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

Aftermath

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

For the time being, the aftermath that followed.

First, the Peridot Trading Company’s sunscreen cream and moisturizing cream were discontinued. Bad reputation spread that the skin turned reddish-black and bruises remained, but when Marquis Marcelino apologized in the newspaper, promised full refunds and coverage of treatment costs to purchasers, and declared that S-rank adventurer “White Blanche” would take the lead in treatment, it was accepted more than I had thought.

Well, apparently it was a big deal just that a noble apologized to commoners, gave full refunds, and that Blanche would be involved in the treatment. Blanche’s medical skill is said to be among the highest in the country, after all.

Barion had his title stripped and his life as a toilet cleaner for the Peridot Trading Company began. Dressed like a cleaner, shaved bald, he apparently spent every day cleaning the toilets of shops and companies affiliated with the Peridot Trading Company.

In isekai stories there’s exile to the countryside or banishment… but to be honest, ten years of toilet cleaning is tougher. Being sent to the countryside to do farm work is, in a way, a slow life.

Sandrone happened to glance when he passed by in a carriage and apparently saw him in tattered clothes holding a mop and being groped on the butt by a senior auntie cleaner.

Well, let him properly reflect for ten years. It’s better than dying, I guess.

 

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The members of Scarlet Camellia.

First, Rosso continued being an adventurer as usual, and started coming to my place about once a week to hang out.

She’s young, and there’s no point in coming to an old man’s magic-tool development lab.

According to Rosso, “Ossan’s kind and fun, and he’s a friend, so it’s fine”.

Friend… a seventeen-year-old girl and a 38-year-old old man being friends is pretty hard to swallow. Well, it’s another world, so whatever.

Ao began coming at about a rate of once every four days.

I had told her before, “Feel free to eat sweets”, so she really just came to eat sweets. Occasionally she brought back magic stones as souvenirs, or said the three of them had gone to a dungeon, or asked me to improve their tent.

Well, I suppose she treats me like a friend too. It doesn’t feel bad.

Blanche started coming with Rosso and Ao more often. She rarely came alone. She mainly accompanied the two. I was extremely grateful to Blanche over the Peridot Trading Company incident. As thanks, I gave her a customized, elegant mist sprayer as a gift. Ao and Rosso were envious, but there were no ulterior motives, so rest assured.

 

—

 

Sandrone continued to be diligent with her business as before. She came to my place about once a week. She smoked, we talked about trivial things, and she impatiently asked when a new product would be done.

Well, I had made quite a few summer magic tools and got a lot of money, so when I said I would take a vacation for a while in the sea country Zanad, she glared at me like crazy.

Ah, she was jealous.

Richter, too, seemed busy still attached to Sandrone. There were quite a few times the three of us, Richter, Yeran and I, went out drinking, and Richter started inviting more often.

Among the people I’ve met so far, he might be my best drinking buddy.

Thus, it had been half a year since I was transported to another world.

It was already summer… I had to start planning for the sea country Zanad soon.

 

—

 

One day I was writing design plans for magic tools aimed at autumn. But they were not going well because my heart was already turned toward the “sea”.

“Heh heh heh, the sea country Zanad, huh. Swimsuits, resorts, seafood, shopping… and a villa. A villa, huh… I have enough funds, I’ll buy the ideal villa.” (Gentoku)

I had recently learned that in the Edelstein Kingdom the seasons were such that spring and summer were long and autumn and winter were short. The calendar of this world also had months one through twelve, but spring lasted until June, summer until October, autumn was November, winter was December and come January it quickly became warm.

Summer lasting until October… it is almost August now, so maybe I’d spend time in Zanad until around mid-September.

“Oops, I should set the schedule… first, rent a long-distance carriage and it’s a week to Zanad. After that, look for a villa while sightseeing in the royal capital; I want to decide quickly if possible. Then spend the remainder at the villa… nice, very nice.” (Gentoku)

It was the third week of July now, so departing at the start of the fourth week might be good. I could ask the Alexandrite Trading Company for a long-distance carriage. Richter would get a good carriage.

As I was thinking about plans, the office door opened.

“Ossan, I came to play!!” (Rosso)

“Geez, Rosso, at least knock!!” (Ao)

“Ojisan, souvenir magic stone.” (Rosso)

“Oh, noisy bunch came. Well, make yourselves at home.” (Gentoku)

Rosso opened the refrigerator on her own, put ice from the ice maker into a glass and started drinking fruit water, Ao began munching on cookie sweets, Blanche smiled wryly and said, “Please forgive us”, and set the souvenir magic stones (equivalent to seven-star, amazing) on the table.

Then, they looked at my travel notes.

“Oh my, Ojisa­ma. Are you planning to go to the sea country Zanad?” (Rosso)

“Yeah. I’m thinking of going next week.” (Gentoku)

“That! That! I said this before, but why not go with us? Escorting along the way would be safe!!” (Rosso)

“But, you know… an old man like me can’t stand traveling with young girls for ten days or so.” (Gentoku)

“…Ojisan, being together is good. Shall we go together?” (Ao)

When Ao said that, I felt some guilt.

Blanche also spoke.

“Ojisama. I understand feelings of embarrassment, but… we think we can have fun if we go with you, Ojisama. Besides, if you’re renting a long-distance carriage you’ll hire escorts, right? Ten days with unknown escorts, or ten days with us… which do you prefer?” (Blanche)

“Mmm, if you put it like that…” (Gentoku)

If the escorts were a bunch of burly old men, it would be the worst. Ten days… well, it isn’t like anything would happen, but it is a little embarrassing, and Scarlet Camellia seems better.

“Alright. Then, shall we all go?” (Gentoku)

“Yay!! Then Ossan, arrange a big carriage!! Ah, if it’s drivers, we all can do it, so don’t worry.” (Rosso)

“Understood. I’ll ask Richter.” (Gentoku)

Then, Ao looked intently at my notes and said…

“Oji-san, you’re buying a villa, right?” (Ao)

“Yeah. It’s a villa to spend the summer. Come to think of it, Rosso has a villa… where did you buy it?” (Gentoku)

“Hm, I chose it at the Real Estate Guild.” (Rosso)

The Real Estate Guild… ah, the guild that branched from the commercial guild like the Food and Beverage Guild. I’d go to the Real Estate Guild in the sea country Zanad and look for a villa.

“Nice… Rosso’s villa is small and dirty.” (Blanche)

“Th- it’s not dirty!! I really wanted it!!” (Rosso)

“But a villa under the sea makes no sense.” (Blanche)

“What’s wrong with that!! It’s surrounded by the sea, you know!? It was super expensive!!” (Rosso)

“It’s more like it’s sunk than surrounded.” (Blanche)

A villa under the sea… What the hell is that… now I am curious.

Blanche said, “There were many good properties, and I could choose freely within the budget, but Rosso fell in love at first sight with a villa under the sea and spent her pocket money to buy it”.

“I-is that so… Aren’t you and Ao going to buy one?” (Gentoku)

“One is enough. Also, this time we will accompany Ojisama to buy his villa.” (Blanche)

“No, no, it’s fine. An old man like me can manage.” (Gentoku)

“That’s enough. Ojisama, Ojisama, you are a wonderful person. Please don’t say ‘like me.’” (Blanche)

“O-oh…” (Gentoku)

Blanche looked far too mature for a 17-year-old.

“All right!! Then, departure is next week, destination is the sea country Zanad, and this summer we’ll play a lot while taking on requests to earn money!!” (Rosso)

““Oh!!”” (Ao & Blanche)

“Hah hah hah. It’s nice to be young.” (Gentoku)

Thus, I went to the sea country Zanad to look for a villa.

My travel companions were Scarlet Camellia.

Well then, shall I spend this summer elegantly at a resort?

 

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