After spending some time instilling a negative impression of Hailey-nim’s Fortrek T, Lot the bearded carriage salesman returned to his station.
But rather than dampening my interest, my fondness for Hailey-nim’s carriage only grew.
‘To think I’d see an assembly line method in this world…’
Dividing labor to manufacture a vehicle step-by-step along an assembly line is a familiar method on Earth.
Since the 21st century, this method has experienced tremendous development thanks to advances in industrial technology and Artificial Intelligence.
Days are 24 hours long, a year is 365 days, and even units like kilometer and mile are almost the same.
Yet fundamentally, this world’s environment is different from Earth’s.
It’s closer to the fantasy worlds we know.
A world set in the Middle Ages. A Royal Government at its center. Knights and Mages, and even the Demon race exist here.
And if I had to name the biggest difference from Earth, it would be the level of scientific civilization.
The path of the Industrial Revolution and technological advancement is different here—steam engines, internal combustion engines, and similar machinery-related technologies are hard to find.
So does that make this civilization inferior to Earth’s? The answer isn’t so simple.
Much of what science would do is instead handled by Magic. They possess means of travel even faster than aircraft, and wield magic as powerful as modern missiles.
If the people of this world were to be reincarnated on Earth, they’d be shocked by the ultra-advanced scientific civilization. But just as I, coming from Earth, am amazed by the magic and fantasy here… I guess it’s a mutual exchange of astonishment.
When I first considered Startup items in this world, I thought about founding a technology-based Startup, but quickly realized it wouldn’t be easy.
There are too many limitations to developing and growing a business by creating technological machines.
Just as we lack Magic, this world is missing the scientific component.
“No matter how promising a business is on Earth, if you just copy it over here, you’re bound to fail…”
Every world has its own way of doing business.
Based on that, rather than struggle to make an automobile with knowledge unknown here, it seemed right to come up with a Startup item I could work on now—through carriages.
“In that sense, Hailey-nim’s carriage has entered a stage of evolution above all others…”
After parting ways with Lot the bearded salesman, I wandered the large carriage showroom for a long time.
Most were Grade 5 Sangdan, so I didn’t pay them much mind.
“This is a place that only serves Nobles. If you want to buy a Sangdan carriage, please head that way.”
“Sir, do you have the budget? Which house are you from?”
“Looking is fine, but test-riding… that’s a bit much…”
“The expensive prices are one thing, but too many of these salespeople lack basic sales skills…”
Even after a long search, I couldn’t find a carriage better than Hailey-nim’s.
“Leader, you’ve looked around quite a bit—have you decided?”
Slot accompanied me as I left the spacious carriage exhibition hall.
Even though this was a Grade 5 Sangdan, other carriage salespeople were probably being polite because of Slot’s presence.
During the search, Slot quietly watched over me from behind.
“This must be the last one…”
For the final look, I checked out a carriage with a lavish exterior.
It was over 30 gold, so I’d already given up on it in my heart.
“Leader, what’s happening over there?”
At Slot’s words, I turned to look at one corner of the exhibition hall.
In one corner, people were lined up in a long row.
Some were showing off, trying to appeal to someone, while others sat on the floor in despair, holding their heads.
I asked a salesperson.
“Thank you for showing me these fine carriages. I’ll think a bit more before deciding. But, what are all those people doing over there?”
I didn’t count precisely, but it looked like well over a hundred.
All these people had one thing in common: their faces were anything but bright.
“They’re coachmen. Coachmen are usually hired along with a carriage, so a section of this showroom is set aside for coachman hiring. Here in Grunvalt, the largest city in the area, most carriage purchases take place, so the number of coachmen waiting in this showroom is quite high.”
Where there are carriages, there are coachmen. Makes sense.
“But why do they all look so downcast?”
The salesperson glanced at them briefly, then continued.
“Unfortunately, there are more coachmen than jobs lately, so many of them have yet to find work. Usually, they’re employed by Nobles or Sangdan, but when their contracts end, they come back here. Especially if they worked for Nobles—they can be fired for even the slightest mistake or if they simply displease their employer. It wasn’t always like this, but lately, as the number of coachmen increased, more Nobles have been treating them poorly.”
“These days, even a small mistake gets them fired, so they’re all on edge. Coachmen are easily replaced, after all. Some get beaten, and overall, it’s a harsh environment. Most of those here have returned after being fired, so their expressions are bound to be gloomy as they worry about finding work again. Frankly, coachmen are a concern for us as well. Their numbers are growing, but the number of available positions isn’t.”
“I see.”
“If their treatment is so bad, why not look for another job?”
“Most other jobs are much the same. Some have switched and come back here. Even in a big city, working is always tough. Compared to other occupations, coachman is still considered decent.”
From afar, I saw someone recruiting a coachman, strutting over with a servant in tow.
After examining several people, he picked one, beckoned with a finger to follow.
The chosen man bowed his head, then followed eagerly behind with quick steps.
“That guy—he’s been back for over a month, but finally got picked. Hope he lasts longer this time.”
Then, with a hint of pity, he pointed at another coachman.
This one sat on the ground, clutching his face in despair.
“That coachman, ten days ago, angered a Noble and was beaten, then thrown out. It’s been some time, but his face still looks terrible. Yet he’s still out here, hoping for another employer.”
The salesperson gestured toward him, and his face was so badly bruised, it was hard to recognize who he was.
To beat a person that badly… At that level, it would be tough to get hired again.
Wait—now that I look closely, he seems familiar?
No way…
“Meat?”
The young man, who had been bowing his head in misery, looked up.
His face was swollen from the beating, so I didn’t recognize him at first, but it was definitely Meat.
“Pizza?”
It really was Meat. Though he’s older than me, he was my close companion in the Communal Living Area.
“Yeah, it’s me, idiot. I’m not Pizza anymore, I changed my name to William Steven. From now on, just call me William.”
“Wow, how long has it been? Good to see you. If you’re here, you must’ve left the village too. I thought you’d stick it out to the bitter end…”
“Well, I did leave on my own… but a lot happened…”
“William Steven? Why’d you change from Pizza, such a good name? I had a hard time with mine too at first. My first job was at a Cafeteria that sold Meat Pie. Every time someone ordered a Meat Pie, I’d get startled.”
Seeing Meat, I was genuinely happy.
How many years had it been?
He was someone I’d definitely wanted to meet again in Grunvalt.
Meat was one of the smartest in our group.
He was a year older, often acting as the leader, always confident he’d succeed in the big city.
His cheerful nature won him many friends, and he had a knack for bending Communal Living Area rules to our advantage.
‘To think that guy would end up here, his face battered like this…’
“Haha! My face is a mess, isn’t it? Of all times, to meet you now… I wanted to look cooler for this.”
Even after such a beating, he could still joke around. I felt a bit relieved. Noticing Slot behind me, he gave a respectful greeting.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Meat. I’m the older brother of this hopeless Pi—no, William. Please take care of me.”
Meat bowed his head, greeting Slot with formality.
“Likewise, pleased to meet you.”
Slot smiled and accepted the greeting.
“Who are you calling older brother? I’m taller than you now.”
Even though it had been ages, it felt like we’d met just yesterday.
Meat acted with such deference to Slot, as if Slot were a Noble.
“Big city manners really are different…”
“Anyway, this is great. To think you’re working for such a good person now. I thought you’d never leave the village. I was planning to come get you within three years, whether you were a beggar or a tramp…”
What did everyone think of me… sigh.
Slot waved his hands at that.
“No, I’m not a Noble… well, not exactly… Anyway, what do you mean ‘serve’? This person is the Merchant of our Sangdan. I’m employed by William-nim.”
“Eh?”
Meat’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Scene Change
“Haha. You’re joking, right?”
Meat glanced between Slot and me, a bit awkwardly.
He didn’t seem to believe I was the Merchant of the Unicorn Company.
“It’s true. I haven’t been employed long, though…”
“Yeah, I really am the Merchant. I just founded a Grade 5 Unicorn Company.”
“Now that you mention it, that badge… Only Sangdan members get those.”
Meat’s jaw dropped. After thinking for a moment, he snapped his fingers.
“Ah! I get it. This is that famous Hidden Play, isn’t it? It’s all the rage in big cities, right? That’s what this is?”
He spoke as if he’d just solved a riddle, despite his swollen face.
“Hidden Play?”
“Surprised by my deduction? Pretending not to know what Hidden Play is, huh. Hidden Play is when people stage a play to trick others. Spectators pay to enter a building, peeking through small holes as actors perform. Sometimes an actress calling for help suddenly turns into a burly man, or a charming lady asks for an outrageous favor. When the audience is bewildered, someone appears and declares, ‘It was a Hidden Play!’ That’s it. Is that what this is? Surprising an old friend? That sort of thing?”
So they have Hidden Camera here too… But that’s not it. Where do I even start explaining…