Twilight Alchemist 39

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39. Merchants, They're A Tricky Bunch, Isn't It?

Let's rewind a bit.

It's a little while back when Golden Dawn Village relocated, not too long after that.

"Zaid-sama, a caravan is approaching from the direction of Kyle's settlement."

"What?"

Zaid, peering out of the window of the modest yet comfortable mansion left behind by Kyle, observed the road.

Indeed, a procession of several horse-drawn carriages was heading towards the town. Given the timing, there was a high chance they'd be staying in this village.

Zaid, accompanied by his subordinates, stepped outside.

"Isn't this Zaid-sama? It's an honor to meet you in a place like this. I'm Akindo."

"Hmm."

The merchant who noticed Zaid hastily approached, showing deep respect before him. Quite polite for a traveling merchant.

"Did you come from Kyle's village?"

"Yes."

"I see, I see."

Zaid's face lit up oddly.

Akindo, noticing this, muttered to himself, "He must think we've run away or something."

"Are you planning to stay in this village?"

"Yes, that was the plan if possible, but..."

The merchant glanced at the locked inn.

"It seems the inn is closed."

"Hmph. We've only just arrived in the village. Anyway, how about buying some goods?"

"Goods?"

"Yes, four barrels of mithril ore and nine barrels of stamina potions. Oh, the stamina potions are a special item..."

Just as Zaid was about to exaggerate the effects he had heard of raising the price, Akindo approached him eagerly.

"Mithril!? Stamina potions!? Are those potions crafted by Craft-san?"

"Huh!? Oh, uh, yeah, I think so. If you have an appraiser there, feel free to check. But these potions are effective with just one spoonful, and for storage..."

"I'm well aware! Please! Please sell them to me!"

"Hmm, well, I won't mind selling them to you at a special price. But as for the price..."

"How about this?"

Zaid nearly choked at the amount the merchant proposed.

It was equivalent to the initial funds brought for the settlement.

Was it because mithril ore was in high demand? 

No, it wouldn't be surprising for the stamina potions, each spoonful equivalent to a bottle, to fetch such a high price even if they were expensive.

"Ah, well, yeah... that's not a bad offer..."

"You seem to be quite the shrewd businessman, Zaid-sama. So, how about rounding up the remainder to this?"

"Huh. Well, that's quite alright then."

"Thank you very much." 

Akindo bowed deeply.

Of course, Zaid was unaware that occasionally, the stamina potions crafted by Craft taken outside the village by Akindo got traded among the wealthy for exorbitant sums.

In Golden Dawn Village, the sale of such potions was restricted, causing them to be highly sought after.

The end price could be several times, even tens of times, the amount Akindo had suggested.

"May I make one shameless request to the merciful Zaid-sama?"

"Hm? A proposal? Well, go ahead, then."

"Yes. As a token of appreciation for your generous service, would you permit me to establish an inn guild in this village?"

"What? An inn guild?"

"Yes. If my inn is the only one permitted to operate in this town, I wouldn't mind increasing the usual inn guild taxes by ten percent."

"Ten percent?"

Zaid pondered for a moment.

He thought if the village were to develop from here, inns would be necessary, but...

"Damn it, Jabil should be here to consult on this matter... Instead, he's selfishly insisting on coming after concluding his research."

"Something wrong?"

"No, it's nothing. But monopolizing for just ten percent doesn't seem quite fair."

"In that case, how about fifteen percent?"

"Hmm... If it's twenty percent, I'll agree to it over a drink."

"Twenty percent?"

To Zaid, running an inn was something for others to do, so it didn't really matter. Besides, the income from an inn would be trivial.

"Understood. I will pay an extra twenty percent. Please, I ask for an exclusive contract."

"Hmph. Very well. Have your subordinate draw up the documents. Oh, and you should purchase the inn first."

"Understood."

Akindo bowed deeply once again.

Zaid nodded, acknowledging the necessity of an inn.

In hindsight, his decision at that moment wasn't wrong.

Where Zaid erred was solely in underestimating the staggering number of inns needed.

◆

"What in the world is this?"

That was the first thing renowned alchemist Jabil said upon arriving at Zaid's settlement with a large shipment, after finally completing his dissertation and submitting it to the academy.

The petite, voluptuous alchemist stepped out of the luxurious carriage, surveying the town as she walked along the main street.

When she first heard that Zaid was seriously venturing into settlement business, she had thought he was bound to fail, but surprisingly, the village seemed bustling.

...At first.

However, after understanding the reason, she nodded in understanding.

Upon reaching the mansion, she was immediately summoned by Zaid.

"Jabil!! You're late!"

"Well, well, if it isn't Lord Zaid. It's been a while."

"Enough with the pleasantries! What in the world is happening here?"

That's what I want to know, Jabil narrowed her eyes.

"It could be related to the fact that the entire village is filled with inns?"

"That's it! No matter what I do or attract, all that increases are inns! And a few taverns, and general stores! And maybe a carriage repair shop! Adventurers' guild has no residents, and all the settlers just pass through! What's going on!?"

"I just arrived today, so I don't know the details."

Actually, she understood immediately that it had become just a thoroughfare, but there was no point in saying so, so Jabil decided to handle it casually.

"Then, investigate it immediately!"

"But I'm an alchemist?"

"Enough with your excuses!"

"Understood."

Jabil headed to the prepared mansion for now. The first thing to do was to move in.

She couldn't help but sigh at the thought of having to live here for the time being.

And so, while Zaid's settlement showed a bit of development, ultimately, it was nothing more than a thoroughfare for travelers heading to Golden Dawn.

"Damn iiiit!!"

Today too, Zaid's cheerful yell echoed through the sky.