```Chapter 1: Status open!

Before I could say "isekai," there I was, smack in the middle of a forest. Towering trees, dark and brooding, stretched up to tickle the sky, their tops vanishing into a mystery. The darkness, rather than being an inconvenience, turned out to be a bit of a party trick, allowing a surprisingly clear view for miles on end. My grand entrance was marked by a colossal conifer, now taking a dirt nap, its roots waving in the air like the tentacles of a startled octopus, leaving a gaping hole in the forest's leafy roof.Trees, especially the coniferous kind, have a knack for dramatic exits. The taller and straighter they stand, the more they flirt with gravity, a simple lesson in the art of falling over. And what does one find when a tree decides to bow out? A patch of sunlight, breaking through just so, like a spotlight on nature's stage. The sky was a blue so clear, it could make a grown man weep.Now, what was this kerfuffle all about?Rummaging through the attic of my memories, I found my name, age, and even my address. Just your average Joe, who, having finally welcomed fiber-optic internet to the boonies, eked out a living drawing illustrations online, while moonlighting as a gardener and amateur veggie whisperer.Had I wandered into the mountains in search of wild greens and stumbled into a portal? But that didn’t quite fit; I was in tip-top shape, not a scratch on me."What in the world..." I mumbled to myself, though, as expected, my conversation partner was less than helpful.What to do? Being clueless about my whereabouts was a textbook definition of lost. Standing around wasn’t going to sprout a map in my hand. So, with all the direction of a leaf in the wind, I set off.------◇◇◇------Trudging through the forest, I worked up a sweat but dared not roll up my sleeves. The forest was a buzzing metropolis of insects and leeches, after all. In this situation, my long-sleeved shirt was my knight in cotton armor.Below, I sported the cheap work pants that were practically my second skin, paired with sneakers that screamed "bargain bin." Had I been decked out in rubber boots, I’d be the poster child for forest fashion... but alas.A towel around my neck would’ve been the cherry on top. An open neckline is like rolling out the red carpet for ticks looking to dine out. Having been a buffet for ticks more times than I cared to remember, I’d often found myself in need of a doctor’s tender care.Living in the sticks meant the nearest excuse for a hospital was a trek and a half away. A bee sting could turn into a race against the clock, with the finish line being a toss-up between the hospital and the afterlife. Such is the thrill of rural living.As I wandered, I noticed the forest was as flat as a pancake, no hills or mountains in sight. This wasn’t the landscape I called home. Flat lands were for fields, and forests meant mountains.Sigh...A quick survey of my surroundings revealed a whole lot of nothing. No news is good news, but a bear sighting would quickly turn this into a bad news day. However, without water or food, my days were numbered anyway.Thirsty and hungry, with pockets as empty as my stomach, I eyed the mushrooms dotting the ground. Unfamiliar and as nutritious as cardboard."This is a fine pickle. Time to find civilization or bust."Scanning the horizon once more, something white caught my eye. Off I went, towards the glimmer of hope.------◇◇◇------"Blimey, what's all this then?"I arrived at the source of the glint. There, at the foot of a grand tree, lay a suit of armor that had seen better days, the kind you’d expect in tales of yore, now playing host to rust. It looked like it had been through the wringer, perhaps a tussle with the local wildlife...Inside, a skeleton greeted me, its jaw and neck detached in a rather informal hello."Great, a corpse."A shiver ran down my spine, but curiosity propelled me forward. Nearby, a sword caught my eye. A straight, double-edged number that had seen its share of battles, now more rust than blade. Sharpening it would be a fool’s errand; melting it down might be quicker.It felt a tad impolite to rummage through the belongings of the deceased, but desperate times called for desperate measures. My search yielded little, but I did manage to liberate a ring and a knife.The sheath, complete with a string, found its way to my belt, bestowing upon me the dubious honor of being armed. Yet, the specter of hunger loomed large, an unwelcome companion on this peculiar journey. And what of this curious affair with the plate armor? In my corner of the woods, such eccentricities are as rare as a dragon's dentist. The craftsmanship spoke of a hand more accustomed to the heat of battle than the warmth of a hearth. This was no mere trinket for a weekend warrior; it bore the scars of repair and the tales of countless skirmishes. The sword, too, seemed to scoff at the very notion of the Swords and Firearms Control Law, its steel as real as the mystery enveloping it. Was this some elaborate ruse? A trap sprung for an unwitting country soul with nary a coin to his name? The plot thickened, the pieces too costly for a mere jest. Could it be—dare I entertain the thought—a leap into another world? A jest turned earnest?"Perhaps uttering 'Status Open!' might unveil some cosmic ledger?" No sooner had the words left my lips than a panel of glowing white unfurled before me, as if summoned by some unseen hand."By the gods, it worked."【Name】Kenichi Hamada 【Age】38 ☆Shangri-La ☆Item Box ☆Trash Bin"Is this it? Where are the tallies of health, the reservoirs of magic? The skills and spells that tales are spun from?" And Shangri-La? The name conjures images of my favored online marketplace, not the stuff of legend. Uttering "Shangri-La" yields naught but silence. A touch, however, transforms the panel into the familiar homepage of Shangri-La, the marketplace without equal, purveyor of goods from the mundane to the fantastical. For a mere 1000 yen a month, one gains unfettered access to realms of knowledge and entertainment. They shy away from only the most forbidden of wares, though whispers tell of business jets recently added to their catalog."Can this be? Is such sorcery permitted?" I muse, as I explore the Item Box and Trash Bin, only to be greeted by the stark emptiness of blank windows.Truly, this was no ordinary adventure."Could this Item Box actually be a pocket dimension for knick-knacks?" I pondered aloud. As I edged the sword, which had been keeping company with the armor, closer to the screen, it vanished with a pop. "Well, butter my biscuit!" The display now read: 【Rusty Sword】×1. A tap on the 【Rusty Sword】 entry conjured up a choice between 【Retrieve?】 and 【Trash Bin】. Opting for retrieval, the sword materialized before me as if by magic. "Handier than a pocket on a shirt." Driven by a mix of curiosity and a dash of recklessness, I explored the Trash Bin option, which relocated it to a Trash Bin window. A mysterious swirl button beckoned. "And what might you be?" Pressing it unveiled a prompt: 【Empty the Trash Bin?】 Ah, akin to the recycling bin of a PC's OS. Neglect to empty the Trash Bin, and it hoards items for a spell. You can even pluck items from its clutches once more. The limits of the Item Box and Trash Bin's capacity remain a riddle wrapped in a mystery... For the nonce, I've grasped the basics of its sorcery. Yet, should I be meddling with such arcane tools without a second thought? The notion of receiving such a boon without a price tag is unsettling. What's the catch? Will they spring a bill on me after extensive use, like some nefarious scheme? Or perhaps a demon will pop up, demanding my soul as payment for services rendered—a jest, surely? —But, regardless. Given my dire straits, I can't afford to snub even an enigmatic boon like this—I'll be pushing up daisies in a few days if I don't. I'd end up a mere memory, much like the knight whose armor I stumbled upon. Resolved to wield this newfound power, I turned my gaze to Shangri-La. The screen mirrored the familiar site I frequented... Well, no harm in giving it a whirl. A search bar at the pinnacle of the screen beckoned, and a tap summoned a virtual keyboard—a thoughtful touch. I keyed in 【Bread】. —And lo, search results sprang forth. Well, that's convenient. It's a spitting image of the service I'm accustomed to. I selected an item dubbed 【First-Time Limited】Delicious Bread Assortment, a smorgasbord of about ten different breads, and tossed it into my cart. Next on the agenda, a beverage. A deal on delectable milk, three packs for about 1000 yen, caught my eye. That shall be my choice.Perusing my cart, the tally was roughly 2500 yen. I hit 【Purchase】.【Insufficient Balance】—The screen displayed the cruel words without mercy."Eh? Coinage? Of course, currency is required, but my pockets are as empty as a politician's promises. What to do?"As I mulled over my predicament, an option to 【Charge】 caught my eye beneath the disheartening message. I pressed 【Charge】.—A new portal of opportunity opened."Are they suggesting I need to deposit funds here... But what if my coffers are barren?"My mutterings failed to elicit a response from the portal. In a fit of pique, I thrust the sword, previously secured in the Item Box, into it."Take this, you scoundrel!"Yet, the sword was eagerly absorbed by the portal.【Rusty Sword】×1And then, beneath that—【Would you like to appraise and sell?】Eh? It's sellable? Perhaps it's valued for the raw iron? Intrigued, I pressed the button.【Appraisal Result】【Rusty Sword Selling Price: 100,000 yen】"One hundred—10,000 yen? It's valued at such a sum?"Beneath the appraisal, another option beckoned.【Show Details】Would this elucidate the appraisal? How convenient.【Rusty Sword (Raw Iron) Appraisal Price: 5,000 yen】【Ruby Stone Appraisal Price: 95,000 yen】Eh? A ruby? Was there a gem ensconced somewhere, hidden by rust and grime?But the need for coin was pressing. I opted to sell it at the offered price."Click."The transaction was executed posthaste, and 100,000 yen was credited to my account."Capital! If this is genuine, at least my belly won't be singing the blues for the nonce..."However, 100,000 yen will evaporate in a month if I rely on this daily. I must devise a means to earn coin, be it venturing to a bustling town or unearthing a mine brimming with precious metals or gems. But how does one stumble upon such a place in this predicament? —A fool's errand.Fretting over it won't fill my belly—food first—.Whether it was a jest or not, I gallantly hit the 【Purchase】 button, displaying my cart with a flourish.—And then, as if by some cosmic joke, bags of bread and three cartons of milk plummeted to the earth with a resounding thud.One couldn't help but ponder the logistics of such a delivery method. Had it been some fragile contraption, the outcome might have been a comedy of errors.Yet, the pressing matter at hand was the symphony of growls emanating from my stomach. Still, the sight of the armored skeleton sprawled before me was a spectacle hard to overlook."Hmm..."After a moment of contemplation, I decided to liberate the armor from its bony occupant and procured a shovel from Shangri-La for the princely sum of 2000 yen.The implement destined for excavation was known in my neck of the woods as a "scoop," but in the grand scheme of things, "shovel" seemed to be the term of choice, according to the grand old JIS standards. Perhaps it's more fitting to adopt such nomenclature.It seems the vernacular varies from realm to realm.With my newly acquired shovel, I set to work. The soil, enriched with the detritus of countless autumns, yielded easily. A modest depth of about 50cm ought to do the trick...Once the grave was prepared, I gently laid the skeleton to rest and returned the earth to its place."May you find peace in the great beyond."The shovel, now a relic of my brief foray into grave-digging, was stowed away in the Item Box, and I offered a prayer—though I harbored doubts about the presence of any Buddhist deities in this peculiar realm. The pantheon here was likely a tad different.Nonetheless, I had paid my respects in the manner of my homeland. I would make good use of the treasures I had unearthed.Upon attempting to sell the plate armor, previously adorned by the skeleton, through the sell window, an appraisal promptly appeared.【Appraisal Result】【Plate Armor (Used) Selling Price: 50,000 yen】Well, 50,000 yen wasn't too shabby. But truly, who was on the buying end of this transaction? It defied all logic.With the skeleton's earthly remains now interred, I was about to tuck into the bread when a spark of inspiration struck me—given my newfound access to online shopping, why not experiment a bit?I acquired a portable gas stove from Shangri-La for 2000 yen, along with three gas cartridges at 300 yen, a bargain at 100 yen apiece.Next on the list was a modest pot with a lid for 1000 yen. Water was next—a selection of natural spring water, six 2L bottles for 1200 yen. To round off my shopping spree, I added a 12-pack of hearty cup noodles for 2500 yen to my cart."Time to hit 【Purchase】."The items I had ordered cascaded down around me.I hastily assembled the gas stove, inserted a cartridge, placed the pot atop it, and filled it with water to boil. Once the water reached a rolling boil, I poured it into the cup noodles—and awaited the magic of three minutes.Ah, I mustn't forget to procure some disposable chopsticks. I have a fondness for the bamboo variety—100 pairs for 500 yen. With such an abundance, even though they're disposable, they're bound to last me a good while."Ha ha ha! Behold, the taste of civilization!"I indulged in the curry-flavored big cup noodles, interspersed with bites of bread."Exquisite!"This setup would be a boon for any camping expedition. Why, I could even scale Everest with such provisions.While the jury's still out on whether this is indeed another world, for the moment, my culinary cravings are thoroughly appeased.

Chapter 2: Escape from the Forest!

For some reason, I, an old man, had stumbled into what seemed to be another world.
Apparently, in this other world-like place, I could open up a status screen and even do online shopping. What kind of ability is that? It's completely nonsensical.
For the time being, I ate some cup noodles and bread to calm down. When humans have a full stomach, they tend to become more optimistic.
However, if I stay like this, I'll be dirt poor. Somehow, I need to make my way to a town and do some business or trade to earn money.
With the money I earn, I can buy things online and sell them at a higher price—that should work, right? When it comes to staples like this, spices are a classic.
A refill pack of pepper that costs 100 yen could probably sell for a lot more, right? It'll be a piece of cake!
Well, to do that, I need to get out of this forest first.
"Now, what should I do..."
I purchased a compass from Shangri-La for 1,500 yen. This should let me know which direction I'm facing. The compass needle is pointing in a consistent direction, so it seems this world has a magnetic field too.
And then, though a bit pricey—I bought a mountain bike for 20,000 yen. I checked the product reviews and bought one with high ratings.
Apparently, there are some shoddy products out there that could break their frames from a strong impact, but I can't afford to waste money, so I had to compromise.
Well, it should work out somehow.
This Item Box is really convenient, though. I bought all that stuff, but I don't have to carry anything.
Maybe I could use this Item Box to start a delivery service. I'm probably the only one who can access it, after all.
"Alright, let's go!"
I straddled the mountain bike and set off! I slowly pedaled through the forest, checking the compass as I went, heading toward the nearest town.
No need to rush. For now, I have food. This is the leisure of a full stomach.
------◇◇◇------
—Two days in, straddling the mountain bike.
Even though I've been going slowly, I must have covered dozens of kilometers by now, but there's still no end to the forest in sight.
Just how big is this forest? There's nothing but rows of towering evergreens as far as the eye can see, but it's not like this was a plantation...
Virgin forests are usually a mix of evergreens and deciduous trees.

He took a break and drank some water. Then, he pulled out the insect repellent spray he had purchased from Shangri-La and applied it all over his body.
It seemed there were quite a few insects in the forest.
Along the way, he ate some of the food he had bought from Shangri-La while also testing out the capabilities of the Item Box and Trash Bin.
For example, living insects couldn't enter the Item Box, but their dead remains could be absorbed—changing the display to something like [Insect (Beetle)] x1.
So, what about plants? When he dug up a seedling with a shovel and put it in, it displayed as [Seedling] x1.
For plants, some had their specific names displayed, so certain items had their own names.
Interestingly, even if he put a cup of hot water inside, it remained hot no matter how much time passed, never cooling down.
With just this, he could probably start some interesting business. If he obtained meat or vegetables, he could store them in the Item Box to prevent them from spoiling.
And the Trash Bin was a black box that swallowed anything. Whether it was candy wrappers or leftover cup noodle broth, anything thrown in would disappear with the press of the swirling button.
He didn't know where it went, but like the Item Box, it seemed to have a safety feature preventing living things from entering.
Perhaps there was a mechanism in place to avoid dragging in people or living creatures.
The second day in this other world was coming to a close.
He dismounted the mountain bike early and leaned it against a large tree. To set up camp, he pitched a one-person tent he had purchased from Shangri-La for 2,000 yen.
While the daytime climate was mild and a bit hot, the mornings were a little chilly, so he had also bought a sleeping bag for 2,000 yen.
He purchased a fire starter and a gas burner to attach to a cassette gas canister for 2,500 yen.
With a fire, he could keep warm and ward off any creatures.
Today, he decided to splurge a little and have some grilled meat. Pork shoulder was on sale for 2,000 yen for 1.5 kg, so he bought that.
If there were leftovers, he could just store them in the Item Box.

For the barbecue sauce, I used the Genghis Khan sauce that I always use. Genghis Khan is made with lamb, but that sauce tastes great on regular barbecue too. A 1L bottle of Genghis Khan sauce costs 1,000 yen.
And for barbecue, you need rice. I bought a pack of 24 pre-cooked rice pouches for around 3,000 yen.
While boiling water on the stove to heat up the rice, I bought another cassette gas stove to prepare for grilling the meat.
I bought a grill grate for 1,000 yen, set it over the fire to heat up, and started grilling the meat. Billowing white smoke rose up, filling the air with the savory aroma of sizzling fat.
Being outdoors, I could let the smoke rise freely. I grilled and ate a couple of slices.
"Delicious! So delicious!"
My poor man's palate is satisfied with cheap meat, but Shangri-La sells quite a few premium cuts too. I might buy some once I've earned some money.
But if this really is another world, there might be delicious meats unique to this world.
Seeking out such exotic delicacies would be part of the thrill of adventuring in another world.
The rice was heated, so I scooped some onto a paper plate. With paper plates, I don't need to wash them—I can just toss them in the Trash Bin when I'm done eating.
The stove and grill grate do need cleaning, though. For the grease, I can buy some alcohol and wipe them down.
"Barbecue and rice is the ultimate combo! And for some reason, eating outdoors makes it taste even better."
But I got carried away with the barbecue. I didn't realize the aroma had attracted something dangerous.
After finishing my meal and stretching, something black caught my eye in my peripheral vision... I looked around.
Around ten large, wolf-like shadowy beasts had surrounded me—apparently lured in by the smell of barbecue.
I should have expected animals to be drawn in by such a strong scent in the mountains.
I regretted my careless actions. It was already starting to get dark, and I had acted recklessly.
"Oh no! A weapon! I need some kind of weapon!"

I grabbed a burning log from the campfire and hurled it at the black beasts—simultaneously pulling up Shangri-La's screen to search for a weapon.
"A weapon! Let's see, how about a bow?"
No, I've never used a bow before, and despite its power, I have no confidence in hitting a target with it right off the bat.
There were also crossbows like guns, but I had no idea how to operate those.
However, on the same search page for bows, I found a slingshot that fired projectiles using rubber.
"This! I can handle this!"
I had purchased a slingshot from Shangri-La before to scare away crows from my home garden. I bought the exact same one.
Along with it, I bought 9mm bearing balls as ammunition. I also purchased a set of fountaining fireworks.
I had a flash of inspiration that these fireworks, which terrified the dog I used to keep at my home, might work on these black creatures too.
The slingshot cost 6,000 yen, the fireworks set 3,000 yen, and the bearing balls were 2,000 yen for 80 pieces.
As the purchased items came tumbling down, I lit the fuse of the fountaining fireworks using the burning campfire in front of me and hurled about three of them at the beasts.
White sparks gushed out like a fountain, billowing smoke that illuminated the surroundings in a bright glow. Seemingly startled by the brightness, the black creatures began retreating, wandering about in confusion.
"Alright!"
To follow up, I grabbed some bearing balls from the bag and stuffed them into my pocket, then started rapidly firing the slingshot.
One shot, two shots, three shots—gradually adjusting my aim, the fourth shot hit one of the beasts.
"Gyahn!"
The black beast let out a dog-like yelp and retreated.
Without missing a beat, I continued hurling the fountaining fireworks and firing the slingshot.
"Kyain!"
One of the beasts leaped up and fled from my onslaught. The slingshot pellet must have struck a vital spot—perhaps the eye or nose.
This slingshot packs enough power to penetrate thin plywood.
The more I attacked, the better my accuracy became. More and more shots were finding their mark.

"Gyahn!" "Kyain!"
One by one, the beasts fell back, and what seemed to be the boss—a slightly larger one—fled. The others then began to scatter all at once. They must have had no idea what was attacking them.
"Fuoooh!" I let out a deep sigh and plopped down on my rear. It was a close call, but I managed to drive them off.
However, I had been far too careless. Since I hadn't encountered any animals, my sense of danger had faded.
In a panic, I packed up the tent and shoved everything—the barbecue gear and all—into the Item Box, preparing to depart. It was too dangerous to remain here.
The surroundings were already dark, but those beasts might return. Wild animals can be surprisingly tenacious.
I pedaled the mountain bike into the darkness, but this Item Box thing is incredibly convenient. Even in a situation like this, I can focus solely on riding without carrying anything.
But it was too dark. I couldn't see a thing. The mountain bike had a light, but it was useless in this pitch blackness.
With no other choice, I opened Shangri-La's screen and purchased a headlamp—the kind miners wear. I bought one with 300 lumens for 3,000 yen.
Since it used AAA batteries, I also bought a bulk pack of 20 batteries for 600 yen.
I immediately inserted the batteries and strapped the headlamp on.
"Switch on! Whoa! This is bright!"
It was bright enough to use as a blinding weapon. If this light hit someone's eyes, it would leave them seeing nothing but white.
Desperate to get away from that terrifying place, I pedaled the mountain bike relentlessly.
Get away!
Get away!
Unable to think of anything else, I chanted those words like a mantra in my head.
After pedaling for about two hours through the darkness, I pitched the tent between some large trees and started a campfire to set up camp.
It was too dark to find firewood, so I bought some from Shangri-La for 2,000 yen.
I had purchased quite a few items, but the Item Box still wasn't full. With no percentage indicator for its capacity, I had no way to gauge how much space was left.

I couldn't sleep at all due to the terror from earlier, my eyes wide open as I kept thinking, "What if I'm attacked again?"
I considered purchasing a crossbow as a weapon, but they're expensive—around 40,000 to 60,000 yen!
Since I've already spent quite a bit of money, I'd like to avoid spending a large sum here. Who knows what else lies ahead? But still...
Hmm, I'm torn.
Even if an enemy appears, I could blind them with this bright light and somehow fend them off with the slingshot. But that's just wishful thinking.
Unable to sleep at all, I simply waited for dawn in front of the campfire. I never imagined the night could be so terrifying. I had been far too optimistic until now.
By the time I finally started dozing off, the sky was already turning white.
As soon as night had fully lifted, I shoved all my gear into the Item Box and, without even eating breakfast, I relentlessly pedaled the mountain bike onward.
I just wanted to escape this forest as quickly as possible.
------◇◇◇------
After pedaling for about five hours, taking bites of bread from the Item Box along the way—my butt was starting to hurt.
I was sleepy, so maybe I should rest soon? But then, a bright light appeared before my eyes. A break in the forest.
As the brightness increased, the undergrowth became denser, and where the forest ended, waist-high grass formed a verdant wall, blocking the path ahead.
"Whoa—so the forest ends, but now there's a field of grass..."
For now, I wanted to know what lay beyond. I opened Shangri-La's screen and purchased an aluminum six-step ladder—9,000 yen.
A bit pricey, but it couldn't be helped. If I laid it flat and propped it against a tree, it would reach about five meters high. That should let me see quite far.
I purchased a 1,000 yen monocular and climbed the ladder. Ladders are convenient but also prone to accidents. You can easily climb several meters high, but if you fall from that height, you'll be slammed down hard.
Well, the ground here is soft, decaying leaf litter, so I probably won't die, but I can't afford to get injured in a place like this where it could be life-threatening. So I climbed carefully.

After climbing to a certain height, I could see beyond the tall grass—a city surrounded by walls came into view. Using the monocular to confirm, it was indeed a city with people moving about.
A road extended from the city toward me, likely passing through this forest. In other words, I had been traveling parallel to that road through the woods all along. If that was the case, continuing right should lead me to the road...
"Yes!" I exclaimed as I climbed down the ladder. An intense wave of drowsiness washed over me, perhaps from the relief of finding my path forward.
Right there, I dozed off at the base of a large tree.

Chapter 3: Arrival in the City

While grilling in the forest, I was attacked by a huge, black wolf-like creature—driven by terror, I pedaled my mountain bike furiously to escape the woods, finally reaching the forest's edge.
The relief must have overwhelmed me, as I dozed off.
——I woke up.
I regretted falling asleep a little, but fortunately, the day was still high. I must have slept for about three hours.
I need to head right from here and reach the road quickly... But I wonder how this world treats people from another world.
What if I'm immediately captured and enslaved? It's possible... However, I can't stay like this.
For now, I'll munch on some bread and check my remaining funds on Shangri-La.
"76,000 yen or so... I've already used up half of it."
Not good. The money I charged is already about half gone. I really need to find a way to earn some—though I keep spending it.
I'm tired, so I want something sweet. Let me search for chocolate on Shangri-La—ah, there's a deal on broken chocolate chunks for 2,000 yen per kilogram. I'll get that.
Selling this chocolate or other snacks might be a good idea, but selling something this world doesn't have could be risky...
As I ponder while eating the chocolate, its sweet taste energizes me—sugar is best when you're tired.

Hmm. I should probably start with the classic: pepper. It seems the safest option. Knives or blades would work too, but pepper seems like it would have the highest exchange rate.
On Shangri-La, refill packs are 400 yen for 100g, so if those turn into gold or silver coins here, I could make a fortune.
But the nylon packaging or glass jars might be too out of place. Glass might cause trouble in a world without it.
"Where did you get something like that?" I don't want to get caught and tortured.
I'll search for containers on Shangri-La.

"I wonder if they have any leather drawstring pouches? Oh! There they are."
One costs 3,000 yen. Far more expensive than pepper. I'll purchase a drawstring pouch and put the refill pepper inside.
Tying it to my belt—whoa! It looks like RPG equipment! I've seen stuff like this in games before.
If this doesn't work, I'll head to the city and check out the markets to decide what to sell. But before that, the issue is how my existence will be perceived in this world.
Since I left the stepladder out, I'll store it in the Item Box. Straddling my mountain bike, I start pedaling to the right—the 3 o'clock direction from where I came.
"I wish I had an electric-assist mountain bike, but they're so expensive."
Even searching on Shangri-La, they cost around 100,000 yen. Of course, I couldn't use it in public, but...
I'm getting hungry, so I'll eat some more chocolate.
After pedaling for about an hour, I spot what looks like a road through a break in the forest.
"From here, a mountain bike might be cumbersome. Should I go on foot...?"
I put the mountain bike in the Item Box and start walking. I immediately reach the road. Of course, it's not paved, and there's no gravel either. Just a dirt path.
This will probably turn into a muddy mess if it rains... But it's easier to walk than in the forest. And thanks to the Item Box, I don't have any luggage.
After walking for a while, I notice there's quite a bit of traffic. Horse-drawn carriages loaded with cargo are constantly passing by.
Covered and uncovered carriages of all shapes pass by. Since they're all different, they must be handmade, custom orders.
To avoid getting in the way of the carriages, I walk along the edge of the road. Suddenly, someone calls out to me.
"Hey, you walking?"
"Huh?"
I turn toward the sudden voice to see a one-horse carriage stopped beside me. The horse is a large, sturdy black breed.
"You headed to Daria?"
A young man in khaki clothes is looking at me. But more importantly—the fact that we can understand each other is the real issue.

"Could you be talking to me?"
"Who else would I be talking to? You're headed to Daria up ahead, aren't you?"
"Yeah, that's right."
The city I saw from the forest must be Daria. Luckily, we can understand each other. This is fortunate.
"Want a ride?"
"Thanks, but I don't have any money."
"Daria's just up ahead, so it's free."
For real? That's a stroke of luck. If I could use my mountain bike, I'd get there quickly. But the man doesn't seem to have any ulterior motives, so I decided to accept his offer.
"My name's Fuyou, nice to meet you. I'm a merchant."
"I'm Kenichi."
"Haha, that's an unusual name."
The man seems friendly, so I take the opportunity to ask him various questions—but my black hair doesn't seem to be unusual here.
As the carriage rattles along, our conversation continues. On the man's chest hangs a metallic rod-like accessory suspended from his neck, glinting in the light.
There's a gemstone at the end.
"So, where you're from, does everyone have black hair?"
This Fuyou guy has reddish-brown hair. It doesn't seem dyed; it's his natural color.
"Yeah, that's right. Embarrassingly, I haven't left my village much until this age."
"Well, unless you're a merchant, that's common. Did you leave your village to do business?"
"Yeah, something like that."
For now, I'll go with that. Back home, I did farm work, so I have some agricultural knowledge from living in the countryside.
"But you don't have any luggage... Could you be an Item Box holder?"
"You know about the Item Box?"
He seems surprised. So the term "Item Box" already exists here... Though it does say "Item Box" on the status screen.
The screen is in Japanese, after all...
"It's rare to meet an Item Box holder, but this is the first time for me."
"I see."

"You've had an Item Box but never done any business with it before?"
"Yeah, I just used it to store vegetables from the farm. That way, they wouldn't sprout or rot."
Of course, that was a lie.
"I've heard stories like that. It must be really convenient. You could make money transporting perishable goods or valuables."
"Yeah, I'm thinking of trying out different things."
Since he seemed like a merchant, I asked him various questions about how to conduct business. Apparently, you need to register with the Merchant's Guild.
The registration fee is one silver coin, but I'm not sure how much a silver coin is worth.
Along the way, we crossed a small stone bridge over a river. From the bridge, I could see children fishing in the riverbed. A town where children can play freely must be a good place.
——We arrived in the town while talking. After passing through the thick castle walls, the town spread out before us.
There were no particularly tall buildings—at most three stories high and made of stone. The streets were bustling with people, giving an impression of a lively town.
There were guards at the entrance, but they didn't inspect us or anything; we just passed right through.
Other people were freely coming and going as well. We continued into the town by carriage.
"Don't they inspect you or charge any taxes to enter the town?"
"Nah, no taxes. I've heard of towns that have that, but not around here. The gates might close if bandits show up, but that's pretty rare."
After about five minutes, we seemed to reach our destination. He started unloading the cargo, so I helped out.
"Sorry about that."
"No problem, it's the least I can do for the ride."
After we finished, he told me the locations of the Merchant's Guild and an inn. It's best to get that kind of information from a local to avoid getting ripped off.
"You've been a great help, so let me give you this."
I handed him the leather drawstring pouch containing pepper that I had tied to my belt.

"What's this?" Fuyou exclaimed as he opened the drawstring pouch and sniffed its contents in surprise.
"This is pepper!"
"That's right."
"Hey, you can't be serious! I can't accept something this valuable for free. Let me pay you."
"No, it's..."
"Wait a minute—we merchants love a good deal, but we never take things for free. Do you know why?"
After pondering for a moment, I raised my index finger. "Because nothing is more expensive than free."
"Exactly. You'd make a good merchant. The basis of trade is the exchange of goods. We don't deal in things without compensation. That's the fundamental principle."
Saying this, Fuyou took a money pouch from his pocket and handed me two silver coins.
"This should cover it more or less. And this leather pouch is high-quality too. I'd say it's worth about six copper coins."
He also gave me some copper coins.
"You drive a hard bargain."
"You have to in this business. Can't just take things at face value, haha!"
However, I now had cash in hand. The value was a bit unclear, but since he insisted on compensating me for the valuable item, it must be a decent amount.
"This might be an odd question, but how many silver coins make a gold coin?"
"Around here, it's four silver coins to one gold coin. But the exchange rate varies from place to place, so it's not a strange thing to ask."
"I see, thank you."
"Haha, you're an odd one, aren't you?"
Well, of course I'd seem odd—I'm from another world, after all.
"But say, you're not planning to trade in pepper, are you?"
"Is that a bad idea?"
"The spice trade around here is controlled by the Bacopa bunch. If they get wind of you, it'll be trouble."
"So they've fixed prices and restricted distribution to inflate the value?"
It's a tale as old as time—wherever there's money to be made, vested interests will flock to it.
"Exactly. You catch on quick."
"I'll be careful."

"Well, see you around."
After bidding farewell to the young merchant, I decided to head to the inn. I needed a base of operations for the time being.
However, my plans to make easy money with pepper and spices were dashed. What a shame... I'll have to check out the markets and find something else to trade.
------◇◇◇------
I walked along the street for a while, observing the town. It was quite lively.
The windows of some fancier-looking buildings had transparent panes, so glass did exist, but it must be an expensive commodity.
Or perhaps it wasn't glass, but some fantasy material like tektite...
After about five minutes, I spotted what seemed to be the inn Fuyou had told me about. A two-story stone building with crumbling white plaster coating its walls.
Above the wooden door hung a sign depicting meat and a plate—a telltale sign.
"Looks like the place, all right..."
I pushed open the door and entered. Behind me, the door closed on its own—a weight and pulley system automatically pulled it shut.
While the exterior was stone, the interior was dimly lit with wooden walls and floors. Eight wooden tables were arranged with chairs around them. More like a dining hall than an inn.
A counter stood at the back.
There were no customers—it was already past noon, probably around 2 PM. The lunch crowd had cleared out, leaving the place empty.
"Welcome~. Food? Or a room?"
"A room."
The one who greeted me was a girl with her black hair tied back, wearing an apron-like garment. She looked about 18 and was quite cute, with slightly slanted eyes.
"For a room with meals, it's one small silver coin. For just the room, three copper coins."
I could buy food on Shangri-La, so I needed to save the local currency.
"Just the room, please."
"Payment upfront~"
I handed her three copper coins that the young merchant had given me.
"One guest staying~"
"Got it~" A man's voice, likely the innkeeper, called out from the back.

"Is she the daughter of this place?"
"No, I live nearby and work here. What about you, mister? Are you looking for a job broker to earn some money doing construction around here?"
"Nah, I'm planning to do some trading."
"Then you must be able to read, write, and do math."
"Uh!"
That's right, literacy was a requirement. I had completely forgotten about that. Seeing my shock, the girl brought over what seemed to be a guestbook.
"How can you become a merchant if you can't read, write, or do math? Being able to do all three is mandatory for registering with the Merchant's Guild."
"Is that so... I can read and write in a foreign language, though. And I can do math."
"Okay, if there are four bags with twelve rinkers each, how many rinkers are there in total?"
I didn't know what a rinker was, but I could solve the problem.
"Forty-eight, right?"
"Wow, you really can do math! What's your name, mister?"
"Kenichi."
"Hmm, that's an odd name. I'm Azalea. Nice to meet you."
Azalea scribbled what seemed to be my name in the guestbook. This girl could read and write.
——However, the characters she wrote looked like... Roman letters of some kind.
"Azalea, could I ask you a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Could you teach me how to read and write? Just the basics would be fine."
"Huh?"
My sudden request left her a bit perplexed—but of course it would. However, if I wanted to learn reading and writing quickly, asking her seemed like the fastest way.
"Just the basics would be fine. I'll give you some foreign sweets as thanks."
"Really? Are sweets sweet?"
At the mention of sweets, Azalea's eyes sparkled like a child's.
"Yeah, some of them are sweet."
"Well, if I'm not busy with work, I can teach you."
"Great, I appreciate it. Just the basics would be fine."
I was shown to a room on the second floor. It was a simple wooden room with just a bed. The ceiling boards were missing, exposing the structural framework above.

However—fortunately, it seemed clean and tidy, so I breathed a sigh of relief. At last, I could sleep in a bed.
"Put the sheets in this basket every day to be washed. If you have any other laundry, there'll be an additional charge."
"Got it. By the way, could you teach me the basics of reading and writing when you have some free time? I plan to stay here for a few days."
"Sure. Don't forget the sweets."
"I won't."
After Azalea left the room, I collapsed onto the bed. The sheets felt like linen against my skin.
In any case, too much had happened. In this world that seemed to be another realm—I would have to find a way to live from now on.
However, I felt relieved to have finally reached a bed.
I had only intended to lie down for a bit, but I ended up falling asleep.

Chapter 4: Simple Characters

Finally, I was able to escape from the forest. A young merchant helped me and brought me to a walled city called Daria.
I stayed at an inn, and as soon as I lay down on the soft bed after so long, I fell asleep.
"Huh!"
I woke up startled on the bed. It was already dark outside—what time was it?
"Oh crap, oh crap..."
Damn, it's too dark to see anything. I should get some light... I'll search on Shangri-La.
I have the LED headlight I wore when I was riding my mountain bike through the forest, but I can't very well use that indoors.
Candles would be the safe option, but they'd be a bit too dim—I'll search for lamps instead.
"LED, huh..."
There are cheap LED lanterns, but using such over-the-top technology as LEDs seems a bit out of place. Well, as long as no one sees it, I guess.
Maybe I could pass it off as a "magic lantern"? No, I still don't know if magic even exists in this world.
On the same page, there are kerosene lamps. Ah, kerosene lamps are an option too. But—
"Do they even sell kerosene?"
While kerosene doesn't seem to be available, they do sell white gas. The same search page has lamps that use white gas.
It costs 12,000 yen, which is quite expensive. But it should last me a while. I could pass it off as an oil lamp, at least.
Of course, something this high-tech probably doesn't exist in this world... But since they sell consumable parts and this status screen is available, I should be able to keep using it.
A white gas lantern and 4 liters of white gas for 2,500 yen—I'll buy them together. Another expense, but initial investments are necessary.
When I press the purchase button, a boxed lantern and white gas tank drop down with a loud thud.
"It'll break!"
If it breaks, can I even return it? I highly doubt it.

The package had arrived, but it was pitch black and I couldn't see anything. In the end, I took out an LED headlight from the Item Box and put it on my head.
I've used old-fashioned kerosene lamps before, but I've never used a pressurized gasoline lantern like this.
I read the instruction manual that came in the box.
"What's this—"
First, I need to fill it with fuel, then pump it to pressurize it. And then—
"Please attach the mantle and pre-burn it."
This "mantle" thing is like a mesh. Apparently, when the flame hits it, it glows—I see.
I attached the mantle to the center of the lantern and lit it with a cassette burner. The flame quickly spread across it.
"Pre-burned mantles are fragile and will crumble easily. Please be careful," it says.
I closed the lantern's cover and lit it with the burner—it immediately shone brightly. It's much brighter than a regular kerosene lamp.
Apparently, you adjust the brightness by turning the valve that supplies the fuel. Closing it completely extinguishes the flame.
"All right! This is pretty bright."
I squinted at the lantern's brightness and shoved the headlight back into the Item Box.
Instead, I took out some milk, but even if I put an unfinished milk carton in the Item Box, it won't spoil. This thing is incredibly convenient.
The Item Box display now shows [Milk (unfinished)] x1.
Then, I bought a slightly deeper dish for 800 yen and 1kg of granola for 900 yen.
I poured the milk over the granola in the dish and was about to eat when—I didn't have a spoon. Oh, geez...
I bought a set of three spoons for 900 yen. It felt like when I moved out of my parents' house. I came to the city with just a bag, and my cheap apartment had nothing—that kind of feeling.
Feeling a strange nostalgia, I ate my fill, then sprayed the empty dish with alcohol and wiped it with a tissue. This will do for now.
When I go somewhere with plenty of water, I can wash it with detergent. Shangri-La sells detergent and sponges, after all.

No doubt, it would be cheaper to buy everyday necessities like dishes and spoons from Shangri-La rather than at the markets in this city.
In a world like this, everything must be handmade, one-of-a-kind items. There's no way they have mass-produced, factory-made goods.
Now then, what kind of sweets should I get for Azalea... Chocolate seems a bit too much. Something simpler—konpeitō sugar candies? No, here—
"Sakuma Drops, of course."
Those rorororin Sakuma Drops. The canned drops cost 200 yen each. I also bought another leather drawstring pouch like the one I'd purchased before and put about ten drops inside.
The drawstring pouch is quite expensive, but I have no choice. It's the only container I have. Even searching for jars, the only small ones available are funerary urns.
I can hardly give her the candies in a plastic or stainless steel case, can I?
"But wait..."
I searched for "wooden box"—ah, there's a good one. An unpainted, jewel box-like container for around 300 yen.
This would be perfect for holding the sweets. I added the wooden jewel box to my cart and pressed the purchase button.
To study reading and writing, I'll need paper. Copy paper or sketch pads seem unsuitable, so I searched for washi paper.
"Oh, they have washi printer paper."
500 yen for 50 sheets. Come to think of it, I could sell paper too. It's probably a valuable commodity, right?
"Click and purchase."
As I made these calculations while putting the drops in the jewel box, I heard a knock at the door.
Flustered, I took the printer paper out of the bag and stuffed the packaging into the Trash Bin.
"Come in. It's open."
The door opened, and Azalea peeked in, her eyes wide as she held a candlestick and some tools.
"What's this bright light?"
"It's an oil lamp."
"Huh, but kerosene lamps aren't this bright, are they?"
"Do they have kerosene lamps here?"

"Want me to bring one?" she asked. "There'll be an extra charge, though..."
"No, I'm good with this one."
"I see."
Huh, so they do have kerosene lamps here. But I wonder how much kerosene costs in this world.
"How much does kerosene cost around here?"
"Um, for a jar about this big, it'd be two small square silver coins."
The jar size she indicated was about the size of a human head. Two small square silver coins—I'm not sure what that means, but she did say the inn with meals costs one small square silver coin, so that's two days' worth of lodging.
Quite expensive. In that case, the white gas I bought from Shangri-La is cheaper.
Azalea came trotting over and peered into the lantern.
"It's not magic, is it?"
"Are there magic lamps?"
"I've seen them before. The light isn't this color—it's more bluish."
So magic does exist in this world! As expected of another world. But then again, the status screen I'm using could be considered magic too.
"Don't you have work today?"
"Nope, I'm free."
She plopped down on the bed, swinging her legs.
"Here, these are the sweets I promised as a reward. They're sweet."
"Really? For me?"
Without even checking, Azalea plucked a drop and popped it into her mouth.
"Mmm, sweet!"
"Hey, you just put that in your mouth without checking what it was? What if I was a bad person?"
"I've met all sorts of people in this line of work, so I can usually tell what kind of person someone is. I don't think you're a bad person, Kenichi."
"Well, I appreciate that. But anyway—don't tell anyone about this, okay?"
I pointed at the brightly glowing lantern, and she silently held out her hand in response.
I realized she was asking for hush money.
"Here, I'll give you some more sweets."

I took out the can of drops and filled the jewel box to the brim with them. The drops looked quite fitting inside the jewel box.
"Ehehe..."
"You're quite the schemer."
"My mother always told me to learn how to wrap men around my finger~"
As she spoke of her mother, Azalea plucked another drop and popped it into her mouth.
"Mmm~! To be able to eat such sweets, it's like being a noble."
Azalea, who had tossed the drop into her mouth, pressed both hands against her cheeks and seemed to be savoring the taste.
"Are there nobles here?"
"Of course there are. It's best not to get involved with them. If they found out you had sweets like these, they might confiscate them."
"That would be troublesome... Anyway, teach me how to read and write."
"Sure~"
She had brought paper and a pen. It seemed she had prepared them specifically for this.
"Paper must be expensive. Use this instead."
"Aww, and I was thinking of charging you extra for the paper~"
"Hahaha."
She really is quite the schemer.
The two of us used the paper and pen to write out letters and match them up. It was nothing special—there were some differences, but it was almost the same as the Roman alphabet.
The numbers were also base ten, and the place value system was the same as Arabic numerals. With a conversion table, I could learn it quickly.
Let's make a cheat sheet.
"Well, well. Kenichi, you can read and write after all."
"The letters of this country don't seem too different from my own."
"With that, registering with the merchant's guild should be easy."
My worries about reading and writing seem to have been unfounded.
"If you can read and write, Azalea, you could try your hand at business too."
"Do you know what's most important for doing business?"
I thought for a moment—
"Could it be... procurement?"
"That's right! I don't know where to get things like these sweets or lamps. And I'm too old to apprentice somewhere and learn the trade."
"I see."

"But I think Kenichi will succeed in business~. Maybe I should become his mistress from now on~?"
"Cut that out. I'm probably around the same age as your old man."
"I don't have a dad."
"Ah, my bad... Sorry about that."
Yikes, I stepped on a landmine there.
"It's okay. Kenichi's a good person."
After bringing up that awkward topic, I decided to change the subject by sketching a portrait of her. While I'm an amateur at business, I'm at least a pro at drawing.
I started sketching a croquis-style drawing of her on paper with a pen.
"Azalea. Don't move for a bit, okay?"
"What is it?"
After about ten minutes, I finished the portrait and showed it to her. Illuminated by the lantern, it was a portrait of Azalea.
"Wow~! Amazing~! To have my portrait drawn like this, it's just like being a noble~"
She hugged the drawing to her chest, clearly overjoyed. I didn't expect her to be so delighted.
While she was happy, for some reason, Azalea started undressing. Her pale nude body emerged under the lantern's light.
The stark contrast between light and shadow accentuated the curves of her figure.
After removing her top and skirt, she was completely naked—it seemed this world didn't have undergarments. That would explain why all the women in town wore long skirts.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
"I got candies and a portrait from you, so I've received too much."
Is that so? Is that how it is? To experience something like this so soon after arriving in another world...
------◇◇◇------
—The next morning.
In the end, it happened... On the bed, Azalea lay naked, breathing softly.
"Hah... What was I thinking, doing this with such a young girl?"
No use feeling down about it now. There are things I need to do. I woke Azalea up and gave her some granola with milk poured over it.
"What's this~? It's crunchy, sweet, and delicious!"
"It's a preserved travel food. It keeps well because it's dried."

Azalea sat naked, munching on the granola. I wished she would put her clothes back on before continuing our conversation...
"I think this could sell too," she said.
"It uses sugar and fruit—the common folk in the city won't buy anything expensive. And I don't want to deal with nobles."
Since Azalea had mentioned that the sweets made her feel like a noble, sugar must be considered a luxury item.
Therefore, it wouldn't sell cheaply.
"I see—even though it's so delicious. I think the wealthy would buy it."
"But if it becomes popular among the wealthy, the nobles will definitely catch wind of it."
"You're right about that."
As she casually ate, she looked like an eighteen-year-old girl.
I took the opportunity to ask her about the currency as well. Comparing it to my world, one copper coin seemed to be worth about 1,000 yen.
Five copper coins made a small square silver coin (5,000 yen), ten small square silver coins made a silver coin (50,000 yen), and four silver coins made a gold coin (200,000 yen)—or so it seemed.
However, the currency system apparently varied from country to country.
—Which meant the inn's lodging cost about 3,000 yen per night. Well, for a room without meals, 3,000 yen sounded about right.
But I had spent money yesterday too, so I needed to earn some cash soon. After eating, I would have to visit the merchant's guild.
Last night, while talking to her, I noticed something interesting. My status screen seemed to be invisible to her.
Apparently, only I could see it. And if I put a piece of paper with writing on it into the Item Box, then selected it, the text would be displayed on the screen.
This meant that if there were any tests during guild registration, I could cheat freely by storing reference materials in the Item Box.
After finishing her meal and getting dressed, Azalea accepted the silver coin I paid for today's lodging and gave me the change. I still had some copper coins, but I wanted to exchange them.
I put all the money into the Item Box—it conveniently displayed the total number of each coin.
When taking out multiple items of the same kind, it even asked: "How many would you like to take out?"

The guild registration fee was one silver coin, they said, which is about 50,000 yen... It's quite expensive, but there's no helping it.
First, I need to register with the guild and do some market research.

Chapter 5: Guild Registration and Market

I headed to the Commerce Guild to register for the necessary paperwork to conduct business. I needed to earn money quickly, or my funds would run dry.
According to Azalea at the inn, I could earn a living through physical labor, but after years of desk work in front of a PC, I doubted I could handle such strenuous tasks.
At most, I could till a home vegetable garden.
I arrived at the location I was told. Before me stood a three-story white stone building. Intricate patterns were carved into the stone, giving it an opulent appearance, and all the windows were glazed.
"This must be the place..."
I opened the grand door and stepped inside. Thanks to the glazed windows, the interior felt bright and spacious.
Directly ahead was a counter with a receptionist seated, but there were counters scattered around, likely divided by department.
As I stood there surveying the scene, it seemed they handled business consultations and loans as well. For now, I approached the main counter.
The receptionist wore a white uniform that made her look like a nurse—was this their standard attire? She also wore a tall rectangular hat, further accentuating the nurse-like appearance.
"Excuse me..."
"Yes, how may I assist you today?"
"I'd like to register with the Guild."
"Understood. The registration fee is one silver coin. Please also fill out this form."
She handed me a handwritten document—printing technology must not exist yet. It asked for my name, age, and other details, including a place of origin. I wrote down this city, Daria, since I didn't know any other locations.
On the right side were some math problems—probably a test.
Three three-digit addition problems and two two-digit multiplication problems—what an underwhelming test.
With my still-shaky grasp of the written language from just yesterday, I opened my Item Box, pulled up Anshoko's display, and used it to cheat on the answers, which were invisible to others.
After filling everything out and submitting it, I received an approval.
After a brief wait in a chair, the receptionist brought me a thin metal rod with a hole at the top. This must be what that young merchant wore around his neck.

So this is the Guild's proof. When conducting business, it seems you have to display this visibly, which is why ordinary merchants wear it hanging from their necks.
The registration went smoothly, so I can do business without any issues now. Apparently, in the neighboring Empire, you have to pay a monthly tax on a percentage of your sales, but there's no such thing here.
――Next is market research.
I asked the Guild for the market's location and headed out. According to them, if I followed the flow of people down the street, I'd reach the market――.
And sure enough, that's exactly where I ended up. A chaotic, crowded, lively place――most of the stalls were open-air shops, some with roofs and some without, all sorts.
The goods on sale weren't categorized either, with blades, stones, fresh fruits and vegetables all crammed together in a jumbled mess.
The merchants were pretty casual with their customers too, speaking in a very familiar manner. It seems they only use polite language with high-ranking folks.
I even spotted paper. Slightly brown paper was going for one copper coin (1,000 yen) per sheet. Maybe I could make a profit selling paper. And then... tableware, perhaps? Plain white plates like the ones sold in Shangri-La were catching my eye, going for at least one small silver coin (5,000 yen) apiece.
Patterned ones cost even more, but they didn't seem to sell very well. The people who come to this market are just ordinary townsfolk, so they can't really afford expensive items.
From what I saw at several stalls, blades were also quite pricey, with even shoddy knives costing at least one silver coin (50,000 yen) each. In Shangri-La, you could get pretty decent ones for 5,000 to 6,000 yen.
Maybe I could sell those for two silver coins (100,000 yen) each.
But I wonder if stainless steel would be okay. Blades made from wootz steel or carbon steel were ridiculously expensive.
Even if I sold them, it's not like they'd immediately catch on to it.
But if things got dicey, I'd have to flee to another city.
Besides, with enough money, I could live anywhere using Shangri-La.
I also found the kerosene Azalea mentioned, but it was incredibly smooth and close to the kerosene from my original world. However, the smell was different――kind of fishy.

When I asked the shopkeeper selling it, she said it was made from the fat of sea beasts. Huh, so the saying "different places, different goods" rings true.
She mentioned that since this place is close to the sea, they can obtain sea beast fat, but in more inland countries, they use oil extracted from plants as lamp oil.
"It's close to the sea, but—there's no seafood at all..."
Not just seafood, there wasn't even any raw fish—well, it's understandable since preservation methods are lacking. If I had the Item Box, I could bring seafish from the sea as is.
"I want to try some fruit."
In Shangri-La, they sold vegetable and fruit assortments for around 2,500 to 3,000 yen. But of course, any unique fruits found only in this world would naturally only be available here.
"Hey mister, wanna buy some?"
A woman selling fruit called out to me. The basket she had contained ten fruits for one copper coin (1,000 yen).
There were also smaller square copper coins worth 100 yen each, but since calculations would be a hassle, most small items were sold in bulk.
"Hmm...I want to try various kinds, so how about three different fruits, three of each, for one copper coin?"
"Sure."
Well, it doesn't hurt to ask. I bought red, green, and yellow fruits, putting all but one of the red apple-like ones into my Item Box.
The Item Box display showed: [Linker] [Rinyo] [Rinz]. Ah, so this red one must be the Linker that Azalea mentioned.
I took a bite—sweet and tart, delicious. It looks like an apple, but the flavor is like a mix of peach and apple.
This is something I can only eat in this world.
"Hey mister. Did you just put what you bought into your Item Box?"
The fruit seller seemed to have noticed what I did.
"Yeah, that's right."
"Must be convenient, huh?"
"It's small, but incredibly convenient."
Overhearing our conversation, a muscular, crew-cut man approached us.
"You've got an Item Box, mister?"
"Well, it's a small one."
"Mind helping me out with some big stuff I bought? I could use a hand carrying it."
"You look pretty strong yourself. But I'll do it for the right price."
"How about one copper coin?"

"3,000 yen per hour, huh? That's a bit low."
"Well, if you're hiring someone, you'd have to pay more, wouldn't you?"
"Come on, I'm broke. How about two copper coins?"
"Why don't you ask a friend? Buy them a drink, and they'd probably do it for free."
"If I had money for that, I'd be drinking it myself! Alright, three copper coins!"
He seemed desperate, but what did he buy that even his muscular self couldn't carry? 3,000 yen per hour was decent pay for a small side job.
"Okay, I'll do it for three copper coins. But—I don't know what you bought, so if it doesn't fit in my Item Box, I'm calling it quits."
"Fair enough, that's a deal."
He didn't seem malicious or suspicious, just someone who needed help carrying something.
I followed the man to where he said his purchase was. As we walked side by side, another man approached us from behind.
"Hey there, buddy. Heard you got an Item Box. I've got a lucrative deal for you, if you're interested."
The man who spoke had an unsavory look about him—a sallow complexion and a slightly hunched posture. Hmm, this guy seems shady.
But lucrative deals are never good. Beautiful flowers have thorns. Lucrative deals have traps.
In my line of work, I've learned that when a lucrative deal seems too good to be true, it usually is—payments get delayed, business partners disappear, or promissory notes bounce. Just thinking about it leaves a bad taste.
According to him, the job involved transporting seafood from the ocean and ice from mountains or ice caves.
"It pays well, you know?"
"I'm sure it does. But who would buy such things?"
"Heh, the nobles, of course."
"Ah, I'd rather not get involved with nobles."
The muscular man cut in.
"You'd best stay away, buddy. Nobles ain't worth the trouble. They work you to the bone, and when they're done with you, they'll find some petty excuse and do this."
He made a chopping motion at his own neck—a clear implication of beheading. No joke.
"You're probably right."

"Besides, anyone with a huge Item Box gets dragged off to the battlefield and worked to the bone."
"The battlefield? To transport weapons?"
"That too. But they also have to transport food for the nobles. That way, they can enjoy luxurious meals even on the battlefield."
"That's truly wretched."
"Right?"
The man spread his hands and shook his head.
"Which is why I'd rather not get involved with nobles. I'll have to decline."
"Y-You'll regret this!"
Leaving that parting remark, the hunched man scurried away. It seems having a convenient Item Box like this could lead to being restrained.
In this world, the royalty and nobility hold absolute power. Defying them would be disastrous.
"Leave sleeping dogs lie. A wise man avoids danger. Only a fool goes sniffing around something he knows stinks."
"You're quite learned, mister."
"Nah, just scratched the surface."
Along the way, I asked the man about the forest.
"There was a black beast in the forest... you know anything about it?"
"Black? A cat?"
"No, a dog—or rather, it looked like a wolf."
"Ah, a black wolf then. I've never heard of them coming near the roads, though."
So it was indeed a wolf. Apparently, in some areas, they're called demon wolves.
"No, it was deep in the forest."
"Why were you even in the forest—ah, tried taking a shortcut, didn't you?"
"Yeah, something like that. I got lost and nearly became wolf chow."
"Best not to enter the forest. The same scenery just stretches on endlessly, so you lose your sense of direction."
That's exactly how it felt. No matter how far I went, it was just endless rows of conifers... Though I had a compass, so I didn't get lost.
Back home, people would get lost while foraging for mountain vegetables. Once you're in the mountains, there are no landmarks, so you lose your bearings.
I knew someone who kept walking and ended up in the next town over the mountain—a funny story.
The man and I arrived at our destination. It seemed to be a tool shop.
"This is what I bought."
What the man pointed at was a large bed—a double bed, to be precise. With no plywood in this world, it was made entirely of solid wood.

I tried lifting one end, but it was quite heavy—likely over 50kg. No wonder one person couldn't handle it alone.
"Buying such a large bed... does that mean you got married, or are about to?"
"Heheh."
The burly man scratched his head, blushing.
"—Which means, if I take this job of transporting it, it'll cost more than three copper coins, huh?"
"Yeah, that's why I was looking for an acquaintance who could help me out for free or cheap..."
"And then you happened to run into me by chance. Well, congratulations. I'd like to help you out somehow, but..."
I made sure to add that my Item Box had limited capacity, just in case I failed to store the bed inside.
"Here goes."
The double bed was sucked into my Item Box, and [Used Double Bed] was added to the display.
"Whoa, awesome. So that's an Item Box."
"Glad it worked out. Shall we head to your place, then?"
The man's house was located on the outskirts of town, right next to the city walls—a small wooden structure with a tiled roof. Inside were just two rooms, a living room and a bedroom, with the kitchen attached to the living room.
It reminded me of the cultural houses that were popular in my original world long ago.
"Alright, let's get it into the bedroom."
But there was already a bed in the bedroom. We'd have to move that one out first before bringing in the double bed.
Before that, though—
"Hey, the doors to the entrance and bedroom are too narrow. There's no way we can get a double bed through them."
"Ah..."
The man seemed to realize it too. We could disassemble it, but without tools like a mallet, it would be quite difficult.
"Just leave it to me."
First, I took the double bed I'd brought outside. Then I put the bed from the bedroom into my Item Box and brought it outside as well.
After that, I put the double bed into the Item Box and retrieved it inside the bedroom—and just like that, it was set up.
My Item Box could easily fit two beds, but since I claimed it had limited capacity, I had to go through this roundabout process.
"Thanks a million! I owe you one."
"What about the bed you were using until now?"
"I'll give it to my wife. Just put it in your Item Box and take it to her."
"Are you sure? You could sell it for some money."

"I'll have to ask my husband to help move it again. And I'll need to tidy up the room."
Well, if his wife is coming, he'll have to prepare various things, so dealing with the bed is the least of his concerns.
Besides, since I'm wearing the Commerce Guild's proof around my neck, he must realize I'm a merchant.
"Would it be alright if I sold this bed?"
"Of course. If it weren't for you—if I had asked someone else to bring the bed, they wouldn't have been able to get it into the room, and I'd be at a loss."
The man gave a wry smile, but he was right. It seemed he hadn't thought that far ahead.
"In that case, consider this bed as payment for transporting it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
As a test, I put the bed in front of me into my Item Box for appraisal—and the result came back immediately. [Appraisal Result] [Used Single Bed: Purchase Value 20,000 yen]
So if all goes well, I could get 30,000 to 40,000 yen for it. But that's a bit too much to accept.
I brought up Shangri-La's display and searched for a linen double sheet set. An unbranded one was selling for 4,000 yen, so I purchased that. Cotton would have been around 2,000 yen, but since the inn's sheets were linen, I chose that option. When I pressed [Purchase], a double sheet set dropped in front of me.
"Here's a sheet set as a wedding gift. I'm guessing you haven't bought one yet?"
"Thank you so much! You're too kind, sir."
The muscular man seemed to be tearing up—but I'm not losing out by taking the bed, so there's no need for such gratitude. It makes me feel guilty.
But next time I need to take that double bed outside, I'll have to disassemble it first.
After bidding farewell to the bed man, I circled around the market—giving some merchants a bit of money and gathering information. Information gathering is crucial.
And before the day ended, I returned to the inn, but since it was that time of day, there were many guests, and the dining hall was lively.
"Welcome back."
"Hey, I'm back. This is a souvenir for you."
I handed Azalea a Linker from my Item Box.
"A Linker! Thank you, I love these sweet ones. Were you able to register with the Guild?"
"Yeah."

She showed me the thin metal rod—the Guild's proof.
"Congratulations."
Since it was dinnertime and quite busy, I cut our conversation short and returned to my room. I didn't want to disturb her work.
My stomach was growling too, so I decided to try the fruits I bought at the market. I'd already eaten the Linker, so next I challenged the green Rinyo.
I purchased a fruit knife for 1,000 yen and peeled the green skin, revealing a spiral pattern inside.
"Sour!"
It was crisp and sweet, but incredibly sour. If I dried it like umeboshi plums, it might taste delicious.
Next, I tried the yellow Rinz.
"Hmm, sweet."
It had no sourness at all and tasted like a firm mango. This one's good too. There were still many fruits at the market I hadn't tried, so I looked forward to sampling them.
I purchased some string from Shangri-La for 100 yen. I threaded the Guild's proof onto it and hung it around my neck.
Most merchants at the market wore their proofs like that, so I followed suit—when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Well, I got a feel for the market, so tomorrow I'll start preparing for my business. But even if I don't make much profit, it'll be fine.
As long as I can earn enough for food, I can buy any necessary items from Shangri-La.
For now, my goal is to invest 3,000 yen and make 10,000 yen in sales.
My aim is to live a slow life in this other world. I wonder if I'll succeed.

Chapter 6: Business Preparation

The next day.
With a general understanding of the market situation, I prepared to start my business. First, I needed to construct a stall booth. Initially, I planned to make a prefabricated booth and assemble it on-site, but that wasn't necessary.
In my inn room, I could craft it, and once completed, simply store it in the Item Box.
Before that, feeling a bit short on funds, I decided to charge some small square silver coins.
Would the local currency work for charging? I nervously tried inserting one.
The message "Deposit Accepted" appeared, and 5,000 yen was added. It seemed my estimated exchange rate was correct.
I inserted another small square silver coin, depositing a total of 10,000 yen. My remaining balance was around 54,000 yen.
For breakfast, I had bread and milk, along with the sour Rinyo I bought yesterday, peeling its skin. The lemon-like flavor made for a great wake-up.
It seemed rich in vitamin C.
Well then, let's get started. First, I needed a design blueprint. I bought paper and a 2B pencil set with six pencils for 500 yen to draw the plans. The pencils would also be useful for marking wood during processing.
To sharpen the pencils, I bought a cutter for 200 yen.
I purchased two-meter thin square lumber for 500 yen each, planning to assemble a box measuring one meter wide, two meters tall, and 1.5 meters deep.
Having done DIY woodworking back in my original world, this level was easy for me.
Ten pieces of square lumber cost 5,000 yen. To reinforce the box's strength, I bought sixteen L-shaped brackets for 1,200 yen to attach to the corners. A set of wood screws cost 800 yen.
While I could tighten the screws by hand, doing so for such a large quantity would be quite laborious. An electric screwdriver would be necessary.
However, without electricity and chargers, I opted for a battery-operated one available in Shangri-La. Although a bit underpowered like a toy for 2,000 yen, it was surprisingly usable.
I used screws to secure the assembled wood, but screws felt like over-technology...
Yet, from a distance, they just looked like nails, so I considered them safe. Additionally, driving screws directly into the wood could cause splitting, so I needed to pre-drill pilot holes.
</</p>
For that, I needed an electric screwdriver. And to drill holes, I bought a set of drill bits for 1,000 yen.
When I pressed the "Purchase" button, items came tumbling down before the square lumber clattered onto the floor.
As always, the rough way the items were dropped made me flinch a little.
"Well then, let's get started..."
But to cut the square lumber, I needed a saw. I chose a folding one with replaceable blades. If the blade gets dull, I can just replace it—convenient, for 1,500 yen.
While this replaceable-blade saw might not sell well, they also had double-edged saws without replaceable blades for around 2,000 yen. Those might sell better.
Since there are many wooden buildings in the city, saws should be common.
First, I marked the lumber with a pencil—but then realized I didn't have a square or bevel gauge. Those L-shaped rulers are used to measure dimensions and mark materials.
A square costs 500 yen, but for marking longer pieces, you use an ink pot.
I measured the square lumber with the square, marked it, drilled pilot holes, and secured it with screws. Then, to reinforce it, I fastened L-brackets at the corners with screws.
Even when I pushed on the completed frame, it didn't wobble. But since the square lumber was thin, leaning on it could break it.
Next was the roof. The sunlight was quite strong, so staying at an outdoor stall for long periods would get me sunburned. Considering that, a roof seemed necessary.
While searching for suitable materials, I found a hemp tarp for 1,000 yen. I bought it and secured it over the wooden frame with straw rope—900 yen for the rope.
But seriously, they really do sell everything here.
"Oh! That looks about right!"
However, the L-brackets at the corners were quite noticeable... It looked a bit out of place, hmm...
I bought another tarp and cut it into long strips with scissors. I wrapped those around the corners to hide the L-brackets and tied them with rope.
"Oh, not bad!"
With the frame done, next was the interior. I needed a table to display my merchandise. While searching for tables, I found some cheap ones made of iron pipes, but...
</</p>
I found a table that might work in this world, but it cost over 10,000 yen... a bit pricey. If that's the case, I'll have to make one myself.
So, to find a board for the tabletop, I searched in Shangri-La, but couldn't find anything good. However, they did have cheap particle boards.
Particle board is short for concrete panel board. It's actually used to make formwork when pouring concrete, but it's often used for DIY projects because it's affordable.
While particle board is a bit over-techy, it just looks like a regular board at a glance, so it should be fine.
And if I drape a hemp sheet over it like a tablecloth, the wood grain won't be visible—let's go with that.
With the plan decided, I just needed to find a particle board of the right size. The closest was a 60cm x 90cm board for 1,500 yen. The length was good, but I needed a 50cm width... so I'd have to cut it.
I drew a line with a carpenter's square and started sawing. A circular saw would've been a one-shot deal, but there's no electricity here.
The loud screeching of the saw echoed. Of course, that made Azalea come running down from upstairs.
"Kenichi, what are you doing?!"
"Ah, I'm building a shop."
She seemed surprised when she saw the wooden frame with a roof that I'd completed.
"Eh? Kenichi, you can do carpentry too?"
While her phrasing was a bit odd, I responded.
"Well, yeah. But I'm not damaging the room or anything, and I'll clean up the wood shavings later, so don't worry."
"Hee~, you have a lot of strange tools, don't you?"
She seemed quite interested in my carpentry tools.
"Don't touch them, they're dangerous."
After cutting the tabletop, I added four more square lumber pieces, cut to 80cm for the legs, and secured them.
"What's that? Wow~!"
Azalea was amazed when she saw my power driver.
"This is a magic tool. Don't tell anyone about it."
When she reached for it again, I gave her one Rinyo and one Rinz that I'd bought yesterday.
"This is too sour, I don't like it. Turn it into a Linker."
Well, I can't help it. I put the Rinyo into the Item Box and took out a sweet Linker.
"Ehehe."
</</p>
Azalea's smiling face belied her shrewdness. In this world, a bit of shrewdness might be necessary to avoid being taken advantage of.
I set up a table inside the booth and bought a round stool chair for 3,000 yen.
On the right side of the table, I installed a wooden shelf for 2,000 yen. I ran a round rod through it and suspended it from the wooden frame with rope to secure it.
I planned to hang merchandise and flyers from this to advertise.
"Hmm, not bad at all, is it?"
"Wow! It looks like a shop!"
"Not 'looks like' a shop—it is a shop."
Since I had paper and pencils out, I drew a picture of a bed and hung it from the rod.
"TYUKOBETU^DO ARIMASU SS//7" — Used bed available, 7 small square silver coins (35,000 yen).
It was mostly in Romanized letters, but consonant gemination was marked with a diacritic above. Long vowels were written normally with a macron. "SS" stood for small square silver coins, "S" for silver coins, and "G" for gold coins.
"Why a bed?" Azalea asked.
"I bought one."
"Huh, so you're already doing business. Amazing, I have no idea how I'd even start..."
Well, my ability was inexplicable, so I couldn't really advise her.
I bought a pack of 200 wooden clothespins for 1,000 yen to hang the bed drawing, and Azalea exclaimed again when she saw them.
"What are those? I want some. They're for clipping laundry, right?"
"Yeah, do you have something similar here?"
According to her, they had something resembling clothespins made by splitting thin wood and tying it with string, but they didn't clip well and fell off easily.
"Are you going to sell these too?"
"Yeah, maybe two for one copper coin."
Based on her reaction, I thought they might sell well. Selling two for 1,000 yen when I bought 200 for 1,000 yen seemed like a huge markup, but if they didn't exist in this world, they had value.
The low price came from mass production, but if they had to be handmade here, the cost would be higher.
And since they could potentially be replicated in this world, they weren't over-technology.
</</p>
Azalea had a covetous look on her face.
"Here, this is hush money. I'll give you four."
"Aww, just two..."
"Alright, six then. Don't breathe a word of this business secret to anyone."
She silently nodded, clutching the clothespins.
With the stall completed, I bought a broom and dustpan to clean the floor. The dustpan was made of tin—2,000 yen for two.
"I want that too..."
It seemed she wanted the tin dustpan.
"Here you go."
"Thank you~!"
She hugged me and kissed me, but when she does that, I can't help but recall last night's events...
I felt a bit flustered watching Azalea patter down the stairs. But really, over a dustpan?
No, no! Focus on the business at hand.
I stored the completed wooden frame and table in the Item Box without issue.
"Alright!"
I psyched myself up, but the problem was what to sell. I needed to choose inexpensive yet sellable items. I checked my remaining funds—just over 30,000 yen.
First, plates—four sets of five plates for 500 yen each, so twenty plates. Three deep plates for 800 yen each. And three plates with a blue line around the rim, also 800 yen each.
They were identical plates, but the patterned ones would likely sell for more.
One 5,000 yen knife and one 6,000 yen knife. Then, I'll display around thirty sheets of the washi paper I bought the other day.
How about some plain white handkerchiefs too? There were 800 yen ones with simple embroidery, so I bought two.
The more embroidery on the white handkerchiefs, the higher the price. I'll also buy one with embroidery all around the edges for 2,000 yen.
Let's start with this... I put everything in the Item Box.
Remaining funds... down to less than 10,000 yen! Oh no, this is seriously bad.
With preparations complete, I headed downstairs from the inn.
"Kenichi, going to the market?"
"Yeah. I'm off."
"Good luck~"
Her encouragement was appreciated, but I really needed to sell well or I'd run out of money. Well, I could get items of my original world's quality for reasonable prices here. They wouldn't be completely unsellable.
I had to believe that. If I really ran out of money, I might have to capture that shady guy from yesterday or take my chances on that dangerous bridge.
</</p>
A wry smile was all I could muster.
------◇◇◇------
The weather was clear and sunny—perfect for doing business. First, I needed to secure a spot. Most of the merchants at the market operated from open-air stalls.
They'd arrive in the morning, set up shop, and leave in the evening once their wares were sold. Farmers, for instance, would bring their freshly harvested vegetables and fruits in the morning, sell them, and then head back to tend to their fields.
They couldn't stay at the market all day since they had other farm work to do, and hiring help would incur additional expenses.
While there were no officially designated spots, the veteran and long-established merchants had essentially claimed the central locations, leaving the newcomers like me to set up on the outskirts.
Well, that's only natural. As a newcomer, I had to stay humble and not cause any trouble, or I'd risk being barred from the market entirely.
I headed to the far edge of the market and prepared to set up my stall. As a courtesy, I addressed the neighboring vendor.
"Is this spot available?"
"Sure, go ahead," replied an elderly woman.
Merchants tended to dress rather flamboyantly, adorning themselves with various accessories and ornaments.
This woman, too, wore numerous necklaces—perhaps they were part of her merchandise.
I retrieved the wooden booth frame I had crafted from the Item Box and positioned it next to her stall.
"Say, are you an Item Box holder, dear?"
"Ah, yes, though it's a small one."
"How enviable. You can carry all sorts of things without any luggage."
"Yeah."
Without an Item Box, I'd have had to transport all the stall components by cart and assemble them on-site.
"With an Item Box, you could set up closer to the center of the market, you know."
"I'm just a newcomer here. Can't have a fresh face acting too big for their boots."
"My, aren't you a cautious one..."
I set up the table, draped a white sheet over it as a makeshift tablecloth, and began arranging my merchandise.
However, a light breeze kept blowing the papers around, so I purchased two paperweights for 300 yen each.
"Hey, let me have a look at those plates," the neighboring woman called out.
I handed her one of the cheapest ones.
"Are these brand new?"
"Yeah, fresh off the production line."
"And how much are you selling them for?"
</</p>
"Hmm, three copper coins."
"You could ask for more than that."
Well, three copper coins was probably close to the price for used plates... But these were brand new plates that cost 100 yen each.
However, for now, I needed to sell at bargain prices to secure some cash flow.
"Since I'm just starting out, I'll offer a service price. First, I need to get customers to remember me."
Alright, preparations were complete—shall we start doing business?
</</p>

Chapter 7: Smooth Start in Business

Just as my funds charged into Shangri-La were about to run out, I started a business.
However, I still had four small silver coins left, and if I sold the bed in my Item Box to Shangri-La, I could keep going a little longer.
After all, it had been appraised at 20,000 yen.
Oh, that's right, since I had made a flyer for the bed, I should put it up.
I tied a string to a wooden clothespin and hung it from a piece of lumber, clipping the flyer to it. I also clipped a handkerchief alongside it. Next to that, a knife dangled from the lumber by a rope.
"Hey, honey, isn't that for clipping laundry?" The woman next door called out to me again, so I showed her the item.
"How much is this?"
"Two for one copper coin (1,000 yen)."
"Then give me about six!"
"You're buying them?"
"There's no rule saying I can't buy from the neighboring store, is there?"
"Well, I guess I can't give you a freebie for every six..."
"What are you talking about? People use three or four for big things like sheets."
Ah, the perspective of a woman who does laundry. Speaking of laundry, I should change clothes and do some myself soon. I've been wearing the same outfit since I got here...
Once I have some money, I'll get some new clothes too. Underwear from Shangri-La is fine, but I want outerwear from this world.
Still, food comes before clothes. No matter how dirty I get, I won't die, but if I get hungry enough, I will.
I sold seven clothespins to the woman next door and received three copper coins (3,000 yen) - thanks as always.
Since the clothespins seem to be selling well, I decided to make a flyer for them too.
"Revolutionary Laundry Clip 2 for 1 copper coin, 6 for 1 free" - Revolutionary Laundry Clip, 2 for 1 copper coin, 6 for 1 free.
I sat on a stool and waited for customers. I walked around the market, but not many stores seemed to be calling out to attract customers.
It seems the custom in this world is to quietly let customers examine the merchandise.
Customers may try to haggle, but it's apparently rare for new items.
When there were no customers, I brought up Shangri-La's screen and read e-books. For 1,000 yen a month, I could read as much as I wanted.

Reading an isekai light novel in another world - what chaos is this?
"Oh! Ain't that the hubby from yesterday? You set up a shop here?"
Looking up at the words, I saw the muscular man I had helped move a double bed, scrutinizing the frame of the shop I had made.
"Did you make this shop too, hubby?"
"Yeah, I like making things."
"A real artisan, ain't ya? Talented folks can do anything, makes a man jealous."
"You finished cleaning the room?"
"Yup, all done."
The man struck a bodybuilder pose. Yet it was a weekday at this hour.
"What about work today?"
"Got laid off."
This man, who spoke regretfully, said he did day labor like construction and public works to make use of his boasting strength.
"These plates look nice."
"Brand new. How about some new plates for your new married life?"
"Yeah, you're right. Starting a new life, you want new plates at least."
Yet what he was looking at had a blue line around the rim. I planned to price those higher.
"The ones with patterns are more expensive, you know?"
"How much?"
"One plate, two small square silver coins (10,000 yen)."
"Hmm..."
To me, it seemed a bit pricey, but patterned plates cost this much in this world, and being new made it a good deal.
"Alright, I'll take 'em!"
Had he made a big decision, or had he leapt off the diving board, so to speak? Of course, there were no diving boards in this other world.
"Whoa, you sure? Didn't you say you were broke?"
"Eh, I can work and stop drinking to cover it."
"In that case, I'll throw in two of the cheaper plates too. And a handkerchief, a freebie for the missus."
"You sure about that?"
"Yeah, 'cause you gave me that bed."
I pointed to the flyer advertising the bed for sale.
"Like I said yesterday, hubby, you're too nice."
"Haha, I just take from those who have money, so it's all good."
The muscular man paid four small square silver coins (20,000 yen) and left, happily carrying the plates.
------◇◇◇------

  • And then, past noon. I munched on bread for lunch.

Before noon, after the muscular man bought some plates, the laundry clips sold quite well. Around 30 were sold off, with 4 freebies - a sales revenue of 15,000 yen.
I had thought earning 10,000 yen a day would be okay, but it seems like I could make a living just from the laundry clips. However, if a product sells well, there will likely be others who try to imitate and make similar items, so I need to consider diversifying my products.
As I chewed on the dry, flavorless bread, a voice called out to me.
"May I take a look at that knife?"
Looking up, I saw a young man with golden hair standing there - the kind you'd call a fine youth. However, he had a sword at his waist, and his bearing was clearly different from the townsfolk.
He wasn't wearing any armor, but he was likely a knight or something of the sort. If so, he must be of high status, so I should probably use polite language.
The man was pointing at the 6,000 yen knife with the black grip.
"Yes, please go ahead. It's brand new."
I handed the knife to the man, and he examined it with great interest.
"A fine piece. How much does it cost?"
"This one is two small silver coins (100,000 yen)."
"Hmm, quite expensive - but I've never seen such a beautiful blade before, so I can understand the price. However..."
"Is there something unsatisfactory about it?"
"I was hoping for a slightly larger one..."
In the previous world, there was a complicated law regarding swords and blades, so there weren't many large blades available. If any, perhaps a machete or...
However, blades made from carbon steel like white paper or blue paper were quite expensive - even at Shangri-La, they ranged from 25,000 to 50,000 yen.
A custom order would probably be around 100,000 yen.
But this knight seems like he'd be willing to buy one. I should show him an actual product.
I charged 4 small square silver coins (20,000 yen) from my sales into Shangri-La and purchased a 30cm blade length machete for 25,000 yen.
"For larger ones, this is what they're like - it's a machete, but if you replace the grip and hilt, it should be usable in combat as well."
Upon seeing it, the knight drew a machete from a leather sheath.
"Oho! This is a beauty! How much for this one?"
"One gold coin (200,000 yen)."
"Expensive... Expensive, but for something this beautiful... Hmm..."

It seemed the knight was quite troubled over the expensive purchase. However, I couldn't offer it too cheaply, nor could I refrain from charging a wealthy customer.
As the knight muttered to himself, another man called out to him.
"Is that mosquito net for sale?"
"Huh?"

  • Turning towards the voice, I saw a tiger-like man - probably a man - covered in fur from head to toe.
    Triangular ears protruded from his head, twitching.
    "Whoa! - My apologies."
    I apologized for letting out a strange sound in surprise.
    "Hubby, is this your first time seeing a beast-man?"
    A beast-man - a beast-man, huh. I was genuinely startled. He resembled a kigurumi, but was an actual living being. Truly, this other world was astonishing.
    "Ah, my apologies. There were no beast-men in my village."
    "No beast-men? You must be from quite the remote region."
    "Yeah, it was just my family and relatives there."
    "Well, my hometown was like that too. Though in my village, there were only beast-men. Hahaha!"
    He said he wanted one of the hemp mosquito nets hanging from the ceiling of my booth.
    "For this size, it's three copper coins each."
    "Then give me three of 'em."
    "That's nine copper coins, but since you're buying three, I'll throw in one for free - eight copper coins."
    "I ain't got eight copper coins..."
    "Then how about one small square silver coin and three copper coins?"
    The man counted his money - but he seemed to struggle with calculations.
    "I only got two copper coins."
    "Then if you give me two small square silver coins, your change will be two copper coins."
    "Uh, uh-"
    "What the shopkeeper is saying is correct."
    Perhaps taking pity on the struggling beast-man, the knight came to his aid.
    "I see, my bad. Us beast-men, y'see, we're not good at calculations. So we often get swindled outta our money."
    I purchased three mosquito nets from Shangri-La and handed them over along with the change.
    "Here you go, thank you very much. Don't worry, I won't try to swindle you out of your money here."

The beast-man didn't know what he'd use it for, but he happily left carrying the mosquito netting.
"Alright, I'll buy one too. This shop seems trustworthy."
"If you're buying, then please allow me to include this as a complimentary gift."
What I purchased from Shangri-La to give as a freebie was a 2,000 yen whetstone - one with two different grits bonded together.
"Oh, a whetstone, is it? An unusual one."
"The brown side is coarse. The greenish one is finer."
"I see, you combined two into one. Quite convenient, it seems. Very well! One gold coin, then."
"Thank you for your purchase."
The knight left, satisfied, carrying the machete. He said he had a weaponsmith he was familiar with who could replace the grip and hilt, so he'd have them do it.
Apparently, even if you bought a weapon elsewhere, they wouldn't give you any trouble for maintenance. That was a relief.
With a big sale like that, today would be profitable... But I shouldn't get ahead of myself. One sale at a time. Let's not count our chickens before they hatch.
"Heading home already?"
As I began packing up, the woman from the neighboring stall called out to me.
"Well, I made a big sale on the first day."
"Must be nice to have such good business."
"Here, take these two laundry clips. Consider it a pick-me-up."
"Thanks, I'll gladly take them."
Once I put the merchandise, wooden frame, and table into the Item Box, I was ready to head home. Simple and easy.
I had earned some money, so I wanted to buy some underwear and do laundry. There was supposedly a well behind the inn, and I planned to use that.
On my way back, I browsed clothing items. There were nice leather jackets and jumper-like garments, but they were pricey - around two small silver coins (100,000 yen) each.
Apparently, such items were meant to last a lifetime, with repairs done as needed.
A leather jacket from Shangri-La would be cheaper, but they all had zippers, which would seem out of place in this world.
I returned to the inn.
"Welcome back~"
"I'll pay for five nights' stay all at once."
I handed Azalea three small square silver coins (15,000 yen).
"Did you make some money?"
"Fairly decent, I'd say."

I returned to my room and opened Shangri-La's screen, purchasing three T-shirts.
"As for underwear... hmm..."
It seemed this world lacked anything resembling undergarments. Nobles might wear something akin to drawers, but...
When in Rome, do as the Romans do - from today, I'll go commando... I tossed my discarded underwear into the Item Box.
Now, for an outer garment... Browsing through Shangri-La, I found a collarless black button-up shirt. This shouldn't stand out too much in this town.
Since I had removed my underwear, I wanted to do laundry. Looking for a washbasin and washboard, I couldn't find any wooden basins for sale... Plastic would seem out of place.
As a compromise, I settled for a small galvanized steel basin for 3,000 yen and a washboard for 2,000 yen.
For detergent, instead of powdered laundry soap for washing machines, I bought an old-fashioned bar of laundry soap for 300 yen, along with some regular soap.
I wanted to wash my body and hair at the well, and shave my beard while I was at it. I bought a 10-pack of Gillette-style disposable razors.
Carrying the basin, washboard, and laundry soap, I headed to the well behind the inn. The well's bucket made a clattering sound as I drew water, filling the basin. That water-filled bucket was damn heavy!
"This is definitely going to give me sore muscles tomorrow, huh?"
But in recent days, I haven't been getting sore muscles as quickly. How are you doing? I'm doing well in this other world - though I hate to admit it, I've been feeling a slight decline lately.
Apparently, the inn uses this well water for drinking too, but they use a "water stone" to purify it.
Well, I have Shangri-La's delicious water, so I don't need any water stones.
Using the laundry soap, I scrubbed my underwear on the washboard. I never thought I'd be using something like this in modern times.
But I vaguely recall using one at my grandmother's house as a kid.
Looking in Shangri-La, there are spherical hand-cranked washing machines for sale. I could probably use one of those somewhere private.

However, the product reviews were scathing - "Washing by hand is faster" - one of them read.
Well, it was probably just a one-off gag item.
As I was doing laundry at the well, Azalea came over.
"Oh, you're doing laundry. You should've let me do it. Kenichi, you've got soap suds, but do you have soap too?"
It seems this world also has soap, but it's apparently quite expensive. Ordinary households use wood ash instead.
"Yeah, I've got some. Didn't you say laundry was an extra charge?"
"That's true, but... if you've earned some money, you can afford that much, right?"
"No, I'll save where I can. Come on, I want to wash my body too, so go back to work."
"I'll wash it for you."
"Wait, wait! I'll be getting naked!"
"Oh come on, I've already touched, sucked, and inserted it. What's the big deal now?"
"Don't say such things in public. Here, I'll give you a bar of soap, so go back to work."
"Yay!"
Phew - her energy level is exhausting.
And - after we did it, I was a bit worried, so I asked her about contraception. According to her, there's a special solution for that.
Apparently, you just insert that afterwards and you're good... It's commonly used, has no side effects, and can even prevent sexually transmitted diseases - this other world sure is something.
I washed my head and body, shaved my beard, and felt refreshed! But I really wish I could take a hot bath... However, in this world, only nobles can bathe, it seems.
But as I hung up the laundry and searched Shangri-La, I found drum barrel baths for sale for around 20,000 yen.
I could fill those with river water or something, and heat it up with a campfire.
For drawing water, I could use a pump - this could work.
I'll have to make it happen eventually.

Chapter 8: Maybe I've Thought of a Good Trick

After finishing the laundry, I returned to my room and hung the clothes to dry by stringing a rope across it.
Using the bath towel I bought from Shangri-La, I vigorously rubbed my head dry.
"Ahh, that's refreshing!"
I stroked my chin to check if I had missed any spots while shaving.
It was lucky that an expensive item sold on my first day of business. However, I can't expect things to always go so smoothly—I need to stay focused.
But I wonder if there's a more efficient product to sell. The clothespins sold the best so far, but...
As I counted the coins from my earnings, a good idea came to mind.
"What about bullion...?"
In Shangri-La, they sell gold and silver bullion. I could sell that directly for cash.
I quickly searched for bullion on Shangri-La and found that one-ounce silver ingots and coins were selling for around 4,000 yen.
If I bought those and took them to a local money changer, I could exchange them for silver coins worth 50,000 yen each in this world's currency.
But wait... In Shangri-La, silver coins are only worth 4,000 yen, but in the local currency, they can be charged at 50,000 yen? What's the deal with that?
Is that just how the system works? Can I buy a bunch of cheap silver coins from Shangri-La and have them reminted into this world's currency...?
It's a mystery.
Could I be trying to exploit a loophole I shouldn't touch? This status screen must be managed by someone, after all.
I don't want to get suddenly banned for breaking the rules, do I? In this world that isn't a game, getting banned would be equivalent to death.
Still, it seems worth trying once.
I also looked up gold bullion, and one-ounce gold coins were around 180,000 yen, so their value didn't seem too different from this world.
Silver coins seem to be the better target, then...
I tried charging the gold coin I got today into Shangri-La, and it deposited 200,000 yen.
"So the exchange rate seems to be correct, at least."
To put my plan into action, I purchased three one-ounce silver coins and two square ingots. At 4,000 yen each, the total came to 20,000 yen.

When I clicked "Purchase", a chime rang out and coins came tumbling down, rolling across the floor. They nearly fell through the gaps in the floorboards.
Aren't items usually packaged? But whenever I buy something here, there's no wrapping or cardboard boxes.
I guess that's just how it works in this world.
I tried appraising the silver coins I just bought—they were valued at 3,900 yen each.
It seems I won't get their full value unless I exchange them for this world's currency.
For a moment, I thought I'd found a bug or exploit—but the system didn't let me get away with that.
"Whoa, these are so shiny!"
The silver coins were polished to a mirror finish—but that wouldn't do, they'd stand out too much.
I went outside, picked up some stones, put them in a leather pouch with the coins, and shook it all up.
The coins were scratched up, but they still looked too new...
"Hmm, I think there was some kind of tarnishing solution for sale?"
I searched for "silver tarnish" and found a silver tarnishing liquid for 2,000 yen. I bought it and read the instructions.
"Let's see... Mix the tarnishing liquid into hot water, submerge the silver items, and once they turn black, rinse and dry thoroughly... Got it."
Apparently, you then polish them with paper or cloth.
I took out a camp stove from my Item Box, boiled some water, and followed the instructions. Sure enough, the shiny coins turned black.
I bought some sandpaper and polished them until they looked properly aged.
"Nice! Yeah, these should pass for real now."
I'll take them to get appraised before setting up my stall at the market tomorrow. As long as it's real silver and not counterfeit, it should be fine—I think.
As I was admiring the tarnished coins, I heard someone coming up the stairs. I quickly stashed the doctored coins in my Item Box.
There was a knock, and Azalea entered.
"There's nothing going on here."
"You don't have to put it like that—"

It seems I'm being regarded as an interesting old man, so she keeps popping in from time to time.
Well, she's the best source for information about the town, so I find her useful too.
------◇◇◇------
—The next morning. I was eating meat and rice from the get-go. I'd been eating just bread, so I craved some meat.
However, grilling it over a wire mesh creates a ton of smoke, so I bought a frying pan and cooked it over low heat. I used my trusty Genghis Khan sauce for the marinade.
The downside of pan-frying is that the excess fat doesn't drain off, making it greasy. But it can't be helped.
After cleaning up from breakfast, I psyched myself up and left the inn wearing the collarless black shirt I bought yesterday.
"Alright, let's go try selling those silver coins! We'll see if it's a hit or a miss."
I left the inn and headed first to the tool shop where that muscular guy bought the double bed—I decided to ask if they'd buy the silver coins.
I passed through the market and arrived at a shop with various wares piled out front. I entered the dimly lit interior—
Inside the dark shop, all sorts of items were stacked up, making it hard to tell what was what...
"Yo!"
"What's this, now?"
"Whoa! You startled me."
An old man with white hair and a white beard emerged from the darkness. The dim green robe he wore made him hard to see.
His long white goatee gave him the unmistakable look of a wizard.
"Gramps, you guys buy silver coins and stuff?"
"Let me see 'em—"
The old man took the silver coins I pulled from my pocket. A bright light then began to emanate from his hands.
What's this? Magic? He does look like a wizard, but is he really a mage?
"Hmm, I've never seen coins like these before. Where did you get them, lad?"
"Can't say where, but I found 'em."
"You didn't happen to raid a dungeon, did you?"
"Yeah, let's go with that."
What? Dungeons exist? Come to think of it, those guys at the market were talking about some adventurer's guild...

"Unfortunately, I can't buy them here. This country has strict currency regulations. The use of coins from other countries is prohibited. If you want to use these, you'll need to go to the national money changer."
"That's pretty strict."
"You're not from around here, are you?"
"Yeah, I just arrived."
"There was an incident a while back where a large amount of counterfeit currency was circulating. Ever since then, the country has been on high alert."
"I see, that makes sense. Say, old man, could you tell me where this national money changer is located?"
I handed the old man a copper coin.
"There's a large street that intersects right before the market. Just go straight down that road—you'll see it right on the street, so it'll be hard to miss."
"Thanks, old man."
Counterfeiting, huh? No wonder they're not taking it lightly. In any country, counterfeiting currency is a serious crime since it directly impacts the economy.
As I was about to leave the shop, I noticed a square brazier-like object with a thin grate on top.
"Old man, what's this?"
"You don't know? It's a fire stone stove."
The old man fiddled with the stove, and a flame ignited.
"Whoa! That's amazing. Is it magic?"
"You could call it magic, I suppose..."
It's a stove that uses a flammable stone as fuel. Huh, that's pretty high-tech. I also found an oil lamp that uses the same fire stone as an ignition source.
Is this what Azalea was talking about?
But the prices were outrageous. The used stove cost the equivalent of 300,000 yen, and the oil lamp was 100,000 yen. I could definitely get them cheaper on Shangri-La.
I left the tool shop and followed the old man's directions. Soon, I saw a sign with a coat of arms depicting a sword piercing a coin.
It was a three-story stone building with a protruding entrance and a short flight of stairs leading up to it. All the windows had glass panes—an impressive structure.
As expected from a government facility.
To enter, I slipped my merchant's permit into my pocket to conceal my identity, just in case. No need to take chances—I steeled my resolve and stepped inside.
The interior was just as lavish, constructed from marble-like stone. The glass windows allowed plenty of light to reflect off the white stone walls, illuminating the space.

I approached the counter where a young man wearing glasses was seated. The employees here wore white shirts and blouses, with black pants or skirts suspended by suspenders.
Both men and women wore bow ties around their necks.
Behind the counter, there was a bespectacled female employee with her hair tied up in a bun. She was so buxom that the uniform looked exceptionally flattering on her.
Wow, marvelous.
No, that's not right—
"Excuse me, I'd like to exchange some foreign silver coins."
I placed all the silver coins and five ingots I had in my pocket on the counter.
The young man in glasses put the silver coins on a wooden plate and examined one of them closely before answering.
"Please have a seat over there and wait."
His palm gestured toward a row of red cushioned chairs. I had no choice but to wait silently.
To pass the time while waiting, I brought up Shangri-La's screen and started reading an e-book—
But then I noticed a commotion behind the counter. They were rushing about with scales, water tanks, and other equipment.
They were probably checking if the silver was genuine... I hope it's alright? But I bought it from Shangri-La, so the silver quality should be top-notch.
There's no use worrying too much. Since the buxom female employee was stirring my artistic desires, I took out paper and a pencil from my Item Box and started sketching her.
Hmm, women really are most alluring at that age. Azalea is cute, but there's something about a mature woman's sensuality...
My tastes have changed quite a bit as I've grown older. My eyesight has been getting worse lately too—I'm starting to need reading glasses.
Ah, I don't want to grow old.
As I was feeling a bit down over these trivial matters, I was called—about 30 minutes had passed, I think.
"The customer here for the silver coin exchange?"
"Ah, yes, yes."
As I hurried to the counter, the bespectacled employee politely explained:

"After a thorough inspection, the silver coins you brought have been verified as genuine silver. However, if we recast them, five silver coins will only yield one gold coin in exchange. Is that acceptable?"
"Well, I suppose there's no helping it. If I can't use them as is, there's no point in holding onto them..."
"Sir, may I offer my personal opinion?"
"Y-Yes, please go ahead."
What's this, what's this? Is there some kind of problem?
"Sir, these silver coins exhibit an extremely advanced minting technique. If we send them to the proper workshop for further detailed examination, their value could increase significantly. As someone who handles currency and examines various items, I must say it's truly a delight to behold such marvelous pieces."
This man speaks so calmly and politely about his love for coins that he seems a bit odd himself. But the coins from my former world were press-stamped, weren't they?
"Well... I won't understand if you start getting too technical. If you can just exchange them for usable gold coins, that'll be fine. You can do whatever investigation you need to on your end..."
For now, I'll just laugh it off.
"Understood."
The man let out a disappointed sigh as he pushed his glasses up, and a single gold coin appeared on the wooden plate.
"Thank you for your patience."
With the gold coin in hand, I quickly took my leave. It went well, but my heart was pounding.
I can't bring any more of those in! It'll definitely cause problems. I thought it was a clever trick, but it seems to be quite problematic.
If I brought in a large amount of silver coins and they started investigating their origin, it could get really bad.
I could melt down the silver coins and recast them myself, but private minting of currency is likely a capital offense. There's no need to take such a dangerous risk.
There are plenty of other ways to make money.
For example, while foreign silver coins aren't accepted, silver accessories are perfectly fine, and various silver products are sold in the market.
Of course, they're quite expensive.
But if I search on Shangri-La, there are tons of cheap silver accessories for 2,000 to 3,000 yen. I could just sell those instead.

However, if the selling price is too high, I'm worried it might limit the potential customers...
The customers who come to the market apparently have a monthly income of around 100,000 yen. For them, spending 20,000 to 30,000 yen on accessories would be a bit of a stretch.
It would be great if I could attract some wealthy patrons... But I don't really want to deal with nobles.
Well, at least I've got some extra cash on hand now. I'll set up a display of silverwork and see if any customers bite.
Maybe a wealthy person will happen to come by and catch their eye.
I lost some time, but I decided to head to the market anyway.
------◇◇◇------
I was late setting up my stall, but unsurprisingly, I didn't get as lucky as yesterday—only about 30 clothespins sold.
These clothespins are definitely going to be a staple product, though. I should put more thought into how I display them.
Maybe I could connect them together into a garland to decorate my booth?
I was thinking of closing up early today when someone called out to me.
"Can you show me that bed?"
The one who spoke was a burly middle-aged man with a mustache. I crawled out from under the table.
"I'll bring it out here, so stand back a bit."
"Bring it out? Ah..."
I summoned the bed from my Item Box right in front of him, and he took a step back, looking surprised.
"So this is that Item Box thing I've heard about."
"That's right. The bed's well-used but still sturdy. If you buy it, I'll throw in a free sheet."
"Hmm... Let me think."
"Well, I'm closing up for the day, so if you buy it, I can use the Item Box to transport it to your home."
"That would be helpful... Alright, I'll take it."
"Thanks for your business!"
I sold it for six square silver coins (30,000 yen).
Everyday necessities like this can still sell for a decent price, but accessories are luxury items.
After delivering the bed, my work for the day was done.
The silver coin plan didn't work out, but it can't be helped.

Chapter 9: Clothespins Are Selling Well

The silver laundering scheme ended in failure. Well, time to consider the next move.
I returned to the inn and decided to have dinner a little early.
"Now that I have some leeway, I should get something else to eat...I'm craving curry."
--Not that I'd actually cook and simmer curry from scratch. It would be instant curry from a pouch.
I searched on Shangri-La. Since I have money now, maybe I'll splurge a bit--the Local Curry 4 Types Set looks good.
It's a 4-pack for 1600 rin, so 400 rin per pouch is pretty pricey for instant curry.
I took out a portable stove to boil water for the curry pouches and rice packets. Once heated, I just had to plate them. The trash went into the trash bin.
"Itadakimasu~"
As expected from the premium price, it's spicy and rich in flavor. Quite delicious compared to those 100 rin pouches--night and day difference.
It feels like ages since I last had curry, even though I haven't been here that long.
After eating, I wiped the plate with a tissue, then sprayed it with alcohol and wiped it again with another tissue.
The alcohol should cut through the grease and disinfect, so it should be fine. A germaphobe would definitely struggle in another world.
With a full belly, I searched Shangri-La again--this time for silverwork.
As expected, spending 2000-3000 rin gets you a decent selection of silver accessories. Some have gemstones, but obviously not diamonds or crystals--just zirconia or cut glass.
But even so, these would still hold considerable value in this world. I purchased a set of 5 items--a necklace, brooch, earrings, etc.--for around 10,000 rin.
As I admired the accessories I bought, there was a knock at the door--must be Azalea.
"It's open."
"How did it go today? --Ah! You got a lot of silverwork!"
"Don't even think about it. It's merchandise."
"I know, I know...say, can't I pay with my body?"
"No."
"Hmph...why not?"
"No means no."
She tried clinging to me, pressing her chest against me, and all sorts of things, but not today.
She looked disgruntled, but I can't just give in to her every whim.
Unexpectedly persistent, so I quickly shooed her out. Getting too attached would be troublesome. Who knows what'll happen down the line...

If that busty receptionist at the money changer came onto me seductively, my heart might waver too.
------◇◇◇------
--The next morning, I had curry for breakfast. Morning curry.
It reminded me of when I was in elementary school and ate leftover curry from the night before for breakfast before going to school. But I don't have time to indulge in nostalgia.
I still don't have enough funds for my isekai slow life plan--I have to work hard.
I arrived at the market and set up my stall--the usual spot, but no new vendors had joined yet. I greeted the woman next door, but it seems I'm still the only newcomer for now.
As I had been considering, I connected clothespins to make a garland and decorated the front of my stall.
It's quite flashy and nice. In business, the more eye-catching, the better. If I can't call out to customers, I have to put effort into the display.
Spinning a red lantern might attract attention too, but that's probably not feasible.
Though painting the clothespins different colors could also be a good idea.
I hung silver necklaces and brooches from the horizontal rod. I hope the sparkling will catch people's eyes.
About 30 minutes after opening, with no customers yet, I sat on a stool and watched the people passing by.
Then a large-eared, fur-clad woman with a swishing tail came walking by.
Beastkin apparently don't mind being naked, but to avoid offending public decency, they wear a token amount of clothing.
Her outfit consisted of a simple cloth vest and a miniskirt that exposed her tail. Regular women usually wear ankle-length skirts since they don't wear underwear.
Huh, I never noticed before, but there are quite a few beastkin around. But aren't they hot? Dogs and cats are supposed to be vulnerable to heat.
As I watched the beastkin woman, she suddenly stopped moving.
Oh no, was I staring too much? She raised her tail and came straight toward me.
"Hey there, welcome."
I greeted her casually to deflect. But she didn't say anything, just sniffed around like she was catching a scent.
"What's--?"

"I smell spices, nya!"
Nya? The beast-woman's face came up close, and upon closer inspection—her face was indeed covered in fur. Black fur with a tiger-like pattern.
She was more cat than human, it seemed. But spices, huh? Could she be smelling the curry from this morning?
If so, her nose must be incredibly sharp.
"What is it?"
"If you have spices, I want you to sell them to me, nya!"
"Ah, I do have some, but they're not for sale, you see. I've also heard that selling spices around here could get me into trouble."
"That's right, dear. You don't want to catch Bacopa's attention," the woman from the neighboring stall chimed in.
"See?"
"Nyuu~" She drooped her shoulders and tail dejectedly, but I didn't want to risk drawing the ire of the spice syndicate. The beast-woman shuffled away, dejected.
After that, I only managed to sell six clothespins in the next hour. Well, days like this happen.
With nothing to do, I opened Shangri-La and started reading an e-book when a voice called out to me.
"I'd like some clothespins, please."
Looking up, I saw a maid with slanted eyes standing before me. She wore a navy blue long dress with a white apron, her black hair tied into two donut-shaped buns on either side of her head.
She was fiddling with one of the sample clothespins with her fingers.
"How many do you need?"
"One hundred."
"One hun—? Dred?"
"Don't you have that many in stock?"
"No, I do, but... one hundred would be—let's see, one silver coin?"
"I was aware of the price, so I've brought the money."
Listening to her, it seemed she was a maid working at a large manor. Well, if they had dozens of servants, they'd probably need around a hundred clothespins for laundry.
Apparently, she had seen an acquaintance bragging about buying some, so she asked her employer about getting some too.
"One, two, three..."
I started stacking the clothespins into a tower of ten on the table. If I made another tower of the same height next to it, I wouldn't need to count them one by one—just like coins.
"Here you go! One hundred clothespins. And since it's buy six get one free, I'll throw in sixteen extra."
"Thank you very much."
The maid bowed her head, then started transferring the clothespins into the cloth bag she had brought.
"Ah, wait, let me spread them out. I'll put them in for you."

She rattled the clothespins into the cloth bag.
"Thank you very much."
After bowing her head again, she seemed to notice the necklace in front of her.
She picked it up and stared at it intently.
"Th-This is... a diamond, isn't it?"
"No, that's just polished glass. The colored ones are too."
"Glass..."
Well, it's actually zirconia, but I can't call it a diamond since it's not.
"How much is it?"
"Six small silver coins (around $300)."
"Even so, that's quite cheap..."
She gazed intently at the silver necklace with zirconia, as if she could bore a hole through it with her stare.
She said it was cheap, but I suppose that means it could sell for even more elsewhere.
"If you like it, I can hold it for you. Though I don't expect it to sell easily."
"Please do."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
She didn't seem to show much emotion, but since the necklace caught her eye, I agreed to hold it for her.
The maid left with 116 clothespins in her arms.
I see, a large manor would need a lot of clothespins for laundry. Going door-to-door selling directly could also work...
Well, walking around is a hassle, so I'll stick to this spot.
By evening, I hadn't sold anything but clothespins today. But even just the clothespins brought in over $500.
And I have a necklace lined up to sell too. I'll call it a day.
As I was packing up, I was surrounded by dark shadows--furry beastkin, four of them in total.
The men wore cloth vests and rope belts with half-pants.
One was the beastwoman from this morning who had sniffed me out.
And another was probably the beastkin who bought the muslin on the first day.
Their fur had various patterns and colors. Just like cats back on Earth, huh...
"Sorry, but I'm closing up shop."
"Hey mister, can't you sell us some spices?"

"No way, no way. If I catch the attention of the wrong people, I won't be able to do business here anymore."
I shook my head at the pleading beastkin.
"Come on, you can't be so unreasonable," a passing pedestrian chimed in. "This guy's just trying to make a living, you know?"
"Uuu..." The beastkin drooped their tails dejectedly at the jeers.
"Well, I can't help it..."
I gathered the beastkin into a huddle and whispered a plan.
"I can't sell you spices, but I could treat you to a meal cooked with spices outside the city. That shouldn't cause any trouble, right?"
"Really?"
"But just this once. There was a river on the way here, wasn't there? Let's have our meal on the riverbank."
"Yippee!" "Nyaa!"
The beastkin cheered and danced, and before I knew it, the woman from the neighboring stall had joined us with a sly grin.
"Mind if I tag along too, hehehe?"
What a cheeky old lady. Well, I suppose it can't be helped—we're all just fellow wanderers in this world. Her name was Amana, apparently.
I stored my stall in the Item Box, and the six of us—me, Amana, and the four beastkin—headed for the riverbank outside the city.
Walking would have taken too long, so the beastkin scooped Amana and me onto their backs and took off at a sprint.
"Whooooaaa! So faaast!" "Hyaaaa!"
Amana and I screamed as the beastkin carried us at inhuman speeds, arriving at the riverbank in no time. What incredible speed, and they said that wasn't even their top gear.
The six of us descended to the riverbank as the sky began to turn purple.
The beastkin prepared to start a fire while I got ready to cook.
I took out the table I used at my stall from the Item Box and set up a cooking area. I placed two portable stoves and purchased a large pot, a huge wok, and a vegetable assortment set from Shangri-La.
We were short on plates and spoons too. Well, with some extra funds now, I might as well stock up on supplies...
I filled the large pot with water and set it to boil. For the soup, I decided on potage—I bought some instant potage soup pouches.

"Huh? You had a flint stove, dear?"
This isn't a flint stove, but there's no need to explain.
The beastkin had prepared a campfire for cooking, but it would get a bit chilly after sunset, so a fire would be needed even if not for cooking.
"Yeah."
"Did you take that out from an Item Box?"
"That's right."
"First time I've seen one of those. Right?"
The beastkin gazed curiously at the various tools I was taking out.
"I'll help out too."
Since Amana had bought the ingredients, I asked for her assistance.
"Could you finely slice these vegetables? Doesn't have to be perfect."
"But I've never seen veggies like these before..."
"They're all edible, so no worries."
I heated up the wok. When using a new wok for the first time, there's a little ritual involved. Once it's heated and changes color, you pour in oil and discard it.
I'll dispose of the waste oil in the trash bin later. Ideally, I should take more time for the ritual, but I don't have that luxury now.
"Done slicing the veggies."
"Nice! Toss 'em in!"
While stir-frying, I purchased some Chinese broth and oyster sauce from Shangri-La and added them to the wok. Then a palmful of salt and chicken bouillon for seasoning.
"The water's boiling, nya!"
I added all sixteen pouches of potage soup base to the boiling pot and turned down the heat. These guys can probably handle that much.
The powder quickly solidified into a thick, yellow paste.
"Keep stirring with a ladle so it doesn't burn."
"Got it, nya!"
I took out the pork belly I had bought previously from the Item Box and tossed it all into the wok. There was probably around 750g left.
But the wok was too big for the heat source. Time to add a cassette burner for more firepower.
"Amana, hold this flame over it from above."
"Like this?"
She seemed a bit hesitant with all these unfamiliar tools.
Once the ingredients were cooked through, I added the canned curry powder and stir-fried for a while longer.
"Alright! Curry-flavored meat and veggie stir-fry is done!"
"Smells great, nya!"
"Ooh! Looks delicious!"
I purchased enough plates for everyone and dished out portions of the curry stir-fry and potage soup.

I first took out the three packs of assorted bread I had bought earlier, along with a large platter. I piled them high on the platter.
"Help yourselves to as much as you want."
"Woooah!" the beastkin exclaimed in unison as they swarmed around the food.
Now then, how would they rate this other-world curry-flavored meat and veggie stir-fry?

Chapter 10: Feasting with Beastfolk by the Riverside

After learning that the beast people wanted to eat spicy food, I got acquainted with them and ended up camping by the riverside to treat them to a meal.
"Go ahead, eat as much bread as you want."
I pointed to the heaping pile of bread on the large plate in front of them.
"Whoa!" "Wow, this bread! It's so soft and sweet, delicious!"
"Tasty, nya!"
"It really is soft and delicious."
The bread was a hit with everyone. How about the curry-flavored stir-fry?
"This spicy dish is delicious too! Spicy, but delicious!"
"What is this? I've never eaten anything so tasty before! This soup is delicious too!"
"Nya! It's got a nice kick to it, nya! Tasty, nya!"
"Wow, it's so delicious, is this okay? And eating with a silver spoon makes me feel like a noble. I've never seen these vegetables before, I was worried for a moment..."
Well, it's not actually silver, just stainless steel. Regular households seem to use wooden spoons. Ceramic plates are expensive too, so they often use wooden plates instead.
Even in Shangri-La, wooden plates are sold, but ceramic ones fetch a higher price.
In any case, I'm glad they enjoyed the food. But they're eating at such a ferocious pace, I don't think there will be enough... I thought I made quite a large amount...
If it's not enough, I'll have to fill their bellies with something else...
While I was thinking that, the beast people had already devoured all the food, leaving me dumbfounded. Wow, they have quite the appetites—their households must have an incredibly high Engel coefficient.
Oh well, I'll just have to buy an additional 1kg assortment of sausages.
"If it's not enough, roast these over the campfire and eat them."
Following my instructions, the beast people skewered the sausages on wooden sticks and roasted them over the fire. What a surreal sight... yet it made me smile.
"Oh! These are good too, with that crispy skin!"
"What are these?"
"It's meat that's been ground up and stuffed into animal intestines."
"Really? Is that true?"
"I've heard of such preserved foods from other countries before."
It seems Amana had heard of something similar to sausages.
"But eating this makes me want to drink some alcohol."

"Hey, you guys, take it easy. Eating all this would normally blow a week's worth of food money."
"Well, Amana. Since everyone's enjoying themselves, I'll bring out some alcohol too. But it might not suit your tastes."
"Anything with alcohol in it is fine by me."
I bought a 4L bottle of shochu from Shangri-La. The kind of bottle that would spell trouble if a heavy drinker got their hands on it.
"Here, this is it. But what we eat and drink here stays a secret between us—no telling anyone else."
"Got it."
"What's this clear container, nya? Is there water inside, nya?"
"It's a container made by magic, and what's inside is alcohol, another secret."
I bought some cups and poured the drinks myself. The beast people didn't even check the taste before gulping it down.
"Whoa! This is some strong stuff!"
"An alcohol that looks like water. Never had anything like this before."
"But compared to the smelly or sour ones, this is way tastier."
"Yeah, not bad at all."
It's actually the cheapest alcohol, but they seem to like it. Though what did they mean by smelly or sour? I've heard of sour milk-based alcohol before.
The men were all drinking, but none of the beast women touched the alcohol.
Apparently, they leave one sober person in case of emergencies.
While they drank, I, being a non-drinker, nursed a juice and kept the drinkers company.
I also served juice to the women who weren't drinking alcohol.
"Tasty, nya~ Is this fruit juice, nya~?"
They were downing the 4L bottle so quickly that I brought out another 4L. The empty bottles went into the trash bin.
"Dear, you're spoiling them too much."
Amana seemed to be the type to nag a lot.
"Come to think of it, I still don't know your names. I'm Kenichi."
"I'm Nyakero. The woman is Myare, and the other two are Nyarmelo and Nyanjee."
Nyakero, who bought the mushroom from me, was apparently the leader.
—Night had already fallen, and the surroundings were enveloped in pitch blackness.

While I was cleaning up, Amana helped me by washing the dishes using the ashes from the campfire. It seems using ashes is the standard practice here. I lent her a sponge.
"Dear, is this a sea sponge?" she asked.
"Oh, you know about sea sponges?"
"Yes, I used to work as a servant in a large mansion."
"So you used sea sponges there?"
"Of course, there were many expensive dishes that needed special care."
It makes sense to use something that won't scratch the dishes. When I peeked at Shangri-La, sea sponges were readily available for sale. I didn't know that.
Looking up at the sky, I saw stars twinkling in the dark expanse. The air must be clean, as there were an incredible number of stars visible.
"It's gotten quite dark," I muttered.
Nyakero reacted to my murmur, "We can't stay out much longer today."
"Can't stay out?"
"The gates will close."
Ah, I see, the gates close when it gets dark...
They close the gates to prevent monsters and bandits from entering.
"Does that happen often?"
"We don't hear about it around here, but—about 40 leagues (60km) away in the mountains, there's a nasty group called the Shaga."
Amana spoke with a hint of excitement.
"Bandits, huh?"
"Yeah, a pretty big bandit group that'll do anything. Nasty bunch."
Apparently, they've made an abandoned, dilapidated castle ruin in the forest their base, from where they raid and pillage nearby villages and towns.
"We're camping out here tonight, but it's safe around here, right?"
"As long as we don't go into the forest, we're fine."
Come to think of it, I still had the firewood I bought. I took it out of the Item Box.
"There's still some firewood left, so use it."
"So that's the Item Box. It really can hold anything, huh?"
"Well, nothing too big fits in there."
"Still, it's a convenient item."
"Yeah."
Huh, is she getting drunk? Her speech is starting to slur.
Just as I thought she'd keep drinking in silence, the beast people started stripping off their clothes—the women too, of course.
"Hey, hey, what are you trying to do?"
"We're gonna wash our bodies."

"Whoa, you gave me a fright there. If you'd started an orgy right in front of me, I wouldn't have known what to do." They entered the pitch-black river illuminated by the campfire and began scrubbing their bodies vigorously.
Apparently, neglecting their fur leads to trouble with mites and fleas, so they bathe daily. They're incredibly fastidious about cleanliness.
The beast people said they don't feel any sense of shame in undressing since they wear fur.
"Here, let me lend you some soap!" I took soap from the Item Box and tossed the white bars to them.
"Whoa! Using soap makes us feel like real nobles!"
"Nya!"
They lathered the soap into their fur and scrubbed, creating a massive foam that made them look like snowmen.
"Kenichi, scrub my back, nya."
Myare came over holding soap, so I vigorously scrubbed her back with it. I hadn't realized under her fur, she was practically a mass of muscle. No wonder she could run so fast.
"Dear, are you sure it's okay to use that for sale?"
"It's the same soap I use, so it's fine. I have a separate stock for selling."
"Don't people ever tell you you're too generous?"
Amana seemed to think I was being wasteful.
"Well, sometimes they do say that. But I'm not a particularly good or kind person. I'm selfish and self-centered. Today was just a whim."
"Is that so?"
"I'm treating them today, but if they start expecting handouts from me, I'll turn them away. And I dislike people getting too familiar with me."
"That's a relief."
"Amana, why don't you bathe in the river too?"
"I'm still a woman, you know!"
"Ahaha, my apologies."
As I watched the beast people, the men started swimming in the river.
"Whoo, this feels great!"
Well, after getting heated up from the alcohol, the cold water must feel refreshing...
"Hey, are you sure it's okay to swim in the river after drinking?"
"Hahaha! It's fine—ack—gurgle gurgle"

Nyakero suddenly stopped responding and drifted limply with the river's current, disappearing into the darkness.
Panicking, I grabbed an LED headlamp from the Item Box and shone it on the river's surface.
"He's already drowning!"
As I was about to jump into the river, Myare leaped in and swam toward Nyakero's location.
Honestly, there's no way I could pull up a giant like him from the river.
She dragged Nyakero out, effortlessly hoisting the massive man and tossing him onto the riverbank.
"Bwah!"
Nyakero let out a croak like a squashed frog, but he was already completely wasted—likely because the strong alcohol hit him all at once after swimming.
"This happens often, so one of us stays sober, nya."
"I see. But how could you see him in this darkness?"
"We have night vision, nya."
As expected of beast people—natural starlight scopes. They have a keen sense of smell, sharp hearing, and night vision too. However, their eyesight itself is apparently no different from humans'.
"Dear, is that a magic lamp?" Amana asked.
"Something like that."
"Skilled merchants have all sorts of things, don't they..."
Though Amana sipped her shochu with a hint of dissatisfaction, I couldn't explain my bizarre abilities.
Still, the drenched beast people's toned physiques were visible through their soaked fur. If they attacked, there's no way I'd survive.
And their... endowments are massive. Humans would be no match...
Unlike animals, they're intelligent and can use weapons. Myare mentioned she's skilled at hunting with a bow to make a living.
The mushroom sack I sold her was apparently for carrying her prey.
To do such work, they need to register with some Adventurer's Guild, it seems.
Well, I don't need that for now...
"But won't they catch a cold sleeping soaked like that?"
"This happens all the time, so we'll be fine, nya."

Well, that's how it is. But feeling sorry for the drenched Myare, I took a bath towel out of the Item Box and wiped her wet body.
"Funya~"
She seemed to enjoy it, but the bath towel was instantly soaked. I bought another bath towel from Shangri-La.
However, two towels weren't enough. I might need three or four.
"It's okay now, nya."
The wiping was half-done, but she said this was fine. Apparently, she'll dry off quickly. Still, just from wiping her once, the bath towel was covered in fur.
The beast people other than the unconscious Nyakero were drying their fur by the campfire.
"I see. So this is normal for them."
Well, there are no hair dryers here. But if I dried them with a hair dryer, their fur would surely become fluffy and soft.
As night fell and it got a bit chilly, I bought two blankets from Shangri-La. The beast people seemed fine without them.
"Amana, let me lend you a blanket."
"Such a luxurious item..."
This is actually the cheapest one, though. I wonder how much a high-end down comforter would cost?
Lying down on the riverbank was rough and painful, so I bought a cheap mat and laid it down. The mat was small, only covering my upper body, but it was far better than lying directly on the ground. Since it worked well, I laid out a mat for Amana too.
As I dozed off wrapped in the blanket, large blue lights began flying over the river's surface.
"Whoa! What's that?!"
"Dear, those are fireflies."
"Fireflies? These are fireflies?"
Looking at the ones that had landed nearby, they seemed like huge beetles—these are fireflies? They're about the size of Japanese beetles!
"But even with this big campfire, no bugs are coming near."
"We have insect-repelling magic stones, nya."
Saying that, Myare crawled into my blanket like a huge stuffed animal.
Magical insect repellent, huh. I use insect repellent spray too, and Shangri-La sells mosquito coils, but to repel insects without any scent—the other-world method seems more convenient.
"How much would those cost to buy?"

"Two silver coins (100,000 yen), nya."
"Two silver coins?!"
"Nya."
That's expensive. But it seems incredibly convenient. Living a slow life in the countryside is nice, but it's a constant battle against insects. Even at 100,000 yen, it might be worth it.
There are many troublesome diseases transmitted by insects too. In my former world, there were various ones like the infamous malaria, Japanese encephalitis, tsutsugamushi disease, rickettsia, and more.
I once bought a repellent that was supposed to keep insects away just by placing it around, but it didn't work at all.
"I wonder if there's also magic to prevent weeds from growing?"
"I've heard that large mansions use it, nya."
But no matter how powerful the magic, selectively eliminating only specific plants would be impossible. Using it would surely inhibit the growth of flowers and crops too.
"It's warm, nya—"
No, I'm the one feeling warm from you clinging to me. Myare seems intent on sleeping like this, but she's not wearing any clothes, so she's essentially naked... Is this okay?
Feeling sorry for her lying on just the bare rock, I bought another mat from Shangri-La and laid it under her.
However, camping on a riverbank is usually unwise due to the risk of flooding. But the beast people have camped here many times before, so they say it's safe.
Apparently, there have been no incidents of flooding either.
I lay down and brought up Shangri-La's screen to read an e-book.
I don't know the mechanism behind it, but the white screen is clearly visible even in the darkness.
However, while the screen appears to be emitting light, it doesn't actually illuminate the surroundings.
—Does that mean it doesn't physically exist?
And if it were actually displayed in front of me, others should be able to see it too. Could it be recreated pseudo-visually in my brain?
Or is there some kind of signal interference with my optic nerves?
Not just the screen, but how are the items delivered from somewhere, and how is the payment processed? The more I think about it, the more mysterious this ability seems.
Even with Status Open, it only shows my name and age. There are no skills, titles, levels, or anything like that.
It seems such things simply don't exist in this world.
I closed the screen and drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 11: Good Business Partners

The next morning, after camping by the riverside.
When I opened my eyes, the beast people were already awake and packing up.
"Good morning—fuaaah~. You drank quite a bit yesterday, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, it's been a while since I had such a jolly time, so I overdid it a bit—how embarrassing."
"Well, that's good. Want to have some breakfast?"
"No way, after all that drinking and eating, I can't impose on you any further."
They seem to be a thoughtful and considerate bunch. I should be able to get along with them just fine.
"What about Amana?"
"I'm okay~"
"Alright! Then let's head back home for some grub. I'm staying at an inn, though."
"Nyaa!"
Once again, the beast people carried me on their backs all the way to the inn. They're really fast.
After parting ways with them, I returned to the inn. But I'll need to go to the market again for food. Well, I could just head there directly, but I've already paid for the inn in advance.
I figured I should at least show my face.
"Good morning~"
"Ah! Kenichi, where were you yesterday?"
"Out drinking with some beast people."
"Huh? Why outside? Hahah~ You must've been out playing and lost track of time until it got dark."
"Yeah, something like that."
"If you're going to play around with beast women, you could've just played with me instead..."
"I wasn't really playing around with any beast wom—"
As I started to say that, Azalea silently pointed at my shirt. My black shirt was covered in Myare's shed fur.
Oops.
I tried to make an excuse, but Azalea just turned away with a "hmph" and went inside. Did I upset her?
...Well, it can't be helped. I don't need a woman in my pursuit of the slow life anyway.
For now, I went upstairs, had breakfast, and brushed my shirt.
But the fur wouldn't come off—I was stumped for a while.
I bought a sticky roller at Shangri-La and used that. This seems to work the best.
------◇◇◇------
After breakfast, I went to the market as usual and set up my stall.
Today, I displayed about three plain wooden jewelry boxes, the same kind I had given Azalea with the drop item inside as a present.

I also had a two-handed saw hanging that I had purchased for 2,000 yen. If the merchandise is always the same, customers will get bored.
If different items are displayed occasionally, customers might come by thinking there might be something good.
The wooden jewelry boxes I had displayed sold one in the morning, but they don't seem to sell very well. The woman who bought one said she would use it as a trinket box.
As customers trickled away, I sat on a stool and read an e-book on the Shangri-La screen when a voice called out to me.
"I want that paper."
Standing in front of the stall was an old man wearing a green robe. Underneath, he wore a black suit, with graying black hair and a beard.
There are many unusual hair colors in this land, but black hair is also common. Thanks to that, I don't stand out.
"Welcome."
"This paper is thin yet sturdy."
It seems he wants the paper. He's checking the texture by touching it with his fingers.
"I'm confident in the quality. How many sheets would you like?"
"A hundred."
"A hun-dred?"
"Can you gather that many?"
"Yes, no problem. If you can give me 2-3 days... However, at one copper coin per sheet, a hundred would be two silver coins (100,000 yen)."
I could actually provide them immediately, but if I always do that, it might seem suspicious, so I say this instead.
"It's fine. I have the money."
"My apologies... Could it be that you're writing a book?"
"No, I'm a scribe."
"A scribe means copying books by hand, one page at a time."
"That's correct."
This world doesn't have printing technology yet. To make books, everything has to be handwritten. Once the original is made, scribes copy it to sell. There's no such thing as copyright.
"By the way, how much does a book typically cost?"
"Anywhere from one to ten pinki—depending. If you want an elaborate binding, it could cost ten gold coins (2 million yen) or even twenty gold coins (4 million yen)."
"I see, and what kind of content is common in such expensive books?"
"Mostly erotic works."
The old man squinted one eye and stroked his beard.
"Ten gold coins for erotic works?"
"Fuhaha, having money doesn't necessarily make one a good person. That's how I make a living."

"I see... Then I'll definitely have the stock ready in 3 days."
"Mm, understood. I'm counting on you."
The old man's steps were light and nimble despite his age. He seemed quite spry. It's good to stay energetic even in old age.
But I wonder what would happen if someone got sick in this world? Since there's magic, perhaps healing spells could cure illnesses?
After that, about 20 clothespins sold. They seem to have become a staple item. If word spreads, they might sell even more. If I get a large order from a big mansion like the maid who came here the other day, I could sell them in bulk.
But that was the last customer in the morning.
After eating bread for lunch, there was a lull in customers for a while in the afternoon. Just as I was about to finish reading an e-book on the Shangri-La, two customers visited the stall.
"Margaret, is this the shop?"
"Yes, milady."
One was a navy-blue maid uniform—yes, the same maid who had bought 100 clothespins from my stall before.
The other was—a woman with flowing golden straight hair, wearing an elegant white blouse with frills and a navy long skirt.
She had the unmistakable air of a noble lady. Age-wise—perhaps around 20? Her sharp, intelligent eyes exuded wisdom.
Of course, since they appeared to be wealthy customers, I greeted them politely.
"Welcome~"
The blonde lady picked up a necklace hanging at the stall and examined it closely.
"Maid, have you come to pick up the items you reserved?"
"Yes."
I took a silver necklace out of the Item Box and handed it to the maid.
"Here, that'll be 6 small silver coins (30,000 yen)."
"Thank you... Milady, this is for you—"
"Oh my! This isn't a diamond, is it?"
"According to the shopkeeper, it's glass."
"Glass..."
It seemed the maid and the lady were having some sort of disagreement. No, not really a disagreement, but they were discussing the necklace I had given them.
But since they couldn't reach a conclusion, the lady came over to me.
"I'd like to ask you something..."
"What can I do for you?"
"This necklace... the stones aren't diamonds, are they?"

"No, these are polished glass stones."
She seemed lost in thought for a moment.
"Is something the matter?"
"If you have any other jewelry pieces, could you show them to me?"
"Certainly."
I opened the Shangri-La screen and searched for necklaces with different designs, then pressed the purchase button. The prices ranged roughly between 2,000 to 3,000 yen.
Suddenly, the silver jewelry that appeared before us caught the lady's attention.
"An Item Box!"
To be precise, the items were being sent from Shangri-La, not taken out of an Item Box, but from her perspective, that's how it would appear.
So I played along.
"Indeed, milady."
She rested her chin on her slender hand, deep in contemplation once more. Then, as if having reached a conclusion, she spoke.
"Good merchant, I have a small request."
"What might that be?"
"I am Primula, the eldest daughter of the Marlowe Trading Company."
"It is an honor. I am Kenichi."
"Please forgive this sudden request, but would you be able to visit our company and meet with my father?"
Truly a sudden request. However, I wouldn't want to get involved with any shady trading companies. I've heard that the Bacopa group is a dangerous bunch...
I leaned over to Amana, the shopkeeper next door, and whispered about the Marlowe Trading Company.
"Hey, Amana. Do you know about the Marlowe Trading Company?"
"They're one of the biggest shops in this town."
"Are they like those shady Bacopa folks you often hear about?"
"The Marlowe Trading Company conducts legitimate business."
"I see..."
It doesn't seem to be a bad company, then. Being a major shop, they must be one of the leading figures in this town. It wouldn't be a bad idea to establish a connection with such people.
"Very well, I accept. But shall we go now?"
"My father is at our estate today, so if possible, today would be preferable..."
"Understood."
"Please forgive my imposition."
The golden-haired lady bowed her head. For the daughter of a major trading company to bow to a mere newcomer merchant like me, who could be blown away by a gust of wind...
While I don't know much about her as a merchant, from what I've seen of this lady, her father must be a highly respectable man.

After tidying up the stall and storing the items in the Item Box, I was led by the golden-haired lady to the estate of the Marlowe Trading Company.
On the outskirts of the market, a black-lacquered carriage was waiting. Guided by what seemed to be a butler, I boarded the carriage.
It was quite a splendid carriage. Waiting for me was a plush, deep red seat. However, the carriages of nobles must be even more luxurious.
"This is the first time I've ridden in such a magnificent carriage."
"Hoho, the carriages of nobles are far more extravagant, isn't that right, Margaret?"
"Yes, milady."
As usual, the sharp-eyed maid responded coolly.
"Have the clothespins we purchased from you been useful?"
"Yes."
The maid answered concisely and matter-of-factly.
"I also had the chance to see those clothespins. They are truly excellent products."
"Thank you."
"I immediately had a prototype made at an acquaintance's workshop, but they couldn't get the joints to fit together perfectly."
Indeed, like tweezers and other such items, achieving a precise fit between moving surfaces requires quite advanced craftsmanship.
The clothespins I sell are likely made by computer-controlled machining.
While they may appear simple and easy to make, reproducing them through traditional handicrafts would be rather difficult.
The same goes for coiled springs. This world likely lacks extrusion molding machines. Even a single spring would need to be forged.
"They may seem simple at a glance, but creating them requires advanced skills."
"That's what our artisans have said as well."
As we discussed the clothespins, the estate came into view. Passing through the grand gate, a spacious courtyard revealed a magnificent stone building.
The scale of the building was comparable to the national currency exchange where I had exchanged my silver coins. And they say noble estates are even larger—quite the class divide.
As someone who has been poor from the roots, such a world is quite foreign to me. Seeing such a grand building, all I can think is how troublesome it must be to clean.
Guided by Primula and the butler, we waited in the reception room. The sofas were plush and comfortable. Every piece of furniture appeared to be top-quality.

The furniture here could fetch a high price as antiques if sold to Shangri-La's buyback program. I was tempted to open Shangri-La's buyback window and scan the furniture, but I resisted the urge—when the door opened.
"Mr. Kenichi, my father wishes to see you."
Led by Primula, I headed to meet the head of the Marlowe Trading Company. Waiting in the study of this estate was a portly, middle-aged man dressed in a flamboyant outfit.
A magnificent black beard adorned his chin. His attire—a grass-green suit with a red vest embroidered with gold thread—was a bold combination of primary colors, but at a glance, it was clear he was a merchant.
In the business world, the first priority is to make one's name known. Merchants rack their brains to devise ways to leave an impression on their business partners. The jingling necklaces Amana next door sells are likely part of that.
On his desk lay the necklace I had sold to the maid.
"Welcome, welcome. I am Marlowe of the Marlowe Trading Company."
He rose energetically from his chair and greeted me.
"Pleased to meet you. I have come at the invitation of your daughter. I am Kenichi."
"How courteous of you. The pleasure is all mine."
He made no move to extend his hand, so it seems handshakes are not customary in this world. I haven't encountered a single handshake since arriving in this town.
"Father—"
Primula rushed over and whispered something to her father, the head of the trading company.
"What! You possess an Item Box?"
"Yes, a small one."
"In fact, I too—"
Before him, in an empty space, a golden figurine appeared. Ah, so from the side, my Item Box must look like that...
"Mr. Marlowe, you also possess an Item Box."
"Indeed. With this, I have grown my trading company to its current size."
"That's impressive. I've only used mine as a storage shed for crops on my farm."
"What a waste."
"So, what is your business with me...?"
After a brief pause for thought, he came straight to the point.

"To put it bluntly, I would like you to wholesale these products to the Marlowe Trading Company."
He was referring to the silver necklaces and other accessories lying on the desk.
"I see. From your daughter's reaction, these must be products that could fetch an even higher price if taken to the right place..."
"Precisely."
"However, if that's the case, why don't you simply buy the products at a low price from my shop and resell them as is?"
"And what if word of that reached your ears..."
The master leaned back in his chair, fingers interlocked before his face.
"I would cease handling silver products altogether."
"Exactly. And our business rivals would undoubtedly approach you with an even better deal. To be blinded by immediate profit and miss out on a larger opportunity—that would be the height of foolishness for a merchant."
"I understand... So, what markup are you proposing?"
"I had a fivefold markup in mind..."
"Very well, let's proceed with that."
"Are you certain?"
"Yes."
For me, selling silver accessories I bought from Shangri-La for 2,000 to 3,000 yen at a fivefold markup would be a windfall. Even a two or threefold markup would have been acceptable.
Of course, gold products would likely fetch an even higher price, but gold is expensive even on Shangri-La.
To exploit the price disparity between Shangri-La and this world, silver products are the most efficient. While my attempt at laundering silver coins failed, it seems I've found a good business partner.
Simply put, instead of running a stall at the market and scraping by, selling just two or three silver products a month would allow me to live comfortably.
Well, I don't intend to stop running the stall immediately, though.
The master approached me and extended his hand—a handshake. Ah, so shaking hands here seals the deal.
Conversely, carelessly shaking hands could be dangerous.
After exchanging contracts, the wholesale of silver products to the Marlowe Trading Company was finalized, along with the wholesale of clothespins.
Primula seemed quite taken with them, expecting high demand in noble manors and the like.
Of course, for a major trading company, the profits from clothespins would be negligible.

In addition, I was blessed with opportunities to sell even more expensive merchandise.
While I was delighted to have secured a good business partner, the conversation eventually turned to small talk—and despite being the owner of a major shop, the merchant went on endlessly boasting about his daughter like a typical doting parent. I struggled to escape.
As an important valued customer, I suppose I can indulge him to that extent without any repercussions...
According to him, the selling price of silver products at the Marlowe Trading Company ranges from 500,000 to 1,000,000 yen.
They also sell products that have been further tuned up—with zirconia substituted for diamonds and glass for crystal.
However, the gem-cutting techniques in this world are still immature. Apparently, beautifully cut zirconia and glass are more popular than real gemstones due to their superior craftsmanship.
If I were to introduce brilliantly cut diamonds, they would likely fetch a high price—but I must be cautious about introducing overly advanced technology.
As long as I have enough money to pursue a slow life in this other world, I don't need to push myself to earn more.
Of course, having more money is always better, but it's not absolutely necessary.

Chapter 12: Preparing to Build a House in the Forest

Trade with the city's major merchant, the Marlowe Trading Company, began. Just from the initial silver goods transaction, my share exceeded 1 million—. Shangri-La's charge fee quickly entered the six-figure range.
A few days later, the old man who ordered paper came by. "I got 100 sheets of paper." "Oh, much appreciated. This will help my work progress."
The old man gripped the bundle of paper, confirming its texture. "Since I bought 100 sheets, I threw in 10 extra for free."
"No, that won't do. I'll pay for those 10 sheets as well."
"But..."
Seems the old man dislikes freebies. Some people are peculiar like that. Well, being a scribe is an unusual profession, so it's no surprise he's an eccentric.
But he must be a diligent, hardworking type, or he couldn't possibly continue in such a line of work.
Since he seemed quite pleased with the paper from my shop, as a scribe, he'll likely become a regular customer.
------◇◇◇------
Later, I received a request from the Marlowe Trading Company asking if I had any unusual accessories. To meet their request, I brought in some cameo accessories.
Looking at Shangri-La, the same products were lined up, likely machine-carved, but still priced high at around 100,000 yen each.
"Why, marvelous! Father, may I purchase this?" Primula exclaimed joyfully upon seeing the cameo brooch.
"Honestly, what a troublesome daughter you are." Even as a major merchant, he dotes on his daughter. I suppose some things don't change, even in another world. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as they say.
The price she quoted was 10 gold coins (2 million yen), but this wasn't a wholesale purchase—she bought it directly.
When I asked Primula, who was delighted with her new cameo brooch, she said such accessories didn't exist here.
However, the reaction from the noblewomen who saw Primula's cameo brooch was tremendous, and orders for the same item flooded in.
While buying from Shangri-La is easy, I can't wholesale the same machine-carved products in bulk. It would diminish their premium feel.
If I were just going to sell them and leave, that might be fine, but since I intend to stay in this city for a while—as long as there's no trouble—I can't conduct business like that.
After carefully selecting designs that seemed good, I wholesaled about three, and the prices skyrocketed, exceeding 50 gold coins (1 million yen) per piece.
Although a premium was added, the wholesale price for a cameo is 10 gold coins (200,000 yen) each.
My wallet warmed up considerably—and with money, I can proceed with my slow life plan.
The base for that will be in the forest.
They say the forest is dangerous, but entering about 200 meters from the boundary line shouldn't significantly increase the risk.
At that point, I plan to fell some trees, clear a space, and build a house. Searching Shangri-La, log cabins like small huts are sold for around 170,000 yen.
With a triangular roof, three windows, and a wooden deck in front of the entrance, the design is quite stylish and has a secret base feel, which is nice.
The climate here is mild, and temperatures aren't low, so a log cabin should be sufficient. The interior is about 12 tatami mats, enough space for one person.
Seeing this log cabin raised my expectations. Back in my original world, I had considered building one myself and even bought magazines and made plans. There are even log cabin specialty magazines published.
Now that I have funds, I've reduced my market stall to every other day and started working to realize my slow life in another world.
First, I need to make a path leading to the forest. Walking to the city every time would be a hassle, so I want to use a bicycle or something to save time.
I considered an electric-assist mountain bike, but there's the issue of electricity for now.
If people saw me with a bicycle, it would look out of place, but fortunately, the area between the city and the forest is covered in waist-high grass.
I'll cut through that and make a path wide enough for a bicycle. That way, I can use it without being seen.
For mowing, I'll use a gasoline-powered brush cutter.
The issue is the engine fuel, but Shangri-La sells pre-mixed gasoline for two-stroke engines, so that should work.
Pre-mixed gasoline is a mixture of gasoline and two-stroke oil, used for brush cutters, chainsaws, and the like.
It might not be common in cities, but in rural areas, the loud sound of two-stroke engines is ubiquitous and mainstream.
Since the ground under the grass is soil, as long as I mow the grass, making a path shouldn't be a problem.
Cutting the grass by hand would be arduous, but I have Shangri-La—the power of civilization in the form of a gasoline brush cutter.
There are electric brush cutters, but since this world has no electricity, I can't use them.
Besides, I used a gasoline brush cutter at my house in the original world, so I'm familiar with the task.
I'll execute the plan to mow a straight path from the riverbank where I drank with the beast people to the forest entrance.
Standing at the edge of the grass, I chanted a spell. "Come forth, gasoline brush cutter summoning! Just a click."
Pressing the [Purchase] button deducted 30,000 yen from my charge, and a gasoline brush cutter fell from the sky.
Every time, I worry it might break when it falls, so I bought a mat for it to land on.
Observing the landing point, it seems to be determined to some extent by my position and the item's size.
After safely catching the brush cutter on the mat, I bought 4 liters of pre-mixed gasoline for 1,000 yen—250 yen per liter, quite expensive compared to regular gasoline.
But I have no choice. This world doesn't sell gasoline, so I have to buy this.
White gasoline for lamps is sold, but it has a low octane rating, so it can't be used as engine fuel.
I poured the pre-mixed gasoline into the brush cutter, operated the choke lever, and pulled the recoil starter, and the engine started on the first try.
I'm used to mowing around my house, so this is a familiar task.
Opening the throttle, the high-pitched, roaring engine made a loud noise. Using this, I'll cut through the green wall.
Slinging the brush cutter over my shoulder, I mowed the tall grass with a buzzing sound, tossing the cut grass into the Item Box to use as compost.
Fortunately, it was a plant like susuki or reed, not a hard stem like bamboo. The brush cutter easily mowed it down, and a path quickly formed.
Surrounded by tall grass, unable to see the surroundings, I occasionally checked a compass to ensure the path remained straight. A winding path would be difficult to travel.
In hindsight, although I thought I was secretly carrying out my plan, the city guards on the walls could see me clearly. They must have found the strange person doing strange things amusing.
Well, it seems no one in this city lives in the forest, so someone trying to would be considered odd. Not to mention making a path through the grass—no wonder I was seen as an eccentric.
As I made the path through the grass, I also laid gravel, which Shangri-La sold. It was crushed stone, grade 2, very cheap at 400 yen for 20 kg.
This should be enough for the path since this land doesn't seem to have prolonged rainy seasons like my original world.
Once the grass clearing was complete, the next step was securing a space to build the log cabin.
I purchased a gasoline chainsaw from Shangri-La and set out to fell some large trees.
Back in my original world, my house had a wood stove, so I'm familiar with using chainsaws, but I've never felled such large trees before.
The space I need to secure is for building the log cabin and a small vegetable garden.
The trees are spaced far enough apart that felling two should provide enough space. If not, I can fell more.
As long as I don't do something foolish like dropping a tree on the log cabin, it should be fine.
The chainsaw for felling trees also uses a two-stroke engine with pre-mixed fuel. Recently, four-stroke engines have become more common due to environmental concerns, but in my opinion, two-strokes are more powerful and easier to use.
Tree felling involves considerable danger, however.
When a tree falls, branches can get caught, causing it to fall in an unexpected direction.
In the rural area where I lived in the original world, the lumber industry was once thriving, and I often heard stories of accidents.
My grandfather worked in the lumber industry and only told accident stories.
One of my classmates had his ear blown off when a wire securing a log snapped. If it had been a few inches over, a direct hit to the face would have killed him instantly.
Such dangerous lumber work can now be done by a single machine operator. Tasks that once required dozens of people can be done by one person operating machinery.
The machine grabs the tree, fells it, removes the branches, cuts it to the appropriate length, and loads it onto a truck.
Searching Shangri-La, forestry machinery is even sold. If I purchased that, I could single-handedly clear a mountain. Not that I plan to, of course.
Steeling my resolve, I made triangular cuts into the large tree to fell it, cutting deeper on the side I wanted it to fall and shallower on the opposite side.
Gradually widening the cuts and carefully driving in iron wedges, the tree began creaking and falling when the wedges dug deep into the trunk.
Confirming this, I quickly but calmly moved away. Apparently, dashing away at this point can be dangerous, as you might trip over roots and get caught up in the falling tree, according to my grandfather.
As the large tree fell with a thunderous impact, it bounced several meters into the air and rolled.
If I had been nearby, I could have been seriously injured or even killed.
Right after, I felled another large tree. "Phew..."
With the big job done, I bought a cola from Shangri-La and drank it. Unfortunately, it wasn't chilled.
But if I purchase a gasoline generator, I can connect a refrigerator to it and chill drinks for a comfortable life in the log cabin I plan to buy.
To enjoy that comfortable life, I really want to purchase a log cabin.
Although I succeeded in felling the large trees, I need to clear them, as leaving them would be an obstruction.
Then I had an idea for an experiment: How large of an object can the Item Box hold?
I tried putting the freshly felled large tree in, but it failed—too big. The tree was about 30 meters long. So 30 meters is too large...
What about half that size? I cut the large tree in half with the chainsaw.
Easier said than done—it was incredibly difficult. Enduring the chainsaw's vibrations numbing my hands, I gradually cut into the large tree, finally severing the remaining connected part.
But if the tree was bent or the ground was uneven where it fell, it could bounce up or roll, so caution was necessary.
Finally finishing the work, I tried the experiment again.
How about 15 meters? But the Item Box couldn't hold it. So 15 meters is still too long.
"Well then, how about 10 meters?"
It was absorbed! The Item Box display showed [Large Log] x1.
Well, if it can hold a 10-meter object, it should be able to hold most things. Even large machinery shouldn't be 10 meters long.
Just to be sure, I searched for a bucket-wheel excavator, but it displayed [No products found matching your search].
"Phew..." For some reason, I felt relieved. But a semi-trailer truck is about 12 meters long, so it might not fit.
Not that I plan to use one. The largest license I have is for medium-sized vehicles, up to 8 tons.
8 tons should be enough to haul most things. A ISUZU Elf truck would be even better!
Wait, why am I assuming I'll be driving a truck? This is about logs, not trucks.
Since the logs are in the Item Box, it's easy from here. I'll put the cut logs in the Item Box, take them elsewhere, and retrieve them.
But since I went through the trouble of cutting them, I'll keep the logs nearby to use as firewood.
I moved the logs, but there was still something left—the stumps. Massive stumps were firmly rooted in the ground.
I thought the stumps might fit in the Item Box, but it seems I need to dig them up from the ground first.
Using the chainsaw, I gradually cut and chopped them up. Then I dug up the roots with a shovel.
Digging them up—excavating—. "There's no way I can do this!"
Frustrated by the arduous task, I tossed the shovel aside and chanted a spell. "Come forth, mighty machine! Used backhoe summoning! Just a click."
Fed up with the seemingly endless, grueling work, I pressed the button to purchase a used backhoe power shovel.

Chapter 13: Summoning Yu*bo! But What About the Fuel?

My business was going well, and my savings had increased—so I decided to establish a base to fully enjoy my slow life in this other world.
I tried to cut down large trees and level the ground to build a small log cabin in the forest, but—I was too weak. Unable to even process the stumps of the large trees I had felled—in my frustration, I ended up summoning a backhoe power shovel from Shangri-La.
What I purchased was a green construction vehicle. A medium-sized one commonly used for road construction in towns. It was a bit worn and rusty, but it had a bucket, so as long as it ran, it was okay. The price was around 1.2 million yen.
It was a big purchase, but it would undoubtedly come in handy. For example, digging a deep hole with a shovel is extremely difficult, but with this machine, it would take less than a minute without any fatigue.
If it breaks down, it might be unrepairable... but I'll figure something out. Shangri-La even sells welding machines, lathes, and milling machines. As long as it's not an electronic component issue, I should be able to fix it... hopefully.
If all else fails, I can always buy a new one. By then, I'll have earned more money—at least, that's the hopeful assumption.
Anyway, let me try operating it first—I sat on the slightly torn black vinyl seat and looked to my right.
The key was next to the seat, so I twisted it to start the engine. The machine roared to life, and vibrations traveled through the seat.
But upon hearing the engine sound—I suddenly realized, "Wait, isn't this a diesel engine?"
Of course, it is. Heavy machinery runs on diesel, doesn't it? How am I going to get fuel?
I hurriedly searched Shangri-La for diesel fuel—unsurprisingly, it wasn't available. However, I did find an additive for sale.
It's a chemical that can convert kerosene into diesel fuel for use in diesel engines. Some say you can just mix in some motor oil instead of buying this, but...
Back in my original world, doing that would be considered tax evasion, so be careful. But it should be okay to use it for private diesel generators and such on your own property.
So I could use kerosene, but... didn't I search for kerosene before when I used a lamp, and it wasn't available either...?

Should I give up on everything? No, wait a minute. After making such a huge purchase, can I really give up so easily? Let me search for kerosene again and investigate thoroughly until the end.
I found a related product called paraffin oil. According to the product description, it's white kerosene.
White kerosene is a refined oil that doesn't produce soot or smoke, used for lamps and such. This might work.
Searching further for white kerosene—ah, I see, it's sold as camping equipment. At 1,800 yen per liter, it's expensive, but this is the only option.
There's a possibility that the marine animal oil sold in towns could be used as kerosene, but a mid-sized jar—roughly 4 liters—costs 10,000 yen.
If I buy 4 liters of white kerosene from Shangri-La, it'll only be 7,200 yen. Not only is it cheaper, but the quality should also be more consistent.
I also bought an additive for 5,000 yen that allows diesel engines to run on kerosene, as well as a 2,000 yen additive to increase the cetane rating of the fuel.
After calculating everything, it turns out to be an exorbitantly expensive fuel, costing around 2,500 to 3,000 yen per liter.
However, if I can get the heavy machinery running, I'll be able to do things that I couldn't do alone. It can't be helped.
"But still, I wonder if this will really work?"
I'm genuinely worried. If this fuel doesn't make it run, I'll be in big trouble. Is there a better way...?
Searching for "diesel engine," I found that a certain country's diesel generator was being sold for around 90,000 yen.
That's it—I'll buy this and try running it on the modified white kerosene fuel. It'll cost me more money, but it's better than ruining the 1.2 million yen heavy machinery, and the generator itself will also have various uses.
"Alright! Summon the generator! Just a click!"
With a thud, an unpacked yellow diesel generator sank into the forest's decaying leaf litter.
However, while I've used generators before, this is my first time with diesel. Let me check the instruction manual that came with it—I can't read it. It's not in Japanese!
Will this really work? I'm starting to have some doubts... but I have no choice but to try. I'll pour the modified white kerosene fuel into the tank.

Since it's not a gasoline engine, there's no need for a choke to start it. I tried to pull the recoil starter after turning on the switch, but it was damn heavy!
It seems I can't pull the starter because the compression is extremely high in this diesel engine.
"What the hell is this? How do I start it?"
I read through the instruction manual written in kanji and English that I can't understand—ah, I see, there's a decompression lever.
The decompression lever is a device to release the compression. Back when I rode a single-cylinder Yamaha motorcycle, it had a decompression lever too.
It seems to say that I should pull the decompression lever to bring the engine piston to the top dead center, and then pull the recoil starter.
I did as instructed.
"I did it!"
The engine started with a loud noise, emitting white smoke—it's running, but it's an incredibly noisy engine, clanking and rattling.
I'll leave it running for about an hour and see how it goes. If there's an issue with the fuel, it should become apparent.
Since running it for a long time without a load could cause problems, I bought a drum-style extension cord from Shangri-La and lit two 100-watt bulbs.
The bulbs glow a bright orange color—
Whoa! This is the first 100V electric light in this world. However, the voltage seems to fluctuate a lot, causing the bulbs to flicker.
Electronic appliances likely won't work with this. As expected from a certain country's product—of course, connecting a PC is out of the question.
—And two hours later.
Just to be sure, I ran the generator for two hours, and it continued running without any issues. There might be problems with the fuel pump or other components if used long-term, but this modified white kerosene fuel is the only thing equivalent to diesel in this world.
The surroundings have already started to darken. Since I've created this space, I'll stay here tonight.
The noisy generator would just destroy everything, so I quickly stored it in the Item Box. It might not see any more use.
I tried putting it up for buyback, and it was appraised at 40,000 yen, so I might just sell it.
If I were to buy a generator, a Japanese-made gasoline generator would be far superior in performance and quieter.

However, I must be cautious, as even Japanese-made generators may be manufactured in certain countries.
I gathered the wood scraps left from felling the large trees and started a campfire.
"That's right. If I'm going to live in the forest, I should get those insect-repelling magic stones that Myare the beast-person mentioned. They're probably a necessity in this world, so I might as well buy them now."
I brought silver coins with me—that old man's tool shop might sell them. I should stop by before setting up my stall tomorrow.
I'm getting hungry—what should I eat?
I still have some of the vegetables I bought when drinking with the beast-people.
Let's make a "whatever-you-got" stir-fry.
A "whatever-you-got" stir-fry is where you chop up any leftover vegetables, mix them with flour, and fry them.
You eat it with mayonnaise and sauce. Well, it's a kind of okonomiyaki, but some might get angry if I call it that.
Since I'm out of meat, I'll buy some more. And I want some eggs too.
Searching for eggs on Shangri-La, I found "Irregular" mixed eggs, 40 for 800 yen. They're off-spec products.
Even if they're off-spec, the insides are the same. And I can store plenty in the Item Box without them spoiling.
Back in my original world, there was a poultry farm nearby where I used to buy off-spec eggs. They varied in size, were misshapen, and so on.
The interesting ones were the double yolks. Apparently, some people find double yolk eggs unsettling, so they're all removed during inspection.
But the poultry farm sold them. Of course, they were all double yolks.
Double yolk eggs have more yolk, so things like pancakes made with the same amount come out richer in flavor.
Since I've got a campfire going, I'll fry this "whatever-you-got" stir-fry right over the flames in a pan. The far-infrared radiation might make it taste better.
The sizzling sound of the stir-fry cooking echoes through the forest. It's so quiet in the dark.
But if I end up getting attacked by those black wolves or whatever, I'll have to abandon my plans here.

After leveling the area, I contemplated my plans while the "whatever-you-got" stir-fry cooked skillfully over the flames.
"Oh, it seems fluffier than when cooked with gas."
I then drizzled mayonnaise and sauce over the top. The mayonnaise was regular Kewpie, but for the sauce, I settled on Otafuku after trying various options.
I had been using Italian dressing for a long time, but when I tried Otafuku, I became hooked. This is now my go-to.
Perhaps it's just my imagination, but it tastes more delicious than what I usually eat. Is it because I'm eating in the midst of such grand nature?
After filling my stomach with the "whatever-you-got" stir-fry, I set up my tent.
Now then, I can't sleep without any precautions. I must be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.
In the darkness, while basking in the warmth of the campfire, I searched Shangri-La and found 12V infrared sensors for sale.
These are the ones installed at residential entrances that turn on lights when someone approaches. At around 400 yen each, I purchased four of them.
If any living creatures come, they'll likely approach from deep within the forest.
I also bought a 12V battery and wires to connect to the sensors. Then, I connected a 12V light and buzzer to the sensor output.
As a test, when I approached the sensor—the light turned on, and the buzzer sounded—success.
This should allow me to be prepared for any approaching creatures or the like. I may need to add a switch or make other modifications later, but it's usable as is for now.
Well then, time to sleep—I'm utterly exhausted from the physical labor. I'd love to take a bath, but... I'll wash my body in the river on my way to the market in the morning.
Ah, I left the power shovel out... Oh well.
------◇◇◇------
—The next morning. I awoke in the forest. Since the alarm buzzer didn't go off, it seems no creatures came.
After taking out some bread from the Item Box and nibbling on it, I decided to try storing the power shovel in the Item Box.
"Even something this huge should fit, right? Well, if whole logs can fit..."
Without any worry, the power shovel was sucked into the Item Box. The display now shows [Medium Backhoe Power Shovel] x1.
I took out a mountain bike from the Item Box and rode it for the first time on the path I had created.

It's quite comfortable. Although I can't go as fast as on a paved road, this is sufficient.
But wait. I stopped the mountain bike and searched for asphalt on Shangri-La—it's available for purchase.
While asphalt is indeed sold, it's quite expensive at 1,600 yen for 10kg. I can't possibly pave this entire path with that. It's impossible.
After about 10 minutes from the forest, I arrived at the river. It's definitely faster than walking. I put the mountain bike into the Item Box and washed my body in the river.
Of course, I didn't jump in naked like the beast-people. I just took some water and wiped my body.
"Ah, I want to take a bath."
That's right, I should take a bath. Didn't they sell a drum can bath for 20,000 yen?
If I fill a poly tank with river water and put it in the Item Box, I can take a bath in the forest.
Or—if I can fill the drum can with water here and store it directly in the Item Box, that would be even easier.
Alright! Today, I'll take a bath.
Now that the path is complete and I have a base in the forest, I don't need to stay at the inn anymore.
I should go and say goodbye to them.
------◇◇◇------
"Good morning."
"Ah, Kenichi, where have you been?"
Azalea welcomed me.
"I was making a place to live. I wanted to come and say goodbye since you've helped me out here."
"Live? Where are you going to live?"
"In the forest."
"Eeh~?"
It's no wonder Azalea is surprised. Even among the people of this town, there doesn't seem to be anyone eccentric enough to live in the forest.
I haven't actually seen anyone there, even while working all day.
And according to her, there seems to be some kind of taboo against living in the forest.
It's not like there are any penalties for doing so, but rather an unspoken understanding that has continued since long ago.
"It was a short time, but thank you."
"Are you serious?"
"Absolutely serious. Hahaha."
She seems bewildered, but it can't be helped.
"But I can't return the inn fees I received in advance..."
"Ah, I understand. I'm just here to say goodbye."
After bidding farewell to the innkeeper, I headed for the market—but first, I should stop by the tool shop.

I passed by the market and arrived at the tool shop run by the old man.
The shop was still dimly lit as usual. I thought he could use magic to brighten it up since he seemed capable of using it.
"It's really dark in here."
"Mind your own business."
"Whoa! Old man, don't scare me like that!"
It really felt like the old man had emerged from the darkness. I couldn't tell if he was actually there or not. Was he using some kind of concealment magic?
"What brings you here today? Did you bring another strange item?"
"Hey old man, that's no way to talk to a customer. Do you have those insect-repelling magic stones here?"
"I do. Here they are."
The old man took out a blue oval-shaped stone from a cabinet-like piece of furniture with many boxes lined up, resembling a medicine chest.
"I heard they cost two silver coins (100,000 yen)."
As I took out silver coins from the Item Box, the old man's eyes lit up.
"So that's the rumored Item Box."
It seems word has spread in the market about someone using an Item Box.
Well, it's apparently a rather rare ability, so it's no surprise it's become a rumor.
"That's right, but..."
"Is there anything unusual inside it?"
"Unusual items? What if there were?"
"I might give you a slight discount on the magic stone."
"Really?"
It seems legitimate, but—I can't possibly take out any over-technological items.
I checked the window displaying the contents of the Item Box.
One of the convenient features of this Item Box—if I put an empty box inside, I can drag and drop other small items into it.
However, if I try to put a large item into a small box, it displays the message "Insufficient capacity."
Using this feature, I took out one of the oranges that came with the assorted vegetables I had bought.
"What's that?"
"It's a foreign fruit."
I peeled the orange and encouraged him to eat it.
"Hmm, this is unusual—and sweet and sour, and delicious. But this alone isn't enough..."
Well then, let me have him try this next—Azalea seemed to like it too.
I took out a plate and milk, and decided to have the old man try some granola.

"But with your bad teeth, old man, you might not be able to eat it?"
"Don't mock me."
He said, crunching the granola with milk poured over it, seeming to enjoy its taste.
"This is sweet and delicious! I've never eaten anything like this before! If you give me some more, I'll knock off two small silver coins (10,000 yen) from the price of the magic stone."
"Deal, then."
I had the old man prepare a small empty jar and filled it with granola.
Yes, I got the insect-repelling magic stone.
After that, the old man used the granola I gave him as a hint to create and sell preserved travel food.
It was like a salty cracker baked with dried potatoes and dried fruits kneaded in.
Apparently, you break it into pieces, put it in a plate or cup, and pour water or milk over it to eat. And if you add hot water, it becomes a soup.
I introduced it to the Marlowe Trading Company, and it's selling quite well—the old man is quite capable.
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Today's stall sales were just under 20,000 yen.
I'm not selling as many clothespins anymore since stores affiliated with the Marlowe Trading Company have started selling them too.
Well, if the Marlowe Trading Company sells them, they're branded products even if it's the same item.
As evening approached and I closed up shop—I decided to put my bath plan into action.
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Pub: 12 Jul 2025 20:16 UTC
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