Chapter 333 The Familiar Merchant ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The second phase of “Project Harvest”-the interview. The final candidate was Sera of the Merchant Guild Twilight¹. I had a faint inkling, but seeing her here-earnestness personified-left me in a state of genuine shock.
I felt strangely detached, as if I were a mere spectator. I was happy to see her, of course, but a bitter aftertaste lingered. It likely had everything to do with the dire straits I’d heard the Merchant Guild Twilight was facing.
”Alright then, Ms. Sera, I have several questions for you,” Lily said. “Master is already familiar with your name and occupation, so let’s start with your motive for applying.”
Leaving my muddled thoughts behind, the interview began with my beloved slave leading the questioning. Muse, the maid serving Her Majesty the Queen and my fellow interviewer, picked up her pen while scanning a copy of the questionnaire.
I didn’t even want to look at the notes. I just waited for Sera to speak. Because I could already guess what she was going to say, a part of me didn’t want to hear it. That was when I realized I was actually taking this seriously.
”My motive… well… to put it simply, I want to save the Merchant Guild Twilight,” Sera said, her voice trembling. “They’re in a critical situation, and I… I felt I had to do something.”
Sera spoke the words I’d expected, her expression dead serious. It was a line I never thought I’d hear from the girl I knew. I caught myself rubbing the bridge of my nose before turning a sharp gaze toward her, her figure bathed in the glow of the setting sun.
”Does Badatt know you’re here?” I asked.
”No,” Sera replied. “I applied without telling the Manager. He’s out there right now, running himself ragged trying to find a way to fix things.”
”I thought so,” I said. “He’s not the kind of man who’d try to save his own skin by selling you off like a daughter. Suppose you pass. Suppose I give the Merchant Guild Twilight the aid they need. How exactly do you plan on explaining that to him?”
”T-That’s…” Sera stammered.
My voice came out colder than intended, my disappointment bleeding through. She had to have known this already. But as a fellow merchant, as a man who viewed her like family, and as someone who knew her well, I couldn’t just let it slide.
A heavy, suffocating silence filled the room, broken only by the sound of a sob. I’d gone too far. I scrambled to my feet, nearly tripping over the desk as I rushed to her side.
”I… hic…” Sera sobbed.
”Wait, look-! I didn’t mean to… well, I can’t say I wasn’t blaming you, but I didn’t mean to make you cry!” I shouted.
I knelt down, looking up at Sera from beside her chair. I could feel the burning glares from Lily and Muse-Nice going, you made her cry-stabbing into the back of my head. Cold sweat pricked my skin. Suddenly, Sera bolted upright. Without even looking at me, she balled her fists and screamed.
”I know that! If I could have solved this as a merchant, I would have!” Sera screamed. “If I could have opened a new trade route, or found some amazing new product, or closed a massive deal… do you think I wouldn’t have preferred that?”
”I know,” I muttered.
”But the reality is I’m still just a novice! I’ve only just started handling regular clients! I’m not strong enough to help the Manager or the others… and I can’t… I can’t stand on equal footing with you, Kento!”
As the tears streamed down her face, I couldn’t bring myself to say, “That’s not true.” I couldn’t even reach out to wipe them away or steady her trembling shoulders. To do so would have been an insult to her pride.
So, what was I supposed to say? I thought I’d gotten better at handling women’s moods, but she didn’t need shallow, flippant comfort. While I stood there hesitating, Sera rounded on me, her eyes locked onto mine.
”And besides, Kento, this is all your fault anyway!” Sera yelled.
”Wait, mine?” I asked.
”Yes! Starting a recruitment drive like this, at a time like this! You’re making it look like I’m only getting close to you for the money!”
From an outsider’s perspective, that was exactly what it looked like. That was why I’d felt so conflicted. I knew it wasn’t what she truly wanted, but still…
”And another thing! Why can’t you just run a normal, decent magic circuit² shop?” Sera demanded.
”Huh?”
”Out of nowhere, you start living with all these beautiful slaves! Then you start selling those… those perverted magic circuits! You make a killing, turn into a noble overnight, and surround yourself with women… and before I know it, you’re about to be a father of five!? What is wrong with you?”
”Uh, well… sorry?” I muttered.
I was being blasted by a storm of confusing rage, and all I could do was apologize without knowing why. I’d just been working hard and things ended up this way-it wasn’t like I had a roadmap for it.
I had a flash of déjà vu, remembering a certain receptionist chewing me out for similar reasons earlier today. Right. So that’s how people see it, I guess.
”What about my feelings?” Sera cried. “I used to daydream about resigning from the Guild, using my experience to support my husband, and the two of us running a quiet little shop together… What am I supposed to do with that now?”
”I-look, even if you tell me that, I don’t know what to-
”I mean, why do you have to be so suggestive!? You call me by my name so casually! You don’t get mad when I mess up! You recommend those lewd magic circuits to me and then look all happy when I get embarrassed! You act like a kid but then you’re such a man! You seem like a total airhead and then you’re suddenly reliable! You look like a lost cause but you actually have common sense! And then… then you have that smile… that surprisingly kind smile… What am I supposed to do with that?”
I stood there, speechless. I realized Sera was quite the romantic, but I couldn’t tell if I was being hit on or scolded. I tried to gather my wits and stand up, only for her to start thumping her fists against my chest.
”Ugh! Seriously! URRGH!” Sera cried, her fists landing with a rhythmic thud-thud-thud.
”Ow, ow, ow! That actually hurts! Hey! Shouldn’t you hold back a little?”
She was fuming. When I protested, the strength of her attacks weakened slightly, but she didn’t seem intent on stopping. I raised my hands in a gesture of surrender and just took it. I looked back at Lily and Muse for help, but they were just watching with deadpan expressions. Oh look, the lovebirds are at it again, their eyes said.
Eventually, she seemed to tire herself out. The rain of fists slowed, and she slumped forward, burying her face against my chest. She didn’t say a word, just ground her forehead into me.
I figured if I didn’t hug her now, I couldn’t call myself a man. But as I reached around to hold her, she swiped my hands away. Confused again, I looked back to see Lily and Muse standing up to leave.
”Well, well. Good work, Lily,” Muse said. “It seems our biggest concern has been cleared up.”
”Indeed. Mission complete,” Lily replied. “A merchant’s pride, a maiden’s heart, and a Master who-despite clearly being interested-won’t make a move unless he has a ‘reason.’ This was an incredibly tedious role to play.”
Don’t summarize the situation so accurately just to insult me. It hurts. I mean, come on, I’ve already got my hands full with girls everywhere; how am I supposed to have the nerve to hit on her too?
”For the record, the practical exam venue is available starting today,” Muse added. “Also, if you’d like dinner, just inform the staff.”
”I’ll be collecting a reward for this later, so keep that in mind,” Lily said.
With those parting shots, Muse and Lily slipped out of the room. Sera, who’d surely heard them but hadn’t reacted, tugged on my sleeve the moment the door clicked shut. I took that as my cue to hug her.
This time she didn’t push me away. We stayed like that for a while, until the sun had finally dipped below the horizon. Then, from the depths of my arms, Sera spoke in a muffled voice.
”You have to take responsibility,” Sera whispered.
”Eh? Er… for what?”
”For making a mess of a girl’s heart. And for all the harassment… and for being so kind to me all the time. I’m… I’m not as beautiful as Lily and the others, and I don’t think my body is very interesting… but I’ll work hard. I promise.”
”Sera, you’re cute. Really,” I said.
”…See?! That! That right there is the problem!”
—
Summary:
Sera, a familiar merchant, applies for Kento’s project out of desperation to save her struggling guild. After a harsh questioning by Kento, she breaks down emotionally, revealing her long-standing crush and frustration with his lifestyle. The chapter ends with an intimate moment where Sera asks Kento to take responsibility for her feelings.
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Trivia:
- Sera applied secretly without her manager Badatt’s permission.
- Kento is about to become a father to five children from his various partners.
- The ‘Project Harvest’ interview was partially a setup by Lily and Muse to resolve the tension between Kento and Sera.
- Sera previously daydreamed about a simple life running a shop with Kento.
- Kento has already been confronted by a receptionist for similar lifestyle choices today
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Character Insight:
Sera shows significant growth by finally venting her pent-up frustrations and admitting her feelings, moving past her purely professional facade. Kento struggles with his ‘harem’ lifestyle and the guilt of how his success impacts those he cares about, showing a rare moment of hesitation and empathy.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘pitter-patter’ fist-thumping is a classic anime/manga trope (pokapoka) signifying a mix of affection and frustration.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Sera – A young, earnest salesperson from the Tasogare Merchant Guild, Kento’s supplier. She is characterized by her braided brown hair, large round glasses, and freckles. She’s serious about her job and easily flustered, especially by Kento’s adult goods business. Looks like Onodera from certain series.
• Lily – the sl*ve and primary experiment subject for the magic shop, ‘Harvest.’ She has striking pink hair, Blue eyes, medium breasts, which the Protagonist associates with being ‘wanton’. She has a working knowledge of magic, which she kept hidden from the slave trader.
• Muse – Cecile’s trusted attendant and chief maid, Muse handles sensitive, discreet tasks like espionage and product acquisition. Have sharp, black eyes, wearing maid uniform, and have expressionless face.
• Badatt – The 7th-generation manager of the long-running Tasogare Merchant Guild. Despite his fat, oily, ugly bastard, have multiple rings appearance, he is a competent and respected manager who listens to his employees. He is a man of ‘good sense’ but is overwhelmed by the explicit nature of Kento’s products and the ensuing chaos.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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