Chapter 204.2
As soon as I mentioned who the letter of introduction belonged to, Lord Porco Fatma stood up in surprise, which in turn surprised me too . I wonder if there’s a problem .
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“Yes . I have it in stored in my Item Box . May I take it out?” [Ryouma]
“Yes, by all means, please let me see it . I don’t mind if you use magic . ” [Porco]
He gave me permission, so I went ahead and took out the letter .
The feudal lord stretched out his hand and received it from me himself .
Normally, since it’s too dangerous, the servant will be the one to receive the letter on the feudal lord’s behalf, but it seems he doesn’t mind receiving it directly .
The feudal lord unsealed the letter and read the contents with rapt attention .
“Mu mu mu… You are Ryoumkun?” [Porco]
“That’s right . ” [Ryouma]
“Did Reinhart say anything when he handed this to you?” [Ryouma]
I thought back to when I received the letter .
“…He’s someone I trust, so he just told me to rely on him if a problem ever arises . That’s all . Now that I think about it, perhaps there was something he found hard to say, but…” [Ryouma]
“I see . Hard to say, huh? I see… Ku, ha ha ha ha!! —*Snort!” [Porco]
…Just what was written on that letter, I wonder .
Just when I thought he understood, in the next moment, he suddenly laughed, and then snorted like a pig due to laughing too much .
Everything was happening so quickly I wasn’t able to keep up . I glanced around, and it seems that it wasn’t just me but everyone too, his servants included . I’d like some explanation please .
“Fu, fu fu, fuu . Ah, excuse me . Where are my manners? It seems Reinhart treasures you a lot . ” [Porco]
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After he calmed down and regulated his breathing, he started speaking again .
“This letter of introduction states that the Jamil family is thinking of roping you in as one of their specialist . That is to say that you are an individual skilled enough to be valued so . Moreover, this letter of introduction presumes that you have been embroiled in some kind of trouble that necessitated your meeting with me; hence, there is a request included in it to help you . Moreover, since you are someone that they wish to rope, he also wishes for me not to take you away . ” [Porco]
“That’s…” [Ryouma]
“Yes . In the first place, it’s a strange thing for Reinhart to write a letter of introduction . What’s more who would’ve thought that the contents would turn out to be this? Truly, strange things do happen, don’t they?” [Reinhart]
The feudal lord’s expression when he looked at the letter was really gentle .
I might have stared too much for when he raised his head up our eyes met .
“Hmm? Oh, right . You weren’t informed, were you? I am an earl and Reinhart is a duke . Are you wondering why I call him without honorifics despite being lower ranked?” [Porco]
“No, I didn’t mean that, but now that you mention it, why is that?” [Ryouma]
“You’re an honest kid too, aren’t you? Actually, Reinhart and I are senpais and kouhais back in the academy . ” [POrco]
“! I see . So you knew each other since your academy days . ” [Ryouma]
“Of course, in public, we have to address each other properly, but in private, we can just call each other as we please . Also, since we go way back, I know a lot about his blunders and embarrassing memories .
He probably didn’t talk about me much because he didn’t want to talk about his days at the academy . That guy surprisingly cares a lot about appearances . ” [Porco]
“Really!?” [Ryouma]
“That’s right . But considering the environment he grew up in, I guess it can’t be helped . After all, his dad is none other than that Fire Dragon Duke . Have you heard of Reinbach-sama’s accomplishments?” [Porco]
“About how he formed a contract with a divine beast?” [Ryouma]
“Exactly . Because of Reinhart’s amazing dad, he was often referred to in the academy as ‘his son’ . He was often compared with him and couldn’t live his life as he pleased . He couldn’t act improperly even in the most trivial of things . ” [Porco]
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“I see…” [Ryouma]
“Because of that he didn’t have a lot of close friends . It just so happened that I also had an amazing dad . Well, I had it a lot easier, though . But because of that Reinhart and I got along and he started coming to me for advice . Now that I think about it, those were some good times…
But this isn’t really the time to be talking about this . At this rate, there’s no telling when we can end this conversation . ” [Reinbach]
“Thank you very much for that deeply interesting story . ” [Ryouma]
“Yes . Let’s talk about this again some other time . But with that I’ve confirmed it . ” [Porco]
? Confirmed what?
“A monster tamer with many slimes who also happens to be close with Reinhart . Moreover, your name is Ryouma Takebayashi . You also have a laundromat at Gimuru, right?” [Porco]
“Yes . That’s right . ” [Ryouma]
“I knew it! You’re the ‘Barley Tea Sage’!” [Porco]
……What？
The feudal lord was visibly excited as he leaned over the table, but I was just confused .
“Barley Tea Sage?” [Ryouma]
“Do you know the Semroid Troupe?” [Porco]
The Semroid Troupe!
“Of course . We became acquainted this summer . ” [Ryouma]
“I see, then it should be fine then . ” [Porco]
According to the feudal lord…
There’s been rumors of a troubadour telling tales of a sage that saved a poor farming village by telling them how to make barley tea . When he investigated it, he found out that the troubadour were near the town he was at, so he called his troupe over and listened to their song .
Although there was a smattering of creative license applied on the song, the fact that a village was indeed saved by someone meant that the person who passed on the method to produce the tea must also exist .
The feudal lord wanted to talk to such a person, and he was told that that the sage was an acquaintance of Reinhart . As he was thinking of contacting Reinhart and asking him to introduce me, someone that seemed to fit the bill visited his territory .
And since he also had to thank the people defending the villages, he decided to meet me directly .
I can’t believe the Semroid Troupe has even reached this place . And that Prenence-san actually managed to turn that barley tea into a song . I know he said he would, but I can’t believe he actually did it . What’s more is that the reason I’m now meeting the feudal lord is because he heard his song . The world really is small . Still, I’m glad that he seems to be doing well .
I wonder what the feudal lord wants to talk to me about .
“I have two things I wish to consult you on . But there’s no need to think so deeply about it . It’s just a possibility, so you can also refuse if you want .
First, I’m thinking of a local specialty that my fief could produce . ” [Porco]
“A local specialty . Ah, that’s why the barley tea got your attention . ” [Ryouma]
“Yes . The roads have been maintained since my father’s generation, so there has been an increase in merchants and the economy is booming . But I want a new product other than fish . Of course, I want it to be food because I love eating delicious food the most . ” [Porco]
Smiled the feudal lord faintly as he smacked his tummy .
I suppose he loves to eat as much as his looks suggest .
“Notices have already been spread through my territory, and already many opinions and recipes have been submitted, but I still can’t find a product with enough of an appeal… I need a hint from someone with a different viewpoint or an idea for a good dish .
The second thing I need help with involves your laundromat . There is a mountain beyond the lake, on top of which is a hidden hot spring that my dad loved a lot when he was still alive . He made a shed there at the top of that mountain . I would like to get your help to clean that shed . ” [Porco]
“? Couldn’t you have just asked a normal person for that?” [Ryouma]
“Well the thing is… . I’ve been really busy with work ever since my dad passed, and I haven’t been able to manage the shed or the hot spring for a long time . Layers of filth have long accumulated and hardened . No matter how many times we try to clean the place, they just can’t be rid of . What do you think? Can you clean the place?” [Porco]
“There are all sorts when it comes to filth, so I can’t say for sure unless I see the place in person . ” [Ryouma]
If I recall correctly, there should be no fishing tomorrow .
“If it’s alright with you, could I see that shed tomorrow? If I can I’ll clean it right then and there . ” [Ryouma]
“You’ll accept the job then!? In that case, I’ll get someone to show you the way . If you can clean the place, I’ll pay you 10 small gold coins . ” [Porco]
10 small gold coins to clean a bath . As expected, even the crowd couldn’t keep calm at such an astounding figure .
“Isn’t that much?” [Ryouma]
“Perhaps, But it’s fine . That place is really hard to clean, but more than that, that place is like my father’s memento to me . ” [Porco]
The feudal lord spoke normally, but his eyes fell a little .
“I understand . I’ll be making a lot if I succeed, so I have no complaints . ” [Ryouma]
Like that I agreed to the feudal lord’s request to clean the bath .
The feudal lord thanked me with a huge smile, and then he went back .
Now that I think back to it, I was nervous at first too, but in the end, everything was wrapped up before I knew it .
I may have had a letter of introduction, but I guess this is about what you’d expect meeting someone for the first time .
Still, I sure wanted to ask about that sumo appearance, though…
As I saw the feudal lord off with the villagers, I thought those things to myself .