[7] Selling And Pretending

The market was bustling with activity. It was noon by now, and the townsfolk were all awake with their tasks for the day. Hundreds of customers filed from one stall to another, their hushed voices multiplying into a collective hum. It was remarkable that some of the shopkeepers' voices could still be heard over the noise, a testament to their experience and determination to make a sale.

Despite the calls and shouts, I didn't come to buy.

Before leaving the inn, I cast a disguise spell for both me and King. I took on the same form as earlier, while King appeared more like a tamed grizzly bear. So far, no one has recognized us outside of the inn. Today's goal was to sell the material I had gathered for as much as possible, meaning I needed to take care of that first.

The path to the butchery was narrow, as the village had only one butcher handling all the meat, which led to a large influx of customers. The old man used to talk about why there was only one butcher, but I had never been great with remembering those details.

Since I wasn't here to buy anything, I snuck around to the back of the building, where I spotted one of the owners taking out the trash.

As soon as he noticed me, he let out a booming laugh, walking over to shake my hand, which he had just wiped on his apron. I kept my composure despite my disgust. "Mr. Tork! Great to see you. I was wondering when you'd drop by!"

"I apologize for being late, Mr. Elganor. There were some complications during the hunt. You know how difficult it is to find anything in that forest. Nothing wants to make it their home."

Mr. Tork was an identity I had crafted with this form. At first, it was rough, and I used layers of clothing to obscure my face to make it more believable. But over time, with the valuable materials I brought, people began trusting me enough to do business with me.

You might think I could have sold my items without a fake identity, but around here, that logic is madness. Unless someone is desperate or particularly kind-hearted, they wouldn't come near me with a ten-foot pole.

Elganor nodded, as if fully understanding what I was implying, though he wasn't the sharpest of the two brothers. He wasn't very bright, but he was good at kissing up to others.

Despite the tragic events that led to the old man's death, most of the villagers remained oblivious to the state of their forest and their source of meat. Since the Master passed, the village elders had turned into a useless mess. The fact that the village's sole butcher relied on a Shadow like me for stock was pathetic. Most of the town's businesses relied on me to keep them running.

It wouldn't be long before this village disappeared from the map.

A grim thought, but no one here knew how to hunt, and adventurers rarely visited due to the lack of resources. I only wanted to ensure the old man's mural remained safe. The rest of them could go bankrupt for all I cared.

"You don't need to explain yourself, Mr. Tork," Elganor said. "We understand your job is delicate. Any meat you bring is welcome, no matter how long it takes."

I sighed dramatically. "That's just it. This will likely be my last shipment for a while. My daughter is starting at the academy this year."

A question formed in his eyes, but instead, he asked, "Has she picked a job yet? If not, she can stop by the shop to learn a few things about butchery. It's the least I can offer for keeping our shop alive these past few months."

"There's no need. She hasn't decided yet, but I'm sure it'll be something like hunting." I chuckled. If I had a daughter, I wouldn't let her hunt for anything.

Elganor cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably. "What do you mean by 'last shipment'? Are you moving?"

"With my daughter starting at the academy, all our resources will go towards preparing her. Our hunters are few and far between, skilled as they are. They can't be in two places at once. As a father, my daughter always comes first."

"I see…"

Perhaps he wasn't as ignorant as I thought. At least he realized what that meant for their business and the village's survival.

"Now, let's get to business. I've got around seventy kilograms of meat. I propose…"

Elganor barely registered the prices I set, nodding along in a daze. Once we settled on an agreement, I began unloading the meat.

The sight of the first slab snapped him out of his trance. His eyes widened in awe. "W-What is this?"

"The reason for the price hike."

His excitement was palpable, but I cut the conversation short. "Oh, look at the time! I must say my farewells. The sun blesses you, Mr. Elganor!"

I didn't wait for his reply as I turned the corner. No doubt he'd try to haggle once he realized how much I'd overcharged him, and his frustrated scream confirmed it.

It wasn't my intention to take advantage of his dazed state, but he made it too easy.

A sharp nip on my neck jolted me. "King! What the—"

His expression made me pause. He didn't let go until I scratched his head in apology. His tongue swept over the bite, the wound healing instantly.

"I'll do better," I sighed.

King deflated at my side, returning to whatever task occupied him.

The next few shops took longer. Some merchants offered more money, others didn't want me to leave, and a few couldn't care less. It was an interesting experience—one of the first times people seemed concerned about my absence. Not for me, of course, but the difference didn't feel as large as it should have.

By sunset, I had amassed an impressive 843 gold. A satisfying haul, but only the first step of preparation.

'I should finish my other errands before heading to the inn. Thankfully, after tonight, I won't have to stay there. Tomorrow, my journey to the capital begins.'