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

 

 

Villa Cleaning

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

The next day.

After breakfast, I headed to Rosso’s villa guided by Rosso. About an hour by carriage brought us to a rocky area a little away from the beach. It looked suitable for rock fishing and, in fact, there were quite a few people doing it.

“Fishing would be nice.” (Rosso)

“Yeah. I want to fish.” (Ao)

“Hey you two!! Today is cleaning day!!” (Rosso)

““Yes!”” (Ao/Blanche)

Rosso led us into a fenced area in the rocks and then along a paved path laid on the sand.

“This is already my land. A private beach surrounded by rocks.” (Rosso)

“Wow, amazing.” (Gentoku)

Walking the stone path, we reached an open beach. It was secluded by the rocks and the sea lay right before us. It was a private beach. A torn tarp was hanging and several white chairs lay scattered.

“Rosso, you did not tidy this up, did you?” (Blanche)

“U-uh, I just forgot.” (Rosso)

“Those chairs and the tarp are ruined.” (Blanche)

Indeed, they were ruined. We would have to buy new ones. Rosso said the villa was under the sea.

“Here. I carved this rock and made the entrance. Cool, right?” (Rosso)

A door in a huge rock opened to stairs downward. Going down revealed a living room with glass walls. An underwater villa. It was indeed under the sea, but—

“This is filthy.” (Gentoku)

“Shut up!” (Rosso)

Clothes were scattered, food scraps lay about, tables and chairs were overturned, and a foul smell remained. Blanche put her hands to her head.

“Rosso spent a great deal to buy this place. We used it as a base in summer for Scarlet Camellia’s activities, but it got too dirty.” (Blanche)

“Blanche and I moved to an inn in town halfway through. Rosso used it alone.” (Ao)

“So, this is what it looks like.” (Gentoku)

“Shut up! I am bad at cleaning, so it is fine.” (Rosso)

“There is a limit.” (Blanche, Ao)

Rosso had tears in her eyes as they scolded her. I took out the broom, dustpan, and trash bags I had brought.

“First, shall we clean? Is there water?” (Gentoku)

“There is, but…” (Rosso)

“Then clean. Throw away trash and wipe down.” (Gentoku)

“Oji-sama, you are motivated.” (Blanche)

“Well, I actually like cleaning.” (Gentoku)

“…Your office is always tidy.” (Ao)

We began.

Trash, trash, trash. Terrible. Rosso said we could throw everything away, so we filled bags and carried them outside, which looked like a lot of work until–…

“Hoit.” (Rosso)

Rosso placed her hand over the trash and produced a sunlike fireball that struck and incinerated the garbage.

“Whoa!?” (Gentoku)

“Hey, Ossan. Careful. If you touch my flame you will turn to charcoal.” (Rosso)

Turn to charcoal was not a joke. Nothing remained but ash. With furniture moved outside, Ao produced basketball-sized water spheres and washed the floors and walls. The water swirled at high speed and peeled grime away on contact.

“Amazing.” (Gentoku)

“I do not want to touch the dirty parts.” (Ao)

I left them to it for now. In the kitchen Blanche looked troubled.

“What is it?” (Gentoku)

“This magic tool seems broken.” (Blanche)

“Let me see.” (Gentoku)

It was a magic stove. The magic stone inside was cracked and the heat pipes were damaged. I could repair it, but it was old and probably better replaced.

“I can repair it but maybe buy a new one.” (Gentoku)

“Then, Oji-sama, could you take that stove outside? Rosso will burn it.” (Blanche)

“Okay. Wait.” (Gentoku)

I remembered the mother and child from yesterday, Yuki and her mother.

“Blanche, repair the stove and give it to that mother and daughter.” (Gentoku)

“Huh? Yuki and her mother?” (Blanche)

“Yeah. Rather than just repair it, modify it.” (Gentoku)

“Oji-sama really looks like a magic tool craftsman.” (Blanche)

“I thought of something after seeing the sweet potatoes yesterday.” (Gentoku)

“If you are going to buy a villa, you might want a workshop.” (Blanche)

I liked the idea.

After cleaning, I went to town and bought needed materials. We borrowed a room in Rosso’s villa because we could not work at the inn.

“Ossan, we invited you to my villa, so put the tools away.” (Rosso)

“Relax. I thought of something.” (Gentoku)

The underwater villa was clean, and fish swam outside the windows. I disassembled the stove and removed the magic stone.

“This is an Aqua Python magic stone, five-star. Nice.” (Gentoku)

I lit a flame on my fingertip and imagined a burner, producing a high-power blaze from my fingertip. I worked the iron plates, added runes to the stone, and adjusted details while the three peered in.

“Oji-sama, seeing you makes me think a magic tool craftsman is amazing.” (Blanche)

“…Agreed.” (Ao)

“You look cool. What did you make?” (Rosso)

“Finished.” (Gentoku)

I had made an oven toaster from the stove parts and added iron plates. It had a mesh tray and a reinforced-slim window. The girls tilted their heads in curiosity.

“It is still light out. Let’s shop and then go to Yuki’s place.” (Gentoku)

At the izakaya district, Yuki was trying to pull a young man by the sleeve to attract customers.

“Get out the way, brat!” (Man)

“Nya!” (Yuki)

“Ugh, disgusting brat. Don’t touch me or I will kill you!” (Man)

The man shoved Yuki and tried to kick her. Ao intercepted the kick, Blanche cradled Yuki, and Rosso grabbed the man by the neck.

“What are you doing to this child?” (Rosso)

“Gah…” (Man)

Not just Rosso, Ao and Blanche had cold, murderous looks. I stepped between them.

“Stop. Don’t kill him.” (Gentoku)

“…” (Rosso)

Rosso let go and the man fell. Ao pressed a wrist blade to his throat.

“Next time you die.” (Ao)

“Eeeek!” (Man)

He ran away. Blanche had already treated Yuki’s injuries. Yuki clung to Blanche, teary. I patted Yuki.

“Glad you are safe. Come, let us go to your mother.” (Gentoku)

“Nyau.” (Yuki)

Her mother’s stall remained poorly attended.

“Yuki, don’t wander off. I told you.” (Mother)

“Nya.” (Yuki)

“I am sorry and thank you.” (Mother)

“I have a favor.” (Gentoku)

“Yes?” (Mother)

“My name is Gentoku, head of Oda Magic Tool Workshop in the Edelstein Kingdom.” (Gentoku)

“I am Snow.” (Mother)

“I made a new magic tool and would like you to test it.” (Gentoku)

I set down the oven toaster. Snow was stunned and Yuki’s eyes shone. Rosso asked,

“So, what do we do with this?” (Rosso)

“Watch. May I have some of those sweet potatoes?” (Gentoku)

“Yes, those mass potatoes. Here.” (Snow)

I peeled and mashed the roasted potatoes, mixed sugar, milk, butter, and egg, formed bite-sized pieces, brushed with egg, and placed them in the toaster.

“Put this in the oven toaster and bake until browned.” (Gentoku)

Everyone watched. The toaster ran at a fixed heat, about seven hundred watts. After ten minutes the small window showed nicely baked treats. I opened the toaster and the aroma came out.

“Wow, smells delicious!” (Rosso)

“It is sweet potato tart. My grandfather taught me when he loved confectionery.” (Gentoku)

“It looks tasty.” (Blanche)

I handed a sweet potato tart to Yuki.

“Here, try it.” (Gentoku)

“Nya… phew, nya! Delicious!” (Yuki)

Snow and the three ate heartily. I tasted one and it was good. These mass potatoes were better prepared this way than simply roasted.

“This will sell even at a slightly higher price. Is the recipe okay?” (Snow)

“Yes!!” (Snow)

“Also, this is the monitor fee for the magic tool.” (Gentoku)

I handed about 500000 Sedol. Snow was surprised but we were asking her to use a prototype, so payment was appropriate. The money should buy materials.

“I will come buy these!! They are delicious!!” (Rosso)

“Yes, perfect for snacks.” (Blanche)

“I want to buy out the whole supply.” (Ao)

“Thank you very much.” (Snow)

Yuki then gripped my sleeve and looked up at me, smiling.

“Nya… Ossan, thank you.” (Yuki)

“You will help at the stall, not pull customers. Your mother will be busy.” (Gentoku)

“Nyau.” (Yuki)

I patted her head and squeezed her cat ears a little.

Cute.

We said farewell, and the girls praised me.

“Ossan, you are a really good guy. I might like your type.” (Rosso)

“I was moved as well.” (Blanche)

“Nice, Ossan.” (Ao)

“Haha. This is not bad.” (Gentoku)

It was a good time. Let us go eat.

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)