Suteko Ni Narimashita 11

What a big city. Such was my first impression.

The merchant’s caravan passed through the checkpoint. There, the guards examined the goods and wrote something on their papers. Is it a tax on goods? Soon, the act that I’d grown accustomed to seeing concluded, and the caravan advanced into the city.

There are so many stone buildings…

On the way, I only came across two other villages, but their buildings were still made of wood.

Indeed, everything looks so much different than in Nergu.

Even the road underwent a dramatic change. Without any roots lying around, the ground was solid and flat, resulting in less swaying of the carriage.

“To fulfill our contract, let’s head to my store.”

“Alright.”

Kiria and Kisch also parted ways. Although it wasn’t exclusive in nature, they seemed to make a contract every time they peddled.

We’d safely arrived in the big city. I saw no point in accompanying them any further, and decided to leave.

This is farewell. I turned on my heels and left.

It was a big city, filled with a lot of people. Naturally, there were many stores, and various industries. Restaurants, inns, and clothing stores, which were nonexistent in the village, could be found here.

Speaking of clothing stores, I was piqued by the variety of clothing worn by passersby. So far, I’d seen a young man in armor, a scantily-clad old man, and a girl in puffy, ribbon-like attire, and so many more. I had to wonder about the convenience.

“Hey, come and get your catch of the day!”

“Ma’am, you look marvelous today, too! Would you like to buy this one?”

It’s lively. Probably because the road was crowded with people. There were many types of bargains. Again, it was something that didn’t exist in the village.

As I looked at the store, it dawned on me—

—I don’t have any money.

Even if something caught my interest, I couldn’t proceed with the transaction. Besides, when I thought about it, I didn’t really understand the value of money in this place.

I couldn’t do anything here. I had to obtain some money. But how? Nothing came to mind. After all, when I left the village, I’d resigned myself to fate, and made no plan whatsoever.

On the outside, I looked like an ordinary, grimy five-years-old. As a matter of course, I couldn’t do any trade.

This is what I get for leaving the village without any preparations. I smiled wryly.

Despite having decided to leave the village and live my own life, I still couldn’t do anything.

My stomach growled.

There’s no point in doing this. First of all, I needed to eat.

Let’s hunt as usual in the forest outside the city.

Thus, even though I’d just arrived in the city, I went back to the forest.

…The birds from this forest are also tasty.

***

After filling my stomach, I calmed down and began to think.

Although I could survive in the wild, I also wanted to live in the city like anyone else. Such was my honest thought as I stared at the row of buildings that was part of the cityscape.

Besides, I’d decided on the carriage. This time, I’d try to live without hiding–

–to live under the sun.

Then, I’d have to live in the city. With renewed determination, I stood up.

It felt like it’d been a long time since I’d seen my own shadow.

***

I wandered around the city.

Maybe I should look for a job. Yet, I couldn’t picture anything.

In the village, everyone had their own family business. Only a few entertained the thought of leaving the village. Kisch was an exception in that regard.

I couldn’t take over the family business, because there was no family business. Or maybe there was, but I didn’t know my parents’ faces, names, let alone occupations. Therefore, it wasn’t an option.

How do I find a job?

I also realized that I only had myself.

But it didn’t change my determination. I could simply return to the forest, but there was something I hadn’t tried yet.

At the edge of my vision, I saw a child who looked like a beggar.

He was around the same age as me, or maybe a little bit older. This might be rude, but judging from his ragged clothes, unkempt hair, and scrawny limbs, I was probably right on the mark.

He could survive. Although, there was a chance that he was a normal child with a proper guardian, but I’d worry about that then.

If I learned from him, I’d surely be able to find something to eat. There had to be something I could do.

Believing this, I waited patiently. At the end of the aisle, leaning against the wall, I casually watched as he peered outside the alley.

It happened in an instant.

The boy slid into the crowd, before sneaking his way towards a certain man.

In the next moment, he swiftly snatched the leather bag from the bald man, before dashing off.

“Waaaaaiiit—!”

Screaming, the man tried to chase after the boy, but in such a vast crowd, it was almost to no avail.

Upon hearing his scream, the crowds stared alternately between the man and the fleeing boy. Then, with a look of surprise, they opened the way.

“Tch—!”

Seeing that no one made an attempt to pursue the boy, the man clicked his tongue, before resuming the case. The boy also seemed frustrated. After all, he could no longer blend in with the crowds. From here on, it was a contest of leg strength.

As I watched the scene, I was dumbfounded.

I see, the boy is a pickpocket.

Well, that makes sense—wait, this isn’t the time to be so calm!

I ran after the boy.

The crowd resembled the Red Sea after Moses had parted it, and I had no problem making my way through them. After all, all eyes were on the bald man.

The boy ran straight without any hesitation, as if having a destination in mind. He was quite agile, maybe he was used to it.

Both the man and I gave him a chase, but we struggled to catch up.

Reluctantly, I ran into a secluded back alley and casted Invisibility. Then, I flew into the sky and went after him. Now, I should be able to pursue him with ease.

 After a while, probably due to the difference in body size, the man was closing in on the boy.

“Stop, you damn brat—!”

When they were within reach, the man reached for the boy’s neck—

—But then…

…A barrel rolled from the side, as if to support the boy.

“Wha—!?”

Startled, the man froze.

The boy used that opportunity to widen the gap once again.

“…Y-you’re still trying to escape.”

The fleeing boy jumped into the alley. The man tried to follow, only to stop in his tracks. After that, no matter how many times he tried, he’d just fail. The man began stomping his feet, his expression distorted bitterly.

After looking around the alley, he spat before turning on his heels.

“Kuh… Shitty brats…”

Why did he stop?

As I wondered, a throwaway line reached my ears.

“…Slum trash.”

Slum, as in where the poor live?

I’d never seen one before.

I see, judging from what I saw, it was quite different from the entrance of the alleyway.

Unlike in the city, there were many wooden buildings in this area. Moreover, their shapes were distorted, probably because they’d been rebuilt over and over again. The walls were riddled with holes, while the roofs were thin. Parts of the houses that were missing were only covered with cloth.

I was so fixated at them, I almost lost sight of the boy.

Somewhat further back, the boy walked into an open, square-like place. A friend of his? A boy around the same age approached him, smiling as he gave him a high five. Most likely, he was the one behind that barrel.

“How much did you get?”

“It’s quite heavy. Maybe all of his money is inside!?”

The pickpocket, the ashen-haired boy, boasted as he tossed the leather bag into the air.

“You were incredibly fast, Hylo!”

“Actually, I was saved by the barrel earlier…”

‘Shishishi…’ The boy called Hylo laughed, showing his front teeth. One of his upper front teeth was missing.

“Okay, let’s sell it. After that, we’ll have a feast!”

“Yeah!”

The two of them walked straight down the road littered with garbage and rubbles.

The transaction took place in what seemed like a dingy private house.

Above it was a dilapidated sign that bore the name of the store, ‘Stone Shop.’

After Hylo and the other pushed the door open with a creak, they stepped into the dark store.

I followed them and sneaked inside.

***

“Well, I guess that’s about it for today.”

A wrinkly old man held out an item. Some fruits, dried fish on skewers, and so on were lined up on the counter.

“Wait, that’s too little!”

Hylo and the other boy—apparently called Rico—began to complain.

“All right. Shall we count again?”

The old man picked the contents of the leather bag one by one.

“First of all, half an iron coin, along with half a copper coin come to a total of a copper coin. Also, is this a scissor sharpener? A low-quality whetstone and a worn-out file knife—those are also worth a single copper coin. There are also scraps of paper and cloth from daily necessities, all of which are about half an iron coin.”

Apparently, the bag was heavy because of the whetstone.

“They’re only worth two copper coins…? No way…”

As the shoulders of the two boys sank, the old man sighed before admonishing them.

“Well, if you have something else, just bring it. I’ll exchange everything, whether it’s money or goods.”

After finally being satisfied with the blunt explanation, the two left.

“Tch—! I thought I could eat something tasty today!”

To encourage his friend, Rico patted Hylo on the shoulder.

Their stomachs rumbled almost at the same time.

“Well, it can’t be helped. Let’s find something else to eat.”

The two carried their luggage and went away.

***

After seeing that scene, I moved to action.

It seemed that the unemployed slum dwellers got their food from the previous store. To feed themselves, they’d repeatedly commit crimes, such as thieving and pickpocketing. As a result, the slum dwellers were hated by good citizens.

From the perspective of good citizens, that store was nothing but evil.

However, I could get money here. For me, this place was exactly what I needed.

I realized something and smiled wryly.

So what’s the difference between this and hunting a wild boar?

I mocked myself.

But as long as I didn’t get involved in crime, it shouldn’t be a problem. I came to terms with it.

I didn’t know if I’d be welcome in that store, but I wouldn’t know unless I tried.

Moreover, there was another problem.

I had no item to exchange.

After all, I departed from the village with nothing but the clothes I was wearing.

Still, that old man was selling fish and fruit. So, I might be able to turn fish and fruit into cash?

It’s useless to think about it. Let’s go to the forest at once.

***

I delved deep into the woods, to a place that not even humans had reached.

Honestly, I don’t know where to find any fruit.

The vegetation in this forest was quite different, and the red fruits that I often saw back in the village were nowhere to be found.

Instead, I saw a similarly-shaped green fruit, which tasted like pear. So, I decided that I’d call it a pear. I recalled seeing the same fruit at that store.

Let’s take it home.

Then, I looked for the river. I found it right away, and saw some fish swimming along the stream.

I channeled my magic power and caught about two using Telekinesis. When I sliced the nape of its neck, the fish soon bled to death.

Afterwards, I wrapped the fish using a large leaf nearby. It was still dripping with water.

Now, I have the goods. Let’s return to that store.

***

“I haven’t seen you around.”

Unlike with Hylo and Rico, when I offered the items to the old man, his reaction was different. Although, his flat tone, along with the fact that he wasn’t looking at me were the same.

Does it mean he won’t accept the fish and fruit?

As I thought so, the old man examined the products, before turning around and speaking.

“So, what do you want in exchange? Other food? Money? There’s alcohol, too.”

“Uhm, please give me money.”

Food wasn’t a problem for me. After I asked for money, the old man reached for a box that looked like a safe on the back shelf.

“Two small fish and five good pears… Half a copper coin.”

“All right.”

I still didn’t understand the value of money. Since it was my first time trading, I’d take it as an opportunity to learn.

He placed a piece of blackened coin that’d been split in two on top of my palm. It was probably the copper coin.

“What can I exchange at this store?”

The old man stared at me, unimpressed, and after a pause, he explained.

“I’ll accept anything. Money, food, anything—except for living things.”

“Even if the customer is a child like me?”

The old man sighed once again.

“Didn’t we just exchange something?”

“Oh, sorry, I was curious.”

I apologized, but I didn’t really mean it.

“I don’t discriminate against customers or goods. I’ll buy anything from a kid like you, no matter how shady it is. As long as you pay, I’ll sell you anything—whether it’s food, weapons, or medicine.”

I squinted my eyes in admiration. If those words were true, it was worth taking advantage of.

Since the old man was dealing in stolen goods, he wasn’t to be trusted. After all, there was a chance that the item I bought was stolen, resulting in my being branded as a thief.

At the same time, I was too young to hold a job, so I’d use this place to earn money.

I grasped the copper shard I’d just got.

Let’s make money here for a while.

Perhaps, there was a better place out there for me to work.

But for the time being, I’d decided that my job was to sell products here.

“Then, I’ll be back. Thank you.”

The old man turned away without a word.