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nMonster Subjugation – 4th Day

nAfter finishing my adventurer work at the abandond mines for the day, I walked over to Serge-san’s store.

n“Good evening, Serge-san.” Ryouma

n“I’ve been waiting Ryouma-sama. Shall we?” Serge

nRiding on the carriage Serge prepared beforehand, we headed south of the town’s center.

nBefore long we reached a plain building with a sincere and vigorous aura. Dim light leaked out from its entrace. There were few people inside, but according to the employee I talked to there were indeed other people present.

nI went to the receptionist desk, but the woman in charge immediately let us in and then excused herself while bowing. It seems she’s already used to Serge-san. And from the way she treats him, Serge-san seems to be quite valued.

nBut then again he is the president of his own company, so I guess it’s expected?

nAfter a few minutes, a slender man and a woman that was hunched over entered the room. Serge and I tried to stand up to greet them, but the old woman just waved and smiled, indicating for us not to bother.

nThe man was the first to speak.

n“So, it’s you, Serge. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I haven’t heard any rumors lately, so I was wondering what you were up too.” Slender Man

nThis guy’s accent sort of sounds like a fake kansai dialect, but it still feels strangely nostalgic. I had a boss like this in the past too…

n“Long time no see, Pioro.” Serge

n“What did you come for? I doubt someone like you only shows his face during meetings would drop by just to say hi.” Hunched Grandma

nAs she said that she turned to me.

n“Nice to meet you, boy. Name is Grisiera. As you can see, I’m a grandma, but I’m also the guild master of this merchants guild.” Grisiera

n“My name is Ryouma Takebayashi. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I came here today to register myself. I know full well I’m still wet behind the ears, so please give me your guidance.” Ryouma

n“Oh? You know your manners, don’t you, boy? Is he one of your new servants, Serge?” Grisiera

n“You’re really well mannered. I’m Pioro Saionji. Happy to make your acquaintance. You don’t have to mind your manners when talking to me.” Pioro

n“Ryouma Takebayashi. A pleasaure to make your acquaintance.” Ryouma

nSaionji? Sounds Japanese. Moreover, that black hair, those black eyes, and that aura about him… Is he another otherworlder descendant?

n“Ryouma, was it? I’ll remember that. So, what did you come here for, Serge?” Pioro

n“I came here to accompany Ryouma-sama in his registration. Today, I’m but a chaperon.” Serge

nWhen the two heard that, they turned to me. The guild master took a good look at me.

n“Hmm… Wait here.” Grisiera

nAs she said that, she whipped out her rod and poked it against Serge-san’s head.

n“You idiot! What do you think you’re doing making a kid panic!?” Grisiera

nHuh!? How did she know what I was thinking!? Does she have a skill that allows her to read minds!?

n“Ryouma, right? I can’t read minds.” Grisiera

nYou’re reading it right now!

n“The years might take my strength and my youth, but my merchant’s eyes remain strong. You look like an honest boy. I just picked up on the clues and made a smart guess.” Grisiera

n“Scary, right~? She always says that, but I bet she can actually read minds.” Pioro

n“I’m more impressed than scared, actually, since I can’t read people very well.” Ryouma

n“It’s something you pick up over the years. As long as your environment permits it, it’s something you’ll pick up eventually. You still have many years ahead of you, boy… I don’t know what happened in the past, but you still have your future.” Grisiera

n“Thank you, but are you sure you really can’t read minds?” Ryouma

n“Of course, I can’t read minds. I could tell something was weighing on your mind because of that thousand-mile look that you made as soon as you said you couoldn’t read people well.” Griseria

nSeriously!?

n“Was I really making that sort of look?” Ryouma

n“They were the sort of eyes an old man would make when reminiscing.” Grisiera

nShe got it right!

n“Now then, I know you’re surprised, but didn’t you come here to register? It’s getting late, so let’s get it over with.” Griseria

nAt that, I started filling out the guild registration form.

n“Hmm… What is this ‘job’ here referring to? Isn’t the job merchant?” Ryouma

n“Write there what business you want to do. For example, if you want to sell weapons, then write ‘arms dealer’. Feel free to write as much as you want. You can also add more later if you want, so you don’t have to think too hard about it now. There’s a list of the basic jobs on the back of the paper, so refer to that.” Pioro

n“Alright.” Ryouma

nI hear some adventurers work as peddlers… Hmm… Anyway, let’s go with that and shopkeeper.

n…Huh? A troubadour? Is that supposed to be a merchant too?

nI filled up the form while thinking that to myself. When I submitted it, the guild master glanced at it, and then said this.

n“Oh? You’re an adventurer? You better take care then. If you die, you’ll lose even your capital.

nI see you want your own store too.” Grishera

n“I have an odd business in my mind. Initially, I was just planning on making just enough to live off of, but Serge-san advised me to register to the guild and go all out.” Ryouma

n“Serge did?” Pioro

n“Well ain’t that interesting? What kind of business is it?” Grishera

n“A laundromat.” Ryouma

n“A laundromat? You mean the one where you get paid to wash other people’s laundry?

n…Serge, what’s the point in making the boy register for that? It’s true registering doesn’t hurt, but with a small business like that, registering or not won’t make a difference.” Grishera

n“That’s what I thought too at first. But after listening to Ryouma, I found myself thinking, ‘This could work!’ And then I realized it would be problematic if Ryouma made too much money while being unregistered.” Ryouma

n“…You think it’s that profitable?” Pioro

n“If it’s so profitable that you might end up getting the guild’s attention, then you have my interest too. Mind letting this grandma know what you’re up to, boy?” Grishera

nSerge-san smiled at me and winked.

nIt seems it’ll be okay if it’s these two.

nTo make sure I don’t say anything wrong, I let Serge do most of the talking. As we explained my plans to them, the merchant guild master and Pioro gradually became more and more shocked, until eventually, they were groaning. By the time we finished, they were laughing.

n“Hee Hee Hee! Living a long life, sometimes you get strange things like this. That’s why life is so interesting. Who would’ve thought a new slime variant would turn out like this? You’re luck is pretty good, boy.” Grishera

n“After hearing that, it certainly does seem like this laundromat might just make a killing. If you were unregistered then, it would certainly cause a ruckus in the guild. It’s pretty impressive that you already have such good material for business despite your age. Let me worship you a little.” Pioro

nSuddenly, Pioro-san starting praying to me.

nWhat is he doing?

n“It’s better not to think too deeply on his actions. He does that whenever he thinks up a good way to make profit or talks to someone with one.” Grishera

n“Only God can manipulate luck, so isn’t it only human to want to share in a lucky person’s luck?” Pioro

nWell, it’s not like I can’t understand.

n“Still, today sure was surprising. This is probably the most I’ve been surprised in the past 8 years. Unfortunately, that sorta business is impossible for me. The methods aside, without those slimes it’s just not possible to turn over a profit. But you can make it work.

nPuff out your chest and do some good business, alright?” Pioro

n“I like you, boy. I didn’t think something so trivial would surprise me at this age. You have a good future ahead of you, so show your face here from time to time. I’ll give you some tea and sweets, and I’ll hear out whatever concerns you have.” Grishera

n“Thank you very much. I’ll do my best.” Ryouma

n“Let’s decide on your store next. Guild master, if you will.” Serge

n“Sheesh, you sure work these old bones hard, Serge. Pioro, on the upper row of the shelves to your left, there’s a bundle of documents two places from the right. Get that.” Grishera

n“What working old bones? You’re not moving an inch!” Pioro

n“Just get it already.” Grishera

n“Yeah, yeah, I’m on i— What? Isn’t this just a bunch of rundown places? Should I invest too?” Pioro

n“Idiot. According to Serge, the boy is unusually serious. He won’t accept your money even if you offered it.” Grishera

nShe sure figured me out so quickly. It’s true, though. People have called me stupid serious back in my previous life, and I do personally want to refrain from using other people’s money. Loans aren’t something to be taken lightly, after all. And I’m not so committed to the business that I’m willing to go that far.

nStill, a merchant’s eye sure is scary… It’s scary in a different way from martial arts.

n“Anyway, just as Pioro mentioned, this bundle of documents refer to buildings with problems. But because of those problems, they’re cheap. You’ll be fine as long as the place has a reception desk and a place for luggage, right?” Grishera

n“Yes. Everything will be taken care of by the slimes, so not even water will be needed.” Ryouma

n“Normally if a merchant opening a laundromat said he didn’t even need water, he’d get an ‘are you even trying!?’ in response… Anyway, how much can you afford?” Grishera

n“700 small gold coins.” Ryouma

n“Oh? You’re unexpectedly rich.” Grishera

n“There were some bandits near my home in the past. I killed them with poison, and apparently, one of them had a huge bounty on his head.” Ryouma

n“If you have that much… Guild master, there should be an available area near my store. What about there?” Pioro

n“Hmm… There should be one indeed…” Grishera

nAs the guild master said that, she rolled up the bundle of documents.

n“…Right, there is one. It’s a huge bar and inn. It also has a storage place for its furnishings. Moreover, its location is good.

nUnfortunately, it caught fire and over half was turned to cinders. There are still some structures standing, but they’re now overgrown with grass, so you can’t use them. It’s going to cost you time and money to bring the place back up to shape, but other than that it’s a good place. What do you think?” Grishera

n“I’ve heard that Ryouma-sama is an accomplished earth magician. With a place like that, you’ll be free to change it according to your liking.” Serge

nA place I can make my own is indeed a very appealing proposal.

n“Well? Can you make something out of it with your earth magic?” Grishera

n“Hmm…” Ryouma

nIf I use Create Block or some other earth magic along with the sticky slime’s hardening liquid… Yeah, this should work.

n“I think it’ll be fine. From what I’ve seen on the map, it should be near the residential area. That makes it a very good location, indeed.” Ryouma

nGimuru is a town surrounded by robust walls and is shaped like a circle. At the middle of the town is a main street that connects the northern gate to the southern gate. To the east is the residential district and to the west is the manufacturing industry such as ironworks.

nThere are plenty of inns around the southern gates. The inn I’m staying at is located there too.

nThe northern gate leads to the abandoned mines, so only miners used it, but even they stopped using it when the mine was declared abandoned.

nThe eastern gate also has a path leading to the mines (not abandoned), and it was actually to make the miners’ lives easier that the residential district was built in the eastern part of the town.

nThe area I was recommended was located almost directly east from the center of town, right between the residential district and the main street, making it near the adventurers guild and the residential district, consequently placing it relatively far from from the manufacturing industry to the west. It’s still easy to find, though. Really, I couldn’t have asked for a better location.

nWhen I said those thoughts out loud, the guild master nodded.

n“Exactly. And that’s why it used to be such a popular bar. Adventurers and townsmen alike would drop by after work, and a lot of people would make merry. A store opened in this location is still bound to get people’s attention, but it costs a lot of money.” Grishera

n“I’ll take it.” Ryouma

nTo be honest, I’m not that particular with lands, but I don’t think this land is bad. It’s near the residential district and the adventurers guild, and I can also do what I want with it. On top of that, Serge-san recommended it, and I think the guild master and Pioro are both good people. It should be alright to trust them.

n“Are you sure?” Grishera

n“Yes. The location is good, and I’m sure my slimes and my magic would be able to handle the reconstruction. Besides, I really fancy the idea of making my own store.” Ryouma

n“I mentioned this already, but it’s fairly expensive and will cost you 580 small gold coins. Moreover, the land is big, so you’ll be paying 10 small gold coins for the land tax. The business rights and the annual fee will cost 60 small gold coins. All in all, that’s 650 small gold coins. Are you really sure about this?” Grishera

n“Yes. I have more than enough to live off of, after all.” Ryouma

n“True, with 50 small gold coins, you could live like a noble for a year… Alright, I’ll sell this land to you.” Grishera

n“Thank you very much.” Ryouma

nThey taught me a bunch of stuff after that. It turns out opening a store in this world isn’t that hard. You just have to go through the guild to buy land and the other necessary stuff, and you’ll be able to start your business right away. After that you have to write down your profits and expenses, and then pay your income tax and land tax once a year to the guild. As long as you can do that, age and gender doesn’t really matter.

nIt’s almost as if the only question is whether you can make money and pay up.

nThe first tax is also twice as expensive. Mainly because it’s essentially the equivalent of the gratuity fee 1 back in earth. The fees for the business license changes depending on the scale. A street stall would go for about 5 medium copper coins, while the plot of land I bought after becoming a store will cost me two gold coins.

nThe last expense is the annual fee. It’s sort of like a donation to the guild. Originally, just a small amount for the annual fees was fine, but because a limit was never set, it’s become customary for people to pay as much as they can afford to show off their wealth. Naturally, the guild also treats higher paying members better, on top of the increased reputation. Yeah, they’re merchants alright.

nLike this I completed the lengthy process of buying a store, and after I thanked the three of them, I left.

nSerge-san apparently had to show up in the next meeting of the merchants guild, and Pioro had something to discuss with him, so I parted with him at the guild.

nI think I’ll start building my store once I complete my last adventurer job… I won’t be making just a cave this time, but a real building. I did work part time as a construction worker in my past life. It was hard, but being able to see your work amount to something so visibly really felt great.

nI’m looking forward to it.

n1 – From what I gather, a gratuity fee is basically a security deposit.

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