Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: A Deal with the Ice Moss Tribe
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"Hmm..."
I gently stroked my chin, narrowing my eyes.
It was a request bordering on unreasonable, but no matter how detached from civilization the nomads lived, they were still a collective of people.
Any group that banded together and produced something would engage in bartering to some extent, and they understood the value of goods.
Even intangible knowledge warranted some form of reciprocation as a basic courtesy among collectives.
That meant these authors could offer something in return...
Money was obviously out of the question.
The tailoring guild I'd struck a deal with would look like fools if I gave away secrets for free, especially since the patterns were already steeply discounted.
No matter how much I slashed the price, it would still be a burden for nomads.
As for bartering something else...
"Tsk..."
It was ambiguous.
Should I call it tricky?
No, it felt like a waste to let go of the first group that had shown genuine interest.
"One thing I'm curious about—aren't these clothes impractical for the northern regions? They seem far too thin for that climate."
"Ah~ We're thinking of wearing them in summer, when anything goes. But these are stylish, right?!"
"Stylish, huh..."
Affinity rose by about 5.
"What specifically appeals to you?"
"They look sturdy, and the heavy use of leather is great, but they're sleek and charismatic too. Imagine puffing on a cigarette while riding a horse or reindeer—how cool would that be?"
"With the sunset at your back on a hilltop?"
"Exactly! You get it! I sensed it from how you picked your wife, but for a young human, you've got an exceptional eye for pretty and stylish things."
"Hahaha."
As expected from the bold steppe dwellers who once stood alone against the empire's shield—our family—they brimmed with romance and had refined aesthetic senses.
A fleeting thought crossed my mind: a few hides might be enough for people like this. But the tailoring guild master's lament echoed in my ears, snapping me back to reality with a shake of my head.
"I'm glad you like the outfit so much—it makes me want to just hand it over. But I'm no philanthropist, am I right?"
"Oh, right."
"So, for sharing the patterns, materials, and a sample, I'll need compensation. I'm not sure what you can offer or what would be fair."
"Hmm~ We could give some coin and reindeer or deer hides."
"Ah... That's tricky."
I sighed, furrowing my brow.
Reindeer hides were valuable and rare, but they weren't ideal for my uses.
They were too seasonal, and most imperial regions weren't that harsh in winter.
The capital's chill could be endured with a coat and scarf, but reindeer fur? Overkill.
Handing it off to others was a hassle too...
"If those don't work, we can't offer much beyond manual labor."
"Hmm..."
Labor, huh...
I gave the three elves a quick once-over.
Elves.
Their features were sharper than Caterina's, but elves were elves.
The best way to popularize clothing was to have beautiful, attractive groups—or famous, noble ones—wear them.
Individual elves rarely mingled in the empire, but with tens of thousands of nomadic elves on the steppes, plus hundreds of thousands of multi-racial nomads, they weren't isolated from humans.
If I could spread this from these elves across the steppes, the outfit could take root as a cultural staple—niche, but one that drove enthusiasts wild.
All with minimal effort.
"Too tough after all?"
"We'll see..."
As my deliberation dragged on, the eldest-looking elf scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.
Father had been worried lately about other noble houses dipping into the steppes. Should I take a gamble?
Treating the steppe elves well here would boost our influence over the nomads. To fully realize the outfit, they'd need materials sourced through the empire anyway—perfect chance for our family to snag a slice.
"Hmm..."
Not a bad idea at all.
Since I'd started this with heavy investments from my parents, sharing the pie was only right.
"For material compensation, just pay for the sample outfit—a few reindeer hides and some silver should cover it."
"Huh? Then what about the rest? You're not giving it away for free. City folk don't just hand things out... What else do you want to squeeze from poor folks like us? If you love plundering, the Butchers of Hume will come for you!"
"Khk..."
"Pfft...!"
Talula's unexpected timing had both Emily and me bursting into laughter.
It was probably a proverb to the elf, but saying that in front of me?
"Wh-what? Don't you know how scary the Humes are?"
The elf looked around at us in bewilderment, tilting his head.
Did they seriously not know who I was?
This was getting interesting.
"Oh, yes, I know them well. I've met them a few times."
I shook my head and nodded along with the elf's words.
His expression brightened slightly as he nodded enthusiastically and continued.
"Right? A few years—or decades—ago, humans were lopping off heads left and right. You better watch out! My great-grandfather lost an arm to Butcher Hume. Sure, we struck first, so no complaints, but it goes to show—mess with folks like our ancestors, and karma bites back."
"Haha, yes, duly noted. No outrageous demands here, so rest easy."
I smiled and nodded, then began drafting the contract right there.
"First: Use the exact materials we specify—cow or deer leather for hides, deep blue denim for pants, cotton for shirts and scarves. Stick to that, and minor variations are fine."
"Hm... All stuff that's a pain to get on the steppes... Can't we at least use reindeer or horse for the leather?"
"That would kill the unique style. Cow leather captures the vibe best, and deer is the top substitute."
"Kills the style... Tch, fine then. Can you help us source materials for making the clothes? A bit cheaper if possible..."
"When you come down to settled lands, how far do you go?"
"For urgent needs, steppe-edge villages or towns. In leisurely summers, we take a day or two to reach Hume lands."
"Hmm~ I see."
That made tossing it to Father and Mother harmless.
What could they do if it came recommended by nomads for nomad convenience?
Any house interested in nomads knew this common knowledge, but a personal endorsement carried weight.
"Talk to my acquaintances near the steppes. Mention my introduction, and they'll deal positively."
"Got it."
Thus, naturally funneling benefits to my parents—wrapped up.
I noted the first condition and moved on.
"Second: Spread this outfit to other nomads. As long as my origin as creator is clear, use any method you like—I won't interfere."
"Oh? That's way too favorable for us. Said you weren't into charity."
"Reputation is valuable too, isn't it?"
"Still too good... Well, we'll spread it as best we can."
"Yes."
The second passed smoothly.
I transcribed it, then broached the third with utmost caution.
"Finally... I'd like to learn some leatherworking from steppe folk. If possible? This is a long shot."
The elves' eyes sharpened.
A heavy price for just a clothing pattern.
And with warmer weather, they'd return to nomad life, so no guarantee of proper instruction. Still, I went for it.
No group matched steppe elves' leather skills.
Magic was cheating, but layering it on masterful non-magical work exponentially boosted value.
"To what level?"
The elf stared at me intently, face grave.
"Anything—even the smallest technique—is fine by me."
Better a solid trifle than risky forced lessons.
I left the scope to them.
"I see... Everyone, ears up..."
Their expressions softened.
They huddled, whispering briefly, then turned back with warm smiles.
"We gotta eat too, so keep this between us. Let us watch while you make the sample, and we'll agree."
"Any reason for that?"
"To gauge your level and avoid risky advice. We can't spoon-feed cores, but your own discoveries are fair game."
"If that's the reason..."
A bit vague, but glimpsing fragments of their craft was enough.
Peeking over shoulders helped too.
I added the third condition.
Then listed my obligations, penalties for breach, and timelines.
"Sorry for the wait."
"We know city folk are picky—it's fine."
Two completed contracts.
Drafted in imperial and nomadic tongues, so wordy and time-consuming, but the elf shrugged it off, taking one to read.
"Oho? When'd you learn our language?"
"Family business made it necessary..."
Our house dealt often with steppe elves, so potential heirs all learned nomadic tongues.
Otherwise, you'd miss insults in vital talks.
Grinning at curses made us the fools.
Nobles couldn't suffer that—highborn heir-aspirants all studied it.
I'd deemed it useless sans succession interest, but it proved handy now.
"Hmm~ No wordplay tricks, and till April's fair timing. Accepted."
"Thank you."
The three read it together, then the elf extended a hand for the pen.
"Here."
We signed mutually, overlapped pages for matching stamps in spots, then split copies.
"Alright, looking forward to working with you... Uh..."
"Call me William."
"Right, Master William. Pleasure, Stefan of the Ice Moss Tribe."
"Likewise, Mr. Stefan of the Ice Moss Tribe."
Signatures done, we smiled eye-to-eye, shook hands, and exchanged names—post-contract introductions.
An odd sequence, but a satisfying deal made it a minor hiccup.