Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 25: A Lucrative Proposition
Recently, the city of Saisi had begun to bustle with activity.
News that mithril ore could be mined within the territory had spread across the country, drawing people to the city.
More merchants arrived to conduct business around the discovery.
Where people gathered, goods began to move.
Since all those transactions were taxed, money poured into the lord’s coffers.
For the city and Viscount Saisi, prosperity had truly arrived.
While the lord wore a beaming smile, Leo, the manager of the Adventurers’ Guild’s Saisi branch, looked exceedingly displeased.
“It’s good that adventurers are coming from other regions, but the quality is terrible. They cause trouble with the locals, and the guild’s reputation suffers. Our best adventurers at present are the C- rank Five Arrows and the hastily assembled C-rank Blue Guardian, but neither team is anywhere near Mauve’s Silver Sword.”
Tauro had been listening to Leo grumble for some time.
They were supposed to be discussing plans to expand the Reversi production network, but once Leo started complaining, he couldn’t stop.
“Public safety throughout the territory is deteriorating. We’ve asked the lord to increase the number of territorial soldiers, but the request has gone nowhere. Instead, the guild keeps getting dragged into subjugating thieves and bandits and helping to crack down on crime.”
Leo’s complaints continued without end.
“Well, Yasuragi-tei’s sales remain strong, and the commissions from Reversi are bringing in money too…”
At last, the conversation seemed to be returning to its original subject.
“A merchant told me that a large order may be coming from the royal capital.”
“Oh, right. They also want ten of the limited-edition boards you make.”
“Ten!? I suppose the royal capital really is different.”
The standard price of a limited-edition board was eight gold coins.
Considering the distance to the capital, labor, and other expenses, each board would cost at least ten gold coins by the time it arrived. Tauro wondered whether buyers would really pay that much.
“The trading company plans to sell them for fifteen gold coins each. Six have already been reserved.”
They’re charging almost double! Tauro was astonished by the merchant’s business instincts.
Perhaps sensing his reaction, Leo added an explanation.
“Prices are high in the royal capital. I’ve visited several times, and wealthy people richer than this city’s lord are everywhere. Apparently, some buyers would actually be dissatisfied if an item like this were cheap.”
“So it serves as a kind of status symbol?”
“Probably. Also, I’d like you to accompany the caravan.”
“What? What did you just say?”
Certain that he must have misheard, Tauro asked Leo to repeat himself.
“They want someone to teach them how to play Reversi. I’d like you to spend about a month in the royal capital. I’ve told them you’re the inventor’s foremost disciple.”
“The rules are simple—they don’t need an instructor! Besides, I’m only ten years old!”
It was a ridiculous thing for Tauro to point out himself, but he couldn’t remain silent.
“They insist, so what else can we do? We can’t track down Mauve after he’s left the city and send him. Besides, he isn’t really the inventor.”
Nothing Leo said was wrong, but the proposal would make Tauro stand out far too much.
“People say that what happens on a journey can be left behind when you return. No one in the capital knows you, and seeing it while you’re young wouldn’t be a bad experience.”
Leo’s plausible argument was gradually winning Tauro over when he added something wholly unexpected.
“Oh, and you’re being promoted to E rank today. Congratulations.”
“What? Isn’t this awfully sudden?”
“The E-rank adventurers arriving from elsewhere are worse than you. We have no choice but to promote you to restore some balance.”
The rather dubious reason left Tauro with equally mixed feelings.
I’m pretty sure that Tauro is up to being E-rank anyways despite his age and inexperience.