Badlands Saga: Reincarnation in a Different World with Extreme Charisma - Chapter 34

Chapter 34   Inner Animal 2

As summer was in full swing, the town of Tanukan had visibly changed from what it once was.

Along the main street, where only crumbling little houses used to line the way, there now stood several impressive wooden commercial buildings that seemed out of place.

In the areas just a little further back, houses built from wood and plaster in the Makiano style were also beginning to appear.

The people walking through the town had a noticeably different demeanor; they looked relatively sharper, and their complexions seemed to have improved a bit.

On that bustling main street, children were happily walking, guided by the former Godol mercenary group led by Kintman.

I was watching them from the back of the line, swaying on the horse ridden by Isara.

“What will the shops be like?”

“I guess we’ll exchange money for something?”

“Why are we collecting this money thing?”

“We’ll melt it down to make swords.”

Today is a fun, fun field trip.

However, this is a desolate outpost.

Our destination is not a theme park or a park, but the Makiano commercial building in the town.

Today, we plan to walk there and teach the former orphans how to use money.

The children, who were not very familiar with the concept of money, were given pouches filled with copper coins and were happily confused.

“Could you use money back in Isara’s hometown?”

“Of course! In a world where everything revolves around money, I never even thought there could be a place where you couldn’t use it… until I came here.”

As Isara said, the currency economy in Tanukan had existed on a very limited scale until now.

The nearest market was on the other side of the Karakan Mountains, and the only merchants who came through were from the Neyakashi trading company that served the border lord’s household.

Even if people had money, there were almost no places to spend it, and they had been living mostly by barter.

In fact, among the true Tanukan people, there were even some who had never seen money, let alone understood its value.

That said, in the Tanukan territory from now on, there will likely be more places where money can be used, so today we let the children rest and, as part of a field trip, brought them along to learn how to shop.

Well, the currency they’ll be using is not the Tadulion of the Folk Kingdom, but the Laonix of Makiano…

Currently, Tanukan is more or less integrated into Makiano’s economic sphere, so this shouldn’t be a problem.

“Can everyone greet the people from the trading company?”

“We can do it!”

“We can!”

“We can!”

Led by Martha, who had taken charge of keeping things organized, we headed into the trading company of a man named Dalashi.

This Dalashi was a relative of Harriett, the man I had recently baptized at his request.

When I asked him about letting the children try shopping, he immediately agreed.

As we opened the large double doors, designed to bring in goods, we found a group of burly men standing at attention, waiting for us.

“Welcome, Lord of the wastelands.”

“Thanks for having us today. Alright, everyone, say your greetings.”

Following my cue, the children’s voices rang out from outside the store: “Thank you for having us!”

As I waved them in, the children entered in a line, though the store was spacious enough that even with everyone inside, there was still plenty of room.

This trading company was fairly large, and to my surprise, they even had staff who could speak the rare Tadra language.

I left the children in the hands of a bilingual, bearded, muscular shopkeeper and went to greet the head of the trading company, Darashigi.

“Dalashi, I appreciate you accommodating us today.”

“Nonsense, it’s my honor to do anything for Lord Fushanklan.”

“Sometimes there might be things that are hard to tell Harriett. If there’s anything I can do to help, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Not at all, that would be too much for me to accept…”

He says it’s too much, but all I did for him was lend my name in the form of a blessing…

Well, if he’s a skilled merchant, perhaps even that could generate significant profit.

“I know this! It’s the same as the cookies Lord Harriett gave us!”

“Oh, I think I’ll get that.”

“That’s the delicious one!”

“Hey, mister, is this money enough?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

I don’t know if they usually sell these items or if they specially prepared them for today, but it seems the store has a decent selection of things that would appeal to the children.

The kids, unfazed by anything, clung to Makiano’s interpreter, asking him about the various items.

“I’m getting this braided cord! My dad’s belt pouch is dirty, so I’m going to remake it.”

“Don’t they have any cool swords?”

“Those are expensive.”

“What about this armor? Is it no good?”

“That’s adult-sized, right? Even if Beta wore it, it would be way too big.”

“I’m getting this belt buckle. It’s shiny!”

It seems like the children are gradually finding things they want as they browse through the store.

They ask the shopkeeper about the prices and think about whether their money will be enough.

I’m sure this will be an important experience for them as they go on in life.

As I watched them, someone called out to me from outside the store.

“Lord Fusha! Lord Fusha, are you here?”

“I’m here!”

The person who entered the store, panting heavily, was a knight from the castle.

Did something happen?

“A rider claiming to be from the Zvaibe cavalry has arrived from the far reaches of the wasteland! The margrave has requested that you return immediately!”

” Zvaibe!?”

The Zvaibe are a nomadic people, just like the Makiano, and they share borders with this wasteland and territory.

However, unlike the Makiano, they’ve never had any contact with Tanukan—at least, not until now…

“Alright, I’ll go at once. I’m counting on you!”

After saying that to those in the store, I stepped outside, where Isara already had her horse ready.

“As expected of you.”

“Get on.”

She pulled me up into the saddle, and we immediately began racing down the main street.

Running alongside us, holding a bottle of liquor he’d just bought from the store, was Kintman, sprinting with all his might to catch up.

“Kintman, just take your time and come later!”

“You idiot! This time I’m not falling behind!”

I admired his spirit, but trying to keep up with a horse on foot was unrealistic.

That said, three people on one horse would be pushing it…

“Want me to carry that liquor for you?”

“Yeah, I’d appreciate that!”

I reached out to take the bottle he was holding, and, now unburdened, Kintman swung his arms and legs as he ran, but he couldn’t keep pace with the horse.

He gradually fell behind, becoming smaller in the distance, and eventually arrived at the castle, a bit later than us.