Chapter 20 : The Flower House Contract

”Are you seriously going to buy that? Is there really anyone who would buy something like this?”

“…… Of course they would.”

“Y-You really think so?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say it’s top tier… but isn’t making this pretty straightforward?”

“That’s true.”

Since the recipe was already complete, there was nothing difficult about it.

Besides, the ingredient was the ever-common Epfeltz Flower.

“I think it’s a cost-effective item that can definitely appeal to buyers. Plus, the percentage-based recovery option itself is rarer than other recovery items of the same tier.”

Listening to Samantha’s words, Jaeho began to worry.

“Money, huh… Well, there are plenty of people making money in the New World these days.”

Since Samantha knew this better than he did, her words carried some weight.

“Student loans… my dad’s gym loans… and my mom is always working without a single day off…”

Thinking about it made him feel like he shouldn’t just be playing games right now.

“Samantha.”

Jaeho rested his chin on her shoulder.

“Do you know someone?”

***

Once again, Samantha used the Prime Guild Merchant Network.

Unlike last time with the outsider Giant, this time it was a guild-affiliated Merchant Class.

Coincidentally, this merchant was also Jaeho’s closest friend within the guild.

ㅡ Kruwa Sang!

ㅡ Hm? What’s up?

ㅡ Busy? I wanted to run something by you, got a good item here.

ㅡ Ah, sure, no problem. That’s exactly my line of work.

Kruwa Sang was a unique class ranker who even had her own personal merchant guild.

She handled all the sales of the rare loot the Prime Guild obtained and did business with countless nobles across the New World.

But upon hearing Samantha’s next words, Kruwa Sang quickly lost interest.

ㅡ It’s potions. I want to see if mass sales are possible.

ㅡ Potions…?

ㅡ I’ll send you the options.

ㅡ Alright… got it.

Potions weren’t exactly popular items from a merchant’s perspective.

It was easier to just sell those in the system trading post.

For a ranker merchant like Kruwa Sang to handle potions, they’d have to be top-tier ones. Usually, such items weren’t mass-produced but mostly used by the rankers themselves.

Since Samantha said these were mass-producible potions, they probably weren’t top-tier.

ㅡ < Spirit Essence of epfeltz Flower> This is it.

“Still, since Samantha sent it, there has to be something….”

Muttering to herself, Kruwa Sang checked the options.

Then she froze.

ㅡ So? What do you think?

Kruwa Sang fell silent.

She was busy calculating in her head.

ㅡ …… Samantha!

Finally, Kruwa Sang spoke.

ㅡ This is mass-producible?

ㅡ It’s individually made, so not completely mass-scale, but possible.

ㅡ No, no. If too many flood the market, the value will just drop.

In Kruwa Sang’s view, these potions weren’t for low-level or rankers.

They were something to appeal to the poor mid-tier players stuck in between.

ㅡ By any chance, is there already a guild here in your neighborhood?

ㅡ Not yet. This place is just starting to develop.

ㅡ What?! Really?

Only then did Kruwa Sang realize that Samantha was currently surviving day-to-day in the desert.

ㅡ L-Let me mark the coordinates! I’m coming too!!

She was eager.

The first guild branch set up in an unexplored city?

For a merchant, it was the perfect opportunity.

***

“Hmm……”

Standing in front of the Flower House, Jaeho felt uneasy.

Far off in the desert, people carried logs raising dust.

Nearby—

In the Flower House’s back room, Cofei’s subordinates were managing flowers along with Mei.

“When dealing with elves, it’s about words…”

About ten meters away from the Flower House, Breeze was holding an ‘Elf Consultation’ with Giant.

“Something feels off.”

At least the first goal of doing something with flowers had been achieved.

And although business hadn’t started yet, opening the Flower House itself was a success.

The problem was the surroundings.

Everything unfolding around him was completely different from what he had dreamed of.

“Well… it’s a total mess.”

Jaeho quietly cursed himself.

[<Spirit of Vitality> said it was all ‘self-inflicted’ after all…]

Anyway, it was impossible to control everything in the world exactly as he wished.

“Alicia. This is the merchant-class friend I mentioned.”

At that moment, Samantha introduced a woman wearing round glasses to Jaeho.

“Ah, hello. I’m Kruwa Sang.”

The thin and fragile-looking woman was none other than Kruwa Sang.

The first time Jaeho met her, her pale face showed signs of sickness, but she greeted him with effort.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Alicia.”

Jaeho reached out his hand, and Kruwa Sang’s was trembling when they shook.

“You said you’re a merchant?”

“Yes, yes!!”

“Then shall we look at the goods first?”

With an atmosphere resembling a dark underworld deal, Jaeho led Kruwa Sang to the warehouse (…or rather dragged her).

The wooden warehouse looked too flimsy in Kruwa Sang’s eyes.

System-wise, personal warehouses were designed so outsiders couldn’t meddle.

But that didn’t make hacking impossible.

A thief-class could easily break in, and a wooden structure like this was a sitting duck.

However, Kruwa Sang had no idea what kind of place this was.

There were advanced security systems called Elf Guards.

“Well, this is everything we have here.”

Jaeho showed Kruwa Sang the items laid out on shelves inside the warehouse.

“This is…”

Seeing the actual Essence of the Epfeltz Flower Spiritizing Agent, Kruwa Sang nodded thoughtfully.

“Hmm… I’ll take a closer look.”

The woman who was pale and weak in front of Jaeho suddenly vanished, replaced by a professional-level calmness.

“But there’s more than just this.”

Adjusting her glasses, she scrutinized the entire warehouse sharply.

[Your sharp observation analyzes this item.]

[ <Goblin’s Magnifying Glass> greatly enhances item analysis capabilities.]

“Huh? What is this?”

It wasn’t the Essence of the Epfeltz Flower that was the problem.

[<Spiritizing Agent Dried Dew Mushroom Tea>]

[Grade: Advanced]

[A tea made from dew mushrooms. The pleasantly fragrant mushroom scent soothes the mind.]

[Effect: Curse resistance increased by 1%]

[<Spiritizing Agent Roasted Epfeltz Flower Seeds>]

[These are Epfeltz Flower seeds roasted with the rare desert moonlight sand. They have a subtly salty, addictive taste.]

[Effect: Restores 10 stamina]

[<Spiritizing Agent Acorn Pine Needle Wrap>]

[Grade: Advanced]

[Acorns wrapped in pine needles and grilled…]

There was an assortment of strange items whose concept was hard to grasp.

Jaeho himself hadn’t considered these proper items.

He saw them merely as sacrifices to increase observation progress.

But to the merchant Kruwa Sang’s eyes, they weren’t just failures.

“You can’t dismiss their potential so easily.”

Moreover, although most were simple snacks, their grade was classified as advanced.

Most food items were of normal grade.

Buff foods used by high-tier players were marked advanced, but…

Having advanced grades attached to general foods meant they were truly high-quality.

In other words, Jaeho’s ‘failures’ held value for high-class NPCs rather than players.

“Hmm… The quality of the potions is definitely something players can be interested in, but… if it’s not too much trouble, can I look at some of the other items?”

“Well, it’s fine, but I doubt there’s anything useful.”

From Jaeho’s perspective, there was nothing to throw away, so everything was kept.

“Just in case. Hmm… if possible, could I try some?”

“Of course.”

Jaeho nodded at her eagerness.

“Well, I’ll leave it to you then.”

Less waste was better.

Ugh—ugh—

Kruwa Sang first tried a single Epfeltz Flower seed smaller than a peanut.

“T-Tastes good…”

The Epfeltz Flower was similar to a flower called Mindle Ray in reality.

One might wonder how delicious such a flower could be, but it was completely different.

Its subtly salty and crispy texture lingered teasingly on the tongue.

“Besides, it restores stamina, so from the viewpoint of someone like me at level 486, it could appeal as a health food.”

The mysterious Acorn Pine Needle Wrap was similarly intriguing.

The acorn wrapped in pine needles wasn’t as sweet as expected; rather, it was closer to soft and tender.

“A bit bitter, but the pine needle aroma slowly spreads in the mouth—it’s exquisite.”

Kruwa Sang tried each item one by one from the prepared table.

Jaeho watched her with mixed feelings.

“Sure seems to like it, but…”

There was one important fact.

“This is a flower shop.”

No matter how you looked at it, Kruwa Sang didn’t seem to think that way.

“I want to distribute everything in the warehouse!”

After tasting them all, Kruwa Sang concluded.

“Besides the potions, the other dishes seem like they could appeal to the upper class as well. You really are a talented chef.”

“…As expected.”

Jaeho let out a deep sigh.

“Well, I don’t mind you selling them, but one thing has to be clear.”

“Oh? What’s that…”

Kruwa Sang tensed when Jaeho’s mood suddenly darkened.

“I’m… the owner of the Flower House.”

“…?”

Jaeho saw the emotions on her face.

It was an expression he had seen several times before.

“Are you crazy? What the hell!”

But the difference was that she actually said it out loud.

***

“…Kruwa Sang isn’t a bad friend. She just sometimes panics and says things without thinking…”

Samantha hurriedly explained the mistakes her friend had made.

“Well, I don’t really care, so you don’t need to get so worked up. I’ve heard worse.”

Jaeho said that calmly, and Samantha felt sorry for him.

In the end, Jaeho signed a contract with Kruwa Sang’s guild.

From now on, whenever Jaeho sells any item, Kruwa Sang will have exclusive distribution rights.

“We’ll definitely need a guild building here as well.”

Jaeho nodded at Samantha’s words.

“If Giant gets his act together, that is.”

***

“You have to break the illusions about the Elves. They’re not just noble and kind creatures from fairy tales or novels. They harbor deep hatred for humans and are ready to kill on a whim if provoked.”

Breeze spoke to Giant sitting across from him.

He kept his voice as low as possible, since it would be a disaster if dark elf or elf ears caught wind.

“But… they not only mock one’s character but do so without a shred of racial discrimination…”

“Shh! Think about it. Aren’t humans the same? I told you—we must abandon our illusions about the Elves! They’re living beings just like us, and from their perspective, humans are detestable!”

Those in the know roughly understood.

What the Elves had endured throughout New World history.

“So if you want to at least talk to the Elves, there’s only one way—face reality!”

Breeze’s eyes blazed.

“Bury your head and bow without question!”

“……What?”

Giant looked confused.

Compared to his serious, solemn tone before, this was an absurd solution.

“I’ll show you how it’s done.”

Then Breeze approached a passing Elf.

“Ah, hello?!”

With unbelievable smoothness, Breeze bent at the waist 180 degrees.

“Today’s weather reminds me of the clear serenity of the Elves!”

In the desert?

“Well, I’ll be going now!”

“What? You’re just going to do that abrupt greeting and leave?!”

Breeze’s demonstration was utterly incomprehensible, but surprisingly, the Elf side reacted.

“Hmm, for a human, that’s somewhat acceptable.”

The Elf muttered and then disappeared into the distance.

“How was it?”

Breeze approached with a proud smile.

“Crazy…”

But how Breeze interpreted Giant’s expression was beyond comprehension; he laughed brightly and patted his back.

“Now, let’s move on to the practical part. Your favor with the Elves is at rock bottom! Even if you mess up, you’ve got nothing to lose.”

Giant’s face showed clear reluctance as he was nudged forward with somewhat strange encouragement.

“The expression doesn’t matter! The Elves don’t even look at us properly anyway!”

“…Ugh!”

Suddenly tears welled up.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Everyone goes through this!”

Breeze gently patted him.

“D-Do we really have to do this? Can’t we just turn back…”

“Of course. But look over there.”

Breeze pointed.

There stood Jaeho.