Chapter 42
The northernmost edge of the Empire.
Teren.
A bleak frontier town facing the Black Wall.
Whoooosh...
The morning wind was freezing.
Yet...
The area in front of the Silver Eagle Mercenary Company in one corner of the market was blazing with excitement.
“Topu, you bastard!”
A huge man rushed outside.
His eyes were wide.
“You finally showed yourself!”
It was Max.
Leader of the Silver Eagle Mercenary Company.
A group of large mercenaries poured out behind him.
They surrounded a small cart.
“Hiiing...”
Old Donkey let out a tired sound.
Topu smiled awkwardly.
“Captain Max! Have you been well? Everything peaceful?”
Max exploded.
“Peaceful, my ass!”
He slapped his chest.
“Last time I specifically told the exchange that I would pay triple for those incredible potatoes!”
Then he pointed accusingly at Topu.
“And you sold every last one to Baron Ruonic?!”
The mercenaries laughed.
Max continued.
“Because of you, these bastards complained at me for days!”
One mercenary shouted,
“And we heard those were Magic Crops!”
Another complained,
“Potatoes that good for men, and you didn’t sell us even one?!”
Topu grinned.
“Hehe. Sorry about that.”
Then he waved one hand.
“But don’t worry, Captain.”
His grin widened.
“The potatoes I brought this time are even better.”
He grabbed the leather covering the cart.
Then pulled it away.
Large, glossy C-Rank Potatoes filled the wagon.
They looked beautiful.
The mercenaries stared.
“Whoa...!”
Max’s eyes widened.
“Improved potatoes?”
Another mercenary grabbed one.
“Boss, look at these! They’re practically shining!”
The blood of a potential A-Rank merchant flowed through Topu’s veins.
His mouth immediately went to work.
“These aren’t ordinary potatoes, you know.”
He placed both hands on his waist.
“Among all the potatoes harvested by our Shaman, these are a top-quality variety.”
The mercenaries listened closely.
Topu lowered his voice.
“Twice the fullness of the previous ones.”
Their eyes widened.
“Twice the calories.”
Then...
Topu gave them a suspicious smile.
“Eat one of these in the morning...”
He leaned closer.
“And whew...”
The mercenaries swallowed.
Topu whispered,
“You might not sleep all night.”
The large mercenaries’ pupils expanded.
Max coughed.
“Ahem.”
He looked at the wagon.
“N-Not sleep at night...”
Then he slapped the cart.
“Good!”
He shouted,
“No need for more explanation!”
Then...
“Topu! The Silver Eagle Mercenary Company will buy every potato here!”
He pointed.
“Sell them before the Baron takes everything again!”
Topu smiled brightly.
“Thank you kindly!”
Then he raised one finger.
“Three thousand shillings per potato.”
Max flinched.
Topu continued casually.
“As you know, these aren’t ordinary potatoes.”
Then he added,
“And I can only sell half of them.”
“What?”
“I promised the other half to the old man at the exchange.”
Max looked devastated.
But Topu ignored him.
He collected a heavy pouch filled with money.
Then pulled the cart away.
At the exchange...
Topu sold the remaining half to the old merchant.
The old man’s smile almost reached his ears.
Topu...
A minor merchant who had been pushed out by competition until he was forced into the unwanted Northern Frontier...
Was suddenly earning amounts of money he had never imagined.
Life really is unpredictable.
Topu thought of the Rock Tribe.
And Izak.
They had completely changed his life.
Still...
I need to find those somehow.
Topu looked toward the old merchant.
“Mister.”
The merchant was lovingly staring at his new potatoes.
“Do you know anywhere in Teren where I can buy seeds?”
The merchant looked up.
Topu continued.
“Crop seeds. Planting seeds. Anything like that.”
The old merchant stared at him as though he were stupid.
“Topu.”
He clicked his tongue.
“How many years have you been a merchant?”
Topu scratched his head.
The old man pointed outside.
“This is the northernmost territory of the Empire.”
Then north.
“A border settlement defending against Demon Beasts.”
He snorted.
“What lunatic farms in frozen barren soil like this?”
Topu frowned.
“Still... merchants from the interior might have brought something.”
“Nothing!”
The old merchant waved him away.
“Why would merchants carry cargo that doesn’t sell?”
Then he stomped one foot.
“Dig into Teren’s soil and all you find are rocks!”
He shook his head.
“What would anyone farm here?”
Then he spread both hands.
“You think interior merchants would carry seeds all this way when they wouldn’t even sprout?”
Topu scratched his cheek.
The merchant continued.
“Goods that reach Teren are things that last a long time.”
He counted.
“Flour.”
Another finger.
“Jerky.”
Another.
“Salted beans.”
Then he scoffed.
“Seeds? Spices?”
He laughed.
“Those are things served at noble tables near the capital.”
His expression became bitter.
“They vanished from this frontier decades ago.”
Topu had no choice but to leave.
All morning...
He searched every store.
Every alley.
Every possible merchant.
The answer was always the same.
Teren was the Empire’s final gateway.
Beyond the town...
The dense Shadow Forest stood like a wall.
Beyond that forest...
The restricted Northern Frontier began.
A land crawling with monsters.
Agriculture itself had almost no place in this barren territory.
Naturally...
No one sold seeds.
“Haa...”
Topu sighed.
“I expected this, but ordinary merchants really can’t help.”
He looked up.
Only one option remained.
At the highest point of the village...
Baron Ruonic’s castle stood proudly.
Maybe ordinary markets had nothing.
But a lord...
Might.
I should meet the Baron.
Topu had already separated the finest sack of potatoes.
He lifted it onto his back.
Then headed toward the castle.
At the same time.
Inside Baron Ruonic’s office.
Knock. Knock.
“My lord. A merchant named Topu requests an audience.”
Ruonic’s head rose.
“Topu?!”
Then...
“Bring him in immediately!”
Creak.
The wooden door opened.
Topu carefully entered with a sack on his back.
“M-My respects, Lord Ruonic.”
He bowed deeply.
“Merchant Topu greets Baron Ruonic, Lord of Teren.”
Ruonic stood.
He welcomed him with a gentle smile.
Ruonic had been born a commoner.
He had risen to the rank of Baron through skill alone.
Unlike many nobles...
He wasn’t overly obsessed with authority.
He had a straightforward and kind personality.
And right now...
Topu was especially valuable to him.
Because the boy had brought food that improved the health of Ruonic’s physically weak wife.
“Topu! Come in.”
Ruonic pointed toward a chair.
“Sit.”
Topu carefully sat.
Then smiled.
He opened the sack.
Ruonic’s eyes immediately shone.
“These are...”
He carefully picked up one potato.
The potatoes his wife had desperately wanted to eat again.
Topu nodded.
“A newly improved variety cultivated by our Shaman.”
He smiled proudly.
“They provide more than twice the fullness and calories of the previous potatoes.”
Then he added,
“They should taste even better too.”
Topu watched Ruonic’s expression.
Then cautiously continued.
“I heard that after buying the potatoes last time, your wife began eating better.”
Ruonic’s hand tightened slightly around the potato.
Topu spoke gently.
“When the Shaman heard that...”
He placed a hand on his chest.
“He was very happy.”
Then...
“He took special care while growing these potatoes specifically for your wife.”
Ruonic froze.
