It had been a month since I asked Jered papa to help me make Reversi sets, and every day since then, he and I had been working on them nonstop.
And just around the time we were both starting to hate Reversi――Ralina-chan’s father, who was a merchant, came to visit our house.
「It’s been a while, Alexis-san」
「…………? Ah, ahh, it’s been a while」
For a second I thought, 『Who’s Alexis?』, but of course that was my real name… one I had nearly forgotten myself.
Ralina papa was a very polite man, the kind who even used honorifics when speaking to a seven-year-old like me.
His gestures and tone gave off the aura of a capable businessman. He just seemed like the kind of person who’d look good in a suit and glasses. Well, unfortunately, this world didn’t have suits. And being an elf with sharp eyesight, glasses were probably out of the question too. A shame, really.
「Ralina is always in your care. I hope she hasn’t been causing you any trouble?」
「No, no, not at all. Ralina-san has been very kind to me」
Across the table, Ralina papa and I bowed to each other.
For reference, it was my parents, me, and Ralina papa seated there. My parents had been talking with him for a while, and now I had been called to join.
So, what business did Ralina papa have with me? …Honestly, I had a bad feeling about this.
「I am often away from home, and I know that leaves Ralina lonely. Without Alexis-san, I fear she would have been even sadder. I cannot thank you enough」
「Oh, please think nothing of it. It’s really nothing. Ralina-san is my friend, after all. We’re just playing together」
I let out a hearty laugh.
…For some reason, whenever I spoke with Ralina papa, my character seemed to change. Probably because he spoke so politely, and I ended up matching his tone without realizing it.
Ahh, my parents were giving me suspicious looks again…
「I hear that you recently gave her something wonderful…」
「…Did I? Did I do something?」
For a moment I thought I saw a glint shine off Ralina papa’s glasses. …But no, he wasn’t actually wearing any.
――Still, I could clearly feel his expression shift, from that of a father to that of a merchant.
「Reversi. It’s remarkable. I heard Alexis-san thought it up and crafted it yourself. When I returned to the village after some time away, I was surprised to hear Reversi this, Reversi that, everywhere I went」
「Hahaha. Everyone’s enjoying it for now, but it’s just a toy made by a child, isn’t it? They’ll probably get bored soon enough」
「Is that so?」
Ralina papa smiled warmly. I smiled too. …Only, neither of our eyes were smiling――
「Alright, stop. …Why are you two fighting for the lead like that? Calm down a little, will you?」
Sensing the strange tension between us, Father stepped in.
「Ah… no, my apologies. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but I suppose I got caught up in Alexis-san’s atmosphere… Ah, so this is what Ralina meant by Alexis-san’s pretend play…」
「Yeah, sorry. Both you, Father, and you too, Ralina papa」
I see, I hadn’t noticed, but I really was playing along like it was pretend play. …No wonder it felt kind of fun.
「So, in the end, what exactly is this about?」
I asked Ralina papa again, this time without stirring up any weird atmosphere.
「Yes. About that Reversi of yours, would you consider selling it in other villages as well? I thought I might be able to help with that」
「Other villages, huh…」
Well, of course. I figured that’s where this was going. A nationwide Reversi rollout… Hmm…
「Oh? You don’t sound too enthusiastic」
Seeing me cross my arms and brood over it, Father asked curiously.
Well, it wasn’t a bad deal. Ralina papa was trustworthy, and Reversi was bound to sell.
「We’ve listened carefully and didn’t see any problem with it. Besides, Alec, didn’t you want to spread Reversi to the whole world?」
「Eh…? Ah, yeah. That’s right」
Come to think of it, not long ago I really did think, 『As a reincarnator, it’s my duty to spread Reversi』.
Now, I honestly didn’t care anymore. I didn’t even want to look at it.
「If we do start selling in other villages… who exactly will be making all those Reversi sets?」
That was the only real issue.
「If you give permission, I plan to commission a workshop I know」
「Ah, I see」
Well, then, that’s fine. Let’s sell. Honestly, that part was more important to me than any of the contract details. …Not that we’d discussed any contract details at all yet.
Anyway, as long as I didn’t have to make them myself, there was no problem.
I’d started to worry that my whole life might end up being nothing but making Reversi sets. If a workshop could mass-produce them, that was perfect.
Good, good. Not exactly how I planned things, but at least this way I’d be freed from the infinite Reversi hell.
Jered papa would probably be glad too.
There was that time I teased him by calling his weapon shop a 『home center』, but lately it had been turning into a 『Reversi shop』 instead…
Next chapter: Reversi Royalty
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