Chapter 47 – Soap Selling Details (1/2)

Mint and I were on our way to the orphanage.

After lengthy negotiations which made my head spin as I tried to decipher the double meanings and nuances as they set out a deal, in the end Mint managed to get a price on the soap that made my eyes bulge. They averaged an entire gold coin per bar of soap! And that wasn't taking into consideration the markup that they were going to get when the shopkeeper, Martin, put them on the shelves! To think that they would top the most expensive soap I saw last time I came.

(For a bar of soap to cost as much as an entire day's pay for a rank C adventurer...)

It made me glad that I had gone through the effort of putting together such precautions. If people found out that a group of kids were responsible for making soap that was selling for more than a gold coin each, I could hardly imagine what sort of trouble it would invite.

My eyes flickered to the side, glancing at Mint who walked beside me.

I could only hope that his professionalism and gratitude would be enough that he wouldn't ever take advantage of the orphanage.

”Is something the matter?”

”Ah, no. Anyways, it's over here...”

I turned my eyes forward and we slipped into a side street before soon reaching the orphanage.

”Ah!”

”It's Scarlet!”

”She's back!”

Several kids who were playing on the street rushed over when they spotted me, but quickly noticed Mint following me. In an instant their expressions reversed and they huddled in front of me, using my body as a shield as they warily looked on at him.

”Ahaha, it's not like I can blame them, but it still hurts...”

The merchant scratched the back of his head as he tried to laugh it off. I couldn't blame the kids for doing that either. I didn't think he looked particularly threatening, but he was a strange man. In fact, it was probably better that I applaud them for their caution.

That said, it would be mean to let this continue.

”Don't worry. He's not someone dangerous.”

”Really?”

”He isn't?”

”...”

”Really. In fact, you'll be seeing him a lot from now on, as he'll be helping out here and there.”

”He will? Like playing?”

”Helping? Or cooking?”

”Every day?”

”No, not every day. I'm a travelling merchant so I can't come too often, but every few months.”

”Huh? That long?”

I didn't expect that.

”Oh, I'm sorry if I gave a strange impression, but as grateful as I am for what you have done for myself and my village, I do still need to do my normal work. Many people depend on me on that.”

”Ah, yea. Sorry. I wasn't thinking.”

”It's fine. It's not your fault. I haven't told you the details of my circumstances. Despite that, you've given me such an opportunity.”

”Ah no, that's...anyways...you guys, can you call Philia for me?”

”””Okay!”””

The kids ran inside as Mint and I followed.

After I explained the deal I made with Mint and Martin to Philia, the merchant left as it was starting to get late with the promise to meet up with me the next day. As I didn't really have anything special to do that night, I opted to stay as I had been doing lately.

”So you trust that man Scarlet?”

After the kids were tucked into bed, Philia and I were discussing the day's events at the dinner table.

”...I don't trust him. But I don't think he's lying either. At the very least, I think he's serious when he says he feels he owes me.”

”Well, if you think so, I'll trust your judgment.”

”That, and you can just go directly to Martin at the cosmetic shop for the deliveries if Mint betrays us.”

”You've thought this through more than I thought.”

At the very least, this was important enough for me to do so. Especially this late in the game, I didn't want Philia or the kids to be stabbed in the back because I wasn't being careful enough.

”I suppose, that means that you'll be leaving soon?”

”Yea. Once everything's been settled, I think I'll be moving on.”

Philia's eyes turned to her lap as she fidgeted.

”I'll take good care of the children. You won't have to worry about that.”

”You didn't have to tell me that for me to know. But you need to take care of yourself too Philia.”

”You're the last person I want to be telling me that.”

”Haha, I guess.”

She gave me a wry smile to my words. It looked like things weren't as bad as I was worried about. Philia was going to be a bit lonely once I was gone, but she was strong. Stronger than me at least, and I could firmly see that in her as our eyes met.

”Do you know where you'll be heading next?”

”Not really. I figured I'd just ask for a recommendation and just try that.”

”I see. Well, I've never left Linsington City, so I can't help you there.”

Philia shrugged. I had a feeling that it was like that. It made me want to take her out and show her the world with me, but there was no way that could happen without bringing all the kids with us. No way that was happening. The logistics of it was overly daunting, and trying to keep them all safe would be insane. More importantly, I couldn't see the kids being able to keep going from one city to the next. They'd tire out quickly and get bored even faster.

It just wasn't a viable idea.

”You'll always be welcome here Scarlet, so I hope you'll remember to come by once in a while.”

”What are you talking about? There's no way I'd forget to. This place is almost like a second home for me.”

I got up and pat Philia on the head like I did with the kids. But rather than let me continue, she pulled my arm down and brought my face close to hers.

”It's still years early for you to be comforting me, Scarlet.”

”Oh? Despite my appearance, I've been around for the better part of forty years now. If you think you can keep treating me like a youngster, you'll be burned.”

I gave her a confident grin as I stared into her glistening marble-like brown eyes.

(My body might only appear to be that of a 16 year old, and I might have only had it for two years, but I have the experience of over thirty years in my previous life!)

”Forty years? You're barely an adult then. I don't know how long your kind live for, but we dwarves keep on pounding until we hit our second century. I'm still double your age you youngster!”

As the smile faded from my face, Philia's mouth curled up into a smirk before she quickly rose up and gave a small peck to my cheek.

”You're older than I thought, but still far, far too young to pull one over me Scarlet.”

With those words, Philia hopped down from her chair and returned to her room.

(This world's fantasy elements just won't stop throwing me for a loop)

The next day, I headed out again after finishing up the morning duties. My feet took me straight to the inn Mint was staying at but when I got there the innkeeper told me he was out.

Unable to meet him to teach him the rest of his duties, I headed to the adventurers' guild to kill some time and try again later.

”Oh Scarlet. What can I help you with today? Are you looking for a specific request?”

Just like the day before, my timing had allowed me to talk to Lucy without having to wait in a line.

”Ah no. I wanted to use the library for a bit. Is that fine?”

”That's not a problem. Umm...”

”What is it?”

”Did you refuse the request?”

”What request?”

”The designated one that I gave you yesterday! How could you even forget that so quickly?”

(Ah, that thing. An escort quest...haa....)

It might not be as bad as it seemed on the surface. For all I knew, escort requests could be pretty decent unlike the ones I've had more than enough of in games.

”Ahh...ummm, are escort requests good?”

”sigh I suppose you wouldn't know since you're new to adventuring, but yes, generally speaking. In fact, there's a lot of adventurer parties that try to become regular escorts for merchants. Not only is it steady work, but it pays well for how little danger it usually involves.”

”Really...”

I averted my eyes. Despite her words, my mind was filled with images of escort targets walking into walls and getting stuck, being ambushed by monsters that spawned out of nowhere only to die after I've been killed by another player waiting for the ambush to distract me, the escort target running off when surrounded by monsters, only to run into another group as I'm trying to cut down the first group and getting killed, the escort target getting interrupted mid-dialogue by unrelated stray monsters only for them to bug out and freeze until I could lure another stray mob into killing them so I could restart the quest, or...

”Umm...are you alright Scarlet? You look like someone who's suffering through a deathly fear or something.”

”Huh? Oh, umm, I'm alright.”

(Thinking about it, all those problems were due to design oversights by the original developers. Realistically thinking about it, most of those issues weren't possible for a real escort request. Especially the target trying to phase through a wall because of poor pathing.)

”Anyways, if you're so against escort requests, I can help you find something else.”

”Ah no, maybe I'll try it out. It might not be as bad as I heard they are.”

”I have no idea what sort of things you've heard about them, but it's rare for an escort request to turn sour.”

I couldn't help but feel like Lucy had just raised a flag, but superstition only came true if you actually believed in them. Then again, I was in a world where magic and supernatural phenomena were commonplace.

That said, the escort request did lead to another city from what I remembered was written, so it was as good place as any to head to. Making some money on the way would certainly be nice.

”I guess I'll talk to him and take it, but for now, the library?”