Chapter 200 My Mentor ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Ultimately, Flearis—the younger sister-in-law of Lily—and Kushe, the Chief Court Mage of Coalmine, spent nearly the entirety of Crown Princess Ierse’s stay sequestered in our shop’s “laboratory.”
Having transformed into bona fide adult magic tool masters, they eventually departed for the maritime nation of Silvaol. With their expertise, I’m certain they’ll successfully forge new sales channels for us.
I’d harbored a faint hope that Flearis might be able to attend Lily’s delivery, but unfortunately, the timing didn’t quite align.
Since she’s scheduled to stop by on her return trip from Silvaol, however, she should at least be able to meet the newborn.
Ultimately, the more people there are to offer their blessings, the better. Besides, if they’re acquainted now, it’s comforting to know they’d support my child if—heaven forbid—something were to happen to me.
I wonder if these calculating, shrewd thoughts are simply a byproduct of my impending fatherhood. Then again, being a bit of a schemer has always been my default state.
”Ah, you’re certainly energetic again today… That’s wonderful and all, but just when are you going to let us see your face?” Kento asked.
”Tee-hee. I honestly expected them to be a bit more impatient if they took after you, Master. But since they take after me, perhaps they simply find it too cozy to leave,” Lily replied.
Every single day follows the same routine: me nuzzling the prominent baby bump of Lily. Feeling the shock of a kick against my cheek fills me with an overwhelming sense of bliss. Still, now that we’re three days past the due date, the anxiety is starting to creep in.
”What’s with that look? Don’t go wearing such a dismal expression in front of your wife and child, you dimwitted apprentice,” Granny Miranda said.
”Granny Miranda…” Kento muttered.
I received a sharp thwack to the head from Granny Miranda, my mentor in the art of magical medicine, who’s been dropping by almost daily of late. Despite her rough exterior, she’s a versatile healer—running her own apothecary, acting as a physician, and even serving as a midwife in typical grandmotherly fashion.
For the residents of the back-alley town (aka the street), whose incomes are often meager or volatile, she’s an absolute godsend. Her reputation is such that she’s even summoned to the estates of high-ranking nobles. Come to think of it, I’m technically the aristocrat Lord Kento now, too…
”Well, if labor doesn’t pick up in another week or two, I’ll have to whip up a prescription. Heh heh, let’s hope it comes to that. You’d better have a mountain of gold ready,” Miranda said.
”You old hag! Way to kick a man while he’s down!” Kento shouted.
Correction: she’s a godsend, but also a massive pain in the neck. Her personal creed is to “only fleece those who can afford it,” so I suppose I’ve officially been categorized as a ‘cash cow.’ Given how profitable the shop has become, I can’t exactly argue with her assessment.
Then again, maybe this is just her idiosyncratic way of saying, ‘Don’t sweat it, I can fix anything with my medicine.’ Though, watching her meticulously count today’s consultation fee coin by coin makes that sentiment feel a bit like wishful thinking…
”Now then, quit dawdling and go earn some keep. I’ve lost track of how many girls you plan on knocking up, but no matter how much you rake in, it’ll never be enough, will it?” Miranda asked.
”Well… when you put it like that, I suppose you’re right…” Kento replied.
”The elf girl, those two beastkin lasses, the noble daughter… You even convinced a sister to return to secular life, and now my own granddaughter too? Heh! Business is booming, isn’t it!” Miranda said.
”Look, I don’t even know what those last two are actually thinking…” Kento said.
”Don’t be a fool. When a woman lets a man hold her, she’s already armed with a certain level of resolve and expectation. Stop overthinking and tell her like a man, ‘Bear my child.’ That’ll seal the deal instantly,” Miranda said.
”Could you please stop? Hearing relationship advice from you makes me physically ill…” Kento muttered.
As I sagged under the weight of her lecture on the female psyche, the old crone took a full, powerhouse swing at my backside with her gnarled wooden staff. Well… at least she’s in high spirits.
* * *
Before I knew it, it was time to head to work. I planted a kiss on Lily and the belly where our child resides, entrusted the house to Granny, and headed out.
My destination was the Canarias Convent¹, which has essentially been repurposed into a full-scale production facility for Ddo-Buddy². Our shop’s output is now almost entirely dependent on this convent; as trade with the Coalmine Kingdom and the maritime nation of Silvaol intensifies, its strategic importance will only escalate.
Tania, the elven adventurer, and Laika, the dog-beastkin, have also transitioned to ‘commuting’ from my shop to the convent to oversee production. It feels like we’ve officially moved from a small-scale cottage industry to an organized manufactory system.
I find myself feeling strangely nostalgic for the days we spent huddled in the shop’s cramped workshop, diligently assembling Ddo-Buddies. I wonder if this world is on the cusp of its own industrial revolution. I suspect I could trigger it myself if I really put my mind to it, but for some reason, that’s a path I’m hesitant to walk…
Wrapped in a cloak of uncharacteristic sentimentality, I passed through the gates of the Canarias Convent. I noticed a small crowd gathered near the perimeter wall. Curious, I scanned the group and spotted a familiar face.
”Amelia, what’s going on?” Kento asked.
”Ah, Kento-san! We were just discussing the upcoming expansion of the convent…” Amelia replied.
”Wow, an expansion? That’s impressive,” Kento said.
It was Sister Amelia, currently deep in discussion over a set of blueprints with other nuns and a few men who looked like carpenters. Still, an extension, huh…
Canarias Convent predates the founding of the royal capital. The town or street grew around it as one of its core pillars, and the buildings themselves had been meticulously maintained and repaired by generations of nuns.
For them to undertake a major expansion now—in an age where ecclesiastical authority has significantly waned—is quite the momentous decision.
”You say it’s impressive, but it’s almost entirely thanks to you, Kento-san. The recent war brought in a significant influx of funds, and with the Ddo-Buddy business projected to keep growing, the consensus was to just go ahead and build a new wing,” Amelia said.
Good news… I think? It looks like a ‘Ddo-Buddy Convent’ is going to be erected before my own ‘Ddo-Buddy Mansion.’ The optics on that are just terrible.
”I appreciate the sentiment, but are you sure about this? The Coalmine sales are one thing, but the Silvaol trade isn’t even set in stone yet,” Kento said.
”Oh, they’ve factored that in. Especially Archbishop Trantestar… He kept insisting we should ‘deepen our collusion while the iron is hot.’ His choice of words is always so… colorful. Technically, our convent is a separate entity from the Archbishop’s See, but still…” Amelia said.
Amelia wore a pained expression. It seems the Archbishop is as laser-focused on profit as ever. Still, for my shop, having a deep-seated connection with the Church isn’t a bad move.
While I’m not as worried as I used to be, if another heresy scandal ever breaks out, the Archbishop will be the perfect lightning rod to shield us. Besides, knowing that man, if I just leave him to his own devices, he’ll find a way to maximize the profits anyway.
”So, does this mean the new building will house a dedicated workshop for us?” Kento asked.
”Yes ssu. Our current space is getting pretty cramped, and since we need more storage, the higher-ups decided a spacious separate wing was the best way forward,” Amelia replied.
”I see… Well, if you’re going to that much trouble, maybe our shop should make a formal donation…?” Kento asked.
”I… wonder. If you truly wish to express your devotion, Kento-san, we would certainly welcome it…” Amelia said.
As a nun of the Ascetic Faction³, Amelia hesitated, her words carefully neutral. I suspect if I’d asked a member of the Salvation Faction⁴—like Archbishop Trantestar, who’s happy to chase gold as long as it’s for ‘charity’—they would have pounced on the offer, shouting, ‘What a pious heart! Surely the Heavens themselves are smiling upon you!’
To be honest, I’d been thinking I should make a substantial donation at some point, so the timing is perfect. I’ll admit, a small part of me wants a stone monument that says ‘Donated by Harvest Magic Tool Shop’ or ‘Presented by Lord Kento Harvest.’
I’m not sure if people even do that in this world, but I bet they would if I paid for it. I never expected to care about social status or legacy like this, but the desire for public recognition is a strange, intoxicating thing. I’ll have to be careful not to let it go to my head.
”Also… we’re looking to increase our staff, but since that might disrupt our regular charitable work, there’s talk of the Holy City sending reinforcements once the wing is complete…” Amelia said.
”It’s gotten that big, huh? The Archbishop really isn’t playing around… Still, the last thing we need is a bunch of weirdos from the clergy cluttering the place up…” Kento muttered.
I couldn’t help but let that slip as I pictured a very specific person—a certain eccentric cleric-turned-worker who had been dispatched from the Holy City.
”Master! There you are! You were taking so long that I was just about to come looking for you ssu!” Nina-Mailse shouted.
”I’ve told you a thousand times, stop calling me that…” Kento replied.
Speak of the devil. Charging toward us with an enthusiastic wave was Nina-Mailse, the Sacred Artificer⁵ who, for reasons I still don’t fully grasp, has insisted on calling me ‘Master’…
—
Summary:
Kento prepares for fatherhood while his magic tool business expands into international trade. Granny Miranda visits to check on the overdue Lily and teases Kento about his growing household. The Canarias Convent begins planning a major expansion to house a larger workshop for Ddo-Buddy production. Nina-Mailse, a cleric from the Holy City, arrives and insists on calling Kento her master.
—
Character Insight:
Kento is undergoing a shift from a simple shopkeeper to a paternal figure and social benefactor. His desire for a stone monument reveals a newfound interest in social legacy. Miranda acts as a bridge between his commoner past and aristocratic present, keeping him grounded with her bluntness.
—
T/L:
Notes:
• Flearis – A member of the diplomatic envoy and guard. Has pink hair.
• Ierse – The Crown Princess and wife of Gilliam, originally from a foreign land. She is described as lively and healthy with a unique charm. She wants to cheer up her husband. Has long haired hair.
• Kushe – The Chief Mage of the Coalmine Kingdom. She has dark green hair grown out haphazardly and wears a mage robe loosely over her shoulders. She has a blunt, informal, and somewhat insensitive personality, focused on her ‘thinking experiments.’
• Lily – the sl*ve and primary experiment subject for the magic shop, ‘Harvest.’ She has striking pink hair, Blue eyes, medium breasts, which the Protagonist associates with being ‘wanton’. She has a working knowledge of magic, which she kept hidden from the slave trader.
• 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.
• Laika – The beastwoman dog.
• Tania – An Elf adventurer who, despite her race’s reputation for low sex drive, is secretly quite passionate. She initially seemed ‘wasted’ (emotionally dry) to her friend Raika, but was easily introduced to the pleasure-items sold at ‘Harvest.’ She is easily embarrassed and attempts to maintain a dignified facade, despite her recent, frequent purchases. She wears practical but light armor over a simple cloth tunic and short pants, highlighting her grace and agility. Her primary relationship is one of friendly senior-junior with Raika.
• Amelia – The Sister of the Church of Demon-Subjugating, who usually buys from Kento, has light blue hair.
• Trantestar – The middle-aged man Archbishop of Canarias and the initiator of the current trial. He is an alleged ally of Kento but remains suspiciously neutral.
• Nina-Mailse – A Sacred Artificer from the Holy City. She has short violet hair and wears thick glasses that somehow look stylish. She is attached to the Saint.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply