Chapter 468 The Ancient Elf Customer ②
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Hmm. Looking at it this way, the selection isn’t all that different from my own country’s. I’ll admit, I was skeptical when I heard the convent¹ had suddenly started selling such idiotic trinkets, but… I see now. This was a meticulously crafted plan.”
With that, the suspicious ancient elf began to fluently recite the names of my products. Not just the Ddo-Buddy series, of course, but various aphrodisiacs, lotions, aromatics, the entire anal-use line, and even the latest Night Light Wand.
It was clear she had done her homework before showing up, and I could guess her origin just by her tone. I dialed my caution up another notch. Then again, she wasn’t even trying to hide it, so maybe it was fine. First things first – I’d just ask her.
”Listen, lady. Are you from Wielope?”
”Indeed,” she replied. “I have come from the imperial capital. I heard rumors of certain goods that have become quite popular among mortals lately. I found myself curious as to what sort of person would craft such intricate magic circuits.”
”All the way from the capital, Wilgalem? I’m honored,” I said.
The capital of the Wielope Empire, Wilgalem², is the heart of the empire and the seat of the Emperor. At its center stood a majestic imperial castle; word was the city was so elegant that no neighboring nation could even come close.
Beyond just its looks, it was one of the oldest cities in these parts, with a history stretching back to the era before the various kingdoms started cropping up. Back when the Church of Demon-Subjugation was in its prime, the city served as the frontline base against the monsters of the Northern Continent. The kings and legendary heroes of old had all set out from Wilgalem to build their nations.
Even Tania, my favorite elf, had visited it once. She told me that even back then, the royal castle was a sight to behold, and in hindsight, the urban planning was remarkably forward-thinking.
That plan didn’t truly bear fruit until the various kingdoms were established and the authority of the church began to wane. Wilgalem effectively traded places with the Holy City, becoming the cultural hub that linked the southern Holy City to the kingdoms scattered across the land.
Ever since the Kingdom of Wielope started calling itself an empire and taking a heavy-handed stance toward its neighbors, it had become a difficult place for citizens of the Kingdom of Canaria to visit, but its importance hadn’t changed a bit.
The Holy Figure went through hell and back just to reach our country recently, and that had everything to do with Wilgalem’s geography. That city sits in such a perfect spot that no other trade routes ever had a chance to develop.
Whether you’re inside the Wielope Empire or just passing near it, every road eventually hooks into the highways branching out from Wilgalem. Even if it’s a massive detour, you always pass through that city.
It’s like a spiderweb without the cross-threads, with Wilgalem sitting right at the center. The reason it ended up that way is likely because this world is crawling with monsters; laying down a new highway is a monumental task.
Looking at it from a different angle, it’s actually very similar to what our country is trying to do right now – the plan to link the East-West and North-South trade routes and become the ultimate crossroads. The Wielope Empire and the city of Wilgalem have just been doing it for centuries already.
”Have you lived in Wielope long, lady?” I asked.
”Quite some time,” she answered. “A few centuries now… It will be a millennium soon, I believe. I have been permitted to settle there for quite some time.”
”A millennium…”
The ancient elf said it like it was the most natural thing in the world while she continued to scrutinize our wares. She’d listed off plenty of items, but taking everything back with her would be a logistical nightmare. She seemed to be agonizing over what to actually buy.
Like she said, most of this stuff is already for sale in the empire, so there’s no need to rush a purchase here. I figured her interest was probably piqued by the aromatic prototypes or the high-end Slime-Pals³ that we only sell in Canaria because we can’t keep up with the demand.
That was all well and good, but an ancient elf who’d lived in Wielope for a thousand years, coming straight from the capital? One specific person came to mind, and I felt my guard spike again.
”Mmm… As I thought, I cannot leave without this high-end Slime-Pal! I have never cared much for such things myself, but humans are obsessed with youth and beauty. I am certain they will be delighted. Shopkeeper, will you sell me your entire stock?”
”Sure, why not,” I said. “It’s going to cost you a pretty penny, though. You okay with that?”
”It is a gift for my children and their spouses; I shall not pinch pennies. Though, admittedly, it is not money I earned myself.”
I was one card away from a royal flush. Actually, the way this conversation was going, it felt like I’d already hit the jackpot. She didn’t seem like a bad person at all. Especially when she talked about her “children” – she got this huge, human-looking grin on her face that almost made me want to let my guard down completely.
What should I do? Should I push a little further? I didn’t know why she was here or how she’d managed it, but if she was someone I can talk to, I wanted to keep the lines of communication open. If this could end peacefully, that would be the best-case scenario. I steeled my resolve and turned it into a business pitch.
”Since you like them that much, I wouldn’t mind setting up a regular wholesale deal. If you can pull some strings with the convent in the capital, you could just buy them through them.”
”Oh? That would be a grand help,” she replied. “I shall see about discussing it when I return. Should I use that same convent if I need to send word to you?”
”Yeah, that’ll work. You’re a VIP customer now. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
Well, I’d gone and opened up a weird new pipeline. Once this ancient elf leaves, I’ll have to report to Her Majesty the Queen and have a chat with the Holy Figure… but they can probably handle the rest. I let the small talk flow while those thoughts ran through my head.
”Still, it is a pity this Slime-Pal can only be used by women,” she mused. “I am sure there are men who wish to preserve their youth and beauty as well.”
”Not a chance,” I replied. “Why the hell would I spend my time making things for guys to stick up their asses? My passion in life is watching young ladies and noble madams raise their Slime-Pals so they can become even more beautiful.”
”Hah! Hahahaha! You truly are a man of conviction! I cannot remember the last time I was made to laugh so heartily!”
The mood was actually getting pretty good. I started packing the high-end Slime-Pals into one of our shopping bags and finally let myself relax a little. I tossed in a few other items, took her payment, and figured she was about to head out. But then, her expression turned slightly serious.
”A fine purchase… and a fine encounter. You have my thanks, suspicious shopkeeper.”
”Hey, it was good business for me too. Feel free to talk us up in Wielope so we can move more units over there.”
”I shall consider it. Oh, that reminds me. There is one more thing for which I must thank you—”
”Waaaah! Waaaah!”
Just as she started to speak, the sound of babies crying erupted from the living quarters in the back. It was the same as before. My son Wakaba and my daughter Mikan were one thing, but my daughter Momo was already talking; for her to cry this hysterically was unusual. And twice in a row, at that. I couldn’t ignore the feeling that something was wrong… but I had a customer in front of me.
”A baby?” she asked.
”Yeah. Two of them were just born. Sorry for the noise. They interrupted you…”
”Think nothing of it. Crying is a baby’s job. I shall pray that they cry plenty and grow up strong and healthy.”
With that, she began to murmur what sounded like a prayer. I couldn’t catch the exact words, but it sounded a lot like the prayer the elven reinforcements used the other day. More than anything, the look in her eyes as she listened to the babies was kind. I felt a wave of relief wash over me. And yet…
”They are not stopping,” she noted.
”Yeah. My wives are back there, so I’m sure they’re soothing them—!”
I started to stand up. At that exact moment, black shadows suddenly sprouted from the floor of the shop. Not just one or two. And one of them – no, one person among them – looked familiar. It was that man. The one I’d seen in the palace dungeon jail.
By the time my brain registered that much, I-
—
Summary:
The shopkeeper negotiates a major wholesale deal with a high-ranking Ancient Elf from the Wielope Empire capital. The tense business transaction softens as they bond over the topic of children, but the peace is shattered by the babies’ unusual crying. The chapter ends on a cliffhanger as assassins from the shopkeeper’s past manifest from the shadows.
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Trivia:
- The Ancient Elf uses ‘warawa’ (妾), indicating extremely high social status or age.
- Wilgalem is described as a ‘spiderweb’ city where all roads must pass through the center.
- The shopkeeper recognizes a specific man among the shadow assassins from a previous encounter in a palace dungeon.
- Momo’s crying is a key alarm because she has already started speaking and rarely cries like a baby now.
- The ‘Slime-Pal’ is a high-end beauty product sold exclusively in Canaria due to limited production
—
Character Insight:
The shopkeeper shows his ‘conviction’ as a merchant, refusing to broaden his market to men because his true passion is seeing women become more beautiful. The Ancient Elf shows a surprisingly maternal/grandmotherly side, humanizing her despite her intimidating power.
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Behind the Scenes:
The road system in this world is heavily influenced by the presence of monsters, making new infrastructure nearly impossible and centralizing power in old hubs like Wilgalem.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Tania – An Elf adventurer who, despite her race’s reputation for low sex drive, is secretly quite passionate. She initially seemed ‘wasted’ (emotionally dry) to her friend Raika, but was easily introduced to the pleasure-items sold at ‘Harvest.’ She is easily embarrassed and attempts to maintain a dignified facade, despite her recent, frequent purchases. She wears practical but light armor over a simple cloth tunic and short pants, highlighting her grace and agility. Her primary relationship is one of friendly senior-junior with Raika.
• Wakaba – Newborn son of Kento and Tania. A half-elf magic user with large Mana Circuits. Has squishy cheeks, tiny fingers, and soft floppy ears. Emits magical discharges when throwing tantrums. The newborn son of Kento and Tania. Has green hair and elf ears.
• Mikan – Kento’s daughter. Orange-themed. The protagonist’s newborn daughter. Described as having a cheerful, oblivious expression. The shopkeeper’s newborn daughter.
• Momo – The newborn daughter of Kento and Lily. She has pink hair and her father’s ear and eyebrow shapes. Very energetic and vocal for an infant. Approximately one year old. Capable of standing on her own and mimicking simple words. Energetic and affectionate. The shopkeeper’s eldest daughter who has recently started speaking.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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