“Let’s decide on your store next. Guild master, if you will.” [Serge]
“Sheesh, you sure work these old bones hard, Serge. Pioro, on the upper row of the shelves to your left, there’s a bundle of documents two places from the right. Get that.” [Grishera]
“What working old bones? You’re not moving an inch!” [Pioro]
“Just get it already.” [Grishera]
“Yeah, yeah, I’m on i— What? Isn’t this just a bunch of rundown places? Should I invest too?” [Pioro]
“Idiot. According to Serge, the boy is unusually serious. He won’t accept your money even if you offered it.” [Grishera]
She sure figured me out so quickly. It’s true, though. People have called me stupid serious back in my previous life, and I do personally want to refrain from using other people’s money. Loans aren’t something to be taken lightly, after all. And I’m not so committed to the business that I’m willing to go that far.
Still, a merchant’s eye sure is scary… It’s scary in a different way from martial arts.
“Anyway, just as Pioro mentioned, this bundle of documents refer to buildings with problems. But because of those problems, they’re cheap. You’ll be fine as long as the place has a reception desk and a place for luggage, right?” [Grishera]
“Yes. Everything will be taken care of by the slimes, so not even water will be needed.” [Ryouma]
“Normally if a merchant opening a laundromat said he didn’t even need water, he’d get an ‘are you even trying!?’ in response… Anyway, how much can you afford?” [Grishera]
“700 small gold coins.” [Ryouma]
“Oh? You’re unexpectedly rich.” [Grishera]
“There were some bandits near my home in the past. I killed them with poison, and apparently, one of them had a huge bounty on his head.” [Ryouma]
“If you have that much… Guild master, there should be an available area near my store. What about there?” [Pioro]
“Hmm… There should be one indeed…” [Grishera]
As the guild master said that, she rolled up the bundle of documents.
“…Right, there is one. It’s a huge bar and inn. It also has a storage place for its furnishings. Moreover, its location is good.
Unfortunately, it caught fire and over half was turned to cinders. There are still some structures standing, but they’re now overgrown with grass, so you can’t use them. It’s going to cost you time and money to bring the place back up to shape, but other than that it’s a good place. What do you think?” [Grishera]
“I’ve heard that Ryoumsama is an accomplished earth magician. With a place like that, you’ll be free to change it according to your liking.” [Serge]
A place I can make my own is indeed a very appealing proposal.
“Well? Can you make something out of it with your earth magic?” [Grishera]
“Hmm…” [Ryouma]
If I use Create Block or some other earth magic along with the sticky slime’s hardening liquid… Yeah, this should work.
“I think it’ll be fine. From what I’ve seen on the map, it should be near the residential area. That makes it a very good location, indeed.” [Ryouma]
Gimuru is a town surrounded by robust walls and is shaped like a circle. At the middle of the town is a main street that connects the northern gate to the southern gate. To the east is the residential district and to the west is the manufacturing industry such as ironworks.
There are plenty of inns around the southern gates. The inn I’m staying at is located there too.
The northern gate leads to the abandoned mines, so only miners used it, but even they stopped using it when the mine was declared abandoned.
The eastern gate also has a path leading to the mines (not abandoned), and it was actually to make the miners’ lives easier that the residential district was built in the eastern part of the town.
The area I was recommended was located almost directly east from the center of town, right between the residential district and the main street, making it near the adventurers guild and the residential district, consequently placing it relatively far from from the manufacturing industry to the west. It’s still easy to find, though. Really, I couldn’t have asked for a better location.
When I said those thoughts out loud, the guild master nodded.
“Exactly. And that’s why it used to be such a popular bar. Adventurers and townsmen alike would drop by after work, and a lot of people would make merry. A store opened in this location is still bound to get people’s attention, but it costs a lot of money.” [Grishera]
“I’ll take it.” [Ryouma]
To be honest, I’m not that particular with lands, but I don’t think this land is bad. It’s near the residential district and the adventurers guild, and I can also do what I want with it. On top of that, Serge-san recommended it, and I think the guild master and Pioro are both good people. It should be alright to trust them.
“Are you sure?” [Grishera]
“Yes. The location is good, and I’m sure my slimes and my magic would be able to handle the reconstruction. Besides, I really fancy the idea of making my own store.” [Ryouma]
“I mentioned this already, but it’s fairly expensive and will cost you 580 small gold coins. Moreover, the land is big, so you’ll be paying 10 small gold coins for the land tax. The business rights and the annual fee will cost 60 small gold coins. All in all, that’s 650 small gold coins. Are you really sure about this?” [Grishera]
“Yes. I have more than enough to live off of, after all.” [Ryouma]
“True, with 50 small gold coins, you could live like a noble for a year… Alright, I’ll sell this land to you.” [Grishera]
“Thank you very much.” [Ryouma]
Tl Note: Out of time, so cutting here. The chapter is almost done, but I gotta do other stuff.