I'm richer than I thought?!

"You eat well, and that's a good sign. I'm sure you'll grow tall in no time."

"...I just took it because I wanted to eat more."

"Of course, that's what I figured."

"Ugh..."

...Why does it feel like I've lost somehow?

Maybe I shouldn't have accepted it after all.

"Is it tasty? It's good, isn't it?"

"..."

The bald old man next to me kept fanning the flames of the situation.

But, since it was undeniably delicious, I couldn't say otherwise. I gave a small nod and continued my slow mukbang.

...Still, this is kind of amazing.

I'm so full I feel like I might burst, but I just keep eating.

Oh no, what if my stomach really does swell up like a balloon?

"Meeting like this must be some kind of fate. Hmm, you see, this old man gets a little lonely. It'd be great if our little lady here could keep me company."

"...Why should I?"

"Haha, you must still be sulking. Then, how about this? What if I offered it in exchange for the cost of the second skewer?"

"...What?"

Wait. The second skewer wasn't free?!

"Hmm, if you don't like that, I suppose I'll just have to charge you full price..."

I'd been had. Completely tricked.

This guy, with his harmless-looking face, had totally played me.

Now that I take a closer look, he's nothing but a sly old fox.

"...Fine, I'll do it."

"Don't look so down. I'm sure this'll be good for you too."

"Hmph..."

"Heh, you're adorable."

"Don't pat my head."

"Oh... sorry. You just remind me of a friend's daughter."

"Don't even think about patting my back either."

"Alright, alright."

Seriously, I can't let my guard down around this guy.

After that, we made small talk.

At first, I was too annoyed about being tricked to respond, but...

The stories he told were both entertaining and informative, so I decided to humor him for a little while.

"...Wow, really?"

"Of course. Back in the day, this old man was quite the big deal."

I even learned his name.

Alex—surprisingly exotic for someone who looked so rugged.

To be honest, with his bulky appearance, he looked more like someone who'd be called Chunshik or Daeshik.

(T/N: Both are common, old-fashioned Korean names often stereotyped as simple or rustic.)

"Hm? Is there something on my face?"

"No. It's just, um... your bald head is fascinating."

"Really? Then I'll have to show you something even more fascinating."

"Huh? ...Ah! My eyes!"

"Haha."

Anyway, this guy used to be a famous adventurer.

After retiring, he now hunts monsters near the village for money.

Apparently, opening this food stall is just a hobby he indulges in when he's feeling bored.

For someone who looks so intimidating, he sure has a simple hobby.

"By the way, your muscles are huge..."

"Oh? You've got a good eye for these things. Want to feel them?"

"No, I'll pass."

"Ouch. That was so blunt it cut me."

Aside from Alex's name, I also learned about the currency of this world.

When I cautiously pulled some coins from my pocket to show him, he raised an eyebrow, as if wondering what I was trying to say.

"...This is silver coins right? I was curious how much they are worth..?"

"A silver coin is a silver coin. ...Ah, hmm... roughly, one silver coin could buy you a basket full of bread."

"Really? Wow, I'm richer than I thought!"

"..."

For some reason, Alex was looking at me like I was a clueless child who didn't even know the value of money.

But there wasn't much I could do about that.

According to Alex's 'lesson', ten copper coins make up one silver coin.

Ten silver coins make up one gold coin.

Ten gold coins make up one platinum coin.

Finally, one copper coin is enough to buy a single loaf of freshly baked bread.

This currency system is simpler than I expected.

It's easy to remember, and that's a relief.

"By the way, what's the name of this place?"

"Alex's Skewers."

"No, not your stall! The name of the village."

"Oh, that was a joke. This village is called Maru Village. It's on the southeastern edge of the empire."

"Maru Village..."

As expected of a rural area.

The name is as plain as it gets.

"…I'm so full, Mister Alex."

"Already finished? See, I told you you could eat it all."

As Alex and I exchanged bits of information, I somehow managed to finish the skewer in my hand. Before I knew it, the once-high sun had begun sinking past the horizon.

Of course, it wasn't fully dark yet.

Well, technically, one of the suns had set—this world had two, after all.

While it was still relatively bright, it looked like the other sun would soon set as well.

It was about time for me to leave.

"Uh... Mister Alex."

"Yeah?"

"I think I should get going now."

I needed to get back to the orphanage before it got dark.

The night isn't exactly kind to kids.

Even though Alex said he regularly clears out monsters near the village, there was no telling what might lurk in the dark.

Plus, I still had plenty of errands to run.

I had to buy food, gather wood for fixing the door, and so much more.

I'd better get moving.

"You're leaving already? What a shame. I was just starting to enjoy teasing you—"

"What?"

"Ahem, I mean, I was just starting to enjoy your company."

"…Mister Alex!"

"Cough."

This guy, seriously.

"I'll come back again!"

"Make sure you do!"

"Your Baldy's Special Skewer was delicious!"

"Wait, what? Baldy's what?"

"Oh, right! The lizardman skewer!"

With that small but satisfying act of revenge complete, I took off at full speed toward the center of the market.

"Let's see… Alice's Clothing Shop."

Clothes? Not a priority right now.

Pass.

"'Maru's Mysterious Library'?"

Oh, a library? Even in a place like this?

Interesting, but I don't need to stop there now.

Pass.

"Henson's Lumber Store: We Only Sell Top Quality, Bone Dry Firewood."

Firewood, huh? Well, it makes sense given the era.

Come to think of it, there's a pile of wood behind the orphanage.

I could probably sell some later.

Pass.

"…Magic Scroll Shop?"

That's pretty fantasy-esque. Cool, but it's probably expensive, and I don't have time for it right now.

Pass.

"Chop Chop Butcher Shop: We'll Process Any Monster for You…"

Meat? Too pricey, and I don't even have a proper place to cook it.

Pass.

"'Mrs. Gordon's Fresh Goods: New Fruits in Stock Today.'"

Fruits?

They're healthy, filling, and probably cheap in a rural area like this.

Not a bad idea.

* * * *

"Oh my, what a cute little customer. Is there something you need, dear?"

"Uh, um, do you have anything that's really filling but also easy to eat?"

"…What?"

The shopkeeper tilted her head in confusion, looking a bit flustered.

"Um, you know, something that's easy to cook, filling, affordable… not dirt cheap, but fresh, and—"

"You want something fresh, affordable, and filling, right?"

"…Exactly!"

I was rambling a bit, but thankfully she seemed to understand perfectly.

Humming a little tune, she started picking out some fruits from the baskets on display and putting them into another small basket.

"Here you go. This should do, don't you think?"

She handed me a basket filled with a variety of fruits, flashing a kind smile.

There were apples, beets, lemons, and… corn?

Some of the fruits looked a bit unfamiliar, but most were things I recognized.

"It's a bit more than I expected… How much is it?"

"One silver coin."

"…What?!"

One silver coin.

That was a third of all the money I had.

Even if it was a whole basket of fruit, that was way too expensive for me.

Should I try to haggle?

The lady seemed kind and approachable, so she'd probably be willing to lower the price if I asked.

Besides, I'd heard that bargaining was a common practice in markets like this, so it wouldn't be rude.

Alright, let's give it a shot.

I just need to trust in the negotiation skills I honed as a soldier back in my previous life.

"Um, could you lower the price a little?"

"Hmm, you want me to lower it?"

"Uh... I mean, if that's not possible, maybe something a little smaller for less money would work?"

"Oh my, no need to be so scared! I'm not mad. I was just a little surprised at how clever you are for your age, knowing how to haggle."

"R-Really?"

"Of course! You know what? Since it's the end of the day and I'm about to close up shop, I'll let you have it for three copper coins."

"Huh? Isn't that… way too much of a discount?"

As I stood there scratching my cheek in confusion, the shopkeeper quickly snatched the silver coin out of my hand.

"Here's your change."

She deftly slipped some coins into my pocket. But… wait, there's a lot of them?

"Um, you only needed to give me seven copper coins back—"

"Take care, now! Come back anytime! Oh, and if any of the fruit turns out to be bad, just bring it back tomorrow and I'll replace it with two fresh ones."

"But—"

"Alright then, I'm off! Time to close up for the day!"

And just like that, the shopkeeper disappeared from sight in an instant.

All that remained was the clinking sound of coins in my pocket—definitely more than seven copper coins.

"…What just happened?"

I stared at the basket of fruit in my hands, utterly baffled.

"Should I… return the extra money later?"

As I marveled at the strange turn of events, I headed off to my next destination.

"Now, where's the carpenter's shop…?"