Allen the Reincarnated Merchant: A Plan to Get Rich in Another World

“I’ve heard rumors about the new Kremus-ranked merchant, Hakuba-sama, even reaching my ears. It is truly an honor for me, Deromu, to meet you in person.”

After asking the Adventurers’ Guild at the reception to arrange a meeting with Maxwell, I was guided to a separate room while the guild staff went to contact him. There, I found myself in the company of a man named Deromu, who introduced himself as the superior of the receptionist I’d spoken to earlier.

“Though I carry the Kremus title, I’m merely a traveling merchant, moving from place to place. Unlike others, I don’t own a grand store or anything of the sort.”

“Even without a storefront, your contributions must be significant enough to warrant recognition from the kingdom. There’s no need to downplay your achievements.”

Though my meeting with Deromu was unplanned, it felt like a good opportunity. I had been meaning to establish connections with the guild sooner or later, so I decided to use the time while waiting for Maxwell to foster goodwill with him.

Deromu, clearly a high-ranking guild official, was dressed sharply in something akin to a well-tailored suit. Much like the receptionist earlier, it seemed that appearances mattered a great deal to the Adventurers’ Guild.

“Are you primarily dealing in potions, Hakuba-sama?”

“Yes, I reached out to Maxwell to let him know I’ve prepared some potions for him.”

As they say, “news travels fast.” It was clear Deromu had already heard about me purchasing Eula, and word of “Hakuba Issei, the new Kremus-ranked merchant,” being recognized for his contributions with potions had spread widely.

In truth, the story was less grand: I had begged Sakakibara to arrange for a pseudonym guild card, which somehow escalated to the royal family, leading to my recognition. Regardless, it served my purposes, and I decided to lean into the image of a potion merchant.

“To think you could prepare multiple purple potions—truly befitting of a Kremus merchant.”

While I could have simply sold the potions to Maxwell through the guild, I wanted to conduct this first transaction face-to-face. It was also a chance to make an impression as Hakuba Issei. I presented one of the purple potions I’d brought with me to Deromu for inspection.

“Unlike red potions, purple ones have become increasingly difficult to acquire over the years. While it’s possible to craft them, gathering herbs from dungeons is far more cost-effective.”

In this world, upper-grade potions like red and purple ones are finite resources, akin to oil on Earth. Most upper-grade potions circulating on the market are sourced from dungeons. For purple potions specifically, the necessary herbs only grow in high-risk areas of B-grade or higher dungeons, and even then, harvesting is a slow process.

“Harvesting enough for a single small bottle might take years, and efforts to cultivate these herbs in controlled dungeon environments have been underwhelming so far.”

Even Deromu, as part of the guild, expressed frustration at the scarcity of purple potions.

“It’s not just scarcity. Many adventurers who need these potions the most are newer or mid-level ones, who often lack the funds to afford them.”

Those who lose limbs often return to their hometowns to retire, though not all have that option. Some remain in the capital, scraping by on meager wages. Even if purple potions reach the market, they’re traded at exorbitant prices in the black market, leaving those who need them most unable to access them.

“So, how many of those potions are you planning to sell to Maxwell-sama?”

“Two. I’ll hold onto the rest for the right time.”

I answered honestly, though I didn’t mention my plan to sell the remaining potion on the black market.

As I considered this, Deromu leaned forward slightly and spoke.

“Then, may I propose something? Would you consider selling one of the remaining potions to the guild instead? I understand the allure of the black market, but there are unique advantages to working with the guild that I’d like you to consider.”

“Advantages, you say?”

I had anticipated Deromu might ask to purchase a potion, and I was open to the idea. Selling to the guild meant accepting a price cap of 1 million gold due to kingdom laws, far less than what I could earn on the black market. But gaining favor with the guild could be worth it.

“What sort of advantages are we talking about?”

Deromu, as if rehearsed, began explaining the benefits of selling rare materials to the guild.

“One of the main perks is access to high-quality quests. These quests come from reputable clients, offer better rewards, and are prioritized for adventurers who’ve contributed valuable resources to the guild. Additionally, we share exclusive information from our vast network that could prove useful to you.”

It was clear he was prepared for this conversation, his explanation smooth and confident.

“This is the first I’ve heard of such arrangements.”

“Naturally, these offers aren’t extended for just any rare material. The items must meet certain criteria, particularly regarding the gap between guild-set prices and black market values.”

(I had intended to sell any leftovers to the guild anyway. This might be a decent deal.)

The benefits would only last for a set period—selling one purple potion would grant access to these perks for six months, including guild-held archives and intelligence.

“Very well. If these benefits are as advantageous as you claim, I’d be happy to sell a potion to the guild. I value maintaining a friendly relationship with the guild, after all.”

“Thank you so much!”

Deromu, visibly relieved, bowed deeply in gratitude.

In securing a relationship with the guild, Hakuba Issei took another step toward establishing his reputation and influence.