Chapter 326 Social Studies Field Trip ⑤
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I had worked so hard to dodge that “womanizer” title, but it looked like I was finally stuck with it. This was supposed to be Roland-sama’s social studies field trip, but after he found out I was about to be a father of four-on top of my beloved Momo-His Highness had been huffing and puffing in a righteous fury for some reason.
”I don’t think it’s right to just go from one woman to another! Men are supposed to treasure women! I don’t care if it’s you, Kento-san, I’m going to say it!” Roland-sama shouted.
”Yeah, yeah. Look, we’ve reached our next stop,” I said.
”Hmph… Wait, where are we?” Roland-sama asked, blinking.
”The Adventurer’s Guild ¹.”
I finally managed to soothe him as we arrived at my old haunt-my former workplace and current business partner, the Adventurer’s Guild. It might be a bit of a “trial by fire” location, but it was the perfect place to check off several boxes on my list.
”In we go. First, we need to fill our stomachs,” I said.
”Wait! H-hold on a second…!” Roland-sama cried.
Objective number one: lunch. The usual crowd of ruffians gave His Highness a start, but I ignored them and grabbed a table. Roland-sama was still pouting, clearly under the impression that I was looking for a “new woman,” but after I chased off the loitering creeps, his respect gauge ² seemed to recover a bit as he took a seat.
”We can actually eat… at the Guild?” Roland-sama asked.
”Yeah. And the menu is better than most diners. They’ve got everything from high-end to dirt-cheap, so watch your budget. Whatever shopping points you have left are for snacks on the way back or souvenirs,” I explained.
”I… I understand!” he replied.
This was exactly why I picked the Guild. You get the whole spectrum here, from the filthy rich to the starving-poor like I used to be. It’s the perfect place to learn the value of a coin and the reality of commoner life.
”Ah! Kento-san, they have Iron Bean Soup ³! Let’s see, the price is… what?!”
”Heh. Pricey, right? The ‘Stampede’ messed with the supply, so the cost skyrocketed. Even back in my peak adventuring days, I couldn’t afford a bowl of that stuff,” I said.
Roland-sama had been all smiles when he saw the Iron Bean Soup from Old Man Haruma’s lecture, but he slammed face-first into the wall of reality. He eventually gave up on it and settled for Squirrel Bean Soup, which was two tiers lower. Even that was a luxury I couldn’t have dreamed of back then.
He rounded out his order with Stir-fried Mutton and Black Greens, and after an agonizing internal debate, he splurged on Slime-Jelly Anmitsu ⁴ for dessert. That meant no bread for him, and definitely no snacks on the way home. Apparently, the kid has a massive sweet tooth.
”I’ll have the same. But add a side of rye bread to mine,” I told the server.
”Coming right up!” the server replied.
”…Kento-san, are you actually a bit of a jerk?” Roland-sama asked.
”What, you’re just noticing that now?” I replied.
Despite the bickering, Roland-sama polished off his lunch. It must have been peasant food compared to the Palace kitchen, but he didn’t complain-probably too distracted by the novelty of it all. Seeing the look of pure bliss on his face as he shoveled in the Anmitsu, I realized the kid would probably do anything for sugar.
”Alright, next lesson. Roly, it’s time for you to get a job,” I said.
”A… job?” Roland-sama asked.
And that was objective number two. I finished my tea while Roland-sama rested, then dragged him over to the reception desk.
”Hey, Marm-san, you got any monster dismantling ⁵ work for this kid?” I asked.
”Huh? I mean, we do, but he’s not a member. And Kento… isn’t that a bit cruel for a kid who isn’t used to blood?” Marm-san asked, tilting her head.
”It’s fine. His registration is already cleared. I’ll be teaching him and supervising. That works, right?” I said.
Marm-san agreed, albeit with some confusion. I’d already cleared the details with the Guild Master beforehand. He was probably upstairs right now, nursing a stress migraine.
”Dismantling monsters…?” Roland-sama muttered.
”Yep. Usually the pros handle it, but they put out occasional requests for help. It’s like a bonus for bottom-tier adventurers. The catch is that it’s back-breaking, disgusting work,” I said.
”…Do you really think I can do it?” Roland-sama asked quietly.
”If you can’t, you don’t get an allowance next week. You’ll be attending your lessons with your stomach rumbling the whole time,” I warned.
”What?! W-wait, what do you mean?!” Roland-sama cried.
”Exactly what I said. Today’s allowance was a one-time gift. From now on, you live off what you earn. Didn’t I tell you?” I said.
”No, you did not!” Roland-sama yelled.
Of course I didn’t. This “social studies” trip is going to be a weekly thing from now on. He needs to learn to survive on his own coin. Honestly, that’s the real point of the whole trip.
I’ve already got a schedule lined up: warehouse organizing at the Merchant Guild Haru, cleaning the Cathedral, being an apprentice for an alchemist… the works. Being a commoner isn’t just about shopping; it’s about the grind. If he’s going to be King, I want him to understand the weight of labor and the cost of living.
”Alright, let’s get to it! Expect plenty of blood, and if you mess up the pelt, you’re paying for it. That beastly stench won’t wash off for days, but hey-it’s for next week’s pocket money! Move it, move it!” I shouted.
”Kento-san, you’re the worst!” Roland-sama screamed.
And so, His Highness got a front-row seat to the misery of manual labor. By the time we were done-covered in fur, blood, and guts-the pittance he earned wasn’t even half the price of that overpriced souvenir he’d been scammed into buying earlier. He looked like his entire world had collapsed.
”You’re… you’re joking, right?” Roland-sama whispered, looking at the coins in his stained hands.
It wasn’t a joke. But I didn’t tell him that if he got faster, he could actually make a decent living. Some lessons are better learned the hard way.
”I-I’m exhausted…” Roland-sama groaned.
”Good work, kid. Tell you what, big bro will buy you a meat skewer from that stall as a reward,” I said.
”I won’t be bribed by such a-! …Actually, yes. Thank you,” Roland-sama replied.
We were on the way back, and even though he’d scrubbed down in the Guild showers, he was still obsessively sniffing his sleeve for the scent of monster. He’d probably seen the price of the meat skewer and realized it was worth a good chunk of his hard-earned pay. The lesson was sinking in.
He had a royal feast waiting for him at the Palace, but he still gobbled that skewer like it was his last meal, looking like he was on the verge of tears. If it had ended there, I would have called the trip a total success… but…
”Kento-san… about what we talked about earlier…” Roland-sama started.
”Hmm? Which part?” I asked.
”About you having so many wives! It’s just not right. It’s… it’s pitiful for them!” Roland-sama said.
I almost choked. I thought he was just trying to get back at me for the manual labor, but he was dead serious. He was looking at me with those earnest eyes, trying to lead me back to the path of righteousness. Fine. No more dodging.
”Look, I hear you. But I love all of them equally, and I treat them better than most guys treat one wife. Did the three you met look unhappy to you, Roly?” I asked.
”Well… no. But still…” Roland-sama muttered, furrowing his brow.
Polygamy isn’t exactly a taboo in this world, but I guess it was a bit much for a kid his age. Then, he looked at me with a desperate, frantic expression.
”But then… what about my sister?!” Roland-sama demanded.
”Wait, what?” I asked.
”Elder Sister! You and her… you’re close, aren’t you?!” Roland-sama cried.
”Ah… well, that’s… complicated,” I said.
”I knew it! She’s always in such a good mood when you’re coming over, and she gets all proud and happy whenever she talks about you…!” Roland-sama shouted.
So that was it. His crusade wasn’t about abstract values; he was worried about his big sister. Talking to a young boy about this-especially when it involved the most untouchable woman in the kingdom-made me break out in a cold sweat.
”Listen, that’s… a very sensitive topic…” I said.
”She looks so happy… but her partner has five other wives?!” Roland-sama exclaimed.
”Calm down! Look, your sister knows exactly what my situation is with other women…” I explained.
”S-she does?” Roland-sama asked.
Your Majesty, your brother is onto us! I wanted to scream. Or laugh. Or apologize for the fact that the number is probably going to keep growing past five. I did my best to settle him down.
”So… it’s okay? But… she’s just one of many? Doesn’t she get angry?” Roland-sama asked.
”She’s never been mad about it. I’m sure there’s some jealousy, but… honestly, you should ask her yourself,” I told him.
”I can’t ask her that!” Roland-sama cried.
”Why not? It’s a good conversation to have. I mean, eventually, you’re going to have to marry multiple women too, right?” I asked.
”Huh…?” Roland-sama stared at me, his mouth hanging open.
Roland-sama stared at me like I’d just told him the sun was made of cheese. Seriously? What kind of education has this kid been getting?
”Well, yeah. You’re the only male heir. If you don’t have kids, the line ends with you. Plus, there are political marriages. You’re going to need to know how to keep a lot of women happy at once,” I said.
”I… I suppose that’s true! For Elder Sister’s sake, I have to get married early and have lots of children…? I studied the laws of succession, but I never thought it applied to me like that…!” Roland-sama clutched his head, looking like he’d been hit by a lightning bolt.
Had his tutors and maids really kept him this sheltered? That’s some world-class overprotectiveness. Or maybe Her Majesty has calculated this? ‘He’ll learn about the birds and the bees by watching Kento’s trainwreck of a love life.’
Roland-sama suddenly grabbed my hand with a death grip.
”Kento-san-no, Teacher! What do I do?! How do I marry lots of women without them getting angry at me?!” Roland-sama pleaded.
”…Right. We’ll add ‘Managing a Harem 101’ to the curriculum for next week,” I said.
Being a royal tutor was turning out to be a hell of a lot more work than I bargained for.
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Summary:
Kento takes Prince Roland to the Adventurer’s Guild for a reality-check field trip. The prince learns the harsh truth about the cost of living and manual labor through monster dismantling. The chapter concludes with a shocking revelation for the prince regarding his own future polygamous duties and his sister’s relationship with Kento.
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Trivia:
- Kento is about to become a father of four soon (added to Momo).
- The ‘Stampede’ is actively affecting food prices in the economy.
- Kento’s registration for Roland at the guild was pre-cleared with the Guild Master.
- Roland is the only direct male heir to the throne
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Character Insight:
Roland shows significant growth in empathy and economic awareness, transitioning from judging Kento to asking him for life advice. Kento remains a cynical but effective mentor, using ‘tough love’ to prepare the future king.
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Behind the Scenes:
Author often uses Roland as a proxy for the ‘innocent reader’ to contrast with Kento’s lived-in world-weariness.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Roland – he younger brother of Queen Cecile and the heir apparent to the Canaria throne. Clean, golden-blonde hair, same color as the Queen, innocent, beautiful face that could be mistaken for a girl but dressed in a boy’s formal wear.
• Momo – The newborn daughter of Kento and Lily. She has pink hair and her father’s ear and eyebrow shapes.
• 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.
• Haruma – A kindly old man with a full beard and a bald head.
• Marm – The attractive, red-haired, tanned receptionist at the Adventurer’s Guild. She wears a uniform that emphasizes her ‘nice body.’ She is kind and acts like a supportive ‘big sister’ figure to Kento. Looks like Mirajane Strauss from certain series.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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