Chapter 26

Chapter 26: That time when I did my greetings when I first moved in

After getting familiar with the place yesterday, I walked around the low-class district for around ten minutes as I casually looked for a place to stay . I tried asking if there were rooms available and right now, Im currently being given a tour of the place by the landlady .

For the time being, Ill try checking out other places

After I said that, I went out to check other places .

You can find buildings with signs that say Rooms Available written in cheap looking wooden planks all around . So there are things like these in this world too . In my previous life, you could often find places with signboards that say Currently accepting tenants placed on gates and fences .

After looking around for a bit, I went back to the place that I liked the most .

What is it? Youre here again?

This young1 cat-eared woman who speaks indifferently left quite an impression . Although I say that, Im not aiming for the landlady okay?

Yep . After checking out other places, I think this place is good

Is that so?

Her ears started pressing against her head . I wonder if that means she glad . I cant really tell with her tail since its under her skirt so I cant see it .

The monthly cost for this place is 3 silver and 6 large copper . Its a bit expensive compared to the average market price but I guess its reasonable since the rooms are quite clean, for an establishment at the low-class district that is . The main reason why I picked this place though is the fact that their common garbage disposal area was pretty clean . They have shared cleaning tools as well .

Want to move in immediately?

Yes . Please treat me well

Then, the next payment would be thirty days from now . Heres the key

I paid the rent and received the key so I immediately went inside .

It is as what you would expect of medieval Europe styled buildings, even the insides look authentic . The room had a small fireplace . A wooden frame bed was right next to the wall and a small round table and a chair was placed at the center . It also had a tiny closet, a simple shelf and a single lamp hanging from the ceiling . Only the looks are the same though since there was almost nothing inside

By the way, the whole building was made out of bricks . It had two floors and a total of eight rooms . My room was the third one on the first floor and the landlady occupied the first room . As she left, she told me,

Call me if anything comes up

Incidentally, my current room was bigger than the one I had in my previous life .

There are common toilets and a kitchen but the building doesnt have its own baths . Theres a bathhouse nearby though . That should have been quite obvious that it wouldnt have its own baths since this world lacks technological advancement but, oh well, I guess Ill just have to get used to it .

When I traced my finger across the table, the amount of dust started changing its color . I guess I should do some cleaning first . Hey landlady, you should at least ventilate the room and do a bit of cleaning whenever theres no one occupying it you know?

Here are the things that Ill need to buy later .

A futon set

Lamp oil

daily essentials

gifts to give to my neighbors when I do my greetings

Thats all I guess . To be honest, I dont know if theres a custom in this world where they give gifts when doing greetings after moving in but theres no harm in doing it . Its important to have a harmonious relationship with the neighbors after all . I wonder if these are just my feelings as a former Japanese person .

Aa that just reminded me of how much I want to eat soba . Buckwheat actually exists in this world but the problem is that I dont have the noodle soup base so I wont be able to eat it even if I make the noodles . I dont even know how to make the soup base in the first place . How do you make it?

A cheap towel and soap would probably be good enough as a gift to my neighbors . I can only think of those things when it comes to commodities that are frequently used in this world .

When I returned to the inn, I said .

Ah Ive already found one

Then I gave payment for two days worth of stay .

Youve only stayed for one day, right? I wouldnt have said anything even if you left your luggage in your room until close to noon you know . Youre going to have a lot of expenses so even though its just a bit, you should save it

I was told that so I just did what she said and paid for only one days stay then gathered my luggage and went back to the apartment . Its just dust but I should still get rid of it before going out to do my shopping . To do that, I used wind magic to blow it off all off . I was actually raising both my hands forward while laughing loudly as I used my magic but I wasnt sure whether or not my neighbors were around so I just finished my task quietly .

This guy whos an old man close to a forty inside is acting like a kid, you say? Thats right . No matter what age, men would always be a child at heart! Wahahahahahaha!

Now that I think about it, Ive found simple cuisines from Earth but I havent seen any mattresses in this word . With their current technology here, it would just be something like a spring mattress though . That doesnt mean that Im looking to buy a mattress . I wont feel uncomfortable sleeping in a wooden frame bed since I had a tatami style bed in my previous life .

After eating the daily special at the restaurant I visited yesterday, I finally started doing my shopping .

While in the middle of shopping, I thought . Futons sure are expensive

The shop wasnt that expensive, it was just how it was normally priced . Its probably because there are no synthetic fibers in this world so they have to use cotton and wool which doesnt have a stable supply . Well, theres no use complaining about it so I just bought it and went home .

When I arrived, I got a worn out cloth, grasped it firmly in my hand and used water magic in order to make it wet . Then, I started wiping the bed so that I could put the futon and other things I bought on it . The filthy water would go into the gutter near the well . I wonder if they have sewers here as well .

Since Ive already finished cleaning, I started laying out the futon and put my crowbar, machete, and tableware on the shelf . After placing my clothes inside the closet and leaning the shovel against the wall, everything was more or less in place . I was able to move in this quickly since I only had a few things . I dont have a TV or a PC and I didnt need to transport my own bed and tableware from the village . Well, I had to spend a lot though but those were necessary expenses so its all good .

The only issue now is my neighbors . I dont hear any sounds from their rooms and I cant feel their presence either . From what the landlady said, all of the rooms have been filled after I moved in so Im sure that there are people living there . Ill just have to wait until evening I guess .

Since I finished moving in early, Ive started talking to myself again . I guess I should go register at the guild and buy ingredients for dinner .

When I entered the guild, I went to the same rabbit-eared receptionist onee-san from two years ago .

Hello . I want to register to the guild so please guide me through the process

Yes, understood . Would a full explanation be necessary?

No need . I already heard it two years ago but please inform me if there were any changes to it

Her eyes looked at the upper right like shes trying to remember something .

No . there were no particular changes to it . Well then, these are the documents that need to be filled up

Full Name: Caam

Special skill: Able to use convenient magic

Vanguard Rear Guard2 Useable magic attributes:

FireWaterEarthWindLightDarketc .

Remarks:

Craftsmanship: somewhat capable of making handicrafts

Good at throwing . Is pretty accurate if the target is around thirty paces away .

Thats all I guess . Regarding my full name I only have a first name so it really cant be helped . Do I need to have a surname? If its nobles then they probably have those . Actually, it seems like Mir has a really long last name . I dont know what it is though . Well, whatever . As for the throwing part in the remarks area, I settled for the number of steps since I didnt know if they have something like the metric system in this world .

Would this be alright?

After briefly checking on it, she said .

Yes, its alright . Could you tell me the reason why you checked both vanguard and rear guard? Its also amazing how you are able to use all of the attributes, but what does your special skill and this etc . in your magic attributes mean?

I was assigned as a vanguard during subjugations back in my village but since I can use magic, I checked rear guard as well . You could say that Im a jack of all trades . With regards to etc . , I just put that there since I dont know how to classify creating hot water or a warm breeze by combining several of the attributes together . I can do it right now to show you

I actually did it in front of her to show her . I created a water ball with warm water and let out warm air from my hands . When she touched the water ball, I heard her say in a small voice,

Ah, its just right

Then, she dried her hands using the warm air .

youre really skillful, arent you? I certainly havent seen something like that anywhere

Is that so? Well, I was just able to do it .

She started writing something on the documents . At the remarks area, she wrote, Able to use compound magic with a pretty handwriting .

About this craftsmanship, what is this you call handicrafts?

I had no work to do during one of our winter breaks so I started making these in order to pass the time and maybe make some money in the process as well

As I said that, I showed her the glass bead attached to my leather pouch with a string .

Its quite pretty isnt it . Could I buy some after you finish your registration?

Its surprising that theres a high demand for glass beads over here as well .

Its okay since I have some prepared in advance . Should I go get them?

Please . By the way, how much is it?

If I remember correctly, I think I got 3 silver when I sold all that I made at that time to our villages trinket shop . I thought that it would only go for around 5 to 8 coppers but it was sold around the village for 2 large copper a piece . Because of that, how about 1 large copper?

Yes, since this is just made up of broken glass

Hee So this is

It seems like she really wants it since she couldnt take her eyes off it . I wonder if its that rare .

Aside from handicrafts, I could also build things around the level of a chicken coop . I was only treated to dinner for that so please dont think that I wont accept jobs that dont have a monetary reward

I understand

She started writing something again .

I was asked other things too like in a job interview so I just answered honestly . Every time I did that, she started writing something on the documents .

Okay . That would be all . Ill be preparing your guild card right now so please wait for a bit .

Here you go . Then, Ill just go and get the glass beads that you paid for earlier okay?

Ah yes . I have certainly received 5 silver . Processing this would probably take just as long as if you go out to buy bread at the bakery around this area so you dont need to be in a hurry

Would take just as long as if I go out to buy bread, you say? Well then, Im off to the nearest bakeshop thentte, does she mean around five minutes? Still, that was quite an amazing way to put it . Is this what happens when a world has no concept of time?

I picked up the glass bead, placed it inside my pouch and returned to the guild . When I arrived, the guild card was already finished .

This will be your guild card . Reissuing the card will cost 1 silver so please try not to lose it as much as possible .

The card that I received was made from iron plate .

Caam: Rank 1

Vanguard/Rear Guard

Fire/Water/Wind/Earth/Light/Fire

My physical characteristics are written on the other side . Is this what counts as some sort of identification?

Written on it is your name, rank, whether your vanguard or rear guard and what magic attributes you can use . Since Caam-sama can cover both positions, both of them is written there . If you ever feel like one suits you more than the other, please inform us so that we can correct it . On the other side is the number of times the card has been reissued and it would also serve as verification of your social status to some extent . Then, the last thing would be the issuing staffs impression of the owner3

Ah, so they just describe my general characteristics since photos dont exist in this world . Its written in a way that it cant be erased so that the card cant be misused .

Well, Ill only be using it for day labor jobs though .

I have a few questions, would that be alright?

Yes . Ill try answering them if I can

I came here from the village to do Rank 1 day labor jobs . Since I can only receive quests 1 rank higher and lower than my current rank . If I make it to rank 3, could I still take on rank 1 day laborer request ?

Those kinds of requests are under rank 1 but they fall under a different regulation so even the highest rank would be able to take them . Its still possible for a rank 10 adventurer to take town clean up request so you dont need to worry about it

Thank you very much . Whew, I was worried about what I would do if my rank goes up to 3Hahaha, I laughed as I said that .

Next, I placed the pouch containing the glass beads on the receptionist desk .

Please choose whatever you like since Im selling all of them

Well then

After saying that, she opened the bag and eagerly started choosing .

Even though I wasnt the only guest and they were still in the middle of work, the other receptionist came to see the glass beads . I wonder if that wont cause any problems .

They bought ten pieces all in all so I ended up getting 1 silver . Alright, with this, Ill just have to buy stuff for dinner then go home .

On my way home from the guild, I passed by a stall that Ive had my eye on for a while now in order to buy ingredients . They had pasta which was useful for someone living alone . I also get stuff for my breakfast and lunch tomorrow while Im at it .

From the large mountain of fresh pasta, the oba-chan grabbed it with her large hands and put in inside a paper bag .

I havent seen you before, are you working away from home?

Yes, I just moved into my apartment a while ago

I see . Its great that you can make it by yourself even though youre a man . Because of that, Ill give you a little extra

After saying that, she used three of her fingers to pick up the noodles and add them to the paper bag .

Thanks

I wasnt expecting that kind of encounter . Next would be to the butchers where Ill buy bacon, eggs, and milk . The butchers shop wasnt a street stall but an actual building .

The butcher had a wide face and a deep voice

Ou, I havent seen you before

The uncles face was really scary .

I repeated the same conversation I had with the oba-chan that I bought pasta from . I bought a bunch of bacon, 4 eggs and two bottles of milk . As you would expect, he still placed the bacon on a weighing scale-like object in order to measure it . Why does he still have to weigh it when they all look the same? Arent these a bit too big? Dont you have some thats just around a kilogram each? You should just sell these by the kilogram, you know?

Come againThanks

Thats what he said but this is the only meat shop in this area so I dont really have any other choice .

I went to the vegetable stalls next to check what products they had .

Ara, I havent seen your face before

It seems like this kind of conversation will continue so Ill use this opportunity to introduce myself . Smooth relations with other demonkin is important .

Returning to my room, I first placed all the ingredients I bought on the shelf . Its still a bit early for dinner so Ill do a bit of self-training for now .

While I was in the middle of refining the image of my magic, I heard rustling sounds coming from the room next door . I wonder if they already came back . I guess it should be 6 pm right now . I should go and introduce myself immediately .

I knocked at the door and said,

I just moved in next door so I came to do my greetings

Coming

Once the door opened, I said,

Hello, my name is Caam . I dont know how long Ill be staying here but please treat me well . Its not much but I bought a gift

Yaa, thanks for going through all the trouble of being courteous . Im Hengst . For you to even give me something like this, Im sure that youre a good person

My first impression of him was, Big . Hes like a centaur but he has a horn on his forehead and the hair on his lower half is white . With the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse, he definitely is big .

You see, my father is a unicorn . I was born while he was staying with a human

Hes quite haughty, isnt he? I was able to see a lyre when I looked at the inside of his room .

Is that so? No wonder you have a beautiful face and muscles

Ill just praise him for now .

There are a few whod use the word beautiful on a man but, it would definitely be better to use it when talking about women, right? You dont like men, do you? If so then Ill have to change the way I associate with you

Nonono, Im sure that I like women . I even have a girlfriend

Hou, in that case then its all good . Youre not aiming for the manager-san, are you? You cant since Im aiming for her, okay?

You mean the landlady who lives next door? You said that in a loud voice you know? Shell hear you, you know?

Besides her, Im also aiming for the girl living in the room above yours

I dont know the people upstairs but I have a girlfriend . I dont have any plans to cheat you know?

Hmm, it doesnt really matter how many women you have, does it? If a girl has no particular experience then you would want to call out to her more, right?

Ah, I havent met any female unicorns but it seems like the rumors were true . Its amazing how those games were able to tell . They got it right . 4

Since itll be rude for me to keep you any longer, Ill be excusing myself

Thats right . Instead of men, Id rather have a long conversation with women

Its quite refreshing how straightforward this guy is . I mean that in a good way . If I need someone to hang out with, I guess Ill go with him .

If this guy plans on making a harem, hes going to end up being stabbed by a woman someday . Still, Im surprised that he was aiming for landlady-san, in a fairly broad sense . 5

I felt hungry after all of that so I decided to start making dinner . It seems like firewood was included in the rent thats why in the corner of the kitchen where it was stacked, there was a large sign that said Dont use too much .

Well then, lets start immediately . Just like how I did it when I helped out at home, I just used magic since it would be a pain to use the embers from a thin stick to light it .

I produced hot water using magic and placed it inside the pot to save time . The water was already boiling so I just threw in the pasta . Making another fire would have been a waste so while waiting for the noodles to cook, I started preparing the other ingredients .

I sliced the bacon and an onion into pieces . I then took a frying pan and olive oil and just placed them on standby . I dont really have any experience cooking fresh pasta so after a sufficient amount of time had passed, I took a strand and tasted it .

Un, that should be enough I guess

Since it was done, I removed the pot and replaced it with the frying pan . I sauted the bacon and onion and added milk before seasoning it with salt and pepper . I opened the pot with the pasta, drained it for a bit and mixed it into the sauce . Once on the plate, I added an egg yolk and lightly mixed it and it was ready to eat . Its just a makeshift carbonara but it doesnt have to be perfect since Im the only one whos eating it .

Well then, Ill just place the frying pan in the wash bucket for now and have my meal . Its fine to leave the clean up for later you know?

Un . Its good enough for me since I lived alone for a long time in my previous life . Well then . I still have some egg white left over so I guess I should make meringue cookies .

I made the meringue by mixing the egg white with sugar until it formed stiff peaks . After forming them into the shape of a cookie, Ill cook them on low heat for around thirty minutes . While waiting for that, Ill wash the dishes . I didnt have baking paper though so I wonder how it would turn out .

After I finished cleaning up, I went back to the kitchen to check on the cookies . The scent of burned sugar that filled the room stimulated my appetite . Then, a person who Ive never seen before entered the kitchen .

Ara . I came because I wanted to see what smelled good but I havent seen your face here before . Are you a newcomer?

Nice to meet you . Im Caam from room number 2

Ara, were neighbors? My names Celesso(), nice to meet you

My first thought when I saw this person is, big . Shes even bigger than Kuchinashi and with her slender figure, the size gets emphasized even more . Her smooth, waist-long red violet hair thats close to pink also suits her .

Id like to do a proper greeting next time so could you tell me when it would be convenient for you?

I wont mind if you do it right now

Ah, I also have a small gift so

Ara, you have such a thing for me? How thoughtful . Id like to see what youre going to give me so you can go and get it

Hm, shes quite bold, or should I say unreserved, Im not really sure . This might be just how I feel as a Japanese person though .

Okay, I understand

*

Well then, once again, Im Caam who just moved in next door . This might not be that much but I hope to get along with you from now on

Kay! Is it okay for me to open it?

Y-yeah

A soap and towel is it I always use this so I have a lot of it but Im glad . Thanks

Its nothing

You probably can tell just from looking but I work at the red-light district so Ill give you a discount if you happen to come by . I could also accompany you if you come to my room during my days off

Ah, thanks but no thanks since I have a girlfriend waiting for me back home . She has a really good intuition so I would literally be killed if she finds out . I would rather use all of my power to protect myself against that kind of danger

Oh, what a shame . If you change your mind, come and see me at Sweet Memory, okay? You should be careful though since Im a pure-blooded succubus . I might just suck you dry, you know~

Suck what dry?was not what I asked .

Sweet memory, was it? I can now understand why Hengst didnt say anything about Celesso-san~ Are there no virgin succubi, I wonder?

Ah, the meringue cookies got burned .

More than half was still alright so Celesso-san tasted one and said,

This is delicious

She then proceeded to take half of what was left of it . I also tried it and it didnt taste bad so I left them together with a letter in the kitchen that said .

Im Caam who moved into room number 2 . I hope to get along with you

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