Chapter 11 (2/2)

I showed her the crystal.

“Ho~. You got something good there. This is the Mirror of truth.”  [Pumpkin-san]

“The mirror of truth, is it?”  [Ayase]

“I used it for my fortune telling. That is what this stone is called.”  [Pumpkin-san]

………..I see, spirit-san is also a clever esprit.

I wrapped the crystal in a towel before putting it inside the bag and left the temple.

In the end, there didn’t seem to be any way to search for the priestess-chan so I will just give up on it.

It is essential for humans to give up. The change of feelings quickly will also make a difference in work. Granny have also said it before.

Well then, since priestess-chan is not around, the only person whom I can count on to gather more information are Toby-s.h.i.+ from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the oyaji from the weapon shop……

Toby-s.h.i.+ was told that I am Rebecca-san’s nephew previously. Although I think he has already found out that it was a lie……

But anyway I do have something that I need to know from Toby-s.h.i.+ so I made my way towards the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

After arriving at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry I finally realized it. I have the guild card already so I didn’t need to specifically ask for Toby-s.h.i.+. I could also ask for the other normal staff (preferably woman) since it wouldn’t be a problem.

I’m actually glad. Speaking to a guy with penetrating glance like him alone will only shorten my lifespan.

And so I went to the guild reception, presented my guild card and told them that I would like to begin my trading so I require consultation before I begin.

When I explained it, the lady receptionist (Semi long hair, good natured woman with a homely face. Estimated age about 26 years old) gave me the advice on it. I was guided to a seat at a different place that seemed to be a consultation area and begin our conversation there.

“………So to begin, I have actually been attached by robbers on my way to this city and part of my memories were lost. So there are a lot of things that I’m not sure about. There are some basic parts that I might have heard of already but I’ll be counting on you.”  [Ayase]

“Well,….sounds like you had a hard time. If there are any questions that you would like to know then I will do my best to answer if it is within my knowledge.”  [receptionist]

It seems like I have gotten accustomed to using this memory loss as a setting. The lie came out so easily now so I would like to think that it was not due to my nature but this was the fault of the vocation; Swindler instead.

I am actually a good and obedient child. There were few people previously who were also employees in the same black company that I entered but almost all of them couldn’t go through their conscience and quit almost immediately one after another. In the end the only ones who lasted for one year apart from me were two other guys but it was harmless.

“First of all, in this city or in the outskirt area, where should I go to if I want to inquire information on houses? It’s good to start up my business in this city but I don’t have a base here and I don’t want to keep staying in an inn too.”  [Ayase]

“House is it? If it is within the city, you can look for the ones owned by the guild since there are some of them who are looking for tenants for those private properties. The houses built in the suburbs are quite hard since many of the land owners.h.i.+ps are vague. There is some truth in the saying ‘First come, first served’. At the same time, living in the village in the suburbs is not advisable. You will end up being tied to the village rule. To be more concise, it will be a hindrance to your merchant’s duty.”  [receptionist]

“I see……For example, what if the place is outside the village, in an abandoned house where no one lives?”  [Ayase]

“Are you talking about an abandoned house? It depends on the location but if the house was deserted for a long time now, I think it should be fine staying there. I think it might need a lot of repair though…. Do you have interest in any particular residence already?”  [receptionist]

“Yeah, kinda…… So if I decide to stay there, will I be able to get any kind of doc.u.ment as proof from the guild to a.s.sure that the house belongs to me? Even though it is a deserted house, I am still anxious to stay there and above all the repair cost is really high. I am quite troubled if I can think of it as my house yet whenever I return.”  [Ayase]

As I have expected she didn’t have much knowledge in that area too so she tried asking her superior about it. To be frank, that house is my main concern. I have a feeling that if I didn’t make that house as my own first, I wouldn’t be able to sleep well.

If I look at it this way, I might have actually achieved my own home in the other world isn’t it? With me there…….with an elf there….. lighting up a fireplace, eating something like stew……then I will buy a queen size bed…….

That is why it is important. A house is important.

But I wonder if having doc.u.ments as proof of owners.h.i.+p is a too modern way of thinking. Since this is a fantasy world, just acting appropriately might be good I think.

I looked towards the direction where the lady receptionist was heading to……wa~a, her superior is Toby-s.h.i.+. So she ended up bringing Toby-s.h.i.+ here. Upon confirming that it was me, there was a complicated look on Toby-s.h.i.+’s face.

The greeting was done casually and Toby-s.h.i.+ sat down as he slowly spreads out a map.

“I have heard of the situation, Jirou-kun. So, where is that house located at?”  [Toby]

It seems to be a map of Erishe’s outskirts. Towards the south is Erishe’s city and there is something that looks like a highway that follows through to the north and west.

“Etto, on this map, Sh.e.l.lo-san’s house is at……. Is it here? So that means that village is here and if this is the highway….. It’s around here.”  [Ayase]

“Umu……? Was there any abandoned house in that place…..? Misaki-san, could you call Oruseru here. He’s more familiar with that area.”  [Toby]

The receptionist replied yes and moved from her seat. Apparently her name is Misaki-san. It sounded very much like a j.a.panese name.

Oruseru-san (a ojisan oniisan with an estimated age around 32 years old) came almost immediately.

“Oruseru. There is a house deserted there for many years and this young man wants to stay there. Was there any house in that place?”  [Toby]

After listening to Toby-s.h.i.+, Oruseru-san studied the map.

“Nn? Is it here? ……Please don’t joke with me. There is nothing in that place. I used to play there a lot when I was still a kid. If there is any deserted house there, it would have ended up being a children’s playground already. And, isn’t it just a stone’s throw away form the village? If that house was just built recently, it would be impossible that I didn’t know about it.”  [Oruseru]

“…..It’s so. Jirou-kun. In the first place, this place is close to the “forest”. With exception to curious people like Sh.e.l.lo, there are almost no one who will live in the suburbs.”  [Toby]

“Then what about the house that I saw?”  [Ayase]

“Maybe you might have been mistaken? Well, if there is a chance that there really is a house there…..then let’s see…..it wouldn’t be a problem even if you were to stay there. There is no problem issuing a proof of owners.h.i.+p too. Since it’s a house that only you can see.”  [Toby]

Toby-s.h.i.+ smiles as he said so.

This person is definitely making a fool of me. Misaki-san and Oruseru-san was also showing a bitter expression.

d.a.m.n, how did it come to this.

But well, if I think about it calmly, I was able to get a proof of owners.h.i.+p and it seems like the presence of that house is not known by anyone else too till now.

The result itself is good enough. I have a feeling that I will lose if I mind it.

“Thank you very much, Tobias-san. Then, please help me issue the proof of owners.h.i.+p. Please do come by and visit me the next time.”  [Ayase]

“Aa, I will do so. I can issue it immediately. Could you wait for a while?”  [Toby]

Toby-s.h.i.+ and I grinned at each other. This is farce.

Toby-s.h.i.+ and Oruseru-san went back to their post leaving me and the receptionist together again.

Anyway, for now the matter regarding the house is settled but there are still lots of things that I need to know.

How to get hold of a shop. The rough price of a shop. Recommended inn. The price of the inn. About the purchasing place, about this city and about this world……..

But, I’ll put those things aside.

“I had thought of hiring a bodyguard but where should I go for this?”  [Ayase]

“Bodyguards? You can hire escorts from Hunter’s Guild but it will be expensive you know?”  [Misaki]

“As I have thought so. Usually what will the merchants do? Do you usually hire adventurers?”  [Ayase]

“Normally I think there are a lot of slaves, isn’t it? If there are cases whereby a group of merchants are involved then they will sometimes be hired as bodyguards too.”  [Misaki]

“Slaves….is it. But when it comes to an emergency, will the slaves risk their life in their work?”  [Ayase]

“The slaves’ contract is an official spirit’s contract so it will be fine.”  [Misaki]

“Spirit’s contract?”  [Ayase]

“It is a contract signed with the spirit. If you void this contract then you will lose the blessings of the spirit. In addition, there are a lot of slaves that ended up as warriors in other countries. They will not turn their back on the enemy or run away.”  [Misaki]

I see. Slave seem like a surprisingly good one.

I might purchase a slave.

When I start thinking like that, my mind gradually lean towards buying a slave.

But I’ll have to look after them and some slaves might be stinky.

To begin with, how much is a slave?

If possible I want a female slave.

On top of that I want a young one for a slave.

To be honest it would be amazing if the slave is an elf.

“How much will it be for a slave sually?”  [Ayase]

Ah, my speech has become sloppy. Sually? No it’s not like that, sually? Well.

(TL: It was meant to be something else but there are no words like that in English so I have to replace it. It just means he wasn’t able to speak properly now)

“I’m not so sure of it myself but they go for a wide range. The cheapest should be around 10 gold coins but……”  [Misaki]

“I see…..”  [Ayase]

They’re cheap.

If all of them go for 10 gold coins each, that means it is estimated that each of them is worth 1.5 mil yen.

The worth of life here is cheap.

So now that I am done here, I should carry out my research more at the place where they sell the slaves instead.

Slave trade and the beginning of my life will become part of my big adventure.

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