The next morning.
“Thank you for your help.” [Ryouma]
“Don’t come back anymore.” [Guard]
The guard seemed like a straight-laced person at first glance, but he seems to be a good person. Or maybe it’s just his nature, I don’t know. He’s a bit hard to understand.
Anyway, I thanked the weird guard, then I went back to the store.
Last night I went home really late and got attacked on the way back home, so the guard had me stay the night at their office, saying, “Think I’ll let you go home alone after that?”
Oh, and I wasn’t made to spend the night in jail. They gave me a proper room with an actual bed. Apparently, it was mean for innocent people to use since they couldn’t just release someone after an incident even if they weren’t guilty. In fact, it was best for them not to.
“Good morning!” [Ryouma]
“Boss, good morning. You sure are early today.” [Leelin]
“Good morning, Boss. Did something happen?” [Carla]
When I got to the store, I happened upon Carla-san and Leelin-san.
I explained to them what happened last night, and when I got to the part that I was attacked…
“I believe we should talk about this with everyone. I’ll gather everyone right now. Please wait a bit.” [Carla]
Carla-san left the room. When she came back, she’d brought everyone with her.
“Umm… What are we going to be discussing?~” [Maria]
“We’re not getting fired, are we?” [Jane]
“You don’t have to worry about that. Now then, Boss. If you will.” [Carla]
I explained what happened last night again and a different kind of tension filled the room.
“And so, as you can see, I got away safely. Not a single scratch on me. But everyone should take care from now on to leave only when it’s bright outside and only when there’s a lot of people passing the streets. Oh, and Fei-san, Leelin-san. The two of you might have to work as guards more often now.” [Ryouma]
When I saw them nod, I continued.
“I’m considering increasing the number of guards, but that’s another topic for later. Also, as mentioned just now, the guild master of the adventurers guild happened to be present last night, and today also happens to be the day for the regular meeting of guild masters to be held at the merchants guild, so I will be heading there later afternoon to seek counsel. I would like to ask either Carla-san or Carm-san to accompany me.” [Ryouma]
“In that case, I’ll go. Carm can take care of the store.” [Carla]
“Alright.” [Carm]
“Lastly, Shelma-san.” [Ryouma]
“You need me for something?” [Shelma]
“I asked the guild master what gift to bring to the meeting, and he told me to bring food, so I’d like to use the kitchen.” [Ryouma]
“In that case, let me help too. We can make the store’s lunch together.” [Shelma]
“Well that about sums it up. I’ll let you know the results of the meeting later. Also, if you notice anything strange – no matter how small – please make sure to report it… It’ll probably get busy again, but do keep up the good work.” [Ryouma]
“Yes!” [Everyone]
After letting everyone know what happened, it was time to prepare for the store’s operation. While everyone busied themselves with work, I followed Shelma into the kitchen.
“Enter.” [Grisiera]
“Excuse me.” [Ryouma]
When I got to the merchants guild, unlike usual, I was first asked to wait at a separate room, then I was led to another room. It would be my fist time visiting this room.
When I got to the room, a large long table could be found inside, and the guild masters I’ve been acquainted with were gathered around it. They offered Carla-san and I a seat, which we took.
“Now then, I know full well why you were called here, but first… Comes food!” [Wogan]
“Wogan, you’re really…” [Grisiera]
“Isn’t it fine? The meeting is over anyway. We’re all gathered here for private business, and we can just talk while eating.” [Wogan]
At that, I took out the food from my Item Box and distributed it to everyone.
“Guild master.” [Ryouma]
“Call me by my name here. If you call me guild master, we won’t be able to tell who you’re referring to.” [Wogan]
“Alright. Wogan-san, I’ve prepared a sausage soup and bread for you.” [Ryouma]
“Oh! Sounds delicious.” [Wogan]
“My cook did her best making it. Grisiera-san, your meal is over here. Taylor-san, this one is yours.” [Ryouma]
“Oh my, you made me a hamburger. It’s like a festival. It’s frighteningly soft, though…” [Grisiera]
“Hmm… And this bread with raisins kneaded into it. It’s crunchy like a pie and goes well with the tea.” [Taylor]
Grisiera-san had weak teeth, so we prepared something soft for her, while Branch Head Taylor had a small appetite, so we prepared something light for him.
Or at least, that’s what Wogan-san told me to do. I wonder if this is really alright.
“Hmm… this bread. It doesn’t smell like seed at all.” [Wogan]
“This one too.” [Grisiera]
“We made today’s bread using yeast.” [Ryouma]
The seed they mentioned is a kind of seed that functions just like yeast cell, and is sold as bread seed.
It’s used by cracking the seed and adding its contents into the dough mixture. It’s easy to use, easy to preserve, and easy to transport, so it’s commonly used to make bread.
Compared to that, the bread we’re using today is made from natural yeast. Well, even though I say natural, both the seed and the yeast are technically natural. After all the yeast is made by cultivating fungi for fermentation and a seed is a natural product of nature, so… Whatever. Anyway, I added water to wheat and raisin, then I allowed it to ferment naturally to create the yeast.
“I’ve had more time and money lately, and unlike when I was at the forest, I can just order stuff from the store nowadays, so I can do stuff now that I couldn’t before.” [Ryouma]
Making yeast would normally take a week, and would require one to stir the pot once a day everyday, so it wasn’t something I could afford to do back in my previous life when my work schedule wasn’t fixed and I didn’t know when I wouldn’t be able to come home. It was for the same reason that I really admired the thought of making charcoal.
But after leaving the forest and living in town, where it’s easy to procure the necessary tools and ingredients, and making enough money to spare, as well as having the time, there was no longer any reason for me not to do stuff like this.
I’ve also been doing other stuff like buying ingredients and creating stuff from reagents in order to understand the medical efficacy of stuff and learn the ingredients used in certain products.
In short, I’m no longer living like I used to in my previous life, where I simply went back and forth between work and home!!
“What are you looking all happy for when you were just attacked yesterday? What a carefree child you are.” [Grisiera]
“This is this, that is that.” [Ryouma]
“Good grief…” [Grisiera]
“It doesn’t seem like there are any problems, though.” [Taylor]
Problems?
“They’re talking about what to think about you being attacked in the dead of the night. I told them not to worry, but…” [Wogan]
“I can only say that that opinion is based on hindsight, as we weren’t there last night.” [Grisiera]
“After all, no matter how much support we offer, if the person himself decides to withdraw, our good will will be nothing more than us sticking our nose where it doesn’t belong.” [Wogan]
“Alright, alright. Anyway… These two were worried sick last night about you suddenly deciding to close the store after being attacked.” [Taylor]
“Well, yes. After all, you were directly threatened, so we wanted to know how you feel after such an ordeal.” [Grisiera]
“Who would’ve thought that you’d be completely unfazed.” [Taylor]
“Well, yeah. I mean after getting so much support, I couldn’t possibly just go and say ‘I quit!’ just because I was attacked, right? That’s just too selfish. There are also people working under me. If I were to just up and leave just like that, they’d be left without any ways to make a living. And besides, I came here today specifically to talk about the things to come.” [Ryouma]
“Alright, alright.” [Grisiera]
As Grisiera-san said that, she laughed in astonishment.
Tl Note: PDFs and ePUBs updated. Credits to Byggvirr and a kind reader.
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