Chapter 14 (1/2)

The smell of magic coming from the spirit stone

“I understand most of the details but why did you accept it, Jirou? No matter what, isn’t it too suspicious? In the first place, is that Solo really a top merchant in the Imperial Capital? Is that person just wandering around without having any attendants accompanying him? And why did he suddenly propose such a match to Jirou? If it’s just a simple bet then it’s fine but it’s related to the mayor? It’s the greatest person in Erishe don’t you know? No matter what it’s strange.”  [Rebecca]

If I think about it calmly, it is certainly true. Actually when I calmly think about it, it’s strange too.

……………..I wonder why did I get heated up and believing it after listening to his conversation. I ended up accepting the match too. The ‘goods’; elf which was used as the bet was also not seen. The other party’s ident.i.ty was not confirmed too.

The entire story was only based on Jephthah, the self-proclaimed solo merchant’s testimony.

Or is it just my elf sickness getting too out of hand? Love is blind though……..No, that doesn’t have anything to do with it.

I wonder why I had thought that I will definitely be able to do something about it somehow and accepted the match……….

“Besides, Jirou. Contrary to what you have said, 10 spirit stones are actually a big deal. The total number of spirit stones that someone can receive in their lifetime is usually only 20. Even if it was someone who is really loved by the spirit, the most they have received are only 30, did you know?”  [Rebecca]

U~n. Since I have received two spirit stones already in just two days, I was convinced that I should be getting 5 times as many in just one month through the quest from the guidance but……

If you can receive 20 in a lifetime, it could possibly be that they were blessed at the age of 10…….. I am not sure what is the average life span for the people here but even if I were to estimate it to be 60 years old, it will be 20 of them in 50 years……so about 2.5 spirit stone in every 5 years? In the case of 10 pieces then, hahaha, 25 years.

So that was the reason Sh.e.l.lo-san and Pumpkin-san (pseudonym) were so excited when they saw me achieving the guidance too…….

“The price of a spirit stone is perhaps even higher than what Jirou is imagining. Even the cheapest one might get you 20 gold coins.”  [Rebecca]

Eh, seriously?

Wait, TAKEEEEEE!

(TL: TAKEEEEEE! is in English here)

If a single gold coin can be sold for 150,000 yen at the gold purchase centre in j.a.pan, then 3,000,000 yen………I can buy a car.

Just by clearing the guidance quest, you’ll be able to receive such a bonus. Being the other world’s people is seriously profitable.

Well, even if I compare the value of gold on the other side and the value of gold on this side, there will be no meaning to it. But, I wonder……..

“Do you know why the spirit stones are expensive?”  [Ayase]

“A spirit stone is a ma.s.s of spirit force by itself. Thus, the elves are able to use spirit magic to reduce the force and depending on the type of the stone, creating various kinds of miracle. The most popular one used should be 『Rejuvenation』 I think. Even Erishe’s priestess-sama contracted the spirit stone’s rejuvenation magic treatment.”  [Rebecca]

Rejuvenation is it…….

For such super power to exist……..

[This is a lapis lazuli gemstone so it’s not a big deal]

That statement is so wrong, seriously. Even 3,000,000 yen is too cheap for it.

“If by chance that Jephthah is the real deal and you really need to present a gift to the mayor, that will also be really dreadful, did you know? The mayor is, her name is Milkpearl-san by the way, is really well-known as a virtuous person who does not accept bribes.”  [Rebecca]

“It’s not particularly a bribe though possibly. As long as she is interested in the gift then it will be counted as my win.”  [Ayase]

“That is if it’s at another place.”  [Rebecca]

Ah I see.

Since the venue is at the party, if the mayor were to receive a gift from a merchant right in front of the public and to be interested in the gift as well, it will be like making an open declaration of your intention.

Uwa~a, why did I carelessly accept the conversation. Should I seriously run away?

“Ah, it seems like Jirou was awfully worried about it earlier but presenting a gift is not considered a crime. Therefore, based on this conversation, if you really do intend to accept it, then you should just prepare yourself to hand over 10 spirit stones as a challenge for yourself.”  [Rebecca]

[Bribery  arrested  at once]

To me as long as this will not happen, it was already my best salvation.

The story goes back a little.

After parting from Jephthah-s.h.i.+, I went to the city to buy an appropriate gift as an apology before going to Sh.e.l.lo-san’s house.

I tried purchasing sake as apology.

There seemed to be many kinds of sake in this world. There are not only wine and beer but drinks similar to whiskey and liqueur are also available. Of course it comes in a gla.s.s bottle. It seemed like the technology of producing gla.s.s existed here too.

Although their knowledge in house building or stone making are crude, they do have other quite advance technology too……..Or was it just a mere epicurism civilization? The cooking is tasty too.

The item that I bought was an amber looking sake that looks like whiskey for 83 El. Beer or wine that are usually sold in barrels are cheap but drinks that are kept in bottles appeared to be luxurious goods.

At first, I had thought of going back to the other side to get miso or something for them when I recalled the wild board stew but I didn’t have the confidence in explaining the origin of the item so I gave up on it.

It took me nearly 2 hours to reach Sh.e.l.lo-san’s house.

I arrived there around noon and realized that both of them were in the middle of their lunch. It appears that they didn’t mind the incident the other day when I had run off just like that and still welcomed me warmly.

And I was treated to a meal again.

It’s fried rice.