The Safety Guidelines of The Duke’s Haunted Castle Chapter 32

[You have entered a new area for the first time. Exploration reward granted. +300 Diamonds]

[New Area <Belmond Duchy: Luden Trading Company>

A large trading company located in the heart of Monter Village. It once dealt in a wide variety of daily necessities and general goods, but after contact with the outside world was severed, business came to a halt.]

‘At least it didn’t go completely under.’

The inside of the trading company was much darker than it had looked from the outside.

At least, unlike outside, there wasn’t any meat visibly rotting in real time.

It looked like the place hadn’t been used for quite a while, but the interior was still relatively clean. Relieved, I secretly let out a sigh.

“Please, have a seat.”

He led me to a tea table coated in a layer of dust.

Not long afterward, he even served me a steaming cup of hot tea.

“Oh… this tea smells amazing.”

The fragrant aroma helped cover the foul odor outside, and I took a sip.

Watching me quietly, Mr. Scrooge let out a soft chuckle.

“You have a discerning palate. My daughter enjoys tea very much, so I’ve naturally come to pay more attention to it as well.”

“Oh, you have a daughter?”

“…Yes, I do.”

His voice was so gentle when he spoke that I could practically feel how much he loved her.

“She’s probably around your age, miss.”

“I see. Is she out at the moment?”

“No, she’s resting upstairs.”

Figuring the mood had relaxed enough after talking about his daughter, I changed the subject.

“Um… about what you were saying earlier.”

“Oh, my.”

As though he had only just remembered, he lightly struck his fist into his palm. Every movement made the muscles in his arm bulge threateningly.

“Come to think of it, I never finished explaining that. Since you’re curious, I should tell you. Now then… where should I begin?”

After a brief pause, he slowly began.

“At some point, people who traveled to Belmond Manor started saying strange things.”

Some claimed they heard voices whispering into their ears.

Others insisted they had seen things that weren’t there.

At first, the villagers dismissed it as nothing more than imagination.

But as the incidents continued, the trading company’s workers who had gone to make deliveries eventually disappeared altogether.

Even the people sent to search for them vanished without a trace.

“Wait… they disappeared? Didn’t the manor say anything?”

“After our people vanished, there was no longer any way to contact the manor. Nor did anyone ever come out from there.”

The head chef and the steward hadn’t seemed to know anything about this.

Just what happened?

“Anyway, that’s how trade was cut off long ago. So hearing that you’ve come from the manor… is quite astonishing.”

“Ah… well, one thing led to another.”

If I tell him I walked through a forest where people disappear without any problems, that would sound pretty suspicious, wouldn’t it?

As I searched for an excuse, I quickly changed the subject.

“So… does that mean you no longer make deliveries?”

“No. We still do.”

“The only store that supplies goods to the people of this village is our Luden Trading Company.”

“Oh…”

So they didn’t switch businesses—they simply expanded into butchery?

I didn’t let the opportunity slip away.

“Then you’ll resume trading with House Belmond too, right?”

“Hmm.”

Mr. Scrooge tilted his head thoughtfully.

“Perhaps. What goods do you require?”

“One moment.”

I quickly pulled out the memo the steward and the head chef had given me and began reading from the list.

“Salt, sugar, pepper—basically every kind of seasoning.”

“We currently have those in stock.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

Now that’s what I’d expect from a trading company.

Feeling encouraged, I continued listing what we needed.

“We also need various fabrics and repair materials, including sewing machines. If you need a more detailed list, I can write one out.”

“…It’s been a very long time since I’ve received an order for those kinds of goods.”

“A truly, truly long time. It almost feels like another lifetime.”

Huh? What’s with that reaction? Aren’t those standard products for a trading company?

Confused, I asked,

“So it’s not possible?”

“No. It should be possible.”

Either it is or it isn’t. What does ‘should be possible’ even mean?

Seeing the puzzled look on my face, he continued.

“You may have already noticed, but Monter Village is currently completely cut off from the outside world.”

“What? Then… does that mean you can’t obtain supplies?”

“Ah, don’t worry.”

“It’s not a problem.”

“Our Luden Trading Company has a transportation magic circle installed.”

“Oh…”

“Sending purchase orders outside and receiving goods through the magic circle is quite simple.”

Mr. Scrooge sounded oddly proud, as though the complete isolation from the outside world wasn’t a serious issue at all.

The feeling left me strangely uneasy, but completing the quest came first, so I pushed the thought aside.

“But isn’t being completely cut off a rather serious problem?”

“Oh, it’s quite all right.”

“It’s only temporary.”

“What do you mean by temporary?”

“The people of Belmond Duchy believe that His Grace, the great Duke Edwin Belmond, will resolve all of these problems.”

“…Huh?”

Having suddenly said something completely unrelated, Mr. Scrooge stood up without another word.

Then he beckoned me over.

“Please, follow me.”

“Huh? Ah…”

I instinctively followed him and found what looked like a faint magic circle drawn on the floor.

It looks like it hasn’t been used in ages… does this thing even work?

Perhaps noticing my doubtful expression, Mr. Scrooge hurriedly explained.

“You write your order and send it through this circle. After paying the fee, the goods will be delivered later.”

“It may not look like much, but it functions perfectly. I can personally guarantee that.”

The conversation had been moving so quickly that I could barely keep up, so I simply nodded blankly.

He looks more like a bandit—or a butcher—than the owner of a trading company, but he’s surprisingly articulate.

“S-So… I just give you the order list?”

“But if we’re resuming trade… shouldn’t we also discuss the contract and how payment will be handled?”

After all, I had rushed out here relying entirely on House Belmond’s reputation.

I hadn’t even seen what kind of currency people used here.

And according to the village rules I’d read earlier, all transactions within the village were conducted strictly through barter.

…Wait.

I don’t have anything to trade.

At that moment, Mr. Scrooge’s voice grew low.

“The payment…”

An unsettling silence settled over the room.

Then a massive shadow fell over me.

Mr. Scrooge, who had been standing several steps away, had walked right up to me.

“As for the cost of the goods, you may pay after placing the order.”

“But the fee for using the transportation magic circle…”

“How… how much is it?”

“Your legs.”

“…Huh?”

Did I hear that right?

“What did you say?”

“The two legs you’re standing on right now will be sufficient.”

His thick finger pointed directly at both of my legs.