Volume 2 Chapter 10 A Certain Reunion
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A gravel road stretched straight through a wasteland, dotted here and there with low shrubs and weeds, eventually leading to a small clearing where an old, rundown house came into view.
”This is the residence of the lord.”
The driver said, and the carriage came to a stop in front of the house. What is this? It’s pretty shabby, or rather, falling apart. But well, this whole area is still way more rural compared to Tokura Village.
”Thank you. Well then, take care.”
She said to the driver as she got off the carriage and stood in front of the house’s entrance.
She wonders if anyone’s home. Looking around, she didn’t sense anyone nearby, but there was a doorbell hanging by the side of the door, so she pulled it hard, and it rang with a lovely chime.
”Hello? Is anyone there?”
Then, she could hear someone running quickly towards the door from inside the house. The door swung open with a clatter, revealing a petite, slightly plump woman.
”Yes… wait, huh? Is that you, MelMel!? Oh my gosh, you’ve turned into such a lovely lady!”
”Mama Akari. It’s been a while!! I’m so glad to see you looking well!”
”Yeah, yeah, come on in. You must be tired from your long journey, right? Since you said you’d be staying here for a while for work, I’ve prepared a room for you.”
”Thank you so much. I’ll be in your care for a while!”
And just like that, Mama Akari and I had our long-awaited reunion after ten years.
I was shown to the room prepared for me and sat down on the bed, letting out a sigh of relief.
”Sorry about the size. It’s not very big… but I’ve cleaned it up properly.”
”No, no, it’s more than enough. Compared to when we all used to sleep in one bed… So, where are Yuuta and Karin?”
”Oh, Yuuta got called by Sir Tethyrkan and has been at the neighboring territory since yesterday. He should be back tomorrow. Karin is working part-time cleaning at the Lord’s Residence today.”
”Part-time job? I just stopped by to greet the lord, but I didn’t see her there. Well, I only knew her when she was a baby, so maybe I just didn’t recognize her since she has grown so much?”
”Haha. But she’ll be back by evening, right? So just relax until then. Oh, by the way, have you eaten lunch?”
When I answered no, Mama Akari said, “Then I’ll go make some rice balls,” and she left the room.
The area next to the bed is a big bay window, giving a great view of the outside and plenty of sunlight, but it’s a shame the outside looks so bleak.
But that’s just how it is.
This place was created as a settlement for humans who were teleported to this world, in a wasteland that only had a small dwarf village scattered around, thanks to Queen Asuka’s efforts about 5 years ago.
The town is called Kashiwagi, named after Yuuta’s surname, and it’s a small town with about 3 hundred humans and 5 hundred dwarves living here, currently ruled by Aaron, the former king who has become a viscount.
Yuuta was appointed by the lord and is working as the overseer of the settlement, collaborating with the neighboring lord, Baron Tethyrkan.
(And I… oh. Isn’t that Yuuta?)
She saw a middle-aged man walking towards the house from the window. Her wild eyesight, honed in Tokura Village during her childhood, hasn’t faded yet. No doubt about it. That’s Yuuta!!
”Yuuta────!!”
When she called out to him loudly from the window, he seemed to notice and quickly walked over to the house.
”Yuuta!!”
Melon hugged Yuuta as soon as he stepped through the front door.
”Haha, Melon!! It’s been a while! How have you been? By the way, you look really beautiful!”
Yuuta said, nuzzling her cheek, which made her feel a bit shy, but that natural goofiness of his is both his strength and weakness. He probably forgot that he said it was okay to be the 4th wife…
”Hey, Yuuta. Weren’t you supposed to be back tomorrow?”
Mama Akari asked, looking puzzled.
”Ah. Since Mr. Tethyrkan’s talk wrapped up quickly, I left over there first thing this morning. I can’t just relax with Melon coming.”
The 3 of them sat at the kitchen table, sipping tea and chatting. After all, it’s been ten years since they last met. There’s so much to talk about.
”So, how’s everything in the Royal Capital? Is everyone doing well?”
Yuuta seemed curious about everyone back in the Royal Capital.
”Yeah. My sister is being called the Steel Secretary, and everyone respects her. El-nee’s brand, supported by the merchant guild, is doing great, and the evening dress the queen ordered 2 years ago became super popular, making her a famous designer overnight.”
”Really… Puruun being called Steel? How serious is that girl? And I was shocked when Ellulu came back after about a year, but that really got things moving, huh?”
”Exactly. The reason I was sent here can be traced back to the souvenirs El-nee brought from over there…”
”Ah, that. Can you explain it to me in detail? All I heard was that MelMel is coming here for work for a while. I want to know more about MelMel.”
Mama Akari asked, so I explained the circumstances of my dispatch this time.
”You know that I was studying magic even after I started living with my sister in the Royal Palace, right, Mama Akari? I managed to get decent grades and passed the Royal Palacemage exam. Now, I’m in the alchemy research team.”
”I heard MelMel passed the Royal Palacemage exam, but… alchemy instead of magic?”
”Yeah. Normally, you’d think that. But, you see, Mama, alchemy is about studying the principles and mechanisms of magic and organizing them systematically. Using mana is similar; mages handle magic intuitively, but alchemists practice it in a reproducible way through set procedures and techniques…”
”??? Sorry, that’s too difficult for me…”
Mama Akari sighed with a troubled expression.
”Hahaha. I don’t really get it either, but magic and alchemy are basically the same at their core, right?”
”That’s what I’m saying.”
Well, this part that Yuuta mentioned is a good general understanding.
”So, for this time, at Kashiwagi Manor, it seems that we might be able to regenerate some human technologies, albeit in a limited way. The mission is to verify whether alchemy can be applied to develop the materials and methods for that. So, I’m going to try researching and synthesizing the items that El-nee brought from Yuuta’s world, along with the materials they’re based on.”
”Ah, got it. So, we’re trying to see if we can make things like electricity, metals, and tools from our world, right?”
”Mama Akari, correct! Apparently, humans were able to create simple generators? If we can fuse that technology with magic, our world’s tech level might quickly surpass Yuuta’s world.”
”Whoa. That’s kind of terrifying in its own way. I hope no one tries to invade the human world again.”
Yuuta said, half-jokingly.
”Don’t worry. At least with Lady Asuka as queen, I’m sure it’ll last for about 5 hundred years if nothing happens.”
”Yeah, that’s true.”
Just as they were all laughing together, the front door suddenly swung open.
”I’m home!!”
The one who came in was a girl in her early teens. Melon’s gaze focused on her.
”Ah… Karin?”
As I stood up and called out to her, she smiled back at me.
”Yes! It’s Big Sister Melon, right!?”
She couldn’t help but rush over to Karin and give her a big hug.
”Ha ha. You’ve grown so much… you look just like your mom!”
”I get told that a lot. The lord even said that when I grow up, I should become his bride…”
”Wait, what? Yuuta, is Sir Aaron really saying something so creepy?”
”Ah, ahh. I think he’s just joking around with a friendly tone, probably teasing. Though, yeah, a bit of that s*xual harassment vibe is just his nature…”
Yuuta explained, sounding a bit defensive.
”Ah, Dad. That’s not it! I want to be the lord’s bride too!! There’s no one as cool, handsome, and kind as him in this manor.”
Karin insisted.
”What are you talking about? You’re still 12! You can say things like that once you can handle your studies and work properly!”
”Hmph! I’m doing my best!”
”Ah, ah. She’s definitely going through a rebellious phase. But all the boys in this manor are still so young. Sir Aaron is handsome, and even when Karin becomes an adult, he’ll probably look just the same… who knows what will happen.”
Mama Akari said with a sigh.
Haha, that’s true. Elves and dwarves are practically immortal from the perspective of humans and beastfolk… but it’s nice that everyone seems to get along well.
So, Melon spent late into the night after dinner, chatting with Yuuta and the others.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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