74 Episode 74 "Hegemony negotiates with travel mercha... (2/2)

You seem to have thought it was a military secret.

I've already used it on Princess Sylvia and on Touki-Housset.

Military matters are beyond the knowledge of a traveling merchant.

We use them for shelter from the rain, for drying clothes, for babysitting.

I'm sure you have no idea.

”I see. ...... Hey, it's Menes, the traveling merchant.

When I called out to him, Menes, the traveling merchant, looked up.

He has teary eyes and is shaking.

He's really frightened.

”What did you think my walls were?

I thought it was a golem for the king to rule over the subhumans.

...... Does it look like that from the outside?

I'm just trying to get all the subhumans to help me improve my living conditions.

I'm just trying to get the subhumans to cooperate with me to improve their living conditions.” ”If you're the king of the subhumans who have never been obeyed by anyone other than the first Dragon Emperor, you must have great military power. In the event that you've got a lot of money to spend, you'll be able to take advantage of it. ...

It's easier to spread information if you're a traveling merchant traveling around the continent.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one.

You really look like you're about to cry.

”What did you want from me?

I asked.

Menes the Merchant's proposal was not even a negotiation.

I mean, if I really wanted to keep the information about the fence to myself, I could've killed him to shut him up.

What is it that you want so badly?

If the traveling merchant wanted to keep the information about the wall secret, he could have killed him. In exchange for the traveling merchant keeping the information about the wall secret or spreading rumors that it doesn't exist and is a hoax, we would like to have a place to do business in this trading post.

Menes, a traveling merchant, murmured in a fading voice.

...... As I said earlier, a traveling merchant lives from town to town. Since we are basically strangers, we are in a vulnerable position in any town's market. Therefore, it is a relief to have a space to sell your goods here every time. Even if you are charged a high price for a place in another town, you will have room to negotiate. If you can't do business elsewhere, you can always come here.

So that's it.

We merchants are wanderers. We are wanderers, and we desperately need someone who will treat us as equals. ......

Why didn't you just say that?

...... What?

I'll at least give you some space to sell. I'm not sure what to do with it. I'm sure no one will complain if you treat the traveling merchants as my guests.

”Oh, really?

But you'll have to provide me with information in return.

...... information?

What you've seen and heard during your travels. Events. Information about people and places. Every time you come to this trading post, you will tell me that information. If you lie, you will be disqualified from the trading post. How about this?

Are you sure that's what you want?

No, no, no. I'm really grateful.

It's really hard to get information in the middle of nowhere.

The only sources of information are rumors and what Princess Sylvia, Princess Renesmee, and General Hulka tell us. There's almost no information about King's Landing.

Right now, Grand Governor Kittle is missing, but I don't know if he's dead or alive, and I don't know how the Ten Sages are working.

The Harpies are sent out on reconnaissance missions, but in the end, they just watch from above. They can't get much information.

It's quite stressful for me coming from a world full of information.

It would be great if a traveling merchant could be a source of information.

”Okay, okay. If you're willing to set up a place in this trading post, the traveling merchant Menes-Naeris can be a source of information for the King of the Frontier.

”Ah. This is a contract of equals.

I shook hands with Menes, the traveler.

By the way, ......, just out of curiosity, how do you traveling merchants get around the country?　I'd be very grateful if you could tell me how you travel between the governor's territories and how you get into the royal capital.

...... As expected of the 'King of the Frontier', you're very clever.

What?

I'm supposed to pay for the information up front. He wants us to find out if the information is correct before he decides how to treat us. That's the king of the frontier. Otherwise, he wouldn't be the king of the subhumans.

You're too afraid of me, aren't you?

Let me tell you about ....... I will tell you everything about the traveler.

Then Meneses told me about the traveling merchants.

He told me that they were the people of a lord who had been crushed in the war that followed the death of the Dragon Emperor.

That our ancestors, who were relocated to thin lands, started traveling merchants in order to survive.

The wisdom to survive while traveling has been passed down from generation to generation.

...... In some cases, we may not be allowed to enter a town. In some cases, we are not allowed to stay in the town, such as during wars or political upheavals. That's why we've been handing down places to stay in case of emergency for generations.

It's not easy being a ...... traveling merchant.

It's hard work, isn't it? They are taught by their parents right from birth about caves to stay in when they can't reach a town, forests that are relatively safe, and ruins where they can take shelter from the rain.

...... Hmm?

What did you just say?

”Ruins?

Yes. You may not know this, but there are old ruins all over the continent. You may not know this, but there are old ruins all over the continent, and there is no way for a ...... traveling merchant to know what they were used for.

Do the Meneses know where they are?

Their lives depend on it.

Meneses the merchant replied as if it were nothing.

We stayed at several ruins before we came here. We stayed at several ruins before coming here, but we only spent the night at the entrance because it is said that there are demons in the back. When the demons make a lot of noise, it can be hard to sleep. ......

”What if I told you I was going to conquer the demons?

I said.

What if I told you that I was going to kill the demons in the ruins, would the traveling merchant clan be on my side?

”Yes, yes!　Of course they would!

Meneses the merchant's eyes lit up.

If you do, we, the traveling merchant clan, will be happy to serve the King of the Frontier!　We, the wanderers, will have a place to rest. But we can't let the ...... ”King of the Frontier” take so much trouble. ......

Don't get me wrong. Don't get me wrong, I can't slay every demon on the continent.

I held my knees so as not to let my inner turmoil get to me.

I noticed that Lisette was holding my hand. Her fingertips were trembling.

I guess Lysette could tell.

What does the information the merchant has about the ruins mean to us?

I'll just deal with the ones I can get my hands on. Of course, this is assuming that you trust me. I'm offering you a secret that traveling merchants have been holding on to for years.

”...... Yes.

So I'll just take you to the caves and ruins nearby.

I look at Meneses the merchant and tell him.

”Just the ones near the frontier and in Kittle's territory. Tell me the location of the ruins you're using for shelter. I'll try to see if I can defeat the demons there. After you see the results, you can decide if you trust me or not.

Oh, ......, the King of the Frontier.

I'm not going to force you. It's your decision.

There was a moment of silence.

After a few minutes, Meneses opened his leather bag as if he was ready to go.

He then showed us a parchment with a simple map and a few markings on it.