Fushi no Kami - Volume 1, Chapter 6

Since then, Priest Folke has been spending much time trying to understand ancient languages. He will honestly turn into a dead priest like before if I leave him alone, so I make sure that there is food left on the table. If you don't get enough sleep, your thoughts will be dull and inefficient too. If you don't eat rice, you will get sick. In this world, the threat that our life might get shorter doesn't seem to be effective. Because it's a world where life expectancy is short (probably) and the case fatality rate is too high. We may die tomorrow, so it's no wonder that anyone is feeling the rush. Compared to my previous life, I have to be prepared for that. Around this time of spring, the number of field jobs increased, and there is only a rare amount of free time. (Fast update at https://silver-slime.blogspot.com/)

"Hey, Ash! Help me if you have time to read a book! You'll be lazy if you read a book! A lazy person won't have a wife!"

When my father, David, interferes with reading in this way, I'm prepared to kill- No, I mean, to get ready to help. Of course, there is no way I'll be escorted to violences. I can hold myself back, at least for now.

"Father, is there something I can help?"

As I ask, he laughs.

"It seems that the Quid guy has come. Help me bring the harvested winter wheat."

"Oh, Mr. Quid. Is it the time of the year?"

Mr. Quid is a travelling merchant who often goes to this village. If you take a horse-drawn carriage from this village, you will find a big city about half a day away. I haven't seen or been there, but it's probably there. With that distance, it may seem that farmers will carry their harvest directly to the city and sell it in the morning market, but for some reason it isn't happening here. Instead, traveling merchants like Mr. Quid will buy the harvest in the village and sell them in the city. The travelling merchant also sells the products collected in the city to us. It seems that money is used to buy in the city, but it is close to bartering in the village. Harvests are bought cheaper than they are sold in the city because there are merchants in between. Otherwise, the merchant profits will be lost and they will not be able to eat. You may ask, why bother paying middle man fee when the villagers could sell it themselves?

"Oh, Quid. It seems like you did not encounter any demons this time."

"Hahaha, I have confidence in my feet."

You can probably understand from the conversation shared between my father and Mr. Quid. But I can't understand. I don't know from before. Are demons a metaphor for vermin or burglars? Or is there something more scary than them? I know demons exist in this world, but I'm troubled by the indistinguishable way of speaking between threats to educate the children and real threats. I wish they didn't use words intended to trick children in serious talk. Well, I'm children and listening to them, but still... I think it's time to read not only funny stories, but also books that give you an idea of the common sense of the world. The mystery to this world has increased a little too much. There is also the case of ancient civilization. Perhaps the wisdom that makes life easier is known. We place winter wheat harvest in wrap in front of Mr. Quid and ask him to confirm the volume of this transaction.

"Hm, it's a good wheat. For this amount, how about 4 bronze coins?"

I don't think he measures it at all, but it's usual. It seems that the unit of weight exists, but he does not bother to carry the measuring instrument. As long as the farmer doesn't feel like they have been deceived, the transaction is established with a certain degree of credit. Immediately, my father selects products for four bronze coins.

"How much is the salt this time?"

"Twelve iron coins in one jar. After all, the price rises in winter."

In this case, the brought salt will be placed inside the jar we bring. We have come here to trade with heavy wheat harvest and we also have to carry heavy shopping bulk back home too. In addition, 20 iron coins are calculated as 1 bronze coin. If the monetary value is stable, is there no counterfeit money on the market? From the point of view of civilization, it is strange that it is a monetary economy.

"Can't be helped. How about the usual herb? Also wheatstone?"

"15 iron coins for seasonings as usual. 8 iron coins for whetstones. Did the medicine work out just fine?

"Oh, that's right ... the heat decreased during the winter."

"8 iron coins in one bottle"

While groaning with a difficult face, my father greedily looks at a certain pottery bottle.

"This mead is 20 iron coins."

It's quite a price for a luxury item. No wonder. It's different from the homemade ale made at home. In this case, homemade ale is worth nothing more than a water substitute. The water in this village is dangerous to drink, so it can be said that it is worse than free. In other words, homemade ale has a delicate taste even if you drink it for free. By comparison, the liquor that Mr. Quid brings is genuine. It is a substitute for drinking. In villages where there is little entertainment, delicious sake has the power to make people crazy. In any world, that might be the case.

"Is it possible to give a little more discount? Just a little bit is fine."

"Will you be buying anything else?"

"I won't, but..."

As my father has a pitiful face, I point to one of the products.

"Rather than mead, you should buy cloth first or mom will get angry."

"Hmm? Oh, Ash is a clever boy."

Though it's called cloth, it isn't something good. It looks like a leftover cut-piece from the city. Still, it can be used to tie worn-out clothes or as a rag in a house.

"Can you give us needles as a bonus? If possible, two of them."

"Please forgive me, boy. A bundle of cloth is ten iron coins, and two needles are six iron coins."

This is must to buy necessary item. After that, the leftover cash can be saved in case of an emergency. My father always tried to buy mead, and he actually bought it several times and was scolded by mother. I am also my mother's ally. My father, who has a sober and useless human temperament, looks at the liquor bottle.

"Is it not possible?"

"I have actually reduced the price to bare minimum. If I reduce more, I will make no profit and starve to death instead."

My father drops his shoulders. Mr. Quid shakes his head, looking resolute. But the travelling merchant is actually assessing our situation.

"Well, this mead will rot if I let it be. There is no other person who will likely buy it too, so I'll give it for free if you buy the cloth and needles."

"Really!?"

"This is a special case, Mr. David, since we have known each other enough. Make sure to not tell others about this."

"Of course I won't! You're a great man, Mr. Quid!"

My father keeps grinding and handing over all the money that should be saved. 

"Is it that good, father?"

"Shut up, you little brat! This is the fuel for an adult man to work!"

What kind of explanation is that? 

Is that so, is the only words I can utter back. Well, I understand that everyone needs to indulge themselves sometimes, but you'll get scolded by mother later. 

"Will it be alright, Mr. Quid?"

"Why won't a merchant sell something that customers want to buy?"

"No, I mean the price that you're willing to reduce."

"Hn? Oh, about that. Even if I bring it back to the city, it won't sell. If I wait until next round, it'll already rot by then. So it'll be fine."

"I see."

But this is not the end of your case, travelling merchant, Mr. Quid.  I have been waiting for this moment. When I imagine you have been caught by my trap, I couldn't help but want to smile.  I slowly walk beside Mr. Quid, and whisper right beside his ear. 

"So you get the price wrong, Mr. Quid."

At that moment, Mr. Quid doesn't show any reaction. But he indeed stops breathing.

"What do you mean?"

"It's unlike you to not calculate quickly. Taking the mead out, our total shopping is only 59 iron coins."

12 iron coins for salt, 15 iron coins for seasonings, 8 iron coins for whetstones, 8 iron coins for medicines, 10 iron coins for cloths, and 6 iron coins for needles, for a total of 59 iron coins. On the other hand, the price of winter wheat is 4 bronze coins and 8 iron coins. Even if we buy mead at Mr. Quid's price, we will still get change.  

To be honest, I have been suspicious that Mr. Quid had ripped us off for a while now. This happens during exchanges with customers like us that Mr. Quid's calculation is wrong. That time, we weren't the one who bought things from him, so I thought that I calculated it wrong. But since then I have been carefully calculating our and others' purchases. This is definitely a crime. During the time when there aren't many witnesses, toward a person who can't calculate, he would purposely calculate wrong. Since most of the villagers here can't calculate, no one realized this. Such as right now. My father can't calculate. 

On top of that, there are too many purchases. So the calculation will be complicated. Therefore even if we missed a single iron coin, it won't be noticed. Perhaps he has thought that. But unfortunately, the person my father has taken along with (me), can calculate. Should I recite the multiplication table? Though I doubt anyone would understand. 

"So, how about we check the price together? Or, would you like to raise one of the product's prices and cheat on us?"

As I whisper, there is a strange light shine in Mr. Quid's eyes. He's probably thinking of way to cheat on us. Of course, I won't let him. He's my prey after all. 

"By the way, this is a public secret lately. I'm quite close with Priest Folke. If you try to deceive me, I would be really sad and run to tell him."

The church priests have strong influence in current society. If the priest says anything about the travelling merchant, his reputation will get hit and his credibility will be rock bottom. In this village where most can't count, their trust is placed on merchants who won't lie to them. And what will happen if that trust is cracked? The villager will likely not trade with him again. There are other travelling merchants too. If no one wants to trade with Mr. Quid, a replacement will surely come to this village. Once the villagers establish a relationship with the new merchant, they will continue to live the life same as before, unlike Mr. Quid. The reason why they do not trade with other merchants is, rather than trading with a new merchant they have never known, they would rather trade with Mr. Quid which has established his reputation over time, therefore lowering the potential of being cheated. 

"Don't worry. Mr. Quid only made the wrong calculation, right?"

Gently, I conclude with a compassionate voice. Naturally. I'm now Mr. Quid's best ally. I'm the only one who realizes he made a mistake in the calculation. If I keep silent, this merchant's reputation will be saved. 

"Every human makes a mistake. Even if it's a skilled merchant, once or twice... yes, There was a mistake with Ms. Joyle. Before that, Mr. Van too, was it? "

I gently let him know that I know it's not the first time he has done this. Mr. Quid's complexion immediately changed. There is no need to be that scared. I'm your ally, you see. 

However, his face has turned pale. For a merchant who has cheated on the villager, he will lose all his business. At most, he'll be given light punishment.  But will it truly end like that? To put it simply, he'll likely receive 'punishment' that's not through legal means.  It'll be nice if it ends with being hit by rock. Though, I don't want to say this, the probability of being killed is pretty high. If he's not being killed, it isn't hard to bring him into somewhere that he doesn't know.  There is such a customary law in the remote countryside where there are no courts or prisons. It's something normal. Even in the memory of the previous life, torture has disappear during modern times. Perhaps, in Mr. Quid's mind now, he is surrounded by villagers.

"Mr. Quid is a credible merchant who always helped the village, so I'll keep this incident in my heart."

"R-Really?"

With a smile to reassure him, I promise the pitiful merchant.

"So, Mr. Quid should continue to be a good merchant who trusts me."

If you trust me, you don't have to be the merchant trusted by the villagers. You understand this meaning, right? I whispered right beside his ear so that my father couldn't hear it. When I tilted my head to see his reaction, fortunately Mr. Quid seems to understand the meaning behind my words. 

"Oh, boy―no, Ash. Thank you for the story. I should thank you for something."

I look at the bunch of cloth I bought earlier, and steal a glance at another stack of cloth. It's a bunch of small cloth, but it's enough as a scarf or handkerchief.

"W-Would only these be okay?"

"Are you sure? Such a wonderful thing... My mother will surely be pleased. Thank you, Mr. Quid."

The deal is established. I'm not thinking of forcing a discount in the future, so don't worry. It's fine if you trade at a reasonable price with me. Well, if you suddenly become over conscious of me, then there is nothing I can do. After all, I'm still a nine years old kid. If an adult spoils me, then they are free to spoil me as they like. I put together my purchases and tell my father, who doesn't know what happened, with a clear face.

"I told Mr. Quid about interesting things I read from books. Toward the merchant, it's valuable information, so he gives us this cloth as a thank you."

"What? What kind of information is that?"

"Even if it's my father, I can't tell you about it. Since I have sold it to Mr. Quid. If you are curious, please buy it from Mr. Quid."

He seems curious but not to the point where he will use his money. Well, no matter how much he's willing to pay, I bet Mr. Quid won't tell him. 

"Rather than that, father."

"What?"

"You did say that reading books won't do the field work."

This is my long awaited blow, so I tell my dad with a big smile.

"Reading a book can make mother pleased. So there is definitely value in it."

That time, he's glaring at me with the face 'what's this brat talking about'. He still doesn't understand the value of a book. It's just a matter of time before my mother gets angry when we arrive home and learn that he had bought a bronze coin of sake. Then, he would be deeply grateful to me for handing over expensive cloth to soothe a furious wife.

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