Chapter 21 (1/2)
Ossan, proceeds to build his house *DISCLAIMER: I DON'T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. *Fair warning that this is a really slow chapter, not much happens in this one. It still has its moments but you won't miss anything if you skim through it. *also I think I've put a lot more TL notes than usual, but it's just that I picked up on a lot more “references” in this chapter in particular, which is probably why it took me so long to translate.
This morning, Zeros went to the feudal lord's residence to meet with the current Duke, DelSasis. The gazes of the d.u.c.h.esses were piercing deeply into Zeros, but he didn't seem to mind.
Saying anything more than what's necessary will be adding fuel to the fire. Currently, Zeros is taking full advantage of his past life's experience, and is on full salesman mode.
”You, what is your name?”
”Me? My name is Zeros Merlin, just a humble magician.”
(*T.N: he uses ”watashi” here, a formal p.r.o.noun.)
”Hohoho, you seem to know your manners despite those shabby rags you're wearing.”
”I'm just fond of them.”
For some reason, the two madams seemed to be evaluating him. He asks DelSasis for help with his eyes, but he looked like he was enduring a headache ma.s.saging the spot between his brows with a finger.
”By the way, Your Grace, Duke DelSasis, may I inquire about the reason I have been summoned today?”
”Umu, do you remember the talk about giving you a plot of land?”
”Yes, it's been often in the corner of my mind, specially these last few days. At this point, I was feeling like I've been lodging in an expensive inn.”
”You mean 'just borrowing the place', right? Oh well, I've said too much.”
”I have no idea how Your Grace knows about that, but anyway, I'm here to receive the t.i.tle deed of the property, am I correct?”
”That's right, let's leave the long talk for another time. I want to wrap this up quickly, I'm planning on going out for a stroll with my wives after this.”
Zeros had heard before that they were on bad terms with each other, but it seemed it wasn't like that. They were happily talking about where to go, like old friends.
”How shrewd…”
”Well, let's leave it at that… this is the t.i.tle deed of the property. The ownership rights will be transferred to you once you sign this doc.u.ment here with your name.”
”It's certainly the plot of land behind the orphanage, in the old town…”
”There are, indeed, some security concerns, but you should be able to handle any troublesome individuals, am I correct?”
”It's hard to hold back enough so they don't die… Woah, is the house under construction already?”
There were some plans on the table that Zeros hadn't seen before, from which he saw what the layout of the house was going to be like.
”… Is this part here really alright?”
”What part?”
”It says the house is expected to be finished two weeks from now. Is it really that easy to build a house?”
”Well, these dwarf carpenters are madmen.”
”And, who are these dwarves exactly…?”
Apparently, they were a local group of expert craftsmen, who take pride in their work and claimed being able to finish anything they set out to make.
And that's not the only compromise they make. It seems like, in the past, they committed a small blunder during the planning of a building, overlooking the existence of a giant tree in the property, which, they then proceeded to strike down with their bare fists.(*T.N: kanji reads Iron Fist(Tekken), maybe it's a special technique or smt.)
Incidentally, there was no leniency from the client, and so, the one who made the mistake in the making of the design was mercilessly beaten up in the mounting position.
”That's how it is. Sometimes, they abruptly decide to change the design of a building when it's already halfway finished, because it didn't suit their fancy.”
”Never make a craftsman cry. Such a client will only see h.e.l.l.”
”What are you saying, aren't they just making what they want to build? These dwarves…”
”Nevertheless, I'll trust their abilities. I'm sure they will manage to get the job done in time.”
”I see… I have faith in their skills as well.”
He felt like there was something wrong in the way he said it, but Zeros didn't voice out his doubts.
”I'll be glad if you could have a look in advance and tell me your opinion about it, as I thought… I'm anxious about leaving everything to those guys.”
”I don't see any problems with the house itself. Bath, toilet… I feel like there aren't many rooms, but I don't see any issues.”
”Is that so…?”
”It would be nice to have a storage room instead of a bas.e.m.e.nt but, in all honesty, my budget is a bit…”
”Don't worry about money, this is repayment for the Wyverns' magic stones, after all. You don't have to hold back, but… you should tell them about the bas.e.m.e.nt directly yourself.”
”… Why, what's wrong?”
”I might get beaten up if I tell them…”
”Eh? Beaten up? Are they really that violent?”
They are a group that look like they're quite difficult to deal with. Rather than being trustworthy artisans, the impression they give as that of those who use their occupation as an excuse to do whatever they please, akin to the individuals who derive pleasure in seeing other people's reactions to their crimes*.
(*T.N: Yukaihan, )
Truth be told, Zeros didn't want to go to such a place.
”Isn't it the house you will be living in? Wouldn't it be strange not to give your own thoughts about it?”
”That might be true, but I don't want to get involved with shady people.”
”I understand how you feel, but if you don't go, they'll come to beat you up, y'know? … In a gang.”
”Do they like blood that much!? Are they really craftsmen!?”
Heaving a long sigh in exasperation, Zeros stands up to leave the room. It seemed like he would have to go to inspect the place whether he wanted or not.
While thinking of such things, the two madams call out to Zeros.
”Hey, I heard you were single, but are you not planning to get married?”
”Right now, I'm worried about securing a place to live. I will think about marriage once my life is more stable.”
”Is that so? Then, why don't you take that good-for-nothing from our family? Frankly, she's not suited to be part of this Duke's household.”
”Good-for-nothing? Are you referring to Celestinsama? A commoner like myself?”
”Since she can't use magic, she's useless even for a political marriage. Even so, we can't just have her loiter around here forever, wouldn't you agree?”
DelSasis' wives still believed that Celestina couldn't use magic. But in actuality, she's strong enough to be called a high-ranked magician.
The two, who didn't have a clue about it, seemed to be focused on how to dispose of such an unwelcome person.
”I appreciate the offer, but I will have to decline. I don't want to get killed by Creston-sama, after all. Well then… I wouldn't want to keep disturbing your leisure time with your wives, so I will excuse myself now. Have a nice day.”
Zeros plays it safe with some noncommittal words, bows his head in reverence and quickly leaves the place.
He left the room walking with a calm gait, though he didn't want to get involved with this n.o.ble family's problems any longer.
”He easily dodged the topic, huh.”
”Hmm, well he wanted some land, so I thought he would be more ambitious…”
”A person without any ambitions, I don't think he's trustworthy.”
”What is father-in-law thinking, bringing in such a shady magician?”
The two women were not aware of Zeros' real competence as a magician. And after speculating that much, they decided to ask their husband, DelSasis, about him.
But he had no intentions of answering his wives' questions. After all, he didn't want to make a Great Sage into an enemy.
”He is… an excellent individual. But rather than that, are you ready to go?”
”Yes, let's enjoy ourselves today, my dear husband.”
”That's right. Where are you taking us today? I'm looking forward to it.”
With just a word from DelSasis, they quickly forgot about Zeros. It seems like this lord is quite loved by his wives.
He has the mouth of a lawyer, the heart of a swindler, and the quick feet of a scoundrel. He's not your run-of-the-mill philanderer. DelSasis, uselessly overflowing with the spirit of a true dandy, is a master of the art of playing around with women.
A man among men who doesn't forget about providing the crucial after-sales service*.
(*T.N: this is a bit of a tricky one.アフターケア[after-care], in this context it'd be after-sales service, a management term that basically means 'to make the costumers happy with their purchase, so they spread good word about your product', and well, you see the innuendo here. )