Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: The First Business Negotiation and Matilda's Challenge
Guided by the guild master Benedict, Noein enters the building's reception room, bringing only Yuri as his attendant and guard.
After having Yuri stand behind him, Noein sits on a high-looking sofa, and Benedict sits opposite him across the table.
A young employee serves tea to the two of them and withdraws from the room, and the discussion begins. The number of items is small and it is a light transaction, but for Noein, it is the first business negotiation of his life.
"Thank you for visiting our guild today, Your Excellency Arqvist."
"The pleasure is mine. I am grateful for such a polite reception, despite the fact that I can only bring in a few furs and magic stones harvested from monsters in the forest, Guild Master Miles."
"Please, do call me Benedict. Should there be anything this guild can do to assist Your Excellency in the future, I humbly ask that you reach out to us..."
It seems Benedict intends to stay on good terms with him from here on, Noein thinks.
If Noein succeeds as a pioneering noble in the future, the Miles Guild, having become friendly with him now, will gain opportunities to make money; if Noein fails, they can easily cut ties at any time. From Benedict's perspective, it would be a wonderful relationship with no disadvantages.
He does not seem foolish enough to waste this opportunity to build a connection with a young noble who might become a golden egg, simply by lowballing the price of a few furs and magic stones.
Noein had reached out to this well-reputed guild with that very expectation.
"Regarding the items brought in this time, one Plump Deer pelt, eight Gluttony Rabbit pelts, and the magic stones for each... how does 5,800 Rebro sound as a total?"
The offered purchase price was slightly higher than Noein's prediction.
"I would certainly like to request that amount. From my side, it is a sum beyond my expectations, so I am grateful."
"Since I wish to remain on friendly terms with Your Excellency moving forward, I have considered this a learning experience for this occasion."
"I appreciate it. I look forward to our continued relationship, Benedict-san."
To Benedict, who spoke while maintaining a likable smile, Noein replied with a smile of his own.
.....
"Ah—I was nervous."
"Liar, you had that same goofy look on your face as always."
Yuri instinctively responds that way to Noein, who does not break his usual easygoing expression despite his words.
"No, really! I've never done a proper business negotiation before, and I was desperate not to be thought of as some foolish brat. That guild master seems decent as a merchant, so it looks like we'll have a long relationship; I couldn't afford to fail even in a discussion that was basically just greetings."
"It looked to me like you spoke without any problems. At the very least, I doubt you were thought of as a fool."
Even from Yuri's perspective, he thinks Noein is quite sharp for his age. The fact that his personality is twisted, perhaps due to the circumstances of his birth and upbringing, is the only drawback.
"Then that's good. Now, all that's left is to finish the negotiations for the sale of dried meat and the purchase of food at Eliza-san's shop, and then we can go home."
.....
While Noein and the others were out in Retovik for business, Matilda and Mai were handling chores while watching over the settlement.
"So, after this, all that's left is to finish washing the pots and dishes and doing the laundry, right?"
"...Yes."
Matilda does not try to speak much on her own. Even when Mai speaks to her, she only answers with few words.
"Listen, do you still not trust us? It's true that you and we had a dangerous first meeting, but right now, I intend to show that we are working sincerely, you know?"
In fact, Mai and the other four had been carrying out pioneering work every day without rest for the two weeks since arriving at the settlement.
"No, it is not that I do not trust you. I believe that you no longer harbor any harmful intent. However..."
"However, what?"
"...I do not know how to interact with people other than Noein-sama, or what kind of conversations I should have. For the past six years, I have only exchanged proper conversation with Noein-sama."
Matilda's expression remains largely unchanged as always, but she looks somewhat apologetic.
"...Pfft."
"W-why are you laughing?"
"No, I totally thought you still hated us, but you're just simply shy. I think it's cute that you have a cute side despite that cold face."
"C-cute, you say?"
Mai answers the bewildered Matilda.
"In other words, because you've been in a world of just you and Noein-sama for so long, you're completely dependent on that person. You love Noein-sama so much that you can't see anyone but him, right?"
"...That is correct."
"Oh my, your cheeks have turned red."
"!"
When Mai teases Matilda, who is slightly red-faced despite intending not to be shaken, Matilda hurriedly looks away.
"I think depending on each other with Noein-sama is perfectly fine as a form of love... but that aside, don't you think it would be better to gradually get used to talking to people other than Noein-sama?"
"..."
"If Noein-sama's management of the territory goes well, the number of residents here will increase more and more from now on, you know? If you want to be useful by Noein-sama's side, wouldn't it be better to become capable of talking normally with other people?"
"...That is true. I believe you are right."
"If you like, you can think of me as a practice partner. We're both women, so let's get along, okay?"
"...I understand. I will challenge myself."
To Matilda, who used the word "challenge" as if she had made some great resolution, Mai nodded with a wry smile.