Construction Mage - Chapter 76: Marketplace

AN: Hey everyone, it's no secret that I've been struggling with writing, but I'd like to thank each and every one of you who have stuck with me. I promise I am trying my best to get back into the rhythm of things. Thank you for your support!

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The next day, Clay woke up a bit earlier than usual. It wasn’t because he was eager to jump back into the dungeon, though, as he had called for a day off after the more intense encounter during the previous day. Instead, it was because he was irked by the comments he had received about his food the night before. As a modern person who had sampled dozens of different cuisines in the past, he felt utterly humiliated that his food was called plain. An intense fire was lit within him to show the natives the wonders of modern food culture.

That was why he headed straight for the marketplace first thing in the morning. He had to research and experiment with fresh ingredients rather than the leftovers if he didn’t want to embarrass himself again.

Just as he passed through the gates of the third ring, he was greeted by his trusty helper, who had been standing off to the side.

“Good morning, sir!” Malik exclaimed energetically.

“Good morning to you, too, Malik. Were you waiting for long?”

“Um, no, sir. You’re right on time.”

“Right, then let’s get going.”

Seriously nodding his head, Malik quickly fell in line, half a step behind Clay. As the two approached the marketplace, the density of the crowd sharply increased. People from different paths all congregated together as they all shared the need for food. Housewives, maids, merchants, and workers from various food establishments all participated in the morning rush with a clear goal in mind.

The energy in the atmosphere was incomparable to other times of the day. It wasn’t even uncommon for people to be swept in the opposite direction of where they wanted to go by the constant flow of the crowd.

Amidst all that, Clay and Malik stood out like sore thumbs. Any discerning person could tell it was their first time being in the thick of the hustle and bustle. They were like a deer caught in headlights.

“It sure is a lot busier here during the early morning, huh?” Clay muttered.

“Father Thigar had always said the morning market is like a battlefield. He never allowed any of the kids to join him on his morning grocery trips during the few special occasions where he would prepare a feast.”

For a brief moment, the two just stood there, taking in the scenery before them. They were able to do so in peace thanks to Clay’s large frame, which discouraged the surrounding crowd from shoving them aside. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be spared even if they stood off to the side. 

It didn’t take long for Clay to realize that the number of people wouldn’t decrease anytime soon. He sighed before gesturing to Malik that they would dive into the army of elbows and shoulders. 

For Clay, it was definitely an annoying endeavor, but for Malik, it was almost life and death. Thankfully, the two stayed close and soon reached the area where various stalls were on full display. Compared to what the two usually saw, there was a much wider selection of products available. It was safe to say that those foreign to them were likely bestsellers that would be all gone within a few hours, which was why they hadn’t seen them before in the first place. The only other reason Clay could think of was that some of these products didn’t do well in the heat for long. He likely wouldn’t go for those ingredients that spoiled so easily, but it wouldn’t hurt to learn about them.

Hm, I always just asked the storekeeper for what I wanted. I never bothered to ask what some of these were. Just the name by itself doesn’t tell me a lot.

Unfortunately for Clay, every stall keeper was busy with the constant number of transactions. He didn’t want to disrupt their business either. Thankfully, his dilemma was quickly solved by observing the other customers. Mimicking them, Clay gingerly reached out for a pinch of the unknown red spice and brought it close to his nose. He was barely able to keep himself from coughing up a storm by turning away from the intense smell.

“Sir? Are you okay?” Malik asked as he pulled on the hem of his shirt.

“Yeah, just didn’t expect this to be spicy in this way…”

I had prepared myself for something like peppers, but this is more like wasabi! It’s called blazeleaf, huh? I have a lot to learn.

Like that, Clay continued to sample a variety of spices and ingredients to widen his horizons. Now that he was better off than in his initial days, he had the financial leeway to splurge on good food. During the conversation last night, he had made sure to get specific feedback from his guests. 

He had learned that the taste of the more affluent populace here heavily leaned toward a strong and complex mix of flavors. Simply seasoned food was often thought to be poor people’s food. It was to the point where cooks were praised for managing to combine multiple flavor profiles together in harmony rather than draw out the best of the ingredients themselves, like he was familiar with. It helped explain the eccentric taste of the food he had at Sylphira’s mansion.

Nevertheless, Clay didn’t plan to play by their rulebook. He would recreate some modern classics and impress the next time he had guests, which he planned to do often. After all, he needed to make connections and meet with people often if he were to expand his nascent guild.

With that in mind, he hunted down a few ingredients that previously escaped him as they were under a different name, and went home.

“Um, sir, did we really need to buy so many ingredients?” Malik asked upon placing down a good half of their haul. “I thought we were researching what could be harvested back from the dungeon and foods that are easy to take with us for prolonged expeditions.”

“Well, yes, that’s important too, but taste matters. If we’re spending the time to do this, we’d better do it right.”

A moment of silence passed as Malik stared back with his mouth wide open. It seemed he wanted to say something, but couldn’t go through with it.

“What?” Clay said. “Just say your mind.”

With Clay’s eyes urging him on, Malik cautiously spoke each word.

“Ah, um, the food yesterday was delicious. Don’t, um, let it weigh you down.”

As soon as he squeaked out the last word, Malik looked away, scared of being reprimanded. However, all he heard was a weary sigh.

“...I’m going to get started. You can stick around and be my taste tester, or you can leave if you want.”

“I’ll stay!”

***

Within one of the many taverns catering to Delvers within the second ring, Alara and her party were eating in awkward silence. They were the only table in the dining area that was dead quiet. Everyone else was merrily chatting away at a modest volume. In the evening, they would get even rowdier, but would at least mask the silence at their table. Now, they stood out.

“Enough already!” Alara yelled, slamming the table in the process. Her antics managed to silence the neighbouring table for a split second before they all continued on with their own conversations, pretending the interruption never happened. Everyone knew they were just putting on a show, and their ears were now leaning toward the offending table, waiting to eavesdrop on a good show.

“You’re all dissatisfied with me right?” she continued. “So out with it!”

Alara’s party members each exchanged glances before they settled on their leader, Thomas. The man with average features placed a hand on his forehead and sighed before looking straight at Alara.

“It’s not that we’re blaming you. It’s just that—”

“Just that I don’t have enough tact, right? I get it. I really do. But all this beating around the bush and being careful with your words is what nobles do. I’m tired of all that, which is why I chose to become a Delver!”

“Still,” Thomas weakly rebutted with a wry smile. “The man did help us out, and making connections is still important as a Delver. There’s no need to be so crass.”

“He’s also starting something interesting. Who knows, he might become a somebody soon. Do you really have to butt heads with someone like that?” Ciana chimed in as she twirled her midnight blue hair around.

“In case none of you remember, he’s the reason we had to pay a fine not that long ago. It hit our finances hard enough that we couldn’t get the proper equipment we had planned for. It’s why we were in such a pinch yesterday, wasn’t it? Of course, I don’t want to get along with him.”

“Wasn’t that your fault? You jumped to conclusions, and it cost us.”

“I jumped to conclusions? More like he was purposefully engaging in suspicious activity to mislead others. There’s no reason any sane Delver would waste time dig—-”

“Enough!” Thomas cut in before the argument could expand. “Let’s move on from this. Thankfully, Clay didn’t seem to mind and still invited us to join that so-called Adventurer’s Guild of his. If this is how it is, we can just decline and continue as we have been. Case closed.”

“But Thomas, isn’t this Clay the same one that everyone’s been talking about recently?” Ciana protested. “If he isn’t offended, then there’s no need to cut off contact, right?”

“You can do what you want as an individual. As a party, we’re moving on—”

Before he could finish his words, a random man interrupted him. They recognized him to be one of the other patrons, who had just been having a meal by himself. Now, all of a sudden, he made himself at home at their table. He wore a smug grin on his face as he basked in the attention he was getting, or more accurately, the glares from the party.

“Come on now, no need to be so hostile. I just wanted to talk.”

“Talk?” Thomas barely managed to hone in his tone and hide his irritation.

“Yes, yes. Good things only, of course. It’ll benefit you.”

“We all know you’ve been eavesdropping on us this entire time!” Alara exclaimed. “You should know I hate people who go in circles, especially after jumping into our conversation uninvited. Get to the point or leave.”

The man scanned the faces of the other members. This time, they were unanimously in agreement with Alara’s words, so all he got were hostile glares.

“Let’s discuss the details in private. For now, all I can tell you is that a certain wealthy employer is very interested in the information your party has. Talk for coin, how’bout it?”

The group of Delvers once again exchanged looks, but before they could come to a consensus, the unnamed man plunked down a pouch full of coins. Then, while he still had their attention, he dropped the real bomb.

“My employer has connections. Delver gear and skill books could be your payment too if you cooperate.”

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