kscans

Chapter 237 - The Termite Mound Debate

It was no wonder Yuri stopped dead in his tracks, dumbfounded.

Sitting there imposingly at the front of the stall was something that even Isarai Yuuri from his past life had never seen before. To put it simply, it was...

(...A termite mound... right...?)

Honestly, Yuri wondered why such a thing was here, but regardless of the shop’s intentions, the fact was that it was here, drawing the attention of passersby.

...Of course, while it was drawing attention, no one was trying to negotiate a price, perhaps because they saw it as just a display piece to attract customers.

"Nah... it’s for sale, you know."

Unable to contain his curiosity, Yuri asked, and the shopkeeper answered with a wry smile.

"For sale... what is this used for?"

In his previous life, or rather, his life before that, his long hospital stays had allowed him to become familiar with all sorts of books, but he had never read or heard about the uses of a termite mound...

(...No... I think there was a story about hollowing one out to use as a kiln. And... something about the clay used to build the nest being of high quality, so local goldsmiths used it to make molds and crucibles...)

He had been thinking it might be used as that kind of material, and it seemed he was right. It yielded fine, good-quality earth, but since it was incredibly sturdy, locals sometimes used it as a building material as is.

"Well, I doubt anyone would use it for construction over here, though."

"So why did you bring it all in one piece without breaking it down?"

"It’s true it’d be less bulky if I broke it up, but the thing is just so insanely hard and tough that breaking it down is a huge pain. And it’s more eye-catching this way."

It seemed the plan was to use it as a display piece, with the hope that some eccentric person might take the bait. And since Yuri had indeed taken the bait, perhaps its customer-drawing effect was decent enough. Still, it must be a pain to haul something like this around, Yuri thought, but then...

"How about it, kid? I’ll give you a good price. How about half a gold coin...?"

"If you can deliver it, I’ll take it."

"Huh?"

It was the shopkeeper who was shocked and flustered. He had meant it as a lighthearted joke to a child, but had received an immediate acceptance. It was true that the mound was currently nothing but a burden, but considering the cost of acquiring and transporting it, half a gold coin was by no means an acceptable price. He cursed his slip of the tongue, but to go back on a price he had already stated, even to a child, went against his pride as a merchant. What’s more, a crowd of onlookers and fellow merchants had gathered, watching intently to see what would happen. If he got a reputation for being two-faced, it would cause all sorts of trouble down the line. Still, the shopkeeper clung to a sliver of hope.

"Hey... but kid... and it’s weird for me to be the one saying this, but what do you plan to do with something like this?"

It was a ridiculously sturdy lump of earth, actually wood chips hardened with termite saliva, that stood taller than the not-so-small shopkeeper. Never mind the price of half a gold coin, it wasn't something a child would buy for fun. He silently pleaded, "I’m telling you this for your own good, so give it up. Please, just say you’ll give it up. The young lady behind you is glaring, too." But his plea was in vain.

"Don’t worry. I have something in mind."

The boy before him declared with a gentle smile. From his demeanor, he must have some aim, but he didn't seem the type to foolishly reveal it. He had the appearance of a girl at first glance (lol), but anyone who had heard their exchange so far would know he was a tough customer who betrayed that appearance. But... should he try to struggle a bit more? If he just let this happen, he would be at a complete loss. As the shopkeeper pondered this, he overheard the murmurs from the crowd. ...It seemed this boy had just engaged in a heated price negotiation with an adventurer. The onlookers and fellow merchants, impressed by his skill, had rushed over to see a second act. In that case, honestly performing this "second act" for them was not something he was willing to do...

"...Much obliged..."





Ignoring a Dona who looked like she wanted to say something, Yuri was in high spirits. It was certainly a rare item, and no one had the right to criticize the well-off Yuri for splurging. However, Yuri hadn’t bought this "termite mound" just for its novelty. He had his own calculations and plans. If one were to ask his true intentions... in short, he was thinking he could use it as a reference for particle board.

The "particle board" Yuri knew from his past life was a board made of fine wood chips and other materials, hardened with synthetic resin under heat and pressure. While it had a wide range of uses, it left something to be desired in terms of sturdiness. The "reinforced particle board" Yuri had made by turning Kenfa pith into chips, then heat-pressing and shaping it with steam, and further reinforcing it with Wood Strengthening, was, according to his Appraisal master’s oracle, "as rigid as hardwood." But even so, it was still just particle board, Yuri thought. On the other hand, according to books and television from his past life, termite mounds, despite being made from the same wood fragments, were said to be incredibly hard and sturdy. If he could unlock a part of that secret and apply it to particle board, couldn't he create a "particle board" that was even more robust than his current version?

It was under this kind of scheme, one that would seem pretty awful to any third party, that Yuri purchased the "termite mound."

...The fact that what Yuri was trying to create was something that could rival or even surpass the armor plating of a tank was something that would never reach the ears of the safety-first Yuri.