v2c1 (1/2)

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Chapter 1 – Sati becomes an apprentice adventurer

“We are going shopping. Come with me.”

Taking Sati with me, I leave the house. I thought she would be alright since her eyes got better, but that wasn’t the case. She didn’t fall over anymore, but she was looking around restlessly and was tottering here and there. It was very unsettling how unsteady she was. Since it can’t be helped I take her hand once again.

Are slaves supposed to be this handful?

“Having fun?”

“Yes, it’s fun. Also, it’s a strange feeling somehow. The smells and sounds are the same, but it’s like I’m in a different place.”

We arrive at the shopping district. First we should procure a shopping basket for Sati. Perhaps they have one at the general store.

A store selling baskets was found quickly. While we were there, we also bought a bucket, a pot, and a water jug. A basket for shopping and a bucket for the kitchen. Right, we also need one for the bath. One water jug for general use and another one for drinking water, also I should buy a few more pots and frypans. Ah, there is also soap. There are various kinds. According to the shop clerk, there are two types, one for general use and one for bathing, so I got both.

Ladle and long chopsticks? This is a rolling pin maybe. A chopping board and a sponge-like thing made out of who-knows-what? A pot stand. There is also tableware. Porcelain and metal, there are also wooden ones. Spoons, forks, and knives. Cups. There are also brooms and brushes. I take all that catches my eye and hand it over to Sati and have her bring them to the shopkeeper.

I asked the shopkeeper to wrap up the large heap of merchandise, then I walked around the store once more to make sure I didn’t forget anything. It looks like we could get most of what we need. I can’t look down on a different world either. I thought it would be more inconvenient, but aside from a small part, I feel that it’s not that different. Well, there is the fact that many things are subst.i.tuted with magic.

I pay, then I have Sati hold the shopping basket, but the rest I put in the Item Box without much thought.

Hmm, what’s left is a kitchen knife and towels, maybe a dust-cloth. I have to also remember firewood.

There was also a hoe at the shop where we’ve found a kitchen knife, so I bought one for the kitchen-garden. Where do they sell seeds, I wonder? I didn’t see any florists and there are also no greengrocers, I think. Maybe there is an Agricultural a.s.sociation somewhere?

I bought firewood. There were also huge unsplit logs so bought some those as well. I went back to the previous store and also bought an axe. I wanted to try wood-splitting a bit.

When I asked Sati if she had anything she wanted, she shook her head. Well, she didn’t do any housework yet, so no wonder if she doesn’t know. Let’s buy some ingredients after this.

There is plenty wild rabbit meat left, so vegetables it is. There were many vegetables that were similar to the ones I was familiar with from j.a.pan. There is also wheat flour, bread, and pasta. Oil. ….this is lard, maybe. Oil is expensive, huh. Maybe this is why they don’t really make deep-fried stuff. It’s a bit pricey, but I want to eat some fried foods so I buy a bunch. Spices and sauces, vinegar and sugar. Sugar is also expensive, but I still buy about 1 kg.

It’s a shame that there is no miso, soy sauce, and rice.

There are beans, so maybe I could make something like natto?

Eggs are also expensive. From small ones to big ones like an ostrich egg, there were many types, so bought from every kind. I think I will also buy some alcohol. We drank all of it after we defeated the dragon anyway. I have Sati carry all she can and the rest I put in the Item Box.

I could’ve put everything in the Item Box, but the empty shopping basket felt lonely, so I have her carry some things instead. As expected, she doesn’t look around helplessly anymore while we are shopping, instead, she has an earnest expression while she follows me.

In the ice shop, they were also selling refrigerators. It’s just a simple type where you put ice in the top part of the refrigerator. If you put in a big block of ice, then it apparently lasts for 3 or 4 days. I buy one together with some ice. I can probably keep meat and other things in it from now on.

“You must be tired. Should I carry the basket?”

I would just put it in the Item Box though.

‘It’s alright’, said Sati shaking her head. However, the basket looks clearly heavy. Let’s just take a rest here. The Dragon’s Breath Pavillon is close anyway.

The restaurant was quite packed since it was lunchtime. I order fruits juice for two from an acquaintance clerk. Soon after, the proprietress brought us the juice.

“How is the new home, Masaru-chan?”

“Well, it’s not bad.”

I responded half-heartedly. I only moved in yesterday so I can’t really say anything else.

“Then, who is she?”

I guess this is why the proprietress brought the order over herself, even though the shop is this busy.

“Weell, I thought I would have her do the housework and such”

“Oh, a slave. Did you buy one? She is cute, isn’t she?”, she broadly grinned.

The proprietress returned to work while saying ‘You take care of her!’. It’s a bit embarra.s.sing. However she didn’t particularly criticize me for it either, maybe buying a slave is not unusual. Perhaps that’s why she was grinning that much. Although, perhaps it’s a problem if people can immediately tell that she is a slave by the crest on her arm? I think I will have Sati wear long sleeved clothes.

As I glanced towards Sati, I see that she is looking this way without drinking her juice. I guess she was waiting.

“Mn. It’s okay to drink.”

When I said that she started to gulp it down. I also drink. Maybe it’s a fruit close to a peach or maybe mango. There is plenty of flesh of the fruit in it and ice has also been added, it’s sweet and cold and really delicious. Saying that ‘It’s delicious’, Sati is also drinking while savoring it.

“I’ve been in their care before here. The second floor is for lodging. The food here is very tasty, you see. Let’s come here to eat next time.”

“Yes”

It looks like Sati already drank all of it. She is rolling the ice around in her mouth.

“Did you like the juice? Want to drink this one too?”

Saying that I handed the juice that had about half of it left to Sati, by doing that she had a wide smile growing on her face as she accepted. Mn, I must have her eat well and grow more.

We returned home, then put the goods to their place with the help of Sati. I’ve put water created by magic in the water jug. It would’ve been bothersome to make round trips between the house and well anyway. After we’ve put the refrigerator and everything we bought to their places I declare to Sati.

“From today onwards this house will be managed by Sati. I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes. Please leave it to me! I will do my best!”

I’m really uneasy about this, but it looks like she is at least motivated, well, it will probably be fine. It will be fine, right?

It’s just after noon, it’s still early to start preparing dinner, so there is nothing to do. I don’t want to work either, in j.a.pan I would boot up the PC at times like this. I miss the net.

It seems Sati is confirming everything we bought piece by piece with a serious expression. Ah, she picked up the kitchen knife. She did it very cautiously, but she is touching the blade part with her fingers. I’m scared. I wanted to stop her, but I firmly held myself back. Using the kitchen knife means she will no doubt cut herself from time to time, but it can be immediately fixed by Heal.

It looks like the test run of the kitchen knife ended safely. She moved on to the next item.

I think I will go outside the city to test-fire some spells.

Even though I managed to learn Fire Magic Level 4, I didn’t even use it after that time that ended in a misfire. I have to properly practice it.

“Sati. I’m going outside the city to test-fire some spells, do you prefer house-sitting, or do you want to come with me?”

“I’m going.”

“It may be a bit dangerous?”

Although, probably only wild rabbits come out right outside the city.

“It’s alright. I’m going.”

I worry about leaving her alone house-sitting anyway, so I think maybe it’s alright as I started preparing.

I wear my armor and put my sword on my back. I had Sati change too. I thought that skirt is not really fitting for the fields, so long sleeves and full-length trousers it is. I properly told her to change in a different room!

We got held up at the gate. I wanted to bring Sati outside, but she doesn’t have any identification papers.

“Ooh, isn’t it the Dragon Slayer. Are you going wild rabbit hunting today too?”

It’s a promotion from Wild Rabbit to Dragon Slayer. It’s nice that I got promoted, but it’s still embarra.s.sing. Wouldn’t you just call me by my name already….

“No no, I just helped a little, what Dragon Slayer. Also, today I just thought I would practice magic outside the city today. She is a potential party member and apprentice adventurer.”

I couldn’t say that she is slave I bought with indecent intentions, so I left it at that. She herself is greatly delighted by the sound of ‘adventurer’. It must be on the list of things she wants to do.

“A beastkin, huh. She will be a great a.s.set after she’s grown.”

So, it came to light that she doesn’t have identification papers. It doesn’t matter when going out, but they will charge when coming back. So for the time being, we started heading to the Adventurer’s Guild.

When I told the old fellow at the reception desk that I wanted to register Sati into the guild we were led to the place where the vice-guild-head and Tilika-chan were, just like last time.

“Ooh, if it isn’t Masaru! What do you need today? What? You want to register her into the guild? Hohoo, a slave, I see. You just got your reward yesterday, aren’t you a fast one!”

‘Gahahahaha’, he laughed as he patted my shoulders with considerable strength. It’s always this reaction. The examination finished in no time. The usual questions and what she wants to do.

“I also wanted to be an adventurer! And cooking too, there are many things I want to do. And, and, I want service Masaru-sama a lot and have him be pleased!”

“Wahahahaha. Masaru, you are loved, huh! You take care of her!”

After that there was the explanation about the guild, then got a card issued after paying 100 gold. I asked if it was unusual for a small child to become an adventurer, but they said it’s also not uncommon for children around 10 years old to become adventurers. A slave’s rewards are all received by their master. It’s written on the card that she is a slave and my name as her owner. Rank is, of course, F. By the way, my rank is still E. It seems the rank won’t go up just from helping with a dragon subjugation. Finally, there is the oath to Tilika-chan.

“With this, I’m also an adventurer, right?”, she said as she was looking at the Guild Card dangling from her neck on a string.

“That’s right. But only after you train for a while and get stronger. So, an apprentice adventurer for now.”

“Yes, I’ll do my best!”

Since she now became an adventurer, so I decided to get her a set of equipment. I had the shop clerk at the usual shop find something appropriate. A leather armor and a small s.h.i.+eld, a short sword and leather boots, the same equipment as the one I had first. Yeah, it’s cute, it’s cute. We had the hole on the bottom part for her tail and the holes on the leather helm for her ears done right there, and now her ears are popping out and twitching. She doesn’t look like a fighter adventurer at all, but she look good in them. The store clerk watches Sati with a smile as she is frolicking around while wearing the equipment.

“Thank you very much, Masaru-sama. I will fight with my life on the line!”

Just with moderation, it’s fine if you do it with moderation….

Is what I thought, but I just couldn’t say it in front of the fired up Sati.