Chapter 22: A Lesson in Bargaining and the Meaning of Affection

“Burp!” Hilvyn let out a resounding burp towards the sky, utterly satisfied.

Elara’s brow furrowed slightly. “How many times have I told you not to burp without covering your mouth?”

Hilvyn rubbed the back of her neck, chuckling foolishly. “Hehe… I forgot.”

Elara’s expression softened, her tone gentle. “Let’s go.”

“What are we doing this afternoon? Taking a commission?”

Hilvyn walked alongside Elara.

Elara pointed towards the Hero’s Plaza in the city, lifting her chin slightly. “We’re resting this afternoon.”

“Oh, good!” Hilvyn took Elara’s hand. “Let’s go, Master.”

Feeling the warmth of the tight grip in her palm, Elara smiled with contentment.

“Call me Sister.”

“No one else can hear us right now~”

‘Honestly…’

****

Hero’s Plaza.

Aivyn’s statue still stood proudly in the center, a sword held in her left hand, a staff in her right.

Surrounding the base of the statue was a circular flowerbed, bursting with blossoms of every color, and several strands of wind chimes hung before it.

“Master, did she use a sword?”

Hilvyn pointed to the longsword clutched in the statue’s left hand.

“No, she used a staff.” Elara thought for a moment, then added, “Perhaps she used a sword as well.”

“Using a sword is so cool!” Hilvyn’s eyes sparkled as a scene materialized in her mind: herself wielding a sword, fighting alongside Elara against monsters. It was simply too magnificent!

“Oh, Master, do you remember Myra?”

“Which Myra?”

Elara searched her memories for the name but found no recollection.

“Right here,” Hilvyn said, pointing at the plaza ground. “The one who sold delicious ham last time, with the dark skin.”

With that reminder, Elara finally recalled her.

“That peddler.”

Elara estimated that Myra had likely already left Wind Whisper City.

“What about her?”

“I remember her saying that the Demon King’s power rivaled that of the five remaining pureblood dragons. Just how strong are pureblood dragons, then?”

This…

Elara found herself unable to answer. She had only ever heard the legends of pureblood dragons’ birth.

Since the word ‘legend’ was involved, Elara had instinctively assumed these were fabricated tales for children.

Thus, she hadn’t delved deeply into the stories within the legends.

“I only know the story of how pureblood dragons are born,” Elara said, spreading her hands helplessly.

“Pureblood dragons cannot be killed by ordinary people. Each pureblood dragon is born from pure magic, not a creature created by the gods.”

Both of them turned simultaneously.

A dark-haired girl with wheat-colored skin slowly approached.

“Myra, it’s you!” Hilvyn exclaimed in surprise.

“Hello there, two beautiful ladies,” Myra greeted them, then nodded specifically at Hilvyn. “I never imagined my name would be remembered; it’s truly an honor.”

Elara found the woman quite interesting. Although their last encounter had ended rather unpleasantly, Myra still dared to approach today.

‘What audacity.’

“Did you sell all your ham?” Elara asked.

“Merchant’s secret, ahaha.”

Myra chose to remain silent. She certainly didn’t want her words to become testimony for the City Guard.

“If you haven’t sold it all, I’ll buy some.”

“That wouldn’t be right, haha,” Myra said, but then, belatedly, she realized. “What did you say, miss?”

She immediately pulled out her storage pouch and scales.

“Miss, you are exceptionally beautiful today, as if the warm breeze of the great god Hilmerya is kissing me—”

Elara was truly speechless. She had expected Myra to repeatedly confirm whether she was serious about buying—given their previous unpleasantness—but she never imagined such brazenness.

“Since we’re practically old acquaintances, I’ll give you a discount.”

Elara raised an eyebrow. “So, what’s the price?”

Myra held up three fingers.

‘It’s not much more expensive than before?’

“Thirty silver per pound.”

‘As expected, a shrewd merchant at heart.’

“How about we discuss it over there?” Elara gestured vaguely towards the East City Gate—the direction of the City Guard station.

“Oh, come now, miss, I was just joking.”

Myra chuckled awkwardly, not feeling the least bit guilty.

“How about ten silver per pound?”

Hilvyn gasped; the price had dropped by 66%! Her Master was truly a master negotiator.

Elara remained silent, letting Myra figure it out herself.

Myra stopped probing and asked directly, “Why don’t you give me a price?”

“Three silver.”

Hilvyn was stunned!

Upon hearing this, Myra’s face fell. “You’re leaving me no room for profit! I’ve traveled over mountains and rivers to bring it here…”

“Two silver, seven copper. If you don’t sell, I’ll just go to the Golden Road Trading Post. I heard a batch of Crimson Oak Ham arrived yesterday.”

It wasn’t as if she *had* to buy it here; it was simply convenient.

Myra looked pained.

‘Why are you just setting the price for me?! That’s not how bargaining works! You’re supposed to chat with me more, understand the market conditions I mention, haggle a couple of times, and then we settle on a price where you think you’ve won, but I’ve actually won more. We both go home, a win-win situation. Why did you just come straight out and slash the price to nothing?! This isn’t how bargaining works at all! I don’t accept!’

“I think three silver coins is perfectly fine,” she conceded.

Elara inwardly clicked her tongue. When she had quoted three silver, she had already considered the peddler’s hard work. It seemed she was still too kind.

‘Never mind. I’m not short on money right now. This can be a lesson for Hilvyn.’

After paying, she purchased three pounds of ham.

Though it was of ordinary quality, it was genuine Crimson Oak Ham.

Storing the items in her spatial ring, Elara mused, ‘Perhaps someday, I’ll let Hilvyn taste true royal-grade ham.’

“My beautiful lady, thank you for your support.” Myra thanked Elara with sincere solemnity.

Her tone was noticeably more genuine for a customer who had already made a purchase.

“Thank her, if you must,” Elara said, nodding towards Hilvyn.

The two left the plaza.

Myra remained in place, pondering their exchange. But after only a moment, she was already busy searching for her next customer.

“Master, how did you know that price?”

“Because I am knowledgeable and talented,” Elara replied, glancing at her. “What did you learn from this?”

Hilvyn paused to think, then continued walking.

“Was I supposed to learn something?”

“When you don’t know the full picture of a situation, you must always maintain a degree of suspicion, at all times.”

Elara spoke articulately, and Hilvyn listened intently.

“Then what should I do if I don’t know the price of something?”

“Don’t crave it, don’t eat it.”

‘Eradicate potential problems at the root.’

“But Master, that’s too difficult…”

“It’s alright, I’ll help you curb your cravings.”

“Nooo~”

“Hehehehe…”

****

Night fell.

Elara emerged from her bath.

Hilvyn was perched on the windowsill, this time not staring blankly at the wind chimes, but at a pendant in her hand.

“It’s your turn to wash.”

“Master…” she said softly.

“What is it?”

Elara sat on the edge of the bed, using her magic tool, the “Wind Blower,” to dry her long hair.

“Tell me… what does ‘like’ mean?”

Upon hearing this, Elara paused her hand movements, contemplating for a second.

“To want to be with someone every day, that is to like them.”

“Then I want to be with Master every day. I like Master.”

“I like you too.”

Hilvyn bounced from the balcony, moving closer to Elara.

“What about love, then?”