McQueen-san has Arrived
This year marks the ninth year of my relationship with McQueen-san, a merchant who owns a business in the multi-race Republic.
Although the encounter itself goes back to when I was five years old, I first had a direct relationship with him when I accompanied him on his peddling trip to the counties of the frontier in order to leave the Baron's Domain.
At that time, he became interested in the things I made and bought several items from me, and we started a business relationship.
Since then, the number of products I wholesale has increased every year he visits RockQueen, and it seems that he has also made a considerable amount of money in the Republic, and the company has grown in size.
When I decided to enroll in the academy, he suggested that we jointly open a branch in the royal capital. To put it simply, it's like a direct sales store for things I've made. Of course, products made in the Republic are also sold as imported products.
I also ask him for a few things and he prepares some items for me, so we continue to have a win-win relationship.
It was the season for McQueen-san to visit RockQueen again this year......
I've been thinking about it.
Honestly, what I'm thinking about right now is that the amount of things I'm trading is increasing.
Ever since the dark elves first started living in the dungeon, I had asked McQueen-san for seasonings and other items in bulk.
The number has increased year by year, and this year, with the addition of the Sora clan, it has increased, so more than twice as many items are needed.
For the time being, I ask the branch in the royal capital to prepare items that can be obtained in the kingdom, but when it comes to soy sauce, and other items imported from the Republic, there aren't enough.
Moreover, since it is an imported product, it is expensive, and McQueen-san would have a hard time preparing a large amount at once.
There's another thing that's bothering me.
I thought it would be better to tell McQueen-san my secret by now.
I thought that if he knew that I was a Demon King, that I owned a dungeon, and that there was a village there, it would be less inconvenient for us to make some kind of deal.
In fact, I am now buying an obviously ridiculous amount of seasonings. I felt sorry that he didn't ask me about the details of the situation.
However, I don't know what McQueen-san would think if I told him. He is a merchant. He might try to take advantage of me if it's to his advantage, and if he thinks I'm dangerous, there's a possibility that our relationship will end.
Well... I've known him for nine years, so I don't doubt his personality, but I don't know what his judgment will be as a merchant.
That day came while I was worrying about it.
McQueen-san arrived earlier than usual this year. Apparently, he will be participating in the spring social gathering in the royal capital.
"Thanks to Light-kun, my company has grown in size. I was recommended by the Duke of the South and the Count of the Frontier to participate in the event. In addition, since last year, there has been no more interference from the Church or the Eastern nobility. It has become easier for us merchants of the Republic to do business. The [Nameless Demon King] is a man of many talents."
McQueen-san says so with a smile. I was a little nervous though.
It seems that the influence of the [Nameless Demon King] was large.
In the kingdom, churches are starting to collapse one after another, and persecution against demi-humans is apparently on the decline. However, there is still a sense of discrimination, so it seems that the southern aristocrats are working on a policy of reconciliation with the demi-humans, and part of that plan is to let people from the Republic participate in society.
McQueen-san is also accompanied by Jeraid-san's party as an escort on this trip in order to find out how much the kingdom's awareness of the demi-humans has changed.
I said hello at Jeraid-san's party earlier, but I was relieved to see that nothing had changed. Jeraid-san and Flight-san, who are human beings, are comfortable in the royal capital, but Porte-san, a bear beastman, and Hailgrid-san, a dwarf, seem uneasy.
After McQueen-san finished talking about the latest situation in the kingdom, he started talking with me about business. After I sold the items as usual, I gave him a list of the items I wanted, but...
"I'm sorry, Light-kun. I can't sell this amount of soy sauce and miso..."
"Is it still difficult?"
"Yes. Personally, I would like to distribute it to as many people as possible, so I cannot agree with Light-kun's buying up all of it. Excuse me, but why do you need this much quantity?"
I knew I would be asked. I confided everything to McQueen-san, still troubled. I thought he would be surprised, but he was quite calm.
"Huh? You don't seem very surprised, do you?"
I was surprised that he wasn't surprised, so I ended up asking.
"I'm sorry, Light-kun. You've surprised me a lot so far, so I'm not surprised anymore. And I kind of figured it out. The [Nameless Demon King] is also Light-kun, right?"
"Yes... did you know?"
"Yes. I knew from a letter from the branch in the royal capital that you had a close relationship with Fran Ojou, who belongs to a ducal family in the south, so I thought it might be the case."
I disguised it with a friendly smile.
"Um... if possible, I'd like to invite McQueen-san to the dungeon..."
"Are you sure?"
McQueen-san was a little surprised here. I invited him because I wanted him to see the actual dungeon and the village and hear his opinions.
"Yes. If possible, it would be helpful if you could look at the dungeon with the eyes of a merchant and give me some references. I'm planning on renovating it soon, so I wanted to hear various opinions."
"Understood. I'm also interested in dungeons, so I'd love to see it."
Thus, it was decided that McQueen-san would visit my dungeon.
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