Around one in the morning, I switched shifts with Ladarion and slept soundly in the tent.
When I woke up, Dyne-san had returned. He said he was heading to his senior brother’s shop, so Bisha and I decided to go with him.
I asked Kainzel-san, Ladarion, and Mebi to pack up the tent and find us an inn.
According to Dyne-san’s plan, he would be procuring goods in Rydand for five to eight days. During that time, we planned to stay at an inn and do goblin extermination around the area.
「Then let’s meet at the Adventurers’ Guild in the evening」
「Yeah. Be careful」
We parted ways at the commercial plaza and headed for his senior brother’s shop.
The capital wasn’t that large, so we arrived in less than twenty minutes. The shop was on the commercial street on the opposite side of the castle.
「That’s pretty impressive」
The shop itself was about the size of a convenience store, but there were two warehouses behind it, plus a yard big enough to easily park five wagons. You could already call this a major merchant.
「I am Rodan Millet, head of the Millet Company. I have heard much about you from Dyne, Takato-sama」
For some reason, I was the one being introduced to the senior brother. And with a “-sama,” no less. What exactly did he hear?
「I see. Well, I’m just a goblin exterminator and Dyne-san’s escort, so please don’t be so formal」
「No, I couldn’t. A silver-ranked adventurer who defeated the Goblin King──someone of heroic stature deserves proper respect」
It seems he’d heard something outrageous again. Hero? Please stop. Being overestimated is a fast track to an early grave. Go ahead and underestimate me as some upstart.
「Takato-sama. Would you be willing to sell us the alcohol you sold to Dyne as well? We would like to serve it at the tavern we operate」
「You’ve heard that the items I provide are affected by a disappearance spell, right?」
「Yes. I’ve heard. That is precisely what I would like to consult you about, if you could spare some time」
It didn’t give me a particularly bad feeling, so I decided to at least hear him out.
I was led into the shop and shown to what seemed like a meeting room. Tea mixed with milk was brought out.
「This is tea with sheep’s milk」
Come to think of it, there was something like sheep’s milk tea in Mongolia or China. When environments are similar, the same drinking habits probably develop. All right, let’s see.
「Does it suit your taste?」
「Yes. It reminds me of salted milk tea──no, salted sheep’s milk tea I once had」
「Salt, you say?」
「Yes. Sweet and salty. It brings back memories of eating it with oil-fried bread」
Was that during a date? It was eight years ago, so I can’t remember clearly.
He had a man who had been standing by bring over some salt, and for some reason it was offered to me with a please go ahead gesture. I wasn’t particularly eager to drink it, but since it was offered, I took a pinch and added it to the sheep’s milk tea.
「Ah, this was the taste」
It’s not especially delicious, but it does feel nostalgic. Memories from my early twenties, when I was young and reckless enough to just go out and have fun, came back to me.
「I didn’t expect the flavor to change so much just by adding salt」
「Yes. This is good in its own way」
The two of them also added salt and drank it, and seemed satisfied with the salted milk tea. Next time, I should buy some fried bread and try dipping it in.
Anyway, after that brief detour, I brought the conversation back on track.
「Our third son has been working as an adventurer since last year. If it pleases you, Takato-sama, would you consider taking him on as a goblin contractor?」
Did I tell Dyne-san about the contractors? Ah, no, Dyne-san had connections with the guild master. Maybe that’s how it got around.
「What about your son? Goblin hunting isn’t popular work. If he’s young, wouldn’t he be reluctant to do it?」
I don’t know how old his third son is, but if he only started last year, he should still be a boy. A kid dreaming about the future wouldn’t want to hunt goblins, would he? Forcing him would just make him bitter.
「Would you take him along on a goblin hunt just once? I will make sure to instruct my son properly. If he does something foolish, you may strike him. Of course, we will also provide proper compensation as a request」
Having more contractors would be ideal, but looking after a child who knew nothing made me hesitate a little. Still, if I thought about it another way, maybe this was a chance. I planned to gather young people and make them contractors eventually anyway. Maybe I should try it as a test.
「Understood. I’ll accept that request」
「Thank you very much! My son is at the Adventurers’ Guild right now, so I will introduce him once he returns」
He must have talked this over with Dyne-san last night. Things were prepared a little too perfectly.
「Then, shall I bring out some alcohol while we wait for your son? What would you like?」
「Wine, please. And I’d like some beer as well」
Beer? Well, they have wheat, so they must have ale too. That said, I’ve never really drunk ale, so I don’t know the difference from beer anyway.
「How much would you need?」
「About five silver coins’ worth, please」
That’s roughly fifty thousand yen. That would be quite a lot. Would my stock be enough?
For now, I brought out the wine and canned beer I had stocked up from Home.
「This is the most I can offer this time. These are things I can only buy after exterminating goblins」
If I sold more than this, we’d run out ourselves. I can’t sell endlessly.
「Thank you very much. Please sell to us again once you’ve earned more」
「Yes. Once I’ve earned it」
I made that point clear. The rewards are something I use to survive, after all.
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