A mid-level (middle-aged) office worker's laid-back industrial revolution in another world - Chapter 128

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

“…Ahh…”

Takeo woke up feeling very weighed down.

This was not a sharp pain that he was used to feeling… It was heavy…

Alice had apparently turned over in her sleep and rolled over to lay face down on Takeo, who was sleeping face up.

“How in the world did your entire body end up on top of me like that?” he asked, relieved, as he had realized that the weight upon him was just Alice.

Alice continued sleeping on him face down, lightly snoring.

It was just another morning for Takeo, as he absent-mindedly caressed Alice’s thighs.

Alice began to stir awake.

“…Good morn-…Huh?” said Alice, starting to greet Takeo, and then realizing the strange position she was in.

“Lady Alice – Good morning,” said Takeo, greeting her while still caressing her thighs.

“…Takeo-sama… how did you get underneath me?”

“It’s the other way around, isn’t it?” said Takeo, who could only smile wryly.

After that, Takeo and Alice had their fun in bed, but eventually, Alice said, “Now, Takeo-sama – I’m reluctant to part with you, but let’s get up,” and so the two of them got out of bed and started getting changed.

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After breakfast was over, everyone gathered in the parlor for teatime.

“Now, Smith and Harold are going to have a mock battle today, correct?” asked Grandpa.

“Yes, sir. I’m ready,” said Smith.

“Hmm, yes – just as we decided. Takeo, do you have any advice for Smith?”

“What? …Well… Yes, well… Nobody is without flaws. Even an opponent who appears as a clearly superior warrior to you right now, Master Smith,” said Takeo.

“Yes, sir,” said Smith.

“That means that while you are in the midst of your mock battle, there will certainly be a moment of opportunity for you. That may be an unconscious misstep by him or an external factor. You may only get one such opportunity, so you must not let that moment pass without acting on it. I believe this mock battle will be a test for whether you will be able to make a move at that moment,” said Takeo.

“Hmm, yes, I agree,” said Grandpa, “While you may not be able to beat him in direct combat if you can fend him off, there is a chance that an opportunity may arise. Now, whether you can pick up on that opportunity… I will not be there to watch over you. You need to sharpen your own judgment skills.”[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

“Yes, sir,” said Smith.

“Hmm, yes. What will you two do today, Takeo and Alice?” asked Grandpa.

“I have rifle training. After that, I have no plans,” said Takeo.

“I will go along with Takeo-sama,” said Alice.

“Hmm, yes, all right,” said Grandpa Elvis, nodding and smiling.

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“Well, then, I’ll be on my way,” said Smith, and he left the parlor before the others. Grandpa Elvis, Alice, Takeo, and Frederick remained in the room.

“Well… then,” said Grandpa.

“Yes,” said Takeo.

“I believe Smith has a difficult trial ahead of him, hmm?” said Grandpa.

“Grandfather, you’re thinking that it will be difficult for Smith if Harold and Smith face off directly… aren’t you?” asked Alice.

“Hmm, yes. I wonder if he will be all right,” said Grandpa.

“Yes, we’ll have to wait and see…” said Alice.

“Hmm…” Grandpa Elvis grumbled, deep in thought.

“Elvis-san, is it true that bears appear in this town sometimes?” asked Takeo.

“Huh? What do you mean, Takeo?” asked Grandpa.

“I am told this bear is named ‘Harold’?” asked Takeo, grinning.

“…Heh… I’ve never heard anything like that before, but if it’s true, then it sounds like a threat to the town. We must keep this town safe from dangers,” said Grandpa.

“Yes, I don’t think the bear ever attacks people of the town, but… If by some chance, it did begin fighting with someone here, I figured it would be good for my rifle training to take some shots at it,” said Takeo, “I have no intentions of killing any living thing, and so I will only try to render it powerless.”

“Hmm, yes, I agree,” said Grandpa, “I can’t agree to pointless killing, either.”

“It’s just… If it were a situation where the bear was fighting a townsperson, I may not get there in time to save that person. There is a chance that they would take some injuries,” said Takeo.

“That’s unavoidable,” said Grandpa, “after all, even if we can have some idea where it would appear, there’s no way to know for sure when and where it will show up.”

“Yes, sir,” said Takeo, “it would be good if the townsperson could hang on until I arrive, but…”

“We must expect it to fight hard,” said Grandpa.

“Yes,” said Takeo.

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Takeo and Alice left the parlor to go to Takeo’s rifle training. Grandpa Elvis and Frederick remained.

“A bear… he said,” said Grandpa.

“Was that… Takeo-sama showing his gentle side?” asked Frederick, “Perhaps he was saying he would not cause the leader of the military – the head of the cavalry – to lose publicly in a battle.”

“Hmm, yes. His goal is not to save Smith, either… He wanted to make that clear, maybe. I don’t think he would interfere in the mock battle,” said Grandpa.

“Let’s trust Takeo-sama’s judgment on it,” said Frederick, “After all, he probably won’t let it end badly.”

“Hmm, yes. I haven’t seen any selfishness in Takeo’s judgments thus far. Not only that, he’s been contributing to Smith’s development, and that puts me at ease,” said Grandpa, “…As a grandfather, I can’t help but hope for my grandson to win the battle.”

“That can’t be helped,” said Frederick.

Grandpa Elvis and Frederick looked out the window and they both became lost in their thoughts.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]