After perusing, we somewhat ending up on agreeing on how much the local currency was worth. The local currency was called peko, and was a weird one. There was not lesser or greater denomination of it, and it was only worth about one fifteenth of an asti. It seems the new leadership quickly focused on phasing out asti, and gave small prizes for people who exchanged them for the new currency in the form of food, but no longer.

As we had grasped the relative worth of the peko, Patir stopped a random bypasser and asked where the merchants usually lodged, before receiving a few directions.

“Merchants?”

“Aye, we’re still close to lands that use asti, so they will value them higher than the local populace, especially if it’s on route. Even gives me an idea for a business, exchanging coins for the ones they need for a small fee, and if I thought of it, somebody else probably did too. Hopefully a lot thought of it…”

“Why is that better?”

“Because then they would be competing with themselves, and the customers would choose the ones with the lowest prices, so we could get a better deal.” It makes sense, but I don’t think I would have thought of it.

I look back on the two girls walking behind us, both quiet. Yasia seems to be embarrassed to be in public this dirty. We did spend some two weeks travelling without a change of clothes for her after all, and Kassa in her robes is uncharacteristically quiet. Maybe she is trying to lay low.

“What do you guys think?” I ask the girls, my head still turned over.

Yasia seems confused as to why I would ask and Kassa merely shrugs, not uttering a word.

“Hey, what are you asking?” Patir interrupts my bewilderment to their reactions.

“Womenfolk aren’t suited for handling money.”

I sometimes forget how sexist this world is. In fact, I think it has gotten worse compared to before I was sealed away, which I find strange. I always thought social issues like these would naturally become more progressive over time. I get an idea. I know women can be capable, but I haven’t seen any in this world without gifts do well for themselves independently. But I could say I have.

“Strange. A long time ago, it was relatively normal for women to handle money.” I smirk a little inside of myself for the clever ruse that might make my friend more tolerant, but…

“There’s probably a good reason they changed. If it was beneficial to leave such matters to women, they probably would have continued to be so.” I can’t think of a good way to respond. I feel shut down.

Eventually, we make it close to the gate facing south, where we were directed by the passerby. After a bit of investigating, Patir asking questions of various people who hang out around here, he is eventually directed to a weirdly small and tall building.

Upon closer inspection, it is merely sectioned off from a larger building, but many of the doors are very new, and when we enter, it seems the walls have same small age. They are less faded, less dirty. Maybe a bigger building was split up?

Inside there is little room, around 3 feet by 6 feet, and it is cut off by a wooden wall with only a small hole in the middle.

“Greetings. What might be your business here?”

“We’ve come to exchange some asti for peko.” Patir calmly says. This shop was the most used one from those Patir investigated, and thus we thought it was the cheapest.

“Is there a membership card?”

“Membership?” I ask confusedly.

“I’ll take that as a no. In that case, we will exchange 1 asti for 10 peko” The rate leaves a little to be desired. I’ve never exchanged money before, so I wouldn’t know what one could expect.

“What does a membership card cost, and what are the rates of it?” Patir asks, but regretfully receives the answer “Memberships are only by referral.” It’s strange having a conversation with someone behind a wall like this.

Patir grunts and says “very well then.” and starts pulling out a familiar chest from his backpack, the one that was supposed to be a bribe. I start searching for mine too, but Patir stops me.

“Can you exchange this much?” He asks, as he puts it down on the counter.

“I can’t tell how much it is…” Sounds the voice from beyond the wood. “If you would please count them and present it to me.” Patir sighs and start counting, I jump in too. Yasia and Kassa are standing still at the end of the small room.

After a few minutes, we have counted the total to 233 asti, which we announce.

“Please put them on the counter in front of the hole.” He asks. Patir seems a bit reluctant, but I assure him with a hand on his shoulder. ‘If they try to cheat us, I will bust down this wall in an instant.’ I whisper to him.

He puts the money down with a “No funny business, you hear?” before a stick with a small board at the end appears from the hole and rakes the money in.

“I will now confirm the amount, please wait.” I don’t understand.

‘Then why should we count them?’ I whisper to Patir. He doesn’t play by my whispering game and says.

“So that we can be sure we aren’t cheated, I guess.”

After a few minutes, the voice sounds again. “Confirmed, I will now pay out 2330 pekos.” And the rake from before appears and shoves money out. Curious, I gander through the little hole. I only catch a glimpse of a hand, but it is very small, like that of a child. But the voice we hear is clearly adult. A race I encountered long ago sneaks into my head.

“A Tarrun?” The hand abnormally freezes for a second, before continuing.

“The hell is a Tarrun?” Patir asks me.

“Ah, like human but smaller. They make good craftsmen, but aren’t as strong as humans.” The has finished pushing coins over.

“Out! Now! And don’t come back!” Seems the holder has taken offense at my guess at his identity, but we got our money, so we quietly leave.

“Well, on the menu for now is getting a place to sleep. In the morning, we will go the local hunter’s guild.” Patir thinks aloud as we leave. He sends a look over to the girls behind us. “Maybe a simple dress too.” I notice Yasia eagerly nodding.