Chapter 012: Selling Salt & Pepper

Re-Translated by Gumihou

Please read this at kitchennovel dot com

 

The next morning, Fer greeted me by saying he wanted steaks for breakfast. I had no choice but to be stuck with the unenviable job of cooking a whole bunch of steaks for someone’s breakfast.

As expected of a top tier carnivore. His meat consumption rate was just too amazing.

At the moment, I still have some meat from the Red Boar, but all that has gone to make Fer’s breakfast. [1] I foresee a very expensive and troublesome future if I don’t make Fer hunt his own food.

Perhaps I really should register with the Adventurer’s Guild as well.

Let’s go there after I’m done with business at the Merchant’s Guild. I’m low on cash right now, it would be good if I could make some money off the salt and pepper.

Alright, let’s get busy.

By the way, for anyone who cares, my breakfast consisted of a simple ham and cheese sandwich with a mug of instant onion soup.

I definitely cannot face a steak so early in the morning.

Please read this at kitchennovel dot com ~

I went to the Merchant’s Guild as planned. [1] Since I’ll be registering myself and Fer at the Adventurer’s Guild next, I brought him with me.

When I came to the window counter, I was glad to see that it was Mikaela-san again. [5]

After we exchanged our greetings and I said, “As mentioned, I have come to sell some special products today.”

Smiling politely, I withdrew the burlap bag of salt and the little container of black pepper, placing them carefully on the counter.

After checking the bag and container, Mikaela-san suddenly stood up, “I have checked the items and… would dear customer please wait for a moment?”

Then, without another word, she left her seat. [6] She spoke to someone in the back, and that person came and confiscated my bag and container.

[8] W-wait, did I bring something bad? Have I brought a taboo item?!

[8] O-or, have I brought too much?!

[8] I heard that in some parts of the ancient world pepper is treated like gold, so… perhaps 100 grams of pepper is too much?

[6] While I was busy panicking, Mikaela-san eventually came back and respectfully invited me to come with her. Lacking other options, I got up and followed her.

Mikaela-san led me to a private room in the back where a wealthy looking middle-aged man sat.

“Please, have a seat,” said the man jovially, “I am Robert. The Guild Master. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Ooh, an actual Guild Master!

Er, as expected, bringing out the pepper was a bad idea.

On the table was my burlap bag of salt and the little wooden container of pepper. The Guild Master smiled at me again and said, “Do excuse me for a moment, will you?” and began to inspect the goods.

[8] It was like watching someone inspect gold or precious stones. The Guild Master put on a pair of spectacles, stared thoughtfully at the salt and pepper. Then, he brought out a little wooden spoon and saucer to crush the salt and pepper before tasting them carefully.

Finally, the Guild Master removed his glasses and said, “I have been in this business for a very long time. But, I must say, this is the first time I’ve seen salt and pepper in such excellent quality. The salt is very pure without any odd colouring or smell. As for the pepper, the sharp, fresh taste is beyond words. Aside from excellent quality, I have no other words for your product.”

[8] I-is that so?

[8] I was a bit nervous by such exaggeration. After all, a bag of 5kg salt cost me only 5 copper coins, the pepper was only slightly more expensive at 5 copper coins for 100g.

“I will purchase everything. But, may I ask how you obtain such excellent products?”

[8] Ahahaha, I got it from [Net Super]! These are salt and pepper from another world, but since I’m from there I can guarantee that everything is made according to the standard set by our Japanese government!

[6] …

There’s no way I could say any of that…

“Well, I got them in my journey…”

At my evasive answer, the Guild Master said, “I beg your pardon. It is rude of me to inquire after another merchant’s supplier.” Then he laughed heartily.

I laughed along tensely.

“Well now, let’s get down to business. For the salt, how about 4 gold coins? As for the pepper, 10 gold.”

“… …. eh?”

W-wait, what? My ears, are they working properly? Both salt and pepper cost me a grand total of 1 silver coin, but… he’s offering to pay 14 gold for everything?

Eh? Eh? Oi, I know salt and pepper is expensive in the past but isn’t this an insane exaggeration?

“As expected, the price is too low, after all… how about 15 gold?”

Uwooh! The price… went UP?

Sir, is this how you negotiate?

“Aargh, 17 gold! 17 gold for both, I cannot go higher than this!”

I-it went up again?!

I must stop this madness before the price goes up again!

“Yes! Yes! I’m good with that!”

The guild master was panting now and so am I. Whew, bargaining sure is exhausting…

However… I glanced at the salt and pepper on the table. I bought those with just 1 silver coin, you know? To think that I could get a return of 17 gold with just 1 silver coin…

Isn’t this business too profitable?

However, I had to be careful and not get too carried away by the money. Pull this trick too many times and people will start coming after me. That’s the last thing I want to happen. At most, I could probably do this once at different guild branches.

At any rate, this is still excellent news for me. I now have a sure and dependable way of making money.

After receiving the 17 gold coins, I decided to pay the annual fee and tax fee for my Iron Rank membership at once. [1] It’s best to pay for these things as soon as one can. After all, it would be terrible if I happen to run out of money when the time to pay loomed too near.

“The total annual and tax fee for an Iron Rank member is 3 gold coins. Thank you very much.”

Fu… well, at least I don’t have to worry about taxes or fees for a whole year. Even after paying the fee, I still have 14 gold coins in hand. [6] That’s more than what the Kingdom of Reijseger gave me when they first kicked me out.

Together with my remaining cash, I have 20 gold, 5 silver and an assortment of copper and iron coins.

Well, looks like I should be fine for now.

I do have some other money-making ideas, if this isn’t enough.

[8] Though it’s a bit expensive, I’m still glad I joined the Merchant’s Guild. Not only could I sell my goods to the guild, but I’d heard that dealing with other shops would be easier with a guild card too. Since I have [Net Super], I have easy access to all kinds of goods, but I’d still need to sell them to get money.

I’m really glad I joined the Merchant’s Guild.

Next, let’s conquer the Adventurer’s Guild!

I wonder what that guild would be like?

 

[Gumihou: Hoho, I wonder…]

 

[1] Structural Change: Combine 2 paragraphs

[2] Structural Change: Combine 3 paragraphs

[3] Structural Change: Combine paragraph & dialogue

[4] Structural Change: Change passive sentence to dialogue 

[5] Delete Repetitive or Pointless Information

[6] Additional Information for Aesthetic Purpose

[7] Add Dialogue Tag

[8] Reworded or adjusted style of writing.