Even though things have been hectic lately, today is the first time in a while that I'm out taking care of 'my own business'.
"...It should be just past this alley, right?"
I hurry down a narrow street with sparse streetlights. The surrounding buildings are mostly deserted at night, and it's eerily quiet. A cold night wind blows through the gaps in the cobblestones, sending a chill down my spine.
Eventually, I arrive at a building that looks suspicious at first glance. Unlike the other houses, which are made of wood and stone, this one has black-painted board walls and heavy grilles over the windows. There are sharp spikes on top that you might mistake for 'crow deterrents' ... but they're all for 'security measures'.
"Ah, there it is. It's in such an obscure location that I almost get lost every time."
There's no nameplate or sign, but it's not the headquarters of a secret society known only to those in the know... it's just a warehouse.
Yes, my purpose this time is to buy coffee beans directly from a merchant.
"Oh, welcome, Mr. Setsu! Thanks for coming so late!"
As soon as I open the door and go inside, there's an old man behind the counter, just as I expected. His name is 'Bharat'.
He's a large man nearing fifty, with a glossy mustache, and when he grins, his gold tooth shines. His face, which seems to shout, "I'm a good businessman!" is quite memorable.
"Hey, Bharat-san. Please don't call me 'Mr.' I'm not that important."
For some reason, Bharat calls me "Mr." When we first met, he said something nonsensical like, "You have a calm way of speaking, so you must be more than you seem," and it stuck.
"Heh, come on, it's fine. You're a Mr. So, are you here for coffee beans again today?"
"Uh, that's right. I was hoping to buy some additional coffee beans. How much are they going for?"
As I say this, I glance towards the back of the warehouse. Wooden boxes are piled up, and huge hemp sacks are stacked in between them. In addition to coffee beans, there seem to be jewels and herbs.
Then, Bharat claps his hands together with a loud bang and gives me a full-bodied smile.
"What are you saying, Mr.! Actually, thanks to you recently, I've been making a fantastic profit, and I'm so grateful to you, Mr.! So, don't worry about the price, take everything here, boom! Take it for free!"
Bharat laughs heartily, "Hah hah hah!" as he drags a large hemp sack from the back of the shelf. And it's not just one or two sacks. There are nearly ten sacks just at a glance.
"Um... I don't need that much. Besides, I don't remember doing anything that would warrant you thanking me, Bharat-san."
"Hey, hey, what are you saying, Mr.! You were the one who taught me the appeal of coffee, when I was half-convinced! Now, coffee is a huge hit among the nobles!"
"Huh... when did it become such a boom?"
"Apparently, the one who started it all was none other than the Crown Prince of this country. Amazing for such a young guy. Thanks to him, the coffee beans that I bought in bulk when they were cheap are now being sold for dozens of times the price! I can't stop laughing!"
"Oh... the Crown Prince? He has good taste."
I have nothing to do with aristocratic society, so I don't know much about the Crown Prince, but he seems like someone who shares my interests.
"So, the person behind the success is none other than you, Mr.! So, you can take as many coffee beans as you want! Here, I'll give them all to you! This mountain of sacks!"
He must have really made a lot of money. Looking closely, Bharat's mustache is glossy, and he's wearing an expensive watch on his right wrist. On top of that, he's so hyped up that he looks like he's about to dance.
"Bharat-san, I really appreciate the thought, but I'll pay you normally. I didn't do anything special, just tell people about the goodness of coffee."
"Oh... is that so? You really don't have to hold back, but if that's what you want..."
Bharat folds his arms and tilts his head.
If I had a large amount of high-quality coffee beans, I would stand out, so I should act accordingly.
"So, what's the current market price?"
"Well, right now, it's about '42 Aube silver coins' a sack..."
Wow, the price has gone up a lot. One Aube silver coin is enough to buy a decent amount of meat and vegetables, so 42 coins would be roughly... more than 20 days' worth of food expenses.
"I told you the value is going up because the nobles want it. I'm holding it down from the proper price, thinking of you, Mr."
Really...? I didn't expect it to be so expensive.
"Why is it so expensive? Is the biggest problem still crossing borders?"
As I mutter with dissatisfaction, Bharat nods and sits down heavily.
"Ah, trading with the Oltra continent, where coffee beans are abundant, is difficult. It takes months to go by ship, and even if you arrive, it's difficult to travel through the deserts and highlands. On top of that, there's the Mole Devil Gorge, a dangerous place full of magical beasts. In short, it's life-threatening."
"I see... I understand the cost, but it's outrageous to multiply the price by dozens of times like this. Then, how about growing coffee around here? Then we can drink it cheaply, and happily ever after... or so I thought..."
"Haha, give it up. No matter how hard you try, you can't grow good beans in this climate. There's a lot of rain here, and it gets cold in the winter, right? Coffee grows in tropical highlands. Soil temperature, sunshine, temperature differences... there's no way a novice can start and succeed."
"I guess so."
Well, I wasn't interested in gardening in my previous life, and even if I could grow mini tomatoes and basil in the garden, I certainly have zero experience growing coffee trees. Certainly, it's difficult to try without specialized knowledge.
"See, that's why I want you to take it. In fact, I'd feel bad if you didn't take it, because now I've started 'Bharat Trading Company' and made enough money to expand the scale dozens of times over."
"Eh, a trading company? When did you get that far...?"
I didn't imagine he'd make so much money. Bharat may have been more successful than I thought.
"If you want, I'm even thinking of giving you half of the money I've made. That's how grateful I am. Well, in that case, you'll have to become an executive in our trading company! If I team up with you, I think conquering this world isn't a dream, I'm serious!"
"No, no... that's too much. I just taught you how to make coffee. Besides, I'm satisfied with my current life."
I'm taken aback by Bharat's boisterous laughter. Becoming an executive of a trading company and conquering the world is too grand to consider.
"Haha, you're always so humble, Mr. Well, that's why, please accept it. It's my request. I have to repay you at least a little, or I won't be able to settle down. Please!"
"I, if you say so... Well, I understand. Not all of it, but I'm grateful for even one bag."
"...No, no, one bag isn't enough. Take it all!"
"I can't drink it all even if I take it all. One bag is enough."
With that, Bharat seems reluctant, but happily, he seems to have understood.
From among the hemp sacks he had dragged out, he hands me one that looks of good quality, and a bag with some pre-roasted beans.
"Tch, stingy... well, fine. I'll keep stocking up, so I'll collect more for you again. In return, I'd like to ask you for various advice in the future?"
"Advice? I only know how to make coffee."
"No, no, I know that you're more than you seem."
He says with a grin. Frankly speaking, it's too much of an evaluation.
"Well, I'll talk if I think of something. It might not be a big deal..."
"That's enough! I'm counting on you, Mr. Setsu!"
Bharat laughs heartily again and taps the bag he handed me.
I feel the weight again, but is it okay to get such expensive beans for free? -- Thinking so, when I see Bharat's face looking at me with a passionate gaze, I can't refuse.
"Well then, thank you for today. I'll go home now."
"Ah, come again. I might stock up on even rarer beans next time!"
With such a shout on my back, I head out into the night.
I got so many coffee beans for free, which I usually have to pay for for many days' worth of food. It's probably out of kindness for Bharat, but I feel a little uneasy.
"...Well, I'll just gratefully accept it for now."
I'm happy to get coffee beans, so it's true.
I gently hug the hemp sack and bring my nose closer to it. A faint roasted aroma wafts out, and I can't help but smile.
After all, living for my hobbies is the best.
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