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

 

 

Sea Country Zanad

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

A few days later, traveling along the highway, we went to the sea country Zanad.

The journey normally took a week, but because Hikoroku ran without resting even at night, we arrived in four days. We did not meet any magical beasts on the road, though apparently they showed up when people were outside the carriage. Blanche said, “Fufu, Hikoroku was absorbed by snacks”, which made no sense at the time, but it meant she had repelled attacking magical beasts and then eaten them. That was a little scary.

Four days later, then.

“Hm? Oh…” (Gentoku)

When I opened the window and looked out, I smelled the sea.

After leaving the forested highway, the view was glorious.

“I can see it!! Ao, Blanche, it is coming into view!!” (Rosso)

“Whoa, hey, don’t climb on me.” (Gentoku)

Rosso leaned on me and looked out the window, and her big soft breasts pressed my head.

Thank you very much.

Along the highway the sea stretched out. The aqua-blue water glittered in the sunlight. In the distance a large castle stood.

“Is that the sea country Zanad?” (Gentoku)

“Yes. It is the tourism and resort country Zanad. The king is a great playboy. He invests most taxes into national development and returns it to the people, so he is much beloved.” (Blanche)

“I see. So not the corrupt king typical in isekai.” (Gentoku)

“Ossan, can you fish?” (Ao)

“Of course. Fufufu, I made a long-distance rod for this day, and brought plenty of hooks and line. Ao, you can fish whenever you have time off.” (Gentoku)

“…Ossan, I love you.” (Ao)

Ao smiled and clung to my arm. I did not misunderstand. It was the affection a niece gives an uncle who gives her allowance. I was not foolish enough to mistake a child’s feelings.

Blanche said…

“We should be able to enter the country today. Rosso, your villa is probably neglected, right? Let us stay in an inn in the castle town tonight and clean tomorrow.” (Blanche)

“Yesss… ah, I wish I had a housekeeper.” (Rosso)

“We need a housekeeper for our base too.” (Ao)

“I know, but people with ulterior motives apply, so it is not easy to find someone.” (Blanche)

I remembered when I installed the air conditioner. Their base was a fine mansion but had no maid or servants. Famous people have their own annoyances.

“I will stay at the same inn. Tomorrow I will go to the real estate guild to look for a villa.” (Gentoku)

“Ossan, alone? If you get tricked it will be terrible. Shall I go?” (Rosso)

“Rosso, you just do not want to clean. You would be trouble for the uncle.” (Blanche)

“Ugh…” (Rosso)

“…Ossan, what kind of villa will you buy?” (Ao)

“Budget is twenty million Sedol. Along the coast, reasonably spacious, close to a beach.” (Gentoku)

Royalties and idea fees had come in. Three hundred million would be the upper limit and would empty my savings.

“Hey, Ossan, proposal.” (Rosso)

“What is it?” (Gentoku)

“Help me clean my villa, then come to the real estate guild together. A young person’s opinion is useful. Also, rich old men might be targets. Ao can tell lies by voice tone, so she is helpful.” (Rosso)

“Seriously? Amazing.” (Gentoku)

“Then, I will come. Rosso cleans.” (Ao)

“Huh!? That is unfair!!” (Rosso)

“You two, stop. You will trouble the uncle.” (Blanche)

“Eee.” (Rosso, Ao)

They were noisy. Fine, I would help with cleaning. Rosso’s villa might give me reference for my purchase.

“All right, I will help clean Rosso’s villa. Help me find my villa afterward.” (Gentoku)

“There you go!!” (Rosso)

“…Okay, leave it to me.” (Blanche)

“My, we will trouble the uncle.” (Ao)

Thus, we arrived in the sea country Zanad.

 

—

 

As we neared Zanad’s main gate, palm-like trees lined the highway.

I realized they used taxes for development. The road was paved with stone and there was no shaking. Many carriages passed, and we passed adventurer-type people and tourist-like people in rickshaw-like vehicles.

Zanad’s main gate was streamlined and rounded. It lacked the intimidation of a brick fortress and had a touristy feel.

“We have arrived at the main gate. Ossan, with our adventurer licenses we can enter without waiting.” (Blanche)

“That is helpful.” (Gentoku)

Many checkpoints stood before the main gate and all were crowded. Ao guided Hikoroku to a checkpoint with only a few people.

When a lightly dressed soldier approached, Ao presented an adventurer license.

“──!! It was ‘Scarlet Camellia’!! Thank you for your service this year!!” (Soldier)

“Mm.” (Blanche)

“Open the gate!!” (Soldier)

The main gate opened and Hikoroku began to walk.

I asked Rosso.

“Why thank you for your service this year?” (Gentoku)

“Well, we cleared many high-difficulty subjugation requests and other backlog, so the guild thanked us.” (Rosso)

“You also investigate new dungeons?” (Gentoku)

“Yes. Zanad keeps us busy. Half work, half play.” (Rosso)

“Impressive for young ones. High-difficulty requests must pay well.” (Gentoku)

“Yes, but I send money to my home village so not much remains.” (Rosso)

“I fund an orphanage.” (Ao)

“My donations to the church take most of mine.” (Blanche)

I felt embarrassed. Well, Japanese sensibilities differ.

 

—

 

The cityscape impressed me.

“It is well maintained. Clean stone roads, large functional buildings, nice exteriors. Streetlights are probably magic tools and evenly placed.” (Gentoku)

Most buildings were white and neat. Shops and eateries were many. No trash lay on the roadside; everything was clean.

“Ossan, in Zanad you will be swarmed by guards for littering.” (Blanche)

“R-Really? I will be careful.” (Gentoku)

“And cigarettes. You can only smoke in designated places.” (Blanche)

“Smoking areas. Got it.” (Gentoku)

“And you can walk through town in swimwear, like that.” (Blanche)

“Oh!!” (Gentoku)

Outside, women in swimwear chatted in a row. Bikinis, large chests, slim waists.

One of them was a beastkin.

“A beastkin.” (Gentoku)

Beastkin are common in isekai. A fox-eared, tailed woman in a swimsuit waved at me and smiled. I waved back.

Beastkin in this world come in two kinds, fully bipedal beastkin and human-based beastkin. Offspring of mixed races become human-based ‘half’. Purebred bipedal beastkin are called ‘pureblood’ and occupy noble-like status. There is no discrimination against halves, so relax.

“…Ossan, do you like women in swimwear?” (Rosso)

“I am a man, so I do not dislike it.” (Gentoku)

“Want to see my swimsuit?” (Rosso)

“Hahaha. Of course I want to see it. It will be cute, surely.” (Gentoku)

“…You pervert Ossan.” (Rosso)

“Eh, why?” (Gentoku)

I treated them like my nieces, but perhaps that failed.

Blanche said…

“We will arrive at today’s inn. Ossan, shall we use the inn we will use?” (Blanche)

“Ah, that is all right.” (Gentoku)

For now, then. Tomorrow cleaning Rosso’s villa, and after that finally going to buy a villa.

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)