Chapter 43: Abandoned Dog’s Pasta II

Having reached a point where I could take a pause, I went up to the second floor of the Zavua merchant company.

It appeared that there was something that needed to be talked about.

「Souya-dono! Thank you for your hard work!」

While still sitting in a chair, a big-sized man head-butted the table. The name of the man was Karlgoff, and he was the young Chairman of the Eruomea merchant company.

「Well, it’s popular, isn’t it? Even from here, I could tell from the sounds from the crowd that business was thriving」

Sitting next to him was a slim man who had mastered the business smile to the core. This guy's name was Lonewell. In place of his mother, he served as the Chairman of the Zavua merchant company. Same as me, he was also the kin of Gravius-sama, a god of business.

「Hmm, would you be so kind as to introduce us?」

An elderly man was sitting facing the two of them.

He was a slim man with sunken cheeks and long hair that was streaked with white. He held a cane and was well dressed. The robe that he was wearing was embroidered with gold in several places. He didn’t have on a lot of rings and necklaces, but the ones he did wear were precious and expensive. He didn’t put on accessories until they were jingling like the nouveau riche did. It was a refined way of dressing.

「This is Souya-san, a consultant for the Zavua merchant company and the Eruomea merchant company」

Lonewell introduced me to the elderly man.

I bowed lightly. I didn’t sit down. I wasn’t sure why though.

「Greetings. I’m Souya from a foreign land」

「I see. So you’re a foreigner. Well well, you’re a rare talent」

It’s to the extent that it’s considered rare, huh?

How many people like me are there in this alternate world, I wonder? I’m subtly curious about it.

「Greetings from me as well. My name is――」

「Libera・Araruledo, I assume?」

I interrupted him and made a guess in a quiet voice.

There was a slight moment of silence.

「Hmm」

Without losing his cool, the elderly man spoke calmly.

「Now, what a surprise. If such a wise person is present, the merchant companies of these two young men should prosper」

「The prosperity of the merchant companies is due to the efforts of these two people, and my help is negligible」

I’m not being humble. It’s a fact.

「What are you saying, Souya-dono! Without the many products that were created from the knowledge of the foreign lands, we wouldn’t have had the kind of sales that we’ve had of late!」

Karloff had praised me in an oppressively passionate manner, but I wish he would stop acting like that. I mean, I had gotten the name right only because the king had tipped me off, alright?

「Well? The greetings and introductions are done, what business do you have with me?」

I'm not a merchant. I'm an adventurer.

I don’t need all the troublesome pomp and circumstance. It’s better to get him to tell his story and state his business quickly.

「Souya-san, the fact of the matter is that the Zavua merchant company and the Eruomea merchant company are currently considering doing business jointly with Libera・Araruledo-sama’s merchant company. We wanted to also inform Souya-san, our consultant, of our intentions」

Even though he’s down on his luck, he’s a wealthy merchant from the center continent. I think that this is a good business opportunity. His business experience is also likely in a different league compared to ours. Working together with such a person would become a valuable experience.

「I’ve been called a wealthy merchant in the center continent, but I still don’t know my way around this right continent. For that very reason, to do business in this region, I’m thinking of working together with young up-and-coming merchant companies as equals and――」

「Wait」

I interrupted him.

He said something strange, didn’t he? This old bird.

「What do you mean “as equals”?」

「Certainly, they may be young and inexperienced merchant companies, but even despite that, I’m working with them as equals, is what I meant」

「That’s wrong, isn’t it?」

I had thought that he would be a passable person because he’s a wealthy merchant, but his greed is transparently obvious.

「If you go down in rank and work together with these two as a lesser, then as their consultant, I’ll support it. If you don’t agree to that, then I oppose」

「Huh, Souya-san?」

「Souya-dono, Libera-sama is one of the top five wealthiest merchants in the center continent, you know? Just being able to work with such a person as an equal――」

Their opinions are absolutely right. The other party is a merchant who "had" assets and influence comparable to royalty.

But now,

「”Was” a wealthy merchant, am I right? Along with the fall from power of the Seventh Pope, whom he has close ties with, this man fled for his life from the center continent. Sending his damaged ships out to sea again was probably a ruse that he came up with because he was afraid of pursuers. You sank the ships as you saw fit and snuck back into Lemuria covertly. Do you know that one of the ships that you sank destroyed a fishmen’s settlement? Will you compensate them using the small change that you got from selling the wheat?」

The two young Chairmen looked at the former wealthy merchant with doubtful eyes.

This man’s life is being targeted by Elysium, the largest nation on the center continent. He’s a tremendous liability.

「Even if you talk about compensation, something like the land races paying money to the fishmen is……」

Libera gave an extremely typical opinion.

He probably intended to talk his way out of it, but there were two people present who would take exception to that.

「Karlgoff and I have a close relationship with the fishmen. We can’t brush this aside and work with you」

「Souya-dono, is that true?」

「I heard it from Geto-san this morning. There’s no doubt」

With a grim expression on his face, Karlgoff spoke.

「………………Libera-sama, I'm sorry, but as long as my common-law wife is a mermaid…… If you refuse to compensate, allow me to consider that our discussion about working together never happened」

Looking extremely remorseful, Lonewell said.

「I'm very sorry, Libera-sama. For the Zavua merchant company, if the Eruomea merchant company isn’t a part of this, then this discussion never happened」

「………………」

With nothing showing on his face, Libera was wrapped in a heavy silence.

「I see」

But he changed his tune in an instant.

「I’m sure that I’ll be able to do great business with a merchant company that has a close relationship with the fishmen. I’ll also pay the compensation immediately. And I would like to take back what I said about being equals. I’m fine with being the lesser to the three of you. However, I wonder if it’s alright if I add just one condition?」

I was surprised by the speed in which he changed his tune.

On top of that, he had brushed off the matter about his troubles with Elysium completely.

「I would like to request help with the livelihood of 54 of my employees and their families, as well as 145 of my slaves. If you are able to take care of them, please feel free to use the name of the Libera merchant company」

Use his name, huh? Both Zavua and Eruomea are young merchant companies.

The age of a merchant company is linked to its credibility.

Those involved with the Myriad Kings of the left continent, the nobles from the center continent that had been crowded out, advanced adventurers. All these people would be eager to do business with a well-established merchant company. If they’re able to get a piece of that market, it's a great opportunity for young merchant companies.

But is it an opportunity that we want to seize in spite of the fact that it would incur the wrath of one nation?

It’s certainly risky.

But in some cases, it’s especially profitable.

The two of them would likely not oppose. That’s because the general consensus among the merchants these days is that『Elysium doesn’t have much longer』.

But there is one problem.

「Slaves, huh………………」

Karlgoff’s expression turned solemn.

「Slaves are a little………...」

Lonewell had the exact same expression.

Slavery doesn’t exist within the Kingdom of Lemuria. Allowing it would create a situation where adventurers would surround themselves with slaves when exploring the dungeon. Something called『slave adventurers』had existed in ancient times, and it seemed that the country had been destroyed after they had rebelled.

“Adventurers are free creatures.”

So long as Lemuria flew a banner like that, slavery would likely not be allowed in the future.

However, there is just one exception.

And that’s the serfs that had been borrowed from the allied nation of Elysium.

They are here for the sake of sustaining the lifeline called food of an allied nation.………is the public stance. Elysium’s true intention is, “If the relationship between allies deteriorate, we’ll pull out all of the serfs sustaining your production of food!”, a threat like that.

It seems like something had happened to the king in the past.

If anyone brought a slave into Lemuria, they would be severely punished.

Last month, there had also been merchants like Libera who had kept slaves and had fled here from the center continent, but they were executed and had all of their property confiscated. I had felt that it was a little too harsh, but that wasn’t something that a mere adventurer pointed out to a king.

This is a matter that I need to be prudent with. Even I, who’s somewhat in the king’s good books, must be careful.

「Libera, what can those slaves do?」

「Farm work, preparing food, cleaning, laundering, looking after people, and menial work for all sorts of jobs. Of course, they can also take care of either men or women. They are all healthy and sturdy beastkin」

Through the merchant companies, it’s possible to help those who can prepare food, clean and launder. Farm work, huh? I’ll have to ask the king about that. There’s no telling what kind of trouble it might stir up. It’s scary…… As for working in the brothels, I can’t say anything until I’ve asked the slaves in question.

「We’ll work out the detailed terms later, but first off, the Zavua and Eruomea merchant companies will each take care of half of the employees and their families. Lonewell, Karlgoff, is that okay with the two of you?」

「Yes, I had wanted more manpower recently to expand the business. I’ll happily take responsibility of the employees of the Libera merchant company」

「I feel the same way as Lonewell」

The two of them gave their approval readily.

「Next is the issue of the slaves, but Libera, you know that slavery is prohibited in this country, right?」

「Yes, of course. But there are plenty of loopholes, aren’t there?」

「There certainly are. But there’s no reason for me to go so far for your slaves」

「They’re excellent slaves, you know? It’ll be a tremendous loss if they are cast out like this」

「This isn’t a matter of profit and loss. It's a matter of trust」

I have the king’s favor right now. I don’t want to lose the king’s trust for the sake of a washed-up wealthy merchant.

「But there’s something that you can do, am I right?」

As expected.

He’s very experienced. He’s seen through the fact that I have a way to solve this problem, hasn’t he?

「Yes, there is, but in the worst case, they’ll have to be cast out. Well, they’ll probably not die from starvation」

「Hmm………………If their lives are guaranteed, even if the treatment of the slaves is the worst, I suppose that will be fine」

If he had not been concerned about the predicament of the slaves, I would have canceled the deal right away.

Or had he seen through that as well?

「Excuse me for a while」

For the time being, I left the room.

「Yukikaze, how many of them are there?」

I addressed the A.I. on my waist that was disguised as a lantern.

『Understood, running an optical scan using the bug drones. According to the faint pulses detected, there are three people』

「Show me their images」

『Understood』

Images of the three people were displayed on the LCD of the glasses. They were all beastkin. I didn’t recognize two of them, but I did know one of them. That person’s hiding spot was also displayed.

I returned to the room,

「Excuse me」

I opened the window and called out towards the roof.

「Karoro! I want to talk to you for a moment! Come in!」

Eeeh~, after uttering that in a soft voice, a tanned cat beastkin in a maid outfit flung herself into the room.

「For how long have you been aware of my presence-mya?」

「I just noticed-mya」

Two merchants had bewildered expressions on their faces.

「This is Karoro. She’s probably a spy of King Lemuria, and she’s watching you, Libera. Also, you’ve sent out spy-like people as well, haven’t you?」

「Hmm」

All expression disappeared from Libera’s face.

「If you're willing to be our lesser, let’s not have any secrets like this between us. The next time you do something similar, all contracts will be canceled without warning no matter the timing. In addition, I’ll report to the king that you’re planning to overthrow the nation. Got it?」

「I forgot my manners because I’m being pursued. Please let me apologize. It seems like it’s useless to even try to hide things from you, but there is a spy of Elysium in this kingdom. They are countermeasures against that spy」

「That's the reason why this Karoro has been sent to guard you. Her skills are so-so though. As long as she is affiliated with the king, she can be used to shake up Elysium. Well, it’ll depend on King Lemuria’s mood though」

「I see………………Souya-sama. Do you have a connection with the royal family?」

「That's a secret」

In the sense that we’re accomplices, the king and I have a cooperative relationship. That's not something that I can reveal lightly. If anyone were to delve deeper into it, our weakness would be exposed.

「Hang on a minute, Souya. I would prefer if you didn’t move things along as you please-mya. The king's order is to protect that old man when he’s in danger-mya」

「Then isn’t guarding him fine?」

「………………Now that you mention it, you’re right-mya」

Is this one going to be alright, I wonder?

But even the spy of Elysium would likely not lay a hand on the subordinates of an allied nation lightly. She should be effective as a shield. Just to be sure, I’ll also leave a warning.

「Right now, there’s one condition that I can state definitively. Libera, whenever you meet with your former employees and slaves, make sure that this Karoro is present. The contents of your conversations will be transcribed and given to me.

Let me state this clearly. I won't arrange a meeting between you and the king. If you want to know why, it’s because I don’t trust you. And, not once in the past have I ever trusted a person who came to me with falsehoods mixed in from the start. A merchant company owner of your stature should be well aware of the kind of treatment a person who isn’t trusted by his betters receives. Even so, are you still going to say that you’re fine with being the lesser to Zavua and Eruomea?」

The fact that it’s a business opportunity hasn’t changed, but personally speaking, I’m hoping that he gets angry and leaves.

I recognize that merchant companies that play it safe are fragile.

But I want to do business carefully and steadily. I want to be spared from getting into disputes for anything other than adventuring. I had become the consultant for the merchant companies after one thing had led to another, but if my duties expanded beyond that, it would hinder my adventuring business.

「Very well, I accept」

「That's true. A person who’s well known as a wealthy merchant won’t accept such conditions………………Eeeh?」

He had accepted readily.

He had done it so readily that it feels like there’s more than meets the eye. No, but if he’s pressured this much in his hour of need……

「Can you swear to your own god?」

「I’ll swear」

Libera took out a feather from within his cane. It was a long and narrow feather.

He can swear, huh?

「Those who are the Pyroxenes of the Myriad Kings, the sister gods of Minerva, and the one praised highly as beautiful even among them, my god Meltouvius. With your transparency, bring certainty to contracts. Please allow us the pleasure of seeing your countenance here and now」

There was a burst of light and a peacock appeared.

「………………」

The female peacock landed on the table lightly.

When speaking of peacocks, one tends to have an image of a showy and beautiful bird, but those are all males. In nature, showy creatures are the evolution of males for the sake of attracting females.

In other words, female peacocks are small and plain. They look like pigeons with a long neck.

「Libera, are you in good health? Recently, I've heard that you’re worrying over troubles that are unrelated to business. Dress warmly so that you won’t suffer from lung diseases due to this continent’s winds, which you aren’t used to. Be careful with the water too, alright? Be sure to heat it up and bring it to a boil before drinking………Oh, Karlgoff? So you’re here too」

Libera and Karlgoff were the kin of the same god.

Karlgoff bowed down with a force that seemed like he was head-butting the table.

However, somehow, it’s a god that gives off a gentle air. I don’t know if I should say that she is sociable, or that she seems like a commoner. Gods have a unique intimidating air, but I don’t feel much of that from this god.

「Meltouvius-sama, I feel truly happy to see you worry about my health before anything else. On this occasion, I’ve summoned you to be the witness for a contract with others」

「Alright. The one that wishes to form a contract with my kin, please name yourself」

「I’m Souya from a foreign land. Wait a moment」

I also hurriedly raised a feather.

I summoned the god of business that I was contracted with, Gravius-sama, one of the sister gods of Minerva.

There was a burst of light and an owl glided down. For some reason, she landed on my head. Her claws hurt a little.

「What do you want? ………No way, Meltouvius. Have you come to pull your tricks on my kin again?」

「No, Onee-sama. I was summoned by my kin today to be the witness for a contract」

「I’m not convinced」

The atmosphere was ominous.

Ow, it hurts. Gravius-sama, your claws, your claws are digging into my scalp.

「The contents of today’s contract that we would like the two gods to witness are as follows; the Libera merchant company will go under the protection of the Zavua merchant company and the Eruomea merchant company, strictly obey their business orders, and present them an appropriate portion of the profits」

「Please wait」

I stopped Libera's one-sided dictation of the terms of the contract.

For some reason, I felt something like impatience from him.

「Please add on the condition that the assets of the Libera merchant company will be left under our care temporarily and distributed appropriately」

「………………Very well」

This is also okay, huh? That's fricking suspicious!

「Understood. Oh Souya, the one who has formed a contract with my kin. May this contract benefit both sides. Also, I hope that you will protect and treat my kin, who are under your protection, with care」

Meltouvius said that to me.

If possible, I had wanted either of the two Chairmen to be the representative for the contract, but it couldn’t be helped that this was how things had turned out.

「Kin of Gravius, Souya from a foreign land, agrees. I’ll do my level best to live up to your hopes and expectations」

I had a bad feeling.

It felt like I had swallowed poisonous bait. In addition, it was the vicious, slow-acting kind. For some reason, this kind of premonition always came true.

「I’ll take my leave then. My kin, may you and those connected to you have a healthy future」

Meltouvius spread her wings and disappeared with a flash of light.

I thought that Gravius-sama would also return, but she didn't. Her claws…… They were stuck quite firmly into my head.

「Hmm, should we wrap things up here for today?」

「We’ll come up with the details of the contract at a later date. Karoro, I’m counting on you for the rest. I'll inform King Lemuria」

「Some~how, it’s hard to swallow-mya」

Accompanied by Karoro, Libera left the room.

「Souya-dono, Lonewell, that’s it for me today as well」

Close on the heels of Libera, Karlgoff also left the room.

「Then me too」

Was what I said before Gravius-sama dug her claws even deeper and I ended up letting out a short scream.

「My kin, we need to talk」

「Owwwowwoww, Gr, Gravius-sama, bl, blood is coming out」

「What fools you are to attempt forming a contract with Meltouvius’ kin without even consulting me」

「Huh, what do you mean?」

Gravius-sama flapped her wings once and alighted on Lonewell's shoulder.

「Gravius-sama, what are you talking about?」

It seemed that he had no idea as well, so he asked our god.

「Among us Minerva sisters, Meltouvius was the woman who received the most offers of marriage from both men and women, and wheedled the most money and valuables from people. On top of that, she treated it like it was bread or something, and gave it out to the people. In the name of Minerva, she’s worshiped as a god of business, but I’ve yet to recognize her as one. That woman will throw emotion into the midst of people’s calculations without batting an eyelid. For all that, her actions are peculiarly overlooked. Even if the terms of the contract are favorable, there is a risk that all the norms of contracts will get overturned. That kin as well, he’s probably similar to her in some way and has something that departs from the norm」

One more flap of her wings, and she landed on my knee this time.

「To make a decision on that without even consulting me」

I was pecked continuously in the stomach. It hurt. It hurt quite a bit.

「Th, thank you for your valuable advice. From the next time on, we’ll consult with you first」

「That's right, you miscreant. In the first place, why didn’t you know how dangerous it is despite being the consultant?」

「I don’t know a lot about the gods」

「Now now, Gravius-sama. Simply forming a cooperative relationship with the wealthy merchant Libera alone will bring large profits to the Zavua merchant company. Isn’t that a good thing?」

「Hmpt, I can only hope that those profits and the merchant company itself won’t get completely snatched away」

We had to be careful not to let god’s ill-omened premonition come true.

It’s the first time Souya thoughts have been so extensive, since it’s the first time an entire chapter is almost entirely one long conversation. There’s barely any narration at all…

In case it wasn’t clear, it’s been stated in the last chapter that Libera fled the right continent, but this chapter is trying to tell us that he had merely faked that by sending his ships off and then he had tried to fake his death by sinking his ships to throw off his pursuers.

So, West Phoenix is a female peafowl, huh? That should sorta already be an insight into her character. Wait, is the author trying to say that a peacock is a Western phoenix? I just realized that possibility lol… But anyway, from what Gravius said, it seems that Minerva was their last name, and they were actual sisters. I had actually wondered about this a lot and I had thought at first that they were all subordinate gods to a god called Minerva or something haha.

So, this looks like it’s gonna be a business arc? If you’ve noticed, up to this point, Souya had been leaving out of the “memoirs” the details of his business dealings and the most we’ve heard about them is when others bring it up in conversation, like when Bel told Zenobia about the mayonnaise. But are we finally going to see the skill of someone who took down 2 merchant companies? Stay tuned to find out!