How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 145

160. My Duty is a Merchant! (3)

“……Pardon? ……Ah! You mean that!”

My ears perked up.

Since then, I hadn’t hesitated to ask her for various favors.

She had just mentioned one of them.

“You said you wanted to see the iron we produce, right? We’ve decided to restart the ironworks here.”

“Ooh! That’s great news!”

It was a major way for the Falzente Duchy to make money.

It was news about the ironworks that processed the iron ore mined from their mines.

With the war entering a lull, it was naturally time to restart the ironworks!

I had been waiting for it.

* * *

The Falzente Duchy’s ironworks were apparently quite famous for their high standards.

In the original story, it was only briefly mentioned that they mainly dealt with iron.

‘Well, Rox said the iron here is of good quality.’

He said that I could find suitable iron for my carriage parts here.

In fact, one of the reasons I stayed here was for this, besides trading.

I hadn’t given up on the carriage that would protect my butt.

I would definitely get it at least within this year.

Originally, I wanted to see the iron right away, but most of the ironworks were closed due to the war.

What’s more, the artisans seemed to have taken refuge somewhere.

That’s because artisans are also major targets for assassination and terrorism in war situations.

There are many ways to weaken the opponent’s power.

However, Marquis Celrond’s army had already lost most of its strength, and there wasn’t much time left until the end of the war.

They would slowly end their seclusion and start to stretch their stiff bodies.

“Originally, it would be a little difficult to let outsiders in yet. Well, your help has been significant, so I can fully consider it.”

“I understand that, but is it really necessary for the Princess to come along?”

“……You make it sound like I’m a nuisance.”

Should I answer ‘Yes!’ here and get hit?

“Ailan, you are an outsider. It would be easier to have a proper conversation with the artisans there if I introduce you, wouldn’t it?”

Moreover, the workshop we were going to was also managed under Princess Elenia’s name.

When she reached a certain age, the Grand Duke handed it over as part of the custom of entrusting her with some work.

“And I’m also a little curious as to why you’re looking for iron, Ailan.”

“……In the end, you were bored.”

“Hmm…… We’ll be arriving soon.”

I see, she doesn’t deny it.

Well, it would be easier for me if she helped me out, so I didn’t refuse.

When we arrived at the workshop, a man who seemed to be the representative of the workshop came out and bowed deeply, as if he had already heard the news.

His name was Ganil.

Well, of course, he’s an extra. I don’t know him.

“What brings you here, Princess?”

“It’s nothing much. There’s a merchant who wants to do business with you. I have a bit of a connection with him, so I’m here to introduce him.”

“A merchant……?”

It would be difficult to understand.

Introducing a merchant so suddenly at this time.

Originally, it would be a busy time to restart the workshop.

Of course, anyone who came now would have nothing to say even if they were turned away immediately.

“Is it alright?”

“Who would object to the Princess’s words?”

As expected, connections are the strongest.

When I think about it, orders must have been piling up, so I can’t even imagine how long it would have taken for a consultation without an introduction.

Ganil bowed deeply again and led us inside as if telling us to come in quickly.

“So, what is it that you…… no, what is it that the guest desires?”

His tone is a bit ambiguous.

He wants to act high-handedly like an artisan, but he can’t easily treat the guest introduced by the noble.

“Please feel free to treat me comfortably. I prefer that.”

“Huh…… Hmm! If that’s the case. I’ll speak as usual. I heard you’re a merchant, do you want to trade iron?”

“It’s too early for a full-fledged transaction. I’m just looking for the iron I need first.”

“The iron you need?”

I started by recalling what Rox had told me and explained it as it was.

Iron with the properties needed to make leaf springs.

I needed something flexible enough to withstand the shaking and load.

“Indeed…… Iron isn’t just hard, of course. Depending on how you handle it, there are plenty of flexible ones.”

“I’d like to buy a few types of what I need for production first, and then confirm a full-fledged transaction.”

“There’s no difficulty. But we’re swamped with orders. It’ll be difficult to trade that quickly.”

“That’s fine.”

Since I have to develop this side and then trade, I’m prepared for it to take some time.

The Princess, who was watching from behind, muttered, “The transaction is ending surprisingly quickly.”

No, what kind of interesting sight were you expecting?

“But hmm…… The problem is the iron you want.”

“Yes. I have to choose it.”

“I’ll recommend a few types for now…… But you’re not a technician, are you?”

I can fully guess what he’s worried about.

A merchant is a trader, not a technician.

Of course, they have an eye for the quality of goods, but it’s difficult to delve deeper.

“Or will you bring a technician next time? I’ll keep the appointment open as long as you want.”

“No. It’s fine.”

“Hmm?”

“I’ll choose.”

There’s no need to come and go.

I was going to choose from the beginning anyway.

“Hoo? You’re going to look?”

He narrowed his eyes as if he was a little interested.

Perhaps he felt a sense of pride being challenged by a merchant encroaching on a technician’s territory.

He’s clearly more interested than before.

Maybe he thought it was a challenge.

“Good. Then I’ll have some brought over.”

He ordered his apprentice to bring over several ingots of iron.

All samples of the iron handled here.

They all look like iron on the outside, but they have slightly different properties due to the mixing ratio and additives when melting.

Some have high rigidity, and some have high hardness.

Each has a different use.

“Choose as you please.”

Somehow, that sounded like, ‘Try to choose if you can.’

Well, maybe he thinks it’s impossible.

I started looking at the iron as it was without saying anything.

“Ailan, do you understand anything?”

The Princess asked with a slight expectation, and I pretended to look like I knew something with an appropriate smile.

Yeah, quality, right?

‘Yeah…… I don’t know.’

Of course, I wouldn’t know.

I’m not a skilled technician.

After all, I’m just an ordinary boy who imitates simple drawings.

In the end, everything I’ve done so far is just bluffing.

However, it’s not a bluff without foundation.

It’s good that I have a lot of points, so I don’t hesitate to use them.

I have plans to spend a lot of them soon because there’s something I want to do, but well, it’s okay to spend this much.

There is also a talent for recognizing the quality of goods here.

Basic characteristics possessed by those who are born with the qualities of a first-class artisan or those who have the aptitude.

Having this allows you to distinguish the subtle differences in the properties of materials sensually.

I activated the ability and stroked the iron again, feeling the changed texture.

‘This one feels a bit sticky? This one feels a bit rough.’

Strangely, I feel a sense of difference.

The activated ability separately transmits sensations to the brain.

“First of all, let me ask. In the case of this iron…….”

I asked him, pointing to each ingot of iron.

What kind of iron is it, what are its characteristics?

I asked about it in detail.

By combining that information, I can roughly know what characteristics the felt texture represents.

‘Does the sticky one mean the carbon content? The rough one seems to mean something else.’

If you know the rules, it’s easy to apply.

The texture is different depending on which property is strong.

After setting a certain standard through detailed questions and answers, I started to distinguish them again.

“Hoo? You seem to have gotten a sense of it.”

The Princess, who was watching, glanced at me and muttered as if she had noticed something.

Without paying any attention to the gazes of others, I quickly picked out the iron.

First of all, I picked out a few types that were presumed to be close to the properties that Rox mentioned last time.

“I’d like to buy these to test them.”

“……Hmm. Yes, that’s it? I’ll order them to be prepared right away.”

However, the artisan’s expression is somehow bitter.

What is it? Does he think I chose them carelessly?

“Similar…….”

However, I felt something strange when I heard him muttering.

“If I didn’t hear you wrong, you said it was similar to something.”

“Ah…… It’s nothing. I’m sorry. It’s just that seeing you pick things out like that reminded me of a guest I saw in the past.”

“What kind of guest?”

“It was when I was just like that kid over there.”

He pointed to the apprentice working busily over there.

“At that time, my master was managing the workshop. It was probably around winter?”

He started talking as he pleased, as if recalling the distant past.

“An alchemist came. He seemed to want to get iron to use for experiments.”

“Wouldn’t that be a common occurrence?”

“But he chose it in a rather unusual way.”

At first, the master at the time, who considered him a third-rate because he looked so shabby, recommended him to test various things.

He said that he distinguished all the qualities by simply touching it.

“…….”

“It’s just something that happened more than 20 years ago. We also have many ways to distinguish quality by weight or heat, so it wouldn’t be that strange.”

“Hmm? Come to think of it, my grandfather said that someone visited about 20 years ago.”

The two here are puzzled.

And I closed my mouth and listened as if nothing was wrong.

Unfortunately, I can guess what it is.

‘Maybe that alchemist is…… the alchemist Elmeroth.’

Elmeroth Paselneos.

Perhaps his estimated role is close to that of a supporting character.

The best alchemist on the continent and…….

And the number one assassination target of the Alchemist Guild at the present time.

It’s been more than 40 years since the bounty was placed, but is it still valid?

It’s natural that he felt a sense of discomfort.

The ability I’m using now is originally one of the talents that alchemist had.

‘He seems to have come here once.’

I can’t believe there’s someone here who witnessed him.

This is an element outside of the original story, so it’s an unpredictable point.

Well, they are also people and have lives.

Of course, they would have traveled and worked in places other than those mentioned in the original story.

“Ailan? Did you have a talent for alchemy?”

“No. I don’t know anything about that.”

I denied it cleanly.

It’s true that I don’t know anything about it.

‘But it’s better not to show it if possible.’

If you use someone’s ability, someone might recognize it.

It’s better to keep that in mind.

Anyway, I was able to buy the iron I was aiming for.

That’s all that matters now.

‘It’s better to finish what I can do quickly now.’

I don’t want to be impatient, but I had a feeling that it would be better to sort things out within the time I have.

Because.

I stared at the message floating above my head.

‘……Nothing special yet.’

There’s still no change after that.

There was still no change after the last message.

But that probably won’t last long.

Until then, I’m going to do all the trivial things.

* * *

The war between the Falzente Duchy and the Celrond Territory was almost at the point of declaring the end of the war.

Accordingly, it began to be seen in my eyes that the citizens were gradually getting out of anxiety and finding vitality day by day.

As expected, the protagonist brings peace to the world.

I was convinced once again and nodded my head.

Well, a timid citizen like me just has to listen to the rumors of the protagonist’s performance and applaud from afar.

Good job, good job. So do more.

Believing in the protagonist, I decided to concentrate on my work.

Therefore…….

“Come on in! Welcome! We have a lot of good stuff!”

This is where I can show my sincerity!

Trading!

“These are the things we brought from the Selvas Kingdom across the water! Come on! We have everything except what we don’t have!”

Let’s not forget.

My duty was originally this.

Trading.