Chapter 38 - Labor Deserves Fair Compensation
When my main products, like Firelighters and stainless steel utensils, ran out of stock, I decided to wrap up the sales.
Most of the customers flooding in were there specifically for those items, and if I didn’t call it a day at some point, it would’ve gone on forever.
“Phew! We somehow managed to handle it all!”
The turnout was beyond anything I had imagined.
After the Firelighters, the stainless steel utensils were the next most popular, followed by the non-slip work gloves.
My personal recommendation, the survival sheet, didn’t sell as well.
I guess it’s because its benefits aren’t as immediately obvious compared to the other items.
You really have to use it to appreciate its value.
The folding tables and chairs didn’t sell well to adventurers either, though not as poorly as the survival sheet.
They’re lightweight and easy to carry, but adventurers probably want to minimize their load as much as possible. They said it seemed convenient but carrying tables and chairs was just too much.
I get it—unless you’re like me with a camper van or camping is your main goal, when you’re heading out for adventuring, you need to be selective about what you bring.
On the other hand, these might sell better to nobles or merchants who prioritize comfort during their travels.
“Still, I really owe you one, Eslina.”
“Don’t worry about it. I had fun helping out.”
“Thanks to Franz and the others for managing the line too.”
“It was nothing, really.”
“Felt like being a shopkeeper for a day—it was fun!”
“I enjoy handling money, after all.”
Franz and Dormund, who joined us after finishing their business at the weapon shop, helped manage the line, while Rick handled the small change and calculations.
Thanks to them, everything went smoothly.
“What’s the usual pay for a day’s work like this?”
“About one silver coin for a day of helping out at a stall.”
I didn’t know the going rate, so I asked Eslina, and she filled me in.
Apparently, there are odd jobs for adventurers like running a stall or being a shopkeeper for a day. The pay varies depending on whether they’re also acting as guards or based on their reputation, but one silver coin seems to be the baseline.
“Then should I give everyone one silver coin?”
“I only helped for about three hours, and the others worked for a short time too, so half that should be fine.”
“Besides, Tohru, you’re my lifesaver. I don’t need payment for such a small favor.”
“No, that’s a separate matter. I want to pay you all fairly as proper compensation.”
I’d already received payment for the Lauresia flower I gave Rick when I helped him.
As for the camper van ride, I’d been compensated with information about Nirouette, so we were even on that front.
Plus, Franz and the others were originally on their day off.
If I made them work on short notice, it’s only right to give them something in return.
“Tohru, you’re such a stickler for fairness.”
“Because we’re friends, I want to keep money matters clear.”
Seeing that I wasn’t going to budge, Franz and the others chuckled.
“Alright, we’ll accept your thanks. But instead of money, how about some of the outdoor gear you were selling?”
“Today’s merchandise?”
“Yes! I actually wanted some of it too!”
“I thought the same!”
“Then feel free to pick what you like. But the folding tables and chairs are a bit pricey, so go easy on those.”
“Awesome!”
Those two items cost several gold coins, so giving them away would put me in the red. But for everything else, it’s no problem to give them as payment.
Franz and the others happily started checking out the outdoor gear.
“Hey, the Firelighters are sold out, right?”
Eslina hesitantly asked amidst the excitement.
Firelighters, which can instantly create flames without using magic, must be a coveted item for adventurers.
“I kept a few aside, just in case.”
“Really?!”
I used the cart and the wooden crate holding the inventory as cover to discreetly pull out five Firelighters from my Item Box.
“Wow! Thank you! Can I have two?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
It’s a bit over the equivalent of two copper coins, but Eslina’s help was invaluable, so it’s on the house.
“I’ll take one too.”
“Can I get the survival sheet and the non-slip gloves?”
While Franz took one Firelighter, Rick picked up the survival sheet and the gloves.
“You’ve got a good eye. The survival sheet is actually my second recommendation after the Firelighters. It has insulating properties—wrapping yourself in it traps heat, preventing your body temperature from dropping in cold environments. It’s also windproof and waterproof, so it can double as a raincoat.”
“No way! It’s so compact yet that useful?!”
“Of course, the non-slip gloves are great too. They have rubber on the palms and fingers, so they’re perfect for gripping slippery tools, parts, or luggage.”
“Yeah, and since I’m a scout, I sometimes have to grab tree branches or hang to avoid monsters. These’ll come in handy for that.”
I was focused on the improved grip, but Rick saw the potential for safety in harsh environments. He’s right—these gloves would shine in those situations.
“I’d like the stainless steel utensils. I’m curious about the unknown material, but I also like how they’re lightweight yet durable and easy to carry.”
“The three-piece set would be over the limit, so you can take up to two.”
“Much appreciated.”
Dormund seemed to really like the stainless steel utensils, carefully holding onto a larger plate and a smaller one.
“Hey, Tohru.”
“Yeah?”
“Since what we got counts as our pay, can I buy the rest personally? I’ve been thinking I’d like a survival sheet too.”
“Of course, go ahead.”
If I take the leftovers back, they’ll either be carried over to the next sale or stored as backups in my Item Box. Since they’re paying for them, it’s no issue.
“Hmm! In that case, I want to get the full set of stainless steel utensils!”
“Why don’t we all get them? Switching to these utensils would cut our current load by more than half.”
“Utensils do take up a lot of space. I’m in.”
They seemed really impressed by the durability and lightweight nature of the stainless steel utensils, so Franz and the others decided to get the full set.
As a seller, it’s great to see them so enthusiastic, but I should warn them about the downsides of stainless steel.
“Stainless steel has high thermal conductivity, so the utensils can get hot if you put hot food in them. Be careful with that.”
“Thermal conductivity?”
“It means heat transfers quickly.”
“Got it.”
Well, the plates I’m selling are thin, so it’s unlikely anyone would use them for piping hot soup.
“Also, they can scratch easily when used with other metal utensils, and fingerprints, water stains, and grease marks are more noticeable.”
“Those issues are common with most utensils, so it’s not a big deal.”
There are other things to watch out for, like not using them in microwaves, but this world doesn’t seem to have such appliances. Other drawbacks depend on personal preference, and Franz and the others didn’t seem too concerned.
“How should we wash them?”
“Use a soft sponge. Avoid abrasive cleaners or scrubbing brushes, as they can damage the surface and strip the coating.”
“That’s not much hassle at all.”
Rick’s thorough questions make sense since he handles the finer details for the party.
I have to be careful—his small stature and youthful face make me want to treat him like a kid.
The first time, I didn’t know better, but if I do it knowingly, he might get upset.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, Tohru, this has been really fulfilling!”
“I’m looking forward to our next adventure.”
“I can’t wait to try a meal on these stainless steel plates.”
“Well, we can’t take on any jobs until our gear is repaired, though.”
As Eslina, Franz, and Dormund happily chatted while holding their outdoor gear, Rick’s comment brought a disappointed look to their faces.
Come to think of it, they came to the weapon shop because their equipment got damaged during the last quest.
“Even for adventurers, going out without proper gear seems risky. So, are you taking a break for a while?”
“Nah, we’ll take on safe jobs to earn some money in the meantime.”
When I asked, Franz slowly shook his head.
“Wouldn’t it be okay to rest for a bit?”
“Between the Lauresia blue flower, gear repair costs, replenishing supplies, and buying outdoor gear from Tohru... our party’s broke.”
Rick muttered while counting on his fingers the expenses they’d incurred.
R-right, considering all that, they probably don’t have the luxury of taking it easy.
Being an adventurer is tough.
“By the way, what kind of safe jobs are there?”
“Stuff like gathering quests that don’t require traveling far. There’s also transporting goods within the city, cleaning, or helping out at shops like today.”
“Huh, so there are plenty of quests besides monster hunting.”
“You’ve got a camper van, Tohru. Why don’t you register with the Adventurer Guild and take on some quests?”
“Exactly! With Tohru’s camper van, even distances that take half a day can be covered in no time! You could take on multiple quests and make a killing!”
“That does sound appealing, but I’m already registered with the Merchant Guild...”
“You can register with both guilds, you know?”
“Well, it’s rare for someone to be both an adventurer and a merchant, so there aren’t many like that.”
In that case, registering with the Adventurer Guild and working there, as Eslina and Rick suggested, might not be a bad idea.
With my camper van, transporting goods would be a breeze, and gathering quests outside the city would be easy too. I could camp while collecting the required materials.
It’d be a fun little recreation, and I could earn money while camping. Sounds perfect.
“Hmm, maybe I’ll give the Adventurer Guild a try.”
“How about we head there now? We’ll come with you.”
They’re such good people, going out of their way to help me even on their day off.
“Thanks. But I’ll check with the Merchant Guild Master first.”
“Ah, right. You’ve got that familiar thing to deal with too.”
“If I can register, I’d appreciate it if you could teach me more about being an adventurer.”
“Sure, leave it to us.”
For now, we decided to wrap things up, and I headed back to the Merchant Guild to return the cart.
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