I seriously didn't know that.

Suppressing the feelings that had been stirring since morning, I tidied up my appearance and met up with Dea-kun.

"What are we doing today?"

"Hmm, shall we do some sightseeing? How about you, Sati-tan?"

"Ah, sorry Karikari. I need to get going soon."

Apparently Sati-tan's peddling schedule is packed.

"I mean, you sure are relaxed, Karikari. If you miss hitching a ride on the regular caravan from here, the next one won't come for about half a month… oh wait, you don't use the regular caravan, do you, Karikari? I'm a bit jealous."

"Well, I'm a carefree slow-life peddler who doesn't have to fret over other people's schedules."

"That said, you don't have many sales routes yet, right? If you're just wholesaling to stores, the profits must be small. Ahh, so you're earning as an adventurer, huh."

Hmm, it does feel like I earn more as an adventurer. Like from lumberjacking.

By the way, apparently peddlers normally develop sales routes and do business directly with regular people outside the guild system to make a profit. Really? I had no idea.

"You know the honey you've been wholesaling, Karikari? Go check out the retail price. It's at least double or triple the wholesale price."

"Eh, seriously? Isn't that a rip-off?"

"Not really. You need to charge that much to make a living as a peddler… Karikari, you really don't know anything, do you."

When you think about it, it would normally take a month to travel here on foot, with the constant risk of monster or bandit attacks, so if the profit was still small after all that, it wouldn't be worth it.

In reality, since I've never even stocked up enough goods to fill a backpack to bursting, coming all the way to Karkassa to peddle would normally be premature for someone at my level. The profits would be too low.

On the other hand, Sati-tan has her own cart and a liquor license, which means she can get guild subsidies specifically for alcohol. So by wholesaling to guild-designated shops instead of bothering to find her own customers, she can make sufficient profit.

Wait, there's something like that? And it's not just about getting cheaper deals? I seriously didn't know that. Did they mention this at the Merchants' Guild?

"The Merchants' Guild doesn't explain that much. You know what vested interests are, right? But well, the subsidies themselves come from national policy."

So basically, people who already have these privileges stay quiet to keep benefiting from them, or to pass them on to their children. What the heck.

Huh, isn't that illegal? If they'll tell you when asked, it's not illegal? I see.

"Normally you'd learn this from a merchant parent or master. It's common knowledge if you're going to be a merchant…"

"I don't have anyone like that. What about you, Sati-tan?"

"I did. I won a drinking contest and took their liquor license and this magic backpack from them."

The petite tanned loli merchant Sati-tan puffed out her flat chest proudly.

Vested interests are apparently limited in number. And the magic backpack has extra capacity specifically for alcohol, far beyond what it looks like it can hold, along with a preservation blessing. Any alcohol stored inside stays in optimal condition, and the bottles won't break.

Hm? Could that possibly be a Divine Artifact…? No, let's not go there. If Sati-tan has it, then even if it is a Divine Artifact, it's being put to proper and wholesome use. Besides, I've heard the Adventurers' Guild has Magic Bags for lumberjacks too, so it's probably nothing that special.

"Well, even so, I make my profit by transporting lots of goods in large quantities. So I'll have to part ways with you here to go earn money with my cart."

"Mmm, that's too bad. I wanted to share more of our love…"

"Yeah, me too, Karikari… I'll keep the massager you gave me last night a secret until you start selling them, okay?"

Oh, so I was actually selling those. Probably with a demonstration.

"I'll treasure your socks too, Sati-tan…!"

"I have no idea what that means so I'm just confused."

The fetish ingrained in this body is to blame… yeah. Sati-tan's used socks really do hit different. Just sniffing them is an experience. No wonder the Goddess gave it 100 points.

Then, Dea-kun cut in with a letter in hand.

"Oh right, Sati-san. Please take this. It's a letter of introduction for the immigration examination."

"Huh? … For real!? Is that okay!?"

"No problem. However, it does say to conduct the examination seriously, so you'd better not state any false reasons."

"Yes yes, thank you so much, Dea-sama! As thanks, you can sleep with Karikari tonight! In a sexual sense!"

"H-hey, I just got sold out by my lover. Sati-tan, are you abandoning me!? We loved each other so passionately last night! I don't remember it though!"

"Sorryy, Karikari. We were just casual lovers, you know."

"Guh, we were just casual lovers! I was just being toyed with! But I love youuu!"

As we were doing our little comedy routine, Dea-kun shrugged.

"… That kind of joking around, you should probably avoid it in the Elflands too. Yes. Elves prefer sincerity in romance."

"Okaaay. Sorry, I really do love you Karikari, even if I love alcohol more."

"Yeah yeah, me too Sati-tan. Wait, I like you more than alcohol though?"

Dea-kun looked away, embarrassed but playing it off. We enjoyed the comedy routine a bit more.

Also, Dea-kun? You understood what that meant…? You precocious little thing! How cute!

"Ahh, I'll have to reorganize my peddling schedule. Hehehe. Well then, Karikari. Take care of Ai-nee for me."

With that, Sati-tan waved goodbye with a smile and departed.

See you again, Sati-tan. I'll keep your socks warm until then!