SWNOVELXO Chapter 137 - The Divine Cat Mii-chan, Buys Miso and Soy Sauce.
137 The Divine Cat Mii-chan, Buys Miso and Soy Sauce.
Looking at the clock, it’s nearly two o’clock. “Mii-chan, it’s about time we head back. The captain and the others might be waiting.”
“Mii~”
“What, you’re leaving already?”
“The ship is waiting for us.”
“Come visit again sometime.”
“Haha… It’s not exactly easy to come here often.”
“That’s true. Hahaha!”
As we stepped out of the temple, Perro, Sera, and Lu-kun came running toward us. Sumire walked slowly behind.
“Was everything okay, nya?”
“Nyaa~n.”
“Grr.”
“Brr.”
“Yeah, everything’s fine.”
“Mii~”
I gently squished Sera and Lu-kun’s faces to reassure them. “Alright, let’s head back.”
“We’ve been waiting for you. Is everything alright now?”
“Yes, sorry for the wait.”
It looked like the unloading of the ship’s cargo was already finished. As we boarded, the captain gave the order, and the ship set sail.
We had a late lunch on the deck on the way back to Wilhelm’s port, but Sera and Lu-kun didn’t seem to have much of an appetite. Whether it was seasickness or being overwhelmed by Retou-san’s presence, I wasn’t sure. Perro, on the other hand, ate normally.
“Still, nya, that was incredible. Even Perro couldn’t handle that.”
“Nya…”
“Grr.”
“Did the princess or Nero see the dragon’s form, nya?”
“No, we didn’t. It appeared in human form.”
“Mii~”
“I’m scared, but I kinda wanted to see it, nya~”
When I asked Perro which was scarier, the presence of the Goblin King or the dragon, he said the Goblin King was scarier, but the dragon was stronger.
As the sun set, the ship arrived at the port. We thanked the captain, and I mounted Sumire to head for the royal palace.
“How was it?”
“It was a very friendly dragon.”
“Oh? Friendly, you say?”
“Yes, it appeared in human form and we had a casual conversation over drinks.”
“What! In human form? Is that true?”
“Yes, we were just chatting in the temple room, sitting on the sofa.”
“Incredible…”
The duke looked puzzled, shaking his head. I wonder if that’s unusual.
“Unlike meeting with a duke, the dragon probably didn’t feel the need to act formal with me. I’m not involved in any pacts or anything.”
“That may be true, but why were you summoned?”
“That’s because I have the White Wolf Clan and the Black Leopard Clan with me. King Fang knows Retou-san.”
I can’t tell the real reason… there’s no way I could, right?
“Mii~”
“I see. That does make Nero the right person for the task. So, what did you discuss?”
I explained the summoning of a hero by the Kingdom of Rotaringia and that I was asked to meet and talk with the hero.
“A fallen hero, huh…”
“But how am I supposed to meet them…?”
I have no idea. The Kingdom of Rotaringia and the Kingdom of Lumiere aren’t exactly on friendly terms. While they maintain diplomatic relations, I’ve heard that if not for the issues with the Orc King and Goblin King, war could have easily broken out.
Is it really safe for me to go there alone? Then again, maybe that’s why I was chosen—because there are no vested interests involved.
“The best way to enter Rotaringia would be as a merchant. This is something neither I nor Anneliese can intervene in.”
Yeah, that makes sense. It could easily escalate into an international issue. I wonder if the gods are considering the cost and rewards of sending me on this mission. It’s quite troublesome.
As dinner time approached, I decided to return to the inn. The duke told me I was always welcome to visit, and I left the palace.
The next morning, I asked the manager to have any visitors wait in my room. Just in case the dragon decided to show up.
At the port market, I bought plenty of fish. I also stocked up on dried fish and delicacies. You can never have too much. Once you leave the coast, it’s hard to come by fresh fish, so I figured there wouldn’t be any problem selling it. All thanks to Mii-chan. I’d shower her with kisses.
“Mii~”
Now, for today’s main event—buying soy sauce and miso. Let’s begin! I rode Sumire for about ten minutes until we reached the village. The peaceful, rural scenery was soothing.
When we entered the village, I asked the first villager I saw where the elder’s house was, and they guided me there.
“Oh my, you really came.”
“I did. I’d like to make a purchasing contract, so could you introduce me to the person in charge?”
“In charge, huh… I suppose I should speak to the village chief.”
It seems that everyone except Mii-chan is playing with the village children. Mii-chan clung tightly to me, unwilling to let go. It looks like she’s developed a trauma from the village kids.
“So, you want to buy soy sauce and miso?”
I showed the village chief my commercial guild card.
“I’d like to make regular purchases.”
“How much do you need?”
“Enough that it won’t disrupt your daily life.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
The village chief led me to the storehouse managed by the village. There were two separate storehouses—one for soy sauce and one for miso.
“This is what the entire village produces.”
Inside, large wooden barrels were lined up, with the faint aroma of soy sauce wafting in the air—a calming place.
“We can sell one barrel at a time.”
“How much is that?”
“It’s about three hundred bottles, each five liters.”
“And how much per bottle?”
“I’d like to say four thousand ret, but if you buy all three hundred, I’ll give them to you for three thousand ret each.”
“I’ll take them. I’d like to buy miso as well.”
We moved to the miso storehouse, and of course, it smelled like miso. Just like the soy sauce storehouse, large barrels were lined up. All of this is miso, huh.
“There’s dried miso and regular miso, which do you want?”
“I’ll take both.”
We returned to the village chief’s house and signed a sales contract. I also made a yearly contract for a regular supply. While talking with the chief, I found out they also produce glutinous rice. Naturally, I signed a contract for that too. Sweet red bean rice cakes, isobe rice cakes… though I don’t have any seaweed…
“Are you sure about buying so much?”
“Leave it to me. I’ll make sure soy sauce and miso become well-known. When that happens, please increase production.”
“Haha, I won’t hold my breath, but if it happens, the villagers will be happy.”
If that happens, this village might thrive as a producer of specialty goods. Let’s do our best, Mii-chan.
“Mii~”