Chapter 11: Shouting for Success

I headed to the village early to catch the market’s opening hours.  

“I want to set up a stall.”  

Like last time, I paid the tax, got assigned a spot, and set up a table borrowed from the inn.  

Then, I spread a neat cloth over it and displayed the glass bottles I brought.  

Having learned from my lackluster first market experience, I put more effort into preparing for my second stall.  

Moreover, the items I was selling this time were expensive products made from hard-to-grow wild strawberries, so the display needed to look sophisticated.  

Twenty bottles of health juice made from wild strawberries lined up on the table.  

The glass bottles sparkled under the sunlight.  

“This should be perfect.”  

“What’s the young man selling?”  

The rancher at the stall next to me showed interest in my setup.  

“Health juice I made myself.”  

“Is that so?”  

The man gave a slightly skeptical look.  

It was the kind of face that said, “Will that even sell?”  

Honestly, whether this would sell was uncertain.  

In a market overflowing with fresh vegetables and fruits straight from farms, it was questionable whether people would spend extra money on health juice.  

But since I used ingredients rarely sold here, customers might be curious about my products.  

If I could spark their interest, persuasion would come next.  

The real challenge was the high price. 

Getting customers to open their wallets was no small feat.  

Still, I didn’t have time to feel discouraged. 

I was confident in my product.  

“Ahem, ahem.” 

After clearing my throat,  

“Wild strawberry vitality drinks for sale!!” 

I shouted at the top of my lungs.  

“One bottle gives you a burst of energy! Guarantees a refreshing day! Feeling sluggish? Always tired even after sleep? One bottle of this vitality drink will make you feel light as a feather!”  

In the market, a loud voice draws attention.  

“Come on, look over here! Freshly milked milk!” 

Perhaps feeling threatened by my booming voice, the rancher next door raised his own.  

Soon, one by one, vendors started competing to shout louder.  

The market buzzed with the noisy clamor of vendors calling out to customers.  

But.  

“Vitality drinks to recharge your energy! One bottle, and you’ll never tire, even if you talk all day! Look at me!”  

While other vendors quickly grew hoarse and their voices faded, I kept shouting non-stop for an hour.  

I’d eaten bread slathered with wild strawberry jam for breakfast and downed a bottle of wild strawberry juice before coming, so my energy was overflowing.  

“Impressive stuff.”  

“Young man’s bursting with enthusiasm.”  

Thanks to my relentless promotion, people who appreciated my passion started gathering at my stall.  

“Does one bottle really give you that much energy?”  

“Absolutely. Here, look at this.”  

Flash.  

I lifted a large rock I’d prepared above my head.  

“Wow, this guy’s strong!”  

“It’s all thanks to the vitality drink! My energy’s through the roof!”  

It was a bit exaggerated, but promotions are supposed to be a little over-the-top to catch attention.  

“My husband’s been feeling weak in this heat. Should I buy one for him?”  

As expected, a response came right away.  

“Today only, I’m selling them at half price—just 5 coppers! Try it, and if it works, come back for more!”  

“You’re quite the salesman! I’m feeling energized just watching you. Alright, I’ll take a chance and buy one.”  

The lady smiled and opened her coin purse.  

“Thank you!”  

I sold one bottle at a lower price than usual.  

When promoting, generosity over profit is key. 

Once people try it and word spreads, there’s no better advertisement.  

“Vitality drinks bursting with energy!” 

I lifted the rock above my head again with a flash.  

Five hours later.  

After tireless effort, I sold all 20 bottles of vitality drink.  

At first, the high price deterred buyers, but my enthusiasm and energy won them over, and they started opening their wallets one by one.  

“Heading out already?”  

As I packed up my stall, the rancher next door brightened up.  

“Yeah, sorry about today. I was pretty loud, wasn’t I?”  

My constant shouting had clearly annoyed him.  

His own voice was drowned out by mine, so he’d been quietly grumbling, unable to sell much.

Naturally, he was thrilled to hear I was leaving.  

“No, no, I learned a lot this time. I doubted your health juice would sell, but you sold out before me. I need to learn from your passion.”  

“Thanks for seeing it that way. I really appreciate it. Sell lots!”  

Before heading home, I went to my usual seedling shop to buy seeds.  

My wallet was full, and my steps felt lighter than ever.  

Humming as I passed through the residential area,  

“Water for sale…” 

A man was selling water in a feeble voice. He held out a bowl of water to a passerby, but—  

“Water for sa—”  

“Ugh, get that away from me!”  

Thud!  

Clatter.  

The water bowl rolled to a stop at my feet.  

“Gross! You ruined my mood!”  

The passerby glared at the man and stormed off.  

Startled by the passerby’s words, the man set down all the water he was holding and hurriedly adjusted the cloth wrapped around his face.  

I picked up the bowl and quickly approached him.  

“Are you okay? That guy didn’t even apologize!”  

“I’m fine… Thank you for helping…”  

Even in this hot weather, he had his face tightly wrapped in cloth.  

Through the gaps, I glimpsed mottled skin. 

He avoided looking at me directly, desperately trying to hide his face.  

He seemed reluctant to show his face to me.  

But something about him felt familiar.  

“…Baski?”  

He froze.  

The man looked up at me.  

Though only a sliver of his face was visible, I could tell from his expressive eyes alone.  

“…Fa, Fabir?”  

He was Baski, my old friend from the orphanage.  

***

A little later, we sat side by side on a nearby bench.  

To break the awkward silence, I spoke first.  

“How’s the water-selling business? It must be tough hauling water from the forest every day.”  

“What choice do I have… As you can see, I’m in no shape to get other jobs…”  

“…I see.”  

Baski adjusted the cloth covering his face.  

“What about you?”  

“I’m farming. I even supply the inn!”  

“Farming? Where’d you get the land?”  

I scratched my cheek with a finger.  

“It’s a long story.”  

Would he even believe such an unbelievable tale?  

“More importantly, take this.”  

I handed Baski a jar of aloe juice.  

“…What’s this?”  

“It’s aloe juice. Apply it to your skin, and it’ll help.”  

“These scars don’t heal easily…” 

Baski lowered his head, covering his face with the cloth again.  

Wanting to help, I quickly added,  

“Look at me. Don’t I look a bit different?”  

“Now that you mention it… your face does look brighter than before.”  

“Right? It’s worth a shot, so try applying it consistently. It’ll help.”  

“Okay. Thanks…”  

“I’ve got to go, I’m busy. Let’s catch up later.” 

I wanted to help more, but this was the best I could do for now.  

After a reluctant goodbye to Baski, I returned to the Floating Island.  

“You’re back? Did you sell anything?”  

 ***

“Who do you think I am? Of course, I sold everything.”  

“What’s wrong with your voice?”  

“Ahem. I shouted so much my throat’s hoarse.”  

Five hours of yelling had left my throat raw.  

“Want me to mix some honey in water for you?”  

“You have honey?”  

“I’ve been saving wild strawberry honey bit by bit. It’s not much, but enough for a glass of honey water.”  

“Thanks. I’d appreciate it.”  

Elenia fetched a hidden jar of honey and flew to the well.  

Meanwhile, I tilled the garden and sowed the seeds I’d bought: pumpkin, eggplant, radish, corn, chili peppers, and Potatoes.  

These were precious ingredients that would enrich our future meals.  

Before I knew it, Elenia returned and handed me a glass of honey water.  

“Here, drink.”  

“Thanks.”  

I gulped down the honey water, soothing my scratchy throat.  

It cooled my throat and seemed to ease the swelling.  

Is this because it’s honey from the Floating Island? The effect is immediate.  

Ding.  

[The Floating Island now has ten types of plants.]

[The Floating Island is beginning to brim with life.] 

[The Floating Island’s affinity has increased by 10.] 

[You have earned 1 Growth Point.]  

“Huh?”  

“What’s wrong?”  

“I got another point. It says the Floating Island is starting to brim with life.”  

“Thanks to you planting so many crops, the ecosystem is becoming more diverse and abundant. Your care is bringing the Floating Island to life.”  

My efforts are reviving the Floating Island.

A warm smile spread across my face.  

***

“What… what is this?”  

Baski stared at his reflection in the mirror, speechless.  

The burn scars that once marred his face were gone.  

Baski raised both hands.  

Slap.  

He struck his cheeks hard.  

His cheeks flushed red.  

“It’s… it’s not a dream…”  

Fabir was telling the truth.  

He’d thought his scars, which he believed would never fade, destined him to a life of being mocked as a monster.  

Baski looked in the mirror again.  

The version of himself covered in burn marks no longer existed.  

Finally, some light is shining on me.  

Memories of hiding his face under cloth, living in the shadows, flashed through his mind.  

Now I can show my face to the world.  

Sniff.  

Baski wiped his eyes.  

“But… how on earth…?”  

Having grown up in the same orphanage, he knew Fabir well.  

Fabir never had any talent for things like magic.  

Did he discover some special ability after leaving the orphanage? 

He seemed so ordinary, though.  

Whatever the secret was, it was clear that luck had found Fabir.  

I wish luck would find me too.  

No, maybe meeting Fabir was his luck.  

When everyone else treated him like vermin, Fabir was the only one to offer a helping hand.  

After leaving the orphanage and being thrown into a harsh world, Fabir was the first to truly see him.  

I don’t want to let go of this.  

“He said he’s farming, right?”  

Farming requires a lot of hands, so maybe even someone like him could be of use.  

“…I’ve made up my mind!”  

Baski resolved to return to the market where he’d met Fabir.