In any case, I really needed to find a way to calm Serge down.
"Forgive me. I have a terrible habit of rambling when I get excited," he said. "I hope I haven't offended you."
"No, no, not at all! I was just a bit taken aback. I recall you being only eleven years old, Master Ryoma, and yet you keep proposing one effective strategy after another."
So that was it? Right, I was currently an eleven-year-old boy. I suppose it was only natural for people to be shocked when a kid started laying out business management strategies. Some parents practically throw a party just because their baby managed to stand up; nobody expects a child to operate on the same level as an adult. Is that the bar I’m being measured against?
I say I "thought" of them, but I was really just repurposing modern advertising tactics. My amateurish calculations were probably full of holes. Actually, come to think of it, were there no such things as discounts here?
"Um, are there no such things as discounts?" I asked.
"Discounts do exist, but I’ve never heard of a 'permanent discount' model. Generally, price reductions are a tactic used when a merchant wants to curry favor with a high-profile client for future business, or when they’re trying to offload stock as quickly as possible. Discounting without a clear reason would just cause losses to mount. Beyond that, they might be used to get a troublesome customer to leave... or, in the case of more unscrupulous shops, a merchant might present an exorbitant price first and then 'discount' it, tricking the customer into paying more than the market rate while making them think they got a bargain."
He sounded completely serious.
"Master Ryoma, under the circumstances, I strongly recommend that you register with the Commerce Guild."
"The Commerce Guild?"
"Yes. There is a branch right here in this city, so you can register immediately. While the guild’s influence varies by country, they oversee all trade within the nation, from traveling peddlers to street stalls and food stands. It is mandatory to go through the guild for any commercial enterprise."
What? Then...
"Does that mean what I was planning to do was illegal?"
"No, no. While the guild technically oversees all trade, they don't actually police every minor interaction. Villagers in remote areas buy and sell among themselves as they please, and it is perfectly legal to sell medicinal herbs you’ve gathered during your travels to a pharmacy. Similarly, there’s no issue with children or adventurers taking on odd jobs for pocket money without guild intervention. As long as the pay isn't astronomical, no laws are broken, and both parties are in agreement, it’s rarely a problem. However, if you work the way you described today, Master Ryoma, you might find yourself sitting on a fortune that can hardly be called 'pocket money.' The guild might set their sights on you as a lucrative new gold mine."
"That was a close call... Thank you, Serge."
"Think nothing of it. It seems I was still underestimating you. I had no idea you were considering management so deeply. I had initially skipped the topic of registration, assuming you were just looking for a way to earn a little extra cash in your spare time."
No, he was right the first time. I hadn't thought this through at all... but I might as well play along.
"So, if I'm going to run a laundry shop, I'll need to register. I'm already members of the Adventurer Guild and the Tamer Guild; is that a problem?"
"Not at all. I will provide a personal recommendation, so the process will be seamless. In fact, holding memberships in multiple guilds is often welcomed, as it makes it easier to acquire a wider range of information. If you like, shall we go register tomorrow? I will accompany you."
"Tomorrow... I still have a request to finish as an adventurer, so I’ll likely be back around the same time as today."
"That is perfectly fine. The Commerce Guild always has several staff members on duty, and procedures can be handled at any hour. For a merchant, information is life. We must deliver it before its freshness fades, after all."
Was he saying the guild ran twenty-four hours a day?
"Well then, if it’s alright with you, Serge."
"But of course!"
Whoa, he was suddenly very intense.
"The laundry shop you’ve envisioned, Master Ryoma, is truly magnificent! No other merchant has spotted this opening yet, and the potential for profit is immense. It could revolutionize the very nature of commerce in this world! I, Serge Morgan, will lend you my full support, however modest it may be!"
He was getting incredibly theatrical. I was only hoping to earn a little extra spending money, but this was turning into a major ordeal.
"Th-thank you. That's very reassuring."
"You are too kind. Since it has come to this, we must also consider a location for the storefront."
A shop?! I hadn't intended to go that big!
"Hmm... from the look on your face, I take it you didn't plan on expanding quite so far?"
"Yes. At most, I just wanted to earn enough to cover my basic living expenses. I thought a street stall would be enough, or I could even go door-to-door. If I have to run a physical shop, I won't be able to keep up with my adventurer work."
"I see. However, if management is your only concern, there is no issue. I can lend you a few members of my own staff."
No, that didn't seem right.
"Even if I have a shop, leaving everything to other people seems..."
Serge gave a wry smile.
"I think I’m beginning to understand what the Ducal House meant. Master Ryoma, there is nothing strange about delegating management to others."
"Wait, really?"
"Certainly. While a first-time owner usually runs the shop themselves, a merchant of my scale inevitably ends up with many branches. I couldn't possibly oversee every single store by myself. Instead, I select and train trustworthy subordinates and entrust the management of those branches to them. Do you find that strange?"
When he put it that way, he had a point. Even in Japan, most managers of chain stores are employees, not the owners.
"I suppose that’s not strange at all."
"Exactly. Besides, some people are suited for management and some are not. A business will run far more smoothly if an owner hires someone suited for the task rather than trying to force it themselves. As for you, Master Ryoma... I cannot judge your potential as a manager just yet. You clearly have the ideas, the means to realize them, and a solid policy, but you aren't very good at the 'smoke and mirrors' side of business. Your feelings are written all over your face."
Is it really that obvious?!
"Considering your age, you're hiding it better than most, but it won't work on seasoned merchants who have seen it all."
"I see..."
I’d had a fair amount of confidence in my poker face back in my previous life. Maybe it was just my imagination.
"Furthermore, I am not offering this help out of pure altruism. Lord Reinhardt asked me to advise you when he made the introduction, which is one reason. The other is that I see immense potential in your future."
"My future potential?"
"Yes. Even setting Lord Reinhardt’s recommendation aside, anyone who can produce waterproof cloth, thread, and those iron ingots at your age is worth watching. Moreover, our discussion today promises great future profits. As a merchant, I cannot simply ignore such an opportunity. I would like to be involved, even if it’s just supplying the laundry bags for your shop. If necessary, I am even willing to invest the startup funds."
If he was going that far, maybe it was okay. But...
"What if you invest the funds and I fail?"
"One cannot grow a business if they are paralyzed by the fear of failure. Any merchant with a sizeable operation is already carrying a fair amount of risk. More importantly, I believe the odds of your shop succeeding are incredibly high. And even if it were to fail, I could simply have you settle the debt by producing a massive quantity of iron ingots, waterproof cloth, and thread. Since the slimes handle the labor, your operating costs are negligible, so you could easily cover any losses. With a high probability of success and a guaranteed way to recover my investment, I’d be no merchant at all if I didn't take this deal."
I see. It was true that I could earn quite a bit just by making iron ingots.
"Alright. I’ll accept your help."
"Have I convinced you, then?"
"Yes. But I’ll decline the financial investment for now. Fortunately, I have a decent amount of money saved up from the rewards I got for taking down bandits a while ago."
"Then you'll accept the manpower?"
"Please. Also, I’ll buy the bags and whatever other supplies I can from your shop. I’ll bring in the ingots separately once I have some free time. I was planning to make them anyway since I’ve been put in charge of the abandoned mine."
"Thank you. It seems we are going to have a very profitable relationship."
With the deal struck, I bought the bags from a very cheerful Serge and left the shop.
The streets were dark by the time I walked back to the inn, where the Young Lady was waiting for me, practically vibrating with an aura of fury.
"Young Lady...?"
"Ryoma-san, just what have you been doing until this hour? I was so worried..."
The angry aura vanished as she burst into tears. It seemed that with the Goblin King incident only yesterday, she had been genuinely terrified for my safety.
I felt terrible.
I stayed silent and took the scolding she gave me through her tears. Eventually, exhausted from crying and shouting, the Young Lady announced she was going to bed. I watched the maids lead her away.
"I'm sorry for causing everyone so much worry."
"Don't worry about it. It looks like Elia gave you enough of a piece of her mind for all of us," one of the men said.
"We were genuinely worried, though."
"Just be more careful from now on."
"I will. I'll keep it firmly in mind."
"So? Where was Ryoma-kun until this hour?"
I explained that the carriage had broken down and I’d ended up at Serge’s shop.
"So you were with Serge. To think you were already planning your next job."
"I think I’ll be back a little late tomorrow, too. I’m sorry to say that right after being scolded, but..."
"As long as you let us know in advance, it’s fine. Is something happening tomorrow?"
"I’m going to register with the Commerce Guild with Serge. Our conversation kept growing until we reached the point where I needed to register just to open my own laundry shop."
"What? I thought you were just doing odd jobs to help with expenses."
"I thought so too at first, but Serge and I hammered out the details until we had a plan for a physical store."
"A store? It’s progressed that far?"
"Serge said he 'could see a prosperous future' for it. He even offered to provide a few people from his own shop to help run it."
"If Serge is that confident, it must be something. So, when is the grand opening?"
He asked that so naturally?! I thought they’d be more shocked.
"The date is still undecided since I have to find a location and handle other things... but aren't you surprised? About an eleven-year-old child opening a shop?"
"There isn't actually an age limit. Children your age sometimes run stalls, and you see them watching the counter in normal shops all the time."
"Admittedly, there aren't many eleven-year-olds opening a proper establishment, but we're talking about you."
"Ryoma-kun isn't exactly a normal child. If Serge gave you his seal of approval, it’ll be fine. But remember, you have to rely on us if you run into trouble, okay? And don't forget to check in regularly."
Was that really all there was to it?
"I understand."
Feeling a little dazed by their lack of surprise, I went back to my room and handled the slime divisions and contracts I’d skipped yesterday.
My current slime count was as follows:
Sticky Slimes: 907 Poison Slimes: 666 Acid Slimes: 666 Cleaner Slimes: 22 Scavenger Slimes: 3,033 Heal Slimes: 2 Metal Slime: 1 Slime: 1
The Sticky Slimes had passed 900; they’d hit 1,000 soon. The Poison and Acid Slimes had ended up with the exact same number. Still, six hundred and sixty-six felt a bit ominous.
I was glad to see the Cleaner Slimes had doubled. Also, perhaps because of yesterday’s battle, the slimes seemed to have grown stronger. The Physical Attack Resistance they’d gained from being in their Big or Huge states was a great addition. However, I never expected that slimes would learn Staff Techniques, Spearmanship, and Martial Arts.
I’d tried teaching them various things, but I hadn't actually expected them to acquire skills like those. I think I’ll try teaching them even more from now on.