The Man Picked up by the Gods – Volume 3 Chapter 7

Reminder:
Regarding the schedule, it’ll come out every week and be posted on a random day. I’ve made a post about it before, you can check the announcements page for it.

Also, we’re right on schedule when it comes to the chapter releases. I haven’t missed a chapter..

Japanese Terms:
You’ll see a word, boke, used in this chapter. It’s a Japanese term from a kind of Japanese stand-up comedy called Manzai. In there is a funny man, called a boke, and a straight man, called a tsukkomi.
More Info: CLICK HERE

Shinkansen = Train in Japan
More Info: CLICK HERE

Suggestion:
Thanks for all the suggestions. I decided to go with Kureyn’s suggestion, Renauph.

The next day.

I passed the night safely inside the ‘Dimension Home’, and then I started moving again. It was a little past noon when the walls of Renauph came to sight.

For the meantime I’ll head over to Pioro’s store, but before that, I better wash myself with the cleaner slimes inside the ‘Dimension Home’. It’s not really appropriate to visit someone while being this sweaty and dirty.

After the cleaner slime shower ended, I went out of the ‘Dimension Home’ and walked towards the town’s gate. Showing the guard my guild card from the adventurer’s guild, I was able to pass by easily. Incidentally, I took the chance and asked the guard about the location of the Saionji Firm. The guard told me to walk straight until I reach a dead end, and then turn right, after which I should see the firm.

I thanked the man, and then went as he taught me. Walking through the wide road, a building surrounded by robust walls eventually came to sight. There was a great number of people carrying things in and out of that building. I don’t know what this building is, but this is probably the end of the street.

Going right from there, I found sign with the words ‘Saionji Firm’ written on it.

“It’s big…” [Ryouma]

Lined up were an astounding number of stores, selling different things. There were meat, fishes, dried greens, preserved food, seasonings, and more. There was even a small store in a corner selling side dishes. It seems that all of these together make up the Saionji firm.

“I wonder where I should enter…” [Ryouma]

For the meantime let’s try entering the spice store, and ask someone there. Why the spice store? Well, I figured it’d be best to go to a store where there aren’t a lot of customers, so as not to get in the way. And spices are expensive, so there won’t be a lot of people. In fact, there isn’t even a single customer.

“Ex–“ [Ryouma]
“Welcome.” [Somebody]

When I entered the store, a voice called out to me. While I was wondering where the voice came from, a girl came out from behind the counter. She’s most likely around mine and Elia’s age. The girl had flowing, blonde hair, a fair complexion, and… fox ears?

The girl appears to have been working on something as her hair was disheveled, and she was lightly fixing herself, when she came out of the counter.

“What business do you have with us today?” [Girl]
“My apologies, however I’m not a customer. I’ve been entrusted with a parcel from the merchant guild of Gimuru for Pioro Saionji-sama.” [Ryouma]
“Oh? So ya came with a parcel for dad? Thanks a lot.” [Girl]

Dad? This girl… she’s Pioro-san’s daughter!?

“Excuse me, but would you happen to be Pioro-san’s daughter?” [Ryouma]
“You know my dad?” [Girl]
“Yes. We’ve been acquainted recently.” [Ryouma]
“Oh, I see. Sorry for the late introduction, I’m the daughter of Pioro Saionji, Miyabi Saionji. A pleasure to meet ya.” [Miyabi]
“Ryouma Takebayashi, a pleasure to meet you as well.” [Ryouma]
“Ryouma… Where have I heard that name before? In any case, come inside.” [Miyabi]

Being guided by Miyabi-san, we passed through the deeper corridors of the store into the reception room. Then after a minute, Miyabi-san came back with Pioro-san. Fast! She told me to wait a bit when she went out, but… I didn’t have to wait at all!

“Ryouma, it’s been two months! Looks like you’ve finally dropped by Renauph.” [Pioro]
“Long time no see, Pioro-san. I just arrived actually. And I came here to set up a branch store.” [Ryouma]
“Oh, so you’re putting up a branch store here? Then in that case, lemme give ya a tour of this town’s merchant guild.” [Pioro]
“But before that, the parcel…” [Ryouma]

I opened my ‘Item Box’, took out the parcel I’ve been entrusted with, and handed it to Pioro-san.

“Oh right, what’s this?” [Pioro]
“I haven’t been told of its contents.” [Ryouma]
“Oh?” [Pioro]

Said Pioro-san as he opened the parcel. Inside was a letter. After Pioro-san finished reading it, he said

“Ryouma, it’s been tough on you recently, huh?” [Pioro]
“Oh, was it about my situation?” [Ryouma]
“Just about the recent stuff. The letter’s Granny Gri asking me to help ya out. I would’ve even without being asked to though.” [Pioro]
“Thank you very much.” [Ryouma]
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Oh right, lemme introduce you. This one’s my daughter. She’s a year older than you, but if ya ever need anything, ask her for help, k?” [Pioro]

Since the conversation’s turned to her, Miyabi-san, who was keeping from interjecting all this time, spoke.

“Dad, what do ya mean, “this one”? I have a name ya know, it’s Miyabi. You should at least use my proper name when introducing. ‘Sides, I’ve at least already properly introduced myself.” [Miyabi]
“Eh, really? Then what about this? Miyabi’s actually the daughter of the founder, so I named her after the ancestor.”
“What cha talking ‘bout all of tha sudden? I’ve never heard of that!” [Miyabi]

Eh, what? Is this a two-person comedy? Whatever the case, I can’t just not react.

“Did your ancestor achieve some kind of amazing exploit?” [Ryouma]
“Haven’t heard of anythin’ in particular. As far’s I know, she was just a pretty poster girl, who got married and lived in bliss while being taken care of by her family.” [Pioro]
“I see, so you wanted your daughter to live a happy life just like she…” [Ryouma]
“Wait, wait! That ancestor, Miyabi’s, dad is the founder, ya know? And right now, I’m Miyabi’s dad. So in other words, it’s as if I’m the founder!” [Pioro]
“Are you the one who’s being named after!?” [Ryouma]

Oops! I ended up throwing a tsukkomi!

“Excuse me.” [Ryouma]
“It’s fine, it’s fine. It was a pretty good tsukkomi. A little weak though. Lately, my daughter hasn’t been throwin’ her tsukkomis, so it’s not bad.” [Pioro]

Whew, that’s a relief. Wait, tsukkomi exists in this world? This is the fault of an otherworlder, definitely.

Tsukkomi, huh? In my previous life I had a boss from Kansai that would snap at people for letting a boke pass. I guess it’s become a reflex? It was really annoying having to deal with a boke while being busy with work… But then letting it pass would’ve wasted even more time, so there were times when I couldn’t help but throw a tsukkomi. But there were also plenty of times were I unconsciously ignored it, so I got unreasonably scolded a lot.

As I was thinking that, I shrugged the thought off, and went to the merchant guild with Pioro-san. Pioro-san led the way, and now we’re standing right before the building with high walls that was right before the Saionji Firm. It’s my second time seeing it, but as expected, it’s really big. In fact even if these walls were castles walls, they’d probably still be considered good quality.

I thought that to myself as I followed Pioro-san. When we got inside, I couldn’t help but be amazed at how even its interior was like a castle. After walking for a while, we got to the reception room, and Pioro-san spoke.

“How’s it? Amazing, right?” [Pioro]
“Yes. I thought the outer walls were like that of a castle’s.” [Ryouma]
“But of course. After all, this building used to be a fortress, ya know?” [Pioro]
“A fortress?” [Ryouma]
“ ‘xactly. A long, long time ago, during wartime, this place was apparently used as the frontline base. And this town was built at the site of that fortress. So they built this guild, that’s at the center of the town, with the fortress as reference.” [Pioro]
“I see.” [Ryouma]
“But there’s one more reason why the building was built like this. Take a look outside this window.” [Pioro]

The window Pioro-san pointed out was made with glass and was easy to look out of. When I tried looking through it…

“Amazing… It’s my first time seeing so many large-type magical beasts.” [Ryouma]

Outside the window were many magical beasts. From medium-type to large-type, and even the bird-type, Wyverns, which are thought to be of the dragon race were present. A saddle could be seen affixed to the Wyvern’s neck, and a number of people riding on them could be seen. This scene that felt like it was proclaiming, “This is a fantasy,” spread before my eyes.

“These magical beasts ‘ave all been gathered ‘ere all for tha sake of transporting goods.” [Pioor]
“All of it!?” [Ryouma]
“ ‘xactly. Flying magical beasts can transport things quickly, but several facilities are needed for them to work. Such as a place for them to wait, a place to load and unload the goods, and a terminal for them to land. So they referred to a fortress to build a place like that.” [Pioro]
“I see.” [Ryouma]

Magical beasts would definitely need a place to stay at. All the more so with large-types.

“With the structure having been designed specifically to transport goods using magical beasts, the founder of the Saionji Firm who ordered the construction of this town and made this all a reality, called it an “Airport”. What do ya think? It’s good taste, yeah?” [Pioro]

No, because that person didn’t come up with that name at all! But I can’t say that! Ah, in the future otherworld might think the same of my store, huh? Where they’ll see it and go, “That guy didn’t come up with this at all!” or something. Just like Pioro-san’s Manzai-like routine with his daughter, there seems to be traces of the otherworlders’ tone and casual actions.

“Airport, huh? It’s probably because a port city gathers a lot of things.” [Ryouam]
“So you understand!” [Pioro]

Pioro-san, being in a good mood, hit my back as a female employee of the guild entered. Talking business, the one who said I’d buy a store wasn’t Pioro-san but me. She was slightly surprised at the start, but after that everything went smoothly and we were able to finish the procedures. From the looks of things, since Pioro-san was able to see the state of the store I’d bought before, the store seems to have been prepared beforehand, and we were able to smoothly finish the deal after deciding on the purchase.

After that, I left the guild and went to the store I’d just bought.

The store I’d bought was 2 stories tall. The first story had space for the storage room and the store itself, while the second story was for the reception room and the office. Moreover, behind this store is the house used by the previous owner. That was also included with the purchase I made. Excluding the living room, that house had five rooms in total. It doesn’t seem feasible to give the employees individual rooms, but it seems to be normal to share a room with a few others, so there shouldn’t be any problems using it as lodging for them.

“Any problems?” [Pioro]
“None. It seems I’ll be able to make use of this store as soon as I make the furniture and the shelves. I’ll contact Gimuru immediately, so at the fastest, it’ll take three days, and at the slowest it’ll take 5 days at most before the employees come.” [Ryouma]

When Pioro-san heard my words, he inclined his head.

“Really? It should take three days just sending a letter from here.” [Pioro]
“There’s no problem on that front, because I have a superfast way to contact them.” [Ryouma]

As I said that, I opened my ‘Dimension Home’ and took out the Rimel Bird. I normally let them do as they want in the abandoned mine, but I took just one with me as a way to contact the others.

The name of this rimel bird is Drei. From what I’d heard before, it’s three in the German language. It kind of sounds cool, no? By the way the Nightmare Rimel Bird’s named Eins, meaning one. The other birds are Zwei, Vier, Funf, and Sechs respectively.

If you’re wondering why I suddenly named the Rimel Birds, well it’s because Elia sent me a letter saying she named hers. Apparently she used musical terms to name them. Because of the contract it’s possible to distinguish between different beats of the same type, so there’s no need to name them, but I figured I’d try naming them too.

While I was thinking that, Pioro-san fixedly stared at the Rimel Bird.

“Ha~, certainly, if you have a rimel bird you’ll be able to contact them quickly.” [Pioro]

The Rimel Bird can fly at 200kph to 300kph. When I used ‘Sensory Link’ and looked at the world through its eyes, the scenery felt like when I ride on the Shinkansen, so it’s probably around the same speed. Regardless, it’s definitely fast.

The Rimel Bird already flies fast normally, but when they used wind magic and ride on its tail wind, their speed goes up even more, and they’re able to fly even further. If I ask the Rimel Bird, what would take a carriage three days would only take them until morning by tomorrow, if fast, then it could even get there by the end of the day.

Taking a pen and ink out of my ‘Item Box’, I wrote a letter. Then I took out a small pipe and a metal fitting with a red cloth attached to it. I inserted the letter into the pipe, and attached it to Drei’s leg. Lastly, I rolled the red cloth onto Drei’s neck, and affixed it with the metal fixing. With this the preparations are complete.

That cloth I put last is the sign that it’s a magical beast used for communication. If I don’t attach something that stands out, it might cause a commotion when it enters the town, and get shot by the guardsmen.

So with this, all the preparations are completed, and I went out of the store to send Drei off.

“I’m relying on you.” [Ryouma]
“Piroro!” [Drei]

Drei chirped as if replying to me, then he flapped his wings, and flew into the skies. It revolved in the sky once, going faster and faster, and then it headed over to the direction of the Town of Gimuru, until I could no longer see it.

“Good.” [Ryouma]
“All that’s left is waiting then.” [Pioro]
“Yes.” [Ryouma]
“Ryouma, didja book a hotel already?” [Pioro]

Ah, not good. I forgot!

“I forgot.” [Ryouma]
“Then, how ‘bout stayin’ over at my place then?” [Pioro]
“Is it alright?” [Ryouma]
“Of course, no need ta be reserved.” [Pioro]
“Then, I’ll take you up on your offer.” [Ryouma]

Like this I decided to accept Pioro-san’s offer and stay at his house.