A mid-level (middle-aged) office worker's laid-back industrial revolution in another world - Chapter 138

Translator: Jasper Kadowaki | Editor: NovelMultiverse

Just like any other night, when Grandpa Elvis said “Well, let’s get some sleep, shall we?”, everyone left the parlor, and Takeo and Alice returned to their bedroom.

Takeo ran a bath, and after Alice finished bathing, he casually helped dry her hair.

“Lady Alice, thank you for another good day,” said Takeo.

“You, too, Takeo-sama – thank you,” said Alice, answering brightly, in a cheerful mood.

“It’s a good thing that you held back from jumping in on Master Smith and Harold’s fight,” said Takeo, laughing softly, “Standing beside you, I was nervously wondering when you might jump in.”

“…Says the man who was gripped my hand tightly to make sure I wouldn’t jump in…” said Alice, glaring at him in protest.

Takeo had taken a small backroad to get to the grounds beside the guardroom before Smith arrived, and he had been watching everything from some shrubs he had crouched behind.

“You’re right. You stopped me when I readied my rifle, too, though, didn’t you?” asked Takeo.

“I was in a panic because I didn’t think you would just start firing in on them so early on in the fight,” said Alice.

Takeo laughed softly, again.

“It would have been fun… But, it wouldn’t have benefited Smith, right?” asked Alice.

“You’re right about that, but… I thought it might be too difficult for him to find a moment of weakness in his opponent, this time around,” said Takeo.

“Yes, you’re right. Usually, those moments of weakness take time to come about… They come up in situations where equally matched opponents are vying for an advantage,” said Alice.

“Yes, that’s true… For a weak contender to keep buying time against a strong contender… It’s not a viable option,” said Takeo, “Although it is possible if the stronger one goes easy on his opponent.”

“Today, we saw the latter situation, didn’t we?” asked Alice.

“Yes. Harold had already seen Master Smith’s attack seven times over. On the eighth attack, he pushed him back harder than he had previously, so I thought that would be a good point to distract him, and I guess it all worked out well,” said Takeo.

“Yes.  It appears Smith didn’t realize you assisted him, Takeo-sama,” said Alice.

“When he was pushed back by Harold, he must have noticed that Harold was looking elsewhere, and decided to attack at that point… He must have rushed in with a frantic feeling,” said Takeo.

“I was screaming ‘Go!’ on the inside,” said Alice.

“I see,” said Takeo, listening to Alice talk with a grin on his face.

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“By the way, Takeo-sama,” said Alice.

“What is it?” he asked.

“What do you do while I’m bathing?” asked Alice.

“…I’m not doing anything indecent, you know?” asked Takeo. He felt like he was being accused of something for no reason.

“…Is that so?” asked Alice, without turning to look at him.

…Takeo thought about it… He had no idea what this was about…

“…Did something happen?”[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

“No. I was simply wondering what you’re always doing in your study,” said Alice.

Takeo felt relieved.

“I just got so nervous that I had done something to make you angry,” said Takeo.

“Hm? Have you been doing something that would make me feel bad, Takeo-sama?” asked Alice.

“No, I haven’t,” said Takeo. 

“I’m always just thinking,” said Takeo, truthfully.

“…What do you think about?” asked Alice.

“No, nothing, really,” said Takeo.

“…Please tell me,” said Alice.

“Well, like maybe I should go take a peek,” said Takeo.

“You peeked in on me?!” asked Alice, turning to face him.

“I never went through with it. You don’t have any evidence that I did,” said Takeo, laughing softly.

“Urgh… You can’t do that, okay?” asked Alice, turning back around for emphasis.

“All right, all right,” said Takeo, “I’ll get all that I need in bed, anyways.”

“Urgh… Well, that… Would be all right, right?” asked Alice, with a quizzical face.

“What was the question, again?” asked Takeo, “What am I always doing in my study, was it?”

“Yes. You’re always writing in a notebook,” said Alice.

“Oh, that. I’m just writing down the facts that I remember,” said Takeo.

“What?!” asked Alice, facing him, once again.

“Hm? What’s wrong?” asked Takeo?

“Why?” asked Alice.

“What? I’ve been here for nine days, now. I thought I would write down what I know right now before my memory gets foggy,” said Takeo, “For now, I’m just scribbling down anything that comes to mind. I’ll organize it all into categories, later.”

“That’ll be a family treasure,” said Alice.

“Those little scribbles?” asked Takeo, laughing softly.

“Takeo-sama – You don’t see that your way of thinking is extraordinary?” asked Alice.

“Not in particular,” said Takeo.

“Ahh… Listen, Takeo-sama,” said Alice, “The knowledge you have and the ideas you come up with are truly outstanding from our point of view.”

“Hmm… really?” asked Takeo.

“Yes, really. Your thoughts on clothes, and food, and weaponry… they’re all brand new ideas,” said Alice, “So, please, be a little more proud of your thoughts.”

“…Well, enough about that,” said Takeo.

“No, it’s not enough,” said Alice.

“A family treasure… Is that what you said?” asked Takeo, “Hmm… That puts me up on a pedestal, so let’s stop that kind of thinking. The way I see it, if any of this knowledge can make you smile, that’s enough for me.”

“Ah… There you go, saying things like that, again,” said Alice, objecting, but blushing a bit.

“Haha – You’re so cute,” said Takeo, “Now that your hair’s dried out a bit, I’m going to go take a bath,” said Takeo.

Takeo left Alice and headed to the bathroom.

“Okay,” said Alice, “Take your time.”[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]