Chapter 11: The Opsidio Trading Company

The welcome party we held in the room turned out to be lively, especially with Stefana joining us.

Rugena, now able to see clearly thanks to her glasses, had been offered a drink in advance, and she’d suddenly declared, “I swear my loyalty!” Honestly, I thought that was a cheap display of allegiance.

Stefana hadn’t touched any alcohol, but she watched everyone with a bright, amused expression, clearly enjoying the scene.

Even Mom seemed to have overindulged after having a drink for the first time in a while; she was probably paying the price for it now.

With Mom knocked out by a hangover, I entrusted her care to Stefana and took Rugena with me to visit the material merchant once more, this time to buy core materials and other supplies.

“The drink yesterday… it was delicious,” Rugena said.

“When was the last time you had one?”

“Before I became a slave… so, about a month ago.”

She’d mentioned that not being able to drink was painful for her. Yesterday, she had drunk a fair amount with Mom, but perhaps it still wasn’t enough for her.

As we walked and chatted idly, Rugena began attracting stares.

The people didn’t know about her glasses, so she probably looked like she was wearing some strange, mask-like contraption. They would tilt their heads curiously at her before passing by.

“…Is it strange?” she asked quietly.

“It’s fine. They just aren’t used to seeing it,” I reassured her.

“Is that so…?”

Honestly, I couldn’t help but feel that the real reason they were staring was that the ponytail and round glasses combination was just… cute. Soon enough, I thought, glasses would become a recognized fashion statement.

―[Meluestat Opsidio Trading Company]―

When we arrived at the trading company, the clerks asked about the glasses, but I wasn’t about to explain. Using a childlike tone, I simply said, “We’re here to buy core materials and hardening agents,” and left it at that.

“Um, young master?”

“Yes?”

“What is she wearing?”

“Hmm… that’s… a secret.”

“Haha, I see—a secret, huh? If you tell me, I’ll give you a sweet!”

They clearly thought of her as just a child, likely because she acted like one. Well, I couldn’t blame them for that.

“Sir, sweets won’t buy anything here,” I replied, gesturing in an exasperated ‘good grief’ manner.

“Eh… oh—!”

The clerk looked confused at my words, but after glancing at Rugena, he straightened up and returned his attention to me.

“My apologies.”

“Sir, please give us ten core materials and one kilogram of hardening agent.”

“…Understood. I will bring them immediately.”

The reaction was odd, but as long as we could buy what we needed, that was fine.

“Here you go.”

“Um… who’s this?”

A different clerk, an older man with a mustache, had brought the items.

“I apologize sincerely for the earlier rudeness of my staff,” he said politely, even to a child. He must have been the supervisor of the previous clerk. I hoped this wouldn’t become troublesome… though maybe it was already too late.

“If possible, I would like to speak in our negotiation room.”

“I’m just here to buy things,” I said, hoping to finish quickly and leave.

“Please, it may be uncomfortable for you here,” he said, scanning the room.

Indeed, I could feel the eyes on us—staring, almost piercing. If we left now, I had no idea what might happen. If negotiations turned sour and force was used, Rugena alone might not be able to handle it.

Should I agree or refuse? I had knowledge, but not enough experience to make a confident judgment.

“…Alright,” I said finally.

“Thank you. Please, this way.”

In the end, all I could do was postpone the problem.

Inside the negotiation room, I had Rugena check for safety before stepping in. I sat on the sofa they indicated, with her standing behind me as a guard. When the clerk sat across and rang a bell, a maid appeared with tea and sweets.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Heisbert, proprietor of the Merlow branch of the Opusidio Trading Company.”

“…I’m Arthur,” I said, surprised. The store owner himself had appeared. This was absurd—this was not the role one would step into for a five-year-old child.

“First, as an apology, please accept these core materials and hardening agent,” he said.

“Really?”

“Yes, it is an apology. Please accept them.”

“Thank you.”

At least they were correcting their mistake. I had heard that one core material cost one copper coin per silver coin, and one kilogram of hardening agent cost five copper coins. As an apology, this was more than sufficient.

“Now, I would like to ask about her mask,” he said.

“I already told the other clerk, it’s a secret,” I said.

“Yes, I understand. But she is Rugena, correct?”

“…?! You know her?”

We hadn’t mentioned Rugena’s name since arriving, and I had instructed her not to speak much. So why did he know?

“Yes. In my line of business, I seek skilled Dwarf craftsmen. She had poor eyesight and was unusable, so I didn’t purchase her.”

I understood. The Rugena who had once been useless due to poor eyesight now stood before him as a guard—wearing glasses that covered her eyes. Even if they were merely glass, the fact that they weren’t ordinary was clear. With silver frames and glass lenses, the materials were obvious; soon, someone would try to copy them.

Should I sell the information about the glasses?

No—too soon to decide. For now, I would give just enough to gauge their intentions.

“Rugena, show him,” I said.

“…Understood,” she replied, her expression briefly darkening as she handed over the glasses. These were makeshift, not foldable—just functional for seeing.

He examined the lenses and frame carefully, then returned them to her, apparently satisfied.

“Quite an interesting item,” he said.

“See? Good, isn’t it?”

“Yes. So, where can this be obtained?”

Ah, he wanted the source. But since I had made them myself, they weren’t for sale anywhere. Telling him I made them would likely be met with disbelief—or worse, dangerous belief.

“They aren’t sold in any store,” I said.

“Then how did you obtain them?”

Truth, lie, or silence… what was the right answer?

“Someone made them for Rugena,” I said.

“Someone? Could you introduce me to them?”

Persistent. Surely he understood why I said “someone.”

“That person must remain a secret,” I replied, returning the discount card he had offered.

“However, if she alone has something that interests everyone…”

He was mixing threat with negotiation. He was correct: the people in the store earlier might be waiting outside. Giving him information felt dangerous. My only option was to flee, fully aware of the risk.

“All I can do is tell him that Mr. Heisbert wants to know,” I said.

“…I understand. Then, when can we negotiate?”

“I don’t decide that,” I said.

“Any time is fine. Please convey that we wish to discuss this immediately.”

Time bought. I needed to consult Mom and act fast.

“Understood. We’ll let you know. Now, we’ll take our leave.”

“Ah, wait! The road may be dangerous, so we can provide escorts.”

“No, we’ve come this far together, we’ll be fine,” I said.

“You never know what could happen. Always be cautious.”

Outside ambushes were risky, but surveillance was just as dangerous. If our inn was discovered, there’d be no moment’s respite. This was becoming a truly precarious situation.

“Alright, Rugena, let’s go home.”

“Yes, Master.”

Mom might scold me, but we had no choice—we had to leave.

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