Fun Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord (Novel) - Chapter 112 - Merchant Conference

Chapter 112 – Merchant Conference

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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In the reception room of the lord’s residence sat three people with faces as blank as if their souls had left them. Apollo, Diane, and Rosalie were each seated on beautifully decorated single sofas.

The three of them did not know it, but this reception room was the most luxurious room in all of Seat Village. Not only the lighting, furniture, and decorations, but even the walls, floors, and window frames had been crafted with care.

And yet there were no maids in the room, and on the side table beside each sofa sat fruit juice and pancakes. The tableware was silver.

Still seated on the comfortable sofas, Rosalie looked at the other two and spoke.

“…I still can’t believe it, but this really is the frontier village that was judged worthless, isn’t it?”

She muttered that under her breath. At those words, Diane raised her face, her brows drawn into a worried arch.

“Please don’t say that right now. It genuinely makes me feel incompetent… The information our company had concerned the old frontier village. As soon as I return to the capital, I’ll prepare updated information covering the period after Van-sama became lord. And we’ll make preparations to dispatch caravans here on a regular basis. The Bell-Rango Company is clearly doing its best, but they simply can’t keep up.”

After answering with a sigh, Diane gave a self-mocking laugh.

“Even so, of course the village’s astonishing development itself was impressive, but more than anything Van-sama’s magic was what truly overwhelmed me. Not only the way he uses magic, but that imagination of his is abnormal. Even setting aside the fact that he isn’t yet ten years old, can a person really come up with ideas that novel and that useful?”

Diane said that with a face that looked almost regretful, like a confession. Apollo crossed his arms and lowered his chin.

“…Most of all, the shape of these walls and all those defensive weapons. Van-sama seems to be a very gentle person, but his talents are clearly suited for conflict. If Van-sama were so inclined, it would not be impossible for the nation that possessed him to seize hegemony.”

“That’s a bit much…”

Diane and Rosalie turned toward Apollo with wry smiles at his words, but when they realized he was not joking, they shut their mouths.

Watching that from the corner of his eye, Apollo let out a deep sigh.

“…Honestly, it would have been far less troubling if this had really been nothing more than a newly formed merchant company colluding with some frontier noble to make a little money. The results of this investigation are not something we can casually reveal. But neither can they simply be ignored.”

At Apollo’s words, Diane nodded and answered.

“Of course. However, if the Commercial Guild intends to extend its roots across this continent, then I think it has no choice but to build a good relationship with Van-sama. The same is true for the Mary Company. We too want a good relationship with Van-sama.”

When Diane said that with a faint smile, Apollo gave a bitter laugh and shook his head from side to side.

“…It is admittedly a little irritating that things are turning out just as the Mary Company would like, but cooperating is clearly the most reliable course. From what I heard from Van-sama, they can already provide most necessities through self-sufficiency. What they still need are condiments, food from different regions, and items from other cultures. Given how rich his imagination is, he will undoubtedly have a great appetite for things that stimulate it. And that is precisely the area in which our Commercial Guild, with trade relationships across many nations, is strongest.”

Apollo placed one hand on his chest as he said that, and Diane copied him by resting a hand on her own chest as well.

“And because we are the ones with the most distribution routes and caravans within the kingdom, we will also be able to assist the Commercial Guild’s trade smoothly. Although, if we are to carry Seat Village’s products to other nations, the expenses may become a little high.”

“…Understood.”

As the two of them talked like that, a knock sounded on the door, as if waiting for just the right moment.

A voice came from outside, and Apollo and the others all unconsciously turned their eyes toward the door. The one who opened it and appeared was a former slave maid. The maid bowed quietly and spoke.

“Pardon the interruption while you are enjoying your conversation. If you wish, Van-sama says he would like to hear your thoughts.”

Saying that, the maid looked over the faces of the three of them. They looked at one another, then promptly turned back to the maid.

“Of course.”

“We would be delighted.”

Apollo and Diane answered, and Rosalie too nodded her agreement.

Led by the maid, the three went to the back of the second floor of the lord’s residence and stopped before a set of double doors. When the maid at the front knocked, the doors opened from within.

What spread beyond the opened doors looked almost like a museum.

At the entrance of the room stood a pure white pedestal, and on it was displayed a straight sword covered in intricate decorations.

More white pedestals stood at regular intervals throughout the room, each displaying some different object.

At this unexpected sight, the three were confused, but whether by instinct or by merchant habit, they began looking over the exhibits one by one.

“…These are weapons and armor, magical beast materials, ores…? No, wait, surely that can’t be…”

“O-orichalcum…?”

One thing in particular drew all three pairs of eyes. Apollo and Diane stood there speechless, while Rosalie stared at the orichalcum with her eyes wide.

“So this is orichalcum… It’s my first time seeing it.”

At Rosalie’s words, Diane shook her head from side to side.

“It’s my first time too. I’ve heard that the royal house of the neighboring country possesses some, but…”

“…It’s my second time, but I have never seen one this large.”

As the three of them stared at the raw orichalcum as if possessed, Van appeared behind them accompanied by Till, Kamushin, and Bell.

“Thank you all for your hard work.”

At Van’s voice, the three were startled so badly their shoulders jumped, and they turned completely around.

“Ah, th-this is, Van-sama!”

“We haven’t touched anything!”

“Y-you startled us…”

It was about the sort of reaction you’d expect from thieves caught just before the act, but Van smiled at them and spoke.

“I hurriedly prepared this room because you were all coming. It’s interesting, isn’t it?”

Van asked that with childlike innocence, and the three nodded while looking back at the arrayed items.

“I see. So this room is meant to introduce the specialty products of Seat Village, is that it? I think it’s a very interesting idea. If you’re going to conclude business deals, it’s definitely better to do it while looking at the actual goods.”

“Yes. And somehow this is more exciting than simply having the items brought out before us. Strange, isn’t it?”

“Ordinarily, one would ask how well the condition and quality of displayed specialty goods can be maintained, but in Van-sama’s case, questions like that are unnecessary, aren’t they?”

The three of them showed interest in the gimmick Van had set up, clearly taking to it. Smiling happily at that reaction, Van slipped between them and laid a hand on the displayed lump of raw orichalcum.

“The Apkallu I’m on friendly terms with gave this to me. There isn’t a huge amount, but things roughly this size arrive a few times a year.”

“The Apkallu…!”

“…I’d heard rumors, but so you really do have direct relations with them.”

All three drew in sharp breaths at Van’s words, but what happened next before their eyes shocked them even more.

The moment Van fell silent and ceased moving, the lump of raw orichalcum began gradually changing shape while at the same time growing more radiant.

For one or two minutes, long enough to feel a little too long for silent observation, the three could do nothing but stare.

Then, once the raw orichalcum had been refined into true orichalcum and transformed into a beautiful, slender curved blade, Rosalie was finally able to speak.

“…This is…”

Whether he understood what she meant or not, Van nodded deeply as he picked up the newly formed curved sword, the katana.

“Since orichalcum has enough durability, I tried making a sword called a katana that specializes in sharpness as far as possible. I think it’s probably the best thing I’ve made so far. It should be able to slice dragon scales and even dragon fangs like paper.”

Van said something utterly outrageous like that, then swung the katana lightly through the air. Though it had not been quenched in the traditional way, a hamon shimmered along the blade, and despite having very little ornamentation it gave off an almost frightening presence.

Apollo and Diane stared at it in stunned silence. Bell, who had stayed quiet until then, raised one corner of his mouth and gave an exaggerated cough.

“…Ahem. Having seen all this, there cannot possibly be a merchant alive who wouldn’t want to do business. So from this point on, as merchants, let us now have a sound discussion of practical matters and consult one another about the future. If I may be so bold, the Bell-Rango Company, which has conducted business with Van-sama up to now, will take the lead in this meeting. That is agreeable, yes?”

The expression of fatigue Bell had worn until now vanished as though it had all been a lie. In its place, he wore the smile of an ambitious merchant as he said that.

At that, both Apollo and Diane could only laugh.

“…Of course. When the Commercial Guild ships goods to this village, we shall first sell them to Van-sama and then to the Bell-Rango Company.”

“The Mary Company, too, will spare no effort in cooperating. We’ll station a few veteran merchants here, so please use them freely.”

Watching Bell suddenly rise to a position equal to or greater than Apollo and the others almost before her eyes, Rosalie blinked. She had probably wanted to draw words out of them while Van was still present, but Bell’s method had looked a bit forceful.
“…To think that kind-hearted Bell boy could change so much. I wonder if business gave him that much trouble.”
Seeing the relief on Bell’s face when he heard the promises of cooperation from both of them, Rosalie muttered that to herself and smiled bitterly.