Chapter 10

In the morning, I spent time getting to know the guards, and at lunch, I won their hearts with food, then headed to the Merchant Guild in the afternoon.

For the occasion, I loaded a cart with red wine and wine glasses, and as you know, Reisha was the one pulling the cart.

Since I couldn't load everything, I brought fifty bottles of red wine and twenty sets of wine glasses to the Merchant Guild.

"It's lively today, and it's also quite elegant."

"These are the adventurers who are my guards."

I exchanged a brief greeting with Umbrella and was given a separate room to present the red wine and wine glasses I had brought.

"It's Moja-Gatchi. I heard you have some rare wine, so I'm looking forward to it."

"I'm Gross Handler. I'd like to taste the wine."

When I asked Umbrella to taste the wine, this Gatchi person showed up.

It seems that wine is Gatchi's specialty, and not only Umbrella but also other buyers consider it a sacred territory that must not be invaded. He's a dwarf, after all.

I took out a wine bottle and wine glasses from my backpack, and the two of them opened their eyes wide and froze.

Ignoring their reaction, I pulled the cork from the wine bottle and poured it into the wine glasses.

"How beautiful..."

I heard Umbrella mutter.

I had brought four wine glasses just in case, so I poured red wine into three of them, including my own, and smoothly moved two of them in front of Umbrella and Gatchi.

"In my hometown, it's customary to enjoy the aroma of the wine before taking a sip. Please swirl the glass and enjoy the aroma before drinking."

I demonstrated, and the two of them tried to follow, holding the wine glasses, but their hands were slightly trembling.

As they brought their noses close to the wine glasses to enjoy the aroma, their faces relaxed.

After taking a sip of the red wine, they rolled it around on their tongues to enjoy the aroma even more before swallowing, and then their eyes widened.

"This is delicious!"

"Yes, it's very delicious!"

Gatchi took a second and third sip of the red wine, seemingly trying to find his own way to enjoy it, not just the general way I had taught.

"Moreover, the alcohol content is strong. It's not even comparable to ale."

"First, there's a fruity acidity, followed by astringency, but it's a good astringency, not unpleasant."

"Indeed, it's not an unpleasant astringency."

I handed them some cheese from my backpack.

"Here's some cheese. Please enjoy it as a snack."

"Wow, this goes well!"

"Yes, the sweetness and saltiness are perfect with this wine!"

In the end, the two of them finished a 750-milliliter bottle.

Especially Gatchi, who was so enthusiastic that he was about to open the bottles of red wine I had brought for sale as well.

Then came the negotiation time.

The two of them, who had tasted the red wine, would decide how much to pay.

And whether they would recognize the value of the wine glasses. The time while they were consulting outside the room was nerve-wracking.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Thank you for waiting."

The two of them returned to the room after their consultation.

Gatchi's nose, which was slightly visible under his beard, was a bit red.

I think drinking a whole bottle during the tasting is too much.

The price they offered me was 500,000 yen per bottle of red wine and 1,300,000 yen per set of wine glasses, with the condition of exclusive sales to the Merchant Guild.

"If you have cheese, we'll buy it at a high price."

The cheese, which was also well-received as a snack, is not for sale because it can go bad quickly depending on the storage conditions.

"I'm sorry, but cheese is hard to come by."

"Unfortunately, that's the case, but it can't be helped."

"Also, please store the wine in a cool, dark place. Storing it in a place exposed to sunlight will degrade its quality. And please handle the wine glasses with care as they are fragile."

"Yes, we will manage them properly."

The transfer of the red wine and wine glasses was carried out under Gatchi's supervision.

The red wine, which is stored in wooden boxes, was carefully checked in each box.

The wine glasses were handled by Umbrella, and all of them were confirmed.

It seems that Gatchi is not particularly interested in wine glasses, and the price of 1,300,000 yen per set was probably set by Umbrella.

However, as a dwarf, Gatchi also understands the quality of the wine glasses, such as their thinness and high transparency.

"By the way, regarding the white sugar that Umbrella requested, it seems we can manage it."

I don't want to supply a large amount at once.

I'm concerned about the friction with the merchants who are already supplying sugar.

However, thinking about it, white sugar is sold at a higher price than existing sugar, so it might be possible to differentiate the price range.

I plan to check if the price range is differentiated and deliver it in installments.

"Really? That's great."

"Since the quantity is large, I can't deliver it all at once, so I'll deliver it in several batches."

"Yes, thank you!"

We decided the delivery schedule for the white sugar and the remaining red wine and wine glasses, and then left the Merchant Guild.

"I don't know this town very well, so could you show me around?"

I asked Every and the others to show me around the town in a friendly manner.

"Sure. Where would you like to go?"

"Hmm, I want to go to a shop that sells magic items."

"Understood. This way."

With Every leading the way, Laila and Whitney guarded my left and right, Reisha pulled the cart behind us, and Sera followed at the back. I think it's a bit too much.

"Here it is."

Every stopped in front of a run-down shop and pointed to it.

Since we would be in the way if we all went in, I went in with Every and Reisha, and the other three stayed to watch the cart.

Inside the shop, there were various items, and an old woman with a wrinkled face was seated behind the counter.

I was a bit startled; I thought she might be a mummy.

"Jinger, I brought a customer."

"Oh, I can see that."

"Hello, I'm Gross Handler. May I take a look?"

"Sure, go ahead."

The shop owner is apparently named Jinger.

Since she said I could look around, I did so.

**Type: Magic Lantern (Low-Tier)**

**Description:** A luminescent device powered by a magic stone. The light output is not very high.

**Type: Magic Tent (Low-Tier)**

**Description:** A tent that expands the interior space. The size is 4 meters wide, 4 meters deep, and 3 meters high.

**Type: Low-Potion (HP)**

**Description:** Instantly restores 30 HP points.

**Type: Low-Potion (MP)**

**Description:** Instantly restores 30 MP points.

**Type: Low-Potion (Poison)**

**Description:** Neutralizes mild poisoning.

**Type: Low-Potion (Paralysis)**

**Description:** Neutralizes mild paralysis.

**Type: Monster Repellent (Low-Tier)**

**Description:** Emits an odor that monsters dislike, preventing them from approaching. Effective only against low-rank monsters. The effect lasts about ten hours.

The Magic Lantern isn't that great because I can buy a battery-powered lantern through mail order.

However, the Magic Tent is good. It looks like it's only two meters square, but it's actually four times the area.

Then there are the potions, which are standard in a fantasy world, so I'll buy some.

You never know when you might need them, so they're essential. I wish I could get more potent potions.

"Do you have a Magic Tent with a larger capacity? And I'd like to buy more potent potions as well."

I asked the wrinkled Jinger about her stock.

"I have a Medium-Tier Magic Tent. For potions, I can provide Middle-Potions and High-Potions."

"How much are the Medium-Tier Magic Tent and the High-Potions?"

"The Medium-Tier Magic Tent is 2,000,000 yen, and the High-Potions are 30,000 yen for HP, 50,000 yen for MP, 20,000 yen for Poison, 20,000 yen for Paralysis, and 60,000 yen for Petrification."

"Is there a Petrification potion? Then I'll take one Medium-Tier Magic Tent and ten of each High-Potion. Also, twenty of each Middle-Potion, please."

"Do you have the money?"

Jinger gave me a sharp look, sizing me up.

"No problem. By the way, how much are the Middle-Potions?"

"They're half the price of the High-Potions. And there's no Middle-Potion for Petrification."

"Understood. So, ten of each High-Potion is 1,800,000 yen, twenty of each Middle-Potion is 1,200,000 yen, and the Medium-Tier Magic Tent is 2,000,000 yen. Oh, and I'd like a more potent Monster Repellent as well."

"…I only have Medium-Tier and Low-Tier Monster Repellents. The Medium-Tier is 30,000 yen, and the Low-Tier is 10,000 yen."

"Then I'll take twenty Medium-Tier Monster Repellents. That's an additional 600,000 yen, so the total is 5,600,000 yen."

"…Yes, 5,600,000 yen."

I placed five Misril coins and six large gold coins on the counter, and Jinger put them in her pocket and got up from her seat.

"I'll get them for you, so please wait a moment."

Jinger went to the back of the shop and returned with all the items after about ten minutes.

I wanted to put them in my Storage, but I didn't want to use it in front of others.

So I called the three waiting outside, and we all loaded the items onto the cart.

"Are you some kind of noble?"

"No, I'm just a commoner. I'm just preparing for a trip I plan to take soon."

"I see, a trip, huh."

Jinger didn't ask any more questions.

I guess that's how it is in these situations. I don't understand.

For a few days, I went back and forth between my house and the Merchant Guild and explored the town.

Having guards around is very reassuring. I don't have to be on edge.

I also got quite close to the four guards.

They enjoy the meals I prepare, and now they are addicted to my cooking.

When I'm at home, they also help Reisha with her training, so her level has improved.

**Name: Reisha Organ**

**Occupation: Attack Guardian (Lv6)**

**Information:** Ogre (Mutant) Female, 15 years old, Servant**

**HP:** 1200 (S)

**MP:** 65 (E)

**Strength:** 270 (S)

**Endurance:** 280 (S)

**Magic Power:** 21 (E)

**Agility:** 90 (B)

**Dexterity:** 33 (D)

**Charisma:** 33 (D)

**Luck:** 5

**Active Skills:** [Guard of a Hundred Weapons (D)], [Axe of Destruction (D)]

**Passive Skills:** [Body Reinforcement (D)], [Axe and Shield Technique (D)]

**Magic Skills:**

**Unique Skill:** [Bond]

**Criminal Record:**

Her level is rising nicely, and her skill ranks are improving steadily.

By the way, Whitney, the tank of the "Arms of Ars," has a strength of 150 and endurance of 200, so Reisha has already surpassed her.

Her skills are also at the same D rank. By the way, her HP is around 500, so Reisha's is more than double.

It's inevitable that the base stats of humans and ogres are different, but Reisha's muscle stats are being fully utilized.

On the fifth day of having Every and the others as guards, we encountered "Dawn's Thunder" on our way back from the Merchant Guild.

We just happened to run into them on the street, and I didn't want to, so I tried to nod and pass by, but they confronted us.

However, with Reisha, who has stats that surpass a D-rank adventurer's tank, Whitney, they were brushed off and ran away with tears in their eyes.

What did they want? Don't they think that if they cause trouble, it will be reported to the Adventurer's Guild?

On the seventh day, after delivering goods to the Merchant Guild as usual, I went to Jinger's magic item shop again.

Jinger had called me.

"Sorry to call you here."

"No, no, what's the matter?"

"I was wondering if you'd be interested in buying this."

Jinger placed what looked like an ordinary waist pouch on the counter.

"Is this...!?"

"Hmm? Do you know what this is, Every?"

"Isn't this a Magic Pouch?"

"Magic Pouch?"

"Yes, you're right. It's a Magic Pouch. Interested in buying it?"

A Magic Pouch is a standard item in fantasy settings, similar to my Storage.

"How much is it?"

I don't need it since I have Storage, but the fact that it's being sold suggests it's more common than Storage.

"20,000,000 yen."

"20,000,000 yen!"

Every barked loudly.

Indeed, 20,000,000 yen is a lot, but it's not an amount I can't afford.

**Type: Magic Pouch**

**Description:** A waist pouch with time-stop and expanded capacity. The capacity is 10 cubic meters.

According to Jinger, it's a Medium-Tier item, so the capacity isn't very large.

Still, it's a rare storage-type magic item, so it costs 20,000,000 yen.

It's probably better to keep my Storage a secret.

"Alright, I'll buy it."

"Great, you're always a good customer."

I placed twenty Misril coins on the counter, and Jinger counted them one by one.

This is the most expensive purchase I've made so far. I need to go to the Merchant Guild to sell more tomorrow.

On the tenth day,

The guard request will be completed tomorrow morning.

When I suggested extending the guard duty for another ten days, all four of them agreed, so I went to the Adventurer's Guild to extend the contract.

However, an incident occurred on the way.

"Look out! Monsters are coming!"