Day four of the monster subjugation.
As soon as I finished my shift at the abandoned mines, I headed straight to Serge-san’s shop.
"Good evening, Serge-san."
"I have been waiting for you, Ryoma-sama. Shall we depart?"
We boarded a waiting carriage and traveled slightly south from the city center. Before long, we arrived at the Commerce Guild. The building was an exercise in simple, sturdy functionality, with a faint light spilling from the entrance. Though the hour was late, a few people were still scattered about the hall.
Serge led the way to the counter, and the receptionist immediately ushered us into a back room. Judging by how politely she bowed before departing, Serge-san was clearly a person of significant standing here. I suppose that was only natural for the president of a major trading company.
A few minutes later, a thin man and a stooped old woman entered the room. We moved to stand, but the woman gestured for us to stay seated with a warm smile.
"Well now, Serge, it’s been an age," the man said. "I hadn’t heard a peep from ya lately, so I was wonderin’ what ya were up to."
His speech was peppered with a strange, almost performative Kansai-style accent. It felt oddly nostalgic—I’d had a boss back in my old life who sounded just like that.
"It has been a while, Pioro," Serge replied.
"So, what brings ya here?" the old woman asked. "You usually only show up for formal meetings. It’s rare to see ya at the guild otherwise. And who’s the lad? Nice to meet ya, boy. I’m the old hag Grisiela. I serve as the Guild Master for this branch."
"My name is Ryoma Takebayashi," I said, offering a deep bow. "I’ve come to register with the Commerce Guild today. I am still quite inexperienced, so I hope for your kind guidance and mentorship."
"Oh? Quite the polite one, aren’t you? Serge, is this your new servant?"
"You bet," the man added. "I’m Pioro Saionji. Pleasure to meet ya. No need to be stiff with me, alright?"
"A pleasure to meet you both. I am Ryoma Takebayashi."
Saionji? That sounded like a Japanese surname. Between the name, his black hair, and his dark eyes, I wondered if he was a descendant of a past world-traveler.
"Ryoma-kun, eh? Got it," Pioro said. "So, like Granny Gris asked—what’s your angle here, Serge?"
"I am simply here as an escort for Ryoma-sama’s registration."
Both pairs of eyes turned toward me. The Guild Master leaned in, peering closely at my face.
"Hmm, hmm... hold on a second."
She gripped her cane and suddenly delivered a sharp thwack to the top of Serge’s head.
"You old fool! What are you doing making a child walk on eggshells like that?"
"That hurts! Watch it with the cane, Guild Master..." Serge groaned.
"I don’t care what the circumstances are. This boy is the earnest sort. Being addressed with such deference by a man clearly older than him is only going to make him feel awkward and out of place."
I was stunned. How did she know exactly what I was thinking? Did she have a mind-reading skill?
"I can't read minds, Ryoma," she said.
You just did!
"I’ve grown old, but the Merchant’s Insight I’ve honed over the years hasn’t dulled yet. You’re an honest boy, so you’re easy enough to read."
"I see..."
"Scary old lady, ain't she?" Pioro joked. "She always says that, but I’m half-convinced she really is diggin’ around in our heads."
"I find it more impressive than scary," I admitted. "I’ve never been very good at reading people myself."
"You’ll get used to it," Grisiela said. "As long as you’re in the right environment, you’ll pick it up as you age. You’re still just starting out... though it looks like you’ve been through plenty in the past. Still, you have a future ahead of you."
"Thank you. But... are you absolutely sure you aren't reading my mind?"
"Of course not. I only knew because your eyes went distant when you mentioned reading people’s hearts."
Seriously?
"Did I really look like that?"
"You had the eyes of a middle-aged man reflecting on the good old days."
She hit the nail right on the head.
"Well, enough of that. You came to register, didn't you? It's getting late, so let's get through the paperwork."
I took the registration form and began filling it out.
"Excuse me... what should I put for 'Occupation'? Is 'Merchant' not enough?"
"Write down the specific business ya intend to run," Pioro explained. "If ya want to sell swords, write 'Weapon Merchant.' Ya can list multiple things, and ya can always add more later, so don’t sweat it. Check the table on the back for the standard categories."
"I understand."
I remembered hearing that adventurers sometimes did a bit of peddling, so I wrote that down. For my main goal, I chose "Town Merchant." I also spotted "Bard" on the list and wondered how that counted as a merchant, but I didn't dwell on it. I finished the form and handed it to Grisiela.
"Oh? You're an adventurer too?" she noted. "Take care of yourself. If you die, all the money in the world won't matter. So, you want to open a shop?"
"I have a somewhat unusual business in mind. I originally intended to do it as a side job to cover living expenses while adventuring, but Serge-san suggested I register and do it properly."
"Serge said that?" Grisiela looked surprised.
"Sounds interestin'. What’s the trade?" Pioro asked.
"A laundry shop."
"Laundry? You’re gonna charge people to wash clothes?" Pioro looked skeptical. "Serge, why’d ya push for registration for that? There’s no harm in it, but a laundry shop ain’t exactly a high-stakes enterprise."
"I thought the same at first," Serge admitted. "But once I heard Ryoma-sama’s plan, I realized this was something special. If he isn't registered, the sheer amount of profit he generates might actually cause problems with the guild down the line."
"...It’s gonna make that much?"
"If it’s profitable enough to worry the guild, I’d like to hear the details myself," Grisiela said.
Serge gave me a reassuring wink. I decided to let him handle the explanation to avoid any slips. As he spoke, the two veterans began to groan in surprise, their expressions shifting from skepticism to sheer amusement.
"Hah! This is why living a long life is so entertaining!" Grisiela laughed. "Ryoma, you’ve come up with something truly clever. Using slimes—and new species at that—is a stroke of genius. It’s a good omen."
"Seriously, if what I just heard is true, you’re gonna be rakin’ it in," Pioro said. "The guild definitely would’ve raised an eyebrow if an unregistered kid was pullin’ those numbers. You’ve got a real eye for business, lad. Let me pray to ya for a second."
Pioro actually started pressing his hands together and praying toward me. What was wrong with this man?
"Don't mind him," Serge whispered. "He does that whenever he meets someone who’s about to strike it rich."
"Luck is in the hands of the gods!" Pioro defended himself. "When ya see someone pullin’ in a fortune, it’s only natural to want a piece of that luck for yourself, right?"
Well, I suppose I could follow that logic.
"I gotta say, I’m floored," Pioro continued. "I haven't been this surprised in years. But I see why ya need to register. No one else could pull this off because they don't have those slimes. Since you do, you’re set. Go out there and make it happen."
"I’ve taken a liking to you, boy," Grisiela added. "It takes a lot to surprise me these days. You have a bright future. Stop by and see me every now and then; I’ll give you some tea and snacks and listen to your troubles."
"Thank you very much. I’ll do my best."
"Now, let's find you a location," Serge said. "Guild Master, if you would."
"Honestly, you work me too hard, Serge. Pioro, check the top shelf of the cabinet to your left. Bring me the second bundle of documents from the right."
"You complain about being worked too hard, then ya don't even move your own seat!" Pioro grumbled as he grabbed the papers. "Here ya go... Wait, these are the 'problem' properties. Ryoma’s business is a winner; shouldn’t ya give him something better? I’ll even put up the investment myself if ya want."
"Don't be a fool. Like I told Serge, this boy is far too earnest. If you start throwing money at him, he’ll just refuse out of a sense of obligation."
She had me pegged again. I’d always been called honest to a fault. I had no desire to open a shop using someone else’s capital; debt wasn't something to be taken lightly, and I didn't care about the business enough to go that far. Merchant’s Insight was truly terrifying—a kind of pressure that had nothing to do with physical strength.
"As Pioro said, these documents are for properties with various issues," Grisiela explained. "But they’re cheap, and for your purposes, you really only need a reception desk and storage space, right?"
"Yes. The slimes handle all the labor, so I don't even need a water source on-site."
"A laundryman who doesn't need water? Normally I’d ask if ya were jokin’," Pioro said. "So, what’s your budget?"
"I have 700 small gold coins."
"That’s a fair bit more than I expected," Pioro noted.
"I encountered some bandits near my old home and took them out with poison. It turned out they had a high bounty on their heads."
"In that case... Guild Master, wasn't there a vacant lot near my shop? What about that one?" Serge asked.
"Let's see... I believe so..." Grisiela flipped through the documents. "Ah, here it is. It faces the residential district. There used to be a large tavern, an inn, and a supply warehouse there, so the location is excellent. However, the inn caught fire, and more than half the building is nothing but charred wood. The lot is overgrown with weeds now, and the remaining structure is useless. If you buy it, you'll have to pay for demolition and level the ground before you can even think about building. It's stayed on the market because of the time and money required to fix the site. Other than that, there are no issues. What do you think?"
"Ryoma-sama, I have heard you are a master of Earth Magic," Serge said. "The lot is spacious, and you could design it exactly as you like. It might be quite the opportunity."
Being able to design it myself sounded very appealing.
"If you have magic, can you manage the work?" Grisiela asked.
"Let me see..."
Between Create Block, my other Earth Magic, and the hardening fluid from my Sticky Slimes... Yeah, I could definitely do it.
"I can handle it. Looking at the map, it’s right next to the residential area. The location is perfect."
Gimul was a city enclosed by sturdy, oval-shaped walls. A main road ran straight from the North Gate to the South Gate. To the east lay the residential district, and to the west was the industrial district. Most inns clustered around the South Gate, which was where I was currently staying. The road from the North Gate led to the mines, so it was mostly used by miners—or rather, it used to be, before the mines were abandoned. The East Gate also led to the mines, but to the ones still in operation. The residential district was situated in the east so that the workers had a short commute.
The land they were offering me was almost due east of the city center, right between the residential district and the main thoroughfare. It was close to both the housing and the Adventurer Guild. While the industrial district was further away, the route was straightforward. It was an ideal location.
"Indeed," Grisiela agreed. "That tavern used to be very popular. It drew in townspeople and adventurers alike at the end of the day. A shop there will definitely be noticed. Of course, it’ll cost you."
"I understand. I'll take it."
Honestly, I wasn't an expert on real estate, but I knew a good spot when I saw one. Being close to my potential customers was a huge plus, and the creative freedom was the clincher. I trusted Serge-san, and both the Guild Master and Pioro seemed like good people.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I have no complaints about the location. Between my magic and my slimes, I can handle the demolition and construction myself. More than anything, I like the idea of building my own shop from scratch."
"As I mentioned, this one is a bit pricey—580 small gold coins for the lot. Then there’s the land tax of 10 coins, and the commercial rights and annual fee, which come to 60. That’s 650 in total. Still want it?"
"That’s fine. I’ll still have enough for living expenses."
"Fifty gold coins is plenty to live like a noble for a year, I suppose... Very well, the land is yours. One more thing: the commercial rights fee is a one-time charge, and the land tax is only doubled for the initial purchase. From next year on, you’ll just pay the standard 5 gold coins plus a tax based on your income. Don't forget."
"I understand. Thank you very much."
The rest of the explanation covered the basics of business ownership, which were surprisingly simple. You purchased land through the guild, kept a record of income and expenditures, and paid your annual taxes. Beyond that, age and gender didn't matter. It all came down to whether you could make a profit and pay your dues.
The double land tax seemed to function much like a security deposit or "key money" from Earth. The commercial rights fee scaled with the size of the business—a street stall only cost five medium copper coins, but a shop on a lot this size required two small gold coins. As for the annual fee, it was essentially a donation. Paying more than the minimum wasn't required, but it demonstrated financial strength and improved your standing with the guild. Very merchant-like, indeed.
With the paperwork finished, I thanked the three of them and prepared to head out. Serge-san had to stay behind to discuss an upcoming meeting with Grisiela and Pioro, so we parted ways there.
I suppose my days would now be split between guild work and construction. I hadn't built a structure that wasn't a cave since my part-time jobs in my previous life. The work had been grueling back then, but there was something deeply satisfying about seeing the tangible results of your labor.
I found myself genuinely looking forward to it.