Chapter 512 A Hundred Rivers Pay Homage to the Sea
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The battle-hardened veteran vibrator, “Alex.”
While I was waiting for the client’s permission to proceed with his resurrection, I decided to tackle some other business. It was a meeting with the merchants from Sylvaol, the maritime nation to the southwest.
All of this was happening because the “D**do-Buddy” had crossed the ocean, causing demand to spike overnight.
I didn’t yet have the hard numbers on sales from the Southern Continent or a clear picture of the demographic, but it was obvious the results were substantial.
To start, there were two people I needed to hear from. They were merchants from that country who had been assisting with the Sylvaol trade for some time now: Fati of the Uminari Merchant Guild, and Rafuoro of the Yuunari Merchant Guild.
”So, can you give me the rundown on the current situation?” I asked.
”…Understood,” they replied in unison.
They looked noticeably tense. They also looked exhausted. We were on the first floor of a budget inn in the western district of the capital, Canarias. It was a place that served as a cafe by day and a tavern by night.
Back in my old world, this would’ve been something like a business hotel. Even though it was a “budget” inn, it was the kind of place I never could’ve afforded back in my adventurer days. Since I’d bought my own house, I hadn’t had a reason to visit one, so I felt a small thrill of excitement. As far as cafes went, the guild’s place had a better menu, but it was all about the atmosphere.
”To cut to the chase… your products are selling like crazy,” Fati said. “So much so that headquarters is throwing money at us. Today’s on us, so eat and drink to your heart’s content.”
”Heh, I appreciate that.”
Fati was a woman of the sea, tough and ambitious. Her dream was to eventually start her own guild and captain an all-female crew. They’d ordered a spread as good as their word, but looking closely, I saw ingredients that didn’t seem like standard inn fare. They’d probably brought in Southern goods and had the kitchen prep them.
I tried a spoonful of a soup that had a scent I didn’t recognize. A numbing heat spread across my tongue—maybe something like Szechuan peppercorns? It paired perfectly with the salty broth. It was delicious.
”Oh, looks like it’s to your liking. Is this not your first time? I’ve seen guys get so surprised they drop their spoons,” Fati said.
”No, it’s a first. But it’s great. I think I could get addicted to this flavor.”
”Yeah, it’s an Eastern spice. Some of the rich folk won’t eat anything unless it’s doused in the stuff,” she replied.
I bet it’s pricey, I started to say, then bit my tongue. Since they were picking up the tab—and since I wasn’t exactly broke these days—it wasn’t like I couldn’t afford it. Then it hit me: the reason for this red-carpet treatment was likely because they were looking for something to sell to me. Or maybe “sell” was the wrong word.
There was an air of them looking for a gift to stay in my good graces. I suppose that’s what you have to do to stay a step ahead of the other guilds. Being treated like a VIP made me feel a bit light-headed, but I had to stay sharp. This was a business negotiation, after all.
”So, give me the specifics,” I said. “I’ve seen the general reports, but did our products really land with the people of the Southern Continent?”
”Hold your horses. First, let’s talk about sales within Sylvaol itself,” Fati replied.
”…Fair enough. Let’s hear it.”
”With pleasure.”
Fati launched into her report. As she’d promised, the numbers were staggering. She explained that the profits more than made up for the costs of opening the North-South Trade Route. It was rare for a product to go this viral in Sylvaol. They wanted to increase the import volume, so they were begging for a boost in production.
Currently, production for the Sylvaol market was handled by the factory in Viscount Nixfen’s territory, in the western part of the Canaria Kingdom. Though the factory had only gone online this year, they were already expanding the facilities and hiring more staff.
The Ferguson Kingdom to the west was also seeing an increase in demand, and Nixfen was handling that too. To recap: the Badcage factory handled the northern route, while the Canarias Convent factory focused on the Wielope Empire to the east. Between the domestic market here in Canaria, the Holy City, and the nations further east, everyone was stretched thin.
”By the way, what’s the buyer demographic look like?” I asked.
”Huh? Oh, who’s buying? Well… it’s pretty much everyone, but the core demographic is definitely the sailors’ wives,” Fati said.
Yes. I did a mental fist-pump under the table. The strategy I’d planned for the Sylvaol expansion had worked perfectly. It seemed our products were a massive hit with wives feeling lonely while their husbands were away at sea.
”And I guess the wives of the ship owners, too,” Fati added. “I don’t really get it myself, but apparently there are people out there who want to buy the whole set as a ‘collection.’”
”I see. That’s consistent with our other markets. We’re actually planning to lean more into the collector angle here. It sounds like Sylvaol is ready for that stage too.”
”Collector items?” she asked.
”Yeah. For example—”
I told them about the kind of products I’d discussed with my apprentice, Nina-Mailse, just the other day. On a whim, I pulled out the Night-Glow Wand¹ I happened to have stuffed in my pocket.
This wand was incredibly handy after dark—whether I was leaving the palace late, working in the lab, or just closing up the shop. It had become such a staple of my daily life that I pulled it out without thinking, but Fati’s reaction was far more intense than I expected.
”W-Wait a second… this changes everything!” she said.
”Hmm? Oh, I guess this is a good fit for Sylvaol. It’s a much safer and easier light source than lighting a fire on a ship.”
”Exactly! Oh, I have to contact headquarters… No, wait, can you mass-produce these? If so, we want to place an order as soon as possible—”
”I don’t know about that,” I said. “These were originally developed for the Wielope market, and there’s huge demand over there. Besides, with trade re-established, it’s much easier for me to sell to Wielope than to ship them all the way to Sylvaol.”
”Guh…! We were here first! We’ll even… we’ll even sweeten the deal!”
”Look, you’ll have to talk to the Tasogare Merchant Guild about the details. They’re the ones monitoring the sales in Wielope, so I can’t make the call on my own,” I replied.
”Ugh, of course it comes back to them. That little lady Sera and Manager Badatt have become real sharks lately…”
Fati slumped back into her seat, looking defeated. It seemed the Tasogare Guild was doing a fine job of keeping them in line. The power balance had shifted since they first arrived, after all.
Back then, trade with Wielope had been cut off, and the route to Ferguson was blocked by the Stampede. They’d missed their window of opportunity, and now they had to navigate the new landscape. I was just glad everything was working out.
”Besides, we aren’t done yet, are we?” I asked. “Settle a deal before all the cards are on the table, and you aren’t a merchant—you’re a third-rate amateur.”
”…Hah. You’re right. Rafuoro, you take over,” Fati said.
”Right, leave it to me,” Rafuoro said. “Our Yuunari Guild is also very interested in that wand. But first, Master Kento, we intend to make you very interested in the Southern trade.”
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Summary:
Kento meets with Fati and Rafuoro, representatives of the Sylvaol merchant guilds, to discuss the success of his adult goods exports. The ‘D**do-Buddy’ has become a massive hit, particularly among the wives of sailors who are away at sea. Kento realizes his market influence is growing as the merchants treat him with high-end hospitality to secure future deals. During the meeting, Kento accidentally reveals his ‘Night-Glow Wand,’ a utility magic item that the merchants immediately recognize as a revolutionary safety tool for ships. Fati tries to negotiate for an exclusive supply, but Kento directs her to his primary partners at the Tasogare Guild, showing his established business hierarchy. Rafuoro prepares to pivot the conversation toward even larger trade opportunities in the Southern Continent.
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Trivia:
- The mention of ‘Night-Glow Wands’ being safer than fire on ships hints at a potential technological revolution in maritime travel safety.
- Fati’s frustration with the Tasogare Guild (Sera and Badatt) suggests that Kento’s primary business partners are becoming formidable political and economic players.
- The ‘collector’ demographic shows that Kento’s items are transitioning from functional tools to status symbols and hobbies.
- The use of ‘Eastern spices’ in a Western-style budget inn suggests a blurring of cultural and economic boundaries due to increased trade
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Character Insight:
Kento has moved from being a simple shopkeeper to a high-level executive (Master Kento) who the guilds must now actively court. Fati’s competitive nature is tempered by the reality of the market, showing her professional growth and her reliance on Kento’s innovation.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The North-South Trade Route is officially open and profitable. The ‘Stampede’ is referenced as a past event that severely disrupted land-based trade routes, emphasizing why maritime nations like Sylvaol are now so critical.
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TL Notes:
The term ‘Night-Glow Wand’ (Yako-zue) was kept to maintain the double-meaning prevalent in the series, functioning as both a flashlight and a reference to adult novelty shapes.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Rafuoro – A slender Sylvaol merchant of the Yuunari (Evening Calm) Merchant Guild, with thin vermillion hair, pale skin and a lanky, skeletal build. He presents a formal, composed demeanor, surpassing Fati in poise, and works to secure trade advantages for his guild.
• Fati – Dark, bruised‑crimson hair tied with a bandana crowns a sun‑kissed bronze‑skinned woman from Sylvaol. As Uminari (Sound of the Sea) Merchant Guild representative, she’s a strong‑willed “woman of the sea” who dreams of leading an all‑female crew, speaking informally as “atai”.
• Nixfen – A viscount aristocrat who has started manufacturing and selling adult goods similar to Kento’s products in the Royal Capital’s pleasure district. He is described as a ‘pretty boy’ or ‘gentle-looking man’ (yasao) but is a territory-holding noble likely trained in combat.
• Nina-Mailse – Nina (also known as Nina‑Mailse) is a short‑haired, violet‑haired Sacred Artificer from the Holy City, formerly a Purist Ward of the Wielope Empire who left fundamentalism. She wears thick bottle‑bottom glasses, has a sharp mind, is loyal to the Saint, quietly rebellious, may become Kento’s apprentice in the Church of Demon‑Subjugation, now serves as the protagonist’s disciple and a new shop user.
• Nina – Nina (also known as Nina‑Mailse) is a short‑haired, violet‑haired Sacred Artificer from the Holy City, formerly a Purist Ward of the Wielope Empire who left fundamentalism. She wears thick bottle‑bottom glasses, has a sharp mind, is loyal to the Saint, quietly rebellious, may become Kento’s apprentice in the Church of Demon‑Subjugation, now serves as the protagonist’s disciple and a new shop user.
• Badatt – Seventh‑generation head of the Tasogare Merchant Guild, once a rotund, oily, ring‑laden figure with a shady merchant visage, now a lean, handsome middle‑aged man thanks to hard labor. He runs the guild competently, values good sense, relies heavily on Harvest’s products, and maintains a close partnership with Kento despite the latter’s explicit offerings.
• Sera – Young earnest salesperson of the Tasogare Merchant Guild, she supplies Kento and is known for her braided brown hair, large round glasses, freckles, and serious demeanor that flusters easily—especially around his adult‑goods shop. She also serves as Harvest’s dedicated contact, being helpful, cheerful, and diligent.
• Kento – Lord Harvest, a dark-haired Japanese salaryman resembling Kazuma Satō, is a former adventurer and entrepreneur who runs a magic-tool shop specializing in adult goods, including his invention, the Night-Glow Wand, and now oversees a growing industrial empire across multiple kingdoms. He wears a left-ring finger band, boasts a 7-for-7 impregnation record, and resides in the Dildo-Buddy Mansion, where he’s confined in the basement with Amelia. He balances a harem, maintains ties to the Queen, and recently secured a Great Dragon victory—all while secretly operating a hidden adult-circuit line beneath his legitimate business.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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