Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 442: A Long-Awaited Reunion with a Merchant
While the formal procedures for Haku’s adoption were underway, Tauro began arranging visits to thank the people who had sent gifts for his unveiling.
The Royal Capital was consumed by talk of the diplomatic delegation from the allied Kingdom of Luwan. Welcome banquets and related events were held almost every day, leaving many of the people Tauro wished to meet too busy to receive him.
Prince Fleue and the Prime Minister were among the busiest, so Tauro decided not to request appointments with them until the situation calmed.
“I see! Then I unexpectedly became the first person you managed to visit! Wa ha ha!”
The man laughing heartily across from Tauro was Mardai Garfish, head of the Garfish Trading Company.
Their relationship had always benefited both sides, but Mardai felt far more indebted to Tauro than the boy realized.
The Garfish Trading Company had grown into an enterprise with considerable influence throughout the kingdom. Magic tools developed by Tauro—including magic lanterns and rain gear—were no longer sold only in the Royal Capital, but across the country.
“It’s been a while, Mardai. I withdrew only a portion of my accumulated earnings from the branch in Caxart, and even that was an astonishing amount.”
“I received the report. Because you possess [Magic Storage], carrying a large sum doesn’t inconvenience you, which makes it easy to forget what a burden such a withdrawal places on a branch. In the future, please notify the staff beforehand.”
Mardai spoke as frankly as ever.
The name Giro Sugar was now famous throughout the Royal Capital as both the carver of special-edition Reversi sets and an extraordinary inventor.
Fortunately, Tauro had never publicly identified himself as Giro Sugar, so almost no one knew the craftsman’s true identity. Apart from Mardai, the only likely exceptions were the Prime Minister, who had helped establish the persona, and Prince Fleue.
“I came today to thank you for the unveiling gift. The cloak is wonderful. But how did you acquire the Transforming Skalen Gecko Leather Cloak? I know its maker personally, and he isn’t widely known. I imagined obtaining one would be extremely difficult.”
“You know the craftsman?” Mardai exclaimed. “I acquired that cloak entirely by chance. Not long ago, news reached the Royal Capital that the leader of the Assassins’ Guild had been captured. I purchased it from a group of mysterious adventurers who had completed the assignment of escorting the prisoner here.”
Tauro immediately understood.
The dragonfolk. One of them must have parted with equipment made by Rangas after the mission.
“That explains it. For a moment, I thought your company had expanded all the way into the remote northern region.”
“The maker does appear to be from the north. We have branches only in the larger cities there, but if you tell me where his settlement is located, I’d gladly consider opening another.”
Mardai was an excellent judge of merchandise and clearly valued the cloak’s quality. Where he saw exceptional craftsmanship, he naturally also saw commercial potential.
“Opening a branch there would be difficult. The settlement can’t be reached by ordinary means.”
Tauro smiled awkwardly.
“Do you mean the legendary unexplored settlement said to be inhabited by dragonfolk somewhere within the kingdom? In that case, reaching it’d indeed be nearly impossible for outsiders. Wa ha ha!”
Mardai didn’t ask how Tauro himself had reached the place.
“That’s the one. To be honest, even we’d have great difficulty traveling there without special means.”
The two laughed together.
“By the way,” Mardai continued, “have you heard the latest rumors about the Saint?”
As one of the kingdom’s most prominent merchants, he was likely to possess useful information.
“We only recently arrived in the Royal Capital, so I know very little. Have you heard anything that affects trade?”
“Several things. It appears the Kingdom of Luwan intends to use the Saint’s Blessing as the foundation for new diplomatic relationships.”
“Her Blessing?”
“According to legend, the Blessing is a power available only to a Saint. When bestowed upon the land, it guarantees abundant harvests for several years. Many countries and regions are suffering from failed crops and famine, so any power capable of enriching farmland would be coveted.”
Mardai lowered his voice slightly before continuing.
“Of course, most of what’s known comes from legend and folklore. Even so, Luwan also appears to be encouraging a quasi-religious movement centered on the Saint. In simple terms, the kingdom intends to conduct very profitable diplomacy and trade using her influence.”
If Mardai’s information was correct, merchants who quickly secured contracts in lands receiving the Blessing could count on several years of stable harvests and reliable profit. The opportunity would naturally attract intense commercial interest.
Ragune, standing behind Tauro, looked as though she wanted to comment but restrained herself. Zion listened with shining eyes, while Ankh appeared wholly uninterested.
“If the Blessing is genuine, every nation will compete to gain Luwan’s favor,” Tauro said.
“Precisely. The ambassadors of numerous countries stationed here are now waiting eagerly for the Prime Minister’s appraisal result.”
“When will the appraisal take place?”
“Very soon, according to rumor. Luwan must already have conducted its own examinations, so once our Prime Minister confirms the result, they’ll probably announce it widely.”
“Then Prince Fleue and the Prime Minister may remain too busy for me to meet them.”
After hearing Mardai’s explanation, Tauro feared that his visit might end without seeing either of them.
“Prince Fleue wishes to meet you as well,” Mardai assured him. “A few days ago, I happened to encounter him while our company was assisting with preparations for the Luwan delegation. He told me, ‘When Tauro arrives in the Royal Capital, inform me immediately.’”
Really?
Tauro felt relieved. Perhaps his friend would make time for him after all.