Chapter 36 - Selling Outdoor Goods
Translator's Note: Let's start off the month with an additional chapter 😸
"I’ve decided to earn some money."
"And how do you plan to make money when you can’t even hunt monsters properly?"
Haku narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously the moment I spoke up after breakfast.
This wolf seemed to believe that hunting was the only way to earn money.
"Hunting monsters isn’t the only way to make a living."
"Then what do you propose?"
"Business."
"...Are you planning to sell food?"
"That’s an option, but for now, I want to sell something quick and simple."
Selling food wasn’t a bad idea, but preparing it would take time. For now, I wanted to earn money more efficiently by selling items.
"You mean you’re going to sell things you bought from the Shop here?"
"Exactly. Specifically, outdoor goods for adventurers."
I took out several outdoor items from my subspace storage and laid them neatly on a ground sheet.
"Things like matches, for instance."
"Isn’t that just a tool for starting a fire? Can something like that really sell? Humans can create fire with magic, can’t they?"
"The problem is that it drains magic power. Unlike you, Haku, who has an abundance of magic, most humans have to conserve theirs. On quests where a fight could break out at any moment, everyone wants to conserve as much magic as possible."
"Oh? For someone who can’t use magic, you certainly have a lot to say about it."
"...That’s not from me. Eslina and the others told me about it."
I might have sounded like I was speaking from experience, but it was actually adventurer Eslina who had shared this knowledge with me.
On a recent quest, her group had run into trouble when she ran out of magic power and couldn’t use healing magic. Her companion Rick nearly lost his life because of it. She emphasized how crucial it was for mages to conserve their magic.
"Aside from matches, I’m thinking of selling things useful for camping, like survival sheets, stainless steel tableware, foldable tables and chairs, fire starters, and gloves with non-slip grips."
"Aren’t you going to sell more convenient items, like portable stoves, gas burners, or lanterns?"
"I did think about those, but they run on gas or electricity. It would be hard for people here to keep using them."
Gas stoves, for example, needed a steady supply of gas to function.
While I could easily restock gas canisters from the Shop whenever I ran out, the people in this world couldn’t do the same. It wouldn’t be a practical or sustainable product for them.
If I were to set up a permanent store and sell gas stoves and gas canisters indefinitely, it might work as long as I was alive. But I had no intention of settling down in Nirouette and running a shop for the rest of my life.
"So, that’s why I want to sell outdoor goods I bought from the Shop, specifically for adventurers. Can I give it a shot?"
"Mm, very well. If it’s a way to increase CP, then there’s no reason not to try it."
With Haku’s approval, I started preparing to sell the outdoor goods.
After packing up our camping gear and storing the camper van, we headed straight to the Merchant Guild.
"Good day, Tohru-san. What brings you here today?"
A different receptionist from yesterday greeted me with a professional smile as I approached the counter.
"Huh? How do you know my name?"
"Peddlers traveling with familiars are rare, and it’s even rarer for someone to get escorted to the Guild Master’s office on their first day."
When I wondered aloud, the receptionist gave a wry smile and answered me.
Recalling the events of the previous day, I realized it wasn’t surprising that I had left such an impression.
"So, what can I assist you with today?"
"I’d like to register for a sales permit in the commercial area."
F-rank merchants were allowed to sell goods at carts or stalls.
In Nirouette, people could freely do business within areas designated by the Merchant Guild.
The main sales areas were the street food district, where we had eaten the other day, and the commercial district.
Since the street food district primarily focused on food-related items, it wasn’t ideal for selling outdoor goods. That was why I planned to sell in the commercial area instead.
"Understood. Would you prefer a cart setup or a stand setup?"
"I’ll go with the cart setup."
While a stand would suffice for simply selling goods, I chose the cart format because it could be moved around. Although it’s slightly more expensive than a stand, the ability to adjust my position freely based on customer movement made it worthwhile.
Besides, with a cart, I could discreetly restock items from my Item Box as needed.
There were two options for stands: bringing your own or renting one from the Merchant Guild.
While I could purchase a stand through the Shop, that would consume a significant amount of CP, so I opted for the rented one.
The rental fee was five copper coins per day.
Normally, it would cost one silver coin, but thanks to a generous subsidy for merchants registered with the Nirouette Merchant Guild, the fee was halved. Thus, I made the decision on the spot.
Once the paperwork was complete, a guild staff member led me to the storage area behind the guild.
Rows of carts reminiscent of those seen at festivals lined the space. I chose one that was just the right size for selling tools.
With the cart secured, Haku and I headed straight to the commercial district.
The bustling scene hadn’t changed from the previous day.
"Where do you plan to set up shop?"
"Somewhere adventurers are likely to gather."
Of course, the Merchant Guild had designated specific areas for setting up carts.
Among them, a store selling adventurer-oriented items like weapons, potions, tools, and magical items would be ideal.
"That spot near the weapons shop looks promising."
I spotted a shop that sold adventurer gear.
Its display window featured gleaming full-body armor and massive swords, attracting adventurers who pressed their faces close to the glass. The clanging of metal from the back suggested the presence of a resident blacksmith, likely offering repairs and custom orders on-site.
Peering through the entrance, I could see a few adventurers scattered about inside. It wasn’t a shop that seemed overwhelmingly popular, but it definitely appeared to have a respectable amount of foot traffic for a weapons store.
According to the Merchant Guild’s documentation, this street was a designated sales area, so setting up here wouldn’t be an issue.
"Alright, let’s set up here."
I positioned my cart across from the weapons shop.
Since there weren’t any other carts or stands nearby, I skipped the customary greetings and started preparations.
I spread out a clean cloth and arranged the outdoor goods from my Item Box on top.
The items for sale included matches, survival sheets, stainless steel tableware, foldable tables, chairs, and gloves with non-slip grips.
Since the tables and chairs were too large to fit on the cart, I set them up beside it.
With that, my preparations were complete.
Everything was ready to welcome customers.
An hour passed after I started selling at the stall.
No customers had come by.
"...No one’s come by at all."
"That’s odd. Adventurers have been passing by the cart now and then."
A few passersby had cast curious glances at the cart.
But none had stopped to inspect the goods.
"...Alright, let’s try calling out to them directly."
If all they needed was a little nudge, I was willing to make the first move.
I spotted a group of four adventurers passing by and called out to them.
"Hey there, adventurers! How about taking a look at our products? We’ve got some great items tailored for adventurers—wait, Franz?"
"Oh? If it isn’t Tohru!"
When I called out his name in a puzzled tone, the person leading the group, Franz, looked back at me with a shocked expression.
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