Vol 2 Chapter 4 – Boyhood – Early Autumn, at Twelve • Part 4

Why is it that festivals where you clutch a few 100‐yen coins feel more fun than festivals where you stuff your wallet with 10,000‐yen bills?

While enjoying that nostalgic feeling, I watched a cluster of small market stalls.

They were a caravan of traders—merchants who procured goods while on the move, and if an event arose, they’d even perform like street vendors.

“It’s an obsidian knife made by Northerners! Perfect for foraging medicinal herbs!”

“How about some lacquerware brought over from the Eastern trade routes? The luster—it’s a collection of first‐class pieces you simply can’t get around here! Perfect as a celebratory gift! How about one on a special day!!”

“How about some herbs from the Western Peninsula? They work wonders for bruises, scrapes, cuts, and even chapped skin~”

Using spread mats or specially designed open-sided platforms as makeshift stalls, the merchants delivered their sales pitches to lure back the dwindling crowd. The area had been bustling until the townsfolk got drunk before noon or became busy joining in the dance, but once the ceremony ended, it was always like this.

Still, there were those who, preferring to browse leisurely once it quieted down, and townsfolk who believed in the luck of leftovers, would eventually arrive.

Now then, though many things caught my interest, today I must follow the wishes of the princess of the house.

There was no need to ask, “Where would you like to go?” for I already knew where Eliza’s brilliantly sparkling eyes were fixed.

It was a precious metals shop catering to ladies. A sly little man and a giant oni—with a stature so enormous you’d have to look up to her—accompanied the shop, though they seemed to let their guard down with the relaxed, easygoing customers.

“Onii-sama, it’s beautiful! It’s beautiful!”

“Ah, indeed.”

Eliza dashed over, her eyes sparkling, yet she wasn’t rudely shooed away. While children who wouldn’t normally qualify as customers during busy times might be a nuisance, in quieter moments the shopkeeper addressed them with a smile, as if to show how endearing they were.

“Young lady, you have a discerning eye! This, you see, is a pearl that the mermaids diligently sought in the blue southern inland sea. Look at its perfect roundness—not a single scratch! And of course, it wasn’t polished; it was beautiful from the start.”

The shopkeeper, dressed in well-fitted, stylish attire, seemed to have a fondness for children. He handled the seemingly expensive pearl with such care, as if introducing it to a lady who would genuinely buy it. Now, let’s see—the price is… huh, three dracmas…?

In the Empire, a base‑10 system is fundamental: one dracma equals 100 libras, and one libra equals 100 as. The currency is divided into— from highest to lowest—gold, silver, and copper coins, and the average annual income for a self‑sufficient farmer is roughly five dracmas.

Furthermore, in a household context, roughly one dracma is allocated for the gold tax, about 50 libras are needed to purchase additional in‑kind tax items (since many tax items, beyond agricultural produce, include raw silk), and approximately two dracmas go toward living expenses and farming costs—leaving a disposable income of around one dracma and 50 libras. My own side income, even if my fields were somewhat larger than others, would barely amount to three dracmas… In other words, it’s a price that would consume everything except the bare minimum funds required by my household.

And that, for just one pearl.

“W-wow, it’s a magnificent piece, Shopkeeper…”

“Well, well, even a young gentleman has a discerning eye. Of course, these are items procured by the grand shops in the Imperial Capital. I’ve displayed them in hopes of an opportunity, but originally, they are meant to grace the necks of noble ladies, after all.”

While stroking his ample beard, the shopkeeper laughed and shrugged. That, along with the splendid signet ring he wore—a ring that also served as his seal—indicated he was the procurement manager for a major store… a veritable big shot. Even if he had leisure time, I’d prefer that he not expand his business to the countryside; it isn’t good for the heart.

“Ha ha ha, indeed, it’s magnificent. It’s absolutely beyond our reach.”

“No, no, I hear that among human circles, it’s become fashionable for mermaids and aquatic folk to each buy one individually in preparation for marriage—to have a necklace made for their wedding! What do you say? Perhaps consult with your mother, and get one for your little sister too?”

Whose rich farmer’s or affluent merchant’s tradition is that, I wonder? Even if I bought the armor I ordered, the price would come with a considerable premium.

“Well… my big brother just got married, and surely such a splendid item would overflow our household’s wallet.”

With a modest laugh, the shopkeeper widened his eyes in astonishment.

“Oh? Aren’t you the eldest son?”

“Yes, I’m the fourth son.”

“Hohoho! And yet, you speak such proper courtly language. I’d even like you to teach me a thing or two!”

Ah, so I had been mistaken for the eldest son merely by my way of speaking.

Oh no—it seems they’ve taken me for a reputable, affluent farmer who can afford to educate even a fourth son. I’d be in trouble if they actually started looking for my parents…

“No, no, I’ve only learned from friends at private schools and from my father—nothing more. I’d love to buy one for my little sister if I could, but alas, I simply can’t…”

“Then, kid, how about that one?”

Just as I was trying to make a clever escape with my words, a voice called out from above.

Looking up, I saw a giant oni with intimidating, elongated fangs and blue skin standing there.

She stood about three meters tall.

Her blue skin, infused with hard metal yet possessing the suppleness of living flesh, was said to deflect ordinary blades.

Her massive, armored muscles bulged like plates, and each of her well‑honed limbs boasted the dignity of a column.

“I hear the reward is five dracmas.”

Her claw—capable of easily ripping through human flesh—pointed at the challenge board set up by the sword merchant as a side contest.

Fixed‑target cutting: If my prized helmet can be split with a single stroke, you’ll receive five gold coins. The challenge fee is 50 as.

Next to the scribbled, worm‑like text, the shopkeeper—who probably had time on his hands—casually puffed on his pipe.

With uniquely prominent ears atop his head and a withered, branch‑like short stature, was he a rat‑man?

This was another kind of challenge typical of festivals. Essentially, it was akin to those shooting games featuring exorbitant prizes one could never actually win, or a raffle where the prizes were dubious. It was one of those traps that ensnared parents cajoled by their children or foolish lovers, causing them to waste their modest allowances.

“This, Lauren…”

The shopkeeper chided his giant oni bodyguard, but she responded with a dignified smile that might have brought a child to tears, and placed a hand on my shoulder.

Good—my little sister was completely absorbed in gazing at the large pearl.

“You do have a body built for action. And that little fellow? He used to earn his keep with pocket change—quite amusing, isn’t it?”

Hmm. The helmet on display looked like an ordinary iron one, but was it paired with a rather lackluster sword placed beside it?

And the allowance was exactly 50 as. That’s just enough to share some unusual sweets between the two of you or to buy two or three little trinkets, but… hmm.

“…That sounds interesting.”

“Wha!?”

Well, making my little sister look cool is part of a big brother’s job, after all.

I pulled some coins from my pocket, twirling them in the air as I stood before the sword merchant.

“Hey, future great swordsman, are you ready to take on the challenge?”

“Yes, it’s 50 as per round, right?”

With a friendly yet unmistakably sly smile, the merchant extended his hand, and I placed the coins in his palm. Upon seeing the mismatched large copper coins, he furrowed his brows.

“Hmm, Beiton large copper coins, huh… Given their poor quality, normally two would be worth around 45 as, though…”

The large copper coin known as the Quarter is normally valued at the equivalent of 25 copper coins, but in this world—where the currency isn’t on a fixed standard—it wasn’t uncommon for the actual value to fluctuate based on quality. In some cases, even the commemorative coins—from King José I’s ascension coin, nicknamed the Miserly Emperor’s coin, to the Nth‑anniversary coin known as the José coin—were said to be worth only about two‑thirds of a dracma gold coin due to significant adulteration.

And that caused all sorts of troublesome issues…

“Well, it’s your challenge, young master, so as a bonus for the harvest festival, I’ll throw it in.”

“Thanks.”

I swallowed my sarcastic “well said” internally.

Now I picked up the helmet and extended my hand to the sword merchant, who stood there with a dumbfounded expression. He seemed about to say something, but when the fearsome giant oni clapped her hands in delight, and the jeweler—whose presence appeared to tower several levels above, as if he ruled the world—shouted “Splendid!” while the surrounding merchants praised it as something remarkable, he fell silent.

I supposed he figured that if he started babbling here and lost face among the merchants, it would only tarnish his reputation further. In fact, I had sliced through the helmet relying solely on my skill—without resorting to magic or miracles. If anyone were to object, I could take them on anywhere without issue.

“W-well done, young master… Here… your prize money… come on, bring it over.”

He was doing his best to act like a big shot, but if his hand grasping the gold coins and his voice were trembling, it wouldn’t look good at all. That said, money is money…

“Hmm? What’s wrong? Aren’t you pleased?”

Noticing the dull gleam of the gold coin in my hand, the giant oni remarked as I couldn’t help but wear a sullen expression. Despite being clad in armor, her ability to stand silently behind me—one wonders what level of skill one must attain to do so—was impressive.

“…You, this is—”

“Look at the sign closely! There’s nothing wrong with it, I’m telling you!”

The giant oni glowered at the sword merchant as if she were witnessing something filthy. And in my palm gleamed the “King José I’s 5th Anniversary Commemorative Gold Coin.” With a somber profile engraved on it, it was known as the coin most laden with adulterants among the José coins—making it the cheapest.

There were five of them, reflecting light as they shone haphazardly. Judging by their wear, they appeared to have passed through the hands of commoners for quite a long time. In terms of value, they were worth, at best, around two dracmas and 50 libras.

Damn it—what a stingy trick.

That’s right—if you read the sign carefully, it doesn’t say “five dracmas” but rather “five gold coins.” If it were the other way around, what would be five dracmas, I wonder!? I could grumble, but there’s no denying that it’s five gold coins…

What a stingy move.

As she clearly slumped her shoulders, the giant oni’s menacing hand extended toward my palm, and I twitched for a moment.

Yet, despite the terrifying aspect of her sharp claws and knobby fingers, her delicate movement resulted in her carefully picking up three gold coins.

Before I knew it, the giant oni turned to her master and began her spiel.

“Well then, my employer, have you witnessed the ultimate technique of this young swordsman?”

“Indeed, in the name of the Grecham family, certainly.”

It wasn’t a name I was familiar with, but the fact that he brought it up deliberately indicated it must be a distinguished family. Could he be the mastermind behind this caravan or something?

“Then, even with these humble gold coins, if a hero were to possess them, wouldn’t they be worth three dracmas?”

“Indeed, no doubt about it.”

With a gracious nod, Mr. Grecham, the jeweler, extracted a large pearl and placed it into a small box meant for a ring. Then, unable to quite grasp the situation, he handed it over to my little sister and patted her head with a warm smile.

“You have a wonderful brother, Froiline.”

“…Thank you.”

Perhaps he had picked up on the courtly language I used, for his smile only grew wider in response to my courteous greeting.

Ha ha, I get it now. You plan to wrap up this event with grace and further display your generosity by boosting the reputation of the merchants who joined the caravan, don’t you? In a time when business connections were based on genuine, personal relationships rather than mechanized contracts, higher esteem was always better.

A truly shrewd merchant indeed. If this rumor spreads, he’ll earn a reputation so grand that even an extra one dracma and 50 libras would be nothing compared to his prestige.

However, regardless of his true intentions, goodwill is still goodwill. Just as I was about to express my gratitude…

“Whoa!?”

I was suddenly overcome by a sensation of weightlessness, leaving me bewildered.

The giant oni had slipped her hand under my arm and was lifting me up.

And now, her face was directly in front of me.

“Well then, I set you on your way by promising you five dracmas.”

“Haa… but you’ve already done more than enough for my sake…”

“But still, it doesn’t even amount to one dracma.”

As she spoke, the giant oni’s face drew closer.

Her blue, metal‑infused skin; her ferocious fangs designed to tear through flesh; and her golden eyes, which marked her as one of the demonic oni clan, were all striking. As she drew near, I noticed that her elegantly slanted eyes were framed by ever‑lengthening lashes, while her refined nose was perfectly balanced above a dignified mouth. Her reddish‑bronze hair, trimmed just enough to frame her long face, carried the delightful scent of premium hair oil.

The breathtaking beauty of the magnificent giant oni approached, and before I could protest, the distance between us had shrunk to nothing.

I was kissed by the beautiful giant oni—a gentle, almost teasing kiss.

“Does this satisfy you?”

It was my first kiss in this life. In truth, it was more appropriately called a ceremonial “kiss” rather than merely a peck. From such a stunningly beautiful woman—a sight one might rarely catch on television in another life—I unconsciously nodded in acceptance.

“Splendid. Lauren of the Gargantua species, if you mention your name, I’ll ensure that my fellow kin extend their favors to you. They say there’s an interesting human boy among you.”

She—Lauren, the beautiful warrior of the giant oni—formed a dignified smile, gently set me down on the ground, and tenderly patted my head.

“I look forward to the day when you become a formidable swordsman and come to challenge me.”

I felt, along with a sweet shiver, that a strange flag had been raised…

【Tips】 Giant Oni. A magical species distributed from the midwestern to the western edge of the central continent, characterized by an alloy skeletal structure and skin. Known as a warrior race, they do not have a nation and live in tribal units. Notably, female giant oni often exceed three meters in height, and their martial prowess is such that they are sometimes directly employed by the state as honored guests. In contrast, male giant oni are around two meters tall and relatively smaller, typically undertaking labor and miscellaneous tasks in a female‑dominated society.