A mid-level (middle-aged) office worker's laid-back industrial revolution in another world - Chapter 157

Translator: Jasper Kadowaki | Editor: NovelMultiverse

Grandpa Elvis, Smith, and Frederick had stayed behind in the parlor. 

No one said anything, for a moment. 

“…Unbelievable. Showing his Majesty around town – that’s unprecedented,” said Frederick. 

Grandpa Elvis and Smith nodded, with their heads down. 

“Takeo-sama controlled the entire conversation,” said Frederick. 

“Yes,” said Grandpa Elvis, “And his Majesty was eating it up. Layla and Lord William were, as well…”

“I wonder if this whole situation is safe?” said Frederick.

“Yes, as of now, the three of them have become completely enamored with Takeo and followed him without guards…” said Grandpa Elvis. “Then again, I don’t think that there’s anyone in this town who would oppose Alice and Takeo as a unit.”

“You’re right… They might just be the strongest pairing in the entire country,” said Frederick. 

“Hmm, yes,” said Grandpa Elvis, “And there should be patrolling guards in the city… It should be fine.”

Grandpa Elvis squinted out the window, deep in thought. 

————————

On the way to the tailor’s shop, Takeo saw someone he recognized and called out to him.

It was the grocer’s shopkeeper. 

“Oh! Lady Alice and Kitamizato-sama. Are you on a stroll? Come visit my shop for a bit. Hm? You have gues- Lady Layla?!”

“Yes,” said Alice. 

“Hello,” said Takeo. 

As soon as Takeo and Alice greeted the grocer, King Azupal called them away.

“Ah, hello, sir. It’s been a while,” said Layla. 

“What’s all this?” asked the grocer, “I hadn’t heard you were back in town, Lady Layla. Who’s that over there?” 

“That would be my husband and father-in-law,” said Layla.

“What?… Oh,” said the grocer. 

“Hold on, stop. We’re keeping it a secret from Takeo,” said Layla. 

“Uh… However… Is that really okay?…”

“It’s fine. Everyone’s having fun.”

The old grocer looked dejected by this. 

King Azupal and William were looking over the goods at the shop with deep interest. 

It appeared that they were asking Takeo a whole slew of questions, and he was busy answering all of them. 

“Huh? Shopkeeper, what’s wrong?” asked Takeo. He had noticed the shopkeeper looking disappointed and called over to him. 

“Hm? Oh it’s nothing,” said the grocer. “By the way, do you remember when you gave that apple to the little lady?”

“…I cut an apple up like a rabbit for her, and she said ‘I’ve never seen this before’ and looked quite pleased. That girl?” asked Takeo. 

“That’s the one,” said the shopkeeper. “She comes by often, asking, ‘Is that man coming back, again?’.”

“Ah, I wonder why she wants to see me,” said Takeo. 

“It seems like she wants you to teach her how to cut an apple up in a rabbit shape.”

“I wouldn’t mind. What time does she usually come around?”

“Hmm, well, ever since that day, she comes around often just after noon. She shows up pretty much every other day.”

“Oh! It sounds like she really wants to see me again. All right. I’ll come by just after noon, tomorrow.” 

“All right. If I see her today, I’ll let her know.”

“Well, then. I’m off,” said Takeo.

“Yes. Come back whenever,” said the shopkeeper.

..

.

…They arrived at the liquor store. 

“Oh, Lady Alice and Kitamizato-sama. Are you on a stroll? Huh? Lady Layla?!” exclaimed the shopkeeper. 

“Yes,” said Alice. 

“Hello,” said Takeo. 

As Alice and Takeo greeted the shopkeeper, again, they were called over by his Highness, and they went over to him. 

“Long time no see, sir,” said Layla. 

“Wow! The beautiful woman grows ever more stunning!” said the shopkeeper. 

“You’ve always been good with your words, haven’t you, sir?” said Layla. 

“Who are those people over there?”[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

“They are my husband and his father.”

“Fath- What?”

“Takeo doesn’t know. Don’t tell him.”

“…All right.”

King Azupal and William were looking along the shelves of liquor with Takeo. 

“Alan-san, do they have more products over at the royal capital?” asked Takeo. 

“Hmm, yes. They do. But Takeo, there are certain liquors you can only get in specific areas,” said the king. 

“Is that so?” asked Takeo. 

“Yes. If there aren’t many bottles of a certain liquor, it isn’t worth transporting them to the capital, I suppose.”

“Ah, yes. So those would be considered rare products.”

“Yes. I probably get to drink liquors like that once every few years, but in the areas that they’re produced, they might be sold as regular products. We need to keep our eyes open for those,” said King Azupal. He began to look over the bottles very carefully. 

Takeo thought he shouldn’t distract him, and looked around, only to find William doing the same thing. 

“William-san – What are you looking for?” asked Takeo. 

“Hmm… You won’t laugh at me?” asked William, looking a little bit nervous. 

“Well, that depends on what you will say, but as a rule, I try not to laugh at anyone.”

“To be frank, I’m looking for an aphrodisiac.”

“What? But you’re younger than me.”

“Yes. But there are times when I could use some help… They sell it at the royal capital, too, but it’s difficult to buy when Layla is around…” said William, while sighing. 

“I see… Well, then… The best thing to do would be to ask the shopkeeper.”

Takeo and William approached the shopkeeper at the back of the shop. 

Incidentally, Alice and Layla were busy looking over other liquor products. 

“Shopkeeper,” said Takeo. 

“Oh? Kitamizato-sama, what is it?” said the shopkeeper, chuckling. 

“I need some of that particular small vial…” said Takeo. 

“I have five left,” said the shopkeeper, in a hushed voice. 

“William-san, he says he has four vials left,” said Takeo. 

“Takeo-san, I believe the shopkeeper said he had five vials left?” said William. 

“I will be buying one. Which means there are four vials left,” said Takeo. 

“Does it work?” asked William. 

“Extremely well,” said Takeo, with a serious look on his face. 

“I recommend that if you drink one bottle, you refrain from drinking any more for two days,” advised the shopkeeper.

“It sounds very strong… All right,” said William, “I shall buy them! I shall drink them when necessary.”

The three of them nodded with grave expressions on their faces. 

Then, a voice said, “Takeo-sama.”

The three men twitched. 

“What is it, Lady Alice?” asked Takeo, turning with a grin on his face. 

“What are you looking for?” asked Alice. “Would you like me to help you look?”

“No… I think that we won’t find it…” said Takeo, pretending to look troubled. 

“Lady Alice, this sweet liquor… Do you know of something called wine?” asked Takeo. 

“Do you mean Rose wine?” asked Alice. 

“…So that is what it’s called. Thank you very much,” said Takeo. 

“Are you looking for Rose wine?” she asked. 

Take laughed softly and said, “Well, I thought it would be good to have as an after-meal drink, today. It should go well with the dessert served. A sweet dessert and a sweet wine – how about that? I thought… I couldn’t think of the name.”

“Oh, really? I think that might be too sweet, though. How about something dry and refreshing, with some carbonation in it?” 

“…I see… Now that you say it, I think you’re right… That sounds better. Shopkeeper, do you have any dry, carbonated wine?” asked Takeo, turning to the shopkeeper. At the same time, he showed the shopkeeper an outstretched palm while pointing to himself. He pointed to himself and then held up four fingers, and pointed to William, discreetly. 

The shopkeeper nodded, saying, “We do have something like that… What color would you prefer?”

“Ah, hmm… Lady Alice?” asked Takeo. 

“White, I suppose. It could be a slightly darker wine, too,” said Alice. 

“As she says, please,” said Takeo. 

“All right,” said the shopkeeper. “Will you be taking it home, straight away?”

“No. If you can, could you please deliver it to the head chef at the mansion?” asked Takeo. “And also, please bring a few small bottles of red wine for use in my study. They can be of the cheap variety, but hmm… Six, seven bottles, please.”

“All right,” said the shopkeeper. 

“Are they for you, Takeo?” asked Alice. 

“Yes. I thought that it would be good for drinking as a warmed beverage before going to sleep in the coming cold nights.”

“Good idea! I want some too!” said Alice, happily.

“Okay, okay,” said Takeo. 

Beside them, William muttered, “He dodged that bullet quite skillfully.”[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]