For now, I carried the bows and arrows I bought back to Home. I’ll have Miriel bring them outside later. They’d just take up space by the entrance.
「Takato-san, please come by our place too! Ours is small, but we run a workshop that makes whips!」
After we finished carrying everything, Sals said that to me.
「Oh? That sounds good. I was actually thinking of getting one as a souvenir」
「Yes! We’ve got lots of good ones!」
So, after greeting Maif-san, I followed Sals to his workshop.
「It’s right here!」
After less than three minutes on foot, we arrived at Sals’s place, a small shop where the workshop and storefront were combined.
「Sals’s workshop is the oldest in Rydand. A long time ago, they even presented their work to the king」
「Wow. That’s impressive」
…Wait. Does the king use whips? At night? The dangerous kind of nighttime whip use?
Just as it looked from outside, the inside was small too. Whips were displayed along the walls, and the place felt more like a workshop than a shop.
「Sals? What’s up?」
Behind the counter was a young man about twenty years old, weaving leather cords with some kind of tool.
「Aniki, I brought a customer. He’s a silver-seal adventurer and wants to buy some whips. Show him what we’ve got」
「Nice to meet you. I’m Takato. I mainly do goblin extermination, but I’m in Rydand as part of an escort job」
「I’m Mag. You’re the guy my old man was talking about, right? The one who fought the Goblin King」
Information really spreads fast in this world. Might as well be fiber-optic.
「I fought him, sure, but the one who actually took him down was the guild master」
「Even so, you’ve killed thousands of goblins. That’s amazing! And your iron bow skills too!」
My gun skills aren’t that great, so don’t hype me up too much.
「Just think of me as a decent adventurer. More importantly, could I take a look at the whips? If possible, I’d like five, some for practice, and some that could be used in actual combat」
You count whips by number, right? I only started seeing them after coming to this world.
「As long as you’re buying, look all you want. Heck, you can buy out the whole place if you like. We’ve had so few customers lately that even buying materials has been rough」
「So you’re not the type to say ‘I won’t sell to someone who doesn’t know how to use them’, huh？」
That’s just my prejudice against craftsmen.
「If we said something that stupid, we’d have gone under ages ago. The only people who use whips are adventurers or shepherds, after all. These days, leather braiding makes up most of our work」
He showed me a shoulder bag woven from leather.
「Wow. That’s well made」
It looked big enough to hold two monthly magazines, and it seemed like Marg’s slingshot would fit nicely too. If you attached it to a belt, it could probably be used as a pouch.
「If you’ve got more of these, would you sell them to me?」
「Of course. Buy as many as you like」
Seriously, I’m glad he’s not some stubborn craftsman.
I bought four leather-woven shoulder bags, various mats, and ten whips total, both practice and combat types.
「As expected of a silver-seal adventurer. Paying eighteen silver coins in cash」
Given the time and effort that went into them, the price made sense. I didn’t even have enough on hand and had to bring some over from Home.
「I got some good stuff. I’ll come back to buy more」
The shoulder bags should be useful for the giants too. I can give them as thanks for something.
「Yeah. Please do. I’ll make plenty」
I replied and left the workshop.
「All three of you, thanks. I got some great souvenirs. As thanks, I’ll treat you at Mished-san’s tavern. Show me the way」
It was just before four in the afternoon. They should still be serving food, so it shouldn’t be closed.
「Thank you! This way!」
They led me to Mished-san’s tavern. It seemed to cater mainly to locals, tucked one street off the main road among a row of small shops.
「There are quite a few customers」
Even though it wasn’t quitting time yet, more than half the seats were filled.
「They’re here for the liquor you sold, Takato-san. People in Rydand really like their alcohol」
They can’t brew it locally, yet they love drinking. That must make transport a hassle. No wonder the Millet Company is so big. Huh? Didn’t Rodan-san say he was Dyne-san’s senior apprentice or something? Dyne-san’s a traveling merchant, right?
「Did Rodan-san build that business up all by himself?」
「Our father married into the family. I heard our grandfather took a liking to him and had him marry our mother」
I see. He was a stay-at-home son-in-law.
「Aniki! I brought Takato-san with me！」
Called by Vice, Mished-san came out from the kitchen.
He seemed to be the owner, but he was wearing an apron, so he must cook as well.
「Welcome, Takato-san」
「I came to make a reservation and grab a light meal. Would tomorrow night be all right? If that’s too sudden, we can pick another day」
「No, no, that’s fine. I can get meat without any trouble. If you could supply the alcohol, that would help」
「That’s fine. I made some money in Rob Village. What would you like?」
「Wine and beer, ten silver coins’ worth, please. I’d like to invite the regular patrons too and have them remember your face, Takato-san」
「My face? Why is that?」
I had no plans to do business in Rydand. There was no real need to be known here.
「I thought you weren’t very adventurer-like, Takato-san, but adventurers who work over a wide area usually make sure their name and face are remembered. If those gentlemen remember you, it makes things easier when you need to smooth things over」
Ah, right. In a world without photographs, meeting face to face really does matter. Especially for people trying to climb the ladder.
「Where I go, there are goblins. If things don’t go smoothly, I just avoid the place. Goblins exist outside human intentions, after all. Also, it sounds like there’s a misunderstanding, so let me clear it up. I’m only borrowing space from the Adventurers’ Guild. I’m not aiming for success as an adventurer」
If I could live comfortably in my old age, maybe I would aim for it. But the road there would be nothing but thorns. If it’s going to be thorns either way, I’d rather focus on goblin extermination now that I’ve finally found my footing.
「……It seems I’ve done something unnecessary. I’m sorry……」
「Please don’t worry about it. If you want to invite them, feel free. We’ll just enjoy your cooking, Mished-san」
If they want to remember my face, they’re welcome to.
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