Chapter 1 - Where am I? (part4)
The parrot folk who went ahead to the gate returned with two soldiers in tow.
Maybe they’re going to inspect the carriage. He said about entry tax before, so I guess the cargo is going to be taxed as well. In that case, there will be a higher tax on the more valuable items, such as gold and silver
“Norbert-san, may I ask you something?” (Yashiro)
“Yes?” (Norbert)
“What are the contents of this baggage?” (Yashiro)
“Salt, armors, furs, fruits, and…. the star of the show is pepper.” (Norbert)
“Pepper, is it?” (Yashiro)
“Yeah, this is the finest product of Baoclaire. Oh, do you know Baoclaire?” (Norbert)
“Yes, the famous spices-producing territory.” (Yashiro)
“So you’re familiar with that place….
In that case, maybe he’s a southern nobleman.” (Norbert)
Norbert was mumbling about something, but I pretended to not hear him.
No, I mean, anyone could draw such a conclusion from what you have just said. You are really a simpleton.
I saw the soldiers leaving after inspecting the carriage, and then spoke to Norbert again.
"Speaking of pepper, it's very expensive spice, isn't it? Especially when it comes to the finest product of Baoclaire." (Yashiro)
"It's exactly as you said!" (Norbert)
Norbert's nostrils flared as he laughed vulgarly. He then took out a palm-sized cloth bag from the wooden box hidden carefully behind his back and started boasting.
The content of that pouch must be pepper. Judging by its appearance, it should weigh around 200 grams.
"The spices from Baoclaire are of excellent quality and are highly regarded as high-class product. However, this year's harvest is exceptionally the best. It's said that pepper has the same value as gold of the same weight, but this one is nothing like that. I would say it's worth at least twice as much as gold of the same weight!" (Norbert)
That's indeed a high-class product.
Let's do some quick math. Last time I saw it, the market price of gold in Japan was 5.300 yen per gram. If we round it down to 5.000 yen.... and then multiply it by 200 grams.... 1.000.000 yen...!?
No, hold on, he said that it was worth at least twice as much as gold of the same weight. Does this mean that small pouch contains 2.000.000 yen at least?
“So the price of the pepper in that pouch is around 200,000 Rb.... correct?” (Yashiro)
"No, no, no, it's still cheap even if I sell it for 500.000 Rb." (Norbert)
5.000.000 yen, huh.
I want it....
Yeah, let's do it!
"Umm, excuse me, can I go to the bathroom for a bit?" (Yashiro)
"Bathroom? But there isn't one around here." (Norbert)
"In that case, I'll finish my business in the shade nearby." (Yashiro)
"Okay, be careful.... Should I follow you?" (Norbert)
"I'll be fine. I'm not a child, after all. Oh, by the way, could you please keep an eye on this for me? It's very important, so it would be terrible if I drop it." (Yashiro)
Having said that, I placed a cheap wallet I had in my pocket in front of Norbert.
I know what is inside his head right now. He's worried that I, who owe him a big favor, would just disappear without returning it. This is why I leave my ‘important’ thing here to reassure him that I will come back. Furthermore, having him keep my wallet will have a meaning later.
"I understand.... Well, sometimes it just won't come out when you have company waiting behind. But make it quick, okay? It's almost our turn to enter the city." (Norbert)
"Yes, I'll be right back!" (Yashiro)
Speak in a clear and friendly manner, that’s the ironclad rule for scams.
I got off the carriage, weaved my way between the other carriages, and approached the gate. I saw the figure of the parrot folk who seemed to be in the middle of filling some kind of document. I immediately ran up to him.
"Oh, what's the matter?"
I approached the parrot folk with a smile and peered at the form he was filling out.
"No, I was just wondering what the immigration procedures are like." (Yashiro)
I nodded rather exaggeratedly as I looked over the documents.
They are really converted into Japanese. The tax for each item is written and calculated in detail.
"Hey, you are in the way!"
The soldier, perhaps annoyed by my exaggerated conducts, shoved me out of the way. Using this chance, I pretended to lose my balance and fell on my butt.
"Ouch!! You don't have to be so rough...." (Yashiro)
Then as I stood up while rubbing my neck, I dropped the 500 yen coin I had hidden in my collar. The coin bounced off the cobblestones with a satisfying metallic clang.
"Oh, shit!" (Yashiro)
While pretending to be in panic, I picked up the coin and put it in my pocket in hurry. Seeing these series of actions, the soldier raised his eyebrows in suspicion.
"Hey, what was that just now?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" (Yashiro)
"The thing you just hid in your pocket! Show it to me!"
"Oh, I'm sorry. If I don't return soon, Norbert-san will get worried. Good bye!"
Having said that, I left the place in a mad dash..
"Hey, wait!"
I ignored the soldier's voice and kept running towards the carriage. Behind me, the parrot folk had been detained by the soldier in my place.
Even in another world, counterfeiting money is a serious crime, after all.
I saw the money that the parrot folk used to pay the entrance tax before. They were just poor quality silver coins. I don't know if they were made of pure silver, but the color was dull and the pattern was simple. They looked nothing like my 500 yen coin.
I dropped such an obviously different quality coin, and on top of that, my behavior was suspicious. It was only natural that I would be suspected of committing some kind of misdeed. Thus, the poor parrot folk who knew me was detained by the soldier.
I returned to the carriage and told Norbert that the parrot folk had been detained by the soldier. When I added 'There's a suspicion of (me) possessing counterfeit money.', Norbert immediately became furious.
"It's outrageous to make such an accusation against me! An insult to me is an insult to the Wishart Family! I will not overlook it!" (Norbert)
Good, he took the bait.
"Norbert-san, I think you should go there to protest at once."
"That's right! But, we can't leave the carriage like this...." (Norbert)
"Don't worry! I will keep an eye on it!" (Yashiro)
"I see.... Let's do that. I'll go and settle things with the soldiers!" (Norbert)
Norbert jumped out of the carriage and ran towards the gate. All that was left in the carriage was me, the baggage, and five-million-yen worth of pepper.
Hehehe.... I'd like to just run away, but it seems this is the only city where I can communicate with others without any problem, and I definitely don't want to go back to the plains again. Maybe I should put in a bit more effort here....
I couldn't stop my face from smiling as I held the bag of pepper in my hand.
Five million ~ Five million ~ la la la....
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A few minutes later, Norbert and the parrot folk returned to the carriage accompanied by some soldiers.
"Good, you are still here! Had you disappeared, I would have turned you into a frog!" (Norbert)
A frog? What is he talking about?
Norbert seems to be extremely agitated. Or rather, he's openly directing his hostility at me.
"Do you have any explanation?" (Norbert)
"Explanation? What do you mean?" (Yashiro)
"Don't play dumb! I know this is all your fault!" (Norbert)
"My fault?" (Yashiro)
"You bastard!" (Norbert)
Norbert grabbed my collar in anger. I didn't resist and just smiled at him.
"I really don't understand what you're talking about." (Yashiro)
"You must be hiding counterfeit coins! I was also suspected because of that!" (Norbert)
"I don't have any counterfeit coins." (Yashiro)
"Don't lie to me! I'll turn you into a frog!" (Norbert)
Again, with the frog. Is that a popular proverb or something? Well, for now....
"Do you have any proof?" (Yashiro)
"Proof?" (Norbert)
Norbert's slowly released his grip when I said that. I smiled as I fixed my collar to provoke him.
"That's right. Show me the proof that I'm in possession of counterfeit coins." (Yashiro)
"Hmmp, I have it here!" (Norbert)
As if he had been waiting for this, Norbert took out the wallet I had left him and smiled triumphantly.
"This is yours, right?" (Norbert)
Then, with a confidence, Norbert spilled the contents of my wallet on his palm. There was one 1.000 Yen note, one 10.000 Yen note, and some small change --- a total of 11.286 Yen.
I was a working adult until recently, so I couldn't help but asking myself; ‘Is the content of high school students’ wallet only this much?’.
"Look! These are coins I've never seen before! I'm a merchant and I can say with certainty that these coins are not in circulation anywhere!" (Norbert)
"Are you absolutely certain?" (Yashiro)
"Hmph, don't underestimate me! I'm a merchant! I know coins from all over the world and have handled them!" (Norbert)
"Then let's make a bet." (Yashiro)
"A bet?" (Norbert)
"That's right, if these coins are in circulation somewhere, you have to pay my entrance tax." (Yashiro)
"If they're not in circulation, then what?" (Norbert)
"You can turn me into a frog or whatever." (Yashiro)
"Don't forget those words, okay?" (Norber)
"You, too." (Yashiro)
Norbert smiled with absolute confidence. However, the winner had already been decided even before the battle started. Just like when I checked the exchange rates before, the same result was shown to Norbert.
【1 Yen = 10 Rb】
"Impossible...." (Norbert)
Norbert's mouth dropped open.
Well, it can't be helped if he had not seen Japanese Yen. It's a currency from another world, after all. In any case, I can enter the city with this. Thanks for the treat!
"You bastard, if that was not a counterfeit coin, why did you do something so misleading!?" (Norbert)
"Even if you say misleading, I was simply picked the money I dropped in hurry. Money is important, after all. Was there something wrong with what I did?" (Yashiro)
"Ugh...." (Yashiro)
"You are the one who jumped to a wrong conclusion. It's not my fault, is it?" (Yashiro)
"Guh...." (Norbert)
I decided to wrap it up quickly since Norbert had no more arguments.
"Well, let's part here. Thanks for the ride.... and the entrance tax." (Yashiro)
I waved my hand as I walked away from the carriage. But suddenly, an angry voice comes from behind me.
"Stop, you bastard!" (Norbert)
Norbert walked towards me with such force that he seemed to create cracks in the cobblestones road every time he took a step. I didn't want him to grab my collar in this situation, so I decided to face him from a moderate distance this time. I kept dodging Norbert's approaching arms until he finally gave up to catch me.
"Where is my pepper?" (Norbert)
"Pepper? Oh, it was stolen by a bad guy." (Yashiro)
"Huh!?" (Norbert)
Norbert put on a stupid expression because he couldn't believe what he had just heard. But then, as if remembering his anger, Norbert's face turned bright red.
"You promised to protect it!" (Norbert)
"I have never made such a promise." (Yashiro)
"Are you lying to me!?" (Norbert)
"I'm not lying. I've never made such a promise, after all." (Yashiro)
Hearing that, Norbert's body began to tremble in anger.
"You are making fool of me.... I'm going to turn you into a frog!" (Norbert)
After shouting that, Norbert pointed his finger at me and raised his voice louder than ever.
"Judgement of the Spirits!" (Norbert)
His voice echoed through the sky, and then a pale light enveloped my body.
W-What’s going on? Judgement of the Spirit?
"This man lied! Turn me into a frog!" (Norbert)
"Wait, I didn't lie!" (Yashiro)
"Then I will request to see the conversation record from that time!" (Norbert)
After Norbert said that, a translucent panel appeared in front of me.
【It's outrageous to make such an accusation against me! An insult to me is an insult to the Wishart Family! I will not overlook it!】
【Norbert-san, I think you should go there to protest at once.】
【That's right! But, we can't leave the carriage like this....】
【Don't worry! I will keep an eye on it!】
【I see.... Let's do that. I'll go and settle things with the soldiers!】
What the hell is this!?
The conversation from that time has been preserved in detailed writing and with unparalleled accuracy. Furthermore, it can be referenced so easily....
No one told me about this!
Then, it's impossible to lie in this city, isn't it?
"Hahaha! How is that? Take a good look!" (Norbert)
Norbert pointed his finger triumphantly at the translucent panel. To be precise, the part that said 'I will keep an eye on it.'.
"You clearly promised me that you would protect my belongings!" (Norbert)
"Huh? Protect....?" (Yashiro)
My heart was still pounding, but I roughly understood what Norbert was doing and what he was trying to say.
I can't back down now.
I can't show any weakness.
I can't let him take initiative.
I have to push back, argue back, and hit him back.
I need to stay calm.
I need to maintain my poker face.
I'm a first-rate con artist, after all.
"I wonder if there's something wrong with my eyes. I can't seem to find anything about 'protecting' anywhere...." (Yashiro)
"What!? Are you stupid? Here, 'I will keep an eye on it.' means 'You will protect my baggage so it doesn't get stolen.'" (Norbert)
"Huh? I have never had such intentions." (Yashiro)
"What...!?" (Norbert)
"'Keep an eye.' means 'Keep an eye.'. Nothing more, nothing less. Did you jump to a wrong conclusion again?" (Yashiro)
"N-No way...." (Norbert)
Norbert wobbled on his feet like a newborn fawn.
"T-Then, what were you doing when I was gone?" (Norbert)
"It's exactly as I declared here, I kept an eye on it." (Yashiro)
"If you kept your eye on it, why was it stolen?" (Norbert)
"Because I just kept an eye on it." (Yashiro)
"Huh?" (Norbert)
"I kept an eye on it until the bad guy put it inside his pocket." (Yashiro)
The expression on Norbert's face vanished. Not long after that, the faint light that had been enveloping my body vanished as well.
It seems that this "Judgment of the Spirits" thing has ended.
Does this mean I’ve won this case?
"Well then, I will be going now. If you still have complaints, go and tell it to the Spirit God who took my side." (Yashiro)
I raised one hand and walked away from the carriage. No one stopped me this time.
That scared the shit out of me....
What the hell was that?
What the hell is Judgement of the Spirits?
Would I really turn into a frog if I was proven to be lying? That's not funny!
Also, that conversation record, how does that even work?
You should have told me about such a thing in advance!
I almost be turned into a frog!
Con artists who lies thoughtlessly are third-rate.
The real deal doesn't lie thoughtlessly.
They choose words that are not lies, but are not true either.
The earlier 'keep an eye on it' is a good example. It was the other party who interpreted 'to keep an eye on it' as 'to protect it', so he couldn’t blame me.
One more thing, I said 'it was stolen by a bad guy'.
Bad people who steal will quickly leave the scene once the job is done --- it was this assumption that tripped him up.
I took out a bag of the finest pepper from my pocket.
I wasn't lying. It's just that the bad guy who stole it was standing right in front of his eyes the whole time.
Well, if I had to argue who is to blame, I would answer without hesitation, those who got fooled are at fault.
Thus, I set foot into a city blessed with strange and troublesome magic by some incomprehensible being called the Spirit God. Olbrum, the people of this world called it 'the city where you can't tell lies'.