Reincarnated into a Game As the Hero’s Friend

Note: We have merged previously splited chapters.

Translator MadHatter, Nisarah     Editor: Nisarah

After I left the royal palace I went to the Commerce Guild. For stuff related to the circulation of money or goods, it’s better to go to the Commerce Guild, or else I might receive harassment in the future.

As a noble, it might be strange for me to come to rely on a Commerce Guild but the truth is there are many times when nobles had no choice but to rely on a Commerce Guild especially if it’s concerning their own dignity. One example of that time is when they want to buy a congratulatory present for another noble’s wedding.

If a noble gives only a common present to another noble as a wedding gift they might get looked down upon by the noble community. That’s why they need the Commerce Guild’s help to get some rare items. Is this what they call ‘just leave things to a specialist? Hm… It’s close but a bit different.

“Thank you for your large order the other day.”

“I was the one who should thank you for taking the order on short notice.”

The one who actually bought the oil was Norbert though. While saying that in my head, I sit down in front of an uncle whose body is as big as a barrel.

The uncle’s name is Mr.Bierstedt. He is a large merchant who is active in the capital and a leading figure in the Commerce Guild. Well, a noble calling a merchant with Mr in front of his name might be frowned upon by the noble community but calling him with Mr inside of my head should be fine.

When I requested a large amount of turpentine oil from him it must have caused plenty of trouble for him but since I bought it at the price he asked without negotiating he must make a quiet amount of profit. The merchant in this world isn’t that different than a corporate in my past life.

“What can I do for you today?”

“There are things that I want to purchase in a distant town. I want a trustworthy merchant to go there. I will prepare the escort.”

“That’s quite unusual request.”

He shot me a probing look. I might be a viscount, but I’m still a student. His being suspicious of my request is understandable. I know that I seem like a debauch young master that just recklessly spending money.

“This is the list of towns I want the merchant to visit and the list of items I planned to purchase. I would also want the merchant to confirm the availability of the items in each town.”

“Allow me to take a look at the list.”

I handed him the list made of demonskin parchment. There are more demonic beasts compared to lambs so the price of parchment made from demonic beast’s skin is cheaper than the one made from lamb’s skin.

Only a certain type of demonic beast can be used to create a demonskin parchment. Now that I think about it it’s actually not strange for demonic beasts to resent humans. I mean, their flesh is eaten and their skin is taken to create a demonskin parchment. Not to mention their insides are used as a fertilizer on agricultural land.

The saying that human is cruel seems right, isn’t it?

“What a strange…I mean what a revolutionary plan!”

After reading the parchment for 5 minutes, Mr.Bierstedt raised his head and remarked.

His reaction didn’t surprise me. Since if it’s items that are usually circulated in the market you can just buy them in the capital but search for a new item? That’s practically just an expedition. It’s not an idea that is usually thought of by a noble.

“As you know the recent stampede is different than the usual stampede.”

“Yes. I have heard about it.”

It makes me curious about how much he knows. The information network of a merchant can’t be underestimated. Among people who know information from the royal palace some of them are loose-lipped. Plus not many men will remain tight-lipped in front of alcohol and women.

“If there’s a first time, there might be a second and a third time in the future.”

I can only say this much. He might know about the demon king’s revival but neither he nor I will talk about it.

“And for some reason, people seem to think of me as a military man recently.”

“I have heard of your recent achievements. Despite your age, you have an outstanding judgment in a war.”

“Thank you.”

His flattery was obvious the virtue of modesty and humility isn’t needed in this world so I just accepted his flattery.

“Anyway, that’s the reason I want to gather some equipment. I hope you understand.”

There’s a risk of another demon outbreak while my house, which is always seen as a house of civil officers is suddenly being expected to take a military role. It’s impossible for me to gather excellent knights on short notice so the least I can do is to gather good equipment.

That’s the pretext I said to Mr.Bierstedt but the truth is I want to gather high-quality equipment that in the game can only be purchased at the late game.

“I shall accept your request then, but as it’s a quite difficult task so I will ask for a handsome compensation.”

“I know that. For now, I want you to deliver 8 weapons of each type and 8 armor of each type to the Zeavert’s house. I will cover the cost.”

If possible I also want to buy equipment for soldiers of the royal palace but that has to wait for later. I mean, the amount of money I had isn’t enough to even provide the equipment for all soldiers of Zeavert’s army, let alone the entire royal palace.

My plan is to present half of the equipment to the Crown Prince because my current priority is to make the upper echelons of the kingdoms move by showing them what high-quality equipment could do. 

Before the demon attack on the royal palace, I need to make sure to equip the knights and soldiers with high-quality equipment. For that, I need to push the kingdom to fork out money.

“In the case we could get more equipment than what you have requested?”

“If you can carry it here, I don’t mind you selling it to the Commerce Guild as long as I got a cut.”

It’s more beneficial for me if the high-quality equipment entered the capital market rather than me monopolizing it.

It’s because in the current state of affairs introducing the existence of high-quality equipment is much more important than money. If everyone knows the existence of high-quality equipment then the future battle situation with the demon king army might change. Plus, I won’t lose too much because the amount of additional equipment that the merchant can bring is probably only a few.

In the game, there’s an inventory system so I can carry around many armors. I remember that I hoarded expensive armor drops so I can sell them later on. But this world didn’t have that kind of convenient inventory system.

Though magic bags can carry many items existed in this world but it’s really expensive. If it was Mr.Bierstedt then he might be able to gather some.

“But there are several towns on the list that I have never heard of before.”

“I will provide a map. I also have an official permit from the Crown Prince to cross the border.”

At the mention of a map, Mr.Bierstedt’s eye lit up. That’s a merchant for you. For him to be unable to conceal his interest in front of a young person like me, the value of the map must be really high.

“Will you give me the map as well?”

“Someone of the Count’s household will take it and that person will guide you to the towns. You won’t need direction to go to the towns for a second time, right?”

“Of course not.”

Well, he didn’t pester me. He must be afraid I left and ended up offering this business to another merchant.

He didn’t ask me where I got the map. It’s because I said I’ve gotten the Crown Prince’s official permission to cross the border. He probably thought that the map I have is provided 

I don’t know how long I can continue to hide the actual source of the map from the sly merchant.

“We also will not know if the actual quality of equipment available in the list of towns you have given me before we went there.”

“That’s a given.”

The equipment are sold in the various towns back when I played the game but I don’t know if the same equipment are sold in this world. I already expected that they might be some equipment that didn’t exist in the game.

In the game, despite the fact the enemy that appeared in the towns and villages I listed in the demonskin parchment are strong but those villages and towns didn’t get destroyed. I suspected that the availability of high-ranking equipment is why those villages and towns can protect themselves from demons. That means as long as those villages and towns existed and survived in the real world the chance that the equipment I wanted also existed is rather high.

I can obtain the equipment without any difficulties then. All I need now is time. Once I got the equipment and proven the superiority of high-quality equipment the kingdom will also make move to buy them. Still, the game events will continue to happen and this world will get more and more dangerous.

If that happens, the places I want to buy the equipment from might become inaccessible in the future. That’s why I need to buy the equipment now. Time is of the essence.