Elsa had knelt down on the ground. The two swordsmen who were sitting at her sides were startled. The people from the wolf tribe who came up again after hearing a loud voice were blinking their eyes rapidly, as if not believing their eyes.
After I told the people from the wolf tribe that there was no problem, and asked them to withdraw, I said this to Elsa.
“Please raise your head. It’s alright, I will sell it.”
“Really? You will really sell it to us?” She gazed at me hopefully.
“Yeah. However, the goods I’m offering for sale isn’t only sugar.” I stated as I took the covers off from the two remaining vessels on the tray.
There were a red powder and a black powder there.
“I-I see... S-So it isn’t only sugar?!” She stared at the newly revealed powders, panting slightly.
“Please try to lick it.” I offered.
After gulping audibly, Elsa first scooped the red powder with her finger, and tasted it. When it touch her tongue, her mouth start to open and close rapidly, like a fish out of water.
“This... Is hot and spicy... I have never tasted anything like this..!” She managed to gasp out.
“This is chili pepper. It can warm the body.” I explained.
Elsa then scooped up the black powder with her finger once more, and proceeded to lick it.
“This... Should be salty? It’s salty like salt... But, the taste comes gradually..! I have never tasted anything like this before..!” Elsa exclaimed, her eyes wide.
“It is called black pepper. When you add it to the dish, it can enhance the food’s taste.”
“I see... Spices, huh?” Elsa muttered as she nodded slightly.
“I thought about selling crops, but as expected, the distance is too far. If it’s seeds, I don’t know what kind can be raised there. However, if it is a spice, it should be able to last long enough.” I explained my train of thought to her.
“Certainly. However, this is amazing. I already got shocked by the sugar, but to think that you would sell chili pepper and black pepper as well. At any rate, it will be able to expand the variety of dishes available. All those rich gourmets will surely loosen their wallets for this!” Elsa smiled widely.
[TL: the raw said their string purse]
“So the value will be a little inflated? At any rate, this is something only I can make. There should be no other people with this knowledge. Even if I say that this handful is worth the same weight in gold, I think that it isn’t an exaggeration.” I stated proudly.
The two swordsmen were dumbfounded when I said that it was worth its weight in gold. They made a face which expressed that they didn’t believe it.
Yes, I also can’t believe it too. But, in the middle ages of Europe back in my previous world, pepper was considered equal with the gold. However, I do not know whether this is true or not.
“...That’s right. Men with power will take out the money for the thing they desire. This is certainly worth its weight in gold.” Elsa mused aloud.
As expected of Elsa who’s a merchant. Unlike the two swordsmen, she knew the true value of the sugar and spices.
“Then, how much will you sell this to us? I am sorry to say, but we don’t have anything at hand since we didn’t know such amazing things would come out. Rather, this is truly dangerous. If we don’t handle it well, there might be a war between countries for this.” Elsa stated seriously.
War.
The two swordsmen were surprised at the words again, and trembled. But, my mind didn’t quail.
Well, I think that it’s true. Food is one of a few entertainments in this world. It is because they don’t have anything to do that they devote themselves to research about the food. For the people who have too much gold in hand, they will surely use the gold. In other words, a large movement of gold. It will be enough reason for war to happen.
For the time being, there is the matter of Sandra Kingdom. They will send their military here again to make "sugar" and "spices" theirs if they find out about it.
“Please wait a minute!” All of a sudden, a loud voice interrupted me when I wanted to begin a conversation with Elsa. It was the swordswoman.
“What is it, Reina? You are just an escort. Please be silent.” Elsa glared at her fiercely.
“No, if you have an opinion about this, let’s hear it.” I stopped Elsa's reprimand.
You shouldn’t hurry in order to know what is inside the other party's belly.
[TLC: it is a saying.]
Also, although Elsa may indeed be a merchant, I can’t deny the possibility that the two escorts were spies from another place.
“Fujiwara-san. You are a human, right?” Reina asked.
“Yes, I am a human.” I replied.
“Then, why you didn’t side with the humans, but sided with the beastmen instead?” She demanded.
So it’s finally here. How should I say it..? The root of this question seemed to be something emotional. She probably didn’t like that the beastmen were living a good life.
Certainly, when she heard about the night soil story, the life in this town seems to be much better than that of the humans’ towns. And then, with the sugar and spices I showed just now, the town will get wealthier. If so, then the beastmen will live a much better life than now, was probably what Reina thought.
Now then, how should I answer it? The reason why I invited the beastmen at first was for the tax. But, now we get along peacefully, and I already have some feelings towards them.
Hmm... After some thinking over it some, I opened my mouth to reply.
“The beastmen are my irreplaceable family, friends, and also my comrades. To my family, friends and comrades, do I need any reason to help them?”
It has been decided. Perfect.
Then from other side of the sliding paper door, I can heard ‘uuu....’ sounds, as if someone was trying to endure something.
Oh? When I turned my sight to the door, I saw that it was slightly open.
Ah, that’s right. The people from the wolf tribe had already burst in several times till now. However, because nothing happened time and again, did they peep in quietly this time?
Uwaaa, this is so embarrassing.
“So why do you, as a human, regard beastmen as family―” Reina demanded once more.
“Stop messing around!” Elsa stopped Reina from continuing, completely furious. “We came for business! What you are saying isn’t related to business at all! Don’t try to investigate the important trade partner! what will you do if you ruin the deal?!”
The roar almost sent shockwaves throughout the room.
“...I am sorry.” Reina hung her head and didn’t say anything else.
“I am really sorry. Reina had a very hard life till now. She doesn’t mean any harm at all. I will scold her later, so can you please forgive her for this?” Elsa lowered her head pleadingly.
I simply said that ‘I didn’t mind’, and the issue was over. Rather, I am more interested in Reina’s ‘hard life’ now.
“Then, let’s continue our talk. First, before we talk about the price, I want to provide a condition before making the deal.” I started off.
“Condition?” Elsa tilted her head to the side.
“Yes, I don’t want it to be leaked to other people that sugar and the spices were made here.” I elaborated.
“Well, that is natural. If people come to know that the origin of this gold tree is this town, various merchants and armies all over the world will rush over here. It means that it's possible that it will spread directly to the nobles. If I was to be the mediator for merchants from other countries... Yes, it's a very good deal for me. It's like an exclusive deal.” Elsa considered it carefully. “But, we won't be able to know how long we can deceive them. The time when the cat is out of the bag will come.
Putting my life at risk is too much, even for me. I will talk if there is nothing I can do.”
“If it's like that, then I don't mind. In any case, we have already invited resentment from Sandra Kingdom, so if you can't help it, it's alright to be honest to them.” I decided. “But when that happens, please tell them that no one other than I have any means to make it. And if you can, please propose sending a delegation to your lord, or even to your country. If the other party wants to adopt a means of diplomacy, you will serve as our mediator, and can profit from it too.”
I don’t mind if this trade becomes the cause of attacks. At any rate, the enemy will come again. It will just be a little bit sooner.
If so, I will gather gold with every effort without restraint, and defeat the enemy with that gold.