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Episode 8
Just as I was about to pack my conchs back into the bucket and fire off a retort about the ridiculous price, an elderly woman approached and spoke to the stall owner.
“Ben, give me three kilos of conchs.”
So the stall owner’s name was Ben.
And the woman pulled out three silver coins as if it were the most natural thing in the world and handed them to Ben.
3 silver.
“……”
Ben glanced furtively at me, then cleared his throat as he took the money.
Yeah, feeling a little guilty, aren’t you?
I glared at Ben with all my might.
It was while Ben was avoiding my gaze and filling a basket on the scale with conchs.
“Oh my, these conchs over here look fantastic! Can’t you give me these instead?”
What the woman pointed at were my conchs. One of Ben’s eyebrows twitched.
“Ah, they’re all the same. They just look like that because they’ve been freshly rinsed with seawater.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“Alright. But last time, two of the conchs I bought were spoiled.”
“Oh dear! Goodness, I’m sorry. With the weather being warm, that can happen sometimes. To make up for those you couldn’t eat and to apologize, I’ll add four more for you.”
Ben started filling the basket on the scale faster.
“And since you’re a regular, I’ll specially add one more of the big ones, just for you. See the weight?”
The woman checked the weight and smiled with satisfaction.
“Huh, well, seafood can be like that. That’s why I only come here, you know? But if that keeps happening, it’ll be a problem. Pay attention, okay?”
“Of course, ma’am. I’ve carefully checked their condition before packing them for you.”
At Ben’s slick promise, the woman nodded, put the conchs in her own basket, and left.
“Wish, of all the times,” Ben muttered, looking exasperated. I didn’t miss my timing and picked up my conch bucket.
“Have a good day.”
“Wait!”
Ben hastily grabbed my arm.
“20 coppers per kilo. I’ll give you double, specially.”
“No thanks. I’ve changed my mind.”
I narrowed my eyes and glared at Ben.
“These were caught just this morning, they’re completely fresh! You can tell just by looking they’re high quality. And you’re offering 20 coppers? Does that make sense?”
“Of course they look good right after catching. But I could catch and sell those too.”
“Right, just don’t drink at night and go into the sea yourself to catch them. If you don’t drink, you can wake up early and catch some in the morning too.”
“Ugh! Morning aside, catching conchs at night, and going into the sea yourself? How dangerous! Would you risk your life just to catch a few conchs?”
Seems he’s a bit of a coward.
While Diving at night is more dangerous than during the day, it’s not impossible if you don’t go too deep.
Ben stared at the conchs we brought, licking his lips.
“Then how much do you want?”
“70 coppers.”
“Ah, even if you sold them to a proper shop over there, you’d be lucky to get 60 coppers. And that’s only for bulk orders over 100 kilos.”
“Then I’ll just sell them myself. I bet they’d sell well at around 90 coppers.”
“Huh? Yourself? Who would buy at 90 coppers?”
“You’re selling them for 1 silver.”
“Ugh, I can sell at that price because I’m a local here. If a young lady nobody’s seen before tries to sell, nobody will buy.”
“If the product is good and cheaper than what you’re selling, why wouldn’t anyone buy? They’d line up.”
“Why would they line up? I told you they won’t buy!”
“Then I’ll pay you 10 coppers per kilo for the spot. Just watch.”
Before Ben could retort, I shouted at the top of my lungs towards the street.
“Limited-time special sale for the first four customers! King conchs caught fresh this morning, 90 coppers per kilo! Limit 2 kilos per person! We’re only accepting four customers!”
The result was immediate, and Ben’s eyes bulged.
It took exactly 5 minutes to sell all 8 kilos, so of course they did.
Ben, now holding 80 coppers in site fees earned in just 5 minutes, stammered before finally managing to speak.
“Miss, if you keep causing trouble here, how are you planning to watch the kid?”
“Didn’t you see me selling just now? I just sell quickly. And my brother is very smart. He manages fine on his own. He reads well too. Knows his currency units well.”
Honestly, I don’t know the extent of Baron’s knowledge. But since he was born a noble, he must have studied reading and writing even at a young age.
“That’s basic. 100 coppers is 1 silver, 100 silver is 1 gold.”
Quick-witted Baron played along, answering instantly, and seemed pleased with the praise, giggling.
Ben looked at Baron, scratched his head, and grumbled.
“Well, he does look clever. Ah, I didn’t expect this from you, miss, but you’re quite sharp.”
I didn’t say anything, but Baron puffed out his chest, looking proud.
‘Ugh why is everything he does so cute?’
They say your own kid only looks cute to you, but Baron was objectively adorable.
Even the grumbling Ben looked at Baron and smiled helplessly as if he couldn’t help it.
“Alright. If the conchs are always like today’s, I’ll buy them at 70 coppers. But don’t go anywhere else, only come here. I’ll pay well for other things too.”
If I really wanted to set up my own stall, there’d be a lot to consider—site fees, territorial issues from existing merchants, fixed hours, etc. Considering that, that purchase price wasn’t bad for me either.
“Alright. I’ll come again next time.”
As we left after saying goodbye, Baron grabbed my hand tightly and called me.
“sister.”
“Yes?”
Baron’s eyes were sparkling all over.
“You’re really capable.”
My mood lifted at the look of respect in his eyes.
“What, it’s nothing much.”
I patted Baron’s head and readjusted the bucket.
Alright, now let’s go shopping!
Baron and I went around buying various things.
Hygiene products like soap and toothbrushes, a dipper net with sturdy mesh, a floating basket, rope, round glass bottles, and so on.
And that night, after eating a seafood dinner, Baron and I set up a trap near our house on the sandy beach to catch Flash Fireflies.
But the more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed.
It was clearly meant to catch fireflies, but this trap, made from a glass bottle and a basket, had a structure similar to the sparrow traps I used back on Earth.
Hiding behind a flimsy fence, holding the rope connected to the basket, I quietly asked Baron.
“Are you sure this will work?”
Baron smiled slightly.
“Yeah. Trust me. Do you remember what to do after catching it too?”
“Yep.”
Give it a name, keep it confined in the glass bottle for a day or two, then release it. After that, it will supposedly follow the person who named it around and obey commands well.
‘Was there ever such an insect in the world? No, it follows the person who confined it? Is it because this is an romance novel world with demon beasts?’
As I tilted my head in confusion, one area brightened up. It was a Flash Firefly.
Light comparable to an LED fishing lamp spread brightly in all directions.
‘Wow, with that much light!’
It seemed like I could see the entire seabed even in the middle of the night.
Praying we could catch it, I waited. The Flash Firefly hovered around the basket and then slipped right into the glass bottle.
“Now!”
At Baron’s signal, I quickly pulled the rope.
The basket toppled over, covering the bottle. Baron, holding a cork stopper, ran dodo, swiftly lifted the basket, and plugged the bottle’s opening.
“sister! Here!”
The moment Baron held up the glass bottle, it was so bright I couldn’t keep my eyes open properly.
The light output of the Flash Firefly was truly immense.
“Wow, wow! Damn! Amazing!”
An exclamation escaped me before I could stop it!
Taking the bottle containing the Flash Firefly from Baron, my feet started bouncing on their own.
“Let’s give it a name first. You name it, sister.”
At Baron’s words, I took the bottle and spoke its name.
“From now on, your name is ‘Search’.”
Laughter bubbled out uncontrollably. I couldn’t believe it.
Getting LED-grade lighting in this world!
“sister, happy?”
I immediately hugged Baron tightly and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Yes! Baron! It’s thanks to you! Thank you so much!”
Baron’s eyes widened, and he lightly touched the cheek I had kissed with his fingertips.
His face turned red and his pupils shook noticeably, as if he was shocked. Only then did I realize my mistake.
Even if Baron feels like a younger brother, he’s not my actual sibling.
“Ah, sorry. Were you surprised? I kissed you without asking.”
As I apologized, Baron shook his head hastily.
“N-no, I liked it…”
“Huh?”
Baron, who had been looking towards the sea, bit his lip slightly, then, as if steeling himself, glanced up at me and spoke.
