Suteko Ni Narimashita 14

By nighttime, I’d already arrived at my residence.

I threw my exhausted body on the dusty door where fine stones were scattered.

While the expedition was exhausting, the battle was what did me in.

It was my first time fighting a monster since arriving in this city. The second time, actually. But unlike last time, it was a tough opponent.

Magic was my forte. As such, for a self-taught magician like me, an opponent who could use [Fighting Spirit] was just a bad match.

Fortunately, it worked out this time. Next time, I wasn’t so sure. Even today, had that serpent pounced on me while I was still down, it’d be the end of me.

—Shium said it himself;

“Even if it’s a hodgepodge of weak warriors, if there’s a magician among them, the group quickly becomes a nasty opponent.”

Yet, look at me now.

I couldn’t confront a monster that used [Fighting Spirit].

While I could defeat him with ease using the same means, that wasn’t how a magician fought.

I suddenly felt hard-pressed to improve my combat skill.

It’d be necessary if I wanted to continue making a living this way. To gather resources, I’d have to go on an expedition, which in turn would increase the chance of combat.

Merely increasing my daily training wouldn’t do because it’d only develop my physique.

I had to think about how to best improve my martial arts and magic as well.

***

Amidst my weariness, I tried to come up with something, but before I knew it, my consciousness was cut off.

—I woke up the next morning.

“Please take a look at this.”

After waking up and having a quick bite, I immediately left to sell jades.

Although the morning market had just opened, the shopkeeper was already tending to the store. I had to wonder, did he even sleep?

“I see… You’re back already?”

In the morning, the shopkeeper, seemingly downcast, gloomily stared at what seemed like jade ores.

He’d lift it up and examine it from every corner. Then, he’d tap it to hear the sound, before scratching the surface of the stone with his nails. With that, the appraisal was completed.

Most of the ores I brought were moved to the edge of the counter, leaving only a small one that weighed less than a kilogram.

“This and this are raw jades. What are you going to do with the scrap stones? While you can exchange it, they’re barely worth half an iron coin.”

“Huh? Is that all?”

My eyes went wide. I’d expected to be disappointed, but not to this extent. After hearing that, the shopkeeper said flatly.

“Yes, that is correct. Well, it is your first time, so what did you expect?”

“Haa, is that so…?”

As far as I recalled, the shopkeeper was fair in this regard. 

Then, it is what it is.

“I better dispose of these scrap stones. Do I need to pay to get them transported?”

“There’s no need. They’re solid enough to be used as a building material. They’re still useful.”

After saying that, the shopkeeper threw the scrap stones into the box next to him. A shrill, rattling noise followed.

“The jade itself is 6 silver coins in total. If you prefer, I can split them into smaller changes—”

“—Huh!? That much!?”

That’s like, 48 times more expensive than a bird!? …These pebbles!?

“Why are you so surprised?”

The shopkeeper sighed exasperatedly.

“It’s not a daily necessity, but a luxury item. So, of course, it’ll be expensive.”

“I-I see…”

…What have I been doing my whole life? I should’ve done it sooner…

“So, what’s your pick?”

“Eh?”

“I was asking if you’d like to be paid with silver coins or if there’s another alternative you prefer.”

“O-of course, that’s fine.”

I answered, still surprised and half-dazed. After sparing me a quick glance, the shopkeeper counted and arranged the silver coins. Then, he spoke with a grin.

“It’s a pleasure doing business with you.”

I’ve never heard him say that before.

“—Oh, right.”

I almost forgot due to the shock of the jade’s value.

“Please take a look at these.”

I placed the fangs and the water sac I’d obtained from the serpent on the counter. I’d forgotten to take them out of my bag.

“This is…”

The shopkeeper picked up the fang and stared intently at it. Since yesterday, I’d been blessed with the shopkeeper’s surprised expression.

“The fangs and the water sac of the serpent, huh… So, you ended up encountering it.”

“Yes, he attacked me on my way home.”

“Hoo…”

He spread out the water sac, as large as a human’s torso, and stretched it to check the texture. Why does he need to check it under the light, though?

“There’s no tear in the water sac and the fangs are in good condition…”

The shopkeeper stared at me in bewilderment.

“Do you have the skin as well?”

“I couldn’t bring it because it was too big.”

“Huh… Oh, well. Then, can I pay you with gold coins?”

“About that, the smaller coins the better. Please?”

The shopkeeper silently walked into the vault, stowed the materials in a leather bag, and returned with some coins.

“Here you go. Five silver coins.”

“That much?”

Contrary to my words, I wasn’t that surprised this time around. Probably because of the jade.

“They aren’t scratched and the quality is excellent.”

I was happy to be praised by the shopkeeper. Although, I doubted if he was actually praising me.

—Still, 11 silver coins in total!?

I heard that an average household earns about 20 silver coins a month. If so, in just one day, I earned what an ordinary household would otherwise earn in half a month. 

“Judging from those materials, it seems that you were able to subjugate the serpent.”

“Well, it was quite a challenge, though.”

The shopkeeper quietly muttered, “Expected no less from a magician.” Then, while staring into the distance, he pondered.

After gathering his thoughts, the shopkeeper turned to me again.

“If you’re okay with heavy work, I can introduce you to other profitable resources. What do you think?”

“Other…?”

“Actually, about Mt. Kozu, the route I showed you was supposed to be safe. Although the serpent did come out from time to time, sightings were rare.”

“It was my bad luck, I suppose.”

“But if you can hold your own weight, it’s a different story. I can show you a better place.”

I also pondered about it. Hmm. Covering my mouth with my hand, I organized the information.

I slayed the serpent, so as long as there weren’t any other monsters, that place should be safe for the time being. After learning from my mistake, I could return to collect real jades. That way, I’d be able to earn a bit more money. Besides, earning more than 10 silver coins a day was enough to make up for the six hours round trip.

However, the reason I accepted this request was that I felt fed up with my unchanging days. Sure, harvesting jades would be profitable. But if I did that over and over again, I’d just get tired of it.

—Then, the answer was obvious.

Even if there’s some risk, I have to do it.

“Please tell me more about them.”

“Hoo…”

The shopkeeper smiled faintly and laid out a paper on top of the counter.

“But are you sure about this?”

I asked him.

“About what?”

The hand of the shopkeeper, who was drawing something with a quill, stopped. Furrowing his eyebrows, he paused to look at me.  

“…As you can see, giving such a commission to a small child.”

In short, I was asking, “Does it look like I can fight?”

First of all, I was still a 6-year-old child. I didn’t even know if I attended elementary school in my previous life. Even in this world, I was still at an age where I couldn’t even work in downtown areas.

The shopkeeper burst out laughing at my question.

I’d never seen him laugh, either.

“Hahahaha! I don’t care about that kind of thing! I’ll make a deal with anyone, even if it’s a child! I’ll let you do anything you can.”

After he’d laughed enough, he stared at me with a smile and went on, “Besides…”

“—It’d be a waste to give a normal job to such a magical and noisy kid.”

Before I knew it, he’s become fond of me.

“—This time, your job is to catch that fish.”

“Once the handling is done, I can treat it like any other fish.”

The discussion had come to an end. My objective this time was a fish that was said to be highly valued as a preventative medicine for prevalent diseases.

This time, unlike yesterday, the destination was a bit closer.

I left the Stone Shop in high spirits.

Last time, it was collecting, but this time it was hunting.

I smiled, thinking it’d be a thrilling day for a while.

—Oh, I forgot to complain about the serpent meat.