Chapter 5

"Would you like some flowers...?"

The basket the flower girl held was filled with colorful flowers. The fact that it was so full suggested that she hadn't sold many.

"Hmm. You're selling flowers?"

I crouched down to meet the girl's eyes. She nodded.

"Since you've come this far, how about I take one? How much are they?"

When I said this, the girl's eyes widened in surprise. She probably hadn't expected anyone to buy from her.

"One copper coin... um, no, two coins..."

"Two copper coins?"

"A, a, a, are they... expensive? One coin is fine too..."

The girl spoke nervously, perhaps because I was an adult.

"Alright. How about I take this yellow one? Here, three copper coins."

"Eh? Three copper coins?"

"You were about to say three, right? Then that's fine."

The girl's face turned bright red.

"R, really... three coins... is fine...?"

She asked, looking like a small animal, hesitant and fearful. Her unfamiliarity with formal speech was also cute.

"Sure. In return, I have something I'd like to ask you."

"...Ask? Me?"

"Me."

When I smiled, the girl smiled a little too.

"...Okay. What do you want to know...?"

I took the flower and gave her three copper coins. Then I started asking her questions.

"I have a lot of questions... yeah. First, could you tell me your name?"

"Aina..."

"Hehe. You don't have to use formal speech. It makes me nervous too."

When I smiled at her,

"...Okay."

Aina's tense expression softened a little. She might have started to relax.

"So, Aina, I'm Nitta Shiro... or is it Shiro Nitta here? Anyway, call me Shiro. Nice to meet you."

I extended my right hand. Aina stared at my hand for a moment, then

"Nice to meet you... Shiro-nii."

She shook my hand.

"Sorry to ask such a strange question... but could you tell me the name of this town?"

Aina looked puzzled.

"The name of the town?"

"Yep. I'm a traveler, as you can see. I just arrived, so I don't know anything."

"That's right. Well, this town is... "

Thanks to Aina, I was able to gather information about this world. First, the place I was in was a border town of the Gineas Kingdom, called Ninorich.

The currency here comes in three types: copper coins, silver coins, and gold coins. One hundred copper coins can be exchanged for one silver coin, and one hundred silver coins for one gold coin. The average monthly income of a townsman is about eight silver coins, and very few people own gold coins.

If one gold coin is worth one million yen, it's like carrying a wad of cash in Japan. No wonder so few people carry gold coins.

And indeed, this was a market where anyone, even a child like Aina, could do business if they registered with the town hall.

"Hmm, I see. So, if I register with the town hall, I can open a shop too?"

"...Yeah, I think so."

"Really? That's great to hear."

That means I can do business in this world. If I bring goods from Japan and sell them here, I might be able to make a lot of money easily. I should ask more questions. But first—

"Aina, can I buy more flowers?"

"...Eh?"

"Sure, how about ten more?"

"..."

Aina looked incredibly surprised, her mouth opening and closing.

"Shiro-nii... you're joking, right?"

"Not at all. Even for decoration, one flower is too lonely, don't you think?"

My late grandmother loved flowers. That's why I thought of offering flowers to her altar. I felt she would be happier with flowers from Aina, rather than from a local florist.

"...Oh."

I took ten more flowers from the basket. At three copper coins each, that's thirty copper coins in total.

"Here, thirty copper coins."

I jingled the copper coins into Aina's hand.

"So much money..."

Instantly, Aina's eyes welled up with tears. The weight of thirty-three copper coins (3,300 yen) must mean something different to her, having worked since she was young.

"Thank you... Shiro-nii."

"It's fine. Thank you for the beautiful flowers."

"...Hehe. Thank you for saying they're beautiful... Aina is happy."

Aina smiled, even as she cried.

"Oh, right. Could you tell me more about the town hall and the procedures for opening a shop in this market?"

Aina wiped her tears and smiled.

"Sure."

"Thanks. Could you show me where the town hall is?"

"I'll take you there. This way."

"Really?"

I was surprised that she would guide me all the way to the town hall.

"This way, this way~"

Aina hopped and beckoned, and I followed her small figure.

[Current Money]

- Gold Coins: 00

- Silver Coins: 02

- Copper Coins: 02