Took quite a while to finish my preparations.
It had to be the right mix of not drawing too much attention and providing enough security.
The best solution was the simplest.
I hired adventurers as hidden guards to protect them should something happen.
I'm still anxious, but this much should suffice.
Now I just have to fetch those girls.
"Hey, you two! Are you there?" (O)
Before I can say much else the door is open and the two of them stand in front of me in greatest anticipation.
It's kinda uncanny.
As if they were waiting there all this time to sprint off the moment they get called.
"Okay... I've arranged something. Today you can follow me the whole day. The import ban for the ore delivery I received from your people is going to be lifted. So I have to get some deals done." (O)
Uh, I feel some kind of elation from their side, even if it's not too visible.
This pheromone sense is still hard to get used to.
Even more so now, since I'm back in my familiar environment.
Anyway, I need to get these girls ready.
"Before I'm going to take you anywhere we have to agree on some rules. First, you don't run off. If you leave my side I can't make sure that you are safe as your broodmother wants me to, and you don't want to go against her wishes, right?" (O)
Even without that sense, I could interpret this reaction.
It's almost scary how emotionally attached they are.
It might be better that it's Erys who has this kind of power over them and not someone more ruthless.
"Second, you don't interact with people unless asked to. The less of a reaction you cause the better. And third, you're going to wear this." (O)
I procure two sets of common clerk uniforms in beige as well as two, for them, oversized cloaks.
Those should cover enough that I might avoid attacks from lunatics who think they have to purge them.
"You'll always have to pull the hood deep over your faces and hide your claws within the sleeves. By the way, only use one set of them at a time." (O)
"But this is so inefficient!" (N)
"It's more efficient than dying, believe me. Just keep everything covered." (O)
While I watch how those two, obviously for the first time, get dressed, I can't help but think it's cute.
I mean, how they clumsily get stuck at the wrong places with their claws or are trying to figure out where to put the extra set of arms.
How would those nurses look in a real maid uniform?
My, there might be a market for this.
Not that Erys would ever let me use them like this.
As soon as they're done we move to the entrance hall of my guild building.
It’s something like a mix of administration and processing center for my newest acquisitions which are either shipped out or, in some cases, stored right here.
I might not be the wealthiest merchant right now but my operations are flexible and well-planned.
But considering my newest venture I maybe should think about expanding this place.
At least, I should prepare some storage halls.
I might even have to take out a loan to pay for this endeavor but it will pay off, I'm sure about that.
While I dream about my rosy future, I notice that the girls are walking a bit stiff.
I notice it's because they wrapped their own lower arms around their bellies to keep them hidden.
Well, as long it works.
The first thing I have to do is meet up with those adventurers.
Usually, I only deal with them when it's about a request for acquiring some rare goods I need for my business, but this interaction stays quite shallow.
I walk up to the two figures with strong builds and lots of weapons.
"Hey, are you the adventurers I've hired?" (O)
"Yes. Are those the subjects?" (adventurer)
He points at the girls.
"You're right." (O)
I come a little closer.
"Just to be clear, nothing can happen to them. Those two are directly sent from a high-ranking entity of our "friends" from below and I don't want to be the one to tell her that they ended up killed by humans. We don't want this kind of conflict, right?" (O)
I don't think Erys would actually go that far and demand blood, but they don't need to know.
At least that should've got them motivated.
The moment I step over the border of the building the anxiety comes at me.
Now we're out and vulnerable.
I look around but none of the pedestrians seem to notice something wrong.
I even told the adventurers to keep their distance so we draw less attention.
Nonetheless, I make sure to keep these kiddos very close.
"We're now traversing the market. You can learn quite a lot here about trading. You may look at the prices for the wares but don't get too close or too far away from me while you're at it." (O)
Proving that my assessment of them was totally right, they're gone the moment I look away.
Naturally, I grow distressed.
The adventurers as well seem to be at a loss.
Useless imbeciles.
Great, what now?
Should I just wait till I hear a great commotion and follow the uproar?
No, I have to be proactive.
But how?
What can I do?
I...
Maybe I can find them.
I concentrate on this weird smell sense and draw as much air through my nose as possible.
There!
It's faint, but if there are no other insects in the market, which I'm sure there are not as my information network works very well, then this scent trail should lead me to them.
A moment later I find them at a stall for different kinds of food.
They're pestering the poor guy behind the counter.
"And this? How much is this?" (N)
"It's a koroka fruit. Twelve copper. Are you going to buy something now? Do you even have money?" (merchant)
"And what is thies?" (X)
"Urgh!" (merchant)
Okay, surprisingly, their cover hasn't been blown yet.
This might be because, while with a bit of an accent, they sound a great deal like completely normal humans.
Yet now I have to do something before this stall trader is attacking them for completely different reasons.
"There you are! I told you not to run off!" (O)
"But we need to learn!" (X)
The merchant meanwhile redirects his death glare towards me.
"Are these your kids?" (merchant)
I can't help but chuckle for a split second before I can gather my bearing.
Also, I thought I would, at least by the town's merchants, be known well enough.
But you can't know everyone personally, so it's possible that he doesn't know my face.
"Not directly. They belong to a friend of mine. I took it on me to educate them." (O)
"Then do it better! Those kids approached my stall and started touching my wares, asking how much everything costs! And I'm quite sure they never had the intention to buy something." (merchant)
"Which might be because your goods cost double what they should. A koroka goes on a good day for six copper. And this soleira fruit seems to be a bit soft. Which you can realize as soon as you touch it. And this for eight copper? Quite shocking honestly." (O)
"We have a food shortage! Many things you can only get by showing your ration card for the day. You can be happy if I sell you anything at all!" (merchant)
"Ah, no need to. I have my own supply. And it's rather vast." (O)
I give him my best business smile, which isn't helping very much to improve his mood.
"Then why are you even wasting my time here?!" (merchant)
"To do business, naturally. What else would a merchant do on the market?" (O)
I spoke intentionally now a bit louder, which drew some attention.
"Hey, isn't that Olira?"
"The copper demon!?"
"Here?"
"It's said if you get on her bad side she's ruining your business to the last copper."
"And it's said she has an agreement with those underground monsters so they kill all her competition."
"Oh my, the poor man."
Tsk, rumors.
I only destroyed two of my rivals until now.
After all, one cannot do business without the corresponding reputation.
They'll start thinking you're an easy target, especially as a woman.
The man in front of me seems to have realized his mistake.
At least that's what his pale face tells me.
I guess I should help him out here.
"I guess I'm a bit hungry at the moment. Why don't you sell me this soleira? For three copper!" (O)
"Th-three?" (merchant)
"Yes. Four to five is the usual price and this one is clearly lacking in quality. So I think this price is fair." (O)
There's now a bit of a commotion here, but I cannot show weakness.
The man has been put under pressure by the situation.
Begrudgingly he hands the fruit over and I pay, before leaving with the girls as quickly as possible.
It's almost a miracle that nobody looked below the hoods.
"Here, hold onto this for me. You should have a free arm." (O)
I hand the fruit towards the one to my left.
Was it Nabi?
I think so; at least the scent indicates it.
While I push them away from the people the two adventurers finally catch up to me.
Maybe I should have paid for better ones.
A moment later it seems like one of the girls wants to say something.
"How did you do thies?" (X)
"What do you mean?" (O)
"The human wanted eight copper and you gave him three. That's five less than he wanted." (X)
They can do math?!
Okay, if they wouldn't already be aligned to Erys, in a way I simply cannot beat, I would consider hiring them.
"First, how do you know about numbers?" (O)
"Knowing thee numbers of larvaee is essEntial for a nurse. And thEre are many." (X)
"Also, the scholar teaches us. They're saying it's deeply linked to trading." (N)
"Well, that isn't wrong." (O)
"Now your explanation." (X)
Fine, if I'm going to teach them I might as well start right here.
"Good. First lesson, listen carefully. There are three essential factors to trading. The first one is intel. You need to know the usual prices, and more importantly the price range of goods. What is the cheapest and what's the highest they could possibly be sold for on the market? If you do, you aren't at risk to get scammed and can assess what is a good deal and what is not. The second factor is demand. We merchants basically are the ones who balance the world. If there is a lack of something at some place we fill it, and if there is too much of something we can take it for less than usual, as long we have a way to sell it again, naturally. Our profit generates from this difference. So, naturally, the absolute best is to be able to anticipate where the balance might get shaken. When someone wants to build something they might need building materials. When there was a good harvest they have more food than they need. Keeping the demand in mind is important." (O)
I can literally feel the stares of the adventurers behind me while handing out knowledge I might rather get paid for to insects.
"But with the man just now you didn't rely on any of these." (N)
"Yes. Because the third factor is reputation. If two offers are the same they will always come to the merchant they trust or simply like better. How others see you influences their offers. Are your goods of quality? Do you pose a business connection they want to maintain for preferential treatment in the future? And in this case, I might be someone he doesn't want to displease. Actually, this is the biggest problem with your swarm. People don't want to deal with you. They fear and worry about what it might cause. So it's going to be hard to get good deals when nobody wants to deal with you in the first place. But I'm working on this." (O)
These two are now totally in awe.
Well, hopefully, they'll tell Erys something positive about me later on.
After some time, we leave the market district and arrive at our destination.
The great hall of the craftsmen's guild.
Boo I caught up. I have to say I'm loving the story so far. Though Erys's seeming decent into paranoid denial is kind of annoying. You'd think she'd have either adapted or burnt out by now with the way she yo-yo's.
But being yo-yo is part of her charm.
I can at least say that there will be more interactions with Honiu in the future and since she doesn't like her she's more bold with her.
People don’t just “adapt” that easily. If Erys was a real person she would likely have some form of PTSD. That she hasn’t simply withdrawn and is still capable of interacting with the world is a minor miracle. Also she’s 18 and has suddenly been thrust into the position of responsibility for hundreds including her own family. Show a little sympathy.
So cute! She should send couple of maid uniforms to Erys as joke.
Just have them wear the uniforms on the return trip to Erys.
The swarm, despite not having complex intelligence, likely on average has better communication than humans because "reading" and "writing" are not learned tools but genetically made ones, although pheromones are tools in themselves, just through genetics rather than manipulation. This is likely why scholars and Honiu are so much more advanced in understanding, as pheremones means what industrial era education policies are required to accomplish for humans is something an insectoid is born with.
Insectoids can into space (but considering magic exists, what horrors await in space?)
Well, look it up in my story "Eldritch". Though, Iori wasn't in space, yet.
While I watch how those two, obviously for the first time, get dressed, I can't help but think it's cute.
moe~ moe~ kyun!~
Editing suggestions.
As if they all the time waited just to sprint > As if they waited all this time just to sprint
Even more, now that I'm back in my familiar environment. > Even more so, now that I'm back in my familiar environment.
While I watch how those two for obviously the first time dress up, > While I watch how those two, obviously for the first time, dress up, (Could also use ‘get dressed’ instead of ‘dress up’. ‘dress up’ tends to imply more formal wear like dresses, suits, makeup, and the rest.)
As soon they're done we move > As soon as they're done we move
It's something like a mix of administration and the place where my newest acquisition gets processed and either shipped out or in some cases stored right here. > It’s something like a mix of administration and processing center for my newest acquisitions which are either shipped out or, in some cases, stored right here.
I might even have to take a credit to pay for this endeavor but it will pay off, which I'm sure about. > I might even have to take out a loan to pay for this endeavor but it will pay off, I'm sure about that.
While I dream about my rosy future I notice that the girls are walking a bit stiff. > While I dream about my rosy future, I notice that the girls are walking a bit stiff.
I notice it's because they wrung their own > I notice it's because they wrapped their own (‘wrung’ is what you do with a cloth to get the water out. I don’t think you meant their arms to be that seriously twisted up here.)
The first I have to do > The first thing I have to do
I walk up to the two figures with the strong build and lots of weapons. > I walk up to the two figures with strong builds and lots of weapons.
That we understand us, nothing can happen to them. > Just to be clear, nothing can happen to them. ( ‘We [any verb] us’ is never used in normal English. It just doesn’t make sense. The only times I’ve seen it used is to denote a crazy person or people) [My suggestion is likely an idiom you haven’t used before. Could also be ‘To make sure you understand me, nothing can happen to them.’]
You can learn quite much here about trading. > You can learn quite a bit here about trading. /or You can learn much here about trading. ( ‘quite much’ doesn’t go together)
Proving that my assessment of them was totally right, they're gone the moment I look away.
It's faint, but if there are no other insects on the market, which wouldn't know of, and my information network works very well, then this scent trail should lead me to them. > It's faint, but if there are no other insects in the market, which I know there are not as my information network works very well, then this scent trail should lead me to them.
Are you now going to buy something? > Are you going to buy something now?
Okay, surprisingly their cover hasn't blown yet. > Okay, surprisingly, their cover hasn't been blown yet.
This might be a great deal because, while with a bit of an accent, they sound like completely normal humans. > This might be because, while with a bit of an accent, they sound a great deal like completely normal humans. (I want a great deal on obtaining a Formicean )
Also, I thought I would at least by the town's merchants be known enough. > Also, I thought I would, at least by the town's merchants, be known well enough.
started touching my ware, > started touching my wares,
Which might be because your goods cost the double they should. > Which might be because your goods cost double what they should.
Fine, if I'm going to teach them I can as well start right here. > Fine, if I'm going to teach them I might as well start right here.
something at some place we fill it and > something at some place we fill it, and
So the absolute best is naturally > So, naturally, the absolute best is
they might need building materials, when there was a good harvest > they might need building materials. When there was a good harvest
She got adventurers to provide security for giant insects... I thought the adventurers would be the biggest part of the problem.
Thanks for the help. It's as always appreciated.
As if they waited all this time just to sprint - As if they were waiting there all the time to sprint off - How's this?
Even more so, now that I'm back in my familiar environment. - Wasn't sure if "now" needs a comma, as it's the important point of the statement.
I might even have to take out a loan to pay for this endeavor but it will pay off, I'm sure about that. - take "out" a loan? The out feels somewhat wrong to me.
‘wrung’ is what you do with a cloth to get the water out. I don’t think you meant their arms to be that seriously twisted up here. - oh no! The poor girls!
Just to be clear, nothing can happen to them. - The old mistake that just because something works and sounds logical in your language and there are similarities between them, you think anything goes.
You can learn quite a bit here about trading. - I think I'm using "lot"
It's faint, but if there are no other insects in the market, which I know there are not as my information network works very well, then this scent trail should lead me to them. - I'd rather say she's sure. "Sure" still leaves leeway to being wrong, while know is absolutely convinced in my opinion.
Adventurers are like most people here. There's no general hatred going around, but only some extremists and many people are afraid. Yet adventurers don't have as much reason to be scared since they can fight. And they're getting paid for this.
I really like Olira's nickname.
@expentio
As if they were waiting there all the time to sprint off – That works. You may also change ‘the’ for ‘this’. The first means as if they have always been waiting there. The second means they were probably waiting there since the girls came to speak with her. Subtle difference, so whichever you choose to go with will work.
This pheromone sense is still hard to get used to now that I'm back in my familiar environment. – You broke this sentence up into two parts.
This pheromone sense is still hard to get used to. Now that I'm back in my familiar environment. – Then added a clause to the second part.
This pheromone sense is still hard to get used to. Even more so, now that I'm back in my familiar environment. – The comma is used to set the ‘even more so’ apart from the sentence. Easier to see why in steps…at least for me.
take out a loan – I think this is actually an idiom. It means to receive money from a lender. I tried searching for why ‘out’ is used, but couldn’t find much. I think you could technically use ‘take a loan’ but it would sound strange. It is somewhat interesting to search for why we say things a certain way, and nobody seems to know.
I was thinking more along the lines that scared people who cant fight tend to run away if given the chance. It's the ones that aren't scared but don't like the insects that would be a problem. Maybe, unlike a certain slime, the insects don't trigger the 'kill it now' response from adventurers?
@Saril1489
This pheromone sense is still hard to get used to now that I'm back in my familiar environment. – You broke this sentence up into two parts. - "Even more so," is quite important here. Olira wants to say that it became even more apparent that it's a problematic thing to deal with now that she's back in a familiar environment. When she was in the hive everything was strange and so she could endure it like being on a trip. And then "now" (which feels like there's a break behind it while speaking as it sets the two times she's referring to apart. NOW that she's back home it's even more of a thing. You know, like the nice steward you met in Hawaii following you to your loft in NY. There's a certain gap that sets the situations apart.
That's probably why I used it without "out". Couldn't find a reason for it and am still depending on my own language to fill some gaps.
Well, hysteria is what makes people form a mob and go on a purge. It depends on how violent and active angry people are for them to actually take action. In that certain slime's case, it's mostly established that it hunts humans. They're familiar with it and the danger it means while this certain slime isn't doing much to improve this opinion. The insects on the other side have the resources to do positive advertisement. Though, that one time when Kyska went alone to the gate it could've ended either way. (One with a massive species war)
The two mini nurses don't appear too threatening, and it's hard to argue there for a purge. Yet the two adventurers don't seem to do their job too well.
@expentio
Even more so now, since in my familiar environment it is even stranger. - Something like this maybe?
@Saril1489
Maybe: Even more so now, since I'm in my familiar environment.
@expentio
That works
@Saril1489 Gosh, forgot the "back". Since I'm back.