Chapter 323 Social Studies Field Trip ②
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Whoa, it’s incredible! I feel like I could spend the whole day here and never get bored!” Roland said.
This was the social studies field trip ¹ for Prince Roland. Standing in a park northwest of the Royal Capital, he gazed out over the city streets and whispered those words. To a boy who had never once stepped foot outside the castle walls, this view was apparently a masterpiece of emotion. However…
”Hey now, don’t go getting satisfied just yet. It’ll be a problem if you’re done before we even start. Our real destination is right down there,” I said.
”R-Right! Of course! Oh, wow… just look at it!” Roland replied.
The Prince looked back at me, then back at the city, then back at me again-spinning around like a puppy constantly checking on his owner to express his pure, unadulterated joy. It was a bit irreverent of me to think that, but I couldn’t help it. I reached out to pat his head, but I nearly knocked his wig askew and had to pull back in a panic.
Good grief. To think this kid could trigger my paternal instincts this hard. Despite my usual preference for women, His Highness was a regular little charmer. He seemed a bit young for his age, perhaps a little too earnest for the future King of a nation, but I suppose that’s why we tutors are here. I had to make sure this field trip was more than just a walk in the park; it had to be a real education if he was going to be a proper ruler.
”So, ‘Roly.’ You’ve never actually walked a main thoroughfare before, have you?” I asked.
”Ah… no. Embarrassingly enough, I’ve only ever seen them from the high balconies of the palace…” Roland said quietly.
When I used his pseudonym, he looked down, sounding genuinely apologetic. There was no reason to be ashamed of what had been impossible due to the country’s political chaos. I threw an encouraging arm around his shoulder and led him toward the path to the main street.
”Well, you’re in for a treat. Just walking is an experience in itself. You’ll see all kinds of people, and the horse carriages passing by have a power you can’t feel from a balcony,” I told him.
”Yes, sir! I’m in your hands!” Roland said.
I nodded at his spirited reply and we made our way to the heart of the city. Every time we passed someone, Roland would stare-utterly fascinated by their clothes, their gait, their every movement. Even the most mundane things-the cobblestones underfoot, the stone walls of the houses, the flowers in the roadside planters-seemed to set his heart racing.
When we finally hit the main artery of the city, the view opened up wide. Roland’s eyes lit up again. “Whoa…!”
The crowd was getting thick, and standing out was the last thing we needed. I placed a hand on his belt to settle him down, and he gave me a sheepish grin.
”This is the main street. Now, remember: the center of the road is for the carriages. If you go wandering out there, you’ll get flattened. Stay sharp, okay?” I cautioned.
”Yes! I understand, Professor!” Roland replied.
Being called “Professor” instead of Kento-san made my spine instinctively straighten. Me? A ‘Professor’? I never would have imagined that back in my old world. The weight of the title made me tighten my resolve.
”Oh! Is that a street stall? I’ve seen them from afar, but I always wondered what they actually sold…” Roland asked.
”Hmm. Want to go find out?” I said.
”Can I!?”
”Of course.”
To be honest, the stalls on the main street usually just sell overpriced junk for tourists. Local residents wouldn’t be caught dead buying there… but hey, I guess that’s part of the lesson too.
”U-Um, hello!” Roland said, approaching a stall.
”Well now! Hello there, little missy! What a beauty we have here. I reckon one of my hair ornaments would look just darling on a girl like you,” the stall owner said.
”L-Little… missy…?” Roland muttered.
Roland had dashed ahead to speak to the owner, only to be immediately mistaken for a girl. The look of pure shock on his face was priceless; I had to choke back a laugh. As he stood there, frozen and unable to correct the man, I stepped in to bail him out.
”Pfft-sorry to burst your bubble, pops, but this ‘missy’ is actually a ‘mister,’” I said.
”Kento-san! That’s mean! Don’t laugh…!” Roland cried.
”Sorry, sorry. It’s just… you had the best look on your face,” I replied.
”Oh, a young master, is it? Well, my mistake! Tell you what, I’ll give you a discount to make up for it. How’s that sound?” the merchant asked.
”R-Really!?” Roland asked.
”Sure thing! Pick out anything you like,” the merchant said.
I see. So that’s his game. A classic tactic: insult them first, then offer a “discount” to create a sense of value. Roland does have a pretty face, but his voice is a bit deep for a girl, and his disguise is clearly boys’ clothing. The merchant knew exactly what he was doing.
”Um… what is this, exactly?” Roland asked, pointing to a shelf.
”Oho! You’ve got a sharp eye, lad! That there is a dragon figurine, hand-carved from rare black pear wood ²,” the merchant said.
”A… dragon? It looks more like a dying bat to me…” Roland said, after a pause.
”Now, don’t go saying that! This is a traditional craft of this city. It’s modeled after the very dragon the First King slayed. It’s a powerful charm for long-lasting luck in battle!” the merchant exclaimed.
”It has that kind of power…? But I read that the dragon had a long, thorny tail…” Roland muttered.
Roland was falling for it hook, line, and sinker. Of course, no such tradition exists in this country. If he’d been a girl, the merchant probably would’ve claimed it was a “blessed angel” for love and marriage.
I decided to keep quiet and watch. This was an education, after all. I had given Roland an allowance roughly equal to a single man’s daily living expenses.
”Is that all!?” Roland had asked earlier, sounding shocked. I was a little worried, but if he could manage his money here, he’d be fine. And if he got ripped off? Well, he’d just have a very modest lunch.
”Look, you won’t find quality like this just anywhere. You can brag to your friends that you’ve been to the heart of the capital ³! A memento like this keeps the memories of your journey alive forever,” the merchant said.
”The memories of the journey…” Roland whispered.
”That’s right. You can’t put a price on memories, lad. Especially ones you can hold in your hand,” the merchant added.
Wow, this guy is good. I could already see Roland proudly showing this “mysterious figurine” to Haruma-oji or even Her Majesty. I had to bite my lip to keep from grinning. Or maybe he’d be the type to keep it hidden in his room, cherishing his “memory” in private.
If he becomes King one day and looks at this junk and thinks, “Man, I really got taken for a ride back then,” with a smile on his face… then I’d call this field trip a success.
”I-I’ll take it! Um… how much is it?” Roland asked.
”I appreciate the business! For you? Let’s say… this much,” the merchant said.
”What!? That’s… that’s almost all my money! I won’t have anything left…” Roland cried.
”…Is that so? Well, since I like you, I’ll slash it! How about half?” the merchant asked.
”Whoa! Half!? Are you sure you’re okay with that!?” Roland asked.
”Eh, consider it an apology for the ‘missy’ comment. You’re a good kid for worrying about an old man like me… tell you what, I’ll knock off another bit. Just for you,” the merchant said.
”Seriously!?” Roland shouted.
This was getting hilarious. To translate the merchant’s inner thoughts: the moment Roland said “I’ll take it,” the merchant probably thought, “Jackpot! We got a live one!” If you want to negotiate, you never lead with a “yes.” You have to keep the “I’ll go elsewhere” card in your hand.
The first price was likely a joke-way more than a kid his age should have. But then Roland mentioned his “allowance” was enough to cover it. The merchant’s eyes probably turned into dollar signs. He “slashed” the price to half-which was likely still five times what it was worth.
But then, Roland actually worried about him. That probably pricked the old guy’s conscience. Or maybe he realized, “Wait, if this kid has that much ‘pocket money,’ he’s probably from a family I shouldn’t mess with.” He dropped the price again. It was still a total rip-off for a piece of scrap wood, but…
”…How about you, big brother? Want anything?” the merchant asked me.
”No, I’m good,” I replied.
The merchant glanced at me-the “guardian”-and seemed relieved when the deal went through. Well, you got scammed, Roland. Welcome to the real world.
”Whoa…! I-I actually bought it, Kento-san!” Roland shouted.
”Yeah. Good for you,” I said.
”…Hey, kid. You forgot your change,” the merchant said.
”Eh? But I thought I gave you the exact amount…” Roland muttered.
”Just take it and go,” the merchant said.
”Kento-san…?” Roland asked, looking confused.
Well, I guess the merchant isn’t a total monster. He ended up charging him what I’d call a “standard tourist tax” rather than a total robbery. Now, how was I going to explain to a confused Roland that he still paid way too much? I pondered that as we set off back into the crowd of the main street.
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Summary:
Kento takes Prince Roland on a ‘social studies field trip’ to the capital’s main street. Roland is mesmerized by the commoner life but quickly gets targeted by a street merchant. He ends up buying a fake ‘dragon’ souvenir, learning a lesson in haggling and commoner economics.
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Trivia:
- Roland is wearing a wig and using a pseudonym.
- The merchant mistook Roland for a girl because of his ‘pretty face’.
- Kento intentionally allowed Roland to get ‘scammed’ as part of his education.
- The ‘dragon’ figurine looks like a ‘dying bat’ to Kento.
- The merchant actually gave some change back at the end due to a guilty conscience
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Character Insight:
Roland shows extreme naivety but also a kind heart that disarms even a greedy merchant. Kento balances his ‘Professor’ role with his mischievous side, enjoying the boy’s struggle while ensuring he doesn’t lose too much.
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Behind the Scenes:
Street merchant tactics like ‘anchor pricing’ (starting high and slashing) are universal, used here to demonstrate the gap between palace life and street life.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Roland – he younger brother of Queen Cecile and the heir apparent to the Canaria throne. Clean, golden-blonde hair, same color as the Queen, innocent, beautiful face that could be mistaken for a girl but dressed in a boy’s formal wear.
• 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.
• Haruma – A kindly old man with a full beard and a bald head.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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