The tasting party turned out to be a great success. Though I guess when it’s this much, it was really more of a feast than a tasting party.
Either way, time flies when you’re having fun, so before we knew it, it was time for everyone to go home.
“Thank you for all the delicious food today.” [Reinhart]
At the entrance of Gana Forest, Reinhart-san expressed his gratitude. From how full everyone looked, he clearly spoke for everyone.
“Haha, I don’t think I’ll be able to eat dinner tonight. I’ll have to apologize to Butts. But, well, once I show them the ingredients Ryouma-kun gave me, I’m sure they’ll be so excited they’ll forget all about me.” [Hyuzu]
“The Duke’s chefs cook well, after all, so I’m also curious how they’ll cook the ingredients from the Great Forest.” [Ryouma]
“Feel free to drop by and have a taste yourself anytime. Nothing could be better than to be able to get more ingredients from the Great Forest. Of course, we’ll pay you handsomely.” [Hyuzu]
“I’ll do my best to provide the highest quality ingredients possible.” [Ryouma]
I’ll be frequenting the forest anyway because of Cormi, so I might as well. We’ve also already established a base there, so compared to other adventurers, it’s not a huge ask.
If Eleonora-san can make it, communication will become more convenient too, and I’ll be able to focus on other things as well.
“Are you heading to Gimuru now, Ryouma-kun?” [Elize]
“Yes. I considered staying here for the night, but there are people waiting for me in Gimuru. Besides, with dimension magic, the distance isn’t really much of an issue, and I have my Rimel Birds too.” [Ryouma]
I had to keep the rimel birds cooped up in the Dimension Home while exploring the Great Forest. Of course, that was necessary for their safety, but still, I want to take this opportunity to let them out to fly freely in the open sky.
Also, I have plenty of people I’d like to deliver souvenirs to. I’ve made sure to store the souvenirs well, but it’s still best to deliver them as fresh as possible.
“Take care, Ryouma-kun. The sun might still be out, but it doesn’t hurt to be cautious.” [Elize]
When the Madam said that, Reinhart-san nodded, and Sebasu-san bowed. The four guards formed a ceremonial perimeter around them, then after a few seconds, they all either waved or bowed before leaving.
After that they teleported away, leaving behind only the wind for my companion. It felt somewhat lonely with how quiet it suddenly was.
“…Alright, time for me to head back too!” [Ryouma]
I released my Rimel Birds from the Dimension Home, and they soared eagerly into the skies. As I watched them fly for Gimuru, I used dimension magic to teleport after them.
And then, evening came.
I’ve already gotten used to long-distance teleportation. So with the help of my familiars too, I was able to get to Gimuru before the sun even set.
After greeting the guards, with whom I’ve become familiar with thanks to last year’s incident, I passed through the gates.
There were many places I needed to go, but my first destination was of course the laundromat.
As I walked, the structured cityscape stretched before me, and the sound of crowds, of people talking soon followed. The smell of the air here was different from the forest, whereas the forest mostly smelled of damp soil and trees, the city was a complicated mix of aroma from the more pungent tanneries and butchers to the open-air markets and the smell of other humans.
As I immersed myself in the contrast between the city and the forest, I soon arrived at the laundromat. It was still open, but the peak hours have already passed. No line of customers could be seen outside anymore. It was the perfect time to stop by – busy, but not overwhelming so.
“Welcome—” [Jane]
As I stepped inside, Jane-san, who had been sweeping the floor, greeted me energetically.
However, her voice trailed off as soon as she turned to look at me. Her eyes grew wide as she realized I wasn’t just a customer, and the broom in her hand froze.
“Ah! Everyone! The manager – I mean, the owner is back!” [Jane]
Jane-san nearly threw aside the broom in her excitement as she shouted. Her voice echoed throughout the empty shop, and soon, a rush of footsteps came from the back.
“Owner!!” [All Employees]
Before I knew it, I was surrounded by the employees who had come running out. They all expressed their relief at my safe return and welcomed me warmly.
“Everyone, the owner just got back.” [Carm]
But it was getting a bit too rowdy, so Carm-san stepped in to disperse everyone for now, then he led me to the reception room. There, I sat down with Carm-san and Yurdum-san and we briefed each other on what had happened.
“Nothing particularly unusual happened while you were away.” [Yurdum]
“If I had to mention something, there were a few troublesome customers. Apparently, they were adventurers who had recently moved to Gimuru from other towns. Their attitude toward our employees was unacceptable, so we’ve already banned them from coming back.” [Carm]
“A troublesome customer, huh…? That happened too when we first opened.” [Ryouma]
For a moment, I wondered if someone had organized something against us again like before, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.
“I heard a little about it too, but I don’t think that’s the case. The guy acted alone, and he pretty much just had a bad attitude as he tried to make passes at the women working here. There weren’t any signs of an organized effort to attack us. Even Fei-san confirmed as much.” [Yurdum]
“We dealt with him several times before outright banning him. He often stank of liquor.” [Carm]
“Oh, so he was just a drunk.” [Ryouma]
“Even if he comes back, our security team can handle it without issue.” [Carm]
A nuisance, but if a drunk is the most trouble the store has to deal with, then I guess it’s still plenty peaceful. That said, I do want to make sure affected employees receive proper care.
“Understood.” [Carm]
“As for me, wel first of all, I successfully completed my goal of returning home. However, due to the circumstances that arose, from now on, I’ll be traveling to and fro the Great Forest and the city.” [Ryouma]
I briefly explained Cormi’s situation to them.
Talking about my next trip right after returning might seem too soon, but since it’s already been decided, there’s no point in delaying it. The sooner they know, the easier it will be to prepare.
Carm-san, having grown accustomed to my actions, simply nodded and said, “Understood.”
“You don’t need to make that face. You’ve safely returned this time, so I won’t try to stop or oppose you.” [Carm]
“…Now I’m curious about what kind of face I’m making, but thank you.
That being said, since I’ll be away from the city even more than I initially planned before heading to the Great Forest, I’ll continue leaving the laundromat in your hands, Carm-san.” [Ryouma]
Next, I brought up the matter of Eleonora-san, who had officially been assigned to work with me.
I explained that she would be handling information management and secretarial duties in my absence. Additionally, I mentioned that I intended to delegate all non-laundromat-related tasks to her.
“Up until now, you’ve taken on secretarial duties while also assisting me with the laundromat. You have provided invaluable support in my other business ventures as well. I have absolutely no complaints about your work. In fact, you’ve more than made up for my shortcomings, and I am truly grateful for that.” [Ryouma]
“The pleasure has been mine… I have no objections to continuing to assist you, and I would still like to keep learning. However, since this is an assignment from the Duke’s family, refusing is not an option.
It’s a bit disappointing, but I’ve already prepared for the transition. She can start whenever necessary.” [Carm]
It seemed that while I was away in the Great Forest, Carm-san had already been contacted by the Duke’s household and made all the necessary preparations. Eleonora-san seems competent, but he was just as capable.
Still, when he said he “wanted to keep learning” does that mean I actually taught him something? I appreciate the sentiment, but when it came to running the shop, I honestly felt like I had relied too much on him. Well, no use dwelling on it now, I guess.
“Then, I’ll leave the transition process to you. As for the laundromat, I’ll be entrusting it to you, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be around anymore. If anything comes up, feel free to consult with me as usual.” [Ryouma]
That was the whole reason I had established the “Sales Department” and kept my position on record. I wasn’t cutting ties with the business. The atmosphere grew a bit sentimental, but there was no reason to be sad.
“Also, Yurdum-san, I have a favor to ask of you. Once she arrives, I’d like you to help Eleonora-san out for a while. While I don’t really mind the difference in statuses much, she still comes from a noble family, and your backgrounds are somewhat similar, so it might be better for you to approach her.” [Ryouma]
“Don’t worry, Boss. Just leave it to me. Which family is she from? There are all sorts of people even among the nobles, so knowing her background would be a huge help.” [Yurdum]
“She’s Eleonora Lansor, from the Lansor Baron family.” [Ryouma]
“Oh, her.” [Yurdum]
Oh? Yurdum-san seemed to recognize her, but at the same time, seemed trouble.
Welp, if there’s going to be a problem, I better hear it now.
“When I was attending the academy in the royal capital, she was two years ahead of me. I never interacted with her directly, but she was well-known, so I’d heard her name and some rumors. They said she was a stunning beauty, exceptionally intelligent, and not just academically gifted but also highly skilled in magic.
However, her family situation wasn’t very stable… Maybe because of that, she was also famous for keeping others at a distance. Even from afar, she gave off an intense aura of rejecting those around her. To put it bluntly, she seemed like a difficult person to approach.” [Yurdum]
“Is that so? I did feel a bit of a wall with her, but I wouldn’t say she was unapproachable.” [Ryouma]
“That was back when she was a student. Quite some time has passed since then, so she might have changed or adjusted her demeanor. Well, I guess we’ll just have to meet and see for myself.” [Yurdum]
Yurdum-san was good at handling social interactions, so he’ll probably be fine.
“By the way, is she really that skilled in magic? I haven’t heard anything about that from her or the Duke’s family.” [Ryouma]
“She was the top student in the academy’s magic division, so I’m sure of it. But you should ask her directly for details. Everything I know is based on rumors, and things get complicated when family matters are involved. Too much of my knowledge is speculation.
But if she’s been sent by the Duke’s household, they would have already verified that she has no major issues. There’s no need to worry too much.” [Yurdum]
That made sense. Perhaps it simply wasn’t relevant to her secretarial duties, so they never mentioned it. No need to overthink things.
“In any case, leave it to me, Boss. I’ll do my best to be of assistance.” [Yurdum]
“In that case, I’ll focus on preparing to handover my duties.” [Carm]
“Thank you, both of you. Once she arrives, I’ll set her up.” [Ryouma]
At that moment, there was a soft knock on the reception room door. When I responded, the person who entered was Shelma-san, one of the cooks.
“Excuse me for interrupting your discussion. I’m preparing dinner, and I was wondering if the owner would be eating here tonight.” [Shelma]
Oh, right. It was about that time. I appreciated the offer, but I was still full from the yakiniku I had with the Duke’s family. I’ll have to decline for now.
“Sorry, I had a late lunch today. I’ll have to pass this time. But I’d love to eat your cooking again soon.” [Ryouma]
“Understood. When you do, I’ll be sure to prepare something extra special to make up for today.” [Shelma]
“I’ll be looking forward to it.” [Ryouma]
Now that I think about it, I haven’t handed over the ingredients I brought back from the Great Forest yet. I should take care of that now.
“Oh, by the way, Shelma, I brought back a lot of ingredients from the Great Forest as souvenirs.” [Ryouma]
“Oh my, really?” [Shelma]
“Yes, a huge selection of fresh ingredients, straight from the source. I’m sure tonight’s menu is already set, but if you’d like, maybe some fruit for dessert?” [Ryouma]
I placed a basket of fruit on the table in the reception room. I still had plenty of Immortal Snake meat in stock, so I figured I’d take some out as well… but when I checked my item box, the butchered meat was nowhere to be found.
“Drats, looks like we used up the butchered meat.” [Ryouma]
“Oh, it’s alright. Just receiving such rare fruits is more than enough!” [Shelma]
“Well, it’s not that I don’t have any left—I just haven’t butchered the rest yet. But… where should I do it?” [Ryouma]
“Can’t you do it in the kitchen?” [Yurdum]
“It’s too big.” [Ryouma]
Seeing is believing, so figured it’d be just faster to show, so I summoned one of my Grave Slimes and had it produce a snake carcass.
“KYAAAAAA!?” [Shelma]
The moment the snake’s massive head emerged from the slime’s body, Shelma screamed for her life.
Oops. I should have probably expected that. Of course, a log-sized serpent would scare the hell out of a normal person.
By the time I realized my mistake, the security team had already rushed in, along with the other employees, curiuos about the commotion.
Everyone calmed down once I explained the situation and showed that the snake was already dead.
“Why don’t you ask Zeke-san if he’d let you use his place?” [Yurdum]
“Right. A butcher shop has the proper facilities, and it’s only two doors down.” [Ryouma]
Since I could also drop off some souvenirs for Zeke-san and his family, I decided to head over.
Before reaching the butcher shop, I passed by the florist next door, where I noticed the shopkeeper, Pauline-san, chatting with a few friends. It was unusual to see so many people gathered here at this time of day.
“Really, men are just—” [Pauline]
“Excuse me.” [Ryouma]
“—Huh? Oh, if it isn’t Ryouma-kun!” [Pauline]:w
“My, good evening.” [Housewife]
“I heard you’d gone for somewhere dangerous, but you’ve made it back safe and sound. That’s great!” [Pauline]
As soon as I greeted them, the group of ladies turned their attention toward me. They must have heard about my journey to the Great Forest through their network of connections. All of them were relieved to see me back safe, their enthusiasm rivaling a horde of Raptors in the wilderness.
Overwhelmed but managing to hold my ground, I briefly explained the situation.
“—And so, I brought back some souvenirs.” [Ryouma]
“You went through all that trouble just to bring us something? You’re too kind.” [Pauline]
“Not at all, you’ve always been good to me.” [Ryouma]
As we exchanged pleasantries, I took out a basket filled with fruit.
“Oh my, what do we have here?” [Housewife 1]
“Such vibrant colors… I’ve never seen these before.” [Housewife 2]
The basket contained three types of fruit:
– A cluster of five-fingered, banana-like fruit resembling a human hand
– Mangoes with deep splits in the center, resembling fangs
– Large, hairy, basketball-sized lychee-like fruits
While the striking appearance intrigued them, the women hesitated to try them.
“They may look unusual, but they’re all delicious. Would you like to sample one before taking them home? I have plates here.” [Ryouma]
“In that case, why don’t you use that table? There’s a knife in the lower shelf—go ahead and use it.” [Pauline]
With Pauline-san’s’s permission, I started by separating one of the banana-like fruit’s “fingers” and peeling it. To make it easier to sample, I sliced it into small round pieces.
“Oh, when you peel it like that, it looks simple enough.” [Housewife 2]
“It smells so sweet… Oh!” [Housewife 1]
“This is delicious! It’s soft, and I bet the kids would love it.” [Pauline]
The bananas were a hit. Next, I moved on to the lychee-like fruit. I scored the skin with a knife and peeled it off with my hands, revealing a smooth, juicy, snow-white fruit inside. Since it was too large to eat whole, I cut it into bite-sized pieces and offered them to the group.
“This is delicious too. The juice just bursts out.” [Housewife 1]
“The last one was rich and creamy, but this one is so refreshing.” [Housewife 2]
“This is exactly the kind of fruit you’d want to eat on a hot day.” [Pauline]
Finally, I sliced the mango-like fruit in half. The moment I did, its rich aroma filled the store. After scoring the flesh in a crisscross pattern and flipping the skin inside out to separate the pieces, I heard someone gulp.
“Something smells amazing!” [Leni]
“It’s coming from Mom’s shop!” [Rick]
Following the scent, Pauline’s daughter, Leni, and her son, Rick, came running in.
“Ah! Ryouma!” [Rick]
“Oh, it’s been a while!” [Leni]
“I heard you went somewhere dangerous alone, but you made it back, huh?” [Rick]
They made it sound like I was some reckless troublemaker, but since it was a dangerous place, I couldn’t exactly deny it.
“Well, as long as you’re okay. But more importantly, what’s that smell?” [Rick]
“It’s a souvenir from Ryouma-kun. These are fruits from his hometown.” [Pauline]
“Fruit? I wanna try some!” [RIck]
“Go ahead.” [Ryouma]
I handed them the diced mango pieces I had just prepared.
“It’s so sweet!” [Rick]
“I’ve never had anything like this before!” [Leni]
As soon as they took a bite, their eyes lit up with excitement. There was no need for elaborate descriptions, just those words and their delighted expressions was the best food review I could ask for. The sight of them so happy not only put a smile on me but also reassured me that all that trouble bringing these back was worth it.
“They’re soooo good!” [Rick]
“Rick, slow down a bit! How about you savor the fruits some more? And stop taking the fruits on my side!” [Leni]
“You two! Don’t be greedy!” [Pauline]
“Don’t worry, you two. There’s plenty to go around.” [Ryouma]
“Really!?” [Rick]
“Good grief, my kids are so gluttonous… But are you sure it’s okay?” [Paulien]
“I gathered plenty as souvenirs. Besides, these don’t last very long. They won’t spoil in just a day or two, but they’re better enjoyed fresh. So please, don’t hesitate.” [Ryouma]
“Well, if you say so. Thank you. But I don’t want to just take without giving back, so we’ll send something over from my husband’s shop later. Also, you can go ahead and use the butcher station. I’ll talk to my husband – just wait here a moment.” [Pauline]
“Thank you so much!” [Ryouma]
Pauline wiped her hands on a cloth and disappeared into the back of the store. Meanwhile, I shared some fruit with the other two ladies who had been chatting with her. A few minutes later, Pauline-san returned with Zeke-san.
“Hey there, Ryouma-kun. I hear you’ve brought some delicious souvenirs. You’re welcome to use my shop’s facilities. Also, as a butcher, I’m pretty curious about what exotic beast meat you’ve brought. Mind if I watch while you work?” [Zeke]
“Go ahead! This meat is part of the souvenirs, too.” [Ryouma]
With that, I successfully secured a place to work and proceeded to butcher the Immortal Snake.
After that, I spent the rest of the evening making my rounds, carrying heaps of meat, spices, and fruit like an off-season Santa Claus, delivering gifts to the people I wanted to see the most.
It’s true that being around others takes some effort, but the warmth of kind people is something you can’t experience alone.
The Great Forest might have its charms, but so does the city. After meeting everyone and being touched by them, I remember again just how true that is.
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