Volume 6 Chapter 25 Can You Work Like A Draft Horse？
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”So, the Great Temple’s giving you help now, right?”
”Yeah. They told me to keep it quiet, but I think I should let Miss Floria know.”
”If you didn’t sign a contract about it, there’s no issue. And honestly, I bet the Cardinal’s already spreading it around like it’s nothing.”
Really? Well, it’s not like we can keep everything locked up. If we don’t share info, no one can get anything done. And once more than three people know a secret, it stops being one. Someone’s always going to talk. That’s just how it goes. People call it an open secret.
Still, getting the Great Temple on our side is a huge deal. I’ll have Miss Floria look at the pass the Cardinal gave me. It’s a thick bit of leather, about the size of a postcard, rolled up and tied with a belt that has a little lock.
Even though they call it parchment, it’s actually made from water buffalo skin, not sheep. It’s high-end stuff, brought in from far down south. Funny how simple leather is worth more than monster parts. But that’s supply and demand for you.
Miss Floria turns it in her hands, checking every bit. Magic’s layered into the stamp and signature so it’s hard to fake. Still, people will always try. This kind of thing turns into a cat-and-mouse game.
”My ID looks more legit than this, you know~desuwa. I’d get treated better than a Count. I didn’t see this coming—it’s making my head spin.”
Now that I think about it, they said you need to be at least a Count to rule an independent land. I used to think the one in charge was just called ‘king,’ but there’s more to it. If those are the rules, I’ll follow them. Still, the Cardinal’s weird obsession with tiny countries makes me wonder.
”So? Did you find a girl you like at the brothel?”
The topic takes a sharp left. I haven’t done anything shady, but I guess brothels don’t sit well with most girls.
They were all very pretty, sure, but… Miss Floria is way more beautiful.
”Well, well. Look at you, trying out half-baked sweet talk.”
Uh-oh. She’s probably mad. Could be stress, or maybe she’s just burned out from work. I was the one who kept handing her tasks, so I need to fix this.
Mr. Escalion once said that when a woman loses interest in you, it’s over. A hundred years of love can vanish in a day. When that happens, nothing you do will help—you’ll just dig the hole deeper. He said it’s better to give up and look for someone new. But that’s just what worked for him.
With Ms. Nina, we had dumb fights all the time, but we always made up fast. Back in Japan, I didn’t have much dating experience, but maybe all those sibling spats helped me out.
Most fights start over dumb stuff. Doesn’t matter who’s wrong. A tiny thing can blow up if someone’s in a bad mood. Once it catches fire, it’s just shouting until someone quits.
With Ms. Nina, if I said sorry first, I usually won. Easy mode. But that doesn’t work on every girl. It only worked because Ms. Nina’s kind and always forgives if you say you’re sorry.
My sister wasn’t like that. She was spoiled and got all the attention. Every time we fought, I was the one in trouble. She knew it, too, and picked fights on purpose. A total brat. So I came up with a trick: use food.
If I made tamagoyaki—her favorite sweet egg roll—she’d always eat it. She couldn’t help it. Once she finished, she’d forget the fight, and we were good again.
I got so good at it, I passed my mom’s level fast. When you keep making the same thing, you level up quick. I even spent my New Year’s money on my own egg pan. That’s when I made my special fluffy, crispy, juicy egg rolls. Ever since, my family just assumed I loved cooking.
But really, I just wanted that square copper egg pan. Not for food—for fun. A pan made only for egg rolls? That’s art. Copper outside, tin on the inside. Take care of it, and it lasts forever. If you’re skilled, you can even re-tin it yourself. That kind of tool just calls to you.
Most boys like swords or guns. I get it. But for me, it was tools. In Japan, you don’t use weapons, but a pan? You use that every day. I didn’t dislike cooking, but I was more into how the tools felt in my hand.
After learning metalwork from Mr. Zenom, I started making pans that fit me just right. If something feels off, I fix it. That’s amazing. Too bad this world doesn’t have all the same ingredients I used to know. Give and take, I guess.
No mirin. No soy sauce. Eggs? Super expensive. Mr. Raoh and the Professor’s group have been trying to improve the food here, but… yeah, the Cardinal’s not a fan of it.
Still, right now, I shouldn’t be thinking about Mr. Raoh. I need to keep Miss Floria happy while she’s standing in front of me.
* * *
Trying to explain things calmly to a mad woman doesn’t always work. Even if I tell her I just used the brothel as a meeting place to talk with the Cardinal and Mr. Donovan until morning, it probably won’t help much.
But if words won’t work, I’ll try something else. With Ms. Nina, I could just say sorry a bunch. With my sister, I’d make tamagoyaki. But this time, I’ve got something new: warm butter cookies.
”Hey, are you a little hungry? I made something. Want to try it?”
I pull out a basket of cookies from my magic bag. The smell spreads fast—rich and warm, like something fresh out of a bakery. Can Miss Floria say no?
”Good grief, you’re not a kid anymore. You think sweets will make me forget?”
She says that, but still grabs one. Takes a bite.
Oh, we’re good now.
”Mmm… crispy. I can’t stop. Let me get some proper tea to go with this.”
She calls a maid, and tea time starts. She keeps munching through it. That heavy air between us? Gone.
These cookies are just simple butter cookies. But I made them without any fancy stuff—no real butter, no eggs. I used olive oil instead, with a bit of quail fat to round out the flavor. The sugar’s low so the rock salt pops more. Crushed walnuts for crunch. Once you start, it’s hard to stop.
”I didn’t want to use pricey stuff. Just went for a clean, homey taste.”
I’ve got ideas for high-end cookies too, but I need dried cherries, and they’re not in season. Ms. Erin’s looking for some. When the cherries come, I’ll make my dream batch—red and shiny like rubies. I’ll pack them in a fancy box and give them to nobles.
”Rustic, huh? You think I can’t tell? You used high-grade walnuts like they were cheap.”
Oh right—walnuts are expensive here. On the market, walnut kernels cost a lot. Still cheaper than butter, though. Not that I’d pay for them normally.
But in the Dwarf Kingdom, walnut trees are everywhere. Most of the hills are full of them. Tons of nuts fall every year, but no one picks them. Wild pigs eat them all. Good pigs, though—super tasty.
I got permission from Mr. Gino to gather all I want. I packed my magic bag with them. After removing shells and skin, I’ve still got about a hundred kilos. I’m set for a long time.
Sure, walnuts are costly here, but weapon sellers don’t care about them. No one’s competing. I could probably become the Walnut King. Not gonna do it, though. Probably.
* * *
After that, Miss Floria’s still eating. We already had dinner, but her hand keeps going back to the basket. She doesn’t usually eat much. She must really love these.
”Must be nice, being able to pull out fresh cookies anytime. That bag of yours is too handy.”
I haven’t told her that my magic bag is special. Ms. Hóa said I should keep it low-key.
Only a few jobs can use magic bags. It’s not rare, just not common. Handy, sure, but not a game-changer.
Some summoners get cheat-level bags, big enough to hold a whole gym. As long as I don’t show off, I should be fine.
Last time I got checked by someone from the Hero Bureau, I told them my bag’s size was like a small cart. That’s not a lie—it’s how much I can fit in one go. What makes my bag special is that it can hold anything, even animals, and the item count is unlimited. Kinda crazy. It’s sneakily better than Noah’s Ark.
”These cookies last a long time. Honestly, they taste better a few days after baking.”
”Well, if that’s the case—”
”I’ll leave the rest with the maid. Don’t worry.”
The moment I took out the cookie basket, the maids’ eyes sparkled. Yeah, snack-stealing was clearly one of their perks. I should probably bake an extra batch just for them next time.
By the time I finished the cookies and sipped the last of the warm, fragrant tea, Miss Floria’s mood had mostly settled down. Sure, she probably still remembered that annoying teacher with the perfect memory, but she wasn’t going to get mad again now—not with tea and cookies in her hand.
Still, I was the one who kept piling tasks on her. Of course she got worn out. I needed to apologize properly.
”I know I’ve been leaning on you too much lately, Miss Floria. It’s just… every time I try to do something, things blow up.”
”There are seasons like that in life. I get it. I want to help more, really. But time’s short, and there are things even I can’t manage. My staff’s good with papers and books, but they’re no good for street work. And if we hire the underground guild… well, with that Cardinal involved, things will get messy fast.”
Once she started talking, it poured out of her like a busted dam. That’s when you just nod and listen. Even if I only got half of it, I acted like I understood all of it. That’s what mattered.
And yeah, I did get one clear message: that Cardinal is trouble.
”I’m not much in a fight,” I said, trying to sound cool, “but I’ve got a bit of a knack for sneaking around.”
Hey, I’m a guy. I want to look at least a little useful.
”You say that like you’re helping, but you’re always out there doing more yourself.”
Huh. Fair point. I’m not the plan-ahead type. I usually just roll with whatever’s happening. But I guess there’s value in being flexible, too. Miss Floria, though—she’s a perfectionist. She wants plans that leave zero room for error. Must be exhausting.
To be honest, if that teacher hadn’t given me advice, I wouldn’t have even made it past the temple gates. It never even crossed my mind to meet the temple staff, let alone build connections.
Apparently, a bunch of other summoned heroes tried to manage land before me, and most of them failed. Usually because people from this world messed it all up. Even the few who became lords ended up poisoned. A poison that kills heroes? That’s a cheat in itself. But yeah, getting ruled by some foreigner? I wouldn’t like it either.
Still, does that mean killing them off is the answer?
I don’t want to be a ruler, not really. I just want to help because the gods and villagers asked me to. But if I want to survive, I need to make sure that’s crystal clear to everyone. That means giving people a story they can believe. And Miss Floria? She’s the best scriptwriter for this mess.
If I could just hand the title off to some lazy noble, I would. But that’d just start another fight. It’s just a small village—only a few hundred people! What’s so special about the title of village lord, anyway?
Being a summoned hero sounds cool, but you can’t run a country solo. You need a team—fighters, civil officers, messengers, everything. Especially those middle-tier civil officers. The unsung heroes. And don’t forget spies. Movies always show them as killers or ninjas, but gathering information is the real job.
”Oh, speaking of infiltration. I’ve got just the right person. Yakou! Come on out.”
”Understood.”
Out of nowhere, a kunoichi appeared and dropped to one knee. Her pose was serious, but that smug little grin said she knew she looked cool.
Miss Floria let out the cutest scream and crumpled on the spot. Her legs had given up.
There was a faint scent around her—just a bit mature. But forget that.
Figured it was the perfect chance, I leaned down and pretended to cast healing magic while slipping her a tiny bit of Dragon God’s Herb. That stuff’s on the level of national treasure elixirs. It kicks out fatigue, makes your skin glow, and even smooths out the tiny lines near your eyes.
She’d probably be thrilled if she knew. But no way I’m telling her. If word gets out that Dragon God’s Herb works as a beauty cream, Uno will chew me out.
”My heart almost gave out. How did she get in here? This place is supposed to have top-level barriers.”
Yeah, the barrier was set up by Ms. Hóa, so it had to be good. But for someone like Yakou—or me—it wasn’t much.
”That just means I’ve got a top-grade spy.
”R-right… that’s… reassuring.”
Miss Floria got up, a little shaky, and stepped over to Yakou. Her curiosity must’ve kicked back in because she started inspecting the ninja from head to toe. Maybe that Dragon Herb really worked—her eyes had that sparkle again.
Character Notes:
• Miss Floria – Elegant, silver-haired noblewoman in her 40s, referred to as an ‘older sister’. Judge of the Supreme Court and Baroness. Former tutor of Princess Auroora. Initially stern but warms up, showing a playful side. Close with Ms. Nina (Princess Auroora’s doll copy), treating her like a sister. Trustworthy and explains legal matters clearly.
• Escalion – Male. An old swordsman who claims to be the ‘true Hero.’ He is Mia’s lover and appears to be a human from the same world. Despite his shabby appearance, he is incredibly strong and has a frightening presence. He dislikes humans and has a complicated history with them, including an experiment involving a fox.
• Ms. Nina – Doll Princess (Auroora 217), renamed by the protagonist. Beautiful blonde, ~168 cm, slim waist. Wears adventurer attire. Made from artificial parts and wooden limbs, resembling a princess. Knowledgeable, can read, write, and use basic healing magic. Reliable partner, often saves the protagonist with her skills.
• Nina – Doll Princess (Auroora 217), renamed by the protagonist. Beautiful blonde, ~168 cm, slim waist. Wears adventurer attire. Made from artificial parts and wooden limbs, resembling a princess. Knowledgeable, can read, write, and use basic healing magic. Reliable partner, often saves the protagonist with her skills.
• Mr. Zenom – Tough dwarf blacksmith from Toyoata Village. Repairs weapons, improves accuracy. Charges 100 gold/arrow. Becomes protagonist’s strict master. Assigns hard tasks like pre-dawn cleaning, firewood, water pumping. Owns well-equipped forge. Challenges protagonist to prove ideas.
• Raoh – Pakkyamara. An infamous, scheming, but somewhat incompetent senior adventurer known for meddling with hero summoning rituals; often gets beaten up as a result. The one who want japanese food.
• Donovan – Head Priest of the Great Temple. He has a newfound respect for the MC, referring to them as a ‘Saint.’ His actions suggest he is highly organized and influential within his organization.
• Ms. Erin – A timeless elf living in a quiet cabin surrounded by bees, Ms. Erin is over 100 years old and once the wife of a wealthy villager. After her husband’s death, she gave up luxury to live simply, sharing rare honey with select villagers—mostly children. Graceful yet intimidating, she’s known for her mysterious beauty, ageless presence, and surprising fondness for meat. She occasionally grants small blessings to the MC—subtle enchantments or quiet words that linger with unexpected power.
• Erin – A timeless elf living in a quiet cabin surrounded by bees, Ms. Erin is over 100 years old and once the wife of a wealthy villager. After her husband’s death, she gave up luxury to live simply, sharing rare honey with select villagers—mostly children. Graceful yet intimidating, she’s known for her mysterious beauty, ageless presence, and surprising fondness for meat. She occasionally grants small blessings to the MC—subtle enchantments or quiet words that linger with unexpected power.
• Gino – A dwarf blacksmith with advanced magical and crafting skills. Regularly uses the hot spring facility like Escalion the Hero. Calls the protagonist his ‘grandchild’ and offers to train him.
• Yakou – A newly created kunoichi spirit with high specs from Mubiel. She pledges loyalty to the Narrator as her ‘Lord Shogun’ and seeks to punish villains.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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