I have heard a worrying story about the Rembrandt sistersâ personality.
I have confirmed it with a number of people, but the reputation of those girls is not good in general.
I am one of the people staying in Academy Town thatâs why I canât go ask directly, so I asked Tomoe and Mio as well as the eldwa managing the sub-branch, Beren, to investigate in Tsige.
And so today, since there were various reports arranged, Tomoe asked me to return to Asora and decide on a place to meet.
⊠Actually, recently I havenât stayed in Asora for long. No, honestly speaking, none. The most would be the occasional times I go to shoot the bow.
Itâs not like I have gotten into a fight with anyone. There was a more simple reason.
âShiki, can we go now?â (Makoto)
Even if I am trying to evade it, I still have business there so I have no choice. Thatâs why Shiki and I are returning.
âYeah, it is fine. I have already arranged the reports on our side. It should be okay to leave the business to Limeâ (Shiki)
â⊠Wait, you intent to open?â (Makoto)
It makes me uneasy, so maybe we should just make it a break.
âIt isnât a regular holiday and it hasnât been that long since we opened the store, so I think it isnât that recommended to close arbitrarily. I have ordered them to put on wait any business offers, so thereâs no need to worryâ (Shiki)
I am leaving a lot of the handling of the store to Shiki after all. I feel some sort of dignity there.
âIf Chief Shiki says so, I will believe. Then⊠letâs goâ (Makoto)
Without waiting for his answer, I open a mist gate.
While holding a melancholic feeling, I return to the Asora I missed.
Suddenly, I feel a thick smell and heat.
Just by being there I was beginning to sweat, and the warm and damp air enters my lungs.
Thatâs right, the climate of Asora that was unstable has recently been stabilized in a high temperature tropic climate.
How discomforting. It is hot and humid, and thereâs no sight of rain. Iâm not really sure if there are, but this makes me feel like there are tropical rain forests out there.
If it were on the level of everlasting summer it would be bearable, but this one easily surpassed the summer in Japan and it was on the level of murder.
This is the reason why I havenât visited Asora recently. I mean, it is really harsh you know!
I thought it would soon change its climate again, but there is no signs of it changing. At this rate, wonât the agriculture be affected?
I ordered Tomoe to investigate and she told me that she has gotten to the stage where the report is in order, but she will certainly come with a proposition which has high experimental rate. Well, for now this heat hasnât affected the area that much.
âItâs hot as usualâ (Makoto)
âYeah. The Academy seems to be in spring and it is easy to live in, so it makes this place feel even hotterâ (Shiki)
âEven though you say that, you have a refreshing expression though, Shikiâ (Makoto)
âI donât mind heat that much after all. Raido- I mean, Waka-samaâ (Shiki)
â⊠In this place I donât really mind which way you call me you know?â (Makoto)
âMio-dono⊠doesnât seem to like you being called Raidou-sama that much soâŠâ (Shiki)
While making a wry smile, Shiki scratches his cheek. He is worrying about the small details huh.
I just nod lightly and, shaking the air coiling around me, enter my home.
It is even night and it is still this hot. Seriously, what is going on?
âWaka-sama, welcome back!â
When I open the door of the hall where Tomoe and I decided the meeting to be, a big amount of voices suddenly welcomed me!
That scared me! My heart is beating like crazy you know?! What, just what is happening?!
With my mouth still open, I look inside the room and there I saw the residents of Asora gathered.
Doesnât this look like⊠everyone is here?
Surrounding a big table, all of them were gathered without care for the race.
Was there such a crazy big table like this? No, there wasnât. That means it was recently made. Using an incredible trunk of a tree just like that, they⊠Eh?
Isnât it way too big? A table that can easily take more than a 100 people easily, just what kind of giant tree is that? Did they cut a world tree or something?
Also, this hall. The house was on the big side, but even so, it wasnât this wide. With this, it isnât a hall made for meetings, this is more like the halls aristocrats use to do their parties!
With surprise still showing in my face, I shake my head to the sides and check the situation. Everyone is looking at me with smiles in their faces.
And then, Tomoe and Mio as well as Ema come to where I am.
⊠That Tomoe, she is showing a face like her surprise was a total success.
Damn it, why is she so happy about tricking Shiki and me?
â⊠Shiki, are you okay?â (Makoto)
âYes, Waka-samaâ (Shiki)
He doesnât show any signs of being agitated. The retainer that has been the longest time with me recently. Not only that, he is smiling.
âWelcome back, Wakaâ (Tomoe)
âWelcome back, Waka-samaâ (Mio)
When they are in a close distance, Tomoe and Mio welcome me once again. Ema was one step away and lowering her head.
âA, yeah. I am backâ (Makoto)
While still confused, I answer with âI am backâ.
âGood work, Shiki. Just like planned, it seems like Waka didnât notice anythingâ (Tomoe)
Tomoe grins while talking to Shiki across me.
âWaka-sama, I am sorry. Tomoe-san said she wanted to do a surprise no matter what so⊠Lately, you havenât come here at all, so please just think of this as a cute prankâ (Mio)
Shiki, you too huh. You were also involved in this.
âHaaah~ you really did surprise me. I am back! Also, I am sorry for not coming back often!â (Makoto)
âWell, Waka seems to not be used to heat that much so I understand how you feel. Everyone wants you to return a little bit more often. Then, thisâ (Tomoe)
Tomoe gives me a glass. It has a characteristic scent. Alcohol huh. A night party, I donât really mind. Itâs a substance with pink color. If I remember correctly, this is a Sake thatâs made by some sort of fruit and sold well in Tsige.
Everyoneâs gazes gather on me and all of them contain expectation. Ah, I see. This being a dinner party and me, the leading person, holding a glass means that huh.
I lift the glass high and announce the cheers. From several places, the sound of glass hitting resonates.
âItâs been so long right? Tomoe, Mio. Also Emaâ (Makoto)
Before I noticed, Mio was holding a plate of food with the hand thatâs not occupied by the glass. Wah, so fast. But the party has begun, so it isnât bad to have as much fun as you can.
âSeriously-desu zo. Asking us to investigate while you go to the Academy, only minding about children and businessâ (Tomoe)
âEveryone missed you. Waka-sama, please come back to Asora more often. I beg of youâ (Ema)
Itâs from Tomoe and Ema. Well, I receive the obvious scolding. If it were just hot it would be one thing, but I simply canât handle the humid sensation that coils around too well. When I donât have business I donât really want to do it that much, but I really should return to Asora a bit more.
My knowledge gathering in the Academy is going well too and there is no point in learning this worldâs knowledge and common sense completely. It isnât like I knew all about my place of origin Japan after all.
When I gain the basic common sense and knowledge, I should move to the next step. Knowledge is gained to be used after all. Actually, I am able to playback my memories in Asora and I am clearly reading more than I did in my previous world.
I feel a bit bad about copying all the contents of the library just by reading, but it isnât like I am selling them so please forgive me, is what I use as an excuse. I am a small being.
However, I am a bit worried about how little Mio has talked. She spoke with me a while ago, so I donât think she is in a dangerous state. I was actually prepared to accompany her in all her talking.
âU-Uhm. If you want, please accept thisâ (Mio)
And when I thought that, Mio encouraged me to take the plate of food in her hands. T-To bring food for others. Maybe it was because she has been influenced by the adventurers and the people of town? Thatâs admirable Mio!
âMio, thank you. Heh~ it looks like what I have eaten in Tsige. Un, the flavor is thicker than in Tsige and suits my taste. Itâs really deliciousâ (Makoto)
Itâs like the improved version of the food of Tsige that I was thinking would be better if its taste was thicker. The details are subtly different, but it is probably made by someone from the sub-branch who took an interest in the cooking of Tsige.
I see. Just like this, thereâs also the pattern of Tsige influencing the culture of Asora. It is a happy happening to be able to eat the food of that town. I have been in Academy Town so I havenât eaten the cooking of Tsige for a while.
âN, whatâs wrong? Mio, you were the one who brought it, so you eat as wellâ (Makoto)
Even when she recommended the food, Mio looks like she is enduring something and closing her eyes in silence. What? Today Mio is really weird.
âAhahaha! Waka, Mio is overcome with emotions!â (Tomoe)
âTomoe⊠overcome with emotions?â (Makoto)
âThatâs right. What Waka ate was actually something Mio madeâ (Tomoe)
âMade?! Mio did?!â (Makoto)
âYeah. It seems that she has awakened to cooking lately. She lowered her head to the cooks in Tsige and is learning cooking from them. Also, she is cooperating in reproducing Japanese food. Sadly, we didnât make it in time for this occasion. The food over there is practically all made by Mio with all her heartâ (Tomoe)
Being told that, I once again look at the food spread on the table. Large plates filled with food, fruits beautifully cut up, soup in potsâŠ
⊠Isnât that impressive?
Even if she awakened to cooking, it has only been a few months.
If you ask me about what food I could cook with that amount of time⊠Ah, it would be the time when I messed up the water in the rice cooker and it became a big uproar. A past I want to forget.
I am totally in despair about the difference in learning capabilities. And at the same time, I am honestly impressed by how amazing Mio is.
To be able to reproduce the food she ate in the stores in such a short period of time.
âMio, you are incredible. It was really deliciousâ (Makoto)
I tell her my honest feelings.
Mio trembles for a second and slowly opens her closed eyes. Her face was filled with satisfaction.
âWaka-sama, to think that cooking was such a wonderful thing. I didnât knowâ (Mio)
âEh? Werenât you practicing for a while now? Also, you were practicing because you liked it right?â (Makoto)
â⊠No, I didnât understand. And today, I have learned true happinessâ (Mio)
âYes! Waka-sama, next time I will prepare something even more delicious! Thatâs right, more, more-desu!â (Mio)
Suddenly making a proclamation, I thought that Mio was going to head to the food in the table, but she actually went the opposite way and left the hall.
âYareyare, that Mio. Looking at her like that, she probably intents to ignore the report meetings that are to come-ja na. Well, aside from the ingredient reports, she only has a few cases in Tsige that I already know of, so it shouldnât pose any problemsâ (Tomoe)
âTomoe, uhm, Mio isâŠ?â (Makoto)
âProbably in Tsige. Right now, it seems like an adventurer with rare cooking techniques is there. It seems like in exchange of learning cooking from that person, Mio is taking care of a lot of difficulties for her. I pity her, looking at Mioâs state, she will probably be dragged into an all-nighterâ (Tomoe)
What a nuisance she is being. Even though cooking is like an odd job technique for adventurers. Well, Mio is looking after a lot of problems so it should prove as beneficial for her principal occupation. Well, thereâs no need to worry huh. It seems like she is engrossed in cooking, so I donât have to worry about her injuring that adventurer.
âWell, it is good that she is satisfiedâ (Makoto)
âThank you for your lenient words. Then, there are A LOT of people that have been wanting to meet Waka, so letâs go together. The meeting can be done later. Ah, I donât mind you drinking sake, but please try not to get drunk. Shiki, and master as wellâ (Tomoe)
âLooks like it will be a long night huhâ (Makoto)
âI will restrain from Sake. I feel like it would affect my actions in tonightâs report meeting after allâ (Shiki)
âShiki is really uptight-ja no. I wonât say it is bad, but you are being too stiff. I think it would be nice to have a bit of alcohol in your system. Ah thatâs right, since we have the chance, letâs have food brought into the room of Waka where we will be holding the meeting. Ema, can I leave this to you?â (Tomoe)
âYes. I will have it done. Everyone seems to be so happy to see Waka-sama after a long time. Todayâs drinks seems to be quite a lot, so there will probably be people who will be dead drunk soon. I will gather people and have them prepare to nurseâ (Ema)
Ema lively gives orders as she disappears into the crowd. Even if she looks like that, she is the type that likes Sake. We have made her take on a hard task. I will have tell someone to bring her food and Sake later.
Anyways, that Tomoe. I thought this at the time of Lime as well but, this girl, she really acts like a rogue. To drink while deciding our plans huh. Since it is like this, I feel like I will hear good news butâŠ
âNow now, Waka. From the eldwas first, in order. They canât wait anymore. They have been doing their best. Do reward them pleaseâ (Tomoe)
âYeah, I understandâ (Makoto)
No objections here. Everyone is really doing their best. I havenât been coming that often, but I understand plenty enough.
Thereâs no need for Tomoe to tell me. If I am enough, I want to go to the places of everyone and give them my thanks.
Along with Tomoe and Shiki, I head to the residents who have made a line and waiting for me.