How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 81

90. Let’s Learn Magic (4)

About a month had passed in the blink of an eye as I gradually grasped the basics of magic.

During that time, I had been reaping small but steady results.

First, Pilleros & Co. began distributing some of the completed products on the market.

Among various items, including commercially available yeast, they first released those that were relatively affordable.

Of course, displaying them at the stalls was a given.

People from our own country, as well as merchants from other countries, would notice them, either passing by or out of curiosity.

“……Gulp.”

I was subtly watching the shopping district, pretending to pass by casually.

Normally, I should be training or thinking about other things, but today, I couldn’t stand it any longer because I was too worried.

‘I’m not even sure how it will turn out.’

I had a plan, and Lowell had acknowledged it to some extent.

At least it won’t fail.

However, I’m not bold enough to just laugh and wait, relying only on that feeling.

“So that’s what you’ve been doing all day, Aileon?”

Kruse noticed where I was and looked down at me as if she was dumbfounded.

I guess I can’t avoid this gaze.

“I have a duty to watch over it.”

“……Not that. Do you have to hide in a place like that?”

“…….”

Because the place I was hiding was inside an empty barrel in an alley.

I was hiding inside with eye holes poked out.

Perfect camouflage.

……Well, this magician seemed to notice right away.

Kruse found me because she had been looking for me from the start.

“I couldn’t find you during training time, so I wondered where you were and what you were doing…….”

Kruse’s gaze was a masterpiece.

A look of pity and embarrassment mixed together.

The first thing she said when she found me wasn’t to scold me for skipping training.

‘Is he okay in the head?’

It hurts my heart to be asked that sincerely.

Well, I’m aware that it’s my own fault.

“I was quite worried that my teachings might have gone wrong somewhere. No, I’m still worried.”

I have nothing to say to this.

I would be horrified if I were in the opposite position.

“If you’re not careful, the guards will come, so why don’t you stop doing suspicious things?”

“……Ugh.”

That’s also true.

I eventually sighed and got up from inside the barrel at her suggestion.

Ugh! My legs are numb!

Kruse just watches me tremble while squatting down as soon as I come out of the barrel, without saying a word.

No, please say something.

I’m quite embarrassed.

Kruse turned her gaze away from me and headed to where I had been looking.

The products on the stall.

“……Are you that worried about that?”

“Of course. Isn’t this a problem that determines whether I’ll sit on a pile of money or not! Of course, how can I stand not watching!”

“I see that you’re free, at least. And also, that you’re secretly timid.”

She sighed as if she didn’t understand.

Her impression is right on the mark.

I can’t help but hide like this and watch how the product I proposed is doing because I’m worried.

I admit that I’m secretly weak-willed.

While we were talking, many customers were coming and going from the company.

Some don’t even glance at my products, while others take a closer look.

I clenched my fist as I watched some people buy them as if drawn by curiosity.

Fortunately, the sales themselves are showing a fairly smooth response.

For some unfamiliar items, the sales representative from Pilleros & Co. kindly explains how to use them or their purpose.

Those who listen and understand choose to buy about 40% of the time, even if not all.

Even I think this result is going smoothly enough.

Above all, there’s also this evidence.

“Anyway, I don’t know about business, but I know that you have to watch with patience.”

Kruse grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and started dragging me away.

“Ms. Kruse?”

“Let’s train. Do you have time for this with your current level of achievement? You have to memorize the manuscript as soon as possible, right?”

That’s right, I have nothing to say.

* * *

And about 20 days after the sales started.

Lowell called me, saying he had something to report.

“Mr. Aileon, I think you can guess what I’m going to say.”

“Well, I have some idea.”

What else could it be?

He’s probably going to tell me about the initial reaction to the new product.

I’m also watching the atmosphere here with a nervous heart, so I can infer it to some extent.

I don’t know how it’s being received in other cities.

Only that young man knows the result.

“Basically, we see it as a not bad result. It’s showing demand beyond ordinary products.”

Not all products react immediately.

Things like the mini stands that were ordered from the workshop are still too subtle to judge the reaction, but things like the supply yeast seem to be showing some demand.

“It seems that some areas are already having trouble because the stockpiled quantities are running out.”

“That’s the best news I’ve heard.”

It’s a hassle for those merchants, but from my point of view, it’s something that makes me laugh.

“In a few months, sales will increase even more.”

Lowell said that.

It seems that he has already prepared additional supply measures, so I have nothing to say.

I feel reassured.

“Thanks to you, I get letters from other branch managers every day.”

Where did you get that product, who did you partner with?

From letters questioning such one-sided information, to threatening letters, or even quite polite proposals.

It seems that reactions are starting to come out even among merchants.

“Of course, it’s not just letters coming from allies.”

A meaningful smile.

“The alchemists and spirit master guilds?”

“That’s right. They said it in a roundabout way, but it seems they’re asking for the detailed source.”

“Oh, dear.”

I’m glad I didn’t act on my own.

For them, it means crossing the line of vested interests.

It’s natural that there’s a reaction.

“So, what did Mr. Lowell answer?”

“I told you, there’s no need to deal with them…… But this reaction was a bit edgy. So, I sent a short reply for now.”

He made a remark so that they wouldn’t make any more noise until the full-scale consultation.

“In the case of potions, as I explained to Aileon before, they have to prove the mixing ratio. And in the case of yeast, it’s only for the general market. I told them that we won’t trade with nobles and the wealthy.”

“Will that be enough?”

“It doesn’t matter. That’s what I was thinking from the beginning. And they don’t have any reason to be greedy now.”

They would be greedy, but to be exact, it’s not worth pursuing.

Even if they lower the price of the items they supplied to the nobles and release them to the civilian market following us, they will only upset the nobles.

“Even so, it’s better not to be too careless.”

“I’m not worried about that.”

I know it well too.

I shouldn’t do anything rash until the time is right.

That’s all for the precautions.

“You can look forward to great expectations soon.”

Lowell said with a proud voice, as if he had relieved a great worry.

“Mr. Aileon, thanks to you, I think I’ll be able to speak quite loudly at the year-end meeting this year.”

“Year-end meeting?”

“Ah…… I haven’t explained it to you. That is, it’s our side’s story, but there’s a meeting that opens with each branch manager and the company owner.”

“Ah, I see. You share your opinions on what you sold this year and what you’re going to do next year?”

“……It’s not that simple.”

I can fully imagine the intention of what he said with a slightly bitter tone.

It’s called a meeting, but it’s actually a place where merchants exchange political intentions.

I can’t help but know when I see his face that his stomach is burning just thinking about it.

“Anyway, thanks to you, I’ll be able to hold my head up a bit this time.”

“Isn’t that good? I believe that something will fall to me as much as Mr. Lowell’s head rises.”

“……You’re honest.”

Well, I’ll be using them from time to time in the future.

It’s not bad for him to have a higher position on this occasion.

I hate political games.

I think it’s a place where you suffer for the rest of your life once you fall into it.

It would be nice if this friend Lowell went up to the company owner, but that’s realistically impossible.

“Then, as Mr. Lowell said, I look forward to good news soon.”

Dividends on the products sold, or some good news.

That alone makes me very happy.

It’s not coming in right away, but if I wait a few months like this, I won’t have to desperately think about going into the dungeon because the funds are running out.

I’ll finally be a little more comfortable.

At least for the time being, I’ll be able to stretch my legs out happily without any worries.

I was about to get up because I wanted to practice magic in a better mood today, but.

It seems that the business is not over yet.

“It seems that the story with that merchant is over.”

An old man’s voice I’ve heard somewhere.

Mr. Lox opened the door to the branch manager’s office and walked in with heavy footsteps.

“Did I come at the right time?”

“That’s right. I’ve finished discussing my side with Mr. Aileon for now.”

“That’s good. There’s no need to wait.”

I was a little surprised that he came all the way here, but it seems that he has something to do with me.

“Then let me see you for a while, Aileon. Well, it won’t take long.”

“I don’t mind, but what’s going on?”

“Isn’t it obvious? What you entrusted to me. You’re not forgetting, are you?”

Come to think of it, I had entrusted something to Mr. Lox’s workshop association?

I had commissioned them to make equipment using the giant’s bones I had obtained and the materials I had acquired.

I had been busy practicing magic since I commissioned it, so I had temporarily put it aside in a corner of my memory.

It’s also half comfortable to forget.

Has the time come to be mentioned again?

“Is it finished?”

“That’s right. Meon told me to bring it over. Anyway, that guy has grown a lot…… How dare he use me as a delivery man.”

Tsk tsk, Mr. Lox clicked his tongue and ordered the apprentices to show me the items they had brought.

The apprentices quickly go down and bring up the completed order from the lower floor.

“Oooo…….”

I exclaimed when I saw it.

The equipment I had commissioned, the finished product, is in front of me.

“Meon named it ‘Giant’s Armor’.”

“Before naming it, you just put the material as it is?”

Well, the name doesn’t matter.

I started to examine the spread-out armor to see if there was anything missing.

“It’s plain for giant’s armor. Well, that’s what I wanted.”

“I heard the story from Meon. You said you wanted to avoid metal armor if possible?”

“Yes. After all, heavy armor is difficult for me to use in many ways.”

Heavy metal armor is cool and attractive, but there is a fatal problem.

There are plenty of light materials, so weight is not a problem.

But the most urgent problem is equipment management.

Even clothes get holes and break if you don’t wash and care for them in time.

Armor is even more delicate.

You have to oil it every time, repair it, and even wear it alone depending on the type.

Basically, I don’t want to use it because I often travel alone.

It’s not bad to have one, but I don’t need it now.

That’s why I asked them to avoid only metal armor when ordering.