Now I'm craving pancakes...

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

You generally want things that are scarce at your destination, in demand, and that you can buy in bulk 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.

On the flip side, local specialties you can only get in that town are a safe bet. If it's something people actually want, that's the absolute ideal. The 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, pretty much all my merchant dealings have been guild-related anyway.

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 get that added. As for procurement, liquor and salt would be ideal if you have the proper permits, 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's always steady demand no matter where you bring them. 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 be able to get licenses, but that wouldn't be right as a peddler. I want to earn things the proper way.

Huh? Is it "proper" to borrow money from Dea-kun to buy a slave, then introduce him to a Healer and get a refund? She was a rare find — I might not have gotten another chance later, so it's fine! What, was I supposed to just leave Aishia there!?

… Who am I mad at? Whatever.

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

"Then honey, perhaps. The excess goes to the brewery, but we could trade you about as much as would fit in that backpack… It's heavy, though, so you'd need a wagon if you want any real 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.

Naturally, everything goes smoother when you can actually communicate with them. The farm was bigger than I'd imagined.

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

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

I bought four large ones. With jars included, that came to forty-four silvers. Pretty much all the lotion proceeds, right there.

And with a silver's worth of beeswax on top of that, the lotion proceeds are officially 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 to this world, I've only had fruit-based sweets, but honey's sweetness 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 slather piping-hot pancakes with butter and honey. Whipped cream too, if possible… I wonder if there's anywhere I can get some? If not, I'll have to make them myself 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 slid smoothly out from a gap in my backpack.

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

Man, the Goddess is good at business.

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

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

Also, I need to test the catalog functions. I should try ordering without going directly to the Goddess, right? So this is a necessary expense. A little reward for myself, you know? That kind of thing is important. Yeah?