The joy of traveling in a foreign land comes from experiencing the unique atmosphere of that place. Simply seeing European-style streets with your own eyes is exciting, but when those streets are filled with fantasy elements, like something out of a video game, the thrill is even greater.
Wataru's cheeks flushed as he marveled at the various shops in sight.
Oh wow, a blacksmith, a weapons shop, an adventurer's guild! A monster shop, even a slave trading house!
Small wooden or metal signboards with clear symbols were engraved on them: an anvil for the blacksmith, crossed swords for the adventurer's guild, and a collar for the slave trading house. That last one was a bit too straightforward.
"Wow, I'd love to check these out, but how does money work here?"
He knew for sure that they didn't use yen. It would be awkward to just walk into a store with no money.
As for the language barrier, to Wataru's surprise, they spoke Japanese.
When he listened closely to the voices of the townspeople, he could understand them. However, the language they were actually speaking wasn't Japanese. The movement of their mouths didn't match the sounds.
He tried to figure out how this worked but quickly gave up. After all, being here in the first place defied common sense.
You don't need to understand how a smartphone works to use it. Just like that, he decided to enjoy this strange situation without overthinking it.
"I wonder if I can sell something here?"
If he had no money, he'd have to make some. There were two ways: work or sell something. Wataru scanned the area with a serious look.
Working in an unfamiliar place with different customs would be difficult. Selling something might be easier.
Few people seemed to be wearing anything valuable. Those who were probably rode in carriages. From Wataru's perspective, the people around him seemed poor, and the cultural level seemed low. In a different culture, even everyday items might sell for a good price.
"I have no idea what might sell here, but I should at least ask."
His eyes fell on a shop.
"Welcome Trading Company - High-Value Purchases Welcome"
The name was straightforward, making it an easy place to enter. The storefront was lined with a variety of goods, giving it the appearance of a general store. It wasn't too large, but it had a bright and clean atmosphere, which was appealing.
Wataru gathered his courage to shake off his anxiety and stepped into the shop. Inside, a counter was directly in front, with shelves displaying various items on either side. As Wataru walked through the shop, a tall, blond man with a polished appearance quickly approached.
"Welcome! Our company welcomes everyone! My name is William, a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh, I'm Wataru. Nice to meet you!"
"Wataru, what a wonderful name. How can I assist you today?"
"I was hoping to sell something... Is that okay?"
"Certainly! Our company welcomes all kinds of purchases!"
What a handsome guy… William had his shining blond hair tied back. His eyes were a deep, clear sapphire blue, reminiscent of a beautiful sea. When he smiled, his well-groomed mustache highlighted his neat, white teeth.
He had a friendly smile, but his way of speaking was a bit peculiar. Maybe it was just Wataru's perception, but he wondered if this was normal for the people here. Unsure, he tried to keep his confusion from showing.
"I'm not sure what you accept, but can I show you something?"
"Of course. We can even buy the unique clothes you're wearing and your backpack."
"Uh, well, I don't plan on going naked, so I'll keep the clothes."
"As you wish."
Just regular clothes and a backpack, Wataru thought. He didn't realize that modern products were the result of years of accumulated ideas and cutting-edge technology.
"This material is unlike anything I've seen. And the shape of this backpack is unique."
"Really? This thing?"
"In all my years of business, I've never seen anything like it. May I take a closer look?"
"Sure. Just be careful with it; there's stuff inside."
"Of course."
Wataru had just bought some groceries. He placed the backpack on the counter, and William eyed it with keen interest.
The merchant's gaze was serious as he carefully examined the backpack, cautiously touching the zipper as if he might break it.
"Excuse me... Hmm, I've never felt material like this before. This opening and closing mechanism is fascinating... The straps aren't just ropes but wide pieces of fabric, with enough elasticity that they won't dig into your shoulders. It's very well thought out."
"Uh…"
"Oh, I'm sorry! I got a bit carried away. And this bag is…?"
"It's a plastic bag… There's some food inside, but can you buy this too?"
"Let me see. Oh, this smooth packaging! It's more transparent than glass, almost like water, but dry."
"Yeah... It's sealed to keep air out."
"Interesting!"
Well, if it's just food, I can buy more. Wataru began to take out the items from his backpack. William, clearly intrigued, asked questions about each item. His attention was especially caught by the sugar cubes Wataru had bought for his coffee breaks.
"These white cubes… Are they salt? We don't deal in salt here as it's a controlled commodity..."
"No, that's sugar."
"S-Sugar!? Really!? When we say sugar... well, this is what we sell here."
William pulled a packet of sugar from the shelf. To Wataru, it looked like brown sugar. The difference between it and the white sugar he had was obvious.
"I've never seen anything this white! Could I taste it?"
"Sure, go ahead."
Is sugar really that surprising? Maybe civilization here isn't as advanced as I thought.
Wataru unwrapped the sugar, and William carefully picked up a cube, tasting it cautiously.
William's eyes widened in shock.
Wow, is it really that surprising?
Wataru couldn't help but be astonished by William's reaction.
"It's sweet! This is real sugar…! And such pure, intense sweetness! The ultimate in sugar flavor...! Incredible…!! What amazing sugar!"
"Uh, thanks?"
"I'd love to buy many things, but first, I must purchase this sugar! It will sell immediately."
"Alright…"
This sugar only cost a few hundred yen. He didn't expect it to fetch much, but this was a rare chance to get some local currency. Declining the offer didn't seem wise, so he agreed. At least he could make some small change to buy things here.
"If possible, I'd like to continue doing business with you. I'm sure my customers, and their acquaintances, will want more."
"That's fine with me."
"I'll offer you the best price I can. How about this?"
William went to the back and returned with money. He dumped a small pile of gold coins onto the counter.
Wataru's eyes widened at the sight of such an unexpected fortune. One of the coins slid off the pile and made a clear ringing sound as it hit the counter.
Could I really become rich here…?