After it was settled that I would be staying at Pioro-san’s house, he guided me to the Saionji Company’s spice shop. It turned out that his residence was directly connected to the storefront.
"Welcome. Oh, it’s just you, Dad?"
"What do you mean, 'it’s just you'? I’m not alone; Ryoma’s here with me."
"Thank you for having me."
"Ryoma-han, the guest room is all ready. Please, don't be shy; make yourself right at home."
Just as she had been earlier today, Miyabi-san was tending the shop. But she already knew I was staying? We had only just decided on it a moment ago.
"I figured you’d be stayin' with us, was I wrong?" she asked.
"No, I’ll gladly take you up on the offer. I was just surprised since the decision was so sudden."
"We keep the guest room prepared so anyone can stay at a moment's notice. Besides, knowin' Dad, I figured he’d insist on havin' you stay here."
"I see. Thank you very much."
"Don't mention it. Well then, shall I show you the way?"
"Yes, please."
Pioro-san mentioned he had to get back to work, so I followed Miyabi-san toward the guest quarters.
"Just relax and act as if this were your own home," she said as she opened the door.
The room she showed me was spacious for a single occupant, featuring a warm atmosphere and furniture that was comfortable without being overly opulent.
"We’ll be servin' up a feast for dinner—somethin' worthy of the Saionji name—so you’d better look forward to it."
"Thank you. I certainly will."
Miyabi-san nodded, appearing satisfied with my response.
"Well then, I’ll leave you to it. Take it easy until dinner."
She quietly exited the room.
Once I was left to my own devices, my thoughts immediately drifted to the upcoming meal. I wondered what it would be. At the very least, it wouldn't be the preserved rations I’d eaten the night before. Meat? Or perhaps fish?
Actually, fish dishes weren't very common in this country. Being an inland nation without a coastline, the available seafood was mostly limited to river fish or dried goods. Fresh saltwater fish was either prohibitively expensive or simply impossible to find. There were exceptions, of course—towns near large lakes, like Shikumu, were said to have a flourishing fishing industry and a wider variety of fish.
But when I thought of seafood, my mind instinctively went to Japanese cuisine. I hadn't been able to eat anything like that since arriving in this world. I’d assumed the influence of previous otherworlders might have made it more common, but I hadn't seen a trace of it in Gimul. I wondered if I should ask Pioro-san about soy sauce or miso. Since he dealt in food and spices, he might know where to find something similar.
I spent some time resting, letting my thoughts wander toward food and eventually passing the time with meditation. Before long, a male servant came to fetch me. Dinner was served.
"There you are, Ryoma. Take a seat."
Pioro-san, Miyabi-san, and a fox-kin woman were already seated. Given how much she resembled Miyabi-san, she was likely Pioro-san’s wife. She was quite the beauty.
"Pardon me."
"No need to be so stiff," Pioro-san said. "As you've probably guessed, the lady to your left is Miyabi’s mother and my better half, Kurana."
"I am Kurana Saionji. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"I’m Ryoma Takebayashi. The pleasure is mine."
"I have heard the rumors," she said with a gentle smile. "They say you are a young man with a very promising future."
"No, not at all. I’ve just been very lucky. I’ve been blessed by the people around me and have benefited from their help. I simply hire capable people and let them handle the heavy lifting."
I truly meant it. Without everyone’s support, I doubted I would have managed to own a single shop, let alone open a second branch. I’d only gotten this far because of the people I had met.
"If you can say that from the bottom of your heart at your age, then I believe you are plenty capable yourself," Kurana-san replied.
"Exactly," Pioro-san added. "When young folks find success too quickly, some of 'em get cocky and lose sight of what's important. They start thinkin' they can do everythin' by themselves."
"Business is built on people—both customers and employees," Kurana-san said. "Once you forget to be grateful and start neglecting those around you, it is the end for you as a merchant. Beyond that point, you cannot survive unless you possess extraordinary talent or resort to underhanded methods. I believe Ryoma-han, who understands this clearly, is more than capable."
I wondered if that was really the case.
"Merchants' manners can be picked up as you go," Pioro-san chuckled. "For now, being able to speak politely is good enough. Miyabi’s usual way of talkin' isn't polite at all, you know?"
"Dad! Why are you draggin' me into this!?"
"I can't help it; you were just a very convenient comparison."
"Miyabi, you really shouldn't force yourself," I said. "It’s better if you just speak naturally."
So she really had been pushing herself?
"I bet Ryoma noticed too, didn't he?" Pioro-san teased. "That Miyabi was puttin' on an act."
"A little bit. I didn't think it was strange for someone to change their tone with customers, so I didn't give it much thought."
"See? Even Ryoma-han, who just met you today, saw right through it. Miyabi, you're not the type of girl who can change her way of speakin' with just a bit of superficial practice."
"Ugh, that’s so frustratin'..." Miyabi muttered, looking genuinely dejected. Was it really something to be that upset about?
"I’m sorry about her," Kurana-san said. "Please, don't mind our daughter."
"Miyabi’s been interested in the business since she was a sprout," Pioro-san explained. "She’s been followin' my lead and helpin' out at the shop of her own accord. I’m happy about that, but because I let her watch me negotiate with customers from the sidelines, she grew up a bit too strong-willed. Apparently, some customer told her the other day that she wasn't very 'ladylike.'"
"It’s not like I’m tryin' to fix it just because I want to be called ladylike! It’s just..."
"Just what?"
"I just can't stand that old man who said it! If I can't act all refined and graceful, I feel like I’ve lost to him!"
So that was her motivation. Well, I supposed a competitive spirit was better than moping about it.
"In short, it’s just her competitive nature," Pioro-san said. "Ryoma-han, don't let it bother you. More importantly, it’s time for the food. I’ve prepared some rare dishes for tonight."
Pioro-san signaled to the servant in the corner. I wondered what "rare" meant in this context.
"Ryoma’s a good cook himself, so I figured surprise was the only way to beat him. That’s why I went with somethin' unusual."
"I hope it suits your palate, Ryoma-han," Kurana-san added.
Just then, the aroma of the food being carried in reached my nose. My heart skipped a beat. This scent...
"Is this... miso soup?" I whispered.
Pioro-san’s eyes widened for a moment before he slumped in mock disappointment. Kurana-san, on the other hand, let out a delighted chuckle.
"What? You already knew about miso soup, Ryoma? I was hopin' to blow your mind, but I failed miserably!"
No, you succeeded brilliantly! I was beyond shocked.
"N-No, I’m incredibly surprised! Pioro-san, you can actually get miso here?"
"Sure can. I don't stock a ton of it because there aren't many buyers, but do you want some?"
"I do! Very much!"
"Well, it's not all that expensive. I’ll share a bit with you. If you like it, you can come by the shop and buy a proper batch."
"Yes, thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Don't mention it. But if you know miso, I bet you know soy sauce too, right?"
"You have soy sauce as well!?"
"We do."
As the servant finished setting out the trays, Pioro-san explained that he could also provide me with vinegar and mirin. I couldn't believe so many Japanese seasonings existed in this world!
According to Pioro-san, they were produced on an island inhabited by dragonewts. However, the local culture of the producing village viewed "honest poverty" as a virtue, believing that food was best when the natural flavors of the ingredients were left untouched. Consequently, they didn't have many uses for the seasonings themselves, and the products remained luxury items with very little market demand. What a tragic waste.
"Let's eat first. We can talk while we dig in."
"You're right. Thank you for the meal."
I picked up the chopsticks provided and took a bite of the rice first. It was incredible. This was my first time eating rice in three years! While bread had been my staple in this world—and I didn't dislike it—rice carried a profound sense of nostalgia. Next, I tried the grilled fish drizzled with soy sauce, followed by a sip of the miso soup. It was perfect. It tasted exactly like it did on Earth.
"It brings back so many memories..."
"What was that? Ryoma-han, did you live in a dragonewt village or somethin'?"
"Eh? No, that’s not it."
"Really? Because your reaction is exactly like a dragonewt who hasn't been home in ages."
"Is it really that obvious?"
"Yeah. Not just the reaction, but the way you use those sticks. I set 'em out because they’re traditional for this meal, but I’ve hardly ever seen anyone other than dragonewts use 'em so naturally."
"Ryoma-han, where exactly did you grow up?" Kurana-san asked curiously.
Time to lean on the cover story.
"A small village deep in the forest. My grandmother used to make miso soup for me a few times when I was little, and she’s the one who taught me how to use chopsticks. My grandparents were former adventurers who had traveled the world, so I think they probably picked up the habits during their travels. As for the ingredients, I’ve managed to grow a few things myself using wood attribute magic."
"Ah, I see. That makes sense."
It seemed they bought it.
"By the way, Ryoma, what’s your plan for tomorrow? It’ll be another three days or so before your employees arrive, right?"
"Until then, I plan to spend my time making furniture for the shop and doing some adventurer work to keep up with my training."
Kurana-san tilted her head. "Oh? Are you an adventurer as well, Ryoma-han?"
"Yes. Though these days, I’m not sure which is my main job and which is the hobby."
"What’s your rank?" Pioro-san asked.
"I’m currently E-Rank."
"E-Rank? But you're a year younger than me!" Miyabi-san exclaimed.
"I only reached it about two months ago."
"If you're already E-Rank at your age, you're doin' just fine," Pioro-san said. "I take it you’ve already handled a few subjugation requests?"
The conversation shifted as I told them about my requests in the mines and asked more about the town. I learned that Lenaf was a commercial hub built primarily by the founder of the Saionji Company, who had been an otherworlder. Because of that influence, many of the long-standing shopkeepers and residents spoke with a Kansai-style dialect. Kurana-san herself had been born and raised here.
It was a strange thought. I doubted the founder had intentionally tried to spread his regional dialect, yet his presence had left such a lasting mark on the culture. It gave me a mysterious, indescribable feeling. I wondered if I would eventually leave something behind for future generations too.
"Is there anything else you're curious about?"
"Actually, I was wondering about the guilds here. I’ve never seen such a massive building before."
"I bet. The entrances are split between North, South, East, and West, but that one building houses four different guilds: the Commerce Guild, the Adventurer Guild, the Craftsman Guild, and the Dragoon Guild."
"The Dragoon Guild? I’ve never heard of that one."
Miyabi-san took over the explanation.
"Apparently, it used to be part of the Tamer Guild—just a group of tamers who owned monsters capable of carryin' people and cargo through the sky. But once the airport was finished, they split off into their own independent guild for the air transport industry. The Tamer Guild handles everythin' from huntin' to combat, but the Dragoon Guild is a group of specialists who focus solely on air freight, passenger transport, and aerial security."
She continued, "Flyin' through the sky with people and heavy luggage is actually really difficult. That’s why the Dragoon Guild trains specialized personnel. They still keep in touch with the Tamer Guild, though. I heard that any tamer who contracts with a flyin' monster for the first time is told to take a mandatory course at the Dragoon Guild."
"I had no idea such a guild existed..."
It was a humbling reminder. No matter how much I thought I knew, there was still so much about this world that remained a mystery to me.
"The Adventurer Guild gathers materials, the Craftsman Guild turns those materials into goods, the Commerce Guild sells the products, and the Dragoon Guild transports 'em to distant lands. These four guilds work hand-in-hand to keep this town thrivin'. And all of it is thanks to the hard work of our ancestor."
Miyabi-san puffed out her chest with pride. Just like Pioro-san, it was clear that the airport, the town, and their otherworlder heritage were their greatest treasures.
I spent the rest of the evening listening to stories about the town while savoring the Japanese meal I had missed so dearly. Afterward, I returned to my room, performed a quick cleaner slime bath, and prepared for bed.
What should I do tomorrow? As I pondered the possibilities, the combination of a full stomach and the lingering exhaustion from my journey finally caught up with me. I could have fought the drowsiness, but there was no reason to. I decided to leave the thinking for tomorrow. After all, I had plenty of time.