NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 14
Why is it that festivals where you tightly pack a few hundred-yen coins in your wallet are more fun than those where you stuff it full of ten-thousand-yen bills?
While enjoying that nostalgic feeling, I was gazing at a small cluster of market stalls.
They were a group of traveling merchants. They buy goods as they move around and sometimes even mimic peddlers when there’s a fair.
“Black obsidian knives made by Northern peoples! Perfect for foraging herbs!”
“How about these lacquerware pieces brought from the Eastern trade routes? You won’t find this shine around here! All top-notch goods, great for gifts and celebrations! How about a piece for a special occasion?”
“Herbs from the Western Peninsula! Great for bruises, cuts, burns, chapped skin, you name it!”
Laying down tatami mats or using specialized carts with open sides as shops, the merchants called out to lure in the dwindling number of customers. Earlier, before noon, the place was bustling with drunk villagers collapsed here and there or busy with the dances, but it always becomes like this every year after the ceremony.
Still, there were those who preferred to stroll leisurely after the crowd thinned out, or latecomers who believed in finding good fortune in leftover goods.
Now, among the many attractions beckoning my interest, I’d best follow the Princess of our household’s desires.
Where would she like to go? Even without asking, I could see where Eliza’s bright, gleaming eyes were drawn to.
A vendor selling fine jewelry for the ladies, with a cunningly shrewd little man and a towering giant guarding as if they were on display but seemingly relaxed given the sparse and carefree customers.
“Ani-sama, they’re so pretty! So pretty!”
“Hm, yes, indeed they are.”
Eliza came rushing over, her eyes sparkling, but there was no rude dismissal. At busy times, children who wouldn’t be buying anything could be bothersome, but now in their leisure, the shopkeeper gave a warm greeting.
“Little lady, you certainly have an eye for beauty! Now, these pearls, let me tell you, they’ve been carefully sought after by mermaids in the azure southern inland sea. Look, not a single flaw, perfectly round! And mind you, they haven’t been polished at all; they’re naturally this beautiful.”
The portly shopkeeper, dressed in fine apparel, seemed to enjoy children as he showed off the undoubtedly expensive pearls with delicate hands as if presenting to a potential lady customer who could actually afford them. Let’s see the price… uh, three drachmas…?!
In the Empire, the base numerical system is decimal. One drachma equals one hundred libras, and one libra equals one hundred asses, making it wonderfully straightforward. The currency is allocated as gold, silver, and copper coins from top to bottom. The rough average yearly income of a small self-sufficient farmer would be about five drachmas.
From that, at home, we pay a tax of roughly one drachma, need about fifty libras to buy additional tribute goods such as silk instead of just crops, and spend about two drachmas for living expenses and various agricultural costs. So, our disposable income would be about one drachma fifty libras. With my side work and a bit more farming land than usual, we might reach up to three drachmas…meaning this price would basically require us to spend all of our necessary funds.
And that’s just for one pearl.
“Indeed, a magnificent piece, shopkeeper sir…”
“Ah, the young gentleman also has a fine eye! Of course, these are goods we supply to the grand stores in the Imperial Capital. I’ve lined them up hoping for the occasion, but naturally, these are designed to adorn the necks of noble ladies.”
The shopkeeper chuckled, stroking his lush beard as his shoulders shook with amusement. Judging by the grand signet ring on his finger, he wasn’t just a store manager — he was an absolute bigwig. Even if he’s idle, I’d rather he not open such a shop in this countryside. It’s bad for the heart!
“Ho ho, impressive. We, however, could never afford such luxuries.”
“Not at all, not at all! In preparation for marriage, some buy one pearl at a time to later create a necklace for the wedding — a custom among merfolk and aquatic people that’s recently become fashionable among humans! What do you say? Consult your mother, and get one for your sister!”
Which culture of wealthy farmers or merchants is this coming from? Even if I bought armor, the change would still be quite hefty.
“Ah… our eldest son just married, and surely, a gem as magnificent as this would overflow our family’s budget.”
Upon my modest smile, the shopkeeper widened his eyes in surprise.
“The eldest son?”
“Yes, the fourth son.”
“Ho ho! So then, the proper use of court language, indeed so refined I might wish to learn from you myself!”
Ah, so he had mistaken me for the eldest son just from my speech.
Oh, no, this could lead him to believe we’re a prestigious farming family wealthy enough to educate up to the fourth son. I don’t want him seriously searching for our parents…
“No, not in the least. I’ve merely learnt from attending a private school and my father’s teachings. Certainly, if I could afford something for my sister, I would, but alas, for someone like me…”
“Then, lad, how’s this?”
I was just trying to cleverly sidestep, when a voice called out from above.
Looking up, there stood a towering figure with a menacingly long canine tooth and azure skin, a towering giant with about three meters of height. His steel-laced blue skin possessed a firmness that could deflect most blades. The muscles bulging beneath his armor were as sturdy as metal plates, and each of his limbs was like a proud column.
“The reward is five drachmas, they say.”
His claw, resembling something that could easily tear human flesh apart, pointed towards a sign by a sword dealer offering a trial of strength.
A helmet-cleaving challenge. Their boastful helmets, if split by a single stroke, yield five gold coins. Entry fee: fifty asses.
The crooked writing on the side was accompanied by a merchant seemingly with nothing better to do puffing on a pipe, likely a rat-person judging by his prominent ear-like protuberance on his head and his twig-like frame.
Such feats of strength are common at festivals. Much like how, in my previous life, the most expensive items were used as lures for games you couldn’t possibly win or questionable lottery draws with uncertain winnings, these traps ensnare parents nagged by their children or foolish lovers goaded by their partners, draining their petty cash.
“Lauren…”
The shopkeeper reprimands the giant guard, who flashes a dignified smile that could make children burst into tears as he places a hand on my shoulder. Fortunately, my younger sister was too captivated by the large pearl to notice.
“You look like you can handle yourself. That little one was hustling earlier, surely it would be fun, wouldn’t it?”
Huh. The target helmet appears to be a run-of-the-mill iron helmet, and the accompanying sword looks incredibly dull. And my spare cash is precisely fifty asses, enough to buy some rare candy or a few trinkets. Well….
“…It does seem interesting.”
“Wah!?”
Ah, looking cool for my sister is also part of a big brother’s job, isn’t it?
I pulled out some small change from my pocket, juggling it in the air as I stepped before the sword dealer.
“Ah, future great swordmaster, you up for it?”
“Yes, it’s fifty asses per go, right?”
I tossed the coins into the outstretched hand of the merchant with a pleasant-looking but somewhat sly grin. Upon seeing the irregular copper coins, his eyebrows furrowed.
“Hmm… Beathton great copper coins… usually, with this quality, two would barely make forty-five asses, but …”
Large copper coins are generally valued at twenty-five regular copper coins each, but in a world where the currency isn’t the standard, the actual worth of coins can fluctuate depending on their quality. In the worst cases, commemorative coins from the Stingy Emperor Jose the First are so mixed with other metals that the so-called Jose money sometimes holds only two-thirds of a drachma’s value.
That causes various annoying problems, but still…
“Still, it’s the young master’s challenge, let’s call it a harvest festival bonus!”
“Thank you.”
I swallowed my sarcastic retort and appreciated his well-timed kindness.
Observing the sword placed there, it’s a mass-produced steel sword, in simpler terms, junk. Contrarily, the helmet, upon examination with my trained senses from the “Appraisal” skill I cultivated under the category of “Society,” reveals it’s a practical piece. Although the design is simple, the steel body is thinly coated with godsilver.
Godsilver is a special alloy that often appears in the sagas of bards, appearing as a bluish silver that faintly glows in the dark, so it’s usually coated with paint.
However, its most distinctive feature is its ability to deflect physical interference from “metals.”
To process this material, special magic for altering objects is required, or alternatively, it can only be shaped with tools made from the same godsilver. It’s a metal worthy of heroes, boasting excellent protective qualities, symbolizing steadfastness and favored by royalty as the base for jewelry.
While this helmet may have some small scratches, the absence of noticeable damage on the surface coating reflects the confidence of the owner. Judging from various scuffs and dents, it must have been used to make a decent profit over the years. Accumulating small coins could have gotten them something substantial, but…
Still, it’s not impossible for me.
The thin coating is visibly delicate, and given the mostly damaged decorations, it’s clear it’s not a new piece. If the entire helmet were made of godsilver, even I would have thrown in the towel, but according to Master Smith, although thin coatings are sturdy, they’re far from indestructible.
If the stakes permit, testing how much I could ‘break’ in my world would be the natural challenge for someone like me. Well, let’s try this out, shall we?
Taking hold of the cheap sword, I checked my senses and raised it high. Nothing beats this approach when it comes to cutting a stationary target with maximum force.
“Ani-sama, do your best!!”
Somehow, the attention that was lost to the jewels came back to me. Eliza cheered me on with a look of encouragement, seemingly watching the jewelry merchant too.
Thank you, big brother; that feels like I’ve been boosted multiple times.
With a small exhale, the powerful slash I released…
Smashed violently into the ground.
“Eh? Ah, wha!?”
Cleaving the helmet cleanly in two from the top and even severing the stand it stood on.
“Perfect!”
“Yay!!”
The approving shout likely came from the large monster who egged me on earlier. The sword dealer, still seated in his chair, is alternating between gawking at me and the helmet in disbelief.
With the “Supreme” status near my birthday, combined with the elevated skills in “Dexterity” and “Mastery,” along with the blessing of “Graceful Precision,” I’ve reached this level. Additionally, with the advanced skill “Observation” from the swordsmanship category enhancing “Appraisal,” flaws become completely apparent.
“Observation,” in a nutshell, is the art of seeing and understanding without focusing, as described in the “Book of Five Rings.” It’s about perceiving opponents’ movements without focusing too hard and dodging a blade without looking directly at the sword. It also enhances the trained eye to spot an opponent’s weaknesses. It’s a characteristic that boosts attack, evasion, and counterattack, applicable in both action and damage determinations. It’s not a skill handed down cheaply, requiring three months of intense training for proficiency.
…Well, it’s useful because it can still be applied to evasive actions even outside the primary swordsmanship role. Totally worth it!
That aside, this helmet must have endured countless strikes from strong folks over the years. It’s evident, especially since the top part isn’t dented but remains flat. Even godsilver in a thin coating evidently couldn’t repel all the blows.
The helmet’s defenses are not just about thickness; the curvature plays a vital role. By deflecting the blade and preventing deep incisions, the curved shape safeguards the wearer. That’s why Western swordsmanship developed techniques involving the pommel and guard for bludgeoning as a means of overcoming the curvature difficulty.
Spotting the flat spot where the blade can be placed, even with dulled edges, becomes a match of skill. With signs of general wear from overuse reducing overall durability, the helmet broke more cleanly than expected.
Hmm, the key techniques acknowledged by Mr. Lambert: “If the fundamentals are in place, even cutting iron is plausible.” My skills haven’t rusted even with the busy harvest season, and that’s a relief.
Still, this sword is beyond redeemable. Upon closer inspection, it’s completely warped — even with proper sharpening, it’s as much as you’d expect from a starting blade.
“Then, I’ll take my five drachmas?”
I held out my hand to the dazed sword dealer who was just picking up the helmet. He seemed like he had something to say, but seeing the intimidating giant happily clapping, the supposedly upper-crust jewelry merchant cheering on with approval, and the surrounding merchants applauding, he chose to hold his tongue.
He must realized that arguing now and losing face among the merchants wouldn’t be wise. Moreover, I didn’t use any magic or miracles but solely technical skill to split the helmet. If he wanted to complain, there are contests anywhere he wishes to challenge me, so…
“Y-yeah, the young master… here’s the prize… take it.”
Despite attempting to act big, his trembling hands and voice as he handed over the gold coins didn’t quite fit the persona. Nevertheless, gold is gold…
“Hm? What’s wrong? Not happy?”
Looking at the dull glow of the gold coins in my palm, the giant noticed my sour face and inquired. Standing soundlessly behind me despite wearing heavy robes, at what level must someone be to possess such skills?
“…What is this?”
“Look at the sign closely! I didn’t make any mistakes!”
The giant looked down at the sword dealer as if at some dirty thing. The gold coins gleaming idly in my palm were “Jose the First’s Fifth Anniversary Commemorative Gold Coins.” His austere profile was etched into the coins known to be the most adulterated and cheapest among Jose coins.
There, five coins were reflecting light haphazardly. The stains indicated they’d been in the hands of the poor for a long time. In value, they amounted to roughly two drachmas and fifty libras.
Ah, so cunningly they placed obstacles where unnecessary.
Right, reading carefully, the sign didn’t say “five drachmas” but “five gold coins”. Had it been the opposite, I could have complained, “Where’s the five drachmas!?” But since it just says five gold coins, their wording isn’t technically false…
What a bitter move.
I could feel my shoulders drooping when the giant’s monstrous hand reached toward mine, making me flinch instantly.
However, contrary to the sharp claws and knotted fingers, the dexterous movement gently picked up three coins. What did he do next but turn to his master with an address?
“Well now, my employer, have you witnessed the exceptional skill of this little swordsman?”
“Indeed, by the house of Gresham, truly.”
A name unfamiliar for now, but bringing it forth suggests it’s a distinguished lineage. Perhaps he’s a leader of this trading caravan?
“Then, even if these coins are small, should we not value them differently when touched by a hero? They’re worth three drachmas, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Indeed, there’s no discrepancy.”
With the grand sweep of his hand, the jewelry merchant, Mr. Gresham, picked up a large pearl and transferred it to a ring case. He handed it into the open palms of my confused younger sister, stroking her head with a beaming smile.
“What an incredible brother you have, Fraulein.”
“…Thank you very much.”
She must’ve picked up some of the court language I spoke, as his smile only grew broader with the polite greeting.
Aha, now I understand. This is his way of gracefully concluding the situation and showcasing his generosity to elevate his name among the caravan’s merchants. In a period where business relationships are more personal than mechanical contracts like today, maintaining a high reputation only benefits him more.
Truly, he’s a shrewd businessman. By the time this story spreads, the one drachma and fifty libras he covered will translate into fame worth far more than that. Still, be it out of genuine goodwill or not, goodwill is goodwill, so I too thought to express my gratitude…
“Whoa!?”
Suddenly seized by a floating sensation, I was bewildered.
The giant had slipped his hand under my armpit and lifted me up, bringing his face directly in front of mine now.
“Look, I told you I’d get five drachmas from you.”
“Uh… but you’ve already done more than enough for me…”
“But we’re still short by one drachma, am I right?”
As he said this, his face moved closer…
His skin a mix of azure and metal, the canine teeth that tear apart prey, the golden eyes denoting his belonging among the magical races, especially the Ghost Race. And as we got closer, his beautifully long eyelashes framing his sharp eyes, his nose exquisitely balanced above his noble mouth became even more apparent. The copper-haired locks cut just enough to edge the oblong contours of his face exuded a pleasant aroma of quality hair oil.
As this handsome giant’s face approached, I was left without the chance to protest before the zero-distance arrived.
I was kissed by the giant woman…
My very first kiss in this life. Not a passionate kiss but one more appropriate to call a ceremonial kiss. A lip touch that I unconsciously nodded to, from a beauty whose charm was akin to someone rarely seen on TV in our previous world.
“Would this suffice?”
It was my first kiss. Truly, a kiss that was more ceremonial, a formal lip touch rather than a passionate one. Without realizing, I found myself nodding.
“Fine. Lauren of the Galganatuwa race will ensure that my kin provide you with preferential treatment when you mention my name. There’s a fascinating human boy around.”
With a regal smile, the elegant warrior Lauren of the galganatuwa lineage set me gently back on the ground and fondly stroked my head.
“One day, when you become a renowned swordsman, I shall look forward to your challenge against me.”
As I realized the odd flags set, along with a sweet tingling sensation, I understood it was indeed true…
【Tips】 Galganatuwa Ghost race. Distributed from the central-western to the western regions of the continent, known for their alloy skeleton and skin. They are known as the “Warrior Race,” living in tribal units without forming states. Female Galganatuwa can often exceed three meters in height, and their might can earn them positions as guests in royal households. In contrast, males stand around two meters and are generally more modest, often serving roles of labor and miscellaneous duties in a matrilineal society.
Miss Large Ghost