I Thought It Was a Healing Farming Game - Chapter 41
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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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I thought it was a healing farming game.
41
The Trading Ship was so overwhelmingly massive that I felt like an ant by comparison.
“It’s absolutely enormous…….”
It looked less like a Trading Ship and more like a luxury cruise liner sailing across the sea.
As the ship’s horn sounded again to announce its arrival, the people around me clapped their hands over their ears in unison.
Soon after, people began disembarking from the moored Trading Ship, one after another, in a flurry of activity.
‘Their clothes…….’
They looked more like tourists than merchants.
I watched with fascination as elegantly dressed people moved about with an easy grace.
Siad bent down and whispered quietly into my ear.
“It isn’t just merchants aboard the Trading Ship. Ordinary people hoping to visit Node sail along as well.”
I leaned in and murmured my question to him.
“Why do these people want to come to Node?”
“Node is a small island, so it isn’t often opened to outsiders. We only permit a few days of brief docking for Trading Ships that have contracts with us.”
“So they come to sightsee because they’re curious about Node?”
“That’s part of it, but many come specifically seeking the specialty products that can only be obtained in Node.”
“Specialty products, you mean…….”
“They want to get their hands on rare items before anyone else does.”
“Wow. Node products must be really popular!”
Now that I thought about it, our ranch had been diligently preparing special handcrafted items to coincide with the Trading Ship’s arrivals.
“The craftspeople in the village are known for making items that are both rare and of excellent quality.”
If I raised my skill level and began making high-quality handcrafted goods, I’d be able to trade directly with the merchants on the Trading Ship.
Though I certainly didn’t have that capability yet.
‘Once I get my cottage set up, there are so many things I want to do!’
I lingered near the Trading Ship with mounting excitement.
I waited for enough people to disembark and for the entrance to clear.
“Would you like to have a look?”
“Yes! I got my weekly wages from the ranch yesterday, so I brought some money along. Will you be coming too, Siad?”
“Yes. I think it best we go together. The Trading Ship can be quite crowded, so I’ll guide you.”
“Sounds good!”
I agreed with a smile, and Siad led me to the boarding stairs.
After stepping up a rung, he offered me his hand.
“There are so many people you might bump into—please hold on as you climb.”
I took his hand carefully.
The warmth emanating from his palm was surprisingly soothing, and for some reason, my heart fluttered.
Following close behind Siad as we climbed the stairs, a briny sea breeze suddenly washed over us.
Merchants and sailors moved busily across the wide Deck.
To avoid bumping into anyone, I gripped Siad’s hand a bit more firmly.
Seeing it in person, the Deck was so crammed with fascinating items I didn’t know where to start looking.
‘Are all of these things available for trade?’
The moment that thought crossed my mind, a notification appeared as if on cue.
Ding!
Tutorial – Trade Commerce
The Trading Ship offers a wide variety of items for trade.
If you conduct repeated transactions with a specific merchant, you may receive special benefits.
Benefit examples: bulk purchases at discounted prices, early access to new items, the ability to purchase discontinued items, priority trading of rare goods
If you wish to sell items yourself, you can obtain a Commercial Registration Certificate at the Village Hall in Node and sell your goods.
Try conducting active trades on the Trading Ship!
‘Oh, how thoughtful.’
I strolled slowly across the Deck while reading through the tutorial explanation.
Just then, a merchant whose eyes met mine broke into a bright smile and gestured toward his stall.
“Why not start looking here? Come browse, young lady.”
“Oh, how lovely! Is that a hair ornament?”
The first thing to catch my eye was a hairpin-like decoration.
Tiny, lustrous gemstones were set in neat rows along the slender pins.
“Hand-crafted, it is. Those stones embedded there are Amber Stones—jewels formed when tree resin hardens over centuries.”
“Amber Stones… The color is so subtle. Like gold one moment, then orange the next.”
I turned the ornament this way and that, admiring it.
“I’d say those stones would suit your fair hair beautifully.”
“Really?”
It was undeniably beautiful.
When I pinned it in my hair, my entire appearance would change in an instant.
“Normally thirty gold, but since you’re our first customer aboard the Trading Ship, I’ll give you a special price—twenty-seven gold. What do you say?”
I gasped.
Startled, I set down the ornament I’d been holding with exaggerated care.
It was beautiful.
Really beautiful.
‘But that’s more than my weekly wage.’
I offered the most courteous smile I could muster and waved my hand politely.
“It truly is lovely. I’d like to look around at the other things first. If I come back around and still can’t stop thinking about it, I’ll return.”
“Ah, what a shame! Perhaps your companion might consider a gift—”
“Oh no, it’s not like that! I’ll be back to look again. Good luck with your sales!”
I finished my pleasantries and quickly grabbed Siad’s hand, hurrying away.
“Did it not suit your taste?”
Once we’d put some distance between us and the stall, Siad asked.
“No, it was beautiful! I just want to decide carefully. There are so many things to buy—if I spend all my money here, I’ll regret it.”
“We have plenty of time. Feel free to browse at your leisure.”
“Is there anywhere you’d like to look around? Let’s go together.”
“I only need to acquire a few medicinal herbs.”
“Then let’s look around some more and then find the herb merchant.”
“…Very well.”
Just then, at a display stand some distance away, I glimpsed silken fabric rippling with a soft, lustrous sheen.
I gazed, mesmerized, at the Silk the merchant was unfolding.
Silk (Premium): Fabric suitable for clothing. Crafted by artisans of Seura. Its rich, elegant tones are setting the current fashion.
‘That would make a gorgeous dress.’
As I wandered from display to display, eyeing all manner of rare goods, I spotted something that stood out in particular.
“What is that black thing?”
“Ah, that’s dried Seaweed harvested from the sea—a preserved food. This batch isn’t seasoned, but this one here is salted and roasted; it’s savory and crisp. We’re quite famous for it in this city!”
The moment I heard those words, a revelation pierced through my mind.
‘It’s nori.’
“Could I buy just one sheet and taste it?”
“Curious, are you? Wait a moment—I’ll cut you a small piece to try.”
I popped the piece the merchant had cut for me into my mouth.
Crackle.
A light crispness dissolved on my tongue, followed by the spread of savory salt.
As a shudder of emotion ran through me at this taste I hadn’t experienced in so long, Siad’s expression turned puzzled.
“What’s wrong? Is the flavor not to your liking?”
“It’s salty! I absolutely love it! How much is it?”
I declared my intention to buy without hesitation.
The merchant pointed to the packages with a satisfied smile.
“You want to buy? Would you prefer the large bundle or the small one?”
The price was quite reasonable.
“The large bundle, please! And give me one of the unseasoned ones too—the thicker kind.”
I had secured Seaweed that could be used anywhere with ease.
The unseasoned variety was large enough to use for rice rolls without issue.
“Right. Rice. I need to buy rice too.”
I tucked the precious Seaweed into my inventory and looked around.
“Rice should be on the left.”
Following Siad’s directions, I hurried over.
“Rice? Five kilograms for two gold. Ten kilograms for three gold.”
Compared to the prices at the grocery market back home, it was almost suspiciously cheap.
“Ten kilograms, please!”
Remembering that the Trading Ship only came once every two weeks, I limited myself to just one purchase.
Had I not known that, I might have bought three sacks on the spot.
Siad leaned close, feigning alarm, and whispered in my ear.
“Do you need such a large quantity?”
“It’s what we ate instead of bread back home. Rice is so expensive at the grocery market that I wanted to stock up now.”
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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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