I Just Traded in the Forest of Monsters, but the World Changed - Chapter 37

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 37
Se Hui made her way slowly through the Clearing, selling Yogurt one cup at a time.
The nobles who had been wary of the unfamiliar space until moments ago now sat comfortably in chairs beneath Parasols.
Merchants wove between them, their voices never ceasing.
‘I’m not sure if this is right.’
But it wasn’t bad, at any rate.
“Should I give you advance notice next time I come?”
A noble asked, handing over a Gold Coin.
[Exchange Notification]
Detected Item: Imperial Gold Coin x1
Converted Value: 1,000 Points
Commission (20%): -200 Points
Final Gain: 800 Points
A single Gold Coin was enough to justify a cheerful answer.
Choco, sensing her improved mood, rubbed his face against Se Hui’s feet.
“You’re pleased too, aren’t you?”
Se Hui offered Choco a small smile before turning to the noble.
“Of course.”
“I’ll be able to buy this drink on my next visit as well?”
“That depends on our stock situation.”
Se Hui paused deliberately.
“The more often you visit, the better your chances.”
The noble glanced down at the empty bottle, then nodded.
“Then I’ll have to visit more frequently.”
Se Hui smiled and inclined her head in agreement.
In that instant, a blue window appeared quietly at the edge of her vision.
[Regular Customer Secured: 1/20]
‘There it is!’
Se Hui clenched her fist internally.
‘This is actually working.’
She barely suppressed the smile trying to break across her face.
Her insides were already trembling with excitement.
‘Just nineteen more, then.’
It might go faster than she’d expected.
Just then, Count Salt, dressed in a plum-colored Cloak, spoke up.
“Could you spare one more for me?”
“I’ve given out all today’s stock. There’s nothing left.”
“Nothing left? I’ll give you ten Gold Coins.”
Se Hui’s eyes widened.
At the mention of ten Gold Coins, she felt a moment of hesitation.
‘How many Points would that be?’
But she quickly shook her head.
‘I need to establish these boundaries from the start.’
Se Hui shook her head and spoke firmly.
“There’s nothing left. There’s nothing left.”
“I see…….”
As Count Salt withdrew with a regretful expression, another noble stepped forward.
“Then what if you sell to me instead? Twenty Gold Coins.”
“That doesn’t seem fair.”
“You should have lined up earlier, then.”
The nobles began raising their voices at one another.
Se Hui watched the scene unfold, then slowly took a step back.
‘Oh no, this is really going to turn into a fight.’
That’s when it happened.
“Wait.”
An older noble stepped forward and gently caught the arm of another.
“This isn’t becoming behavior for this place.”
The atmosphere seemed to settle for a moment.
“No, Baron Welt, don’t interfere.”
“It’s the right thing to say, though.”
The nobles’ voices grew louder.
At that very moment, a different commotion erupted near the entrance of the Clearing.
Three merchants were seen walking toward Se Hui in a line.
When one of them turned back and gestured, two porters followed, dragging a heavy chest.
It was a wooden chest fitted with a metal lock.
“I’d like to have a serious conversation with you.”
The merchant stepped before Se Hui and spoke.
His voice was low and composed, but his eyes told a different story.
“We would like to have exclusive distribution rights to this beverage.”
“Exclusive rights?”
“Yes. We will match whatever terms you ask for.”
The merchant knelt and opened the lid of the chest.
Gold glimmered from within.
Gold ingots.
Erasmus, watching the scene from a distance, narrowed his eyes.
The sight of gold ingots changing hands in the heart of the Monster Forest seemed quite intriguing.
Regardless, Se Hui’s gaze came to an abrupt halt.
‘Wow… insane!’
Her mind began to calculate.
‘How many yogurts would I have to sell to earn that much money?’
Since she’d never received gold ingots before, she couldn’t tell if they’d convert directly into Points.
Because of that, she felt even more tempted than when the merchant had offered gold coins earlier.
‘…Wait, hold on.’
The surface of the gold ingots caught the morning sunlight, glimmering faintly.
Every time the light wavered, she could see the heavy, metallic texture peculiar to gold.
But the downside of an exclusive arrangement immediately came to mind.
‘Then how would I build up regular customers?’
The requirement of securing regular customers flashed through her thoughts.
Se Hui’s eyes grew calm again.
An exclusive deal wouldn’t work after all.
If she handed it over to them exclusively, people would have no reason to come all the way out here anymore.
‘But…’
Watching the gold nuggets packed densely together, her heart raced.
Perhaps sensing Se Hui’s inner conflict, the merchant spoke.
“Surely this amount is sufficient, is it not?”
“All you need do is trust us. We will handle all distribution ourselves.”
“Please, we ask for your consideration.”
Se Hui looked down at the merchants.
Even those who had been fighting each other moments before were now staring at her.
Frankly, accepting right now would have been no surprise.
With this much gold, it was money she’d need years of yogurt sales to earn.
But.
Se Hui took a moment to collect herself and looked at the merchants.
“Exclusive distribution is not possible.”
The Clearing fell silent.
The expressions of all three merchants hardened at once.
“May I ask the reason?”
“It’s simple.”
Se Hui swept her gaze across the people gathered in the Clearing.
“It’s better for me if people come here to buy directly themselves.”
The merchant faltered momentarily.
“What do you mean by that…”
“If I hand it over exclusively, there’s no reason for people to come here anymore, is there?”
Se Hui spoke matter-of-factly.
“What matters more to me is having lots of people come.”
The merchants exchanged glances with one another.
None of them offered an immediate reply.
Se Hui didn’t end it there.
“However.”
The merchants’ gazes turned back to Se Hui.
“I’ll give you another chance to discuss it later. A different arrangement, not an exclusive deal.”
“A different arrangement, you say.”
“We’ll sort out the details then.”
She had no intention of promising anything concrete right now.
Besides, there were still people lingering at the edges of the Clearing who hadn’t secured their purchases.
‘This is getting out of hand.’
Se Hui took a breath and spoke.
“Today’s sales end here.”
The Clearing fell silent.
“What! Right now?”
“But some of us haven’t bought anything yet.”
Se Hui didn’t yield.
“That’s all for today. Come back tomorrow.”
The crowd was beginning to stir when it happened.
Cassian took a step forward, positioning himself beside Se Hui.
Se Hui caught a glimpse of the black Cloak brushing past her.
The air in the Clearing visibly settled the moment he moved.
Rowen quietly approached the nobles and merchants, accompanied by two knights.
He seemed to understand Cassian’s intent.
‘Thank goodness the Duke is here.’
No one stepped forward again.
“Remarkable how one Duke standing there silences all those nobles. Quite the sight.”
The merchants, meanwhile, closed their Chests and watched Cassian warily.
Se Hui observed the whole scene and thought to herself.
‘At least it’s settled now.’
Se Hui exhaled slowly.
* * *
Once the Clearing quieted, the nobles and merchants began to leave.
Though they didn’t venture far from where Se Hui stood.
They lingered at a distance, stealing glances and watching the situation unfold.
‘They’re still not going.’
Se Hui swallowed a sigh at the sight.
The Clearing, which had been chaotic moments before, finally felt more at ease.
Choco, indifferent to the mood, flopped down beside Se Hui again.
Se Hui turned her head.
Cassian stood beside her, maintaining a protective stance.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Thank you for helping me just now.”
Cassian lowered his gaze.
“I don’t believe I did anything.”
“No, you did. Everyone quieted down because you were standing there.”
Se Hui said with a smile.
“Honestly, I was in quite a bind.”
“You don’t strike me as someone who’d be troubled by such a trivial matter.”
“Oh, come on.”
Se Hui shrugged.
“You’re overestimating me. I’m just someone running a single shop.”
Cassian regarded her for a moment.
“Just.”
He continued thoughtfully.
“I’ve never heard a shopkeeper described that way — one who can make both nobles and merchants stand down simultaneously.”
“That’s only because you were standing beside me.”
Se Hui went on.
“Still, I was truly grateful today.”
“It was nothing.”
His voice came back, matter-of-fact.
“And there’s no need to thank me for it.”
“Pardon?”
The corner of Cassian’s mouth lifted ever so slightly.
“The shop needs to stay open if I’m to return.”
Se Hui found herself at a loss for words.
“Ah, well then, I’d better work harder at my business.”
Erasmus, who had been watching the scene from a short distance away, stroked his beard thoughtfully.
His expression carried a peculiar satisfaction.
Cassian’s gaze lingered on Se Hui for a moment.
He opened his mouth as if to say something more, then closed it again.
“Then.”
After a brief silence, he spoke.
“Se Hui, I would be pleased if you remained in this place.”
Se Hui answered with a soft smile.
“Did I just secure one regular customer then?”
Se Hui tilted her eyes playfully.
Scarcely had she finished speaking when
[Regular Customers Secured: 2/20]
a system window appeared.
“What? Wait, what’s this?”
She blinked rapidly several times.
She scanned the blue window up and down, as if to double-check the number she had just seen.
‘Hold on.’
Se Hui tilted her head slightly, puzzled.
“Didn’t I just secure one regular customer? How is it two now?”
In that moment, the next line slowly came into focus.
[An existing customer has been officially registered as a regular.]

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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