“We’ll be taking five carts of fertilizer to sell. Once there’s space, we’ll add other goods for trade. The spirits can handle labor, so we just need mercenaries.”
“If you’re okay with the risk of losing a cart, five people should suffice. Otherwise, you’ll need eight.”
“With you and Elenien protecting us, five should be enough. The spirits can deal with most threats, especially if they’re surrounded or outgunned.”
Deruna nodded, took the check I handed her, and then leaned toward me, looking dissatisfied.
Whoa, what’s with her now?
“Hey.”
“Yes, yes?”
Her sharp gaze froze me in place.
Deruna spoke slowly, emphasizing every word.
“When are you going to stop calling me ‘Miss Deruna’? Call me your big sister. De-ru-na. Big Sis.”
She grabbed me by the collar and pulled me closer.
Afraid of what might happen if I didn’t comply, I reluctantly said it.
“Big Sister Deruna.”
Satisfied, Deruna grinned and let me go.
—
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