Chapter 386 Southern Trade ②
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I shall take over the explanation from here,” Rafuoro said.
The two merchants had been detailing the history of the maritime nation of Sylvaol¹. Leaving aside Fati of the Merchant Guild Uminari²—still acting a bit sullen—Rafuoro of the Merchant Guild Yuunari³ began to speak. It was obvious to me that the two had coordinated their roles before even arriving.
”Please keep in mind that what Fati just shared, and what I am about to tell you, is only what a common merchant might know. However, I believe this information is essential for you, Master Kento…”
”I wonder about that. I’m just a humble owner of a Magic Circuit shop, you know?” I said.
As usual, Rafuoro addressed me as “Master,” using the title reserved for those with high magical standing. It was clear that neither he nor Fati saw me as a mere shopkeeper anymore.
In truth, if I picked up any useful intel here, I’d likely pass it along to Her Majesty the Queen. In that sense, the merchant wasn’t wrong. Fine then. If he’s offering to talk, I might as well listen.
”Sylvaol was originally founded by taming the monsters of the coasts and the high seas,” Rafuoro continued. “We don’t have grand epics like the Canaria or Ferguson Kingdoms—no tales of slaying mighty dragons—but there is no doubt our people have been masters of the ocean since the beginning.”
He spoke with practiced humility, but I knew that fighting off sea monsters from the deck of a ship was no easy feat. If they had secured trade routes since ancient times, that was undeniably the work of heroes. Most likely, the current royal line had risen from the self-defense groups that protected coastal villages—fishermen and merchants who organized the locals and seized power through necessity.
”And there is one more factor that was vital to our nation’s founding,” Rafuoro said. “The inland resources.”
”You mean the silver?” I asked.
”That is a delicate subject. While silver was certainly mined, our primary exports were initially liquor and oil. But as our borders expanded, we discovered that the silver deposits were far vaster than we had imagined.”
I knew that expanding borders was never a simple affair in this world—it meant clawing back land inch by inch from monsters. If they had unearthed a massive silver vein after all that, their elation must have been immense. They likely funneled that silver into southern exports, exchanged for exotic goods, and built the prosperous Sylvaol that exists today.
”But now you’re saying Sylvaol has no more room to grow,” I noted.
”Exactly. To our north lies the Ferguson Kingdom; to our northeast, Canaria. Once the Sylvaol Kingdom hollows out the mines in our current territory, we have no other way to generate that level of capital.”
I could see the problem. A landlocked nation might survive like Canaria or Ferguson, rooted in domestic sustainability. But Sylvaol had grown far too dependent on trade. If maritime commerce stalled now, they wouldn’t just lose luxury—they wouldn’t be able to support their overgrown population. Ruin would follow.
”Is it really okay to be telling me all this?” I asked.
”It is no issue,” Rafuoro replied. “As I said, this is common knowledge among the merchant class. It’s a long-term problem for the crown, but it won’t cause a collapse tomorrow.”
”I see. So? What do you two actually want from me?”
”I think you already know the answer. We simply wanted you to understand why the Merchant Guild Uminari and the Merchant Guild Yuunari are so desperate to establish trade with the Canaria Kingdom.”
Taken at face value, they were just coveting new commodities. But I doubted my shop’s specialized adult goods could ever replace silver. No—they were aiming for something bigger.
”Both our guilds currently deal primarily in liquor and oil. We’ll sell anything that turns a profit, of course, but the ‘Great Guilds’—they own the silver trade. We want to punch a hole in their monopoly.”
”So the North-South trade route was your goal all along?” I asked.
”Yes. But the situation has changed because of you, Master Kento. Your Ultra-Miniature Magic Circuits⁴ will one day be worth as much as silver… no, they will be worth their weight in gold!”
His eyes took on a predatory glint. Unlike my first impression of him—certainly unlike Fati—this man was fueled by massive ambition. More importantly, I wondered how in the world he’d learned about the miniature circuits.
”I’m not sure I follow. Like I said, I’m just a local shopkeeper. High-end magical logic isn’t really my field.”
”Yes, yes. Feel free to maintain that stance for now,” Rafuoro said with a smile. “I just wanted you to know that we haven’t been sitting idle. We know your value. Meeting you was a genuine stroke of luck.”
Skepticism rippled through me. I still didn’t have any solid reason to side with them. Rafuoro seemed to read it in my expression and pressed on.
”That being said, we have no desire to stay on your bad side. First… regarding future purchases, we promise to conduct all business exclusively through the Merchant Guild Tasogare⁵.”
”Well, that would certainly make my life easier,” I admitted.
”Furthermore, we are handing over full control of the North-South trade route development to the Merchant Guild Tasogare. Forget our previous demands; we will proceed entirely according to your wishes, Master Kento.”
Ah, here we go, I thought. The “What’s in it for me” phase. Exactly what I’d asked about when they first arrived—and they were already revealing their trump card.
”Our only request is that you move as quickly as possible on the North-South route. We will provide any resources or support you need—no strings attached.”
Tempting. The Merchant Guild Tasogare couldn’t proceed until the East-West line reopened. I needed external backing to get things moving, and a “no strings attached” deal would save endless red tape. Still, when something sounded that good, instincts started to itch. Nothing is more expensive than something free.
”And the higher-ups in your guilds back home? They’re okay with this?” I asked.
”I’ll make them okay with it. Once the North-South trade flourishes, the profits will be undeniable. And the connection we build with you? That alone will pay for itself.”
He met my gaze squarely. I weighed the options. If he was telling the truth, other guilds would soon come knocking anyway—probably bigger ones, and not all as generous.
”Oh, and one more thing! If you cooperate with us, there is one other ‘resource’ we can provide.”
Rafuoro spoke with total confidence and shot a glance at Fati. She flushed, clutching her robe like she wanted to vanish into it.
Honestly, I’ve got enough women in my life right now, I thought, preparing my polite refusal. But before I could speak, she reached into her tunic and pulled out a neat stack of letters.
”What are these?” I asked.
”I hear your shop distributes a certain booklet called ‘Customer Feedback,’ yes? And that you once wrote research papers on the performance of your… products.”
I froze.
”Yes, exactly! If you accept our proposal, we guarantee we will deliver the ultimate ‘Customer Feedback’! Tell me, Master Kento… wouldn’t you like to hear the raw, honest voices of the women from across the sea!?”
At that moment, I realized I had completely misjudged this man. He wasn’t just a merchant. He was a Man. A true brother-in-arms who understood the sacred importance of a degenerate heart. I reached out and gripped his hand firmly.
Of course, I couldn’t decide this on my own, so I deployed my ultimate move: “I will take this under serious consideration.” Still, I made sure he knew—one hundred percent—I was absolutely in favor of receiving that feedback.
—
Summary:
Rafuoro explains that Sylvaol’s prosperity is built on silver mines that are rapidly depleting, creating a national crisis. He proposes a partnership with Kento to bypass the Great Guilds’ monopoly using Kento’s high-tech magic circuits. The negotiation culminates in Rafuoro offering ‘Customer Feedback’ letters from international clients, which seals Kento’s personal interest.
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Trivia:
- Sylvaol is geographically trapped between Ferguson and Canaria.
- The Uminari and Yuunari guilds are smaller players trying to ‘punch a hole’ in the Great Guilds’ dominance.
- Kento’s ‘Ultra-Miniature Magic Circuits’ are highly sought-after industrial/magical secrets.
- The ‘Customer Feedback’ isn’t just business data; it’s testimonials for Kento’s adult goods
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Character Insight:
Rafuoro shows high-level ambition and social intelligence, correctly identifying Kento’s ‘degenerate’ motivations to close the deal. Kento shows growth in business caution, weighing the risks of ‘free’ offers before his personal hobbies override his professional restraint.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘heirloom sword’ mentioned in the previous pass is a play on the Japanese phrase ‘maemuki ni kentou’ (considering it positively), which is famous in business for being a polite ‘no’.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Rafuoro – Merchant from Sylvaol, member of Merchant Guild Yuunagi. Thin vermillion hair, pale skin, lanky/skeletal build.
• Fati – Woman Merchant from Sylvaol, member of Merchant Guild Uminari. Dark, bruised crimson hair, bandana, sun-kissed bronze skin.
• 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.
• Slop – Leader of the hound-kin pack; Laika’s father. Has orange hair and fluffy tail.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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