117 Episode 117 "I decided to go shopping before the trip for a slave girl who wants to wash her husbands hair.".txt (2/2)

'I heard there's a group of pickpockets like that coming in just as the market is leaving. It's dangerous.

'I'm sorry. I wanted to buy you some new soap and give your brother a glossy wash before you left: ......

What...?

I'm not going to risk it before the trip: ...... If that's the case, let's give it up: ......

'But, but it's just one way of thinking!　I just know that if I'm careful I'll be fine!

...... Um, Aine.

Why the sudden glint in your eye?

'Aine is coming with me. It's the last thing we need before the trip, so we need to shop!　We'll take precautions. Aine is going to do everything she can to make sure it doesn't happen. Also, Iris-san has to disguise herself to be inconspicuous. I'll help you!

Thank you. Dear Aine!

Aine and Iris holding each other's hands.

Before we knew it, the story was coming together: .......

This is how we decided to go shopping at the market.

...... This is the market. What a great crowd ......

Iris called out as she held my and Aine's hands.

Today Iris has her hair in a long braid and a bandana wrapped around her head. Her clothes are a short length dress. She's dressed like a sifu, with a belt that holds her small items. There are soldiers from Ilgafa in this town as well, so they don't know it's Iris.

There are several large ships in the harbor.

In front of them, merchants are setting up their wares. They are selling everything from precious metals to dried fish, clothes, ornaments, pickles and caged animals.

The stalls run from one end of the harbor to the other.

The customers are the townspeople, the nobility - some of them adventurers. Come to think of it, the baronial family gave the guild and the adventurers a consolation prize. The number of shops seems to have taken advantage of this, or maybe they took advantage of it.

''Iris, this is my first time coming to the market.

Aine has never seen such a large crowd.

Since we're here, why don't we take a look around?

I see. Brother, Lady Aine.

Iris bowed to us.

”Iris doesn't know anything about anything, so please help me out.

So we decided to look around the market from the edge.

At the china shop.

Welcome. This is a display of vessels made in the south. If you flick it with your finger, you'll hear ......, don't you hear a nice sound?　It's sturdy, and if you buy one, it's top-notch and will last for 10 years, right?

I know, it's beautiful.

The pattern is nice.

'The color is different from what I read in the books. The color is different from what I read in the book. I think half the price is appropriate for this level. In addition, there are some thin cracks in the clay, probably because the clay is not well dried. I think a few months is a good time to keep it.

We left the shop with Iris.

At the toolshop.

'Oh, you have a beautiful girl slave with you. What do you think?　This pendant is. It is made of sterling silver from Tashkent, said to be from the foot of the volcano, and cannot be found anywhere else. If you use it to seduce a slave, he'll be more than willing to pay for it. ...... Hey.

I don't need it.

I mean, all my kids are so obedient.

”To begin with, the silver in Tashkent comes from the west, not from the south. ”To begin with, Tashkent silver comes from the west, not the south, and is probably near an iceberg, not a volcano. I read in a book that it is characterized by a blue-white corrugation on the surface, but there is no corrugation on this one. It's definitely a fake!

We put pressure on Iris's mouth and ran away.

At the pet store.

There you go, you three. How about a pet? It's a cross between a demon and a monkey, and it won't get any bigger. It is characterized by the horns behind its ears. It's said that if adventurers have it with them, their luck will increase and their drop items will level up. It's a special item for this time only, you know?

We're a big family. We don't need pets.

There are kids who would rather be pets.

There are only a few cases in history of successfully crossing a demon with an animal. If there were an example of success with a higher creature like a monkey, that would be a legend. It's not the horns sticking out from behind the creature's ears, it's the branches of a thonged rattle palm. You can get a rash if a human touches it. By the way, why do you sell an ointment with it? It's good for skin diseases, judging by its color.　Where will it go?　Guards?　Would you like me to send him to...?

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'Excuse me brother, Lady Aine. Iris was floundering. ......

At the edge of the marketplace, Iris slumped her shoulders in a daze.

I've been a maiden since she was a child, so she rarely went outside.

That's why I've been reading only books since I was young ...... and I'm sure that knowledge naturally flows out of me at times like this. I'm sure you'll get a kick out of the knowledge you read in a book if it's in front of you in real life.

...... I'll be quiet from now on. I'm sorry ......

What?

What's ......, big brother?

'You don't have to apologize. If Iris has that kind of knowledge, I'd like to see her use it against you.

Surviving on their own merits is our party's motto.

If Iris has the technology to spot fake branded products, we'll let her use it.

'Aine, is there anything you want to buy before the trip?

I need to stock up on provisions and clean cloths. The lack of food is a big problem. Clean cloths are always needed when someone is injured. And some disinfectant herbs are also available at .......

All right. Iris, find me a trustworthy place to buy these things. Eine, you negotiate the budget. Iris's opinion of the quality will help with the negotiations. If you'll excuse me.

Okay.

Iris looks around at the stalls that line the harbor with a twinkle in her eye.

Aine seems to be checking her budget by writing numbers on her palm.

Then we'll start with the herbs. There's a shop right there that sells them...

Welcome. Is this a disinfectant herb?　You could make a dried up sentang kikiri...

I have read that Sendan Kirikiri is a herb that grows on rocky soil with long roots. The longer its roots are long, the more vigorous it is and the more effective it is at disinfecting.

Uncle. The roots there should be the longest. But the price is supposed to be two-thirds of what you just paid. This is based on my professional experience in the Adventurer's Guild...?　Is that a rare plant around here that costs so much?　Really?　Mr. Iris?

'No, sir. It's true that the ones from the south are more expensive, but they should have blue leaves on the end. That's what's in the back, not what Iris and her friends want. The ones with green tips came from a nearby rocky area...

Merchant, you can't lie. Huh?　I didn't mean to deceive you. I wasn't. Is it a mistake?　So you're willing to pay market rate?　Yeah. I can give you a little bit more than that. So it's great if you can split it between us. Can you do that?　Thank you. Thank you. We have a deal.

Ladies. This cloth was made by the dwarves living at the foot of the Fire Mountain. He's an excellent seamstress, so it's very durable. It doesn't shrink even if you wash it, and it doesn't break easily even if you stretch it.

Really?

'Yes, Lady Aine. What he says is true. I am sure he is a conscientious person. I have read about the embroidered patterns on the cloth in an old book. I believe the dwarves of the Fire Mountain would love it.

Is the price right?

'Yes. It's almost as good as the market price, but there are some burn marks on the edges. It is thought that this was caused by fire sparks falling from a volcano when it was dried. It may be a proof of authenticity, but it is unavoidable that the value is reduced by that amount. We would appreciate negotiations in this area.

I understand. Merchant, I'll tell you what.

A business meeting based on Iris' knowledge and Aine's experience.

It was exactly the realm of the ”internal politics type cheat character”.

The two of them pick up what they need for their trip, choose the most conscientious stall and continue shopping, and then...

””You bought it!”

In no time at all, we're almost done shopping.

We're eating skewers that we bought at a market stall.

They are deep-sea fish from the south, grilled on skewers, and have a nourishing and tonic effect.

Iris's knowledge is amazing. I didn't think you could guess where it was woven just by looking at the pattern on the cloth: ......

'It's just knowledge. Wasn't it Aine who negotiated with the merchant? We can't compare to the one who actually shopped for us.

It's not true. It's because of Iris's power. That's why I'm Nai-kun's slave.

'No, it's not. It is Aine's help. I am truly my brother's slave.

”After all, Nah-kun (big brother) is amazing!

How so.

I've confirmed Iris's discernment and Aine's great bargaining power, though.

It's also a power that the other merchant would normally be convinced of. Persuasive power backed by overflowing knowledge and experience. With these two people, I'm sure business can be done well.

Now then.

Well, we're done with our shopping, let's go home.

I finished my spit roast and stood up.

I looked at the two of them with my luggage in a leather bag. But...

What do you mean?

It doesn't work like that.

I don't know why they were both looking at me with a ”what are you talking about, master” look on their faces.

We haven't finished shopping yet.

The most important thing in life, I haven't bought it yet.

...... the most important thing?

I said, and Iris and Aine puffed out their cheeks in a ”mmmm

”We haven't bought 'solid soap with seaweed' for washing (hair) (brother) (hair) (back), the most important thing, yet!

He declared, humming delicately.