Peak Between Two: Mushoku Tensei

-Luciel Greyrat-

That night, inside the earthen tent I had constructed, the atmosphere felt far more comfortable compared to the harsh desert winds outside. A small campfire flickered, casting dancing shadows on the walls.

Aisha sat with bright eyes, her enthusiasm overflowing as if she were a child eagerly awaiting a bedtime story. Meanwhile, Norn looked exhausted, probably worn out from today's physical training.

I chuckled at the stark contrast between them.

"Alright," I said, drawing their attention. "Tonight, we'll be learning about trade and negotiation."

Aisha immediately shot up, raising her hand high. "I love counting!"

Norn, who had been half-lying down, groaned. "Do we have to do this now…?"

I tapped the tent floor with my finger. "Norn, if we enter a city without understanding how trade works, we'll get scammed immediately. You don't want that, do you?"

Norn frowned, then reluctantly sat up. "Fine…"

Aisha smirked at her. "Don't be lazy, Norn! If you don't learn, you'll get tricked when buying food!"

Norn glared at her. "I'm not that stupid!"

Holding back a laugh, I brought their focus back to the lesson.

"Alright." I drew two circles in the sand with my finger. "Trade operates on two basic concepts: goods and value."

I pointed at the first circle. "Goods are things that can be sold or exchanged—food, weapons, clothing, or raw materials."

Then, I pointed at the second. "Value is what determines how much something is worth. Usually, that means money, but in some places, people still use barter—trading goods directly for other goods."

Norn seemed more focused now. "So, if we have something valuable, we can trade it for what we need?"

I nodded. "Exactly."

Aisha tilted her head. "But… how do we know how much something is worth?"

I smiled. A good question.

"In different places, prices change depending on several factors." I began sketching a simple chart on the tent floor.

"First, there's supply and demand."

I drew two arrows pointing in opposite directions.

"If something is rare but many people want it, the price goes up." I tapped one arrow. "But if something is common and not in high demand, the price drops." I tapped the other.

Aisha nodded excitedly. "Like water in the desert! Since it's so rare, it's super expensive!"

I grinned. "Exactly, Aisha."

Norn rested her chin on her hand. "Then… how do we negotiate prices?"

I continued drawing in the sand.

"There are a few ways to get the best price."

Never accept the first price offered.Check multiple vendors before making a purchase.Use information to turn the situation in your favor.

Aisha blinked in confusion. "Use information? How?"

I leaned back, smirking.

"Let's say you're buying an apple at the market. The vendor says it costs 5 silver coins."

Aisha nodded. "Okay, and then?"

I raised a finger. "But you know that another vendor is selling the same apples for only 3 silver coins. You can say, 'I can buy this cheaper somewhere else. Can you lower the price?'"

Aisha's eyes widened. "Ohhh! So we can make things cheaper by knowing other prices?!"

I laughed. "That's called bargaining."

Norn tapped her fingers against her knee. "So, if we know a product isn't selling well, we can pressure the seller to lower the price too?"

I smirked. "That's right, Norn. You're catching on quickly."

Norn grinned, looking proud of herself.

After finishing the explanation, I decided to have a little practice session.

I drew an apple in the sand and pretended to be a merchant. "Alright, you two are the buyers. Try negotiating with me."

Aisha immediately jumped forward, hands on her hips. "I want to buy an apple! How much is it?"

I pretended to think. "Hmm… Since you're such a cute little girl, I'll sell it for 7 silver coins."

Aisha gasped dramatically. "**Huh?! But you just said apples usually cost between 3 and 5 silver coins!"

I shrugged. "If you don't want it, I can sell it to someone else."

Aisha stared at me, pretending to think hard.

"Fine! How about 4 silver coins? I know other vendors sell it for around 5!"

I smirked. "You're clever. But the lowest I can go is 5 silver coins."

Aisha hesitated, then nodded. "Okay, I'll buy it!"

I patted her head. "Good job. You knew when to stop bargaining."

Norn stepped forward, looking determined. "I want to try too!"

I resumed my merchant act. "Oh, a strong little girl! Hmm… for you, the apple is 6 silver coins."

Norn narrowed her eyes. "I know apples sell for 3 to 5 silver coins. So I'll buy it for 3 silver coins."

I pretended to be shocked. "3?! That's too low! I'll be at a loss!"

Norn crossed her arms. "Then I'll buy it from someone else."

I laughed. "Alright, alright! I'll sell it for 4 silver coins!"

Norn grinned in victory. "Deal!"

I nodded in satisfaction. "You both learned fast. This will be useful in the future."

Aisha leaned against me. "Big Brother, you're so smart… I can't wait to try this when we reach the city!"

I smiled, gently ruffling their hair.

"Alright, tonight's lesson is over. Time for bed."

Norn immediately lay down, while Aisha wiggled around a bit before finally settling in.

As I watched them, a warm feeling filled my chest.

If we keep training like this—learning about life, math, magic, and swordsmanship—Norn and Aisha will grow into strong individuals. Even when we reunite with our family, they'll no longer be helpless children.

###

A thick fog surrounded the area, dense and suffocating, limiting visibility to only a few meters. The air was still, eerily silent—no wind, no rustling leaves, no signs of life.

Only the mist, and the uneasy feeling crawling up my spine.

We're lost.

I clenched my jaw. Damn it.

We had lost track of the main path, and without any clear landmarks, we had wandered into a place that felt wrong.

I slowed my steps, raising my hand to signal Norn and Aisha.

"Stop," I whispered.

They immediately obeyed, though Aisha looked restless.

"Big Brother… this place feels weird," Norn whispered, eyes sharp with caution.

I nodded. I feel it too.

I activated Mana Detection, extending my senses outward to scan for any living beings within a 100-meter radius.

And that's when I realized it.

We weren't alone.