Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
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Maon and Genta headed to the guild.
Maon, who baked and sold bread, saw it from a professional perspective.
She gave it her stamp of approval, saying that Genta’s bread was excellent.
Maon said,
“Sell it to a rich man for a high price.”
She had personally experienced the harshness and bitterness of business.
These were Maon’s golden words and also encouragement for Genta.
Genta and Maon arrived at the center of town, where the main roads running east-west and north-south intersected.
The bustling crowd was just as lively as it had been before the rain. People carrying loads on their backs were coming and going. As the sun passed its zenith and the town was about to begin its descent, the town was full of life and energy, like a child about to grow up.
“Well, let’s get going. I’ll update my guild affiliation, and then I’ll talk about Genta. Have confidence, Genta. Your bread is second to none! It’s magic bread that everyone will jump at!”
Maon was encouraging Genta with a bouncy voice. It had been about two hours since he had last seen the merchant guild, and of course, it was still there, just as it always was. At the time, he never expected to end up going inside like this.
Right now, Maon-san was sitting next to him. You never know what life will bring. Just a few hours ago, we were complete strangers, but now we’re joining the merchant guild together.
Maon opened the luxurious door with her own hands, followed by Genta. The floors inside the luxurious building were covered in marble, and it was clear that the walls and pillars were made of solid wood and boards.
To be honest, polished marble floors would have been too dangerous to walk on for people living in the Middle Ages.
In modern society, we could walk on the marble floors of large companies without slipping because the soles of our shoes are made of a material with good grip that firmly grips the ground, and have three-dimensional patterns carved into them to prevent slipping.
This allowed you to walk on smooth marble.
Ignorant wannabe writers were quick to write stories set in a medieval world, with lines like “A marble floor like a polished mirror…”
However, a friend from university had told him that this would be like revealing that I know nothing as a writer.
He got ready before dawn and worked a part-time job delivering newspapers before going to school.
When delivering to apartments or condominiums where the concrete had been painted to allow for drainage, it was common for the worn soles of shoes to slip and cause the feet to trip when it is raining.
When he made deliveries on his motorcycle, the sole of his left foot, which often touched the ground, was worn down more than he expected, which put him at risk of falling at unexpected times.
After all, words based on real experience were persuasive.
The same could be said for the many things Maon had said before we got here. She had met someone who could be called a comrade-in-arms, heading to the Commerce Guild with her, and at the same time, I had met a mentor.
….
I followed Maon-san, standing behind her. As we entered, the reception desk was directly in front of us, with only a few people around.
Judging from the lack of people inside the luxurious building and the bustle outside, it seems like it’s a little quiet at this time of day, just after noon.
When meeting someone, try to go when they’re free. You don’t have to wait and it’s easier for them to talk to you.
These were the words Maon said on the way here.
When she arrived at the reception desk, she took out the certificate from her chest and applied for an extension of her guild membership and a loan for funds to repair the burned building.
The thin man at the reception desk was trying to help us and reached into what appeared to be a drawer inside the counter that was out of sight to me, to take something out.
“I’ll figure out what happens after that …”
Just at that moment, a low, peculiar voice came from somewhere else.
The voice came from a man in well-tailored clothes who had come down the stairs leading to the upper floor next to the counter.
“Guild Master …”
The man at the reception counter muttered, hastily making room for him.
….
The person called came in to the counter, replacing the thin man who was originally at the reception desk.
The distinctive person with Tarako roe[1] lips called out “Ah, here we go,” and he sat down. He was a sturdy, tall man with a solid build.
“Your affiliation is to be updated, right? Is there anything you’d like to talk about?”
The “Guild Master” resonated in a distinctively low voice. Maon-san took out a drawstring bag from her pocket and placed three silver coins on the table that served as a counter. I think that’s 30,000 yen in Japanese yen… and that’s for a season (three months) renewal. 10,000 yen a month, or a little over 333 yen per day… It seemed a bit expensive, but if they could guarantee the identity and quality, it might be worth it.
“I’m Maon, a street vendor in the northwest. I’d like to renew my lease for the season. Then there was a fire. My business is ruined. If it stays like this, I won’t be able to bake bread, so I’d like to ask for a loan.”
Maon didn’t seem to be at all flustered. Rather, she seemed to be saying that since the top person has come out, it’s easy to get things done.
She got straight to the point and got the conversation going.
“And then… this is my distant relative, Genta. He’s young, but he’s impressive. I’d love to see him…”
“Hmm … This won’t even cover the membership fee for one term… “
The guild master interrupted Maon while speaking.
“Wh-What?! It’s not enough?!”
Maon-san let out a rare, flustered voice.
“Right, today is the start of a new month… According to the rules, you have to submit one gold coin for updates, yes.”
“One gold coin in one season?!”
“If that’s the case…ten tickets will be fine, yes.”
“I know!!”
As expected of a businessman, he spoke in a relaxed tone, as if explaining the ratio of the value of gold and silver coins to a customer.
But 100,000 yen for one three-month term… 400,000 yen for a year… it’s too expensive, this is just to be a member…
“By the way, if you don’t renew this time and your membership is terminated…”
“Until now, new affiliation was one gold coin (meaning one gold coin), but that’s not the case anymore, is it?”
“Brrrrrrr…! That’s right!!! Starting this month, it’s now like this.”
….
However, Maon’s situation was dire. She had just lost her belongings in a fire, so she must have had some financial needs. One gold coin was a huge amount of money.
Even if you leave the guild and try to save up some money, if you rejoin (as a new member) you will have to give three gold coins…
300,000… Will she be able to sell bread again once she was no longer officially recognized by the guild?
Maon’s bread might sell to regular customers and neighbors, but to regain official recognition, she must sell her bread widely.
No, a place for Maon to live comes first before official guild recognition! A place to rest is necessary to protect from the heat, cold, rain and wind.
Otherwise, your body will give out.
W-what should I do…?
Perhaps one gold coin would be too harsh for Maon right now.
Should I serve my bread? When Maon-san ate the jam bread, she was surprised by the jam and muttered “Elf jam”.
Maon said that in addition to fruit, jam was expensive even when it is made by boiling grasses and roots and mixing in other ingredients to make it sweet and still retaining a bitter and astringent taste.
I didn’t deny it, but the jam inside the jam bun… wouldn’t a bun with jam like “Elf Jam” fetch a pretty high price…?
Maon had said earlier that good things should be sold to rich people at a high price.
I still had over ten loaves of bread in my backpack. Not only jam buns, but also sweet bean paste buns and filling ones with a whole croquette inside.
Well, now’s the time! Or should I say? Let’s bid a high price on this bread and earn the renewal fee.
“Maon-san…”
I had been standing slightly behind her and now stepped forward next to her.
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