Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Keep Getting Mistaken for a Pro (11)
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“Groan……”
The village chief let out a groan.
In the meantime, Rina's father had quietly reviewed the potential gains from this deal, true to his merchant nature.
This village was under the free city of Beck City.
Unlike fiefdoms where even hunting a single deer required noble permission, here the village could issue its own hunting permits through a council meeting.
The funds for hiring mercenaries likely came from the village's communal coffers as well.
In other words, if they handled the contract right, there was plenty of profit to be made.
Starting with securing stability for ongoing trade with the village, providing aid would boost the merchant company's reputation too.
And beyond that, the wild boar itself was an enticing trophy.
One potential issue, though……
The village chief kept emphasizing the boar's size.
If it really was that huge, there was a high chance of injuries on the mercenary side.
Which meant he needed the mercenary captain's take on that point.
“The caravan's journey is wrapping up anyway……”
Rina's father glanced subtly at the mercenary captain.
Sensing the look, Logan pondered briefly.
From the vibe, the employer had finished his calculations. All he had to do was agree, and it'd proceed as is.
……Feels a bit off, but.
The boar's appearance and the damage. The village chief's explanations.
Logan had felt an ongoing sense of dissonance throughout. Call it a gut feeling.
Hunts and subjugation requests were always like that.
Not just deliberate deception, but ignorance from villagers often led to dangers worse than reported.
Logan hesitated for a moment.
If it really was just a wild boar, great.
If not, they could always bolt.
……Having Asha along would make it way better, though.
That would slash the risks dramatically.
He resolved to talk to her back at the inn.
For now, the terms aren't bad.
The merchant's deal-making skills had been solid so far.
This time, he'd surely squeeze out a tidy profit through negotiation.
With that, Logan gave a small nod of agreement.
Confirming it, Rina's father turned back to the village chief.
Now it was time to play the merchant card.
Wearing his signature shrewd smile, he launched into serious negotiations.
While the meeting raged at the village chief's house.
Asha had been roped into spending time by a nearby stream with some kids she'd bumped into by chance.
Splashing water mixed with the children's bright laughter, filling the air.
The village kids, pure as they were, warmed up to the unfamiliar elf in no time.
To them, 'elf' was just a name adults tossed out to scare them into behaving.
Like tales of tigers or wolves dragging them off, or the devil Krampus stuffing them in a sack.
But seeing one for real?
Hard to square the terrifying bogeyman stories with the lovely elf girl right in front of them.
As a result, Asha was turning into the queen amid these innocent children.
“Sis, sis!”
“Here, take this!”
The girls crowned her with a clumsy flower circlet made from wildflowers they'd picked somewhere.
The boys handed her shiny pebbles they'd found.
Beaming with anticipation as they awaited her reaction.
“Where'd you find this? It's so pretty.”
Asha held the pebble up to the sunlight, praising it deliberately, and the kids went wild with delight.
Infected by their purity, Asha's smile softened even more.
Then one boy swung his arm wildly and shouted.
“Sis, check this out!”
A flat stone skipped across the water—plip, plip, plip—flying far out.
It bounced along the current for ages before vanishing with a final plop.
Stone skipping, on display.
“How's that? How's that?”
The boy shrugged proudly.
The others scrambled for stones, eager to one-up him.
“Just luck! Watch me this time!”
“I'll send mine even farther!”
They hurled stones, each claiming superiority.
But most sank after a bounce or two.
Not even the best rivaled the first boy's distance.
His shoulders puffed up even more.
“See? I'm the best!”
Hands on hips, he struck a conqueror's pose, strutting like the stream's undisputed king.
A few boys grumbled and grabbed more stones.
Results unchanged.
“Ugh, why won't it work……”
“Hmph. Must be bad stones.”
The failures muttered, deflated.
Right then, Asha picked up a stone.
“Sis gonna try too?”
“Heh, bet you can't match me!”
All eyes on her.
Asha grinned and said leisurely.
“Shall I show you what I've got?”
What else had she done for play during her decades-plus in the mountains?
Stone skipping was child's play she'd mastered long ago.
Asha took her stance.
It looked so pro, the kids held their breath, eyes glued to her hand.
In the brief hush, only the stream's gentle babble.
And—
With fluid grace, she flicked the stone across the surface.
The kids' eyes bulged.
A wrist snap worthy of the gods!
Her stone skipped lightly—plip, plip, plip.
Momentum insane, no sign of stopping.
Plip, plip, plip.
Finally vanishing on the far bank.
The kids froze, breathless.
Then cheers exploded in unison, eyes wide.
“Whoa—! Sis, you're amazing!”
“Never seen one go that far!”
“H-How'd you do that?!”
Thus, the stream's little king quietly yielded his throne to the noble, honorable golden queen.
……As the evening sunset began dyeing the village red.
The merchant crew and mercenaries gathered at the inn for dinner to wrap up the day.
On the creaky wooden table went rough clay bowls of vegetable porridge.
Asha blew on the steam, filling her belly.
She tore chunks from the dark rye bread beside her, soaking them in the broth.
Tough crust, but soft and nutty inside.
“Innkeep! Ale over here!”
“Whew, today's toil pays off!”
Mercenaries clinked wooden mugs, laughing heartily.
First sips cooled their throats, and soon chatter filled the air.
Moods are contagious, after all.
In the upbeat vibe, a faint smile graced Asha's lips.
Then Elysia, done eating, spoke up.
“Asha, I'm heading up to my room.”
“Sure, good night.”
With the stern knight gone, eyes naturally turned to Asha.
Logan, who'd been biding his time, approached her.
Rina's father tagged along.
“Ahem, Asha?”
“Yes?”
“Talked it over with the chief. Tomorrow, we're heading into the woods for a big wild boar.”
“Oh, a wild boar!”
Asha perked up, and Logan inwardly sighed in relief.
With this elf's help, the hunt would be as safe as houses.
Mercenaries could handle it alone, sure, but less risk was always better.
Especially with monster possibilities lurking.
Logan pressed on, laced with subtle hope.
“Boar meat's premium stuff. Horns and hide have demand too.”
“Makes sense. Nothing goes to waste—valuable resource.”
Times being what they are. Asha swallowed the afterthought.
“Right? And it's a big one, they say. So, here's the thing……”
Logan trailed off, gauging her.
The girl waited quietly, cherry lips curved in a soft smile.
Knowing the power behind that beauty, he swallowed hard.
“How about joining us? Not asking for free, of course. Fair split of the spoils.”
“Dawn departure?”
“Earlier, actually. Right at first light.”
“Ah.”
Asha nodded slightly in understanding.
Logan exhaled in relief.
“With you along, it's bulletproof! We'll wrap this smooth.”
“……Huh? I haven't said yes yet.”
“Gah?!”
Logan's prematurely joyful face twisted comically.
Asha covered her mouth lightly, letting out a quiet laugh.