Konbini Ossan Volume 4 Chapter 1 — The Old Man Buys Land
A few days after the commotion in the dungeon, I summoned Marceline and Shuri. I now had a bargaining chip — orichalcum.
I’d been considering this for some time: once I secured enough funds, I wanted to build a factory for enchanted tools.
With «Calculator» making enchantments more efficient, it now seemed possible to run a smaller-scale factory and still turn a profit.
That meant the next step was obvious — secure land as soon as possible.
Which is why Marceline, Shuri, and I were now sitting together in the shop’s office.
“So, Otsugi-dono. What’s the matter this time?”
Marceline opened the discussion.
“Yes. In fact, I managed to obtain something like this.”
With a solid thunk, I set the orichalcum on the table. Marceline practically jumped out of her seat in surprise.
“O-orichalcum! How could you possibly have such a thing, Otsugi-dono?”
“As for the circumstances, that’s a secret. But the fact remains that the orichalcum is right here.”
I shifted my gaze toward Shuri.
“Hmm, hmm. No doubt about it — this is orichalcum.”
Even Shuri’s trained eye confirmed it. With that, Marceline would have no choice but to accept the reality of its presence.
“But to show us such a precious metal — what is it you wish to accomplish, Otsugi-dono?”
“Well, there is something I want. My proposal is to trade this orichalcum for it.”
Trying to sell orichalcum outright was difficult — the amount was too large for most buyers. Better to negotiate directly with those who had a clear need for it.
Specifically, the military and the court mages. With orichalcum, both could make tremendous use of it.
“I see. If armor were forged from orichalcum, it could reduce losses among soldiers on the front lines.
…
Even blades would make short work of monsters that were previously near-impossible to repel.”
“As a court mage, I’d take as much as I could get for research.”
Both seemed willing to consider the deal seriously.
“So then, Otsugi-dono, how much of this orichalcum can you provide? If what’s here is all you have, the compensation we can offer will be limited.”
“Well then — I can prepare about ten tons for now. Would that be sufficient?”
“Ten tons of orichalcum?”
Marceline’s voice rose again in shock. Even Shuri’s face betrayed surprise this time.
Orichalcum was lighter than iron by weight. A single ton formed a cube roughly sixty centimeters to a side. Ten tons meant ten such blocks.
Stacked, they would tower six meters high. For such a rare metal to be gathered in this quantity — their astonishment was only natural.
Of course, my «Iron Blood» skill had absorbed far more than that. By weight, several hundred tons.
But dumping it all at once would ruin any negotiations. And personally, I wanted to keep a stockpile of such a precious metal.
Better to gauge their response and adjust how much I released.
“With ten tons of orichalcum, what is it you want in return, Otsugi?”
Shuri finally asked the key question. I gave the answer I’d prepared in advance.
“Land. Specifically, the area just beyond the slums on the outskirts of the capital — outside the city walls. That’s what I’d like.”
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E/N:
"Ah, the negotiator!" said General Grievous mockingly! 🤣 How come the King hasn't come to meet Ossan yet is beyond me! Stay tuned!
(2/2 chapter)
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