Chapter 73
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Good Deal
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“Huff… haaah…”
Why does it sound like that.
Anyway, Erica and Agwen were devouring the meat with relish.
“Chewy… The fat’s perfectly rendered out while keeping all the juices intact. It’s delicious. It tastes strangely similar to the gavi meat back in our forest.”
“So good… What kind of meat is this? It’s got this perfect bittersweet edge that makes it even tastier. Doesn’t taste like beef or pork, though?”
These two and I go way back.
I remember seeing them in Skarnas.
That bread scrap I stole and ate there was so damn good.
They might be the first humans I’ve actually met in this world.
I did meet Dorothy before, but that one barely qualifies as human.
“How is meat this good…!”
“Meat really is the best food. If I’d known, I would’ve eaten those rats we saw earlier.”
“Agwen? You’d get in big trouble! Those looked totally inedible!”
I subtly peeled back the hide of the plague giant rat.
Luckily, they had no clue this was from that thing.
I mean, it looked like something you absolutely shouldn’t eat.
“Mmm… so good…”
Erica stared at her empty bowl.
I hadn’t given her much, so it was gone in no time.
“Gasp…”
Then Agwen and Erica exchanged glances.
“Um… how much for this…?”
She asked timidly, glancing around.
Yeah.
Once they’ve tasted meat, they’re hooked.
“Caw, caw.”
I kindly flapped my wings to show the price.
I pointed once at the silver coin in the jar, then three times at the copper coins in Erica’s pouch.
“One silver… and three coppers? Right?”
“Caw caw.”
“Huh…? That’s cheaper than I thought…”
Honestly, it was still an absurd price.
According to Mona, meat like this should cost coppers, not silver.
But Erica and Agwen had already bought bread and water for silver.
So this ridiculous meat price seemed like a bargain to them.
“Then maybe we can return that bread we bought…”
“Caw.”
No way.
“Ah, no…”
Where do you think you’re returning it?
Then she started to stand up.
Tsk, still clinging to reason, huh.
No choice.
Pat pat pat.
I waddled to the campfire and spun the meat around.
Sizzle.
Whoosh!
Droplets of fat hit the flames, making them flare up wildly.
The visual impact was insane.
Gulp.
I heard swallowing.
Can’t stop here.
I tore off the meatiest, juiciest hind leg.
“Heeek…”
They watched with helpless eyes.
Then I shoved the tender meat straight into my mouth.
“Caw caw caw.”
Even did my joyful dance to show how delicious it was.
Meat’s all about that big, satisfying bite.
Chomping it loudly to demonstrate got great reactions.
“Um… excuse me…!”
Yeah, they’re biting.
“Could we maybe get one more plate of meat?”
“…Two plates. How about two?”
“What? Even so… fine, you need a full belly for adventuring anyway. Two! Give us two!”
Clink.
Thank you for your purchase, customers.
“Ca-caw!”
I grilled the meat with care for my valued customers.
“Haaah haaah…”
“Meat’s only meat when it’s cooked…”
I even threw in service for the satisfied diners.
“This is…”
“Dried fruit? Is this free?”
Of course, customers.
“Caw caw.”
“Thank you…! You’re such a good crow!”
Meat and kiwi pair perfectly.
Don’t they use kiwi for marinating meat?
“Hmm?”
No, not you.
Dried kiwi.
So what do you think happens next?
“…One more plate of meat!”
“Make it two!”
“Caw, caw caw.”
Clink.
The jar kept filling with coins.
“Caw, caw caw.”
“Huh? What’s this? Bug repellent? Where’d you get this…? Five coppers? Gotta buy this!”
“This rope. Doesn’t it look super useful? Cheaper than a loaf of bread—smart buy.”
Now Erica and Agwen were snapping up not just food, but random goods too.
“Caw…”
Happy you’re buying so much, but… isn’t it too much?
Starting to get a little scary.
“This too! And this!”
“Everything from here to here!”
“Caaaaaw!”
Clink, clink.
Money piled up without me lifting a wing.
Business was so good today I could close shop early.
I’d reeled in some massive customers.
“And this one for showers… Huh?”
Unfortunately, adventurers’ purses aren’t bottomless.
They’d blown through their cash fast.
“Huh? Why…?”
“Darn… I really needed that one…”
Yeah. Money’s gone, huh?
No money, no customer.
…That’s rookie thinking.
Treating them right even without cash is basic business.
And technically, they’re not broke.
This is where the real fun starts.
When they pay not with measured coin, but with other stuff.
That’s what to aim for.
“…Um, do you take trades instead of money?”
Truth is, I don’t take money because I love it.
Who hates money? But I’m not human—I’m a crow.
I love shiny things.
It’s the sparkle I crave, not the coin itself.
So shiny goods are always welcome, money or not.
“Caw, caw caw!”
I showed examples of shiny items to illustrate.
Stuff like this is fine.
“This brooch? I paid five silvers for it. This should…”
“Caw.”
I scratched the ground once with my talon.
One silver, I meant.
“What? One? No way, that’s not right! It’s worth way more.”
“Caw, caw caw.”
Crows don’t know about that.
“…Four silvers?”
“Caw.”
“Three…?”
I shook my head and scratched twice.
Two silvers.
My final offer.
“Ugh… Fine, if it’s this… Deal. I’ll trade this for… that one, and that!”
“Caw, caw caw.”
I handed over the goods as VIP customer Erica requested.
“Whoosh! Whoosh whoosh!”
Even Whooshie, now a necktie, was thrilled his load lightened.
He’s attached to my stuff, but swapping junk for shinies made him happier.
And my dead stock was selling too.
“Mr. Crow. You take trades too, right?”
Pointy-eared Agwen addressed me.
“Caw caw.”
Obviously. But Agwen’s an elf.
I was personally curious what elves carry.
What’ll it be?
Archer type, maybe silver arrows?
Agwen sat and stretched her legs toward me.
I tilted my head, confused, when her lips moved.
“Then would it be okay to sell my stockings?”
“Pfft! W-what? Agwen! What are you saying!”
What kind of talk is that from an elf.
“No, Erica. Crows like shiny things, right?”
“Y-yeah…?”
“These aren’t ordinary stockings. They’re made from fibers extracted from our forest’s glowtree leaves, so they faintly shine at night. See?”
“That’s true, but… still, isn’t it weird? They’re not new—they’re used.”
As Agwen said, they didn’t look ordinary.
Mona flinched on my shoulder, so probably pricey materials.
“…Well, yeah. Sorry. I’ve been sweaty from the heat, and trying to sell these damp ones… I almost offended you.”
What?
Sweat-soaked elf stockings?
Super damp from her sweaty constitution?
Sheesh.
Who’d buy that?
“Ca-ca-caw!”
“T-ten silvers? For real?”
Deal sealed dramatically.
“What a pervert crow!”
Erica freaked out.
“…Hoh. So that’s your taste.”
“Shuuuuaaaang!”
Whooshie and Mona too.
Everyone’s misunderstanding.
Would I blow ten silvers on stockings? I’m plotting bigger.
Merchant instinct says those stockings are worth more than ten.
Feels like auctioneers would bid gold.
One reason I keep taking goods and cash: humans dropping into this ruin might have what I need.
Trading with them means needing lots of money or valuables like this.
Not interested in the stockings myself, but they’ll sell high, so I bought.
“Caw caw.”
No ulterior motives.
“I get it. Heard some have those tastes. …But you’re a crow?”
Don’t look at me like that!
This is smart business.
“No, Agwen, you’re really trading them? It’s kinda weird.”
“Ten silvers. Only a fool would pass.”
“Caw, caw caw.”
Yeah, hand ’em over quick.
I gazed at the sky, utterly shameless in this deal.
Your notoriety has increased.
Why?