I woke up, yawned and stretched my back. I checked my pocket watch placed on the desk and saw that it was now 5 in the morning. It seems that I was able to wake up at the same time as usual.
When I leave my room, Pero also comes out of the other door across the hallway. He was still rubbing his eyes, looking sleepy. But as soon as he saw me, he beamed at me.
“Good morning, Father.”
“From the looks of it, I guess you were studying until late at night again.”
“Yes. I have something I want to look into a little bit. It’s nice to have my own room.”
“Well, this is all thanks to Erna.”
It’s already been a week since I fought King Logas. The hideout was expanded by Erna’s magic, and now, each member was provided with private rooms. At first, Pero was reluctant to have a separate room, but now he seems to be enjoying his private space. This is a good thing.
We then go through the hallway and head to the living room. Erna, Freya, and Liz are already there drinking coffee.
“Hey, it’s strange that you two woke up early today. I think only Freya is usually here at this time.”
“Mmm, it’s because it is Mana’s festival today.”
Erna offers a cup of coffee to me and Pero with a smug expression. This is the first time I’ve heard that there is a festival though. I wonder what kind of event it is in the first place. I picked up the cup and put it in my mouth. The early morning coffee is really good.
“This festival celebrates the founding of Logas Kingdom and it also in celebration of the end of the year.”
“Founding of the kingdom huh. So there are festivals going on all over the kingdom tod—Eh? The end of the year?”
“It’s almost the end of the year, next month is the new year.”
I involuntarily spurt my coffee. I didn’t expect it to be the end of the year. That can’t be helped though. The reason for that is the climate of the kingdom. There is no summer, autumn, or winter here. The whole year is enveloped in spring-like cheerfulness. Therefore, I, who grew up in a country with four seasons, could not have noticed that it was almost New Year’s Eve.
But knowing that now, there will be a lot of things to do. It’s time to do some year-end cleaning and prepare for the new year. Also, New Year’s postcards…. uhm, well, is still necessary?
“Is there anything we need to do to welcome the new year?”
“Hmm, I guess it’s enough to eat something delicious and do some greeting.”
“Tsk, I was an idiot for asking you. Freya, do you know any other thing to be done?”
“What I usually do in the new year is go to church and thank the Creator Deity. We have to show our respect for the Creator of all things in this world you see.”
I see. I see. Then, I have to do my first shrine visit of the New Year huh. I knew there is a church in Mana, but I had never been there. Like the saying, “When in Rome, do what Romans do”, it’s better to obey so it’s not a bad idea to go and see it in the new year.
“What about you Liz? You’re from an aristocratic family in the kingdom, right?”
“On New Year’s Day, we eat cake and roasted chicken, and good kids get gifts.”
It seems that New Year’s Day and Christmas day are combined in this world. When I asked for a detailed story, it is said that a person known as “Red Cape” comes in the middle of the night and asks the sleeping child if it is red or blue. If you’re lucky enough to answer, a present will be placed next to your pillow. I’m tempted to say that it’s just a tale but when I think about it, it’s quite interesting. It is usually impossible to answer questions while sleeping. So, in other words, it is assumed from this story that kids will not receive a gift.
It may be fine in modern Japan, but the average family in this world cannot be called wealthy. There must be some parents who cannot even buy presents for their children. I guess that they have prepared an escape route for such parents in advance.
“Then, let me just ask, are there any gifts you want to receive from Red Cape-san?”
The four of them answered my question almost simultaeneously.
“I would like to have a new pair of boots. Mine are already tattered.”
“I want twelve colors of paint. I want to paint a proper painting soon.”
“……I, I really don’t have anything I want in particular. As long as Pero-sama is there, that’s enough.”
“Marry Oniichan”
Liz said something, but I decided not to listen. For the time being, I have to go to the city to start preparing for the New Year holiday.
We all get dressed and leave the hideout.
◇◇◇
Today’s Mana is full of people everywhere. Stalls are lined up on the streets, and in the small square, street and musical performances are being held. The gorgeous atmosphere excites both me and my companions.
“Hey, let’s stay in the city today. The main event of the festival is at night.”
“Okay. I guess once in a while is fine. But there’s a place we need to stop before that.”
I walked to the market with the four of them.
“Fuhahahahaha! That completely exhausted young lady over there! How about this vegetable!? I’ll sell it to you now at a discount!”
A shirtless man was selling vegetables with a voice that didn’t sound like a businessman. People buy goods in his store without looking at him.
“It’s been a long time, Arnold.”
“Mmm, that face, if it isn’t Shinichi Tanaka! You were alive afer all! I was worried because you didn’t show your face!”
“My bad. It took me a long time to clean up the aftermath of the battle you see. Today I came here to wholesale vegetables to you. Do you think we can do business?”
“I was about to make request from you! I was in trouble because customers kept asking me when the rare vegetables would be in stock! Now I’m relieved!”
Arnold continues the conversation as he strikes a pose. His muscles, which are as dark as ever, are wonderful. In particular, his latissimus dorsi muscles are so good that it makes me want to clap.
“Ugh, it’s creepy.”
“This is the only thing I really don’t get how Father feels…”
“I’m not interested in a man who isn’t fluffy.”
“Black pervert!”
The four of them complained. It is sad that his greatness cannot be understood. I immediately delivered the vegetables and received the money.
“Good! Everything has nice color and shine! I think this could be the featured product at tomorrow’s opening!”
“Opening?”
“Actually, my shop is going to open tomorrow! We plan to sell not only vegetables, but also meat, seasonings, and processed foods!”
Perhaps it is Kanzaki’s wisdom. He must have thought of introducing a supermarket in Mana. The question is whether self-service sales will be accepted in the city. It’s going to be a pretty big gamble, I guess.
“Are you on track to do so? All I can do is provide you with wholesale vegetables.”
“Don’t worry about that, as long as I have the skills and fresh vegetables, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes the best store in the kingdom! Please look forward to it! Fuhahahaha!”
His high-pitched laughter echoes through the market. It’s the only store that wholesales vegetables so I want it to be a success. We said goodbye to Arnold and went to the main street to eat.
“It’s such a long line! It’s like a snake.”
“That’s right, it’s a popular restaurant that represents Mana now.”
There were long lines at the three restaurants. The restaurants specialize in Japanese, Western, and Chinese food respectively. People enter as if they are swallowed up by the building. Since it is a festival, there seems to be a lot of customers today.
By the way, these were opened by the three disciples of Kanzaki. For a while after the restaurant opened, many people were resistant to the unfamiliar dishes. However, those who knew the taste spread the information by word of mouth. The restaurant’s popularity ignited then. Now it is said that even nobles come here incognito. It is doing amazing.
“Hmm, as expected, it looks like there are no seats available.”
When I looked inside the three restaurants, I saw that they were crowded with people. If we want to get in line, we may have to wait for an hour.
“Hey, this is so beautiful. Oh~, I really want it.”
Before I knew it, Erna was alerady standing in front of a jewelry store. A pink diamond ring is placed on a glass-walled display cabinet, and as she glances at me, she sighs while saying, “How nice…”.
It’s a blatant begging.
When I look at the price, it is surprisingly cheap. Right then, someone pulls on my robe.
“Me too. It’s unfair if just my rival.”
“I haven’t said I’m going to buy it yet.”
Well, both of them did a good job this year. I think it would be a good idea to purchase it with expectations for next year. When I entered the store and was about to order the pink diamond ring and a sapphire ring, a jewel in the store caught Liz’s eye.
“This is nice.”
“Star sapphire? It’s one digit different you know.”
“This is nice.”
“…………”
She stared at me with her eyes squinted. It seems that she is not going to give in in any way. I had no choice but to buy it. It’s an order of magnitude different, but it’s much cheaper than Mithril so it’s still okay. Besides, in the fight against the kingdom, her skills helped me a lot. It is my style to give what is appropriate to talented people.
“Which one do you prefer, Freya-san?”
“Pero-sama!? A-are you asking me!?”
“Yeah. I’m always indebted to you, so I’ll give you something, up to ten gold coins will be fine.”
Freya was so happy that she gasps in excitement. She stuck to the glass case and began to check the jewels. I feel strangely sad to see that this is the person who was once the duke’s knight guard. She debated between ruby and amethyst for about an hour before finally choosing a gemstone called light amethyst, which is more transparent. I don’t know why she chose it, but Ruby is more valuable. Freya slipped the ring onto the ring finger of her right hand and collapsed to the floor with a satisfied smile on her face.
“F-Freya-san!? Are you okay?”
“Oh, Pero-sama…… I don’t have any regrets anymore……”
After she said that, she fainted. She must have been very happy. Well, it’s great that she looks satisfied. I then look at Erna and Liz, both of them are smirking at each other as they showed off the ring on the ring finger of their left hand.
“Take a look at it. It’s Pink Diamond. It’s just as beautiful as me.”
“Foolish! Star sapphire worth more.”
“I lose if we are talking about the price, but I win if we talk about the stone’s meaning.”
“Meaning? I don’t understand.”
“The meaning of this stone is ‘perfect love.’”
“…..I’ve been deceived.”
Liz froze, perhaps in shock. Sigh. I feel like I need to stop them from competing over things that don’t really matter.
◇◇◇
“That’s about 10 silver coins in total.”
“Well, thank you.”
I receive the silver coins from Rodman. After leaving the jewelry store, we went to Rodman’s weapons store as usual. Then, as usual, I sold the items I had collected at the dumpsite, but I immediately noticed something unusual with the amount I received. The purchase price is clearly decreasing.
“I’m sure you’ve already guessed it. The price of iron has fallen recently.”
“I guess you have some iron left over because I picked up a lot?”
“That’s what I’m about to say. Thanks to that, we’re now able to provide inexpensive weapons.”
I had predicted that in advance. It’s not surprising. Besides, I’ve been waiting for this moment. This is because if weapons become cheaper, the number of adventurers will increase. Of course, metals have a certain price depending on the market price. If it is a weapon, the price will be doubled, including the processing fee. On the other hand, if there is a shortage of iron, the price will rise even more. Then the poor will not be able to afford it. Even if you are motivated, you can’t become an adventurer. Isn’t that a very sad story then?
But, what if the market is full of iron and weapons become cheaper? The answer? Even the poor will be able to become adventurers and make a lot of money. In addition, it has recently been reported that the mortality rate in the dungeons is also decreasing. I think that the perfect conditions are in place to make them debut as an adventurer. I can’t help but grin at the fact that the situation is in place.
“So, what did you want to talk about?”
“Oh, right. This is what I want to talk about.”
I remove the Bull King’s sword from my waist and places it on the counter. Rodman frowned as he pulled it out of its scabbard.
“It’s cracked. I thought it was pretty strong.”
“Well, I could have fixed it with some magic spell, but I left it like that so that you could take a look at it once.”
“I see. Then, what did you fight against?”
“It’s the Spear of the Water God, one of the Five Great Treasures.”
When I said that, Rodman stood up with his eyes wide open.
“Did you mess with a great treasure!? You’re really ridiculous you know!”
“Maybe. It’s true that I underestimated it though.”
“Goodness. So, what do you want me to do?”
“Well, about that…..”
I took a lump out of the bangle and placed it in front of him. It is a metal with a holographic pattern that reflects a dazzling amount of light around it. Rodman rolled his eyes and froze for a few seconds.
“T-this is…… Is it adamantite?”
“My comrade found it by chance. I wonder if you could make a sword out of it.”
“…………”
He falls silent as he looks at adamantite. Then Erna, who was behind me, pulled me backwards.
“Hey Shinichi! That’s what I found! I didn’t give you permission to use it!”
“I guess you were planning on selling it anyway, so I’ll buy it from you. There’s nothing to complain about.”
“I, I don’t need money. I can give it to you, I have a favor instead……”
Erna blushes and fidgets. Normally, she would ask for clothes, it is very unusual for her to ask for a favor.
“I want you to go on a date with me.”
“If that’s all you need, that’s easy. I’ll do whatever I want.”
“Really!? Is it really okay?”
“But I can’t do it right away. Let’s do so if I have time.”
She happily gives a small fist pump. When she calls it a date, it’s probably just going somewhere and having dinner. Even when I was a president, I was often invited by employees and secretaries, but it was mostly like that. However, I still wonder why I was never invited again.
“Just with rival…. unfair!”
“Fufun, if you’re frustrated, find adamantite.”
“I’m on! I’ll definitely find it.”
Sparks fly between Erna and Liz. It seems that a dispute broke out between the two of them again. I decided to ignore it because it was the usual thing anyway. Then Rodman coughs on purpose.
“I’ve decided. I’ll take on the task of making the sword.”
“I appreciate that. If you need anything, just let me know. I’m going to get it for you.”
“No, all I need is the Thunder Magic jewel and adamantite. There’s something more I need to tell you though.”
“What?”
“This can be said to be the creation of a new great treasure. In other words, it requires the technology of the founder dwarves, which is now thought to have been lost.”
“Isn’t it enough to just build it?”
“It’s indeed possible, but you won’t be able to bring out its full potential in that case. It’ll only become an imitation of a great treasure.”
If I were to make one, I would like to complete it as a great treasure. Rodman seemed to think like that more than I did.
“Isn’t the technology of the founder dwarves left anywhere?”
“…There’s only one place I can think of. It’s probably there, but you can’t go in. It will be difficult to do so.”
“Where is it? Tell me.”
“It’s in the basement of the Dartan Rock Kingdom’s castle. Rumor has it that the wisdom of the dwarves lies there.”
Ah, I see. Right under the royal castle of the kingdom of Dartan huh. I understood what Rodman meant when he said it’s difficult. The king of that kingdom is a man of quirks. I don’t think it will be easy. I’m going to ask Dal to bridge the gap again.
“Understood. I’ll take care on that matter first then. I’ll take this home for now, but I might have you start making the sword in the not too distant future.”
“It’s been a dream of mine to build a great treasure. I’m looking forward to it.”
Rodman’s eyes were shining brighter than usual. Maybe what he accepted was not only a commission, but it was also a challenge as a blacksmith. Imagining the emergence of the sixth treasure, we left Rodman’s shop.
◇◇◇
I went up to the roof of the inn and looked up at the sky. The sun has already set and the stars are already visible in the sky. The main event of the festival is expected to begin soon, but I have not heard any details about it yet. Erna, who was sitting next to me on my right, was waiting excitedly.
“So, what’s going to happen now?”
“Fireworks. Let me tell you, people from all over the kingdom gather to see this.”
I didn’t know that there were fireworks in this world too. When I looked closely, I can see that many people are gathered on the roofs of the other buildings as well. The direction they are all looking at is to the west of the city, just around where Mohed Great Dungeon is located.
“It’s time, it’s going to start.”
With Freya’s voice, a small ray of light rises in the sky. And then white flowers bloomed.
“It’s so beautiful……”
Erna’s gaze is riveted by the fireworks that go off one after another. Liz stares at it with wide eyes, as if it was the first time she’s seen it. Pero is fascinated by the flowers that bloom in the sky with his mouth open. Freya is …… well, she’s busy cuddling Pero’s fluffy tail.
“Ring…… Thank you ….…”
When I looked next to me, Erna shyly said that. Her left hand, which has a ring, rests on my leg.
“Thank you oniichan.”
Liz said as she put her hand on my leg as well. I don’t do much, but it feels good to be thanked. The two of them shifted their weight towards me. Somehow, I felt like I wanted to watch the fireworks forever.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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