Though the Beginning is Humble (14)
The branch manager read the letter of introduction in his hand once more, his face twisted as if he suspected he'd misunderstood something.
"Hmm... This is definitely from Marquis Kekers... Sir, do you really need four hundred coins?"
The manager asked again, genuinely puzzled.
"What's the problem?"
"Ah, no, it's not that. Please wait just a moment."
The manager called over a bank clerk waiting outside.
"Check if we have about four hundred Abis gold coins in stock."
Eh? Abis? Abis gold coins were ultra-high-value currency used only by mega-merchants for massive transactions. Four hundred Abis coins? How much would that even be?!
"Ah, no, not Abis gold coins."
The manager then looked at us with even greater confusion. His gaze lingered on Ukun, and suddenly understanding dawned.
"Ah! I see. My apologies. It wasn't Abis gold—it was dwarf gold coins. Let me check our holdings first. Dwarf coins are so rare in circulation..."
"No, no. Kingdom gold coins."
"Kingdom gold coins...?"
The manager's face grew far more baffled than before. But true to his experience dealing with nobles and tycoons, he quickly masked his shock with a smile.
"I must have misunderstood. Understood. We'll prepare four hundred kingdom gold coins."
He was probably stunned that someone bearing Marquis Kekers' letter would request a mere four hundred kingdom coins. Their sense of money was clearly worlds apart from ordinary folk. Nobles dealt in thousands or even millions when buying estates or launching ventures, so a few hundred must seem like pocket change.
From his tone, it sounded like they could handle even more, so I casually probed.
"How much could we get with this letter, exactly?"
"With Marquis Kekers' introduction? At least a thousand coins to start."
"What?! A thousand?!"
Ukun let out a guttural screech. I was pretty shocked myself.
Hmm... Could I squeeze out more? Nah, better not. Hoarding that much gold at the inn feels risky. Hell, with Marim around, she could clean out my room safe anytime she felt like it. And if someone swiped it and blew it all, good luck recovering that cash even after catching the bastard.
Far safer to stash it in the bank's vault and withdraw as needed.
"Cash, or shall we deposit to your account, sir?"
"Cash, please."
The manager promptly summoned a clerk with instructions. Moments later, a small handcart rumbled in bearing what looked like an absurdly heavy leather pouch. Peeking inside revealed gleaming gold coins wrapped in three layers of thick leather.
"Holy fuck..."
Ukun cursed at their dazzling shine.
"There's a fucking ton..."
The manager and clerk hefted the pouch onto a massive scale. Instead of counting each coin, they weighed it for value—a noble bank's pride in never skimping on coinage.
With receipt in hand, we stepped out. The manager saw us to the door.
"Take care, sir!"
Bowing deeply, he prompted Ukun to mutter as we walked.
"Hey, Balder. What the hell are you? Some big shot? You tight with that marquis guy?"
"Yeah. They handed over four hundred coins no questions asked—figure it out."
"They gave it, not him. So he's the marquis?"
"Forget it. Explaining to a dwarf's a waste of breath."
"You little shit...!"
Ukun started to rage but fell silent, then said,
"But Balder... if we'd hit the bank before the swamp..."
"Yeah..."
We barely made it back to the inn by evening. Marim was just stepping into the courtyard, so I grabbed her.
"On your deliveries, stop by the lumberyard, smithy, and stonemason. Tell 'em dinner's on, then come to the inn. Say it's about construction talk—they'll show."
"Building something new?"
"I'll explain later. Hurry."
Only now did I realize I hadn't breathed a word about the bathhouse to anyone. Tonight, I'd round everyone up and spill.
Inside, the hall buzzed—waitstaff darting around serving, taking orders, looking slammed.
"Grab some food first. I'll comp you a room—crash there and we'll chat next steps."
"Tub's a given, right?"
"Tub, towels, soap—the works. Eat up."
Satisfied, Ukun plopped at an empty spot amid the crowd and bellowed for beer. Guy could clean up but had zero manners—classic dwarf.
I stashed the coin pouch and Ukun's gadgets in my room, then hit the floor to help the staff. With the bathhouse coming, this place would go nuclear-busy. Charge for baths, cleaning, maybe simple drinks—need at least two more for grunt work and a manager. Can't pull from current crew, so...
We'll figure it during construction. Who knows what else'll pop up.
By late dinner, Marim's contacts trickled in. Money talks, and craftsmen don't clock out for it.
Including Ukun, we headed to the back lot to sketch plans and material needs. They eyed the build intently, paced the lot, jotted estimates.
Blueprints would help, but dwarf schematics are gibberish to humans—close but no precise quotes. Luckily, Ukun rattled off exact material lists on the spot. If orders matched, it'd wrap tidy with scraps left over.
"Bring samples by late morning. I'll inspect quality myself. Contracts after."
Ukun barked like he owned the joint. Sudden banmal threw 'em, but none dared challenge a hammer-wielding dwarf.
Once gone, Ukun paced muttering, eyeing the slope to the Buren River.
"Hey. No extra hands? You solo this?"
"Any non-dwarf and I'd smash their skull in frustration. Solo's easier."
"I mean, can you? Timeline?"
"Done in a month."
I trusted dwarf skill, but a month solo? Stone innards, pipes—not some shack. Possible...?
Eh, if a dwarf says it...
"Really no labor fee?"
"Don't need it! Long as hot water gushes in my bath, I'm good. Keep soap and beer stocked!"
"Deal—I'm grateful."
Back inside, Ukun bolted upstairs for a soak. Idwild trailed to heat water; I hauled a beer keg. Soon, splashes and his humming echoed.
When Celereja clocked out, I dragged Ukun for holy healing—gagabur brain exposure had flayed his skin and burst his nose. Blessed, he emerged pristine.
Late night. In the quiet hall dotted with drinkers, I gathered the staff. Celereja tagged along post-shift—dunno why.
Curious faces all around. Francois smirked from the kitchen door, eavesdropping on my supplier chats.
"Before the big news... these first."
I lined Ukun's gadgets on the bar.
"What's this? Super intricate."
Marim poked the swimming frog. It squeaked, legs flailing.
"Eek!"
She leaped onto Idwild, who wobbled, "Wh-whoa!"
"What is it...? Not alive but moving?"
Della leaned in, spooked yet intrigued. The frog slowed, stopped.
"Dwarf gadgets. Snagged 'em from the dwarf city today. Gifts for you all."
"Gifts...? Hehe... For real...?"
Idwild grinned, shrugging off Marim.
Pelle glanced over; Celereja sparkled expectantly at me.
I handed them out. Sweaty Idwild got the swimming frog—"Play in the tub." She beamed, activating it.
"Look... it's swimming..."
Marim: spring-loaded boots. Blink-tested, she headplanted the upstairs wall.
"Oof... Even light force sends me far. Ow, head... Deliveries'll be easier though."
Daily ledger Pelle: self-inking pen. She doodled her palm absently.
Francois: wind-control pipe for the furnace. No more fussing with fuel—one tweak does it. She lit up.
Eyes-bright Celereja: whirring music box.
"My favorite tune. Think of me every time."
Lame lie nearly floored her. Staff, knowing her type, stayed stone-faced instead of laughing.
Last: bird-clock, toothbrush dwarf doll, vibrating massage orb.
"Finally, our longest-serving vet—wrists shot, no part of you unscarred: Della."
Beaming, Della extended her hands. I placed the orb in her palms.