Chapter 11: Supply and Demand
Lyra woke up in her bed the next morning, feeling refreshed from a good night's sleep. The only thing that perplexed her though, was that she was still in her leisure clothes and the study desk had not been cleared off. Worst yet, she had not capped her inkwell, and her quill had dried ink on it now as a result of that.
Lyra: Aww, shit!
Stacking the books and papers in a more orderly fashion, she realized she couldn't remember what had caused her to leave things in such a messy state.
Last thing I remember was Rem coming into my room for the tutoring lesson...
Tidying up, Lyra spotted a piece of parchment paper on the ground by her door, as if slipped under the crack for her to find.
Picking it up, she soon realized that it was a note, one that was left for her. Thankfully, the message was written simply enough that she could read it. Scanning over what she could understand, Lyra determined that the note's author was going to get groceries from the village and that she wasn't expected to be assigned any task for that day.
Lyra wasn't able to read every word on the note, but pieced together enough to guess what it had meant. It was signed with a familiar name down at the bottom.
Lyra: That's... Rem's name, isn't it? So... Rem is going to the village to buy food...
Lyra had set the letter down on her desk when it finally hit her.
Lyra: OOOH NOOO!
Putting her hands on the side of her head, she exclaimed further.
Lyra: Rem's gonna leave without me! I've gotta hurry!
Grabbing her phone off the solar bank in the window, purely out of habit, she noticed Rem and Subaru just leaving the gate to the mansion from her view.
Bolting down the stairs, Lyra had nearly trampled Beatrice as she was returning from breakfast.
Beatrice: KYAAA, I SUPPOSE! Watch where you're going in such a hurry!
Lyra: S-sorry! I've gotta get somewhere FAST!
Beatrice: Hmph!
Lyra continued her rush to the foyer, grabbing her shoes and running down the steps and down the path, past the gate.
Finally catching up to Rem and Subaru, they both heard Lyra's steps running up to them.
Chapter 11: Supply and Demand
Lyra: *huff* *huff* I finally *huff* finally caught up to you guys *huff*.
While Lyra caught her breath, hands on her knees, Rem was the most surprised to see Lyra, having no clue what sort of hostility she had still held for her since last night. Part of why she had tried to leave without informing Lyra in a more direct manner was because she didn't wish to face her..
Standing back up and stretching her back, Lyra continued.
Lyra: Hey, Rem?
Rem had flinched at her casual address to her, fully expecting some sort of confrontation.
Rem: Y-yes?
Subaru had noticed the odd exchange just now, and was also curious as to why Rem had chosen him to come on the grocery trip and not Lyra considering how much more time she had spent with her than with himself. Subaru decided to hold his tongue and simply wait to see if any of his curiosities would be answered.
Lyra: What happened last night? Did I pass out while studying or something?
Rem's face tensed up, trying hard to hide her continued surprise, she thought before responding.
Does Lyra seriously not remember? Or is she just feigning ignorance?
Rem decided to fabricate an excuse. She "wasn't lying", she thought. She's doing this to gauge how Lyra will react to sense if she was bluffing or not.
Rem: U-uh... Rem had left to fetch some more materials for her and Lyra's study session. However, when she arrived back, Lyra had crawled into bed and Rem decided to not disturb her.
Lyra scratched her head and looked down. She hadn't remembered doing that, but still, if she was tired enough to, then she might have.
Lyra: I see then. Sorry to have wasted your night, Rem... but there's worse news too...
Perplexed by her answer, Rem nodded and signaled for Lyra to continue.
What could Lyra possibly mean by that?
Poking her fingers together in a nervous fashion, Lyra confessed her error.
Lyra: I...may have, in that drowsy state, forgot to cap off the ink,...and... it all dried up as a result, with the quill still in the well...Sorry...
Finishing her confession with a nervous laugh, Rem simply sighed, and used the topic-change to her advantage.
Rem: It's a simple accident, the mansion has plenty more.
Wiping her brow in relief, Lyra sighed.
Lyra: Phew, here I was thinking you were going to scold—
Mid sentence, Rem had turned and continued to walk down the road to their destination, cutting Lyra off.
Rem: Please refrain from being wasteful in the future though.
Lyra: R-right! Gotcha! Sorry...
With that, the trio walked together to the village.
Arriving, Subaru split off from Rem and Lyra, entirely not interested in grocery shopping.
Lyra recalled the last visit to the village, where her investigation involving this world's agricultural products had been derailed and she wound up learning almost nothing involving what she had intended to.
She was wondering about just HOW EXACTLY she could present the same question again to Rem, when suddenly, she gave her an opportunity.
Ripping her list in half, she handed one half to Lyra and handed her her coin pouch after taking some money out and placing it in her own pocket.
Rem: If Lyra is confident enough to do so, Rem would like for her to gather the items on her half of the list. It will make our trip quicker.
Lyra stared at the note he held, reading it over.
Rem: It's simple enough, fruit, vegetables, and other staples, you should be able to find them easily.
Taking another moment to stare at the words she was already struggling to understand, she came clean to Rem as to why she was hesitant.
Lyra: I don't know what any of the stuff on the list is.
Rem:...
Rem stared blankly at Lyra for a moment, then smiled politely, albeit briefly.
Rem: Then, allow Rem to help with translating things for you.
Rem translated the items on the list to Lyra. Lyra grabbed one of her homeland's writing utensils from her pocket, informed Rem of the unfamiliar device's capabilities, and started to write down what each item was in English, her homeland's written tongue.
Lyra smiled, and gave Rem her thanks, with Rem smiling back at her and signaling for everyone to continue onwards.
Rem and Lyra traversed the market square, gathering their needed items and checking them off, routinely checking stalls that were selling the same item, getting whatever had a lower price, or, based off of what Lyra had observed, what at least SEEMED to he the lower price, in order to save some money.
Many of the stalls had ever-so-slightly varying prices on their similar goods, which left many vendors cutting deals with their buyers. "Buy this many and I'll cut the price for each." Being the most common bargaining method Lyra could pick up from the chitchat of the market.
She couldn't quite do all the complex calculations in her head, but it appeared with Rem moving to buy Appas, a fruit she was familiar with, that she was about to make a less than frugal choice.
A particular forceful vendor had gotten her attention, and was attempting to cut what sounded like a good deal.
Merchant: You're looking to purchase a good amount of appas aren't you? Listen, most people want the big ones, so I have a harder time than most selling my smaller ones... Perfectly good ones nonetheless! I'll give you a good deal at say... this price? For this many?
Judging the price to be fair to her, Rem went to reach into her coin bag.
Lyra: Rem! W-wait a minute!
Turning around, Rem had, for some reason, imagined that she had a good reason for interrupting the sale, and spoke to Lyra without her cold tone as a result.
Rem: Yes? What is it, Lyra?
Putting a hand up halfway between herself and the merchant, who had set about to something else already, Lyra spoke in a low voice.
Lyra: It... just doesn't seem like that's a very good deal, this stand...
Checking to make sure the merchant hadn't overheard, Lyra continued as Rem tilted her head in curiosity.
Lyra: Hold on just a moment. I've got something pretty neat to show you! Just a sec...
Reaching into her pocket, she retrieved the one item that she had grabbed purely out of habit before bolting out the door to catch up with Rem and Subaru as they had started to leave for the village-her phone, which boasted a most-powerful tool that could be very useful in helping evaluate deals.
Turning her phone on, she went straight for the calculator app.
Lyra gave Rem a minor crash course on the workings of a "calculator".
Lyra: You see, this symbol means "one", and this symbol means "two", and putting them together like...that...means I can make it equal "twelve"...
Lyra: ...and I can add values, subtract them...
Asking Rem basic math questions, she proved that she was showing her the correct answers, although said method still relied on her trusting Lyra's translations of the symbols. Rem was thankfully impressed enough to let her continue her point.
Taking the bushel that the store owner was offering full of the small appas, Lyra weighed them on a nearby scale, watching the arrow that indicated its weight go around, re-translating that number into one that her calculator could understand, and dividing their price the merchant had offered to Rem about per weight.
Then, taking the same-size bushel, Lyra filled it with large appas from the same stand, but instead went with the price per appa that the stand advertised.
Lyra: So for this same price...!
Knowing something was off, Lyra confirmed it by punching more numbers in on her calculator.
The deal the vendor had offered hadn't been a deal in the first place, it was closer to highway robbery if you looked at the price per weight costs.
Lyra: Rem! Check this out...
Struggling to explain to Rem through the number-symbol translations and equations, she got the point across that the vendor was about to rip off Rem.
Just as she worried Rem wasn't about to take her advice on the pricing, Rem had decided to take a practical approach.
Taking two bags, Rem filled one with the large appas and the other with the small ones Then, she filled each one to their desired amount and asked Lyra to take out enough appas from each till they were worth an equal amount in their separate pricing.
Simply picking up the bags, Rem quickly realized that while the large appa bag had less in it, it weighed more for the same price as the small appa bag.
The vendor had been very crafty for sure. Offering a higher number, although smaller, at a discounted rate, definitely seemed to be a good deal. But with the weight of both bags as a factor...
Rem: Come on, Lyra .Let us find a different appa stall.
Merchant: W-w-wait! Sure I was a little off on my offer but I'm willing to renegotiate—!
Rem turned right back and replied in her same cold voice that she had been using with Lyra until only recently.
Rem: Rem has no time, nor coin, for dishonest merchants.
Lyra: So there! Hmph! Scammer...
Lyra briefly puffed out her cheeks into a pout, crossed her arms, turned away, and walked off with Rem in tow.
Closing her eyes and turning away, Rem continued to find a new appa vendor. Looking back at the vendor for herself, Lyra could only give the vendor a sharp glare and a snide comment muttered underneath her breath.
Lyra: Seriously, the audacity of that scumbag- -asshole-piece-of-...
Rem, happening to overhear Lyra's backhanded remark, decided to check up on her.
Rem: Is everything alright, Lyra? You seem to be frustrated. Rem is guessing that the vendor must've really upset you too, didn't he?
Lyra: Yeah...no shi- er...y-yeah! You deserve way better than that, you know! Good thing you had me to help you out, though, huh?
Lyra twirled her hair and took on a somewhat tsun-like pose shortly before perking back up, smiling proudly with her hands on her hips.
Rem could only giggle, blush slightly, and admire Lyra in response.
Rem: Yes. Rem is quite grateful for Lyra's assistance, indeed. Oh, and, you know...
A gentle breeze blew their way, causing both of their hairstyles and accessories to sway with the breeze alongside the tree leaves around them.
Rem: I really do find you to be quite kind...and pretty...
Lyra's face instantly turned bright red. She started to nervously twirp her hair some more.
Lyra: Wh-wha...I-I...uhh...thanks...
Lyra soon regained her composure shortly after she recovered from the shock of a sudden compliment from her crush. She decided to return the favor.
Lyra: I honestly feel the same way about you...You...you also look best when you smile, so please, at least TRY to do it more often, okay? It...it suits you well...cutie...
Lyra giggled, grinned, and blushed, doing a cute pose with her arms behind her back for a split second.
Rem could only stutter and blush due to Lyra's heartfelt compliment.
Rem: Th-thanks...Rem will try her best. L-let's continue shopping now, shall we?
Lyra: Yes! Of course!
Finishing up their list, Rem and Lyra were deciding what their next course of action would be.
Rem: We should locate Subaru before it gets too late. Rem would like to return before it gets dark.
Lyra: I agree, but...
Shifting the weight of the bag that she was holding, she recounted how much Rem had paid for these appas for how many she got.
Lyra: Don't you think you still over-paid for these? Even at that scummy good-for-nothing scammer guy's stall, they were still—
Rem: There's much more to it than just the price. While we aren't officially here on Roswaal-sama's business, if Lyra, or Rem, or Subaru are traced back to being purchasers using Roswaal-sama's money, it could reflect badly on his position with the merchants.
Tilting her head from behind the bag she was carrying, Lyra replied.
Lyra: I'm afraid I don't follow.
Rem stopped and turned to Lyra, causing her to almost instantly realize that this matter was important to Rem that he knew.
Rem: If Roswaal-sama is given a reputation for looking for cheap items and getting bad business agreements, other less reputable merchants will take notice and do their best to keep honest ones away. If the mansion puts word out that it, or Roswaal-sama himself, are looking to procure suppliers for any given good, a poor reputation with the merchants could keep more honest ones, with the desired quality and quantity from submitting bids.
Lyra: I think I'm beginning to understand... It has to do with buyer reputation, not just seller reputation.
Rem: Precisely. Its important for us as staff of Roswaal-sama to purchase goods at market value, even if it's not the most frugal decision, as it projects an image of wealth, and with that, power. It shows that the mansion is able to pay, and have an eye for quality, should someone wish to be dishonest. It is also an image of cooperation, that merchants are willing to meet and make business, that we are not hard customers to deal with.
Lyra looked down as she processed everything Rem had said, trying her hardest to index it in her mind should that information become needed later.
Lyra: But... Weren't you also the one who almost fell for that bad deal back there?
Blushing, and frowning, it was obvious Rem had been caught in her embarrassment, especially after she got through explaining her reasoning.
With her arms now on her hips, leaned forward, Rem pleaded her case with a pouting expression.
Rem: Rem was simply not concerned over the purchase of a few appas! Rem cannot fret over every little, and most minute detail! That's why Lyra is here, as Rem can offload those duties to her.
Taking her hand and making it a finger gun, Lyra pointed at Rem and fired back.
Lyra: And next you'll say 'It was only a test for you', correct?
Pouting again with a "Hmph!", Rem turned and continued to walk once more.
Rem: Let us just find Subaru and return. It's getting late.
Lyra smiled while following her. While she had shown frustration to her teasing her over certain actions, she had dropped her cold tone and attitude with Lyra and seemed to be warming up to her already.
She feels comfortable enough around me to show her true colors from time to time. Maybe with some more effort, even after today, she might finally open back up, Lyra thought.
With the trio walking back to the mansion, Rem was taking up the lead while Subaru and Lyra followed. Both holding bags, Lyra noticed a bandage on Subaru's hand again, something he hadn't had when they had first arrived at the village.
Lyra: Did you mess up your hand again?
Shifting the weight of his bag onto his opposite arm, Subaru showed off his bandage.
Subaru: Yeah... That damn puppy again. Just doesn't seem to like me.
Turning her head back to the direction she was walking, Lyra swore she saw Rem's head turn back for a moment to look at her and Subaru as well, as if she had heard something that had caught her attention as to—
Lyra: —Hk!
Oh crap! Subaru, you dunce! You just used past-tense for something like it had happened once before. Is that what caught Rem's attention just now?
A bead of sweat was falling down Lyra's forehead.
Lyra looked back over to Subaru, clenching her teeth in anger..Subaru could not have noticed less. Instead, after a moment of rest in the conversation, Subaru spoke up again.
Subaru: Say, Rem. Are you making some kind of appa pie?
This is my chance! Lyra thought. I can derail the conversation like how Subaru usually does. It's a gamble, but it might make her forget what she heard.
Subaru: I mean, you've got a lot of appas here and—
Lyra: Oh! You should have seen how much Rem would have bought if I hadn't stopped her!
Lyra leaned in towards Subaru and put her hand up like she was trying to tell a not-so-secret, secret.
Lyra: And you wouldn't believe how much she was about to pay for 'em too! She almost bankrupted poor Ros-chi.
Stopping, Rem turned around on heel, face full of pout once more, and hands returning to her hips.
Thinking the conversation-derail was going successfully, Lyra pushed it further.
Lyra: Say Rem, if you still want a good deal for real this time, I'll sell you some ocean-front property in Arizona. I'll even throw the Golden Gate Bridge in for free— Hmf! Yeoch! Wh-what the HELL?!
Taking her risk, Rem had given her a good stomp to his foot as his reward.
Subaru: Bwahahaha! Haha— Ergh! Ouch!
With Subaru's burst of laughter also being smothered by a foot-stomp from Rem, Rem continued on ahead of the two who were halted with pain.
Rem: You two can limp back to the mansion, Rem will hurry along ahead.
Lyra quickly shot back at her.
Lyra: H-hey! At least TRY to take a joke! Honestly...
Lyra stopped for a moment and giggled.
Lyra: Ohh, what the hell! Cutie...
Unsure if her derailment had worked, all Lyra could do was watch Rem continue on ahead towards the mansion as her and Subaru hobbled along.