“Hey, do you need a horse that can withstand the harsh cold? If so, you’ve come at just the right time.”
Fortunately, not long after leaving that village, we came across a group of people selling horses. They were merchants heading south.
There were three of them. Not many, but they were loaded with spatial magic bags.
The items weren’t cheap, but it was still cheaper than dragging a caravan all the way out here. Places like this aren’t exactly bustling with people.
“Until recently, the beastmen from the north traded with us, but lately, they’ve completely stopped coming. We’ve lost our income and have been forced to head south.”
“We’re heading south too, so we’ll buy them at a high price. How about a one-to-one exchange with our horses? They’re a breed that can endure even up here.”
Even the famous horses of the north couldn’t compare to purebloods. And their horses didn’t seem particularly special either.
The price wasn’t exactly fair, and our horses were protected by Bluebird’s feathers, making them safe from the cold. Instead, the other goods the merchants had caught our attention.
With Bluebird’s feathers protecting us, we didn’t really need cold-weather gear like fur hats or gloves. But the Princess had plenty of money and opened her wallet without hesitation. The merchants couldn’t hold back their smiles.
“Wow, it’s been a while since we’ve had such a big spender. I thought we’d leave empty-handed today, but luck is on our side.”
And for good reason. The Princess’s wallet was filled with gold coins, not a single silver one in sight.
The merchants bit into the small gold coins to confirm they were pure gold and smiled. In places like this, imperial currency doesn’t hold much value, so she had brought gold coins from the start.
Of course, this was all thanks to His Majesty’s support. Whether the national treasury was in good shape wasn’t our concern. If the country was going to collapse over our travel expenses, it would’ve happened long ago.
Shady merchants might turn to robbery upon seeing such a wallet, but these were merchants who traveled all the way to the north. They were different.
Whether they recognized our strength or simply adhered to merchant ethics, they didn’t try to rob us.
“But how would you like your change? We have some silver coins, but not enough to give you proper change.”
“How about we throw in some extra fur or pelts instead?”
The Princess, perhaps because we were watching, spoke with authority.
“Keep the change. But, would it be alright if I asked a few questions?”
“Really?”
The merchants’ eyes widened. They glanced at each other and nodded almost simultaneously.
“Sure, sure, ask away. Ask anything. We’ll even tell you how many lovers our late mother had.”
“Yeah, what do you want to know?”
Lady Kisea was the first to ask, sounding puzzled.
“The beastmen have stopped coming? Why?”
“We don’t know. We don’t have the courage to go that deep into their territory.”
The merchants just shrugged.
But since they had made a good profit from trading with us, they didn’t immediately dismiss the question and seemed to think for a moment.
“Maybe the Beast King has forbidden trade with us.”
“Epirna?”
“Something’s been off for a while now, but no one knows exactly what or how. What’s clear is that something’s wrong with the Beastman Kingdom.”
The stories we were hearing about our destination weren’t exactly reassuring. What on earth was happening there?
“Some people have been saying that life there isn’t really life anymore.”
“I don’t know if that’s true, but let me give you some advice: wise people don’t go into such dangerous places. Money’s important, but life’s more important, so we decided to leave.”
Originally, our goal was to undo the petrification of Lady Kisea’s clan, but it was starting to feel like that wouldn’t be the end of it.
“Life’s more important? Is it really that dangerous there?”
This time, I asked the question. The merchants answered without hesitation.
“The beastmen of the Eastern Plains hate two things the most: human imperialists and little wolves. And you’re half-wolf, half-human. That’s a good enough answer, right?”
Human imperialists? The Princess, being part of the imperial family, was here, but I’d never heard that term before. I even wondered if I’d heard it correctly.
Lady Kisea looked just as stunned. It was then I realized she didn’t know much more about the Eastern Plains than we did. She seemed just as clueless. I should’ve noticed sooner.
“Human imperialists, fine, but what’s a little wolf?!”
“Really, you don’t know?”
“You were planning to go to the plains without knowing anything?”
The merchants looked at each other and laughed. After a moment of chuckling, they continued.
“Humans are the thousand-year oppressors of the beastmen. Wolves are the humans’ little pets. That’s what the beastmen think. Everyone believes it. Even when they traded with us, they looked down on us.”
“As long as they paid, we didn’t care if they insulted or ignored us, but now they’re not even paying, so there’s no reason to stay.”
We were at a loss for words. Roka scratched her head, Lady Kisea’s jaw dropped in disbelief, and the Princess looked utterly bewildered by this absurd revelation.
“Why, why didn’t anyone know about this?”
“Why? The Beastman Kingdom is extremely closed off. What we’re doing is essentially smuggling.”
“Our job is to bring in goods from the continent and trade them for local specialties like wool or Fox Tree Fruit…”
“But now even that’s been cut off. You guys really came at the right time. There’s no one more knowledgeable about the Eastern Plains than us.”
Indeed. No matter how much we asked Lady Kisea, we couldn’t get answers, but today everything was cleared up. It didn’t feel like they were making things up.
If all this was fabricated, they should’ve been storytellers instead of merchants. They could’ve gone to the city and performed instead of coming all the way out here.
“Do you know the way to the Eastern Plains?”
“The way? We know a few routes, but it’d take too long to explain them all.”
“We’ve got to get back early to see our wives.”
“What if we paid more?”
The Princess opened her golden wallet again. The glint of gold caught the merchants’ eyes. Already entranced by the gold, they immediately agreed.
“Well, that changes things. If the price is right, we can even give you the maps we’ve made.”
“Anyway, we’re not coming back here, so we’ll need money if we’re going to change professions. How about it? Take over our business. If you pay enough, we’ll hand everything over, no matter how long it takes.”
“What about your wives?”
The Princess snorted.
“Is it okay to see them late now?”
“My wife would get mad if I came home late, but if I gently place one of these gold coins in her hand, she’ll calm down instantly. She wouldn’t say a word even if I stayed out drinking all night for a week.”
The merchants chuckled.
“On the other hand, try saying this: ‘Oh, my beloved wife. There was a chance to earn more money, but your face kept appearing in my mind, and I couldn’t bear it. I left a customer offering me gold coins just to come see you.’ Then my wife would say—”
The person next to him mischievously mimicked a high-pitched voice.
“Gold coins? You fool! Money comes first! Go back to that customer or whoever and get those gold coins. Squeeze out everything you can! We need a big house, the kids’ education, and I want to dress like a noblewoman and throw parties!”
“Anyway, we’re not as rich as you. We rarely get chances like this. In fact, we hardly even see opportunities. If there’s a chance to make money, we have to work our bones to the marrow.”
One of the merchants, playing with the gold coin he’d received earlier, chimed in.
“That’s how you secure your future. We don’t want to work until we’re old. If we make a lot when we’re young, we won’t have to pick up a hoe and dig the ground when we’re old. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but we just don’t want to live like that.”
In the end, the Princess paid more. After all, it came from the national treasury, so there was no hesitation.
Do those merchants know? That this money comes from their own taxes.
…Then again, maybe they don’t pay taxes, so it doesn’t matter.
Come to think of it, smuggling exists because they don’t pay taxes.
