Konbini Ossan Volume 2 Chapter 9 – Rag Robes
Now that my price survey is complete and I’ve more or less settled on a pricing strategy, I figured I might as well take the opportunity to explore the marketplace a bit more.
Observing which products sell well and what kind of lineup each store carries will help guide the inventory choices for my own shop.
So, let’s take a good look around.
As I walk through the shopping district, it becomes clear that many of the best-selling items are aimed at adventurers.
They’re numerous, and they lead lives of constant consumption.
The tools they use to defeat monsters or gather materials eventually wear out. They need to regularly replace their equipment.
Leather pouches to carry collected items. Sturdy, comfortable footwear. A variety of weapons and armor. Large, functional backpacks. Durable belts for hanging various tools.
And one of the essentials is the robe.
When exploring forests and similar areas, robes protect against scratches from branches and insect bites.
They also help cover and protect one’s gear from dust. Some magical tools can break if sand or grime gets inside.
A robe also helps shield you from the rain and wind, which conserves energy. That’s an important benefit as well.
There’s a wide variety of robes available.
Design, size, material, functionality — many elements come together to make a single robe.
Adventurers choose robes that suit their personal needs and preferences.
As I browse one of the shops with robes lined up, something catches my eye.
A filthy bundle of cloth lies haphazardly on a display table, as though tossed there like trash.
I pick it up and find it is shaped like a robe. However, the fabric is thin and looks like it would fall apart after just a little use.
“Excuse me, but what is this robe?”, I asked the shopkeeper, a plump middle-aged woman.
“Oh, that? That's just something thrown together from scraps of cloth. Hardly deserves to be called a robe, really.
…
But occasionally, some newbie adventurer who's blown all their startup funds on gear and magic tools will come by and buy one."
“I see. But wouldn’t this tear apart almost immediately?”
“Of course it would. But that's exactly why it’s dirt cheap.”
“How much is it?”
“Ten copper coins.”
“Really? Just ten?”
That’s incredibly cheap. Even for a rag robe, it seems the profit margin for the maker must be razor-thin.
“How can you afford to sell it for so little?”
“Well, these robes are made from cloth that was going to be thrown away. Kids from the orphanage reuse it as part of their sewing lessons.
…
The material is garbage, and it’s made by children — nobody’s going to pay a proper price for it.”
Hearing that, it all makes sense. If you’re using cloth that was going to be discarded, the raw materials are basically free.
And the labor isn’t paid – it’s part of the kids’ training. Even ten copper coins would be like pocket money in that context.
In fact, this whole "rag robe" setup might be closer to a charitable initiative than a business.
The orphanage buys the robes from the children, giving them a small payment in return. It’s not much, but it helps the orphanage financially.
Then the rag robe gets bought by a cash-strapped rookie adventurer, where it serves its purpose for a while.
By the time it wears out, hopefully they’ll have enough money to buy a proper one. That seems to be the cycle.
It’s an interesting system — and one that feels meaningful. I think I’ve just learned something valuable.
To show my appreciation, I’ll buy one of these robes.
“Could I get a few of these rag robes — the ones made of cotton or hemp?”
“Huh? You actually wanna buy them?”
“Yes. I happen to have a use for robes like these.”
“Well, I don’t mind, but don’t come crying to me later if you regret it.”
“No worries. I’m buying with full understanding.”
“All right then. These two are cotton, and this one here is hemp.”
The shopkeeper sorts through the robes and picks out the materials I asked for. I honestly can’t tell the difference myself — she’s clearly a pro.
“All right, that’s twelve robes in total. One silver coin and twenty copper coins.”
“Here you go.”
I pull out a coin pouch full of coppers from my storage bag.
“Haha, looks like you’ve been hoarding small change. Hang on, I’ll count it up.”
The shopkeeper pulls out a coin-counting board, a wooden tray with ten grooves carved into it, each holding exactly ten coins.
By filling the grooves, she can count coins quickly and accurately.
This is quite a handy tool. It must help prevent miscalculations. I should make one for myself when I get home.
While I’m observing, she finishes counting.
“All right! One hundred and twenty copper coins, spot on!”
She hands me back my coin pouch.
“Thank you very much.”
“Want me to wrap them up, or you carrying them as-is?”
“No, I’ll put them in here.”
I place all twelve rag robes into my item storage bag. The shopkeeper’s eyes go wide.
“Well, would you look at that — an item storage bag, huh?”
“Yes, something like that.”
“Wow, didn’t expect that from someone dressed like you. Guess you’re secretly rich?”
It’s actually just something I was given, so I’m not really rich... but explaining that would take too long. I just smile vaguely and nod.
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E/N:
The possibilities are endless, will Ossan's rags become the ultimate defense? Stay tuned!
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