Now I'm craving pancakes...

What should I stock up on as a peddler? That's the question.

You'd generally want things that are scarce where you're going, in demand, and that you can buy a lot of on the cheap.

Socks, for example, are the worst. Every church carries consistent-quality ones, so there's no point lugging them around. At best you could deliver raw materials like cotton to the church.

Conversely, local specialties you can only get in that town are a safe bet. If it's something people want, that's the absolute ideal. A perfectly perfect trade good.

… So what's Solasidor's specialty, anyway? Beats me. I've got nothing.

Which is why I showed up at the Solasidor Merchants' Guild.

If you don't know, ask someone who does. Come to think of it, as a merchant I've basically only ever dealt with guild-related business.

I also need to file the paperwork for the slave purchase, so I'll ask at the counter.

"Excuuuse me, I bought a slave so I need to do the paperwork. Also, I'm heading to Karkassa, so could you recommend good goods to stock up on?"

I asked the Merchants' Guild receptionist-san point-blank.

"May I see your Guild Card? … Ah, I see it here in the note from the slave trader. I'll add it. As for procurement, with the proper permits it would be liquor and salt, but…"

Unfortunately I don't have either. Boo.

The loophole is if your counterparty has the licenses. Buying from the guild and wholesaling to the guild is an option, but in that case quantities are checked strictly and the margins aren't so great.

I'd exploited a weak spot back in Véraldo and got them to buy at market rate, but that was the exception.

"Hmm, in that case, herbs perhaps. They're used for potions, so there should be chronic demand no matter where you bring them from. For more details, please exchange information in the lounge."

"Okaaay, thanks. Oh, and what specialties does Solasidor have?"

"Mead. If it's just two or three bottles, you can buy them here too."

So alcohol is their specialty.

Liquor and salt both require special permits… If I asked Granny Maria I might get licenses, but that wouldn't be okay as a peddler. I want to earn the proper way.

Huh? Is it "proper" to borrow money from Dea-kun to buy a slave and then introduce a Healer and get a refund? It was a rare find — I might not have found that slave later, so it's fine! Or what, I should've just left Aishia alone!?

… Who am I mad at? Whatever.

"Any other specialties I can buy with my Guild Card?"

"Then honey, perhaps. Excess goes to the brewery, but we could trade you about as much as will fit in that backpack… It's heavy, though, so you'd need a wagon if you want volume. Do you have one?"

Makes sense — if there's mead, there's honey.

Alright, let's go with that this time!

 

*

 

Beekeeping here was fantasy beekeeping where you could actually tame the bees.

Of course everything goes smoother when you can communicate with them. It was a bigger farm than I'd imagined.

The guild introduced me to a beekeeper and I managed to procure honey.

The prices were: small for one silver, medium for five silvers, large for ten silvers. The unglazed jars cost extra.

I bought four large ones. With jars, that came to forty-four silvers. I basically dumped in all the lotion proceeds.

And I bought a silver's worth of beeswax, so the lotion proceeds are all gone.

… If I hadn't reinforced my bag, the bottom would've torn right out from this weight. Not that it matters since I'll use Spatial Magic anyway.

Okay then, taste test, taste test… Sweet!

Since coming here I've only had fruit-type sweets, but honey's "sweetness" power is in a whole different league. Sugar is wonderful!

"Ahh, it's so sweet it could make me cry… Now I'm craving pancakes…"

I'd paint piping-hot pancakes with butter and honey. Whipped cream if possible… I wonder if there's anywhere I can eat some? If not, I'll have to make it from pancake mix.

Baking powder is baking soda, right? Umm, baking soda is a mineral, yeah? Wait, are pancakes a mineral? … Yeah nope, I've got no clue whatsoever.

A catalog peeked out smoothly from a gap in my backpack.

Why is that here? You're supposed to be in storage space… I opened it anyway, and pancake mix was 5 SP a box.

Man, the Goddess is good at business.

… I'll restrain myself, though, okay? Karina-chan is a woman who can show restraint.

That said, I currently have 1,000 SP, I'll be delivering socks for Dea-kun and Aishia, and if I think about treating the two of them to pancakes, five SP for smiles is a business expense.

Also, I need to test the catalog functions. I should try ordering without placing the order directly to the Goddess too, right? So this is a necessary expense. A little reward for myself, you know? That stuff's important. Yeah?