Chapter 8 (1/2)

Episode 8:  The smell of excitement of the other world's shop

“I was able to receive the blessing thanks to the both of you. You have also helped me with the registration of the guild so I can finally start working in this city….. This is the only thing that I have on myself now so if it pleases you, please use this.”  [Ayase]

As I said that, I pa.s.sed a Bowie knife that was not sold in shops to Sh.e.l.lo-san. If Sh.e.l.lo-san accepts this, my quest “Return the grat.i.tude to the hunter 1/2” should be cleared….

The story goes back a short while ago.

As we left the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the three of us were meant to get lunch together.

I was penniless so it would be bad to be in further debts with them. I tried declining them but Rebeccsan insisted it by saying, “Young'un shouldn't be so reserved” so I had my first experience dining out in the other world.

Sh.e.l.lo-san's recommended place to eat is about 10 minutes walk from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The first impression that I got was village stalls. There were tables and chairs placed on the stone pavement and customer could be seen eating and drinking leisurely.

Was the food purchased from the stall along the road?

They seemed to be carrying the food over after ordering it. The road is only about 5 meter in width at best so including the customers, once all the tables, chairs and other miscellaneous are placed there, it gave a fairly cramped impression.

What the heck? Is there a festival today?

I decided to tag along with Rebeccsan who went to order food. Half of the reason was actually to research on the price of the food here while the other half was out of curiosity.

Rebeccsan made the order as if she was accustomed to it.

Five Guillaume skewers (some kind of meat that looks like chicken) cost 20 El. Two large servings of Paella (A type of rice dish. There seemed to be a lot of ingredients inside. It looks red) cost 40 El. Three bowls of bean soup cost 15 El and three pieces of bread that looks like naan bread cost 15 El. Three Ririamu (Red fruits) cost 10 El.

They are 100 El in total.

(TL: Apologies I made an error in chapter 5 in the price so I have amended it)

In other words, 1 silver coin. Eh? Didn't she mention that 3 silver coins are sufficient for half month's meal? Did she buy too much or are the food here really expensive? I am worried about Sh.e.l.lo-san's family budget now…..

Aren't they spending 1/3 of their half month's food in just one meal already……

Back at the table, Sh.e.l.lo-san was self-servicing, pouring the tea for us. When I took a sip, I could taste the delicious yet aromatic smell. This seems to be a tea that I have never tried before. When I observed the tea leaves closely, they kind of resemble Neko Jaras.h.i.+ (Setaria viridis). So for the time being let's just call this Neko Jaras.h.i.+ tea.

(TL: Neko Jaras.h.i.+ is something a cat loves playing with = here)

Since the mirror back at the cellar was western style, I couldn't get myself to wipe off my western culture impression from this other world. It is actually really confusing. When you're drinking tea from a cup, shouldn't there be rice as well? ……well, this is also my preference so it's good.

In the meantime, the dishes ordered were carried over so we dug in.

–All of them are unexpectedly delicious!

The Guillaume skewers' meat felt slightly hard, seasoned with herbs that were similar to fennel and salt but the flavour combination was really good.

On the contrary, the Paella looks really red but the flavour was actually mild and I could savour the taste of the softly boiled vegetables and meat. The rice used for the cooking felt more similar to Thai rice than j.a.panese rice too.

The soup contains not only beans but also small eggs (something like quail eggs). It appears to be nutritious.

On the other hand, the bread that looks like naan bread gives off a taste closer to pizza crust than naan bread itself. The oil is slightly dripping down from the edge of it making it looks good enough to be eaten even just as a snack.

(TL: It feels like I am writing food critics here… OTL)

Dangerous. This other world is dangerous. The foods are super tasty.

I had initially thought that 1 silver coin is too expensive for these dishes but the taste are well worth it and the portion is quite big. The Paella look alike food might be enough for 5 people. There are two plates there so it is roughly one bushel (8 gallon). Sh.e.l.lo-san and Rebeccsan must be a pair of gluttons.

The three of us ended up devouring all the food.

Finally we had Ririamu fruits as dessert.

The appearance is similar to mango but the fruit is slightly sour compared to mango. It was said that this fruits is good as an after-meal dessert in this neighbourhood. The size is also large (roughly one size bigger than an apple). The price of this was 4 El each but three of them were be 10 El in total.

However I still can't grasp how much is 1 El worth when I convert it into j.a.panese yen. If it were j.a.pan, Paella would cost about 3000 yen each plate (anyway the amount is amount) so I estimated that 1 El = 150 yen.

It is not likely that the minimum unit is 150 yen isn't it……. No….could it be possible? Is it pointless to bring earth's common sense to this other world??

Well for the time being I will put this matter on hold. I will be able to judge it once I sell something from j.a.pan here.

“Jirou. It didn't seem like you have anywhere else to go so you can freeload at our place for the time being. There's even a bed for you already…..Even though it is a little far from the city.”  [Rebecca]

While we were drinking tea, Becky-san suddenly cut in. Sh.e.l.lo-san also nodded as he said “Umm..umm.”

I was really happy with the suggestion. I was just a stranger who lost my memory, wearing inland clothing and also have 8 vocations. Her treatment for an identified guy like me is way too nice. She's being too kind that I was reaching the level of being anxious now.

But as one would expect I shouldn't be so dependent on them. Regardless, I still need to go back home at least once. I haven't said anything to my parents yet and I was midway in my internet auctions too.

It is painful to decline them when they have extended such goodwill to me….

“Having you go through that much for someone like me, I could only say one thing. I am very happy. My heart aches when you have allowed me to fawn on your kindness to this extent. But I have thought that I should try work something out on my own from here on. I think I might be able to make some money if I sell the goods I have in my hand…..”  [Ayase]

As I said so I took out my self-made knife that was meant for self-defence and placed it on the table.

–I encountered my knife-making experience when I was a first year in junior high school.

At that time during my junior high school, there was an art teacher who was acting as an advisor of my club (he's also teaching mathematics). I was always observing him when he was building custom knives. After observing him for a while, I somehow got myself addicted in making one too without being aware of it myself. Even now I am still making a new one at the pace of one in every 6 months.

Well, I have been a.s.sociated with that teacher for quite some time now so he usually gave me the cheap materials and lent me the tools when I needed them. Even after becoming a NEET, this has been going on even now. Steel materials aside, it would be hard for me to buy electrical tools myself.

Sh.e.l.lo-san seemed highly interested and took it in his hand to evaluate it.

I had brought the only thing that is likely to be able be used as a weapon……a Bowie knife with the longest blade.

It is about 35cm in total length including the 20cm length of the blade. Personally, not many people will make a knife with this size. If anyone were to carry this outside in j.a.pan, it would immediately be discovered but since I created this for my own admiration, it wasn't a problem.

The steel material is ATS-34. It is a cla.s.sic stainless steel knife.

The sheath (leather sheath) is also self-made. There were fine carvings done on the cowhide as well and it was one of my prideful work.

“This is a good knife. I have seen various types of knives during my work but this is my first time seeing a blade as polished as this. My face was even reflected on the blade itself. The structure also seems really intricate. Isn't this a quite expensive item?”  [Sh.e.l.lo]

It seemed like the knife is popular with even Sh.e.l.lo-san who is knowledgeable about knives.