New chapter of May Our Village be Happy is out (2/2 chapters)

Young Traveling Merchant (2)

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“First of all, I would like you to take a look at this.” (Mika)

Having said that, Mika turned to look behind him. Dimitri, upon meeting Mika’s gaze, gave a nod, rose to his feet, and left the room.

Before long he returned, carrying part of the spoils of war, an assortment of equipment. The weapons and armor, bound tightly together with rope, were heavy enough that even Dimitri, who was a stalwart man of great strength, struggled to lift and carry them.

“You have my thanks for your effort, Dimitri. I shall take care of the rest.” (Mika)

When Mika spoke, Dimitri set the spoils down upon the floor. Mika then extended his right hand toward them, whereupon light gathered within his palm. The rope that bound the spoils rose into the air, and as though suspended by it, the weapons and armor floated as well. They drifted smoothly through the air until they came to rest beside the table.

“…I had heard from Marcel-san that Lord Valentine is a practitioner of magic, yet to witness it with my own eyes like this. What a wondrous sight indeed. This is the first time I have ever seen telekinetic magic.” (Ernest)

As Ernest spoke in half-dumbfounded awe, his eyes followed the sight of dozens of kilograms of weapons and armor floating in the air.

To Mika, this was precisely the reaction he had intended to elicit. By manipulating the heavy burden, which even the muscular Dimitri had struggled to carry, with ostentatious use of magic, he sought to impress upon Ernest that he was no ordinary man, but a wielder of power.

“Mika-sama’s magical power is by no means limited to such feats. When in battle, he wields logs several meters long as though they were nothing.” (Marcel)

“L-Logs, you say? Remarkable indeed… If the lord himself is such a skilled wielder of magic, then surely the people of this domain may live in peace and security.” (Ernest)

“Indeed. For us, Mika-sama’s becoming our lord is a blessing beyond compare.” (Marcel)

While Marcel and Ernest exchanged words, Mika lowered the floating spoils beside the table. He then began to explain to Ernest both the circumstances under which these items had been obtained, as well as the details of how he himself had drifted into this village.

“The transaction I wish to request of you is the conversion of these spoils into coin. I have but newly left my homeland and arrived here, and only just assumed the role of lord. I possess no connections with merchants in this region. Moreover, the conversion of weapons and armor into coin is a transaction of great value, and thus cannot be entrusted to just any merchant. Upon consulting Marcel, I was told that you are the most trustworthy merchant for such a task.” (Mika)

“My, my… Marcel-san, I am grateful for your words.” (Ernest)

“Not at all. Ernest-san has ever been kind and helpful to us.” (Marcel)

Marcel replied with a gentle smile. Ernest, it was said, had not only dealt with the former lordly house, but also undertaken less profitable dealings with the villagers themselves. He treated even the impoverished villagers of the small settlement, Marcel included, with courtesy, and sold them everyday goods, produced in the cities, at prices lower than those of other traveling merchants. It was for this reason that Marcel considered him trustworthy.

“What I have brought here amounts to perhaps one-third of the total spoils. I thought it best not to burden you all at once with an abundance of high-priced goods, and so I wish first to entrust you with converting only a portion into coin. Ultimately, however, I intend to entrust you with all of it. Naturally, you will be paid an appropriate commission out of the proceeds.” (Mika)

By subtly indicating that Ernest would be given the remainder of the spoils should he prove capable of converting this first portion at a fair price, Mika kindled the man’s ambition. Ernest’s gaze moved between Mika’s face and the spoils, and within his eyes there appeared a glint of desire.

Iron weapons and armor commanded a high price. A single well-made sword or suit of mail cost several gold coins. Even the portion Mika displayed could be sold for perhaps ten gold coins. Twice that amount remained, and if the entirety were disposed of, the resulting commission would amount to a considerable sum, a fortune for a young merchant such as Ernest, who eked out his trade in small villages.

A man like Ernest could not possibly lack the ambition to rise higher. His reputation for dealing earnestly with every customer was likely his own strategy for long-term success. A large-scale transaction involving costly arms was for him a chance at advancement, which explained his gleaming eyes.

Having baited him thus with the spoils, Mika rejoiced inwardly at the success of his maneuver.

“What say you? Would you be able to accept such a task?” (Mika)

“…Yes, I would be honored to take it on. In Eltopol, where I keep my base, there are large merchant houses dealing with the great lords and the wealthy, and even trading with distant regions. Such houses surely have channels for arms such as these and should purchase them at a fair price.” (Ernest)

Eltopol, a place where Mika knew from Marcel, was the capital of the Yutirainen territory to the east. As the central city of the economic sphere of this region, it had many non-farming inhabitants, including merchants, craftsmen, and soldiers in the service of Yutirainen Household.

“In that case, I should like to make a formal request. For now, if you could sell the spoils here, then from the proceeds I would take seven gold coins, and the remainder shall be yours as commission. What do you think?” (Mika)

Since Mika had no means of verifying how much Ernest truly received upon selling the goods in Eltopol, he chose instead to propose a fixed division. Estimating the value of the spoils at around ten gold coins, he claimed roughly seventy percent as his own share, leaving Ernest to gain more the better he bargained in the city.

After a time spent silently appraising the items, Ernest turned to Mika and nodded.

“As you wish. I gladly accept those terms.” (Ernest)

“Thank you. I am truly relieved that you are willing to undertake this matter.” (Mika)

Mika spoke with a look of relief, and indeed he felt it. This was the first time in either his present or former life that he had ever stood before a merchant and conducted a negotiation, and he was fortunate that it proceeded as planned.

“There is also one further matter, which I ask of you as a customer… there are certain items I wish to purchase.” (Mika)

With that preface, Mika listed what he desired which were a plow to be drawn by cattle or horses, an axe and shovel each twice the normal size in both length and thickness, and seeds of barley and clover. Ernest listened thoughtfully, then spoke.

“If I am not mistaken, there are no cattle or horses for farming in this village. I see… you intend to employ them through magic. The oversized axe and shovel are for the same purpose, I presume. And the barley seeds are for sowing next year upon farmland reclaimed by magic. But what of the clover seeds? This village has no herds warranting the making of pasture…” (Ernest)

“Haha, as expected of a merchant, you are quick of thought. Your conjectures are all correct. As for the clover, I have in mind a rather experimental use.” (Mika)

The shrewd traveling merchant could not divine the purpose of the clover, but Mika merely smiled vaguely. He intended to employ the three-field system, planting clover in fallow land. Clover not only restored the soil, but, when grazed upon by pigs or other livestock turned into the fields, would lead to their droppings enriching the soil further.

Yet this method was knowledge of Mika’s former world, and in this one, at least in the region of Dariander, it was unknown. Ernest could not possibly guess it.

“The barley and clover seeds will suffice if they arrive by the end of next winter. The axe and shovel, too, will be a special order, so I am in no hurry. The plow, however, I should like as soon as possible, no later than a month hence, so that I may be in time for autumn sowing. I am prepared to pay up to double the usual price.” (Mika)

“A month, is it… Understood. Around Eltopol, some farmlands already use cattle and plows. If I request a craftsman of the city to hasten the work, it should be possible. Double the price will not be necessary. At an increase of half again the usual rate, likely less than five gold coins, they will surely craft it. The other items too I shall procure as quickly as may be.” (Ernest)

“My thanks. I am grateful for your assistance.” (Mika)

“Please leave it to me. I too am thankful to be entrusted with such work.” (Ernest)

“Haha, excellent. Then, let us continue henceforth in a relationship of mutual profit.” (Mika)

As Mika said this and extended his hand, Ernest grasped it with a smile.

 

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