Chapter 15: Buying Broken Magic Tools, Weapons, and Monster By-products (1)

I moved with Lone toward the civilian residential district.

Today, the place we were going to visit was the Grocery Store run by Lady Elcia.

“Is it really possible that a grocery store is at the very center of this massive Duke Territory?”

“Just? If you actually go there, you won’t be saying that.”

Huh, why are you looking at me with such distrustful eyes?

Come on, just try to trust your brother for once. How many times do I have to prove myself in front of you?

Haven’t I succeeded in opening up the Trade Route and doing all sorts of impossible things already?

“It’s still just a shop, right?”

Could you really call it just a shop?

As they say, seeing is believing.

I took Lone straight to the Grocery Store without another word.

The moment Lone finally saw the Grocery Store, she froze in place, her mouth wide open.

“Amazing.”

The Grocery Store run by Lady Elcia was a massive five-story tower.

“What is this! You said it was a grocery store!”

“It is. A grocery store. A warehouse-style grocery store. They arrange and sell all kinds of ingredients inside a giant tower imbued with preservation Magic. The owner, Lady Elcia, is a 6th Circle Archmage.”

So, in a sense, this Grocery Store was a sort of Magic Tower founded by the Mage Elcia.

“Why on earth is a 6th Circle Archmage living as a civilian in a village?”

That, I don’t know either.

I can only guess that her husband’s death left a deep wound on her.

“This territory is really weird!”

Trust me, I know that better than you do, having arrived here before you.

“Let’s go in.”

I led Lone inside the Magic Tower—no, inside the Grocery Store.

Inside, it was literally like a bustling market.

There were so many people shopping that I wondered if there were really this many people in the Duke Territory.

“Cheap, cheap, fresh cabbage for just 1 silver!”

“Wild herbs and medicinal plants for sale. Prices are negotiable by weight!”

“Selling cheese made from goat’s milk.”

“I’ve brought high-quality wine! Deadam, a steady favorite in the Helpion Duchy for ten years!”

From those hawking their wares to people chatting around the nearby stalls, I could instantly understand why this place was the center of all the rumors.

“It really does feel like a market.”

“Seriously. No one would ever guess it was a Magic Tower.”

“And it’s hard to think of it as just a Grocery Store, too.”

As Lone and I shared our thoughts, we kept walking, until we reached a Mage wearing a blue pointed hat.

“Welcome! Where would you like to go?”

“Could we possibly meet Lady Elcia?”

“You mean the owner, yes? Did you have an appointment?”

“No, not exactly, but, um, I’m the new Chamberlain appointed to the Helpion Duchy. I came to introduce myself.”

It’s a bit embarrassing to introduce myself like this.

The Mage looked me up and down, visibly surprised.

“You’re the legendary Sage who drove away the Sandworm with nothing but your overwhelming presence?!”

What’s all this about?!

The Mage’s voice was so loud that everyone nearby turned to stare at me.

I felt like an elf who’d just descended on a human village.

People started murmuring, and I could hear words like ‘Sage,’ ‘Sandworm,’ ‘dung,’ ‘Inn,’ and ‘devastation’ mixed in their conversations.

“Did you do something dirty at the Inn, brother?”

“Shut up, I didn’t! Look…”

I had to do something to recover my image.

As I hurriedly tried to call the Mage back, he bolted in a panic, pulling out a crystal orb and fleeing.

Wait, hold on, what did I even do wrong?!

The whispers around me grew even louder.

Just who went around spreading all these rumors?

Sir Cain? Or maybe Jamie? Could it be Yan?

As I stood mortified in the middle of the marketplace, the Mage who’d run away quickly sneaked back and whispered in my ear.

“The owner says to come up. Please head straight to the fifth floor.”

Then he dashed off again.

“…Let’s go.”

“Don’t walk too close to me. Keep your distance.”

Dodging people, Lone and I hurried onto the Magic Disk, but the Disk rose at its own slow pace, oblivious to our urgency.

Ahahaha.

Now I can understand how the items on display at the Auction House must feel.

By the time Lone and I were mentally exhausted, we arrived on the fifth floor.

There, as if the noisy scene just below had been a lie, a quiet and cozy home was laid out before us.

A small fireplace crackled softly, and the rug on the floor looked handmade—awkward, but inviting.

“Welcome. I’m Elcia, the owner of this Grocery Store.”

The tower’s owner, Lady Elcia, was an old woman with strikingly white hair.

Her face was marked by age spots and deep wrinkles, evidence of a long life, but her ‘old age’ carried an aura that made her seem almost untouchable.

She sat in a rocking chair with a blanket over her knees and a Book resting on top.

“I see you were reading.”

“When you get old, hobbies become limited to things like this. Still, I’ve been reading since I was young, so I don’t get bored.”

“Friedman. Good Magic theory.”

A gentle smile appeared on Lady Elcia’s face.

“So you really are a Sage—able to read Magic books?”

“I can’t use Mana, so I can’t cast Magic, but I do understand the theory. I’ve read quite a bit. I always liked how Friedman’s Magic Formula was so defiant and progressive.”

“Hoho. For an old woman like me, messages like that are a bit too extreme. Not that I dislike them, of course. Makes me want to cheer them on from afar.”

Maybe it was the similarity in interests.

I sensed a faint friendliness from Lady Elcia.

“Good. It’s been ages since I’ve met a young person I can really talk with. Guess I’m getting spoiled in my old age. So, what brings you here?”

“I’d like your help clearing up some rumors.”

Lady Elcia just gazed at me as if to say, ‘Go on.’

“I’ve opened a Trade Route between the Helpion Duchy and the Countdom of Apnai. The Duke’s family is planning to run the Merchant Guild along this new route starting next week. Naturally, that will change the market prices for all goods in the Helpion Duchy—for instance, Monster Byproducts.”

But Lady Elcia’s reaction was odd.

She showed no surprise at all, even though a Trade Route that hadn’t existed for decades was now open.

Even though the prices of all sorts of goods, not just Monster Byproducts, would change once the Merchant Guild started operating, she was completely unfazed.

Why so calm?

“So it’s about that, after all.”

“‘After all’—does that mean you already knew?”

Incredible.

Only those who’d gone with me that day even knew about this, it was a top secret.

Since that day, Charles and his group hadn’t set foot in the Helpion Duchy.

I’d also sworn Cain, Yan, and Jamie to secrecy.

How did word get out like this?

Does she eavesdrop on the whole Duchy using her 6th Circle Magic?

Maybe she read my confusion.

Lady Elcia smiled faintly.

“I was ready for it ever since my daughter started talking about Trade Routes and such. So you were really preparing something like that.”

“Your daughter?”

“Oh my, I guess I didn’t even introduce her. My daughter’s name is Jamie.”

What the—!

Lady Elcia is that ill-tempered Mage’s mother? They don’t match at all!

Lady Elcia seems calm and wise, with the air of a true master.

But her daughter…

Well, better not say more.

“I heard there was some trouble with Grizzly during the process of making that Trade Route. Sounds like all sorts of things will happen. Heh. Do as you wish. My disciples and employees, as well as myself, won’t interfere in what you do, Sage.”

With that, Lady Elcia opened her Book again.

“Well, I’d like to read a bit more, unless there’s anything else?”

“Ah, no, we’ll be going.”

A polite invitation to leave.

Lone and I, still a bit dazed, rode the Disk back down and exited onto the street.

Is it really okay for things to go this easily?

Wait, hold on.

Jamie is Lady Elcia’s daughter?

So all those rumors about me being some legendary Sage or a tyrant—were they all started by Jamie?!

Damn it, I won’t let her off next time I see her!

The next day.

We visited Lady Elcia’s Magic Tower early in the morning.

Her support was bold.

She gave us the entire central sector of the first floor of the Grocery Tower.

“Are you sure we can use all this?”

“Yeah. Guess the old hag’s finally gone crazy.”

She even assigned her own daughter to guide us.

Jamie looked at us with obvious displeasure, chewing on a twig she must have picked up somewhere.

“Haha. Then I’ll use the space gratefully.”

“The Tower’s matters are the old hag’s business, so I won’t interfere, but if you start selling anything filthy like last time, I’ll either kick you out or kill you on the spot.”

“Filthy? What do you mean?”

“Shut up. I still remember the feeling and the smell on my hands sometimes, you know.”

All I did was remove the Magic from a mana stone, it’s not like the solidified magma suddenly turned soft and crumbly or anything.

“Be honest. You’re the one who started all those rumors about me being a tyrant and legendary Sage, right, Jamie?”

“Huh? So there are rumors like that? First I’ve heard.”

“Thanks to you, everyone in town thinks I’m a complete weirdo!”

“Weirdo? Nah. A mysterious master. Isn’t that a good thing? The dumb sword guys will lose their minds.”

“So you admit it was you?”

“I wish I had someone to spread rumors for me. Come to think of it, it’s unfair—why are you only suspecting me? That Cain Knight seemed the talkative type too. What, you don’t like me?”

Ugh, what’s the point of talking to this girl?

As I shook my head, Jamie seemed a bit more cheerful.

“So what exactly are you planning to do here?”

What I’m planning?

To bring abnormal prices back to normal.

Price normalization.

“Lone.”

“I’m ready.”

Lone set up the massive signboard she’d prepared in front of the store.

It bore just a single line: [Merchant Guild. Monster Byproducts, herbs, weapons, potions, and all sorts of miscellaneous goods—we buy everything, at standard prices. Gordem’s F!A!I!R! P!U!R!C!H!A!S!E!]

“All of them?”

Reading the sign, Jamie looked at me in surprise.

Was the statement too bold?

But it was true.

Even after setting aside the cost for travel, I could spend about 8,500 silver.

If I invested all of it?

No matter how many luxury goods were piled up in the Helpion Duchy, it should be manageable for a day or two.

Now, it’s time to set the stage.

Of all the people I know in this territory, there’s only one I can really trust.

Sir Cain, once a Roving Knight.

As our eyes met, Cain awkwardly stepped forward and opened his mouth.

“Um, Sage. This ‘standard price purchase’—what does it mean?”

Ugh, what kind of cringe-worthy acting is this?

What do you mean, ‘what does it mean?’ You bit your tongue, didn’t you?!

Reading straight from a textbook?! You’re totally giving yourself away as the shill here.

Jamie was barely suppressing her laughter, covering her mouth with her hand.

Lone looked annoyed for a moment, but then quickly changed her expression and jumped forward.

“Welcome! Are you here to sell something?”

“Uh, yes, that’s, um…”

“Oh, these are Sylvinas Tea Leaves!”

Lone energetically snatched the pouch Cain was fumbling with and pulled out the Sylvinas leaves.

Her voice rang out so loud and clear that everyone nearby began to pay attention.

“Sylvinas Tea Leaves are rare and elegant—the kind of luxury item every cultured noble wants to try at least once!”

“The, um, price is…”

“Don’t worry! We always purchase at the standard price! According to the Five Great Trade Groups of the Empire, the average price for Sylvinas is 1 gold! After deducting transport and storage fees, we’ll pay 30%—that’s 300 silver! Sound good, customer?”

As Lone’s voice echoed, rhythmic and lively, the market’s noise faded away.

The cogs we’d prepared, clumsy as they were, began to turn into place.

The great wheel at the center.

With Lone, Cain, and the Sylvinas Tea Leaves spinning around it, one after another.

And when all the gears were finally in position—

Hiccup.

A sudden hiccup signaled that the great flow had begun to turn.