That Time a Shut-in for 300 Years Continued to Make Antiques , but All of It Turned out to Be Cheat-Level Magic Tools - Chapter 14

“Good grief, the business meeting dragged on longer than I thought. Moreover, that client requested quite the unreasonable order.”

Sighing, I ponder what to do. Normally, I would refuse such absurd requests, but they’re a top client; I can’t just dismiss them.

Lately, the prices for magical materials have skyrocketed, causing the prices of magical tools to increase and sales to start dropping. Losing a major client now would be a severe blow.

I decide to head back to the shop. I check the large clock at the church and realize I’m much later than planned.

There was a bit more leeway at the shop recently. That’s why I entrusted my 16-year-old son with his first shift running the shop alone. He’s still green, but it’s all for his future growth. Everything is a learning experience.

“Hey, I’m back now.”

“Father, how did the negotiation go?”

“Ah, it’s 20 fire starters and 20 water-heating stones.”

“Wow, that’s awesome!”

What’s so impressive about that, you fool? Normally, they would order 30 of each.

Seriously, the disposable fire starters and water-heating stones are a blessing for a shop like ours, as they’re regularly purchased.

However, more durable magical tools tend to be pricier, making them harder to sell given the rising material costs. So, we rely on stable sales of smaller items.

Lately, there’s been a lack of outstanding magical tools, partly because the Adventurers’ Guild has taken over the registration and management of such items. Many magic tool craftsmen have migrated to the Guild.

As a result, the tools being produced are now primarily designed for usefulness to the Guild, with a focus on combat tools, leading to fewer everyday useful items being distributed.

Moreover, since the Guild took over, production deadlines have shortened, leaving less time per item, and as a result, the quality has dropped.

It’s troubling… During such times, I reminisce about the time a maid visited the shop.

It’s not some romantic or flirtatious story about the maid. Though she was stunningly beautiful with an impressive figure, what truly amazed me was the magical tool she brought—a so-called “magic bag” with exceptional, almost artifact-like performance.

Thanks to that bag, I’ve managed to continue my life as a merchant; it was practically life-saving.

But since then, I haven’t seen that maid in the shop again, which I deeply regret. I should have asked her whereabouts more precisely.

It’s too late to say now, but if I could get my hands on a tool of that class, it might help us overcome these hard times. If there’s someone capable of making such tools, maybe…

“Father, what’s wrong? You’re spacing out. Have you finally gone senile?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I’m still sharper than you, kid.”

I go inside, take off my coat, and ask my foolish son about today’s happenings.

“So, anything unusual today?”

“Nothing much. Oh, and no customers either.”

That’s just great, always an extra comment. However, it’s true that I’ve been visiting our regulars more, and fewer customers have been coming to the shop.

We’re barely managing with our existing clients, but soon, we’ll need something to attract new ones. If only we had an eye-catching product…

“Ah, right, there was a strange browser.”

“A browser? Did they look at anything?”

My son is still inexperienced. It’s highly likely he doesn’t understand whether the visitor was just browsing, contemplating a purchase, or comparing prices with other shops.

“No, they didn’t come to buy; they wanted to sell a magical tool.”

Magical tool buyback? That’s odd. Recently, the Adventurers’ Guild has been handling all magical tool wholesale. Basically, we merchants buy the tools produced by craftsmen through the Guild.

So, it’s basically unheard of for anyone to come and sell magical tools individually. Of course, there are some cases where businesses that aren’t doing well come to create some cash flow, but…

“And what kind of magical tool is it?”

“Well, that’s the thing, dad. It’s a masterpiece, and it seems like it was meant to carry me.”

“Carry you?”

“Yeah. The thing is, it was a maid dressed woman with some weird kid.”

A maid-dressed woman? I felt an odd stirring in my heart.

“That woman, she was quite a beauty and had a big chest, I almost lost my eyesight there. But listening to her, it clicked. She’s a scam artist!”

“And what magical tool did this maid come to sell?”

“Listen to this, it was a magical bag that could hold up to 1000 kg. Ridiculous, right? I thought, who in the world can make such an absurd magical tool? She even forged a registration office for magical tools. But don’t worry, dad, I didn’t fall for it!”

Hearing this, the image of that maid naturally came to mind. My whole body trembled. And then, I regretted. Of all the important people, this idiot son of mine!

“What’s the matter, dad? Are you that moved by shaking?”

“The opposite, you fool! I’m utterly dismayed by your stupidity! Damn it, what a disaster!”

“Ouchhhhh!”

I swung my fist down hard on my stupid son’s head. He held his head, tears welling up.

And yet this face, he doesn’t understand a single thing I’m saying.

“What are you doing, you damn old man! I was just protecting the shop from a scammer!”

“That’s where you’re wrong, you idiot! Ugh, maybe I’m also to blame. Sigh, I didn’t expect her to come again…”

I suddenly felt drained and pulled over a nearby round chair to sit down. Of all the times…

“She’s coming back… You mean, that maid, you know her? With that suspicious bag?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. There’s nothing suspicious about it. She even had the registration papers, didn’t she?”

“Yeah, but registered 10 years ago, doesn’t that sound suspicious?”

“That made me even more certain. It’s been 10 years since she registered that same magical tool.”

Back then, the magical guild used to handle registrations. They managed everything well and immediately took on essential magical tools for daily life. Things were much more flexible back then…

“Really? Is that true?”

My son looked astonished, unbelieving.

“It’s true. Back then, its performance made many nobles eager to get their hands on it. And since then, no magical bag surpassing that performance has appeared. And yet this fool…”

I reminisced about that harp. If we had gotten that magical tool, it would have been a real draw for customers.

“So, was that it? Should I pass the message correctly?”

“Message?”

“Yeah, she said she’ll be at Sun Komachi Inn for a while and to let you know when you’re back, hey, dad!”

I became restless, kicked away the round chair, grabbed my coat, and prepared to leave the shop.

“Dad, what about the shop?”

“You watch it! Don’t mess up this time!”

Leaving those words to my foolish son, I rushed out of the shop toward Sun Komachi Inn.

I couldn’t contain my excitement! This situation required that bag! I had to get it supplied to our shop by any means necessary!