Chapter 1-38 : The Girl Made An Agreement With The Dark Elf (part 1)
While enjoying the freshly made magic device, Kotatsu, Elle, and Ingrid were chit-chatting and eating the snacks and chocolate Elle had brought from the ship.
「Now that you have finished it, are you going to sell this thing?」(Elle)
「Hmm… I’m not sure. It will be hard to sell it, especially to a noble.」(Ingrid)
「Why?」(Elle)
「Because a certain someone will likely try to prevent me from contacting nobles.」(Ingrid)
「…Gerald?」(Elle)
「Yeah. Who else?」(Ingrid)
「What a terrible person…」(Elle)
「Yeah…」(Ingrid)
「If you have difficulties in selling your products, then how do you make money?」(Elle)
「I usually sell my magic tools to the scholars at the Royal Knight’s Magic Research Institute.」(Ingrid)
Scholars were only interested in something that had to do with their research. Magic tools, for example. Most of them didn’t care if Ingrid was a dark elf. They normally stayed in their room, being engrossed in their research all day long.
「Then you can sell it to them. Scholars will likely be interested in an outworlder magic device like this.」(Elle)
「I wouldn’t get as much money as if I sold it to a noble, but… You’re right. People like them can’t ignore a rare magic device like this. However, there’s one problem. For now, the only person who can make magic stones for this thing is you.」(Ingrid)
「Now that you mention it.」(Elle)
Ingrid had tried to activate the kotatsu using various magic stones she found in the market, but none of them worked.
The only magic stone that worked was the one she got from Elle, so she came to the conclusion that nobody could make the ‘battery’ for the kotatsu other than Elle, at least for now.
「By the way, you tried to sell this fire magic stone in the night market, didn’t you?」(Ingrid)
「Yeah, before I was accused of selling a fake magic stone and was chased by the guard.」(Elle)
「Right… How much did you plan to sell it?」(Ingrid)
「This is one of my finest magic stones, so I was trying to sell it for 5 gold coins.」(Elle)
「F, five gold coins!?」(Ingrid)
「Yeah… Umm, is it too expensive?」(Elle)
「No, it’s too cheap!」(Ingrid)
Ingrid couldn’t believe it. It was surprising for her that such a fine magic stone only cost five gold coins.
She thought that Elle could sell it for seven gold coins, or even double the price, ten gold coins.
「Eh? Too cheap? But… I used to sell magic stones of this quality for five gold coins, and the ones with slightly lower quality for one gold coin to my master.」(Elle)
「I see, but still, I think it’s too cheap.」(Ingrid)
「Really?」(Elle)
「Yeah. By the way, you said you had slightly lower quality ones. Can I see it?」(Ingrid)
「Sure.」(Elle)
Elle took out a fire magic stone from her magic bag and handed it to Ingrid.
Ingrid then observed it closely.
「Hmm… I see…」(Ingrid)
At a glance, it didn’t look any different from the finest quality one. However, Ingrid could tell there was a slight difference.
Although it wasn’t the finest one, it was still much better in quality than normal fire magic stones on the market.
「This is impressive… And you sell it for only one gold coin?」(Ingrid)
「Umm, yeah…」(Elle)
「Hahh…」(Ingrid)
Hearing Elle’s answer, Ingrid sighed. She then continued observing it, and then she got an idea.
「You know what? I think this one will work too.」(Ingrid)
「Work? You mean for this kotatsu?」(Elle)
「Yeah. Let’s put it in!」(Ingrid)
Observing the magic stone made Ingrid want to test it.
Knowing what she was about to do, Yoyo and Neige moved away from the kotatsu. Elle then nodded at Ingrid and helped her flip over the kotatsu.
Ingrid opened the box on the back of the kotatsu table, removed the highest quality fire magic from it, and switched it with the lower quality one.
After they flipped back the table, Ingrid turned the switch on.
Surprisingly, the kotatsu was running normally.
「Whoaa…! So it doesn’t have to be the finest quality one. This is amazing! It seems that it will work as long as we use your magic stones. How should I put it… There seems to be something special about the magic stones you make.」(Ingrid)
「Something special?」(Elle)
「Yeah. They’re just different from other magic stones. ーAh, that’s right!」(Ingrid)
Suddenly, Ingrid clapped her hands as if she had just come up with a brilliant idea, and then she bowed her head to Elle.
「Please, sell me your magic stones!」(Ingrid)
「Ehh?」(Elle)
「You’re having trouble selling your magic stones on the market, right? Then I’ll be your buyer. You will supply me with your magic stones regularly.」(Ingrid)
Elle was surprised by Ingrid’s sudden offer. Of course, she didn’t think it was a bad deal at all.
She would need money to survive in this big city while trying to find her dad, so she was grateful for that offer.
「What do you think? You can ask me if you want me to offer more. You can add any conditions if you want.」(Ingrid)
「Conditions? Umm…」(Elle)
When she was asked about conditions, she glanced at Yoyo, asking him for his opinion.
「Elle, just think about what you need the most right now.」(Yoyo)
「The thing I need the most… Alright. Ingrid-san, I do have one condition.」(Elle)
「Ask me anything you want. I’m listening.」(Ingrid)
「I will sell you my magic stones, but… can you let me stay here for a while?」(Elle)
「You want to stay here with me?」(Ingrid)
「Yes, if you don’t mind. In exchange, I can do chores for you. I will do laundry, wash dishes, and clean this house.」(Elle)
The thing Elle needs the most right now is lodging. A place that she can call home at least until she finishes her business in the royal capital, which is finding her dad.
Luckily, Ingrid was a good person she could trust. Besides, this house needed someone to clean up, or it would look like a huge dumpster in a few months.
Having no reason to refuse, Ingrid nodded immediately.
「Of course! That would be helpful! You’re welcome to stay here!」(Ingrid)
「Not just me, but Yoyo and Neige will stay here too. You okay with that?」(Elle)
「I have zero complaints! I welcome your companions too!」(Ingrid)
Saying that, Ingrid looked at Yoyo and Neige and raised her thumb up.
「Thank god… I thought we would sleep on the street for a while because of this girl’s stubbornness.」(Yoyo)
「I thought so too, but I’m glad we ended up here.」(Neige)
「Thank you, Ingrid-san. Umm… You know my name already from Yoyo, but I haven’t properly introduced myself. My name is Elle Harzheil. You can call me Elle.」(Elle)
「Finally… I can call your name now, Elle.」(Ingrid)
「Ahh…」(Elle)
Elle just realized that even though Ingrid knew her name, she never called her by name until now.
Ingrid thought that Elle didn’t want a stranger to call her name. However, now that she had introduced herself properly, she thought it was okay to call her by name.
「Well, it’s a bit messy here, but I hope this place can be a home for you now, and I hope we can make a good team together.」(Ingrid)
「I hope so too. Thank you, Ingrid-san.」(Elle)
「Noー Thank YOU, Elle.」(Ingrid)
They both smiled at each other and shook hands.
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