Chapter 29: The Business Meeting was a Great Success.
Now, Onto the Expansion of the Village.

Posted bytheredsargeantAugust 5, 2020Posted inFun Territory Defense

(T.N.
Note: Sorry for the late release, I had my HS graduation yesterday so I was a little occupied.)

　We ate dinner together, with Bell and Lango gorging themselves on the meat of the Armored Dragon with great delight.

　During dinner, they ask me about my plans for the future.

　When I told them about my vision for the village, they seemed to be very interested in it.
It was a good feeling.

　Bell asked me if I wanted them to come once a month, as usual, or expand the operation and come twice a month, to which I replied that twice a month would be better.

　I’m grateful for the spices and alcohol they gave away.
Just having good food and drink makes the villagers much happier and livelier.

　However, when I also asked them to promote my weapons, they were reluctant to do so.
Apparently, the brothers were planning to sell them as an exclusive product.

　I told them that it was likely impossible to avoid people finding out about the source of the weapons, due to the interest that the high-quality weapons would generate.
They would soon find the village and simply purchase the weapons straight from me, at a lower price than the one that the merchant brothers would charge.
Outcompeted, they would lose out on a large number of sales.

　Then, I proposed, why don’t they advertise my weapons from the beginning.
I told them that I have a method which will mutually benefit the both of us.

　When I told them that, their eyes widened.

”How?!”

“What do you think about Bell setting up a weapon’s shop inside the village? I will provide the weapons and he will run the store, we share the profits made.
To promote the store, simply have Lango continue your usual routes and refer people to the village if they ask about the origin of the weapon.
I have no doubt that this will be extremely profitable for the both of us.”

　At my answer, they look at each other with a smile on their faces.

　Convinced, Bell decided to set up a weapons shop here in the village.
As a congratulatory gift, I promised to build Bell a custom home for only five gold.

　This agreement saved me the hassle which would have come with negotiating with a large number of merchants since I now have exclusive trade partners.

　It’s a win-win situation for both of us.

　Bell and Lango will get a steady income with their own shop.
It will save me time.
As the first store in the village, it will be a large step towards the better development of the village.

　We finished our business negotiations with a good laugh. 

　The next morning, Lango decided he was leaving the village with Air and the rest of the caravan, so they quickly prepared for the trip.

　In order to maximize profits, speed is paramount.

　Hence, Lango moved quickly to persuade Mary’s Trading Company in order to get the necessary manpower and materials.
The items to be used to persuade the Company were my sword, the Armored Dragons skins, and the Armored Dragon magic cores.
(T.N.
Note: The magic cores are the ‘hexenbiest cores’ mentioned earlier.)

　Hopefully, the next time Lango comes to the village, he’ll show up with a large mercantile caravan.
Besides him, another merchant unit should also come two weeks from now.

　Lango bought the sword and left the village with Air and the others.

　By the way, in order to pass of the credit of the Armored Dragon kills to Murcia, I gave Lango a letter addressed to my eldest brother.
Well, it comes with my sealing wax, so it should be delivered with any tampering or unforeseen obstacles.

　Lango asked me why I was giving away the credit until the moment he left, but I kept the reason vague and mysterious.

　After seeing Lango and the others leave the village, I turn to Bell.

“Well, then.
Let’s get to building your store.”

“What? Now?”

　I beckon to Bell, who was surprised for some reason.

“Would a place facing the main road, near the entrance be okay with you?”

　I ask that while gesturing to the main street in front of us, and Bell points to an empty plot right beside the entrance.

”…I like that place.
It will catch the eye of anyone entering the village, and it seems to be a very convenient location.”

“Okay, I’ll make it there.
Next, I’ll ask you about the layout.
How about an entrance over here and a counter in front?”

“Yes, that sounds good.
Having the store laid out so that customers can easily see the products inside while coming in from the entrance would be good.
Also, we can put the counter anywhere, but we need to find a good way to display the products.”

“As this will be a specialized store with expensive items, it would be good if we set the look of it apart from a common goods store.
As such, I would suggest that previews of the items line the walls rather than have them simply being stored in mass on shelves.
This, I feel, would give them a more premium feel.”

“Hmm, yes.
That might be a good idea.
But then we’d have to figure out where to put the inventory if we decide not to put them on shelves…”

“I can build a basement below the first floor.
You wouldn’t mind living on the second floor, would you?”

　The work was done efficiently, leading to the finalization of the plans happen a lot sooner than expected.

　”Well, if you’re unhappy with it later, I can remodel part it.
The first time you ask for a remodel, I will do it for free.”

　I need Espada’s help to build the basement, so it will take a little more effort and time than the other sections.

　With that in mind, I laid out the woodblocks that Kamsin and Till brought to the construction site and began to visualize the floorplan of the store in my head.

　I feel Bell tilt his head behind me, but I ignored him.

　As usual, I concentrated my magic power and changed the shape of the woodblocks.

”Eh! Huh!?”

　I heard some strange noises, but I ignored them.

　I put up the foundational pillars and had Espada dig the ground with earth magic.
As long as he can make a few holes, I will be able to finish the rest.

　Quickly,  the preliminary skeletons of the floors, walls, and ceiling were made.
Then I moved my attention to the basement

　I was a bit unsure about how much support the basement needed to avoid collapse, so I made the supporting pillars larger than usual.
Despite that, the finished basement was quite large and had ample storage space.

　Leaving Bell to walk around the basement with his eyes wide like a plate, I now finished up the first and second floors.

　Since I possess a large amount of experience when it comes to magical construction, Bell’s store was easily completed.
The basement took about an hour, and the first and second floors took about fifteen minutes to complete.

　Needless to say, Bell, who had already been looking around the basement in a daze, was surprised out of their mind.
After all, when he arrived aboveground, he found both a store and living area when only moments before, there had only been a rough wooden skeleton.

　He gave me a shaky, unbelieving look, but I didn’t pay any attention to it.

　As the goods will not be ready for around two weeks, I decided to wrap up business today.

　At noon, we ate the Armored Dragon meat, heavily laden with spices, after which, I announced that I was going out of the village.

I knew that I had to take Espada with me.
In addition, I needed someone who knew intimately knew the surrounding land.

　Thus I gathered the villagers and asked them who they thought would be the best guide.
Rhonda stated that the hunter Inca was the best choice.

“Inca has very good eyesight.”

　Don’t you all have good eyesight?

　I retorted in my head, but, on the outside, I simply nodded my head.
At any rate, Inca who was called in shortly after Rhonda’s recommendation, stretched in preparation for the trip.

”…Well then, please guide me to the river.”

　Inca nodded and began to lead the way forward.

　Dee and Orto also left the village as they were going off to gather materials in the forest.

　I have some work to do, so Espada is also following me.
The only other people that I had follow me were Kamsin and Till.

　We left the village and walked down the road for about five minutes.
From there, we went off the road and changed our course northward.

　There was a northern road, just that it was of much poorer make than the main road.
I was thankful that I decided to travel on foot rather than carriage.

“Are you all right?”

　Till worriedly asked, but I was fine.
In fact, I was walking at a brisk pace.

“I’m fine.
Are you alright, Till?”

　I don’t forget to care about the people around me.
I’m a responsible boy, after all.

“Yes, master Van.
Thank you.”

　Till thanked me for asking, humming sweetly as she walked.
Kamsin was walking in front of us, clearing out the weeds and stones in the way.

　What a gentleman.

　I attempted to appear more attentive than Kamsin, but Kamsin, who was incredibly zealous when it came to this kind of thing, was a formidable foe.

　As we continued on with our childish, and likely one-sided, rivalry, we quickly found ourselves at the river.

　The river was cleaner and bigger than I had expected.

　It would be hard to get to the other side of the river without making a bridge or a boat.
Although I don’t see any aquatic magical beasts, I still don’t feel like swimming across would be advisable.

　Although the river looked beautiful, I questioned whether or not this river could be used.

“Come, Espada.
Let’s get a little water from this river.”

“Yes, young master.”

　At my instruction, Espada bowed his head reverently.