Chapter Ninety-eight: Regarding Global Trends Observed from Market Price Fluctuations
“Rin! Rin! Those skewers are delicious!”
“Oh! The juice from that stall over there is also super tasty because they only use fresh fruits!”
“I get it! I totally understand there are lots of delicious shops! Now that I get it, let’s first finish the necessary shopping!”
Currently, I’m being dragged around the center of the market, with Ms. Aria firmly gripping my right arm and Mr. Ed my left, pulling me this way and that.
…I-I see… So this is what Mr. Ville and Mr. Xenon were talking about…! I should’ve guessed from their usual appetite, but I never expected it to be this intense!
…And moreover… moreover, you know…?
‘I too, I too, I think that stall over there looks tasty!‘
“Miso, zip it for a bit! Let me buy what we need before I forget!”
Gomamiso, with its front paws on my right shoulder and back paws on my left, surveys the surroundings. It twitches its nose at the savory smell of grilling meat and fish, tapping my cheek with its tail every time it spots something delicious.
I feel like a teacher dealing with overexcited children.
Being pulled left and right, occasionally getting my cheek tapped, and trying to resist the stereo sound temptations of "This is delicious" and "That is delicious," I weave through the crowd. Various shops line my path… The prices don’t seem to have changed much since we visited before going to that dungeon. Should I start keeping a household account book?
Should I really be targeting the best deals, sales, and special offers?
“…Hey, Rin. Have you noticed how the prices for grains, dried foods, and other long-lasting food items haven’t changed much?”
“Hmm? You’re right. They seem almost the same as when we last went shopping.”
“…Wheat and such… they tend to… get more expensive… when things get dicey…”
“…!”
As I peeked at the stalls to see if there were any good finds, even though I had mostly decided what to buy, Mr. Ed’s slightly hushed voice reached my ears. Feeling like I shouldn’t move my face, I looked up at Mr. Ed with just my eyes. His expression was almost the same as before… but somehow, there was a forced smile on his face. Wondering what was going on, I moved on to the next stall… and could only freeze with a forced smile as Ms. Aria whispered, still smiling cheerfully.
“Oh? Rin, are you interested in that shop?”
“Their kebabs are delicious!”
“The front of the shop is open too, let’s take a break!”
“The juice is… delicious… too!”
With my arms still in their grasp, Mr. Ed and Ms. Aria naturally lead me to a shop in a corner of the alley, their movements seeming perfectly normal despite my awkward attempt to act casual.
It’s a shop that fills the area with the savory aroma of well-spiced grilled meat and the sweet smell of baking flatbread. Peeking inside from the entrance, the shop is neither empty nor crowded, filled with a moderate number of customers. Leaving Mr. Ed at the counter to order with familiar ease, Ms. Aria, still holding my hand, sits down on a terrace seat facing the street. In no time, Mr. Ed returns with a tray loaded with food and drinks… and the smiling couple begins to talk softly.
“Let’s chat a bit while we eat! As I mentioned earlier, the prices for food and clothes haven’t changed, right?”
“That’s true… It doesn’t feel like anything has gone up or down in price drastically…”
“Like Aria mentioned, before wars break out or when monster attacks increase, the prices of food… especially long-lasting dried goods and grains that can be used as rations, tend to go up.”
“…Fabric and… metals… also… become more expensive.”
As they munch on meat-filled kebabs, Mr. Ed and Ms. Aria explained in slightly lowered voices.
…I see… I can somewhat understand why preserved foods and grains become more expensive before a war. It’s probably because the circulation decreases as they’re bought in bulk or hoarded for military rations. The increase in price when monsters become more prevalent might be due to the added cost of needing escorts during transport. Thinking about it that way, it makes sense that the prices of fabrics and metals used for weapons and armor would also surge.
…I see… So you can understand what’s happening now from an economic perspective too…
“…Huh? But the prices haven’t changed, right?”
“Nope, they haven’t. That’s why we’re wondering what this ‘saint summoning’ was all about.”
“…It’s not… exactly… tumultuous times… is it?”
“…Now that you mention it, that’s true… Today is really calm… peaceful, even…”
The market is lively today too. There’s no sense of limited stock or poor-quality goods being sold… The people moving through the market all seem full of vibrant energy… It doesn’t look like the dark shadows of war or a major monster outbreak have fallen at all…
…Could it be that this time’s "saint summoning" is some kind of grand scam or something…?
As the carnivorous couple, having devoured the meat-filled kebabs and side dishes on the tray in the blink of an eye, urge "Let’s go to another shop for more investigation!" and "Let’s go snacking while looking at the shops!" I absentmindedly ignored them, lost in a whirlpool of thoughts.
The Translator’s Note
the household account book is a very good thing. I started keeping one at the beginning of this year.
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