Chapter 110 Social Gathering ③
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I feel like I’m being used as quite the bait here,” Satsuki said.
At the social gathering hosted by Lady Tina Duke Badcage, Satsuki, a Court Mage, spoke while resting her hand on my left arm. She held a wine glass in her left hand, swirling it as she directed a lukewarm, slightly sulky gaze toward me.
”Ah—it’s not your imagination…. How should I put it? My bad…” I replied.
”It’s fine. His Majesty told me to provide as much convenience as possible, so it’s not like I mind, but still,” Satsuki said while pouting, her face somewhat flushed; she seemed to be intoxicated. She had only just started her second glass, but she clearly didn’t have a high tolerance for alcohol. Watching a beautiful woman getting clingy while tipsy was a reward in itself, so I honestly hoped she’d get completely wasted.
”I’m sorry, Satsuki-san…. I knew it would be a burden, but I thought this method would be best for my husband and the shop…” Aerith apologized to Satsuki while clinging to my right arm, diligently feeding me food and helping me drink wine. She was doing the so-called “Say ahh♡” routine. Since both my arms were occupied, it couldn’t be helped.
”It’s not something Aerith-san needs to apologize for. These kinds of things are the responsibility of the one at the top, right? Hey Kento, I get a proper reward too, don’t I?” Satsuki asked, shifting the spark of her frustration toward me. Well, I was the source of the fire to begin with. But a reward, huh…. It was already decided that Aerith would be draining me later, and I certainly had to give Satsuki something in return.
”Do you want a year’s worth of Ddo-Buddy¹? ” I asked.
”I’ll knock you flat,” Satsuki replied.
”Then a year’s worth of aphrodisiacs? “
”Do you want to become rust on my staff? “
”All that’s left is to pay with my body…”
”Okay, I’ll start developing magic to make your balls explode,” Satsuki said flatly.
”A high-grade Slime-kun²…? “
”N-No, that’s not it! “
I was enjoying Satsuki’s nimble retorts, but she was gradually becoming impatient. Hmm, she seemed to have some interest in Slime-kun, but that wasn’t what this conversation was about.
”Got it, got it. I’ll have you help with the next product development, Satsuki,” I said.
”Hmph, so you do understand…”
”Hmm, but I was planning to have you help anyway, so I’m not sure if that really counts as a reward,” I teased.
”It’s plenty. The Ugougo Ddo-Buddy³ and the Piston Machine⁴—you’re planning to evolve Golem-related technology with those, right? It’s been a while since I’ve been able to assemble a magic circuit; my skills are itching to be used,” Satsuki said, her mood improving so much she looked like she might burst into song as she took a sip of wine. She let out a soft hum of satisfaction as she enjoyed the aroma and taste.
”You’re talking about the high-end products you planned to sell at our shop, right? ” Aerith asked.
”That’s right. Those are amazing, Aerith-san. They won’t just be adult magic tools; they might trigger a revolution in the entire magic tool industry! ” Satsuki exclaimed.
Aerith and Satsuki were conversing across me. Leaving Aerith aside, even Satsuki was pressing her body closer, which was a great perk. Keep it up, feel free to accidentally press your chest against me.
While thinking such things, I observed our surroundings. Satsuki, being drunk and happy to talk about her specialty, had raised her voice, and people nearby could likely hear her. I felt everyone falling silent to listen in.
I thought we were playing the role of decoys well, but she was starting to delve into content that was too valuable to let people hear for free.
”And you see, the most vital part is the power mechanism…! “
”Satsuki, let’s save that talk for next time, okay? You can talk as much as you want at the shop,” I interrupted.
”Ah…. You’re right, maybe I spoke a bit too much. Aerith-san, that was boring for you, wasn’t it…? ” Satsuki asked.
”No, it was a very interesting story. Please let me hear more about it slowly next time,” Aerith replied with a smile.
Both were smiling, but I could feel the disappointment from the people around us. I see, people’s guards drop in places like this; I suppose this is the real charm of a social gathering.
Before long, the ambient chatter returned. People’s gazes shifted away from us and toward a single direction. It seemed the host of this gathering was about to make an appearance.
”A-Ah— Everyone, thank you very much for gathering here today, noja. This is the first social gathering I have held under my own name, and I am, k-quite nervous, noja.”
At the very back of the great hall, on a raised platform, the silver-haired, red-eyed “Noja-san” herself—Lady Tina Badcage—began her greeting. She was a bit far away, making her hard to see, but she was certainly the same girl who had visited our shop before. The sound of applause rose from the crowd, so we joined in and clapped as well.
”Since I am a country person, I am not well-versed in the customs of the Royal Capital, so if I commit any blunders, please do not hesitate to speak up, noja. Ah, also, please forgive this manner of speaking, noja. It is because I was raised surrounded by the elderly of my hometown…. I am trying my best to fix it, but…”
Noja-san—no, Lady Tina—said while fidgeting cutely. No, don’t you dare fix that way of speaking; I want you to stay exactly like that forever. If possible, I’d like her to live to be about five hundred years old with that look and that dialect.
”Now, for the main topic, noja. As some of you may have noticed, the invited guests today are those who have suffered losses due to the incidents in the North, noja. Or, those who might be able to lend a hand. In a sense, we are a community bound by fate. I hope this place becomes like a rally where we can unite and tackle this situation together, noja,”
I see, so that was the purpose of this social gathering. She mentioned she had been showing her face at various gatherings since arriving in the capital, so based on the information she gathered there, she had finally opened her own.
Applause was directed at her statement once again, but Aerith, while clapping, wore a troubled expression and whispered into my ear.
”As the rumors say, she’s quite a straightforward person…. That statement might not be very good. In these kinds of social gatherings, one doesn’t usually go out of their way to explain the purpose…” Aerith whispered.
”Is that so? I think it’s easy to understand, but would it be seen as showing weakness? ” I asked.
”To put it simply, yes. A social gathering also serves to show that one has enough leeway to host one, but making a statement like that could be taken as a sign that she is forcing herself to hold it. It’s not ideal to needlessly give the opponent an opening to exploit…”
What a troublesome business. It seemed things wouldn’t go as simply as: “Coalmine⁵ is likely to attack and it’s tough! Let’s help each other out! “
”Okay! In times like this, it’s give and take! ” Well, I didn’t think it would be that easy, though.
”I hope that all of you will foster friendships. Now, please enjoy the conversation, noja! “
After saying that at the end, Lady Tina bowed deeply. Loud applause was given, but given how Aerith was knitting her brows, that likely wasn’t a good attitude either.
I couldn’t help but hope that no one in this venue would hurt that young lady who was trying so hard.
——————
————
——
After Tina’s speech ended and people began to gather around her, several people also started to gather around us. I was worried about her, but I had to fulfill my own duties.
”Oh, isn’t that Lady Aerith of the Garou Merchant Guild over there? “
”My, my, if it isn’t Baron Madrant. Thank you very much for your purchase of the ring the other day. How is the South faring lately? I heard that the wheat harvest was quite bountiful…”
Those who spoke to us usually addressed Aerith first. She would always call them by name and weave in a bit of small talk, letting me know what kind of person the opponent was.
It was a mystery why so many people pretended it was a chance encounter when they were clearly aiming to talk to us, but they were all generally friendly. For the most part, they just seemed to want to hear about the ‘Harvest’ that was the talk of the Royal Capital.
”Ah—by the way, who might this gentleman be, who seems quite close to you? “
”Oh! My apologies for the late introduction. This is Kento-san, my ‘partner’. He runs a magic tool shop called ‘Harvest’…”
”Oh, a ‘partner’, how wonderful! And what a coincidence! Actually, I just heard about that shop from my wife the other day…”
”I’m Kento. It’s a great honor to know that you’re aware of my shop,” I said.
However, while they often just wanted to use their wives as an excuse to hear more, there were also those who truly sought our products. Especially the people who looked like they wanted to fish for information about the high-grade Slime-kun seemed quite serious.
”B-By the way, there are rumors that His Majesty’s health has improved lately thanks to your shop’s ‘products’, but how is it in reality…? “
”Well, who knows. It is true that His Majesty has been very kind to us…”
”There’s no need to be coy, is there? No, I’m not planning to say anything about that, you see? I’m just so curious as to when those ‘new products’ will go on sale! “
They were all uniformly impatient about something. That was likely not unrelated to the wives smiling brightly beside them. Among them, some were clearly being pinched on the arm or flank, implicitly being told: “Hey, hurry up and find out! If possible, get the product right here! “
”Ow-ow-ow! I-I know, Jane! K-Kento-dono!? Money is no object, so won’t you sell it to us first!? “
”I would love to do that, but cultivation is difficult…. We can’t prepare enough numbers, so we’re discussing whether to make it a lottery. Right, Aerith? “
”Yes. If you provide us with your request to purchase in advance, our shop will act as an agent and provide you with a lottery ticket. If there are many who wish to purchase, the price will naturally reflect that…”
”I-I don’t care how much it costs! Please, just don’t make it a lottery! “
”But, everyone says the same thing…”
”Ow-ow-ow! It hurts, it hurts, Jane! This isn’t my fault, is it!? “
It was practically a comedy routine between husband and wife. And naturally, if they made this much noise, the people around would hear, and men being pressured by their wives to “Hurry up and go listen! ” could be seen everywhere.
I couldn’t stop grinning at the higher-than-expected response, but of course, not everyone was a friendly opponent. Amidst the pitiful cries of Baron Madrant, a middle-aged man with a stern face, who was clearly someone of high standing, approached us.
”Is it you, the man who has been selling those strange magic tools lately…! “
—
Summary:
Kento attends Tina’s social gathering with Aerith and a tipsy Satsuki. Satsuki accidentally leaks information about upcoming revolutionary magic tools to the eavesdropping crowd. Tina gives a speech about uniting against threats from the North, though Aerith notes her political naivety. Kento is swarmed by noblemen pressured by their wives to buy his new products. The chapter ends with a stern, high-ranking man confronting Kento about his ‘strange’ tools.
—
Character Insight:
Tina’s use of the ‘noja’ dialect and her honest, straightforward appeal reveal a character who, despite her noble rank, lacks the cynical polish of the Royal Capital’s social elite. Aerith acts as the perfect anchor for Kento, providing the social camouflage and ‘buffer’ needed to navigate high society, while Satsuki’s drunkenness humanizes her otherwise intimidating ‘Court Mage’ status. Kento shows increasing confidence in manipulating social demand, using the ‘lottery’ excuse to drive up value.
—
Behind the Scene:
The ‘Noja’ speech pattern is a classic ‘Ojou-sama’ or ‘ancient being’ trope in Japanese media, often used to bridge the gap between a cute appearance and an old soul (or just an eccentric upbringing). The scene where wives pressure their husbands to buy products highlights the shift in Kento’s business from a ‘shady shop’ to a ‘must-have luxury’ among the elite.
—
T/L:
Notes:
• Satsuki – A talented Court Mage who was forced to analyze the shop’s adult magic tools. Miranda’s granddaughter. Now she’s the new worker at Harvest, a development she finds both humiliating and surprisingly fulfilling due to the rapid progress in her research under Kento’s guidance. Has long black hair, palace mage robe, and staff.
• Aerith – A wolf beast-person and Ouka’s daughter. She is intensely attracted to Kento’s creative genius and is not shy about showing her interest. Have gray fur hair and tail, wearing elegant dress.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Tina Badcage – Silver-haired, red-eyed woman with a very formal, old-fashioned way of speaking, often ending sentences with ‘no ja’. She is the only daughter of the Duke Badcage, tasked with guarding the North for the Canaria Royal Family. She is described as a beauty. Her inexperience suggests a slender build, and her dress is likely formal and aristocratic, though not explicitly stated.
• Madrant – A nobleman from the south who previously purchased a ring from Aerith. He is eager to learn about Kento’s new products.
• Jane – Baron Madrant’s wife, who pressures him to secure products from Kento’s shop.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply