New chapter of Single Old Man is out! (1/1 chapter)

 

 

Summer New Product Battle (1)

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

A few days later.

At my company, there were Sandrone, Richter, and the Scarlet Camellia. And then, Barion and several of his escorts gathered, facing each other in the first-floor workshop.

“Now then, Sandrone… At last, tomorrow, each of our merchant associations will begin selling the new products.” (Barion)

“That’s right. The competition lasts one week… judged solely by the sales of the ‘new products’. To ensure fairness, we’ve had two tax auditors dispatched from the Commercial Guild. They will be checking the sales of the new products.” (Sandrone)

“So, bribery is useless, then.” (Barion)

Tax auditors… They say these people are like demons who won’t overlook any tax-related fraud, even if their opponent is royalty. When it comes to money, they rarely make mistakes. Barion might try something shady, but with tax auditors involved, it should be fine.

“Our new products are two are a hair iron and a mist sprayer.” (Sandrone)

“Ours are sunscreen cream and moisturizing cream.” (Barion)

“…Isn’t sunscreen cream a product you’ve had from before?” (Sandrone)

“Fufu. Products are always evolving. The new sunscreen cream will be sold as a set with the moisturizing cream… Well, it shouldn’t be a problem, right?” (Barion)

“That’s right. No problem…” (Sandrone)

“Hey, you guys… It’s fine if sparks are flying, but why are you doing the final meeting at my company?” (Gentoku)

I reflexively snapped, but the two ignored me.

Whatever, it’s fine. Yeah.

 

—

 

That night.

I was drinking cold ale at a tavern near the mansion. With me were Richter and Yeran. We often drink together like this.

“So, the competition starts tomorrow and ends in a week… I wonder how it’ll go.” (Gentoku)

I bit into a pickle and drank my ale. Then, Yeran slammed her mug down on the table.

“Onee-sama can’t possibly lose!! And those mist sprayer and hair iron are confident works!!” (Yeran)

“Indeed… I think so too.” (Richter)

“Hmmm… I think so too, but I’ve got a bit of worry.” (Gentoku)

“Worry? Wait, Gentoku!! You were already busy with the ice maker and flashlight and then, got even busier with the mist sprayer. Don’t bring in weird stuff like air conditioners!! Onee-sama’s considerate, but even so, the magic tool engineers are super busy!!” (Yeran)

“Don’t complain to me… The air conditioner can be next year’s new product, right?” (Gentoku)

“Hahaha… Yeran-san. Even Ojou said ‘next year is fine’, didn’t she?” (Richter)

“But but, I want to finish it early and surprise everyone!!” (Yeran)

Yeran raised her mug and shouted, “Refill!!”

“Hey Gentoku, what’re you gonna do after the competition ends? Got any plans?” (Yeran)

“Yeah. It’s summer after all… I’m going to the sea.” (Gentoku)

“The sea!! No way, you’re going to the neighboring Zanad?” (Yeran)

“Yeah. Summer’s in full swing next month, and royalties come in on the first. The ice maker’s selling pretty well, right?” (Gentoku)

Richter drained his mug and nodded.

“Yes. To be honest, it’s outperforming our expectations… Production can’t keep up at the moment. Speaking of Zanad, we’ve received a large order for ice makers from the food guild in Zanad… Gentoku-san, the royalty payment due next month looks to be a substantial amount.” (Richter)

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.” (Gentoku)

By the way, this world has banks, and magic tool cash cards too.

What’s more, they use the owner’s mana for authentication, so there’s no worry about theft. That’s a great system. At this point, I’ve got several hundred million Sedol in savings. Seriously thinking about buying a villa in the sea country Zanad.

“Gentoku. Are you going to the sea alone?” (Richter)

“For now, yeah. But Scarlet Camellia said they are going to the sea too, so maybe we’ll end up together.” (Gentoku)

“Nice. We’ve got summer break too, but I just can’t muster the motivation for a long trip… At best, maybe some water play at the nearby lake. I want to put Onee-sama in a new swimsuit.” (Yeran)

“You’re not the one wearing it?” (Gentoku)

“I’m fine with anything. Onee-sama… ahh, with that beauty and that figure, all sorts of guys try to get close, but she doesn’t pay attention to any of them. I want to have her for myself.” (Yeran)

“Ahaha. Then, go get her.” (Gentoku)

“…And what about you? Not getting married? You’re already quite the Ossan.” (Yeran)

“Shut it. I’m not getting married. I love living free and easy, doing whatever I want. Always having a woman by my side? No thanks.” (Gentoku)

“Weird guy.” (Yeran)

Well, I guess I am weird… But I don’t really care.

I glanced at Richter.

“By the way, Richter, are you not getting married?” (Gentoku)

“No, I will not. I swore to dedicate my life to Ojou.” (Richter)

“Hmm. Then, Richter, go get married!!” (Yeran)

“That is not possible.” (Richter)

She said it firmly.

I kind of get it. Richter isn’t in the dimension of loving Sandrone or anything like that. It’s a different kind of affection. Like the difference between diesel and premium gasoline. It’s similar, but completely different.

I asked Yeran.

“What about you?” (Gentoku)

“I love Onee-sama~” (Yeran)

Totally drunk… Well, she’s that kind of person.

I ordered another round. The competition starts tomorrow, but I enjoyed this time.

 

—

 

The next day, the competition began… but there was nothing for me to do.

I sat in the office, reading the newspaper, smoking Alexandrite Trading Company’s branded tobacco “Stardust” that I’ve gotten pretty addicted to, and drinking coffee. Currently, Ao was lounging on the office sofa, reading a book… The guards were taking turns during the competition period.

“Oji-san, you seem pretty relaxed… The competition started, you know?” (Ao)

“Yeah. There’s nothing I can do. I mean… I’m still bothered by it.” (Gentoku)

“Bothered by what?” (Ao)

“The moisturizing cream. If they’ve modified my recipe, it’s still scary.” (Gentoku)

“…You said that before. Oji-san, what exactly are you afraid of?” (Ao)

“It’s obvious.” (Gentoku)

I stubbed out my cigarette and placed the newspaper on the desk.

“Health damage.” (Gentoku)

If something made by an amateur gets mass sold and causes health issues, what then? Sure, I’m sure they tested it… But as someone involved in manufacturing, that kind of concern always sticks. Or rather, it’s frightening.

“If someone got hurt by a magic tool I made…” (Gentoku)

“Oji-san…” (Ao)

“Well, let’s just hope nothing happens.” (Gentoku)

“Yeah. Hey, Oji-san, you’re going to the sea country Zanad, right?” (Ao)

“Yeah. After the competition ends and I get the money. Since it’s summer, I want a villa too.” (Gentoku)

“We’ve decided to go to Zanad after our guard duty ends. Oji-san, let’s go together.” (Ao)

“Hmm… But, you know. Going with a bunch of young girls is kind of embarrassing. Besides, what are you guys going to Zanad for?” (Gentoku)

“Since it’s hot in summer, we’ll take requests in Zanad where it’s near the sea. On days off we can have fun, and there’s also the villa Rosso bought.” (Ao)

“I see…” (Gentoku)

“Oji-san, come with us. We’ll protect you.” (Ao)

“Fufufu… Ao, I may not look like it, but I’m pretty strong, you know? I’ve got martial arts from my Jii-san and some self-taught combat skills too.” (Gentoku)

“What about magic?” (Ao)

“…That, I use for magic tool crafting.” (Gentoku)

“Oji-san, I can teach water and wind magic. Do you want to learn attack magic?” (Ao)

“…No thanks. I’m a magic tool engineer, I use magic for making things.” (Gentoku)

“Okay. Then, I wanna see Oji-san’s martial arts. Let’s fight.” (Ao)

“…Huh?” (Gentoku)

That day, I ended up in the first-floor workshop, sweaty and barehanded, sparring with Ao.

Ao begged, “Your Chinese martial arts are interesting, teach me”, and when Blanche and Rosso came to pick her up and saw us “playing” so happily, they jumped in, and for some reason, it became a three-versus-one battle.

Well, the first day of the competition ended… I wonder how it turned out.

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)