The Man Picked up by the Gods Volume 2 - 4 Part 2

The Man Picked up by the Gods - Volu 2 Chapter 4 Part 2

TL Note:

I’ll just post the parts in parts from now on because it seems people prefer it that way. Also I’m sorry about the extra chapter but I’ll have to delay it to next week. There also won’t be a chapter tomorrow, on saturday, and on sunday. Sorry guys, but my exam this coming weekend is really big, and I really need to cram now.

This little excerpt down here is in fact related to the chapter, just so extra tidbits about what Ryouma is talking about in case you don’t know:

Gyudon is Japanese food. If you’ve never eaten it, you should. It tastes good. Usually it’s beef and rice with egg and sotis veggies too. Mmm... it’s really good.

So are expensive and so are cheap. The stores Ryouma are referring to are the cheaper ones. They go for like 250 yen to sowhere around less than 500 yen. Of course, there are also more expensive versions. Oh, and they also sell other stuff too, of course. Not just Gyudon.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH GYUDON

Edit: (2015/09/03) 4 pieces of silver -> 4 pieces of copper.

Volu 2 Chapter 4 Part 2

“Please excuse my unsightly behavior. Still though, this sli is truly amazing. With this sli, even if Ryouma-sama opens a laundromat, there should be no problem. Ah, with this speed, this price, and this result, Ryouma-sama’s laundromat will surely flourish.”

Ah, he seems to have gone off on a trip by himself...

“Then, how big of a bag would be good? It’s quite embarrassing, but I don’t know much about the market price.”

“Right... I’ll have several sizes brought over then.”

As Serge-san said that, he called a female servant over and had her bring several bags to us.

“As Ryouma-sama can see, I’ve arranged the bags from smallest to biggest, starting from the left to the right. The left most can take in an average man’s portion of clothes.”

“A slightly bigger one would be better I think. Families in general have more laundries, and amongst the bachelors there are many who find laundry to be troubleso and end up stockpiling them.

And also it’s cheaper for 4 and 5 pieces of clothes to go for 1 dium copper coin, than 1 dium copper coin for 1 piece of clothing. Like this, the custors will find this to be to their advantage. There’s also not much of a difference between one piece of clothing and five pieces when it cos to the efforts I have to put in on my side. And moreover I’m not even aiming to gain that much profit as all I’m aiming for is to make enough to get by. Lastly, I believe if I make one batch cheaper, then I’ll be able to make a profit as plenty of people will co and use my services repeatedly.”

In my previous life I was really indebted to these kind of cheap businesses... Even for lunch I’d go buy from those Gyudon chain stores.

The shop I bought from was also pretty much decided. During my previous life, I went there all the ti, and so the people there already thought of as a regular custor. I don’t know how much I’ve paid all in all to the stores around the place I lived in, in my previous life. But I’m not dissatisfied at all, rather I’m really grateful for being supported by them in my previous life. With that in mind, I think it’s important to create repeat custors for one’s business.

As I was thinking that, I noticed that Serge-san’s eyes were actually sparkling as they gazed at .

“Wonderful. Ryouma-sama, to actually look into the future and not be influenced by imdiate profits. Ryouma-sama already seems to possess amazing managerial insight. This Serge is in admiration.”

Most of the people in Japan know that, you know? Even kids could up with this, I’m not amazing at all...

I just spoke a little of sothing from my experiences in my previous life, so being praised over sothing like this makes feel quite uneasy. To the people in Japan that seriously study managent, I’m really sorry.

“Then in that case, how about this bag over here? This bag can take up to 3 to 4 people of a normal family’s 2 day’s portion of clothes.”

“And it seems that for a bachelor, this bag should be able to take even up to 1 weeks’ worth of laundry. Yes, this is quite good, let’s go with this. Also, I’d like to take around 2 or 3 bags that’s double the size of this one, as well as one whose size is five tis this one. Will that be possible?”

“It’s possible, however isn’t it too big?’

“The bag from a while ago will be targeted to individuals. The bag double its size will be for small parties of adventurers. The one five tis the normal bag’s size will be recomnded for smithies with plenty of disciples, construction workers, and other big groups.

If we were to calculate the bag targeted at individuals as a man’s portion for a day, then for a week it’ll be as 7 people’s portion. Doubling that will get us 14 people’s portion, and five tis the first bag will get us a portion for 35.

The bag targeted at individuals will go for 1 dium copper coin or 10 suits. The double-sized will go for 1 dium copper coin and 8 pieces of small copper coin for 18 suits. The bag five tis the size of the first bag will go for 4 pieces of dium copper coins for 40 suits.

Since there’s a discount based on usage, I believe the number of people that will think of using the service will increase. In the instance where they don’t’ have enough people, then they’ll talk to other people about the laundromat in order to gather people. In the end, talk of the laundromat will spread and everyone will know about my laundromat.

And because there will be more people who will use the service, there will be more clothes to wash. A bag that would normally go for 14 portions if an individual were to fill it up, could then be filled up by 14 people for a day. Like this, the custors will use the laundromat almost every day, and I’ll also get a dium silver coin and 8 small copper coins almost every day as well.

Like this there will be inco on a daily basis. Also because the amount paid per person is cheaper, it is clearly an advantage for the custors. And so like this it can beco advantageous for both and the custor.

Moreover because jobs like smithing and construction are occupations where one can get dirty easily, I expect a large number of custors from those occupations to use my services should they co. In that instance, there is the possibility that the custors who co to know the effectivity of my laundromat with their worker clothes may co to use my services personally. There is also the possibility that their coworkers co to have their clothes washed as well.

After all, construction work and the smithy are jobs that are generally taken care of by the n. So, there are people who are bad at laundry or find doing laundry to be troubleso and neglect their laundry, right? If I am able to make one big contract for that workplace, then it should be possible to acquire those kind of custors as well.

Fu...ah! Ah~...I screwed up, Serge-san has stiffened up... and his eyes are even wide open...Since a long ti ago, I’ve always had this bad habit of talking one-sidedly... I’ve screwed up so much before because of this... I guess it’s because I had a business-like talk after a long ti that I ended up slipping again.

“Sorry, from ti to ti I have this bad habit of going on and on by myself. Please excuse my rude behavior.”

“No, no, no! There’s nothing to apologize for! I’m just a little surprised. Ryouma-sama should only be 11 years old. To be able to calculate at that age, and on top of that ntal math is certainly sothing to be praised. But more than that, the business policies that Ryouma-sama had talked about just now are things that I have never heard of. However, it should definitely be a very effective thod. Today, I feel as if the scales have fallen from my eyes.”

That’s it!? That’s where you’re shocked!? Oh wait, now that he ntions it I am supposed to be an 11 year old kid! Calculations are... umm, whatever. But it would appear that he’s quite shocked even though all I did was spout a bunch of simple managent strategies, huh? Rather than say I thought it up though, all I really did was line up the present ti business strategies...Wait a mont, do they not have discounts around here? Did I really say sothing that shocking?

“Umm, aren’t there discounts around here?”

“There are discounts, but the kind of discount that Ryouma-sama had ntioned has not been thought up until just now. Discounts are sothing a rchant will normally do to gain favor even at the cost of suffering so loss for the sake of future transactions. There are also cases where discounts are given in order to quickly sell sothing.

Well those two are the basic reasons, as for others, there are also cases where discounts are given to make the custor leave quickly. And then there are also rchants that start off at an exorbitant price to custors that don’t know the market price, and then they pretend to sell it at a far lower price when in fact it is still higher than the market price. But that’s about it. As for shops that have a regular discount, I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

Well, he looks like he’s being serious.

“Since it has beco like this, I highly recomnd that Ryouma-sama register to the rchant guild.”

“rchant guild?”

“Yes. Because there is also a branch of the rchant guild in this town, it is possible to register right away. The rchant guild is unique to each country, as it is necessary for all businesses to go through it before being granted permission. This includes even peddling, stalls, and carts.”

Eh!? Then...

“Then does that an what I tried to do just now was illegal?”

“No, on the outward the guild may be operating the businesses of many countries, but it’s not like they’re really in charge of everything. For one, the villages in the borders trading their own commodities as they please, and adventurers stopping by in the middle of their adventure to sell the herbs they’ve gathered to a pharmacy isn’t forbidden.

In the sa way, children or adventurers having a sideline, doing so sort of odd job, and receiving compensation isn’t a problem. In those instances, the money being exchanged isn’t that big, and is also not illegal, and as long as both participants show consent then it isn’t a problem.

However, from what Ryouma-sama has spoken about today, the money Ryouma-sama will be stumbling into is not sothing that can be called small. In this situation, the guild will definitely intervene and it will beco a problem.”

“I see, that was close... thank you very much Serge-san.”

“Not at all, I have also made light of Ryouma-sama. I thought Ryouma-sama was just going to take a side job, and make so small change. But I had never imagined that Ryouma-sama would actually co up with such deep managent policies. Because of that I didn’t talk about registering at the guild.”

I didn’t think about it that much at all actually...

“Then in order to start up my laundromat, I will have to register at the guild, right? However I am already affiliated with the adventurer’s guild and the tar’s guild, will there be any problems?”

“Please rest assured as I will be recomnding Ryouma-sama. Therefore there won’t be any problems, and Ryouma-sama will be able to register. Also there aren’t any exams in particular. And as for being a mber of more than one guild, rather than that being seen as an impedint, because it will allow one to get information easier, it is actually seen as sothing that is very much welco. If it’s alright with Ryouma-sama we can register at the guild tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? I still have a job to do as an adventurer tomorrow, so by the ti I co back it will be around the sa ti as today.”

“That won’t be a problem. The rchant guild has several staff mbers, and so it is possible to process the papers at any given ti. After all to a rchant, information is life. And so it is of utmost important to get any information before it becos old.”

You an even though it’s a different world they have 24 hour service?

“Then in that case, if it’s alright with Serge-san, then...”

“Of course!”

Woah!?

“The laundromat that Ryouma-sama has co up with, is truly a wonderful thing! This business idea will be able to reap huge profits that not even rchants have seen. It will definitely create a huge sensation on how businesses have been tackled until now! I, Serge Morgan, am fascinated. Please allow to be of help!”

Sohow he’s started to really exaggerate this! To think it would actually beco sothing so important... will this really turn out to be just so extra change?

“Th, thank you very much. Your words are very reassuring.”

“Such words are wasted on . Since it’s already beco like this, we also have to think about the land Ryouma-sama is going to be opening the store on.”

Store!? Hey, I wasn’t planning on doing sothing that big!

“Fumu... from Ryouma-sama’s face, I suppose Ryouma-sama wasn’t intending on making this that big?”

“Yes. I thought I would only be making enough to get by at most. So I thought that it would have been fine if I just took a corner of the town sowhere like a stall and then go around the neighborhood by myself. After all if it were to beco a store then it wouldn’t be a side job anymore,”

“I see. However in terms of managent, Ryouma-sama can rest assured as I am able to lend so of my people.”

No, that’s no good, right? Sothing like leaving it to others...

“No even if it’s a store, leaving everything to others is...”

As I said that, Serge-san made a wry smile.

“Fumu... I feel like I’ve sowhat understood at least a little of what the duke was saying. Ryouma-sama, there’s really nothing strange about leaving the managent to other people.”

Eh?

“Of course at the start, it’s normal for soone to manage his store by himself. However once the store branches increase and becos sothing on the level of my stores, then at that point it becos impossible to manage everything by one’s self. In this instance it’s a good choice to pick trustworthy subordinates, raise them, and leave the managent of the stores to them. Does Ryouma-sama find doing things in this way to be strange?”

Well... true. Now that he ntions it, it was quite common for the chain stores in Japan to have an employee manage it and not the owner...

“Certainly, it’s not sothing strange.”

“Right. Moreover there are people in the world that can and cannot do managent. For people that can’t, instead of forcing it, those people generally hire soone else that can do managent.”

“I can also understand that.”

“It would seem that Ryouma-sama can’t make a decision as of the present ti. In my opinion Ryouma-sama has the talent for managent. After all, there is the idea, the way to make it a reality, and amazing managent strategies that will surely change the landscape of how businesses work. However I do not believe Ryouma-sama is very talented at the psychological war in discussions. Because, everything Ryouma-sama’s face is like an open book. Everything shows.”

You’d say sothing like that so bluntly!?

“For soone of Ryouma-sama’s age it may be sothing concealable, but that level won’t work against a sly old fox of a rchant such as myself.”

“I see...”

I had so confidence in my poker face in previous life, but was that just my imagination?

“Also, I am not lending Ryouma-sama my people completely out of virtue. When Rheinhart-sama had introduced Ryouma-sama to , he told to give Ryouma-sama advice. Aside from that we also talked about our thoughts on Ryouma-sama’s future prospects.”

“Future prospects?”

“Yes. To have co up with the waterproof cloth and the thread, as well as that iron ingot at that age. Even without Rheinhart-sama’s introduction, Ryouma-sama is definitely soone to watch out for. On top of that, because of the conversation today, the earnings from today onwards is sothing that can be looked forward to. This isn’t sothing that a rchant such as myself can ignore. Being able to sell the bags whole sale to Ryouma’s store is also good, so I would love to have a share in this. With all that in mind let us open the capital for investnts.”

... Going this far, is that really ok? But you know...

“If you invest money into this and it fails, then what?”

“One who is afraid of failure would not be able to make a store big. A rchant that owns a store this size can more or less carry the risks.

Moreover, nothing cos to mind when it cos to factors that will cause Ryouma-sama’s business to fail. But in the case that it does fail, it will be enough for Ryouma-sama to create iron ingots and waterproof clothes to compensate the loss. The chance for success is high, and there’s even a way to get back my losses. With this kind of conditions, if I didn’t pitch in then I wouldn’t be called a rchant anymore.”

True, if I just made so ingots I would make money...

“I understand. Let’s work together.”

“Has Ryouma-sama started to feel like doing it?”

“Yes. But please excuse from the financial investnts. In the past I had subjugated so bandits, and because of that I have received quite a bit of compensation.”

“Is that so? Then, how about the workers.”

“Yes, please take care of that. Also, please let buy the miscellaneous goods including the bag that will be used in the store, here. As for the talk regarding the ingot, let’s do that at a different ti. To begin with, because the managent of the mine had been left to , I had already been planning on making so.”

“Thank you very much. From now on it appears that we can look forward to a good working relationship.”

With this we were able to conclude our discussion. After that I bought the bag from Serge-san, who was quite in a good mood, and then left the store.

I walked back ho on the road that had already beco dark. When I finally got to the lodging, Elia was there waiting for . She was not happy, no. She was clearly pissed off and was releasing a horrifying aura to go with it.

“Elia...?”

“Ryouma-san, what were you doing up till now? I was worried, you know?”

As Elia put away her anger, she burst crying. Looks like she was really worried. Even though it was against a bunch of small fries, I still did take a request to subjugate monsters... my bad. Because of that I quietly received Elia’s scolding. After that, she got tired of crying and being angry, and then just said that she’s going to bed already. I was taken along by the maid as I sent Elia off.

“Excuse . My apologies for having caused you to worry.” –Ryouma

“It’s fine, since from the looks of things it would appear that you’ve already been scolded plenty by Elia.” – Madam

“It’s true though that you made us worry.” – Rheinhart

“Be careful next ti, ok?” – Rheinbach

“Yes, I’ve taken it to heart.” – Ryouma

“And? Where did Ryouma-kun run off to, to be ho this late?” – Madam

“The carriage had an accident and was broken. Because of that, I walked from sowhere near the northern gate, and as I passed by Serge-san’s store, I decided to stop by. Thanks to the magic recovery potion that Serge-san gave , we were able to keep healing the injured. So I went over to thank him for that. Along with that, I thought of buying so things, but before I knew it, it turned into a long discussion.” - Ryouma

“You were over at Serge-san’s? What did you talk about?” – Rheinhart

“We talked about the ways on how to make money for to be able to support myself, as well as the use of cleaner slis in my laundromat. Ah! By the way, I’ll be coming ho a little late tomorrow. I know I was scolded just now, but...” – Ryouma

“It’s fine as long as you let us know, Ryouma-kun. Anyway, what’s going on tomorrow?” – Madam

“I’m going with Serge-san to the rchant guild to register. While we were discussing my plans, for so reason it ended up becoming sothing big.” - Ryouma

“What? Weren’t you just planning on making enough for your living expenses by doing chores?” – Rheinhart

“That’s also what I’d thought of at the start. But as I was talking with Serge-san, before I knew it, we ended up talking about setting up a store.”

“A store? Your discussion actually progressed to that point?” – Rheinbach

“Serge-san’s reason was apparently because he can see a prosperous future. And so it seems that the personnel who will be taking care of the store will be coming from Serge-san’s store.” – Ryouma

“Serge-san actually said that much, huh? So, when is the opening?”

Eh!? He actually went to ask about the opening naturally. And here I thought he was going to be surprised.

“There’s still a lot of things regarding the store that we haven’t discussed, so it’s still undecided. That aside, aren’t you guys surprised? For an 11 year old kid like to actually say that he’s opening a store...” – Ryouma

“Well it’s because owning a store doesn’t have an age restriction. There are kids like Ryouma that have a stall and then there are also kids that tend the store.” – Rheinhart

“But of course there aren’t any 11 year old kids that have a store, but... well, since it’s you.” – Rheinbach

“Ryouma-kun is different from a normal kid after all, so I just ended up thinking, can he do it? But Ryouma-kun does possess various knowledge, and has even managed to get Serge’s stamp of approval, so it’s probably fine. But if anything happens you must rely on us, ok? You better not forget to contact us regularly as well, understand?” - Madam

Is it ok with that?

“I understand.”

Well after that I was able to sohow hazily go back to my room. There I had the slis who haven’t split yet, split. Afterwards I contracted with them.

The current number of slis are as follows:

Sticky Sli x 907

Poison Sli x 666

Acid Sli x 666

Cleaner Sli x 22

Scavenger Sli x 3033

Heal Sli x 2

tal Sli x 1

Sli x 1

The sticky sli went over 900, in a little while it should go over 1000 too.

The poison sli and the acid sli are like a pair of double dices and even have the sa number. That 666 is quite ominous though...

As for my cleaner slis, I’m happy that they doubled in number.

I wonder if it’s because of the battle with the goblins. The slis have gotten quite strong. The big sli and the huge sli acquiring the physical resistance is quite good. But I didn’t’ think at all that the slis were actually capable of learning rod techniques, spear techniques, and even taijutsu.

I taught them a bunch of stuff, but I didn’t think that the slis would actually be able to learn these kind of skills. I guess I’ll teach them all sorts of stuff from now on.