Diverse Tribes

“Maji-laku…” “Kansedo-desu.”

I… don’t understand.

The woman who had begun scanning the warehouse from the front—didn’t that goblin just call her Marquis Kyusi? She wove through the cages and cargo with her subordinate, her hand covering her nose and mouth, clearly struggling with the environment. Her subordinate followed her with a wry smile, speaking a language I couldn’t comprehend.

What tribe are they? I can’t recognize them. They look a lot like humans, but they definitely aren’t.

Despite the distance, as they stepped closer to my position, a cold shiver ran down my spine for reasons I couldn’t explain.

“Let me tell you right now, don’t even think about unloading today.”

“Hah?! Goblin, are you kidding me?! The deal was that we pull in, unload, and set sail immediately!”

The conversation in the Common Tongue, however, translated perfectly. The Captain seemed to be throwing a tantrum, but the goblin calmly adjusted a shimmering object on the right side of his face… What was that? A lens?

“Our agreed-upon time was two weeks ago, but you were delayed by half a month. Do you think our port doesn’t need to make money?”

“I don’t care! What are we supposed to do, stay here for a day? There’s nothing for us here!”

“I’ve already contacted the other districts! Will staying for just one day kill you?!”

“Then give us a little of this and I won’t say another word. My crew has been working for two months; is that too much to ask?”

The Siren rubbed her fingers together in a universal gesture. It meant… money.

“Please try to be a little more understanding of my situation, honestly… Come with me off the ship later to collect it.”

“I knew I could count on Ding Ming.”

“Don’t only use my name when you want something. Please, just behave yourself from now on. And don’t get too rowdy tonight; the hotel owner complains to me every single time.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Listening to the Siren Captain’s half-hearted reply, the goblin named Ding Ming let out a helpless sigh and refocused on the task at hand. He held a board in his hand and a pen, seemingly recording something. Since he checked the cargo from side to side at intervals, it was likely an inventory list.

He was using a wooden board beneath a sheet of paper to write… As expected, the “Divine Oracle” was all lies. The civilization here is not inferior to our world at all.

“My apologies for interrupting you two. Although we are here as visitors, there is something we wish to take with us directly. I wonder…”

The man of the unknown race interjected into the conversation between the goblin and the Siren. He bowed slightly, a faint smile visible beneath his wavy, dark-red bangs. Even from my angle, I had to admit he was a handsome man.

“Uh, what was it again?”

“Hey!”

The Captain’s clueless attitude made the goblin beside her look like he was about to lose his mind.

“Hahaha, Mr. Ding Ming, please don’t be so concerned. We aren’t here for formal business today; being too polite isn’t necessarily a good thing for me.”

Though a woman, her voice held a gentleness mixed with a masculine richness. She stepped forward, picking up where her subordinate left off:

“I recall it being a cylindrical shape—a toolkit crafted by the Gaite Tribe. It saves space while being able to store a vast variety of tools; I am quite fond of it.”

“But… those are usually items for servants or laborers. I wouldn’t dare…”

Ding Ming’s voice trailed off.

“The Marquis does not mind such trifles. However, considering it is an item from the distant continent of Foostan, the exquisite works of the Gaite Tribe are always in high demand. Having heard there was a way to acquire one while passing through, we came here specifically for it.”

The man respectfully explained the reason for their visit. The Marquis crossed her arms and gave a firm, affirmative nod.