Translator: Nox
The baby tiger will be raised by a squirrel.
Moving her hand slowly, Rina tipped back another potion and swallowed it in a single gulp.
Squeezing her eyes tightly shut and opening them, she regained a serene expression.
I watched again in wonder as a brief glimmer flared in her eyes.
Rina Sloth
“Now, shall we board the carriage? I want to reach the capital as soon as possible.”
Rina began tapping her feet in a rapid, impatient flutter.
Startled by the blistering speed of her movements, I took a step back from her.
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“Rina, did you take a potion?”
Just then,
the Duke, Gale, and several servants were approaching from the main building.
A stable hand leading Baltan could be seen as well.
Rina bowed her head in greeting to the Duke.
Rina Sloth
“I had no choice but to take the potion. I have to travel by Teacher's side for a very long journey, and it would be excruciating for her if I spoke too slowly. I prepared an ample supply, enough to keep drinking until we arrive. We aren't well acquainted yet, so even if she were inconvenienced by my sluggish speech, she wouldn't be able to show it. That would weigh terribly on my mind.”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“Speak less. Piercing ears is just as inconvenient.”
It was classic Duke.
Yet for once in my life, I couldn't help but wholeheartedly agree with him.
Far from being intimidated by his blunt words, Rina merely beamed with a broad grin.
Rina Sloth
“I'm currently developing a potion to make my voice softer and lower. Right now my pronunciation lands with such sharp force, and my pitch is so piercingly clear, that it might be a bit grating to listen to.”
Gale Onca ✧
“P-Pardon me, Spirit Contractor, but shrill is more like it than clear. My ears feel like they're bleeding.”
Gale chimed in out of nowhere.
Rina Sloth ✧
“Hmph. As if you're not the second most talkative person in the realm, Vice Commander.”
Rina narrowed her eyes and shot Gale a glare.
Gale Onca
“Hardly. I only speak when necessary.”
This time, Rina whipped her head in my direction.
Rina Sloth
“Teacher, isn't it still far better to speak fast and plentiful than to drag along slowly? You might have so many things you want to ask me. Right?”
Rina asked, her eyes gleaming with almost overwhelming intensity.
The faint madness lingering in her gaze unsettled me just a little.
Lulubell Durams
“Y-Yes, well, I suppose that's true. But please don't overexert yourself. It seems like it must drain a great deal of energy.”
Rina Sloth
“It's no trouble at all. My stamina happens to be exceptionally hardy. Hahahaha!”
Good grief, even laughter could come out that fast.
Marvelling inwardly, I merely offered a light smile in response.
Gale Onca
“Today happens to be the day the largest market in the North opens. We've decided to stop by there on the way. You should pick up anything you might need, Teacher.”
Gale walked over to us and explained today's schedule.
Lulubell Durams
“Oh, truly? I ought to buy some gifts for my family.”
Having just received payment from the Duke for writing the poem, my coin pouch was generously full, and excitement began to bubble up inside me.
Coming all the way to the North had felt just like a grand journey anyway, so I had already been wishing to get something for my family.
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“Come, let us depart.”
With a cheerful heart, I climbed into the carriage alongside Jackjack, Hokan, and Rina.
***
Leaving the carriage and horses in the care of an inn at the entrance of the marketplace, we set out to explore.
The Duke took several knights and Hokan to meet with the representatives of the merchant association, while Jackjack, Rina, and I headed off together toward the market.
Lulubell Durams
“Spirit Contractor, what are the local specialties of the North?”
Rina Sloth
“Please, just call me Rina. Our Blanders territory is renowned for unique minerals, raw gemstones, and crafted jewels. Being adjacent to the Black Forest, we have countless raw stones unseen anywhere else. Naturally, accessories crafted from such stones fetch extravagant prices.”
Lulubell Durams
“I don't have enough money to buy minerals or jewels. I'd love to bring something back for my family, so is there any delicious food worth buying?”
Rina Sloth
“In that case, I'd recommend Blan Hamon. It's cured sausage, but far more tender than jerky, and it keeps for a remarkably long time.”
Lulubell Durams
“Oh, I've heard of that! People say northern hamon is the finest of all.”
I recalled hearing about it once at the capital's marketplace.
Jackjack
“Hamo, hamon, hamong, yummy! Hamo!”
Jackjack sang along to a tune he had made up on the spot.
Rina Sloth
“It's made by hunting wild boars that roam the northern mountains, and the flavor is truly exquisite. I know a wonderful hamon shop, so let's head there.”
Lulubell Durams
“Would it be expensive? My family is quite large, you see.”
Rina Sloth
“For an ordinary household, one gold coin's worth of hamon would easily last several days. A hind leg is nearly this big, and if you slice it thin to serve on the side, it's an absolute bread thief.”
Rina spread her arms wide in exaggerated description.
A leg that size would have to belong to a rhinoceros.
Lulubell Durams
“What about a household of twenty-three? Setting aside the babies… about twenty people?”
Rina Sloth
“Ghk, cough! That's an enormous household! Do all your relatives live together?”
Startled out of her wits, Rina quickly composed herself and asked with a pleasant smile.
Lulubell Durams
“No… I have twenty younger siblings.”
Rina Sloth
“Wow. Good heavens! I envy you having so many siblings. In that case, wouldn't you need about two gold coins' worth?”
Lulubell Durams
“Yes. Thank you.”
Rina's pace had quickened to match her speech, and I practically had to jog to keep up with her.
When we reached roughly the middle of the market, a red awning came into view.
Rina guided us toward it.
Jackjack and I sampled the meat the shopkeeper sliced for us to taste.
Jackjack
“Waaah. Lulu, yummy meat!”
Savory, salty, and deeply flavorful, it was easily the finest hamon I had ever tasted.
Lulubell Durams
“This is truly delicious.”
“Thank you. You've come from out of town, haven't you?”
The shopkeeper, a man of generous build and an equally genial countenance, asked us warmly.
Lulubell Durams
“Yes, we came from Leyton.”
“All the way from the capital! Our shop's hamon boasts the most authentic recipe in the North. If you take home our most popular specialty, Blan Hamon, your family will absolutely adore it.”
Lulubell Durams
“Yes, please. Could you give me two gold coins' worth?”
“Of course, just a moment. I'll wrap it right up for you.”
Gale Onca ✧
“Teacher, buying hamon, are we?”
It was Gale.
Gale Onca
“Dear me… How much hamon did you purchase?”
Lulubell Durams
“Not very much. Just two gold coins' worth.”
Gale Onca
“What a relief.”
Lulubell Durams
“Pardon? Why is that a relief?”
Gale Onca
“Ah… Well, reasons.”
For some reason, Gale offered an awkward, slightly troubled smile.
Puzzled as I was, I set my curiosity aside and glanced down at what he was carrying.
In that brief interval, he seemed to have bought an immense amount of goods.
His arms were piled high with enormous parcels.
Lulubell Durams
“My, Vice Commander, you certainly bought a lot.”
Gale Onca
“Yes. The Commander gave me quite a long list of things to purchase.”
Lulubell Durams
“By any chance, is there anything in this market that little children might like?”
I looked back and forth between Gale and Rina, addressing them both.
Gale Onca
“Little children? Are you looking for gifts for your siblings?”
Lulubell Durams ☁
“Ah… hamon should be plenty for my family. My funds are running a bit tight anyway. But there was a household I had to leave behind when I took the position as Hokan's tutor. I felt so apologetic to the parents and so guilty toward the children, so I wanted to bring them a small gift.”
Gale Onca
“In that case, how about toys? Nearby there's a shop selling wooden toy soldiers and swords.”
Lulubell Durams
“Yes, that sounds lovely.”
Under normal circumstances, I would have crafted toys by hand to give them.
Handmade wooden toys sold in markets were quite pricey, after all.
However, Toby and Thor had Viscount Lund, head of the largest merchant guild in the capital, for a father.
Those children had effortless access to almost anything, and they had only ever known goods of the finest quality.
Something cobbled together with my own hands would never satisfy them.
Handcrafted toys unique to the North, on the other hand, seemed likely to delight them.
Following Gale, we came upon a toy shop where dainty animal figurines were lined up in neat little rows.
Stepping inside, we found the shelves overflowing with carved toys: soldiers in distinctive armor, wooden swords inset with natural gemstones on their hilts, and painted shields.
A tall, slender middle-aged man spotted Gale and approached with a delighted expression.
“Welcome, Vice Commander. You have company today, I see.”
He bowed his head politely toward us as well.
Gale Onca
“Have you been keeping well?”
When Gale offered a handshake, the middle-aged man clasped his hand firmly and shook it with a warm grin.
“Of course. Thanks to you.”
Gale Onca
“My companions here wish to buy some souvenirs before returning to the capital, so I brought them your way. Show us some of your charming, high-quality wares, if you will.”
At Gale's request, the proprietor led us toward a table situated in the center of the shop.
“This toy was modeled after our Lord, this wooden sword mimics His Grace's own blade, and this shield is shaped identically to those of the empire's greatest knightly order, the Blantiger Knights.”
Lulubell Durams
“Oh my. It truly looks just like His Grace.”
I picked up the wooden figure carved in the Duke's likeness and inspected it from every angle.
Remarkably, the figurine captured the Duke of Blantiger's distinctive traits to perfection.
The stern, unsmiling face, the towering bridge of his nose, the sharp jawline, the needlessly broad shoulders, and even his long limbs.
“It's our shop's most popular item. Would you care to purchase one? I'll wrap it up beautifully for you.”
Lulubell Durams
“Oh, heavens no.”
I put the Duke down with a haste bordering on throwing him.
