Ninety-Five to Five

Day 30 of the Castaway

Trickle, trickle, trickle—

Minhyuk watered the cucumber patch first. He was just about to move on and do the same for the potatoes when a shout of pure delight burst out of him.

"Ooh!"

Well, would you look at that. Right there on the potato sprouts that had been shooting up so vigorously—

Flutter—!

A single pretty blossom had opened. White petals, round as little coins, swayed in the sea breeze: a potato flower in full bloom. He leaned in close and breathed it in.

"Hnnnn—"

Oh. That fragrant floral scent. It felt as if spring were bursting into bloom inside his nose.

Kind of like some ridiculously expensive diffuser, isn't it?

Anyway. If the flowers were out, the harvest couldn't be far off. He'd been feeling the lack ever since he set Elia's share aside—the potatoes were nearly gone—so the thought of the food stores growing solid again was welcome news all by itself.

Speaking of which, Elia's running a little late, isn't she?

Minhyuk looked toward one stretch of the beach.

"……."

It was the spot where she always appeared, wrapped in a blaze of pure white light. Now there was nothing but a heaped ridge of sand. Three days had already passed, and from Elia there was still not a single word.

She did haul off a hundred and fifty cucumbers in one go…… so it figures the trip would take a while.

He'd told her to split them up and carry fifty at a time. He hoped she wasn't out there putting herself through a miserable time for nothing.

Kkureung!

What? Nothing to worry about?

Kkurung, kkurung!

Kkureung bobbed his little head with everything he had.

"Yeah. You're right, Kkureung. I'm worrying over nothing, aren't I?"

Kkurung! Kku-kkurung!

"Got it. Let's get some exercise in."

Minhyuk gave a light shrug, turned his face into the cool sea wind, and started stretching with Kkureung. It was a routine they'd only just added.

"Hup-two, hup-two—!"

Kku, kku, kkurung, kkurung—!

The same national calisthenics he'd done so often in the army. He'd shown the little guy once, and now Kkureung was stretching for all he was worth on those short arms and legs.

Well, of course. This was exercise for the sake of staying healthy. The important part was not getting hurt doing it.

"All right. Fifteen reps to a set. Got it?"

Kkurung!

Once they were loosened up, the real workout began—Minhyuk with a wooden dumbbell he'd made himself, Kkureung with a scrawny twig picked up in the jungle.

"One—! Two—! Three—! Four—! Five……."

They started in on arm exercises, keeping time to Minhyuk's count.

"Last one! Just one more! Hnnnng—!"

Kku, kkureuuung!

When the final set was done, Minhyuk and Kkureung flopped onto the sand at the same moment, flat on their backs. Hoo— hoo— Sweat cooling on his skin, a pleasant little wash of dopamine drifted in on the heels of that loose, spent feeling.

Ding—!

And then…….

"Not bad…… haaam……."

Minhyuk yawned wide enough to split his face. A new skill was all well and good. Right now, though, it was time to enjoy a nap as sweet as honey.

Day 33 of the Castaway

A very welcome message window popped up before Minhyuk's eyes.

Cucumbers and potatoes both—two crops, and each of them ready to harvest.

Cucumbers once a week, potatoes once every two weeks?

If the cycles lined up this neatly, there was no need to fuss over the work twice. He could knock the whole thing out in a single go. Minhyuk looked over the crops with a thoroughly satisfied eye.

"Let's see what we've actually got."

The cucumbers were a bumper crop at a glance. That taut, glossy look—appetizing just to see.

Next, the potatoes.

Scrape— scrape— scrape—

He gently raked the soil aside with a wooden hoe, and the plump potatoes hidden underground came into view.

"One, two, three, four……."

Forty in all. The potatoes were a bumper crop too.

"Hahh— jackpot!"

On top of that, the effect of Fertile Soil had triggered once again.

A new special effect, added on after the cucumbers.

"Oh……."

Minhyuk let out a small sound of admiration as he read it over. He wasn't sure about the first two. It was the effect tacked on at the end.

Strengthening the stomach lining…….

Like any modern person who had lived on caffeine, Minhyuk's stomach had never been in great shape. His acid reflux in particular had been bad enough that the slightest stress sent sour water climbing his throat. Of course, there wasn't much out here to get stressed about. Still—if it could get even better than this, that was a win.

"Mm. Nice. Very nice."

Minhyuk nodded, satisfied.

The crops were harvested. The experience was in. All that remained was to sell them at the shop and pocket a nice fat pile of coins.

"……Why isn't this kid back yet?"

Elia still hadn't returned. It had gone past idle wondering and into genuine worry. Was someone actually out there doing her harm?

Kkurung……?

Kkureung tilted his head as well, eyes full of worry.

"This is…… not like I can go out looking for her."

Where on earth had she gone?

The time was several days earlier.

Two cucumbers ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠remained to be sold.

An uninvited guest had come to Elia's stall.

"……Your Highness."

"Nnh?"

The imperial guard of the elven royal house. The moment Elia answered another merchant summons, the elite knights who had been tearing frantically through the entire Tower succeeded at last in their search.

"Come with us. His Majesty the Emperor is looking for you."

"Don't wanna! I still got two left!"

"Then…… pardon me."

"Waaah!"

Elia was hauled straight off to the imperial palace. Tucked under a knight's arm, she was set down before the Emperor.

"Elia! Why won't you listen! A princess cannot be a merchant!"

"Don't wanna! I'm going! I like being a merchant!"

"Enough! I have said no! Do you find your own father's words amusing?!"

The scolding did nothing to stop the rebellion. Elia's stubbornness refused to bend; if anything, it had grown fiercer than it had been before her first merchant summons. They had even wondered whether those wicked, lawless demonfolk (?) might have laid some curse upon her.

"The examination results?"

"Well…… we brought the finest mages in the palace and ran every test, and yet…… no curse or brainwashing magic of any kind was found. And if I may add, as an aside……."

"Speak."

"Her Highness's mental health has, if anything, improved. One might say she has grown more spirited, in mind and in body both."

"What?"

Not a trace of brainwashing magic or curse had been detected.

"It simply seems she enjoys it. Having once tasted the life of a merchant…… she cannot give it up."

"Damn it…… I never should have bought her that accursed merchant's license."

No outside interference whatsoever. One hundred percent pure Elia, of her own will.

On top of that, Summons was a merchant's absolute authority. It ran on a system unique to the Tower, so the instant Elia accepted, no method in existence could stop her from being called into the Tower. The best they could manage was what they were doing now—turning the imperial guard loose to find wherever in the Tower she happened to be.

Which was to say:

Stopping Elia's work as a merchant had been impossible from the start.

"Ha…… very well, Elia. I permit your activities as a merchant."

And so the Emperor, with all the misery of a man forced to choke down a bitter dose, granted Elia her dream. On a few conditions.

"First. You are forbidden from operating as a wandering merchant. You will conduct your trade only at a designated place in the Free Market, and you will report that location to the imperial house."

What mattered most was Elia's safety. He had no intention of abandoning a princess who was only just six years old in that brutal Tower. Neutral territory or not, the Free Market was no exception.

So the Emperor planned, without Elia's knowledge, to attach the imperial guard's most elite knights as a special escort.

"Mm. Okay."

Fortunately, Elia accepted without a fuss. On to the next step.

"Elia. About how much are you being paid for this work?"

"Paid……? What's that?"

"Money. The compensation you receive for carrying out the role of a merchant."

"Uuum…… money? I never got any."

The Emperor's expression darkened.

"You are working as a merchant…… and they are not paying you?"

"Mm. But I get to eat yummy things. Lots and lots!"

For the record, this was only Elia's second summons.

"……Your Majesty, though I hesitate to speak out of turn……."

When the minister at his side explained that the first summons was customarily unpaid, and that a formal contract was only drawn up from the second engagement onward, the Emperor's expression settled once more.

Even so, this was still the important part. That much had not changed.

"What level of compensation would be appropriate for the princess?"

"By custom, ten percent is the proper line, Your Majesty."

The rates actual merchants received went like this.

A complete novice took ten percent. A mid-grade merchant, twenty. A seasoned veteran could take as much as thirty percent of the sales.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

That was when it happened.

"That will not do, Your Majesty."

Knight Commander Kelia spoke.

"How could Her Highness receive the same treatment as those other lowly merchants?"

Ten percent, twenty, thirty. Other merchants might be paid that way.

But Elia was a princess of the imperial house. For the great bloodline that would one day lead the elven people to be reduced to a merchant serving a pack of mere demonfolk was already a crack running through their pride.

And she was to be treated as their equal? That could not be permitted.

It was no different from making a mockery of the imperial house itself.

"The revenue contract must be struck five to five, so that the dignity of the throne is upheld."

"Indeed, Your Majesty."

The other ministers chimed in as one.

"In that case……."

The Emperor gave a small nod and stole ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a glance at Elia.

At present, the only one holding an EX-grade merchant certificate was Elia. From the demonfolk's side, refusal was not an option.

And even if they do refuse…….

Then Elia would be unable to work as a merchant, and that, too, would be a result very much to his liking.

"Second condition. The profits will be split five to five."

"Uuung? Why? I don't even need money."

All Elia had wanted was to play with Kkureung on the deserted island and eat delicious cucumbers and potatoes.

"It is an imperial command, Elia. Refuse, and I will mobilize every power of the imperial house to put a stop to your work as a merchant."

"Uum…… okay."

Faced with a gravity in the Emperor she had not seen once in all her six years, she had no choice but to nod.

Her heart wasn't in it. Still—they were going to let her keep being a merchant.

And so Elia was able to go back to the deserted island.

……Meanwhile.

"So what you're saying is, for your merchant's pay, you want five of the profits?"

Minhyuk asked it while looking at Elia, who had come demanding nothing less than half.

"Mm…… they said I have to……."

Elia hemmed and hawed, then gave a glum little nod. He didn't need the explanation. He could already tell what kind of situation this was.

Plain as day. Somebody's pulling the strings from behind her.

Using this little kid. Fleecing someone else's money. Bad adults had clearly latched onto her.

Otherwise there was no way Elia would suddenly come out with a demand this unreasonable.

Didn't dramas set in the modern day show this exact situation all the time?

They made poor children sell newspapers for a dime and skimmed everything but a single penny off the kid. Bastards like that. Elia's situation was probably much ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the same.

I had a feeling…… so she wasn't a princess after all.

A princess would never have been out doing merchant work in the first place. Elia was obviously a child stuck in terribly unfortunate circumstances. Poor kid.

"Do you absolutely have to be the one who takes the five?"

"Mm…… they said if I don't, I can't……."

Well, then. Nothing else for it.

Minhyuk smiled, kind as a benevolent uncle.

"All right. Then you take five."

"Really?"

"Yeah. And I'll take ninety-five."

"Whoa! Boss is the best!"

The money was going to end up in those bastards' hands anyway. Better to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hand over as little as possible and fill her up on crops instead.

He didn't know who was back there trying to puppet an innocent kid. But things were not going to go their way.