Chapter 84

"This is the room where the Spear Hero's companions are staying."

After saying that, the shadow suddenly disappeared.

It must be watching from somewhere... I don't really care.

I don't owe this bitch any politeness, so I could just open the door, but I'll knock just in case.

"..."

There's no response.

When I enter the room, a very moody bitch is sitting in a chair, chatting with two other girls.

"---So, you know?"

"Do you understand?"

They seem like light-hearted girls. I don't really like that type.

They look like the kind who might do casual sex for money, sitting cross-legged on the floor like city girls. In my world, they'd be considered dumb girls.

Not even responding to a knock. What's up with that?

I've fought with them before, and they still leave a bad impression.

"Hey"

When I speak, the girls from Motasu glance at me with a dismissive look.

"I'm the Shield Hero. We'll be working together until tomorrow night due to the personnel change. Nice to meet you."

I introduce myself just to be polite. These types tend to remember every slight and point them out with a sneer.

To be honest, I already want to leave.

"Hey, you guys should say something too."

I warn them not to be disrespectful.

"No way..."

"Nope..."

"Tch!"

What an attitude.

The bitch even clicks her tongue.

Huh? On closer inspection, the bitch's equipment is pretty good.

Ah, Motasu must have bought it for her.

Whatever.

Do I really have to spend another day and a half with this kind of person?

I hope not.

"Then, let's go fight monsters right away."

"Ugh..."

The other girls let out unintelligent-sounding voices. The bitch is ignoring me.

I don't want to talk to her either. It's best to ignore each other.

"Give us a break."

"Right, right."

"Sure, sure. Do as you please—"

What a hassle. Let's put off the monster hunting...

"That's a problem."

A voice comes from the wall.

...Sigh.

"It's an order from the country. What will happen to your beloved Spear Hero if you ignore it?"

The girls reluctantly get up and start preparing.

Names... I haven't heard them, and I don't care to.

I'll never have to work with these people again.

"I'll send a party invitation."

I invite them to the party.

They agree with really unpleasant faces.

"First, let's go shopping at the market and then head to the beginner's monster habitat."

A bag of gold falls into my hand.

...Where is he hiding?

I check the gold in the bag, and there's quite a bit.

With this, I can live for a week, not just two days.

"This time, if you show your face at the port, they'll take you there."

"Sure, sure."

I left the room as quickly as possible, not wanting to spend a second more with them.

We walk through the market in the port of Carmila Island.

What should I buy?

Equipment?

Food?

Healing potions or recovery items?

While I was distracted, the girls from Motasu were shopping for accessories at a store, chatting happily.

"Hey, Shield Hero—"

One of the girls calls me with a whiny voice.

It's annoying. Just hearing it makes me angry.

"...What?"

"I want you to buy this necklace."

"Why should I?"

"Mr. Motasu would buy it for us."

"I'm not Motasu. Why should I buy it for you?"

"Shouldn't you at least try to get along? The Shield Hero will be mad if you don't."

The bitch says this as if mocking me.

She's always confrontational.

But she has a point.

I need to at least pretend to get along on the surface...

I don't need second-hand girls from Motasu.

Since it's just borrowed money...

But when I saw the prices of the accessories, all my thoughts flew out the window.

They're too expensive!

"What is this!"

The prices are way too high.

I want to yell at the merchant for taking us for fools.

The average price is doubled, which I can tolerate as a tourist price.

But four times the price?

"Hey"

"Sure, sure. What is it?"

"Isn't this way too expensive?"

I grab the necklace the second-hand girl from Motasu wanted and point at it.

Dummy Sapphire Necklace (Magic +)

Quality: Poor → (Hidden) → Average

In the average market of Merlomark, this would be a cheap, low-quality item.

Moreover, it's been cleverly hidden to look good at first glance.

There's a limit to how much you can scam.

The price is four times what it should be, even for a top-quality item.

There's a limit to how much you can take us for fools.

The other items in the store were similar.

"Since this is an island far from the mainland, prices are a bit higher."

"A bit? Even with the hidden quality?"

"...It's business. The shipping costs make it more expensive."

This merchant is trying to act innocent.

His eyes are unpleasant.

Does he think I'm just a complainer and is waving me away?

I have no choice.

"I have a friend in the accessory business."

I show the merchant a certificate from an accessory merchant.

This merchant is apparently quite famous in the area, so it might work.

The moment the merchant glances at the certificate, he reads it carefully and his face turns pale.

"I'll use this as a story. I'll remember you well."

"Wait, wait a minute!"

He comes out of the store at an incredible speed and pleads at my feet.

"What? I'm busy."

"Upon closer inspection, I made a mistake with the price tags! I'll give you the correct price, so please wait a moment!"

"No, no, you don't have to fix it. I just want to talk to my friend."

"Wait! I'll give you a 30% discount."

"That's not much of a discount..."

"Of course, 30% off the correct price!"

"No, I don't need it."

"Wait! 60% off—"

"Where did that accessory merchant go?"

"70%—"

"Wasn't he part of the merchant guild?"

"80%—"

"Considering the poor quality and the hidden quality—"

"Fine! I'll give you a 90% discount!"

That's about right.

"I'll take it."

The best way to make money in business is through threats, power, and even the threat of violence. If this merchant's practices were reported to that accessory merchant, he'd face certain sanctions and probably go out of business.

This is a fair punishment for a merchant who takes us for fools.

"I'm not saying you should sell at a low profit. It will harm your own business and others in the same field."

The same can be done to someone who sells at a much lower price than the market.

These people pretend to be good, but they cause deflation. It's not as simple as lowering prices.

When selling at a high price, the situation must justify it.

It's reasonable to raise prices in a tourist area far from the mainland. Moreover, there doesn't seem to be any other store selling serious accessories.

I don't know if he's driving them away or crushing them, but there are no other stores.

So, even if prices are raised, people have no choice but to buy.

This will damage the reputation of the guild that supports this merchant.

"If you want to make money, make the customer happy to pay a large sum."

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it. This place is booming, right?"

"Um, yes..."

"Spread this rumor. Accessories made from the island's minerals help with level-ups..."

"Huh?"

"Don't you get it? It's just a rumor, not a real effect. It's a superstition. What happens? People who come to level up will buy them happily as a good luck charm."

"Ah, I see!"

At least, that's how I made money.

If someone wanted medicine, I sold it to them. If they wanted herbicide, I sold it to them. If they wanted food, I sold it to them.

The prices were high, but most people paid with a smile.

In other words, customer satisfaction is more important than the price.

The merchant clenches his fist and stands up, nodding in agreement.

"Then... you understand. Sell them at a high price, but warn them that it might not be true. This will make the customer happy to pay. If a certain percentage of those who bought it claim it worked, more customers will come."

The chances of this working perfectly are low, but the first step should succeed.

The area is booming, so experience points are increasing. If the level-up speed is faster than usual, people might think it's due to the accessories, even though it's just the effect of the boom.

It depends on the number and skill of the adventurers who come, but it's a hopeful prediction.

"I'll start right away!"

The merchant hands me the necklace and closes the store to start working.

"Phew."

Good job.

The necklace ended up being free.

"Here, you wanted it, right?"

When I try to give the necklace to the girls from Motasu, they keep their distance.

"Cheapest scum ever."

"Don't believe it."

"What are you thinking?"

Damn!

I feel my blood boil and speak emotionally.

"...It's your fault for being so gullible and getting scammed!"

Ugh!

What a bunch of annoying people.

Buying something so expensive without even trying to haggle. What are they thinking?

At least I'm not doing anything wrong.

The merchant makes money, and the customer is happy. It's a win-win situation.

"You guys are the worst!"

What's the worst about it?

If you don't think carefully, you'll end up spending money like water!

In the end, the girls from Motasu grumble about my haggling as they leave the market.

"The worst is you! If you want to, I'll show you hell! Laersie—"

"Calm down! Shield Hero! If you do that, the Spear Hero's companions will die!"

"Shut up! I can't kill them!"

"That's why I'm here to stop you!"

A shadow appears and calms my anger, but it's just a trivial addition.

I already want to leave after the personnel change.

What's so fun about being friendly with these people?

I can't understand what Motasu sees in them.

Damn! I hope this ends soon.

I don't care about leveling up. I'll look for a way to speed up time and make it tomorrow night.