The Stone of Days Chapter 1

I dreamt a dream
I heard a voice.

[The world you are intimate and fond of
Don't expect much
As it'll soon shatter into pieces like gla.s.s]

I woke up
Only to forget

–  Reminiscence

"I can't lower the price for even 1 Rojond?."

Like that, I eject the bargaining tape from the radio with this reply. Recognizing that this fellow is making his first visit to our village, I say this and see a voiceless shocked state. Stupid fellow. Come on! Try and bargain with me. If you try your best, you can at least get a discount of at least 80 Rojond.

"But, I… … ."

No, I was mistaken. Even shaving off 20 Rojonds would be a relief for the fellow. Internally, I tried to a.n.a.lyze this fellow's demeanor and contemplated hard if there was anything else I can sell to this fellow. Since the weather has become colder lately, maybe a leather deer hat or a pair of snowshoes might entice this fellow.

"Isn't it too expensive…? The last village I went to sold this bundle for 3 Jonds.

"That's the market of that village."

I kept my nerves in check as I glanced over to weaponsmith Killen with a nonchalant expression. If it was my mother, she would never be able to hold such a face.

"But, to sell a bundle of herbs for 5 Jonds. That's just robbery!"

It doesn't make sense, right? So what are you going to do? But, it's true that with that money, you could craft a knife with some old, cheap materials. It's no surprise why the lad is so fl.u.s.tered. But, who am I? Anyone that somewhat knows me can pinpoint that I am a talented merchant, the famed "Big Deer's General Store's Fabian" of this area. With a slight grin, I relayed my argument.

"Look here. Where do you think herbs can be harvested around these mountains covered in snow? The yield here isn't even half of what it is in other villages. Not only that, the import rate is extremely high… can't you see that, adventurer? No matter wherever you go, the pa.s.sage fee is expensive. After the snowfall 5 days ago, n.o.body in the village would dare go harvest any herbs. Among those dangerous mountains, it takes a great deal of attention and effort harvesting herbs through the snow. One slip and you can kiss your life goodbye.

Dramatically, I used my thumb to make a slitting action across my throat. It should be about time. The wind should…. Good, it's blowing.
The severe winds from the mountains suddenly crashed again onto the windows, shaking it violently. The traveler, alarmed, looked back.

"But still, to sell it at that price is just……. Can't you consider my circ.u.mstances as well? It's not like I'm a rich adventurer, but just a humble traveler pa.s.sing by. If I had the money, of course I would offer the money in full.

Oh, this man has some skill. But, to make light of this Lieju merchant would only make you suffer even more. This time, I looked up to him with a miserable expression.
At this time, the look of my face, no matter how much I would see and run in the sun, I wasn't the type to tan easily. This came at an advantage. Usually, when these useless b.u.ms attack me, far from help, it'd be a relief if no one would interfere. With this face, in contrast to my neighborhood who had tanned dark faces from the sun, the effect was that much better.
With that, I slowly began my tirade of words.

"As you may well know, in this mountainside village, the products of this general store has such high price volatility. When some goods come in - the prices suddenly become cheap, and when goods are in demand, the goods suddenly rise in price two to threefold. You just came at an unfortunate time. It's not like you can't skip on your necessities. When you're trying to make a living, with such an unstable market, it's hard for us merchants as well…of course, if I could give you a cheap price, how good would it be for both sides. However, having to listen to my frightening mother's scolding, and if worse, I might have to venture out to pry for some herbs. But, if your circ.u.mstances are still poor… I'll prepare or the worst and can offer you them at a price of 4 Jonds 80. Ah, ah, I shouldn't be like this… …"

Dear mother, forgive me.
My somewhat good-natured mother (not below the average mother, not above the extremely kind) forgive your wicked son for selling you out.
After this tirade of speech, the majority of the people won't really listen to the story until the part where I'd offer them a discount. Thus, after such a long-winded speech, most would take the goods at the price I would call at the end.
After a brief moment, the adventurer nodded. I thought the adventurer would pursue further for a discount of 30 Jonds, but it seems that this fellow is a kind person.
But, at this point, if he wanted another discount, then he'd probably had to hear my second tirade.

"So, here are your 5 five bundles of herbs. Please have a pleasant journey. If you have anything you would like to ask, please don't hesitate to ask, and please do look around the shop once more to see if there's anything else you'd need… … ."

What else do you think he bought? Of course our famous local hat made out of deer leather. The price was 8 Jonds.
With a bright smile, I bid him farewell. The man carefully packaged his herbs in his backpack - It must be more precious since it was expensive. With the deer hat over his head, he slightly bowed his head and headed towards the entrance. I quickly walked up and opened the door with the pose of a talented merchant.

Therefore, today I had made a profit. It was a good morning.

"Fabian, Fabian – Come over here!"

"Yes - I'm coming!"

Holding chests stacked as high as my shoulders, I lifted my head out of the storage and replied with a loud voice. Afterwards, I laid the chests down, I focused on slowly reducing and separating the number of herbs from the herb bundles. The reason why my mother called was obvious. It was to make a delivery.

It was no mistake that I was born to be a merchant and vendor, but those deliveries…, I can never quite like them. Ah, let me correct that. I dislike doing deliveries during the summer. Whenever I buy some goods, those people that won't come over and ask for delivery during the spring, summer, and fall are those that I detest the most (Don't even mention it when it's raining!). The winter, though, was okay since I have developed my own method. Of course, it's because I hated delivery so much that I researched and made it in the end.

In order to deliver, you need to be faster than the wind - which is what my mother told me. You need to run, be really strong or be smart when carrying those goods, and be as intelligent as Ezekiel who memorized over a hundred books when remembering the delivery list. As usual, among these three, there isn't a merchant more capable than me.
But before I go, I need to finish this. My mother stacks up too many herbs per bundle. She has that habit of bundling too many.

I am a Rieju merchant.
Ah, okay, this isn't Rieju. This is "Big Deer's Habiyanak," this continent's small village located below the apex of this snowy mountain. But, as a merchant, I proudly say these words like any other merchant.
I am a Rieju merchant.
Of course, I haven't been to Rieju once. But my mother's hometown is from Rieju. Of course, my mother wasn't a merchant in those days. She lived until she was five over there. Then with what evidence can I call myself an honorable Rieju merchant?
That is because of my mothers' parents, who were merchants at Rieju. (Hmm, what type of merchants were they again?)

Riejura is the language that we merchants admire. If you were to question me as a merchant due to working at a small countryside village, then I have nothing. But, if I work hard, one day, won't I be a true merchant? No, no! Not a general store owner! But a great merchant travelling across the continent, spending a large pile of gold coins as expense.
I may currently be "The Big Deer's General Store's" great merchant Fabian… …

"Fabian!! Boy, hurry and come out-!!"

Ugh… For now, I will continue my story as I run. For now, I finished allocating the herbs. Organizing the herbs in the storage, and carefully hiding them under a secret hole underneath the wooden boards, I rolled a stone over it, quickly dusted off my hands, and jumped out through the window.
With over 18 years of experience, I realized that once my mother called, it's best to appear in front of her as quickly as possible. Although at first glance, she might still look like a young virgin…no that's too much, but more of a new bride-to-be mother who does not hint any sort of inferiority. After more than ten years since settling here, her personality changed so much: she probably has leftover energy after physically putting down another merchant. (Nah, maybe her personality hasn't changed and she was originally like that. Don't ask me. I, myself, just told you this based on her claim). But if someone, who meets my mother for the first time, sees her slender figure, and her beautiful face, and tries to seduce her, seeing that foolhardy plan, I just stare at him pitiably with a bored expression.
And, lately, there's a reason why my mother is so hot-tempered these last few years.

Once you see our store sign "Big Deer's General Store," the situation becomes clear. Usually, in such a small village, a grocery store with a store name and sign is a rare sight. Usually just "Grocery Store" is enough, but only we have a name. Why is that?

It's because we have a compet.i.tor – one with an extremely heinous name! It's name is "Deer's General Store."

If anyone hears the name, they'd think that Deer's General Store had opened first. But that's ridiculous.

The reason why we even hung a sign was because that store had opened three years ago. Of course, later, we would hang up our name, but since we didn't have a name, we had no choice but to do so.

Making the billboard itself costed a lot of money. Our carpenter Nasret told us that it was a first building such a thing. The fact that we had a large log in the middle costed us even more.
Sometimes, my mom would produce an elegant smile while she packs the goods for these adventurers, but as expected, there was no compet.i.tion against the ultimate talent of Mr. k.u.mentz  in dealing with customers from the 'Deer's General Store' (Mr. k.u.mentz didn't even see us as a compet.i.tor). As a merchant who has no other place to go, I don't revere my mother as much in that regard.

My mother was waiting for me in front of the storage as I approached from the side. As if the place where I have to go would have a lot of snow, she was holding a pair of snowshoes. With a long dress and her long hair tied up, even a lord's wife wouldn't have the beautiful slender figure that she possessed. But, that's only from the back!
My mother saw me. At the tip of her dress had stains of melted snow, slowly revealing those small patterns. The cold wind caused her cheeks to dye a fl.u.s.tered red. Not only that, it seems she spilt something in front of her dress. Anyways, my mother spoke back.

"It's a delivery."

… … Usually, it would be a small cart full of items tightly wrapped up…It seems today was different.

"Take this book and deliver it to the lord's castle."

"Who specifically do I hand this over to?" I unconsciously spouted out.

"Who? Who do you think it is? Boy, then do you want me to deliver it to the Lord?"

Hmm…That wouldn't be ideal.

"… … I'll deliver it to the gatekeeper and return." I accepted the snowshoes from Mother and the book. It's only one book, so I could just walk to the castle. No, among the Habiyanak, aren't I also the fastest? It's been awhile since I had such a light load. I guess I'll have a nice light jog.

Finding a string, I tied up the shoes and book together, and flung them over my shoulder. Then, I headed towards the door. Mother, noticing what I was about to do, wasn't pleased."

"Hey! You're gonna ride that again? No, it's dangerous. "
"Hehe… Have I ever fell in front of you before?"
"But still, Fabian. With all that icy snow, once you fall, you're going to break a leg, and if you break your neck, you'll pa.s.s away just like that.

"Do you want me to prepare a splint just in case?"

Despite her personality, she couldn't convince me not to ride it. Ever since I was 7, I was like that. Opening the door, I went inside my home.
When a generation descends, it is said that a person becomes wiser, and the world is supposed to become good. The magician Ezekiel called "The eternal redeemer" sealed all of the monsters during his journey 200 years ago when the world was corrupted. Compared to that legendary era, if there is something worth noting, it's that there's nothing interesting to see here, I guess.
Pleased in finding the thing I was going to ride at the corner of the store, after rubbing it close to my face lovingly, I brought it out. Let's go now.

TL Afterword: It's so exciting to start this journey with all of you. I hope you'll appreciate the beautiful world-building elements and uniqueness of this novel as much as I did!

PS: A shoutout to my PRs Sai101 and Kajin!

Translator: Calvis
Proofreader: Sai101