At last, I—Iris—had arrived in my hometown of Edelweiss.
A bit of daylight remained before sunset, so we immediately made our way to the headquarters of the Pilz Trading Company, the very group we had just rescued from bandits.
Looking up at the massive structure, the Little Witch whispered in awe.
"Is this really the Pilz Trading Company? It looks more like a lord’s manor than a place of business."
The building was a towering four-story stone edifice that forced one to crane their neck to see the roofline. Large warehouses for storing cargo stood in a neat row right beside it.
Even in Tower City, a frontier outpost on the front lines against the Demon King’s Army, I hadn't seen a merchant house this grand. Being based in Edelweiss, one of the Kingdom of Gardenia’s premier metropolises, the company clearly boasted significant influence and scale.
"Hey, Alraune. I think we might have saved a much bigger deal than I realized...!"
I felt a little bad for the Little Witch, who was trembling with excitement, her eyes sparkling. However, the truth was that the Pilz Trading Company wasn't actually the top dog in Edelweiss.
When it came to the biggest players in the city, the Edelweiss Trading Company—operated by my father, Duke Edelweiss—was the undisputed giant. It held more power and influence than any other local entity.
Beyond that, one couldn't forget the Gardenia Trading Company, which controlled the commerce of the Royal Capital. With a commercial reach comparable to that of a small nation, it was the largest trading company in the entire kingdom.
Compared to those titans, the Pilz Trading Company was relatively modest. During my time as the Duke's daughter, I only recalled a handful of interactions with them. I had moved to the Saint Cathedral in the Royal Capital when I was ten, so the window of time I’d spent in Edelweiss as a member of high society had been quite brief.
Even so, the Pilz headquarters was a beehive of activity. People constantly swarmed the area, and a steady stream of cargo was being moved in and out.
Watching the frantic scene, the Little Witch looked troubled and gave my leaf a nervous tug.
"There are so many people... everyone looks so busy. What are we supposed to do?"
Since she wasn't actually a merchant, she was completely out of her depth. Despite owning a magnificent carriage and a cargo bed packed with Saint Nectar—often called "liquid gold" in this era—she looked less like a savvy trader and more like a terrified novice heading into her very first business meeting.
"Maybe we should have waited until tomorrow to visit?" she suggested.
"We’ve come all this way," I replied. "It wouldn't hurt to see how things work for a bit. Look, it seems we can enter with the carriage over there."
I pointed to a carriage that was currently disappearing into the ground floor of the main building.
"We can take the whole carriage inside?"
"It looks that way. Let’s try asking someone."
Instead of letting the Little Witch handle it—she was currently frozen stiff with tension—I called out to a man passing by.
"Excuse me. We’re here on the recommendation of Mr. Speck of the Pilz Trading Company."
"Hmm? Those ears on your head... are you of the Beast-ear Race? I heard a rumor that a white-haired little merchant girl from the Beast-ear Race took down some bandits. Is that you lot?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes."
"Well, thanks for saving our caravan. Head through to the courtyard over there."
With that, the man hurried off toward another warehouse, still clutching his heavy load. It seemed we had arrived at an incredibly busy time.
Following his directions, we drove the carriage into the courtyard. Once inside the ground floor, we found ourselves in a massive loading bay. The carriages from the caravan we had escorted were already there, and the air was thick with the chaos of workers unloading goods. The man who had helped us earlier was already pitching in with the labor.
As the Little Witch and I stood there, overwhelmed by the sheer energy of the place, a merchant overseeing the site called out.
"You must be Miss Rufe of the Beast-ear Race, right? Park your carriage over there."
Word had clearly traveled fast. I found myself feeling quite grateful for the beast ears on the Little Witch’s head. Being recognizable at a glance was proving to be a convenient advantage.
Once the carriage was parked, the merchant spoke again.
"Sorry for the noise. We're in the middle of a massive haul. Speck will be here shortly, so just hang tight until then."
The Little Witch and I exchanged a look. I knew exactly what she was thinking without her saying a word.
Should we have come back another day?
I was already anxious about staying at an inn while leaving a literal fortune in Saint Nectar in the back of the carriage, which was why I’d wanted to visit the company immediately. Perhaps our timing had been poor.
Still, having been told to wait, we huddled at the edge of the loading bay, trying to stay out of the way. We passed the time by listening to the surrounding chatter while the caravan we’d rescued was being processed.
"I heard you were hit by bandits. How did you make it back in one piece?"
"I kept my prayers to Goddess Selene, that’s how. And we owe that beast-eared merchant girl a debt of gratitude."
"Check out the ears on her. I’ve never seen someone from the Beast-ear Race before. She’s actually pretty cute."
"Look at that massive horse... is that even a real animal?"
"Hey, what’s the deal with this weird pot? Where did this come from?"
"Eh? A pot? I don’t have any record of us stocking something like that."
"That weird pot was on the other carriage, too, along with those strange clay figures. Someone must have bought a whole batch of them."
"But they aren’t in the ledger. How did they get mixed in?"
"What is this? Is this all the Saint Nectar we could get? At this rate, the Edelweiss Trading Company is going to leave us in the dust!"
"Careful with that! A single one of those barrels is worth enough to build a house!"
"Most of the Saint Nectar is being diverted to the Royal Capital. We have to secure a supply, if only for the prestige of the Pilz name."
The loading bay felt like a battlefield. It was a world away from the relaxed atmosphere of the trading houses in Tower City. The variety of goods was staggering, and there were many things I didn't recognize—including those odd clay figures and earth pots. I wondered which country they originated from.
As expected of a major company, the volume of products was immense.
Come to think of it, this was the first time I had ever witnessed the inner workings of a merchant house like this. When I was Saint Iris, I lived a life of ultimate luxury. Whenever I visited such places, I was swarmed by merchants trying to curry favor, so I’d never had the chance to simply observe. Usually, if I wanted something, the merchants came to my door.
As the only Saint in the kingdom and the daughter of the Duke, I was in a position where people lined up just for the privilege of presenting me with gifts. Being here now as a common traveler felt incredibly fresh. I felt as though I could watch the movement of people and cargo forever without getting bored.
Just as I was lost in thought, a familiar, portly man approached from the back of the building.
"My apologies for the wait, Miss Rufe. Welcome to the Pilz Trading Company!"
It was Speck, the merchant we had rescued. Despite the hectic environment, he greeted us with a warm, genuine smile.
"As a token of our gratitude, I’d love to hear more about your travels and the Beast-ear Race."
"I-I’m not sure there’s much to tell about the Beast-ear Race..."
The Little Witch’s expression was strained. I couldn't blame her; she wasn't actually a member of that race. She had only made it through the gate by piling one lie on top of another, and she clearly felt guilty about feeding false information to a professional merchant like Speck.
"By the way, Miss Rufe, since this is your first time in Edelweiss, which company were you planning to trade with?"
Speck’s eyes drifted toward our cargo bed. It was the sharp, predatory look of a businessman who had caught the scent of rare goods.
"I haven't really decided," the Little Witch managed. "But I have to deliver the wheat to the company the Village Chief recommended. Here’s the letter of introduction."
"............Wait. Miss Rufe, you have wheat from that village? The 'Pilz Trading Company' listed in this letter is us!"
"Oh. You're right."
It seemed she truly hadn't noticed. It was a stroke of luck that the person we’d saved happened to be our intended business partner.
"Since fate has brought us together, why not sell your other goods to our company along with the wheat?"
The Little Witch looked at me for guidance. I gave a small, encouraging nod. I didn't want to drag the cargo around anymore, so we might as well sell the whole lot here.
She turned back to Speck. "Okay."
Under Speck's direction, the workers began unloading our carriage.
"Miss Rufe, what is this withered tree?"
"That is a rare fragrant wood passed down by my people... but it’s not for sale. Put it back."
"And this flowerpot?"
"That is a rare radish of the Beast-ear Race... not for sale. Put it back too."
She successfully prevented the Amazoness Treant and the Mandrake from being sold as inventory. In their place, the barrels from the cargo bed were lined up on the floor.
"And these, Miss Rufe? They have a sweet aroma. Are they wine barrels?"
"That’s Saint Nectar."
"S-Saint Nectar?! Wait, you don't mean all of them...?"
"Yes. Every barrel."
"This entire haul is Saint Nectar?! All thirty of these?!"
Speck and the nearby merchants stared at the barrels in stunned silence. I felt a bit bad, but aside from the wheat, my nectar was the only thing we had to trade.
"Let me see... thirty barrels?" Speck stammered. "Even the Edelweiss Trading Company struggles to secure a shipment this large, and yet you have thirty... right here?!"
Thanks to the Wood Horse Golem’s strength, we’d been able to transport a massive amount of weight in a single carriage. Furthermore, by using my vines to secure the load so it wouldn't shift during the journey, we had managed to pack the cargo bed to its absolute limit. Seeing the shock on their faces made the long trip feel worth it.
"With this much Saint Nectar, we could actually outmaneuver the Edelweiss Trading Company! Miss Rufe, what do you intend to do with all of this?"
"If you want it, I'll sell it all to you."
"YOU'LL SELL US THE ENTIRE SHIPMENT?!"
"Yes. You can have it all."
As soon as the Little Witch said that, I heard someone scream, "Go get the President, now!"
Judging by the reaction, the price of Saint Nectar must have skyrocketed lately. In Tower City, this wouldn't have caused such a scene.
While the merchants were losing their minds, the Little Witch remained as stoic as ever. Her calm demeanor made her look like a seasoned veteran of the trade, but I knew the truth. She simply didn't think the nectar was that special because she knew that as long as I was around, the supply was practically bottomless.
Speck, who had likely looked down on her as a novice until a moment ago, now looked at her with pure awe.
"M-Miss Rufe... how on earth did you acquire this much?"
"I collected it myself. That's why I have a lot."
"You collected it?! I’ve heard of merchants sourcing it, but never of someone producing it... Who—or what—are you...?"
The Little Witch looked him in the eye and delivered her final line.
"I am a merchant of the Beast-ear Race, and the original purveyor of Saint Nectar. I was the one who started selling it in the first place."
"You mean... you're the one who discovered it?!"
The respect in the eyes of the gathered merchants was palpable. Two years ago, she had started a small business selling my nectar to make ends meet. To see it grow into a legend like this was truly breathtaking.
It had been two years since Rufe began her trade, and "Alraune's Nectar" had become famous. Next time, we gather information within the company.