Chapter 61
Translator: Kell Editor: Weasalopes
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The Green-Haired Man
After transcribing a few of the plant hunting requests, they entered the reference room – there was one in this guild as well – to study the local flora .
For collection of materials, there was no need to take the request beforehand . They could just go straight to the counter after gathering the required items .
It was only before noon, but they decided to leave tomorrow . They still had to buy bedding . Hikaru and Lavia were about to leave the Adventurers Guild when someone called out to them .
「Excuse me . 」
「………」
Wary, Hikaru turned around to see the green-haired guy .
「May I ask you something?」
He had long, straight hair tied at the back . Quite different from the blonde earlier, this guy had an intellectual air to him .
【Soul Board】League “Green Ogre” Rumania
Age: 19 Rank: 4
11
【Magical Power】
. . 【Mana】1
. . 【Spirit Affinity】
… . 【Earth】1
【Dexterity】
. . 【Tool Mastery】
… . 【Pottery】1
【Intuition】
. . 【Insight】
… . 【Invention】1
. . 【Intelligence】
… . 【Arithmetic】1
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He appeared to be the scholarly type . Looking closely, the middle and ring fingers of his right hand had strange calluses, perhaps from making pottery .
「You expect me to answer? You’re with that blonde dude, right?」Hikaru said .
「Ah, I’m glad you remember . I thought for sure you didn’t care about strangers . I apologize for his rude behavior . He was sent to the academy basically so his family could get rid of him . He’s sensitive to words like “useless” and “good-for-nothing” . As a token of my apology, how about I treat you to something?」
「Do I look like I can’t afford food?」
「Not at all . You’re wearing such fine clothes . I can show you to a delicious restaurant . It’s a well-known place, and you can’t get in without a referral . Once they know you, you can come again any time . 」
「………」
Hikaru didn’t like following others, but he did like delicious food .
「All right, we have a deal . Please follow me . 」
「I didn’t even say we were coming . 」
「I hope it suits your palate . Oh, may I know your name?」
Hikaru hadn’t met anyone who just carried on the conversation without a care like this guy . At least, since he arrived in this world .
I guess it’s fine . If there’s something sketchy, we can just get away with Group Obfuscation .
Hikaru didn’t think it would be more dangerous than the time they went to the underground dungeon .
「This guy is something else, Hikaru . He just keeps on talking and doesn’t budge an inch . 」Lavia said .
「That’s a strange thing to be impressed about . 」
「So your name is Hikaru . I’m League . I’m sure you don’t need to know my family name . You can just call me League . 」the man barged into the conversation .
Strangely enough, Hikaru didn’t detest the guy . It could be because there wasn’t much emotion in the way he spoke, or that he didn’t care one bit about Lavia . Still, he remained cautious as he didn’t really know what League was after .
Walking down the streets with Mana Detection on, they entered the residential district . Each house was huge, like the noble’s mansions in Ponsonia’s capital . League stopped in front of one such house .
「This way . 」
「It looks like a normal house to me . 」
「That’s the best part . You can’t enter unless someone from Rumania invites you in . 」
「Then I can’t come in afterwards . That’s not what you said earlier . 」
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「………」
「Sorry, I made a mistake . 」League said as he clapped his hands . He then crouched down and clutched his head .
「Oh, no! What do I do? I don’t know any other restaurants . All right, I’ll just have to cook myself… Cooking is similar to doing pottery . I can do this . The numbers say everything’s fine . It’s pretty much like I have experience preparing a full dinner course . 」
「Wait a sec . I think I just heard you say something unsettling . 」
League quickly stood up .
「Let’s go somewhere else, then . To my apartment . 」
「No way . You haven’t tried cooking before, have you?」
「………It’s fine . 」
「What was that dead air just now? It feels everything but fine . 」
「The numbers say…」
「There’s no numbers whatsoever involved . Fine . Let’s just eat here . I might not be able to come here alone later, but that’s okay . It’s still a fact that someone like you has to invite us in . The food is delicious, right?」
「Yes . Very . At least, that’s what the rumors say…」
「Rumors…?」
「Whenever I eat, the ingredients used just come to mind . I can’t tell if a food is delicious or terrible . 」
「And you wanted to cook for us?」
League led them into the residence, and butlers and maid came to greet them . Meals were offered in separate rooms . They were recommended a room on the second floor, but Hikaru insisted on one on the first floor instead . He requested for a room with a window, saying he didn’t like feeling locked up .
「I see . You’re thinking my invitation is some sort of a trap . A reasonable assumption . I wouldn’t even eat with a shady guy like me . 」
「Don’t you feel sad saying that about yourself?」
「Not really . Apparently, I’m not as emotional as the average person . 」
He’s a weird one, Hikaru thought .
「………」
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「What’s wrong, Hikaru?」Lavia asked .
「It’s just that you’re not joining the conversation . You looked pissed when I was talking to that musclehead . 」
「Now that you mention it, I don’t really mind it . Wait, was I really that angry?」
「Quite . 」
「Ah, what do I do? Am I possessive? I’ve never thought about it before . 」
「Being possessive is just a part of love . That’s the prevailing view, at least . 」League, a not-so-emotional person, cut in .
「Love? I, uhh . . That’s…」Lavia was getting flustered .
She’s so cute when embarrassed, Hikaru thought .
Their meal soon arrived – cheese fondue, a local cuisine from Rumania where League was from . It was made by melting cheese, thinning it out with white wine, and then mixing ingredients in it .
「Well? Quite rare, don’t you think?」League said proudly .
「Let me just confirm this . Your hometown is located on top of a grassland plateau where stock-farming and the dairy industry is thriving . Your people sell cheap dairy products like soft and hard cheese . You could also give a mass of cheese as collateral for a loan . Is that correct?」
「You did your homework . I’m impressed . You’re exactly right!」
Maybe some reincarnated soul taught them…
「I see… Did this culture see rapid spread at a certain point in time?」
「Yes . There’s a founder of the dairy industry…」
Their name wasn’t Japanese, French, or Italian, but one from this world . I wonder if they were not from here .
Now and then someone would get reincarnated or transported to this world and exert some sort of influence on it . But they didn’t produce huge impacts, like maybe inventing the steam engine or discovering penicillin . Why was that?
Hikaru assumed it was because this world had magic, gods, and their job class that provided benefits to the populace . People who were reincarnated or transported didn’t possess some kind of broken abilities, like Hikaru’s Soul Board . Selica Tanoue seemed to be a skilled adventurer, but she was stuck at rank B . Although, it was possible she was staying at that rank on purpose . Whether she was world-famous, though…
「I have one more question . Do you know an adventurer named Selica Tanoue?」
「Hmm? I don’t . Are they famous?」
「It’s fine if you don’t know them . Thanks, League . 」
…she was clearly not .
In a world with magic and job classes, there was no need for technological advancement . It was an understandable sentiment . Rather than developing medicine, it would be much faster to just figure out how to use healing magic more efficiently .
Then again, there are plenty of people who’d think of ways to earn money . If they brought culture from Earth to here, they could start a huge business . Like gunpower, guns, revolvers… Wait a sec .
Hikaru realized something . There was no doubt that there was a person not from this world during the ancient Poelnxinia dynasty . He or she tried to turn the clock’s hand forward quickly . But someone was against that so they sent a giant to destroy their civilization .
Assuming it was a god would be jumping to conclusions . We can’t eliminate the possibility that some persecuted clan used forbidden sorcery… or perhaps a different reincarnated being created the giant .
League laughed as Hikaru was deep in thought .
「“Thanks, League”? I assume you calling me by name means you’re warming up to me?」
「Shut up . Don’t get too carried away . 」
「It’s completely fine . You don’t need to hide your embarrassment . I can tell you’re a very kind-hearted person . 」
Bastard just can’t keep his mouth shut, Hikaru thought, but he knew the real reason why League said those words .
The people serving them had refined movements, were well-mannered, and treated League with utmost respect . There was no doubt that he was a very important man back in his hometown, and Hikaru was being rude to him . League thought the servants might act recklessly, causing some kind of an “accident” .
「You’re quite the thoughtful guy, League . 」
「Thank you for your kind words . You’re a wise person as well, the best among all the people I’ve met so far . 」
「Of course . 」Lavia interjected with pride .
「How’s the food, Miss Lavia?」
「It seems aromatic, high-quality white wine was used to erase the smell of the cheese, but its strong taste actually affects the cheese’s flavor . I think we can savor the cheesy flavor more if you used cheaper wine . 」
「I see you’re something else as well, Miss Lavia . The chef must’ve considered the fact that you weren’t from Rumania . Our cheese is a tad bit strong, so he must’ve adjusted the taste . We should’ve checked before serving it . 」League said . 「Please tell that to the chef . 」
「Certainly, Sir . 」a servant said, bowing deeply, and left . Now there were only three of them in the room .
「I have a favor to ask of you, Hikaru . 」
About time, Hikaru thought . There was no way he’d invite them to a meal without some kind of purpose . It would’ve been much easier if he went straight to the point .
「I ask that you take a request . 」
「What kind?」
「Please gather some leaves of the Drakon Kidney Flower . If you succeed, I’ll pay you the same amount as the guild’s reward as well . 」