I see…… This is nice.
Magnificent wooden architecture, long corridors, shoji screens, fusuma doors, and the custom of removing one’s shoes at the entrance…….
While slowly admiring the splendid Japanese garden, I step into the tatami room.
「Allow me to apologize once again for earlier. I am Gouki, father of Yuuki.」
「Please do not worry about it. I am Shinomiya Itsuki, an alchemist from Einzheil. I am truly grateful for the delicious rice you always deliver.」
Well, if my own daughter started showing a woman’s face because of some man somewhere, I could understand the reaction. Since nothing actually happened, I will simply pretend I did not see what occurred earlier.
……If a man like that ever appeared around my daughters with Wendy and the others, I do not have any confidence I could stop at the same level as Gouki-dono just now.
My future daughters will definitely be adorable, after all!
Any man who approaches those daughters? And on top of that, a man who keeps women around him? Hahaha.
I would never let it slide……
Still, judging from Gouki-dono’s actions, that kind of behavior might make his daughter dislike him……?
What is this ultimate virtual dilemma……!
「Haa…… Father. In the first place, our guest currently has Yae-sama possessing him, you know? That was extremely disrespectful.」
「Yae-sama was the type to say 『Come at me however you like!』 so I could not help myself…… Back in those days, she would gather warriors and thoroughly enjoy sparring with them. Then she would laugh cheerfully and say 『Kaka! Your movements have improved from before, but you still have a long way to go』 while mocking them.」
Heh, so Yae used to speak like that.
Hmm? What? Are you feeling embarrassed? Please stop slapping my back so hard with your tail.
It is making me feel happy.
「G-Gouki-dono, have you met Yae-sama before?」
「Yes. Only once. She held a test of strength by gathering warriors to attack her, then cheerfully laughed while mowing them down left and right with her vermilion Japanese umbrella. At the time I was not strong enough, but the current me would very much like to challenge her. Come to think of it, my wife also challenged her once, but she was dismissed instantly for being too slow.」
Ooh……
So even Yuuki’s mother, Yuzuki-san, had challenged Yae.
With that great hammer of hers, I suppose?
I can hear loud booming sounds, ‘doshin doshin’, coming from a little distance away. She is really going at it hard……
「I only saw her a little when I was small, but she really was a martial type, wasn’t she……」
「I have no memory of it at all…… Mother was strong enough but to be dismissed in a single blow…… If she were still alive and well today, I would very much like to challenge her as well.」
Being praised so much, Yae’s tail-slapping gradually grew stronger.
She must be embarrassed from hearing old stories about herself.
I can understand the feeling, but even if she complains to me about it, there is not much I can do. Still, Yae is pretty cute when she acts like this…… Wait, that is starting to hurt, you know?
Also, you have messed up my back from hitting it too much, so let us clean and groom it properly later, okay?
「Now then…… I have received instructions from Tachibana-sama regarding souvenirs, but as an apology for earlier, is there anything in particular you desire? I will prepare anything you wish.」
「Mmm…… The rice is included in the souvenirs, right?」
「Of course. It even includes the highest-grade rice that is normally only supplied to the castle. The rice we usually serve is already good, but the sweetness, umami, and aroma are on another level.」
「Oh…… That sounds very exciting.」
「Any drifter who loves rice would surely be satisfied.」
Now that really raises my expectations.
I should ask Hayato, Hikari-chan, and the others to come as well.
Now, what else……
Mmm…… It seems I can get quite a few delicious things as souvenirs……
I already received some excellent woodworking pieces from the boss, so other than that……
If I were not receiving souvenirs, I would have asked for a large amount, but……
「Mmm…… I do not have anything in particular.」
「No no no, m’lord. This is a huge chance. The great merchant Gouki-dono has not only loosened his purse strings but left the doors to his treasure vault wide open while turning his back and looking away! This is the perfect moment to ask for something. That is how you close the deal!」
「Are you really saying that right in front of the man himself? That said…… Ah, I would like some soba flour.」
「Soba flour!? After coming all the way here, soba flour!?」
What do you mean? Soba is delicious, you know?
There is no soy sauce here, so I probably cannot make mentsuyu, but I can make it myself, and both cold and hot soba are great.
Since the opportunity is here, maybe kitsune soba…… Wait, fried tofu is made from soybeans……
Ah, do not worry. I am not going to eat you, okay?
「Soba flour, is it? Of course we can prepare it…… However, you seem to be receiving mostly food items. Will storage be all right?」
「Yes. I have a convenient magic tool that stops the passage of time, so there is no problem no matter how much I take.」
「Oh, that is extremely convenient. As a merchant, I am quite envious. It greatly reduces the risk. Did you make it yourself, perhaps?」
「No no. There is no way I could make something like that.」
Well, it is not a magic tool but a magical space, after all.
The refrigerator called the 『Item Box』 at Hayato’s place should also be able to store things in a state where time is stopped. However, that one was found inside the large magic bag we obtained from the deepest part of the dungeon, so it is probably the only one of its kind in the world.
「I see…… In that case, storage should not be a problem. We will increase the amount of food souvenirs. And…… if you ever decide to create that magic tool, I will provide the funds!」
「Ah…… I basically want to take things easy…… If I happen to make one someday, I will send it to you.」
「That would be most welcome. If you like, I can also purchase any items you usually make.」
「Mmm…… The products that provide me with stable income are already under exclusive contracts…… I can offer accessories, though. How does that sound?」
「Accessories, you say. By the way, what is your alchemy level?」
「It is 9. For medicine, I can make something on the level of a panacea.」
「Ho ho…… That is quite impressive. Then I would very much like to see them.」
The other party is a great merchant…… which means there is a high chance he would buy higher-level items than what I sold at the street stall.
In that case, I should not hold back here.
「Then…… here are a few pieces I made recently……」
『Absolute Immutable Earrings Indestructible Great Strength Increase』
『Absolute Immutable Necklace Indestructible Great Stamina Increase』
『Absolute Immutable Ring Indestructible Great Agility Increase When all three Absolute Immutable accessories are equipped, additionally grants Great increases to Strength, Stamina, and Agility』
The production period was one week.
I tried giving them a similar shape to create a sense of unity, and these were the abilities that appeared.
A series item…… I suppose that is what you would call it?
Well, I also made plenty of failures, but those can still be sold, so there is no loss.
「These are…… far more incredible than I expected…… The indestructible property is impressive enough, but the ring’s performance is especially……」
「The effects are good, but…… they end up too expensive to sell to ordinary people……」
「I see…… And the fact that the full effect only appears when all three are purchased shows excellent business sense……. Very well. How about 3000…… No, to make it neat, 100 million nohl for all three?」
「……That is fine with me, but…… are you not overestimating their value quite a bit?」
「Yes. This is already my absolute limit. Please consider it as part of my apology as well.」
Well, I was no longer bothered by that…… but as Shion said, it might not be a bad idea to settle the deal here.
Even so, I still think the price is high enough that it could easily lead to a loss if not sold properly…… but if he says it is fine, then I should gratefully accept.
「Then, the deal is settled. Thank you very much.」
「If you create anything else that cannot be sold to the general public, please bring it to me. I will buy anything at a fair price. I will tell the gatekeepers to let you through anytime.」
We firmly shook hands, and the transaction was complete.
I had hoped to build a sales channel when we met, but selling something unexpected in an unexpected place was a great success.
With these as a foundation…… I will have to make accessories for everyone as well.
Once we return to Einzheil, I will need to go buy some ores from Roukaku.
「Wow…… We obtained a huge sum of money in the blink of an eye…… My sense of money is really going to go crazy……」
「I thought Hayato-sama was an extraordinary person because of how much he bought, but you truly are a skilled alchemist…… I would like to see some reasonably priced accessories as well.」
Nn? Does she mean something for Yuuki-san to wear?
If so, I can make them at a somewhat discounted rate.
「Ah…… Yuuki. Take these.」
「Eh!? You are giving them to me?」
「I have been thinking about giving something to my daughter who is heading out on adventures again. Do not worry. Their performance is excellent. Considering your safety, this is cheap.」
Ah, I see.
So that is why he bought them at the listed price.
And from next time onward, it will be at fair market value. I understand now.
This Gouki-dono must be incredibly doting on his daughter.
The earlier incident was also because he was thinking of his daughter, and he can casually spend 100 million nohl for her sake. This must be what they call a doting parent.
「……m’lord? I know a certain fool who casually spent 500 million nohl for Wendy-sama, you know?」
「……Do not read my mind. Also, she is not my wife yet.」
「Yet…… That means there is still a chance for me to become the legal wife! Shion-chan will do her best!」
I have no intention of deciding who becomes the legal wife or anything like that…… Well, I am a little scared of what she might do, but I will look forward to it.
「It is a good day indeed, having made the acquaintance of such a skilled alchemist. I would like to see more magic tools as well, but my wife would probably get angry if I bought any more…… By the way, what do you think of Amatsukuni? You must have looked around quite a bit.」
「It is a wonderful place. I am enjoying myself very much.」
「You visited Kagetsu-dono the other day, correct? As a craftsman, one must see the work of Amatsukuni’s renowned master woodworker Kagetsu-dono, I suppose?」
「Ah, no. We actually became acquainted back in Yutopola, so I simply stopped by to say hello since I was already in Amatsukuni.」
「I see…… You seem to have quite the connections.」
「I wish it were only good connections…… m’lord is blessed with strange connections as well, so I worry about what the future holds……」
「Strange connections? You……」
I wonder who exactly she is talking about.
Well, Reagaia and Cassandra the earth dragons are probably included, but I feel like the three royals, Iris, Sicilia, and Koren, are likely part of it too.
「Ah! Please excuse me! I invited a guest and have not even served tea……! I will brew some right away!」
「Ah, please do not trou…..」
Before I could finish saying “trouble”, Yuuki-san stood up from seiza in an instant and disappeared.
As expected of an adventurer. Yuuki-san is quite strong too.
「……By the way, honored guest. What kind of man is this Hayato you mentioned?」
「Eh? Hayato? From a man’s perspective, he is a good man.」
This…… He was waiting for Yuuki-san to leave the room……
「Hmm…… I heard he is a hero. Is he not an arrogant man who looks down on others because of it?」
「Not at all. He is a good guy. He is straightforward and a little clumsy, but he has a strong core, and above all, he is a man who can truly cherish those important to him.」
「Is that so……」
「Well…… A daughter will eventually leave to marry someday…… However, if a grandchild is born, Gouki-dono will probably dote on them so much that he turns into a puddle of affection, won’t he?」
「Mu…… Grandchild…… A grandchild, you say……」
Such stern-faced fathers usually turn into complete doting grandpas. It is practically a rule.
I could already imagine him speaking in baby talk, but picturing Gouki-dono, who looks like a guardian deity statue, using baby language creates an incredible gap.
「They will definitely be adorable, you know～?」
「……Indeed. If he is the man my daughter has chosen, and you speak so highly of him, then he must be an exceptionally good man. If he comes to greet me…… suuu…… haaa…… I suppose I would have no choice but to approve…… Still, a grandchild…… A grandchild, you say…… Nufu.」
His stern face slackened into a foolish grin. He was probably in the middle of imagining himself spoiling his future grandchild.
「Yuuki’s child…… I would not even mind if they poked me in the eye!」
「……Wha…… Wh-wh-what are you saying!? I am still unmarried! I will not marry until I have mastered the martial path!」
Oh…… Perfect timing, Yuuki-san.
You dropped the tea, you know?
And Shion somehow managed to save two cups from spilling and placed them in front of me and herself.
Is your foot not hot?
「S-Such a thing! My grandchild!」
「Wh-What grandchild!? First of all, the other party…… the other p-party……」
「You are in love with a man named Hayato, are you not? You should bring him next time…… If he is the man you have chosen….」
「B-Bring him!? We are nowhere near the stage of greeting my parents! I have not even conveyed my feelings yet!」
「What!? As a woman of Amatsukuni, you must be proactive!」
「Precisely because I am a woman of Amatsukuni, I should take a step back and let the man take the lead!」
Yeah, yeah.
The positions reversed in the blink of an eye.
「M’lord…… How do you plan to settle this?」
「Hmm? I am not doing anything. Oh, the tea is delicious. Yuuki-san is really good at making tea, huh.」
「I can make tea much better than this…… That is not the point……」
「Well, it is fine. Because soon……」
See, see. The sounds of combat have stopped, so it should be about time……
「……Dear? Yuuki? What are you two shouting about in front of our guest? Have you already forgotten your reflection from earlier……?」
「……Ah, I see.」
「Yeah. I figured Yuzuki-san and the others would be back soon, so I was thinking of asking you to handle the cleanup.」
「What a schemer……」
Fufufu.
Well, I have dealt with Gouki-dono, who could have become an obstacle for Yuuki-san in the future, so the rest is up to her to handle herself.
All that is left is to casually bring up the highest-grade rice when eating with Hayato.
I would rather not get kicked by a horse, after all.
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