The Incompetent Hero and the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering (4)

"Hmm... This leather has been worked with considerable care. And the shape of this snow-white fur... the maintenance seems excellent as well. As a commodity, it certainly holds sufficient value."

It wasn't long before I was able to speak ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with a senior member of the Youun Merchant Guild. He arrived with several specialists, led me somewhere private where the two of us could talk, and after carefully appraising the hides, he fortunately delivered the verdict that they possessed "sufficient commercial value."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Whew. I thought they wouldn't sell.

In the game they would have sold without question, but once reality correction kicked in, I honestly couldn't tell whether this was something people would actually buy.

...Does the meat sell too?

"We'll purchase everything. As for the price... how does this sound?"

"Hmm..."

Price... as if I knew a damn thing about market rates.

But if I set the price clumsily here, I wouldn't be a customer—I'd be a sucker. So I had to decide carefully... but how?

Could I even set a proper price? No, impossible.

Without knowing the exact market value, trying to match it carried far too much risk. Push too high and I'd invite pushback; accept their figure and I was just a mark. So the way to avoid shouldering that risk myself was...

"Fine. I'll sell at that price."

I watched his reaction. Even the faintest twitch—I refused to miss a single one.

His eyebrow gave the slightest quiver. The corner of his mouth lifted, just a fraction.

A fleeting response most people would have overlooked. So I had undercut myself after all?

Didn't matter. I could always dress the loss up as intentional.

"A good deal."

"Yes. I'm rather glad I could open talks with the Youun Merchant Guild for a loss this small."

"...I'm not sure I follow."

"Wanderers like me need at least one prior deal with a guild under our belt. Gives us something to mention when we're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠talking elsewhere, doesn't it?"

His movement stilled for a moment. Then he let out a short laugh.

"True enough. Ah—and if you bring additional goods next time, we'll offer a more generous price."

"My thanks."

Fortunately, he had misunderstood my actions exactly as intended.

He probably took it as: I know I'm taking a loss, but I want to do business with your guild, so I'll swallow it this once. If things go sour, though, I'll look elsewhere—so handle it however you like. That was why he answered with the promise of a more generous—meaning normal—price next time, and an invitation to return.

Whew... at least I didn't get played for a sucker.

My head was killing me.

Anyway, the seed was planted. If I could continue trading at a leisurely pace and register in the Youun Merchant Guild's eyes as a worthwhile customer, then just as I'd first planned, I could use their information network to track down the trading channels for Geogeonhwan.

I was smiling in quiet satisfaction when he brought up something I hadn't expected at all.

"By the way, I hear you possess a magical tool that lets you pull these goods straight out of empty air."

"...Pardon?"

Why was that coming up all of a sudden?

I'd claimed the inventory was the effect of a magical tool, so I supposed I had to stick with the story.

I nodded, still puzzled.

"Yes, that's right, but..."

"Might I see that tool?"

"Ah? That would be... a little difficult..."

How was I supposed to pull out an inventory function? It wasn't as if I could split myself open and dig it out...

When I showed clear reluctance, he nodded as though he'd expected it. Then he looked at me with sudden seriousness.

"Forgive the forwardness, but would you consider working for our guild—or, failing that, for our escort agency?"

"Huh?"

Suddenly a merchant guild? An escort agency? He wanted me to become an escort guard?

What exactly about me made him ask something like that?

...Was it the inventory?

"You seem to have caught on. Whether for the guild or the escort agency, what matters is how swiftly, accurately, and safely large quantities of goods can be delivered. But the more cargo there is, the more it becomes bait for bandits and wild beasts. With that tool of yours, however, far greater loads could be moved without drawing attention."

Well... when he put it that way, he wasn't wrong.

"More than that—if truly vital goods that absolutely must arrive were placed inside your tool before the escort left, they could be hidden completely. Your tool is a divine weapon any merchant or escort would covet!"

Whoa, whoa... calm down. Calm down.

By the end he was so worked up his voice had risen.

"...I can't decide on the spot. Could you give me some time to think?"

"Ah... I was too hasty. My name is Incheong. What is yours, young hero?"

"My name is... Leon."

"Leon?... You must have come from the West, then?"

"Something like that. Haha."

With the parting remark that I was free to seek him out whenever I made up my mind—since I planned to stay in the area for a while—I left the Youun Merchant Guild.

Of course, I collected the payment for the white wolf and white bear pelts without incident.

All I'd wanted was to establish contact with the Youun Merchant Guild so I could dig up information on Geogeonhwan more easily. Somehow I'd walked out with an offer ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to become an escort guard as well.

"...Even if I take it, it would be after the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering at the earliest."

If I were to become an escort, there was only one thing to consider.

Would becoming an escort make it easier to obtain information on Geogeonhwan, or would becoming their customer be faster?

Thinking about it normally... becoming a customer seemed quicker.

"Doing the work once or twice wouldn't build enough trust anyway..."

I'd try the escort life some other time.

Next stop was over there.

"This is a government zone. Civilians are not permitted."

"I doubt that. Has an order under the name Leon been passed down?"

"Leon?... Ah, could it be...?"

"I have business with a man named Yang Jamun."

Heading back to the government office the very night after leaving it was a little ridiculous, but I still needed to check that Baekryeon was all right.

Fortunately, word of me must have been passed ahead; the soldiers guarding the office lowered their weapons and let me through.

"I didn't expect you to return so soon."

Yang Jamun came running out from inside almost immediately.

Well, I'd applied proper pressure before leaving yesterday, so the reaction was only natural. If I decided to go on a rampage, they would have no way to stop me and would have to beg help from the martial sects that had come for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

They're staging this whole affair to strengthen the Yeom Kingdom's influence, so the last thing they want is to poke a sleeping tiger.

"I had no idea what you might be doing to Baekryeon. Figured I'd drop by."

"W-what we might be doing... We are treating her with the utmost courtesy."

"Is that so?... I need to see her first. Show me the way."

"Understood. As it happens, I have items to deliver and matters to discuss, so the timing is fortunate."

Yang Jamun ordered the nearby soldiers to fetch something, then began leading the way.

The odd part this time was that we weren't heading for the prison, but into facilities inside the government office itself.

"You moved her?"

"Once you agreed to take the job, there was no longer any reason to keep her confined. More importantly, Lady Baekryeon has been following our instructions well, so we decided to treat her as a guest for the time being. We even returned her weapons."

I'd know whether that was true once I saw her.

While we talked, we arrived at what looked like the living quarters for the office's permanent staff.

I sensed the presence inside—definitely Baekryeon.

"Hey. You in there?"

"Oh, Doryeong. You have come?"

"...Looks like you're doing just fine."

Seeing Baekryeon lounging at a table in the corner, sipping tea at her leisure, I couldn't help a dry laugh.

This girl seemed to be lodging somewhere better than I was.

When I sat across from her, she set her teacup down with a gentle smile.

"Is Doryeong faring well?"

"Yeah. Had some trouble finding a place to stay, but I ended up imposing on a weird old lady's shop."

"A weird old lady?"

She seemed to get up to strange things every night, but it wasn't anything I needed to worry about, so I was ignoring it.

I might even find a use for it later.

"Well... for Doryeong, few things short of the truly extraordinary would pose any real danger."

"I just wish the week would hurry up and pass..."

"Um... Young Hero Leon. The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is two weeks from now."

"...Huh?"

It wasn't a week later?

I had to stay for two whole weeks?... Worst case scenario.

"...What am I supposed to do until then?"

"Well... how about some leisurely sightseeing?"

"You think sightseeing is going to catch my eye in a situation like this?"

Knock knock knock.

"Ah, it seems the items for Young Hero Leon have arrived."

Yang Jamun rose and opened the door. He received several items from the soldiers, then returned to his seat.

He had brought three things in total.

Two of them were the mask and the magical treasure that could change one's face, as he'd mentioned earlier.

The last was a Yeom Kingdom-style sword.

"I understand the rest, but a sword?"

"Young Hero Leon's blade is rather conspicuous."

"Ah..."

True enough. The shape alone made it stand out. Not the sort of thing a Yeom soldier would be carrying around.

Yeah. Perfectly ordinary.

That "Unusable" tag was still stuck on it.

Since it was just standard-issue gear, the Unusable status didn't really create any downside, so I didn't care.

"We've also prepared a temporary identity. There is no law forbidding a foreigner from serving in the Yeom Army, but given the present situation, sending out a foreign soldier under the banner of the regular forces would be... awkward."

"Doesn't matter. Getting a free local identity actually makes moving around easier."

"Then for now, Young Hero Leon's temporary identity is Jang Cheon-woo. You may introduce yourself as a member of the Yeom Kingdom Army's Jaryong Unit."

They were going all-in, huh?

It would be perfect for hiding the name Leon... but the Jaryong Unit? What kind of unit was that?

"Ah—the Jaryong Unit is a special unit with relatively free operational latitude. Its members are scattered across the country, each carrying out individual missions assigned from above. That should make cover stories easier."

"So if each person has their own individual mission, they don't have to explain that mission to other military personnel?"

"In ordinary cases, yes. Of course, one would still have to report to a general or higher... but unless the circumstances are special, the missions given to the Jaryong Unit often require secrecy. Simply showing your identification should keep most people from prying."

"That works. I like it."

And this one...

I knew it.

I sighed, picked up the mask, and held it to my face.

"Do I look different?"

"Uh..."

"It's just an ordinary mask."

"Figured as much."

I set the mask down. Yang Jamun's face showed clear panic. From the way he'd described it, anyone who put the mask on was supposed to have their appearance change instantly—so of course he was shocked when it didn't work.

"It's my constitution."

"Y-your constitution?"

"I can't use magical tools."

"I've never heard of such a constitution..."

"You've seen it now, so that settles it."

He still looked flustered, but eventually accepted it. Then he scratched the back of his head, staring at the mask in open difficulty.

"Then what should we do..."

"Can't I just say I was burned? Claim I cover my face because of the scars."

"Burns?"

"Yeah. Let's say I lived through a major fire in the past, and the Yeom Army saved me. That made me admire them enough to enlist."

After a moment's thought, Yang Jamun nodded.

"Very well. We'll go with that. Registration for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering has already been completed on our end. On the day it begins, we will come to escort Young Hero Leon."

"Got it."

And so, with every preparation complete, the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering began.