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Chapter 8: Shopping for Supplies
The day after I reserved an acquaintance’s shop and negotiated with Saioji, she moved quickly.
“Captain, are you serious?”
“Yeah. I can trust this person.”
Early that morning, Saioji summoned me to the first-floor lobby of a high-class inn—one of the best in Erakton—which had been completely booked by the adventurer party she led, the Dawnmoon Brigade, and introduced me to the members.
“It’s that weird guy from yesterday!!!”
Ӗ n ũ m̃а .і̀ d́
The place looked like a paradise of women, as if a sweet fragrance ought to fill the air. In reality, however, it was occupied by a group of women still wearing pajamas and looking half-asleep. The one pointing at me in shock was the red-haired woman I had met in front of the restaurant yesterday.
Judging by her voice, she was surprised, but perhaps she had only recently woken up. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes were narrowed sleepily. Dressed lightly, she had come all the way to the lobby, and her pale skin gleamed in the morning sunlight.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“I respect the captain’s decision and all, but are you sure about this? He’s a man, you know?”
It seemed that Saioji intended to bring me in not merely as an exclusive merchant but as a member of the group as well. Her words caused visible confusion among the existing members.
The reason was simple: I was a man.
“That said, I want him to handle supply management. So Aina, please train the newcomer.”
Ẽ n̆ ūm̆ à
"Whaaat?!"
…Apparently, my direct supervisor would be the red-haired woman who seemed determined to view me as an enemy.
Though only provisionally accepted into the Dawnmoon Brigade, I donned a black suit-like outfit and headed off to purchase supplies together with the visibly displeased red-haired woman—Aina.
“…How exactly did you catch the captain’s interest? I’ve never seen her look so lively before.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The Dawnmoon Brigade was a large organization with more than thirty members, requiring a substantial amount of food and daily necessities. In addition to its personnel, it possessed three wagons for hauling cargo and six horses to pull them.
No merchant in Erakton could provide all of those supplies alone, so the usual method was to visit multiple merchants and gradually gather everything needed.
Е̂ñ ů m̂ а̌ . і̆ d
The person responsible for handling those supplies was the woman currently muttering complaints in front of me: Aina.
“It was worth all the effort I put in. Though I never expected to end up joining the brigade.”
“…It’s unprecedented, a man joining the Dawn Moon Brigade.”
Aina muttered as she inspected the supplies piled up in the warehouse one by one.
Inside a warehouse rented by the brigade, enormous quantities of goods she had ordered were stacked high. Looking through the inventory list I had been handed, it appeared that the resupply process was almost complete. Once Captain Saioji gave the order, they could leave Erakton at any time.
“…Well, whatever. We needed more hands. As long as you can read, write, and do calculations, you’re already more useful than most.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“…I see.”
While scanning the inventory ledger, Aina smoothly marked off items with checkmarks. Her expression carried the weariness of someone who had endured considerable hardship.
In this world, people capable of reading, writing, and arithmetic were far rarer than one might expect. Even city merchants often managed only basic addition and subtraction. Literacy might not even reach thirty percent. In such a world, aside from Captain Saioji herself, Aina was probably the only person capable of ordering and managing supplies on this scale.
“I’ll stay here and check the warehouse inventory. You go buy the remaining supplies. If you mention the brigade’s name, merchants won’t dare overcharge you, so just pay the asking price.”
There were still many unchecked goods in the warehouse. People in this world tended to be rather careless, and unless inventory was carefully verified, discrepancies in quantities happened quite often.
So we split up. Even though I was a newcomer, I knew Erakton well enough to handle the remaining purchases.
Е̊n̄u̇ m̂а̊ . і̄ d
“Allen! How the hell did you get into the Black Princess’s team?!”
Under the blazing sun, I walked along the main avenue on the eastern side of Eracton. Although I lacked extensive experience as a merchant, the supply procurement proceeded smoothly. I simply paid the specified amount, received a voucher in exchange, and the store staff would deliver the goods to the designated warehouse.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
More troublesome than that, however, was the endless barrage of questions from acquaintances.
“Just a bit of luck. Pure coincidence.”
“No way! That’s impossible! This is a team that even turns down S-rank adventurers just because they’re men!”
Sticking close beside me was Greu, who was technically on duty with the town guard. I wanted to ask what happened to his work, but having him around at least discouraged others from approaching me. Being interrogated by Greu was preferable to being swarmed by everyone else, so I half-listened as we walked.
Е̄ nü m.а. і̂.ḋ
The clattering of the metal armor he wore was annoyingly loud, but if he left, things would get even noisier, so I endured it.
I had no idea how the information leaked, but news that I—a man—had joined the Dawnmoon Brigade had spread throughout Erakton before noon. Starting with Greu, everyone I knew, as well as complete strangers claiming to know me, came seeking details.
Seeing how much of a commotion it had caused, I began to suspect that I had underestimated Saioji and her brigade.
What a headache…
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Originally, my plan had been to act as a merchant supported by Saioji’s Dawnmoon Brigade, using their backing to sell various goods. With someone as famous as Saioji supporting me, even if I started doing business with nobles, nobody would dare complain. Whether I actually intended to do so was another matter, but I expected many opportunities to open up.
In fact, the women’s fashion magazine and bestselling manga volume I had given her received far greater praise than I ever imagined. Rather than becoming an affiliated merchant, I somehow ended up joining a women-only adventurer party.
W̌ е̊ b n̊о́ṽ е̄l̄ En u mа̄
…and as a result, acquaintances and strangers alike kept demanding to know exactly how I had managed to join the Dawnmoon Brigade.
