The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

Chapter 254: Evil Boss Nigel (3) - Sports Drinks, Energy Bars "But how do you plan to make the actual products? Even if you recreate things from your memory, it won't be easy." "It's an application of clone creation magic. I mix real materials and mana appropriately to turn them into actual objects. If I make the scope too vast, it'll strain my capacity, so I'll have to limit it to things I've directly seen or experienced in my past life memories." "That's like making bread from thin air? You wouldn't even need capital then?" "No, it's not quite that simple. The more the raw materials differ from the actual product, the more parts need to be replaced with mana. Not only does the efficiency get worse, but the products would eventually evaporate too. Besides, if nothing goes into the store but things only come out, it'll be hard to avoid external suspicion, so it would be better to purchase raw materials from elsewhere to some extent. Money is necessary." "...Additionally, is your clone considering all of this?" "What are you talking about? That way I wouldn't be able to feel the joy of emptying my brain. I'll just casually ignore it and move on." -From a conversation between a certain Crown Prince and a demon- *** Zayd, the leader of the caravan 'Dancing Sand' that operates primarily in the Markanda region, wiped away the white salt that had settled on his forehead with his rough palm. "Exhausting..." The profession of a peddler wouldn't be easy anywhere, but traveling back and forth across the desert to sell goods was definitely not an easy job. The desert paths shifted unpredictably with the wind, and the scorching sun and sandstorms from above didn't even allow a single drop of sweat to form on human skin, while one wrong choice could lead directly to death. It's not without reason that peddlers operating in the desert form large groups called caravans and move together. That way they can raise their survival rate and business success rate even a little. A young age in his mid-teens. Zayd, who had been the youngest member of a caravan run by his relatives and handled all the rough work, had now become a respectable man in his mid-thirties and the leader of a caravan of considerable size. Zayd wasn't so emotionally dry that he couldn't feel moved by that fact, but being a leader was inherently a position that carried as much responsibility as it did dignity. Various problems that had erupted during this trading journey were giving Zayd a headache. "How is the condition of the workers who collapsed?" "They'll probably need to rest for a few days, but there's no danger to their lives." "Anyway, water is always the problem." The cause of the problem lay in the containers used to transport water. When transporting water in the desert, they mainly filled leather sacks with water and loaded them onto camels, but if management was even slightly neglected, the inside of the leather sacks would often rot. Water stored in such rotten sacks not only had a terrible taste and smell but could also cause stomach upset if one wasn't careful, so it shouldn't be drunk carelessly. In this case, there was nowhere to stop and replenish water along the way, so there was no choice but to endure the unpleasantness and drink it anyway. "It's my lack of virtue. I should have managed things more thoroughly." "No sir. The problem lies with those who neglected the leather sack management. How could you, chief, be expected to worry about such things?" Zayd's aide offered such words of comfort, but Zayd couldn't help feeling bitter inside. 'Should I have increased our water reserves even if it meant carrying fewer goods? Or should I have planned a route that stopped at oases more frequently?' The more water and food loaded onto camels, the less capacity there was to transport goods. It was natural to move with some margin prepared for emergencies, but if that margin was set too high, they could end up with no profit even after a successful trading expedition. It was just then that something strange entered Zayd's field of vision as he walked along the road lost in thought. The streets of Shurabasti, which Zayd had traveled dozens of times and had become thoroughly familiar with. There was a strange object there that he had never seen before. "Is that... silk?" A large, wide cloth stretched taut with four ropes and fixed to the wall. On the surface of that cloth, which looked smoother than most silk, large letters meaning 'Grand Opening' were written in the language commonly used in this area. "It's not like scattering money on the ground, but to use such cloth for just such a purpose..." As a merchant, he clicked his tongue at such wasteful spending, while simultaneously feeling intense curiosity. Because he was curious about what kind of goods a store using such flashy advertising methods would sell. But the moment he saw the large display stand set up in front of the store, Zayd couldn't help but unconsciously step backward. '...Poison?' Common sense dictated that such things wouldn't be sold in broad daylight in the middle of the street, but the beverages on the display stand had such poisonous colors that they unconsciously aroused such suspicions. Other passersby seemed to have similar impressions, as they only looked at the display stand curiously from nearby, but none stepped forward to actually buy anything. "Chief. Let's just go. Something feels ominous." His aide beside him tried to dissuade him, but those words only made Zayd feel more stubborn. He approached the display stand and asked the clerk who appeared to be a beastkin. "What are these?" "Ah, yes! They're sports drinks!" "...What's that?" "Uh..." At the fundamental question, the beastkin employee stammered visibly for anyone to see. No matter how you looked at it, she didn't seem to have much business experience. No, perhaps this was even her first time serving customers at all. Perhaps sensing Zayd's lukewarm gaze, the employee panicked and began rambling incoherently. "It's, it's a sweet beverage! Unlike ordinary water, you can drink lots of it without your stomach feeling uncomfortable, and thirst disappears quickly!" "Hmm." Zayd didn't think the employee was lying. After all, it was natural that something flavored or with additives would be easier to drink than ordinary beverages. Rather, if she had advertised it as a magic potion that made the body healthier, cured diseases, or extended lifespan, he would have left without looking back. "Ah, ta, tasting is also possible!" Interpreting Zayd's thoughtful reaction somehow, the employee hurriedly picked up one of the bottles on the display, twisted open the cap covering the top, and poured its contents into a nearby cup before handing it over. The deep blue liquid could hardly be said to stimulate appetite even as a polite lie, but what actually surprised Zayd was the cup itself. "This cup, what material is it made of?" It was light. And smooth. Most importantly, it was even white. The texture and color were unlike any cup Zayd knew of. "Ah, this is a paper cup! The boss gave it to me to use for samples..." "Paper? You're saying you made a cup out of paper right now?!" "Eek!" When Zayd raised his voice, the employee shrank back as if frightened. Of course, Zayd didn't have the capacity to worry about that. There were countries on the continent where papermaking technology was advanced and paper was commonly used even for general clerical work, but in the Markanda region, paper was still considered a luxury item. Especially paper that was white and smooth like this. But it didn't even get wet with water, and the contents didn't flow or leak out? Perhaps because he was too excited, Zayd unconsciously put strength into his grip and the paper cup got slightly crumpled. Zayd was startled by that sensation but barely managed not to drop the paper cup. "So, sorry. The cup seems to be damaged, what should I do about this..." "It's, it's okay!! We're giving it to you anyway!" "Gi, giving it? This? For free?" "Yes, yes!" A strange scene unfolded where both employee and customer kept stuttering endlessly. Zayd was amazed by the series of wondrous events, while Noa, the novice employee, was frightened that she might not handle the job her master had entrusted to her properly. Zayd's mind raced rapidly. 'This employee's master must be an enormous big shot. Both the cloth promoting the store and this cup are things that couldn't even be dreamed of without considerable wealth and power!' His merchant instincts roared fiercely. This was an enormous money-making opportunity. Perhaps because he was so excited that his body temperature rose, intense thirst welled up. Zayd didn't resist it and downed the cup's contents in one gulp. A very alien and sweet taste and aroma filled his mouth. If asked about personal preference, it would be hard to say it was that good, but compared to stale and murky water, it was definitely at a tolerable level. Whether it was psychological or there was a real effect, he felt like his thirst was easily quenched as the initial explanation had said. "Alright, I'll buy it. How much is it?" "Twenty copper coins per bottle!" 'Compared to the same amount of water, it's about ten times the price. Is it similar to the price of low-grade qahwa?' Compared to qahwa, that black medicine that drives away drowsiness and replenishes energy, the blue drink he had just consumed didn't feel quite as valuable, but if it was the price for all the amazement he had experienced so far, it wasn't particularly regrettable. "But can't I buy those paper cups?" "Huh? Oh, I'm sorry. Currently we're only selling sports drinks and energy bars." "I see." Zayd clicked his tongue in regret. Because what he really wanted to have was the paper cups that were stacked upside down in layers forming a high tower. But the moment he received the sports drink, Zayd had no choice but to revise his judgment. "...What is this container?" "Ah, you mean that!!" Fortunately, this time it seemed to be content she had prepared in advance, as the employee began excitedly rambling about the container holding the sports drink. Very light. Doesn't break even when dropped. Contents are clearly visible. Can be reused many times if washed well. Has a lid so it's convenient to open and close. Most importantly, if you just buy the beverage, the container is free! "...I will." "Huh?" "I said I'll buy them! All the sports drinks on this display stand!!" Zayd's eyes went wild. Now the beverages didn't matter. Not being able to get the paper cups was regrettable, but it wasn't urgent. Those bottles! Those bottles called plastic bottles must be obtained at all costs!! "Chief, please calm down! If you buy this much, you won't even be able to carry it all!!" "Then we need to make it so we can carry it!! Call people over right away!!" Zayd's aide looked like he wanted to say something more, but seeing Zayd's eyes that had already gone completely wild, he gave up and left. While waiting for the caravan members to return, Zayd's eyes caught sight of another item that occupied the other half of the display stand. "What's that other thing?" The employee answered. "Energy bars!" The boss said chocolate would be inconvenient in the desert, so he prepared them in the cereal and sweet jelly style! Naturally, it was an explanation that Zayd couldn't understand.