The Little Merchant

I resisted a little, but there was no way I could overpower Elza, and I was restrained and unable to move for a while.

Even though I told her nothing had happened.

By the time Elza was satisfied and finally released me, I was utterly exhausted.

"There we go. I've properly overwritten the scent."

"You clung too much. Good grief."

My clothes ended up all wrinkled.

I'd thought about stopping by Princess Tianis and Lady Anatia's place if I had time, but looking like this, that was impossible.

I'd only be asked what happened.

Well, let's just head home for today. I'm tired.

"Elza, do we really need to hold hands?"

"It's fine once in a while, isn't it? The other girls aren't here."

"I don't mind, but…"

I was released from the embrace, but Elza didn't let go of my hand and kept holding it.

It was like dealing with a lost child.

Well, this much was probably cute enough.

On our way back to the portal, the girl who had been selling skewers was selling red melons from a cart.

The red melons on display were plump and beautifully grown.

The girl was energetically promoting the red melons to passersby, and I could see a few people stopping to make purchases.

"Hey there, you two look close! Would you like some red melon? They're not in season, but they're juicy, sweet, and delicious!"

"My, saying we look close."

"I've never seen such fine ones this time of year. All right, I'll take two."

"Eh, two?! Thank you so much!"

"You were selling skewers before, but did you change businesses?"

I paid the girl with silver coins and received red melons packed in hemp bags.

They were quite heavy, being such fine large ones. I had Elza carry one.

"You're the brother who bought a lot of skewers before, right? I remember you. That was helping out an old man, but actually, I have someone else who gives me work too. I take money and buy red melons and fruit at the market, then sell them for a little more on streets like this."

"I see, so you're hired. What's your cut?"

"I get ten silver coins a month whether I sell or not! If I sell a lot, I get extra, and if there are leftovers, I sell them a bit cheaper to a restaurant we have a contract with, so there's no loss. I hand over all the sales."

I'd seen people selling fruit on roadsides before, but I hadn't known this was how it worked.

Stalls are usually small but run by individuals, but this seemed to be something different.

Still, it was well thought out.

Anyone could think of buying fruit cheap at the market and selling it, but having children handle everything from purchasing to selling was clever.

Ten silver coins a month wasn't a bad amount.

They made sure to pay wages even when stock remained unsold, arranged buyers for leftovers, and gave bonuses when sales were good.

This way, even children couldn't fail. Better yet, they'd naturally work hard on their own.

It created employment while being an extremely wholesome business.

They were surely gathering people besides this girl and operating widely.

That way, they could spread the risk and increase sales, killing two birds with one stone.

Having just been shown the ugly side of humanity, this made me feel refreshed.

"Since you two bought two, I've met today's quota. Thank you so much! Now I can go home early and prepare for tomorrow."

"I'm happy to get such fine red melons too."

The girl smiled and bowed to me several times, then pulled her empty cart away and disappeared in no time.

What a splendid hard worker.

If I lost my job and had to start over from scratch, would I be able to work as hard as her?

I felt like I'd received some courage.

"Master, your face has brightened up."

"Has it? Maybe so. The Kingdom's future is bright."

What shapes a kingdom isn't nobles or royalty. It's surely the citizens.

No amount of power could make someone work with such joy.

Back at the house, I immediately placed a red melon on the cutting board.

Elza went to check on the garden, leaving me alone.

This thing was huge. While I was wondering how to handle it, Finn came to see what was going on, yawning.

She was dressed casually in a sweatshirt and running shorts.

At least she'd stopped walking around in her underwear. That was progress.

"You just got back, and what are you doing?"

"I bought some nice red melon and I'm trying to make it easier to eat, but…"

"And you're stuck and don't know what to do. Move aside."

I was pushed to the back as Finn stood before the red melon.

It was about the size of a head. What was she going to do?

"There's a way to cut things like this. Watch."

Finn pulled out her cutting knife, spun it on her right hand, and grabbed it.

Then she held down the red melon with her left hand and sliced off the stem end with a clean cut.

She skillfully rotated the melon and cut off the bottom the same way.

Now the elliptical melon could stand upright on the cutting board.

What followed was impressive.

She cut downward from the top of the standing melon, carving away the rind along the curve.

With each movement of the knife, more of the red flesh was exposed.

Azu and the others had come over too, but they watched Finn's masterful demonstration with rapt attention.

When she finished cutting the rind, she skillfully trimmed the leftover bits from the bottom, and there sat the red melon flesh like a crimson jewel.

She then cut it in half, placed the flat side down, and made cuts through it.

After that, she rotated it ninety degrees and did the same thing, and in no time, it was diced into cubes.

She put it into a bowl and it was done.

She processed the other one the same way, finishing both large red melons in no time at all.

Finn's knife skills were remarkable.

Honestly, if she did this as a sales demonstration, it would definitely sell.

There was no need to become an assassin.

"Well, that's about it."

"That was amazing! It was done in no time."

"I'm impressed."

"That's right, that's right."

She was quite proud of herself.

We all enjoyed the cut red melon together.