SWNOVELXO Chapter 94
Chapter 94. A New Mission In The Wilderness
“Akira-sama?!”
Cherina raised her voice at my bizarre behavior.
“……”
I continued to stomp on the pink quest stationery in silence.
After a while, I finally felt calm.
“Whew……”
I stomped on it with full force.
“Aaah…… It’s all torn up now……”
For some reason, the half-crying Cherina picked up the tattered stationery.
“……What language is this?”
“Huh?”
Cherina tilted her head, looking at the relatively intact part of the text.
“As you can see, it’s Japanese…… Can’t you read it?”
“Not at all. Is this even writing in the first place?”
Her unexpected reaction surprised me. Since all the text in this world looks like Japanese to me, it was even more shocking.
“Well…… don’t worry about it. It just had some nonsense written on it. And I’ll never……”
Just as I was about to say I’d never see it again.
-A new quest has been added-
A monotonous voice interrupted me. Damn it.
“What’s wrong?”
She called out to me as I suddenly fell silent.
“……I just realized my life is a crappy game.”
“Um, I don’t quite understand what’s going on……”
“Don’t worry, neither do I.”
Cherina frowned.
“Akira, explain it in more detail.”
Hagg urged me while stroking his beard.
“……Sigh.”
I didn’t really want to, but since it’s called a quest, there’s probably something I need to do…… Thinking about it, the pilgrimage to the Three Gods might also be a quest.
“Do you understand what a quest is?”
Cherina, Hagg, and Yarlai all shook their heads.
“The original meaning was something like a search or exploration…… but in gaming terms, it’s like a mission or task. Something like, if you do this, you’ll get that.”
Cherina sipped her tea before answering.
“It sounds similar to the commissions from the guild.”
She’s quick to catch on.
“That’s pretty much it…… and now a new quest has become available.”
I sighed deeply.
“Isn’t that what you’d call a divine message?”
Hagg raised an eyebrow.
“No, it’s not.”
I hoped it wasn’t.
“Hmm…… I see……”
Hagg seemed unconvinced, but please, no divine messages. I’ll die.
“What was the content of that divine message…… I mean, quest earlier?”
Read the room, Cherina.
“……It was nonsense. If I had to say, it was more like a declaration that they’ll be issuing quests from now on……”
If I had to say, but please don’t ask more.
“So the next quests might contain important information. You mentioned purchasing it, is it very expensive?”
“Wait a moment, I’ll check.”
I closed my eyes again to check the list. Indeed, new quests had been added. By the way, the previous quest was grayed out with the word “Clear” over it. What a waste of effort……
Quest 1 = 10,000 yen
The sudden price increase is significant, but it’s still affordable. Back in Japan, I might have ignored it…
“There it is…”
“Why isn’t Akira-sama enthusiastic about this? Isn’t it a letter from the gods?”
“That’s exactly why.”
Please don’t look at me like I’m some strange creature.
“Well, whatever… It feels like I’m dancing in the palm of their hand, but I’ll go along with it!”
Feeling half-desperate, I bought it.
Remaining balance: 4,741,161 yen.
……It was the same envelope as always. As I tried to open it without paying much attention, Yarlai handed me an incredibly sharp, slender knife.
“Use this.”
Oh, okay. It’s a substitute for a letter opener. I didn’t know why, but I decided to use it. It was extremely sharp. Maybe it’s over-sharpened?
As I took out the letter and tossed the envelope onto the table, Cherina quietly pocketed it.
So that’s what it is… Yarlai, you’re terrifying!
Jokes aside, here’s the main text. Honestly, I don’t want to read it.
【Hey, hey, Akira-kun, it’s your girl Melhes-chan～☆
I just wanted to say that! Tehe☆
I・L・O・V・E・Y・O・U～☆
Just kidding! Kya☆
Alright, here’s your first quest!
Are you ready?!
Are you trembling in the corner, ready to pray?
Just kidding～!
I wouldn’t do anything to trouble you, Akira-sama～!
So, your quest this time is to open a stall in the Free Economic City-State of Tessa!
Isn’t that too easy?
Yes, it is, so here’s another condition!
Please give my Melhes-chan symbol to all your customers!
Wow!
Amazing!
I’m blushing☆
But you don’t have to emphasize that I’m the god of commerce, okay?
You don’t have to, okay?
I said it twice because it’s important!
Don’t push it! Tehepero☆
Is it too difficult?
Then I’ll prepare an amazing reward to motivate you!
I worked really hard on it!
Praise me, praise me!
The reward is… yes!
The thing you’ve applied for multiple times and got rejected for lack of divinity!
I’ll approve it this time!
Aren’t I generous enough to make you fall for me?
It’s okay to fall for me!
This quest might be difficult, but I believe Akira-sama can accomplish it!
Good luck!
P.S.
It seems issuing quests takes more energy than I thought.
So, I might not be able to include my words of love in the next quests!
But I’ll do my best when I can, so keep taking quests without sulking!
Love, Mer-chan☆
Success Reward: Adding a new item to the SHOP
Completion Condition: Open a stall in the Free Economic City-State of Tessa and distribute at least 100 Merhes symbols to customers】
Shit!
I wanted to rip it up this time, but I gave up on that since it would likely be treated as abandoning the quest. If that “thing” gets approved, it could solve a lot of pending issues all at once.
They really have me by the throat, damn it… I can’t just ignore this.
As I lit a cigarette in frustration, Cherina offered me an ashtray.
“So, Akira-sama, what was written in the letter?”
“Hmm? Oh… In short, it says to open a stall and do business in this city.”
No need to mention the symbol part.
“A stall?”
Cherina looked surprised. She probably thought it would be some solemn mission or something. That jokester of a god wouldn’t do that…
“Yes. It doesn’t specify the goods… Oh, Cherina. Where do I get permission to open a stall?”
“I can arrange that immediately,” Cherina answered with a smile. As expected from the Veliero Trading Company.
“I’ll process it tomorrow, so will the day after tomorrow be okay? If you wish, I can arrange it for tomorrow.”
“No, the day after tomorrow is fine. I appreciate it.”
“That’s no problem at all. I’ll secure the best spot for you.”
How reassuring.
“So, what do you plan to sell? There are some things we can’t permit, so let me know in advance.”
“Oh, right. I haven’t thought about that at all…”
Items like lighters would interfere with Cherina’s business, and I need to distribute at least 100 symbols. Since the purchase price of the symbols is 100 yen, I need to ensure a profit above 100 yen, which is a headache.
“Akira, I’ll be unavailable for a while starting tomorrow. I’ll align my departure with yours, so let me know when it’s decided.”
Hagg suddenly brought this up.
“Is that so? If you have a business, you don’t have to push yourself to join me.”
It would be reassuring to have him with me, but I don’t want to force him.
“Don’t talk nonsense. I still haven’t gotten the good drink you promised! Has it not been approved yet?”
“Sorry. Not yet.”
I checked, but it was rejected again for lack of divinity. How is it that single malt gets rejected more than firearms…?
“I’ll stick with you until I get that drink, even if I hate it. Besides, who knows what you’ll get up to if I leave you alone…”
He mumbled the last part, but I heard you, muscle-bound dwarf. I’m not a kid, damn it.
“Well… there are parts I’m not happy with, but it’s fine. You’re heading back to the inn, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then let me know when the date is set.”
Hagg nodded and went back to drinking. How much can he drink…?
“Yarlai, I’ll pay you for your time and as a bodyguard. Can you help with the stall?”
“Fine.”
Immediate response. Yarlai, you’re the man!
Now, what should I sell…?
“Akira-sama, how about that special medicine?”
“No.”
I answered immediately.
“Why not? It’s a wonderful medicine and there’s a high demand for it in this country.”
“I can sell disinfectant or bandages to your Veliero Trading Company at cost, but not to the general public.”
Cherina fell silent for a while.
(There I go again…)
She muttered something quietly, but I couldn’t catch it.
“I see… You’re thinking about what happens after you’re gone, aren’t you?”
“That’s right.”
Personally, I’d love to give out first aid kits for cost, but what happens after I’m gone? Those who bought it would be fine, but those who couldn’t?
The remaining medicine would likely be priced sky-high, leading to repeated conflicts. I can’t be sure everyone would use it correctly either. Fake products would flood the market. At least here at Veliero Trading Company, Melvin and Cherina know the proper usage, but spreading it to the general public would just cause problems later.
“I can provide it to the doctors you know or have the people from Veliero Trading Company use it directly, but I can’t approve bulk purchases for resale. I don’t mind stocking some here since I’ve been taken care of.”
Cherina nodded slightly.
“But then, what should we sell?”
“Hmm. I don’t intend to make a huge profit, but I’d like to earn enough to cover meal expenses.”
Who knows how much money I’ll need once that “thing” becomes available?
“It should be something that doesn’t inconvenience nearby stalls or stores and isn’t mistaken for an artifact…”
It’s hard to come up with something…
“Hmm. How about food?” Hagg suggested while stroking his beard.
“Food? You mean like selling pizza or takoyaki?”
“That would be interesting, but ingredients would be enough. How about potatoes?”
Cherina pondered.
“Selling prepared food would require time for permits and discussions with the Food Guild. Ingredients like potatoes would be fine.”
Hmm. Potatoes, huh? Reminds me of the Pig Emperor, always eating buttered potatoes.
“Potatoes, huh… They don’t grow well around here, do they?”
“Yes. The agricultural scholar invited by the former kingdom tried various methods, but they haven’t grown well.”
Hmm…? Wait a minute.
“Is that scholar alive?”
“Yes. Bachar managed to secure him.”
“That’s good.”
He would have died in the coup of the country that invited him.
“Potatoes are generally easy to grow… potatoes?”
A thought crossed my mind. The answer has been there all along.
“Ah… I’m really an idiot. There’s only one thing I should sell.”
So, the product was decided.
Cherina… I mean, the Veliero Trading Company is growing them enthusiastically.
Cassava.