kscans

Chapter 169 - Magic Stone Tool ~User Feedback~ (Part 1)

Although there were some developments with screams and angry roars due to a misunderstanding between the two parties, the check of the "materials" ended without incident. …One should not mind those who had collapsed, looking completely exhausted.

After a little while, Adon, restarting himself as if mustering his willpower, told Yuri…

"...Huh? Has it become such a big deal?"

It was the current situation surrounding the magic stone tool.



If we were to summarize the events that occurred after Yuri left Laurenzen last year in chronological order, it would be like this.

The first to move was Adon. He began to secure an earth magician at the same time as Yuri’s return home, and his movements were hindered by the reality that there were few, or rather, almost no, freelance earth magicians, as has already been mentioned. The problem was that although he had moved in secret, the fact that Adon was looking for an earth magician could not be hidden. This was the first.

The second unraveling was created by the "Lucky Footsteps," though they were unaware of it themselves. They had been spotted several times happily using the magic stone tools they had received from Yuri. In particular, if Katra and Dalia, who were half-elves and should have had a hard time equipping blades, were happily using daggers, it was only natural that it would attract the interest of other adventurers and those interested in magic tools. No one asked them directly, but no, because no one asked them, this information spread quietly without the "Lucky Footsteps" noticing. This was the second.

The next move occurred about two months later in the village of the elves who had received the news from Katra and Dalia. The elves, who had received the news from Katra and Dalia without considering the deep circumstances, also spread this information to other elf villages without thinking deeply. As a result, a vague and ambiguous rumor that there was some kind of very precious stone tool, some were said to have called it the "phantom stone sword," spread among the elves. At that point, no one had even imagined that the production of the magic stone tool would be so difficult. This was the third.

And then, the elf Nagara, who had arrived in Laurenzen to visit Yuri, was introduced to Adon, who was acting as Yuri’s agent in this matter, instead of Yuri who had already returned to the Salt-Sour Mountain. If an elf who had come down from the mountains alone at the very end of December visited the house of a prominent merchant accompanied by two half-elf women… it was bound to attract attention. All the more so if that elf later became Adon’s guard. This was the fourth.

Nagara, who learned from Adon that obtaining the magic stone tool was unexpectedly difficult, contacted his village with the details of the matter using a communication magic tool. The village that received the contact took the situation more seriously than Nagara. A voice was raised that they should dispatch a guard to Laurenzen for a stable supply of magic stone tools. Although it was not decided to do so immediately due to the late season, it was decided that this was not a matter that could be decided by one village, and the matter was also brought to the other elf villages that knew about the magic stone tool. In the end, it was decided, without Yuri or Adon’s knowledge, that each village, a total of four elf villages had participated at this point, would dispatch one guard each after the snow melted. Adon, who was consulted about this matter through Nagara, immediately accepted the story with an eye on securing a sales channel for magic stone tools and establishing a trade route with the elves. Considering that the demand for magic stone tools would increase, he considered supplying semi-finished products that had not yet been imbued with magic power. He decided to consult with Yuri as soon as he met him, although in reality he would just be seeking his approval after the fact. This was the fifth.

Furthermore, as the dishes that Adon served when he invited influential people over the winter became popular, rumors of a knife that did not leave a metallic taste began to spread from somewhere. This was the sixth.



And as a result of all these various stories secretly converging…

"...So, even though the details aren’t known, it’s been determined that you’re involved with some kind of special tool, Adon-san, and that the elves have taken a great interest in it?"

"That’s about it. From a merchant’s perspective, it’s not necessarily a bad development… but although I’ve been able to keep your involvement a secret, Yuri-kun, I’m not confident I can protect it forever. Before that happens…"

"...You want to establish a production and distribution flow?"

"That’s right… will you cooperate?"

"Of course. It was originally a seed I sowed, and you’re reaping it for me, Adon-san."

Hearing Yuri’s answer that he would not spare any cooperation, Adon let out a sigh of relief. If he had displeased Yuri here, everything would have been for naught.

"...That’s a relief. Now, I have a proposal."

Adon presented the idea he had been nurturing since hearing the elves’ circumstances, which was to sell not only finished products but also semi-finished stone tools that had not yet been imbued with magic power.

"...I see… that would certainly clear one of the bottlenecks. I can’t sell them for as much, but it would save me trouble, and the quality guarantee would be limited… as long as there’s demand from the customer side, I have no objections."

"Hmm… so, about the price…?"

"I don’t know about that, so I’ll leave it to you, Adon-san. However, a price that the elves can’t afford…"

"Of course, I understand that point. Besides, elves who are skilled in magic can also use the option of purchasing the semi-finished products."

"True. Then… the price will be determined by productivity and labor costs. The raw material is just dirt from around here."

"Yes… for that, we won’t know until we see the skills of Professor Magam’s disciple…"