“You’ll be heading to Range village the day after tomorrow, yes? Then you should practice so that you can activate it quickly before you leave.”
“Yes. I’m still not used to the sensation of magic energy, so it takes a while.”
It would be fine when I had plenty of time, but at this speed, I would not be able to activate it if I was trying to run away.
And so I asked Sebastian for advice and continued to activate the magic until dinner time.
As I was so happy about being able to use magic, I didn’t feel tired at all.
“Mr. Takumi, dinner is ready. Please come to the dining hall. And you too, Lady Tilura…”
“I understand.”
“Okay!”
After practicing magic for quite a while, Ms. Lyra came to call us to eat.
Tilura had been watching me from close by, and she answered cheerfully while accepting a towel from Ms. Lyra.
“Mr. Takumi.”
“What is it, Sebastian?”
Leo, Sherry and Tilura headed towards the dining hall, and I was about to follow after them when Sebastian stopped me.
What else was there?
“It’s not related to magic, but the selling of herbs in Ractos.”
“Did something happen?”
“Currently, Mr. Kalis says that sales are going smoothly. They have been received quite well. So people who have the money won’t have much trouble acquiring medicine.”
“Have the money…you say?”
There was something in those words that made me pause and think.
The difference in wealth, which was something that also existed in Japan.
Obviously, this meant that the rich could easily buy medicine when they became ill…but the poor were already struggling just to live. So they may not be able to afford it even if it’s in stock.
“There are poor people in Ractos as well. I’m sure Nick was one of them… In any case, I think it’s very likely that they would not be able to buy the medicine even if they wanted to.”
“I see…”
“And in the worst case scenario, they might be moved to buy the ineffective medicine at that other store.”
“Because it is much cheaper?”
“Indeed. Not everyone can tell whether they are being sold something good. Imagine, a medicine that you somehow managed to buy with what little money you have…and it has no effect, and you remain ill.”
“That’s horrible…”
They could afford it, but it had no effect.
And those who were ill would not be able to work, and so they would be desperate for medicine.
That would force them to go to that store.
Such was the environment that was being made.
“Currently, it has not gone that far yet. However, we should act before it happens.”
“I see… You’re right. Because once it happens, it will be difficult to put a stop to it.”
They would start falling into debt that they could not get out of… That happened a lot in Japan.
“About your medicine that is sold in Mr. Kalis’s store… I think we should lower the price of just the Ramogi… So even a child can buy it.”
“I think that’s a good idea. …But, how would that affect the market?”
“…Indeed… We will have to give some explanation to the other merchants… I think some confusion will still be unavoidable.”
There were some businesses that were only profitable because they sold Ramogi at the proper price.
And if the landlord’s store started selling them at cheap prices, small stores may not be able to stay in business.
While Sebastian had made the decision, he also seemed conflicted, judging by the expression on his face.
“But it’s just the Ramogi… Also, only until the disease stops spreading… This way, the effect won’t be too big.”
“Well, it will still have some effect. But as long as it’s for a short period, I think it would be good for the people.”
“And we’ll also have to offer an explanation to customers who have been buying it up until now.”
Well, if there was a price cut the day after you bought it, then you might feel like you were cheated.
“As you are making the herbs, Mr. Takumi, I thought we better get your permission first…”
“I see.”
Now that I thought about it, the price of the herbs being sold had been in the contract.
If they wanted to greatly increase or reduce the price, then they would need to consult me first.
“I don’t mind. Since there is a good reason for it. I do want the poor to be able to buy the herbs as well.”
“Thank you. I’ll have Mr. Kalis lower the prices tomorrow then. …Also, there is one other reason for this.”
“Another reason?”
It seemed a little cowardly for him to bring this up after I gave my permission, but perhaps I shouldn’t care, as I wasn’t losing anything from it.
But what was Sebastian talking about?
“It’s about that other store. Once even the poor are able to buy Ramogi, then their sales will drop.”
“I’m sure it will.”
It was only because the disease was spreading that the malicious store was having any success.
“If we sell the Ramogi at lower prices, and stop the spread of the disease, then fewer people will buy from them. …And then, I suspect they will be forced into action.”
“So…you want to smoke them out?”
Well, even though they were committing a crime, it was good that we were going against them with proper methods.
It might sound aggressive, but if we could push that store into self-destruction, so much the better.
Sebastian was not someone you wanted as an enemy… The thought occurred to me. Thankfully, I had no intention of doing that.
Besides, I felt very comforted knowing that he was on our side.
And now, I would do what I could to cooperate.
Surely there was something I could do to fight against this store.