Chapter 9:
Originals and Knockoffs
EVERYONE IN THE business association had put their noses to the grindstone to create a great tent prototype. At this rate, though, the adventurers we wanted to sell the tents to weren’t going to come purchase them. The thing was, adventurers visited Kalta once in a blue moon. They definitely didn’t frequent the town.
I dropped in on Lord Valgas carrying one of the new tents, which I assembled on the lawn.
“This is called a tent, Father!” Although she’d had literally nothing to do with the tent’s creation, Elaine explained its purpose to her father proudly. “Sir Reiji and all the town’s other artisans teamed up to make it.”
Valgas crawled into the tent. “Ah! I see.” He emerged impressed. “Heh heh! I can certainly imagine this becoming a must-have for adventurers. Mm…Sir Reiji, you did well, coming up with such a fantastic idea.”
“I’d like a famous adventurer to use one,” I told him.
“You plan to sell it to them at a high price, don’t you?”
“No, not at all.”
Elaine hesitated; she seemed puzzled.
“You’re not?” Count Valgas asked, similarly confused.
I swear, like father, like daughter. “I want to give them one to use for free. Theoretically, a well-known adventurer could basically advertise Kalta’s tents.”
Online multiplayer games on Earth worked that way; people were always after the same items and equipment strong players owned. So, you know, if some famous adventurer uses a tent… And if the adventurer realized that the item was actually useful, that’d be a one-two punch.
“If people start using tents more widely, they’ll become a Kalta specialty, right?” I pointed out.
“A unique specialty for a middle-of-nowhere town like Kalta…” Count Valgas brought his hand to his chin. If the tents caught on, they would directly help to increase the domain’s tax revenue.
“They’ll sell even faster if we say they’re produced by the same guy who makes the new potions,” I added.
“That’s a fantastic idea. However, Mr. Reiji, there’s one problem. Personally, I don’t know any adventurers,” Count Valgas said apologetically.
“I see…” Well, the first adventurer to use a tent doesn’t necessarily have to be famous.
“In that case, leave this to me! Tee hee hee!” Elaine stepped forward with her chest puffed out and chin raised. “I’ve met the noble adventurer known as Lord Lars. Rumors of his undertakings have done the rounds in Kalta and San Logro!”
Lord Lars? I feel like I’ve heard that name before… “Oh, right!” I exclaimed. “I forgot he’s an adventurer. I remember you being excited to meet him at that dinner party.” Yeah, he was the guy Elaine initially wanted to wear that perfume for.
“Y-yes, that’s right.” Elaine turned toward me, starting to panic. “Please don’t get the wrong idea, Sir Reiji! I no longer have any feelings for Lord Lars, b-but it just so happens that he’s an adventurer now. It isn’t that I’m trying to reconnect with him, I-I promise! I’m a one-man sort of woman. Um…”
The more Elaine talks, the redder she gets. “If you know him, perfect,” I replied. “We’ll use this Lars guy.”
“Mm, good idea,” Lord Valgas agreed.
“In that case, Sir Reiji, your representative needs to meet with him and describe the town’s specialty product,” Elaine informed me.
She wants me to break down how tents work for Lord Lars? “You can explain for me, Elaine.”
“Me…?”
“Yeah. I listened while you described the tent to your dad earlier. You were perfect.”
“I-I can’t believe Sir Reiji just praised me!” Elaine held both hands against her cheeks and squirmed, shocked and joyful.
“Can I count on you to handle that?”
“Of course! Oh, gosh, Sir Reiji’s counting on me for something!”
After Elaine talks to him, any adventurer who sees this Lars guy using a tent will be all like, “What’s that?!” Hopefully, at least. “Good luck, Elaine.”
“I won’t need luck!” Elaine’s expression was filled with purpose.