The final stop on my list was Balor-sama, the weapon merchant. However, he was currently with Pioro-san, and a distinctly hostile atmosphere hung between them. Pioro-san maintained his usual breezy smile, but Balor-sama, standing opposite him, had his arms folded with an obviously displeased expression.
Oresto-san was also there beside them, observing the exchange. I wondered if I could really say he was "with" them, but having a familiar face around was encouraging nonetheless.
Although the air was difficult to enter, I couldn't very well skip my greetings. I made sure my footsteps were audible as I approached and cut into their exchange.
"Pioro-san, Balor-sama. Do you have a moment? You two seem to be having quite a heated discussion."
"Ryoma! You've come at a good time. See, I was just havin' a bit of a supply negotiation with Balor-han, but we couldn't quite agree on the terms. We were just thinkin' of takin' a breather."
"Supplies?"
"Food for the guys workin' in my workshop," Balor-sama grumbled. "The weapons and armor I handle are general-purpose goods that anyone can use. I've built up trust by gathering craftsmen, refining the facilities on my end, and maintaining stable, high quality and prices even through mass production. To that end, I've been sourcing the meals for the lot workin' in the workshop—from manufacturing to transport—in bulk from this guy's company, but..."
"We're runnin' a business too, ya know," Pioro-san countered. "At the price Balor-han is offerin', what with transport costs and such, we'd end up in the red. I'd love to cut ya some slack, I really would, but it's just too difficult."
"I've got no argument with last year's prices, considerin' the poor harvest caused by the freak weather. But this year, we took last year into account with our preparations and seed selection, and the word is we're leaning toward a bumper crop. Food prices ought to be settling down."
"Prices don't just drop that easily once they've gone up. Besides, while the bumper crop is a fact, you know about His Majesty the King's Declaration of the Period of Increased Mana, don't ya? Because of that, there's a lot of lords out there increasin' their military stockpiles. There's even some fools who've started buyin' up stock for speculation. I want ya to see it as a kindness that we aren't hikin' the prices up. We can manage at that price because we have such wide-ranging sales and procurement routes, but if you bought from a shop that's heavily dependent on the local area, wouldn't the price jump even higher? Besides, the Declaration of the Period of Increased Mana is a tailwind for you, so you must be rakin' it in. You've got demand from adventurers, nobles, and the lords' armies, so don't be so stingy."
"Dammit! I ain't denyin' we're makin' money, but my whole staff is workin' themselves to the bone for production and delivery. Because their entertainment is limited by the lack of time, their consumption of booze and food has increased too. We're increasin' our purchase volume, so your profits'll increase in the end anyway!"
It seemed the negotiation had cooled down slightly upon my arrival, but it hadn't gone completely cold. While the hostile air was less prominent compared to a moment ago, I could still feel a prickly tension even as they explained things to me.
...Wait, did Balor-sama just use the rough, traditional slang of an old-school Tokyoite? Is he actually an Edokko? I seriously have no idea how the translation magic between Japanese and this world's tongue is supposed to work... Oh?
Perhaps noticing my observing gaze, he looked away from Pioro-san and turned a sharp glare toward me. It was that same wary look, like a tanuki using intimidation, that I had felt during our first greeting.
"Now then, Balor-han, why are ya suddenly glarin' at Ryoma? An ordinary child would be cryin' by now."
"That might be true for an ordinary child, but this one's different. At least, I came here today even if I had to push myself just to see his mug, because I know he's someone you can't afford to be careless with."
At those unexpected words, I exchanged a look with Pioro-san. I had felt that he was being wary, but to think he had come specifically to see me from the start...
"I'll be blunt since we're here. That 'blade-resistant innerwear' armor made with slime thread... you're the one making that and selling it to the Ducal House, aren't you?"
"Ah!...My apologies. The manufacturing was handled by craftsmen through an acquaintance who's a weapon merchant, but I'm the one who provided the slime fiber and the proposal. Were you aware of it?"
"Damn straight! I handle equipment procurement for the Jamil Ducal House army, and I heard talk from them that 'a new type of armor has been introduced on a trial basis for some units.' Also, that acquaintance of yours is Tigger's Weapons and Armor Shop, right? I sent my subordinates and secured an actual sample of the armor being sold there. Once I saw the real thing, I realized I'd been had!"
Oh? The conversation was taking an interesting turn. It was true that Tigger's Weapons and Armor Shop had started selling them in small quantities, but supplies to the Ducal House were the priority. They were usually out of stock at the storefront, so he did well to get his hands on one.
"Before I saw the real thing, I thought the durability of armor that could be worn under everyday clothes would be negligible, or it would be uncomfortable, or you'd have to compensate with expensive monster materials. I figured no matter which you chose, it wouldn't be worth it. I thought it'd be more practical to just wear normal leather or metal armor. That was my blind spot! When I saw the actual piece, it was light and had more than enough strength as armor. As for the fit, I figured some discomfort was inevitable if it was for saving your life, but it felt perfectly natural. It's no wonder the Ducal House army adopted it, even if only for a portion of their forces. But listen here, I can't exactly give that thing my unconditional praise. Because for me, it means a formidable competitor has suddenly appeared. For now, we aren't eating into each other's business because our armor types are different, but if you're gonna reach for other armor for the Ducal House in the future, then that's a different story. I'd like to hear what you're thinking about that!"
I finally understood the reason why Balor-sama was so wary of me. It was a natural reaction if he thought a competitor had suddenly appeared in a major trade relationship with the Jamil Ducal House.
However...
"Personally, I haven't thought that far ahead. If anything, I was thinking it might be good to form a business partnership. For example, having Balor-sama's workshop produce the blade-resistant innerwear as well and having you sell it widely through your own sales channels."
"...Huh?"
His wary face turned into a blank one in an instant. Pioro-san fell silent, and Oresto-san looked over here with an even more amused expression.
"I am also an adventurer, and it all started when I thought it would be nice to have this kind of armor made from the slime materials I research as a hobby. So to put it plainly, when it comes to equipment, my first priority is preparing gear for my own use. As for selling it to the Ducal House or in Gimul, the raw material is the thread produced by my slimes, so it can be produced relatively cheaply. Selling it leads to profits for the manager of Tigger's Weapons and Armor Shop and the craftsmen who collaborated with me. And it would be good if it helped other people... I've listed several reasons, but none of them are particularly profound. If I make a profit and return it to the craftsmen, the production of equipment can continue, and if it continues, even better armor might be made in the future. If better armor is made, my own activities as an adventurer become safer. Looking at it again, it's more like an 'investment.' The introduction to the Jamil Ducal House happened because I showed it to the Duke during my year-end greetings with a bit of a boast, which led to the trial introduction... but my goal is the high-quality armor itself. I have no desire to make a fortune or grow my business with it. Even though I have a workshop and employees, they only handle production. Sales, including those for the Jamil family, are entirely delegated to Tigger's Weapons and Armor Shop, so I don't even have a shop to grow in the first place."
"...You seriously don't mind if I make and sell it in my workshop?"
"There are the people currently involved in manufacturing and sales to consider, so I can't give you a definite 'yes' right here. If you are interested, Balor-sama, I will take this back and discuss it with the craftsmen and the manager of Tigger's Weapons and Armor Shop. However, I gathered people for my workshop who have the spirit and curiosity to challenge the development of new equipment, so it's become almost like a research facility. Because I guarantee them a reward that allows them to live regardless of sales, everyone prioritizes research, so our production volume isn't very high. The reality is that we're limiting ourselves to direct sales for the Jamil family and Tigger's Weapons and Armor Shop to devote time to research and prototyping. So, if we can pass the time spent on production for those deliveries over to research instead, I don't think there will be much opposition."
There might be some sentiment like "I don't want some stranger making our work," but I wouldn't know until I talked to them.
"That said, the prerequisite is that we sign a contract that guarantees my payment in kind of equipment and the profits of those involved in Gimul. If, after grasping the manufacturing process of the goods, you were to shut them out and steal their profits, I would stop the supply of the raw material, the slime thread. By the way, as of right now, only I or those connected to me can supply this."
"Who the hell would do something so pathetic without being told! If anything, I'll increase 'em for ya!"
"Then that's a relief."
"Damn straight!...Wait, are you truly, honestly, going to hand over the manufacturing process?"
"As long as we can arrange it in a way that satisfies all involved parties, I have no intention of monopolizing it."
Since he still seemed suspicious, I made my declaration clearly from the heart. He stared at me for a while, then scratched his head, looking completely deflated.
"I feel like a damn idiot, honestly... Fine, I can't give ya an answer right away either, so I'll consider the conditions and everything else."
"My, you were so prickly just a moment ago. Isn't it a bit late to try and act calm now?"
"Shut up! No one would normally expect someone to just throw away the rights to somethin' that's already been adopted by the Ducal House, even if it is just a trial!"
"Well, I completely agree with ya there. But it was a masterpiece to watch from the sidelines."
"...Yeah, I don't even have the energy to stay mad anymore..."
Balor-sama let out a deep sigh and looked at me with a face drained of its previous intensity. His anger and wariness had vanished, but he didn't seem to fully understand my actions yet. Time would likely solve that.
After that, the three of us chatted for a while until Balor-sama and Pioro-san's business negotiation resumed, so I excused myself so as not to get in the way. As soon as I left, the atmosphere became hostile again, but it didn't seem like those two actually had a bad relationship. It was like a battle of wits between a fox and a tanuki; perhaps that exchange was just their way of communicating.
Now then, how should I spend the rest of my time...
"You look tired."
"! Oresto-san. Yes, a little. I'm not used to these kinds of gatherings."
"For someone who isn't used to them, you seemed to handle yourself quite well."
"I was desperate. I feel like my way of speaking started getting strange. And so, you were watching after all."
"Since I was the one who invited you, I was standing by, intending to lend a hand if anything happened."
Doing something like those TV programs where they tail a child going on their first errand... I was grateful for his concern, even if I remembered that for this man, it was also partly a hobby.
"But there was no need for me to step in. Even in the eyes of the others, you've passed, Ryoma-sama."
"When you say 'passed,' was there some kind of criteria?"
"It's not something as clear-cut as a standard, but if I had to put it into words, perhaps it would be 'one's attitude toward business'? It would take a long time to explain, and since your two companions seem to have received training from Griselda-sama, it might be good to ask them later. More importantly, why don't we go get a bite to eat?"
"That sounds good, let's go."
And so, I enjoyed the food from the buffet and conversation with Oresto-san for the remainder of the time. While there was a large element of personal hobby involved for him, he was well-informed not only about the Jamil Duchy but also about other territories and social conditions through the slaves who gathered at his company. It was truly educational.