A merchant was enacting a short play to attract customers.
“How much for the quiver?” [Male Adventurer]
“You can get it for just…. 20,000 suits!” [Merchant]
As soon as the merchant said that, the customers distanced themselves.
“It seems 20,000 suits is too expensive… Is it?” [Ryouma]
“It’s not overpriced. Crafting a magic tool requires an artisan to know enchantment magic as well as the spell he wishes to imbue his tool with. In other words, it’s not possible to enchant a tool with a spell one doesn’t know of. And with dimension magic being one of the hardest disciplines, there aren’t many magic tool artisans out there that can enchant a tool with a spell of its type; hence, the price tag.
But that quiver and the farming tools you bought just a while ago are meant to be used for several years. So, while they might seem expensive at first, they are more than worth it considering how long they last.” [Serge]
I see.
“The young master over there. Are you interested in magic? Why don’t you take a look at my selection?” [Merchant]
“What are those?” [Ryouma]
At the store of the man that called out was a pile of metal rods and books bound together with a string.
“Teaching materials for magic. The books can give information on theory, while the magic tool can invoke said magic and allow the student to have a better grasp of the image needed. But, these aren’t published by the magicians guild.” [Serge]
“I assure you that these are not illegal goods.” [Merchant]
“I know perfectly well that it is legal to produce one’s own instructional sets and sell them, but without the certification of the guild, there is no knowing whether the instructional materials provided can be trusted. Even if the spell is the same, there’s no way to know whether the example provided by the magic tool and interpretation are correct. Unless of course you’re willing to let us test the tool and read the book first.” [Serge]
“No! …You can read if you want but only if you pay first.” [Merchant]
“That won’t do. Let us go, Ryouma-sama.” [Serge]
“Tch!” [Merchant]
“It seems there are bad stores here too.” [Ryouma]
“Indeed. That’s why it makes me so happy when I’m able to find a good product or a promising individual… Oh? Ryouma-sama, look at that.” [Serge]
When I followed Serge-san’s gaze, I saw Dinome-san, whom we met yesterday. He was under a huge tent and was gaving orders to his daughter and a young man, who seemed to be his disciple.
“I was thinking of greeting him and talking to him about our discussion yesterday.” [Serge]
“Isn’t he busy?” [Ryouma]
“Doesn’t seem to be the case. Look.” [Serge]
“…Oh.” [Ryouma]
When I took another look, I noticed that a small child was clinging to his legs. And then after Dinome-san finished giving orders, he immediately went to seat on a wooden box and started patting his kid. He was completely in doting-grandpa mode.
“So, that’s Federe-kun. He left the customers to his family. Are you sure he won’t get mad if we drop by?” [ryouma]
“He’s not that narrow-minded. And besides, we’re going there for business. He’s the sort of guy who’ll lend you an ear as long as he’s not in the middle of work.
By the way, you know how to make a sound-concealing barrier, right? Can you use that?” [Serge]
“Sure.” [Ryouma]
It’s related to me too, so I don’t really have any reason to refuse.
When we went to the tent, the disciple noticed us and nodded to us.
“Pops! Master Serge is here!” [Disciple]
“Hmm? Master! And Ryouma too! Welcome. Look, this is my grandchild, Federe, who I spoke to you about. What do you think? Hmm?” [Dinome]
“Hello. I’m Ryouma.” [Ryouma]
“Ryouma?” [Federe]
“What a cute kid.” [Ryouma]
“Right!? But why is he looking at you like that?” [Dinome]
“Dinome-dono, I’ve seen how cute your grandchild is now. Actually, I have something I’d like to talk to you about.” [Serge]
“Huh? You should’ve said so earlier then. Follow me.” [Dinome]
Dinome-san led Serge-san to a corner of the tent where some chairs were. That area is probably meant for resting. It’s not very spacious, but it should be more than enough if they’re just going to talk.
“Umm… Is there something the matter?” [Ryouma]
For some reason, though, Federe-kun was holding onto my clothes.
“Ryouma, play with me?” [Federe]
“Oh, seems he likes you.” [Dinome]
“Let’s play?” [Federe]
“Uhh… Serge-san.” [Ryouma]
“Don’t mind me. I can talk to Dinome-san by myself. Go ahead and play.” [Serge]
“Dinome-san, is it alright?” [Ryouma]
“Talking with us will just bore you. Go ahead. Have fun.” [Dinome]
It’s probably safe to leave the negotiations to Serge-san.
But before playing with Federe-kun, I did as we planned and put up a sound-concealing barrier.
“Did you just make a barrier?” [Dinome]
“Yes. With this no one will be able to eavesdrop on you. I’ll go play with Federe-kun now.” [Ryouma]
Dinome-san was a little shocked at my display, but I left him and went outside the barrier with Federe-kun.
The tent was the same as before.
“So, what should we play then?” [Ryouma]
“Shiritori (Word-chain game)! Let’s start with the ‘gu’ from magic tools (mahou dougu).
It seems the rules are no different from Earth’s.
Like that we started playing Shiritori.
“I lost… Alright one more time. Let’s start from Gu again!” [Federe]
“Alright !” [Ryouma]
How long are we supposed to do this? I’ve been winning once every three times, but this is already my 15th victory. I haven’t been keeping count, but I’m pretty sure we’ve already played more than 40 times and for over 2 hours already. I’ve spent all my words already. He seems to be enjoying himself, though, so I guess it’s fine?
“Thanks for keeping him company. And sorry too for troubling you. Here.” [Dinome’s Daughter]
“Thank you.” [Ryouma]
The daughter handed me a drink, and I was able to quench my thirst with a cold fruit juice.
“Ryouma, from ‘Gu’.” [Federe]
“Hey. Let him rest already.” [Daughter]
“It’s fine, really.” [Ryouma]
I’m all refreshed now, after all. I can still keep on going.
“Really? Aren’t you fed up with it already? Dad would happily go along with it, but…” [Daughter]
I can’t hear Serge-san and Dinome-san because of the barrier, but from the looks of things, they were still happily talking. They would look at me from time to time, though. I wonder if negotiations are going poorly. Either way I shouldn’t try to interfere.
“Ryouma, ‘Gu’!” [Federe]
“Oh, right. ‘Gray (Gurei) Wolf (Urufu)’” [Ryouma]
“Federe [1]!” [Federe]
It seems it’s okay to use your own name.
We clashed three more times after that.
“Again! From ‘Gu’!” [Federe]
“You really like Shiritori, huh.” [Ryouma]
But when I said that—
“Not really.” [Federe]
—Federe denied it.
“Huh? …You hate Shiritori?” [Ryouma]
“I don’t hate it, but I don’t like it either.” [Federe]
“Huh? So what is it that you want to do?” [Ryouma]
“I want to go outside! But mom says I shouldn’t go outside, and I don’t have any toys either, so I just play Shiritori!” [Federe]
…So the reason he keeps playing Shiritori is because he doesn’t have anything else to do.
I wish I’d asked him earlier. But in that case…
“Then, want to play another game?” [Ryouma]
“Sure!” [Federe]
“Excuse me. Can I borrow that trashcan?’ [Ryouma]
“This? Sure.” [Daughter]
“Thank you.” [Ryouma]
I took a cloth from my Item Box and stretched it out over the trash can, then I fixed it into place with a string.
“What are you going to do with that?” [Federe]
“This is a stage…Ever heard of ‘Beigoma (spinning tops)’?” [Ryouma]
I’m sure any Japanese would recognize that name, but I’m not so sure about the children of this world. Actually, scratch that. I’m not even sure anymore if even Japanese children can still recognize the name, but at the very least, it was popular when I was young.
The spinning top is supposed to be made with lead, but the tops I have with me are made from iron since I made them yesterday along with my other magic tools.
I have two spinning tops and two strings. I placed those atop the stage, while Federe closely watched. He didn’t know what I was up to, but he looked interested.
“This is how you play… HOI!” [Ryouma]
“AH!” [Federe]
It’s been a long time, but my body still remembers. I threw the spinning top and it drew a circle around the stage until it eventually gathered at the center.
“It’s spinning!” [Federe]
“Give it at try. I’ll teach you.” [Ryouma]
“Teach me! Teach me!” [Federe]
“Let’s start with how to wind the top.”
I did the best I could to make everything simple for Federe-kun, but it seems to be too difficult for a 4-year-old kid, as he kept failing.
I handed him a top that’s been winded already before he lost interest.
“This is how you throw it. Like this!” [Ryouma]
“Let me try! …Ah.” [Federe]
“You have to put more strength into it when pulling.” [Ryouma]
I stood between the stage and the store just in case he made a mistake. This way, even if the top is thrown poorly, there won’t be any damages.
Federe-kun continued training how to wind up the top and throw it, and eventually…
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” [Serge]
“Federe~ Grandpa is finally done with work~” [Dinome]
Serge-san and Dinome-san finally left the barrier.
“Gramps!” [Federe]
“Serge-san. How was it?” [Ryouma]
“Everything went fine. Dinome-dono accepted the conditions you brought up last night.” [Serge]
“I see. Thank you very much, Serge-san, Dinome-san.” [Ryouma]
“Don’t mention it. This is an equal trade. We get to make some profit and you get to avoid some needless trouble. Although, how much ‘favorable treatment’ I can give you will depend on how much of a profit your magic tool will be able to bring us. You can drop by to get advice on magic tools as long as I’m not in the middle of work. Drop by the store whenever you need to.” [Dinome]
“I look forward to working with you.” [Ryouma]
“Same.” [Dinome]
“Grandpa, wind this up!” [Federe]
“Oh~? What is this~? …No, really. What is this? Boss, do you know what this is?” [Dinome]
“A torunero?” [Serge]
“It’s a spinning top. What’s a torunero?” [Ryouma]
“A wooden toy that looks like this, but it’s a lot bigger and has a rod in the middle. You play it by holding the rod with both hands and turning it like this.” [Serge]
Serge-san made a gesture like when one makes a taketonbo fly [2].
“This toy is a bit different. You wind it up with a string like this and, then throw it like this!” [Ryouma]
“Oh~” [Dinome]
“So it is a kind of torunero. Toruneros vary from region to region, so is this how they do it where you’re from, Ryouma-sama?” [Serge]
“Yes.” [Ryouma]
“So, this is how people from the Great Shurus Forest do things…” [Serge]
“Wind it up. Wind it up.” [Federe]
“Hey, Ryouma. Am I doing it right?” [Dinome]
“Huh?” [Ryouma]
Huh. Dinome-san doesn’t know doesn’t the toy, but he knows how to wind it up?
“Yes. That’s right.” [Ryouma]
“And then you throw it like this, right!?” [Dinome]
“Ah, yes…” [Ryouma]
“It’s spinning!” [Dinome]
Dinome’s spinning top was spinning wonderfully atop the stage.
“You know this toy?” [Ryouma]
“No? I just copied what you did when you wound it up yourself and threw it. How long do you think I’ve been living on these fingers of mine? Something on this level is child’s play!” [Dinome]
“Grandpa is amazing!” [Federe]
“Really~? Thank you~?” [Dinome]
I think he’s amazing too, but he’s back to doting-grandpa mode again as soon as his grandchild praised him.
…Might as well give them both spinning tops.
“You sure you don’t mind giving these to us?” [Dinome]
“Yes. Please teach Federe-kun how to play. Once you’re both able to play, you can also throw both tops and have them clash against each other. Federe-kun, you want to play with grandpa too, right?” [Ryouma]
“Yeah!!” [Federe]
“I see, I see! Then I’ll happily accept it. As thanks… Are you free tonight?” [Dinome]
“Yes.” [Ryouma]
“In that case, why you don’t drop by? We’re going to have an awesome party after the fair.” [Dinome]
An invitation to a closing party, huh.
Which means that we’ll have a relationship after this too. That being the case, I accepted his invitation.
Like this I ended up making a connection with a magic tool artisan.
[1] – Federe is spelled as フェデーレ, which uses a ‘fu’ with a small ‘e’ to make a ‘fe’. Still counts it seems since the first character is a ‘fu’.
[2] – CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT I’m pretty sure I’ve seen these toys before, so there’s probably a non-Japanese term for them, but I don’t know what that is.
