Chapter 32 - Merchant Guild
Note: Happy Chinese New Year to all! We don't really celebrate it, but it's one more day where we don't have to get up early for work 🐱! Here's one more chapter for everyone. Have a nice day!
As I passed through the castle gates, a breathtaking medieval townscape spread out before me.
A wide, straight main street stretched from the gate, its surface neatly paved with cobblestones.
The street was impressively broad—wide enough that four carriages could ride side by side with room to spare.
Seeing how clean the road was and how spacious it felt, I thought it would be easy to drive my camper van here. But summoning such a vehicle in front of people who had never seen an automobile before would probably cause chaos, so I decided against it.
On both sides of the street, rows of brick buildings stood tall.
Their construction was magnificent and completely different from the techniques used in Lulusena Village. Shops, restaurants, and taverns occupied the first and second floors, filling the air with lively voices.
The street was bustling with people of various races. Humans were the majority, but I also saw many dwarves, halflings, elves, and beastmen.
I had underestimated this world, thinking its civilization was lacking in certain areas. But this was far beyond my imagination.
So, this is what a town in another world looks like...
"We’re heading to the Adventurer Guild to report on our quest. What about you, Tohru?”
Franz turned to me as we approached a central plaza with a grand fountain.
"I’m planning to go to the Merchant Guild."
I didn’t have much money with me. While most of my transactions would go through the guild for now, I wanted to eventually sell some of the outdoor items I’d purchased from the Shop.
Either way, I needed proper identification to travel, and I intended to register with the Merchant Guild for future business endeavors. They also allowed familiar registrations.
"Got it. Guess this is where we part ways."
"Tohru, thank you so much."
"Thanks to you, I got to keep my life."
“When things settle down, let us treat you to a drink. We’re staying at an inn called 'Golden Spear Pavilion.'"
"Yeah, I’ll definitely stop by once I’m free."
After shaking hands with Franz, Eslina, Rick, and Dormund, I bid them farewell.
They were the first adventurers I’d met in this world, and they turned out to be genuinely good people.
Even if I had to leave the town soon, I’d make sure to see them again.
"Well, Haku, let’s head to the Merchant Guild."
I spoke to Haku, but there was no response from him.
As a white wolf, he was meant to remain silent to avoid raising any suspicions.
The bustling plaza was filled with citizens, yet none seemed to notice Haku’s true identity.
Just then, a small child darted out in front of Haku.
Children could be surprisingly perceptive.
Did they notice, despite the size difference and lack of magic, that Haku was a White Fenrir?
"Ah! It’s a white wolf!"
Cold sweat trickled down my back as the child pointed at Haku and innocently shouted.
"Now, now, don’t point! Sorry about my child."
"It's all good."
The mother, who was nearby, gave a quick bow and then took the child away with her.
"Well, no one else seems to have realized you’re a White Fenrir, Haku. Your disguise is impressive!"
"...Grrr! That little brat, should I go chase them down and crush them right now?!"
"Hey, don’t talk!"
Haku, who had been silent until now, suddenly voiced his anger, so I quickly hurried to shut him up.
Then, perhaps calming down a bit, Haku stopped growling and bared his teeth.
I decided to drop the teasing—if I pushed it, he might actually lose his temper.
From the central plaza, I continued west down the main street.
Franz and the others had given me directions to the Merchant Guild.
I walked straight down the wide street heading west, and soon I spotted a three-story building with a green roof.
"So, this is the Merchant Guild..."
The building was an imposing structure with an air of grandeur, adorned with intricate carvings and embellishments. Its tall triangular roof, covered in distinctive green tiles, made it stand out. At the center of the façade, the guild’s emblem was prominently displayed.
It was a goddess blindfolded, holding scales in her right hand and a sword in her left.
She was probably a goddess symbolizing the prosperity of commerce.
The front entrance was massive, spanning the height of two floors, with double wooden doors reinforced by ironwork.
Guards stood on either side, spears in hand, clad in crisp, white uniforms. Their sharp gazes followed every visitor who approached, ensuring order.
I greeted the guards before stepping into the Merchant Guild.
The first thing that caught my eye was the spacious lobby with a high ceiling made of white marble.
At the center stood a reception counter, behind which appeared to be offices for the staff.
Around the counter, I could see peddlers trading materials and guild staff, while in the attached tavern, staff and merchants were either signing contracts or engaging in heated negotiations.
As I walked through the oddly tense atmosphere of the lobby, I could feel the gazes of those around me turning one by one.
The attention wasn’t on me, it was on Haku.
It seemed uncommon for someone to bring a familiar into the guild.
The stares from staff and merchants felt appraising, but Haku remained unbothered, ignoring them entirely.
Once they realized Haku posed no threat, the crowd gradually lost interest and returned to their business.
Haku, however, didn’t look pleased.
Considering our goal, it was a relief that no one recognized him, but being dismissed as anything other than a White Fenrir likely didn’t sit well with him. It must have been a mix of conflicting emotions.
Relieved that the scrutiny had faded, I approached the reception counter at the center of the lobby.
Behind it stood several women in the same white-themed uniforms as the guards outside.
They were probably receptionists. Each woman had a distinct type, but all of them were incredibly beautiful.
If I hadn’t already met Eslina, I might have frozen on the spot from sheer intimidation.
"Good afternoon. Welcome to the Merchant Guild. How may I assist you today?"
"I’d like to register with the Merchant Guild so I can start doing business."
"Understood. Before we proceed, may I ask if you’re familiar with how the guild operates?"
"I’ve heard a little from someone I know, but I’d appreciate a full explanation, just in case."
"Of course. Allow me to explain."
The Merchant Guild, she explained, was an organization for merchants and artisans conducting business. It wasn’t limited to just this town, Nirouette, but spanned the entire world, transcending borders to facilitate trade.
The guild served several purposes:
Trade Management: It oversaw the buying and selling of goods, maintained trade routes, and built a network between guild branches to ensure smooth distribution. They also regulated market prices to stabilize the economy.
Merchant Protection: The guild mediated disputes between merchants and ensured fair dealings. Registered merchants received a guild card as a mark of trust.
Tax Collection: Merchants were required to pay taxes based on their annual earnings, which the guild collected and submitted to the government.
Additionally, the guild offered other benefits, such as product quality assurance, access to valuable information, and job opportunities.
"Furthermore, the Merchant Guild operates on a ranking system. Your rank determines what kind of business you’re allowed to conduct. Since you’ll be registering for the first time, you’ll start as an F-rank merchant, Tohru-sama. At this rank, you’re permitted to engage in small-scale sales, such as peddling or running a street stall."
In other words, owning a shop or establishing a full-fledged trading company was off-limits until I earned a higher rank.
To own a store, it seemed necessary to conduct steady business, increase your earnings, raise your rank, and earn the trust of the Merchant Guild.
A thought suddenly occurred to me—what about selling goods from my camper van? Since it wasn’t technically a shop but a vehicle, perhaps it was allowed for an F-rank merchant.
Well, for now, I didn’t need to worry about such formalities. As long as I kept my transactions small and private, I wouldn’t be breaking any rules.
Still, the idea of using the camper van to sell food sounded exciting.
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