New chapter of Single Old Man is out! (1/2 chapters)

 

 

 Aquarius Witch Raslanuf Aquarius

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

Satisfied with sashimi and with what is here called miscellaneous liquor rather than Japanese sake, I purchase a large quantity of that miscellaneous liquor at the liquor shop across from the restaurant and ask them to deliver it to the villa.

And for today, we disband.

Sandrone says, “Well then, I shall convey it”. Richter says, “Until we meet again”, and leaves. Walking side by side, the two could be taken for a couple, yet to my eyes they are nothing but “master” and “retainer”.

Well, those two do not matter. Witch Council or whatever it is, I will not allow them to disrupt my vacation.

“Now then, I am going back.” (Gentoku)

“Woof.” (Hikoroku)

“Hm? Oh, is that not Hikoroku?” (Gentoku)

By the roadside, in a space where carriages stopped, Hikoroku was present.

He wore a collar, and though we had not spent long together, he was a dog I once kept. There was no mistaking him. Beside him lay something like a netted basket, filled with various things.

“Ah, Gentoku-san?” (Snow)

“Oh, Snow-san, is it not? Are you out shopping?” (Gentoku)

“Yes. There were a few things I forgot. Ingredients for tomorrow’s breakfast for the Scarlet Camellia.” (Snow)

“Nyaa.” (Yuki)

Ah, Yuki-chan as well.

She clung to my leg and rubbed her head against me insistently. Snow-san placed the purchases into the netted basket.

“Fufu, is that liquor?” (Snow)

“Ah, no, just a little for company’s sake. Hahaha. In Zanad, both food and drink are so good that it causes trouble.” (Gentoku)

“Ufufu. That is certainly true. Come, Yuki, over here.” (Snow)

“Nyauu.” (Yuki)

Snow-san picked up Yuki-chan and set her on Hikoroku’s back. I heard that Hikoroku served as porter and guard, and also as Yuki-chan’s mount.

On a whim, I asked a question.

“By the way, Snow-san, do you know the Witch Council?” (Gentoku)

“Witch Council? Yes, it is the organization where the world’s greatest magical-tool artisans gather. If I recall correctly, I have heard that in Zanad lives Raslanuf Aquarius-sama, the ‘Aquarius Witch.’” (Snow)

“Is that person famous?” (Gentoku)

“Yes. I was engaged in trade, so I have heard much. Raslanuf-sama is the one who created the magical script that brings forth water from magic stones, who developed sewage treatment, and who spread it throughout the world.” (Snow)

“Heh.” (Gentoku)

This world had faucets, and wastewater ran through pipes. I was told that along the way it was broken down and purified, then returned to the rivers, though I did not know the details. I had assumed someone had disseminated such techniques.

“Why is it called the Witch Council?” (Gentoku)

“Well, I have heard that the magical-tool artisans who belong to the council are all long-lived elves, and furthermore that every one of them is a woman.” (Snow)

“…Fantasy.” (Gentoku)

So, Elves. I wonder if there are Dwarves as well. Well, there is a beastkin before my eyes, and surely there are many other races. In any case, it has nothing to do with me.

 

—

 

It had nothing to do with me, or so I thought.

“Hmm, so you are Gentoku. For a human, you have an interesting way of thinking.” (Raslanuf)

“…” (Gentoku)

At my villa, Sandrone and Richter arrive, and with them a strange woman.

She had long silver hair and pointed ears, her eyes shone with gold, and her figure was superb. Over a swimsuit she wore a sheer veil, with the look of someone about to go to the sea. She appeared to be about twenty. A stunning beauty stood there.

I glare sharply at Sandrone.

“Now, now. Do not glare at Sandrone. I come here because I wish to speak with you.” (Raslanuf)

“I am not interested. Also, do not come first thing in the morning.” (Gentoku)

“Hoho, how ill-tempered.” (Raslanuf)

That is only natural. For today I intend to try bodyboarding at the sea in a leisurely fashion, and even though I drank last night, I crafted a surfboard and a bodyboard.

It is bothersome. I should have them leave at once.

“I am Raslanuf. Fufu, in common parlance they call me the ‘Aquarius Witch’. Do you know what Aquarius means?” (Raslanuf)

“Stars, heavenly bodies, is it not?” (Gentoku)

Then, I notice at last. Why Aquarius?

Raslanuf chuckled.

“That reaction. You are a person from another world, are you not?” (Raslanuf)

“!!” (Gentoku)

“Fufufu. As I thought. After two thousand years, a lost child appears.” (Raslanuf)

“…There is another besides me?” (Gentoku)

“Yes. She is the founder of our Witch Council, a maiden more beautiful than any other. She came to this world from another world called Japan. It was more than two thousand years ago.” (Raslanuf)

Sandrone and Richter were astonished.

I inferred the rest.

“She is the one who gave you knowledge of Japan?” (Gentoku)

“Yes. That said, when Atsuko was transferred to this world, she was already over seventy. The knowledge she had was not abundant in quantity. Yet each piece of knowledge astonished us, the twelve sisters. Most intriguing was the meaning contained in the shapes of stars, called constellations. Therefore, we learned the twelve constellations from Atsuko, matched them to the stars of this world, and became the Witches of the Twelve Constellations who preside over them.” (Raslanuf)

“…” (Gentoku)

It is too grand. It is a kind of fantasy that does not suit what surrounds me. Atsuko, an old woman over seventy, transferred to another world. In the usual patterns, it is young boys and girls or deceased salarymen who transfer, then use Japanese knowledge to prevail at pioneering, or cheat powers to triumph in great adventure.

“That underwater scooter, and the ice maker and the mist sprayer, these magical tools differ in character from those of typical artificers. I wondered, and indeed, you are from the same land as Atsuko. Fufu, at last I have found you.” (Raslanuf)

“So, what business do you have?” (Gentoku)

To be honest, I am surprised, but I am not concerned with what that old woman called Atsuko thought or why she came to this world. She seems already deceased. To know it now changes nothing.

Raslanuf then produced a small box. It was in quite a tattered state.

“…What is this?” (Gentoku)

“One of Atsuko’s belongings. Atsuko brought various items from Japan, for it seems she came to this world while in the midst of moving house. I learned my sewer works and the faucet that produces water from Atsuko.” (Raslanuf)

“…This thing is–…” (Gentoku)

It was a wooden box, its paint peeled, its ornaments ruined, its metal fittings corroded. It was immediately clear that the wooden box had endured a long span of years.

“It is from Atsuko’s world, but we do not know what it is.” (Raslanuf)

“It is a wooden box, is it not? Did you not open it?” (Gentoku)

“We feared to open it carelessly, lest the contents be damaged, and so we could not bring ourselves to meddle with it. We twelve witches all felt the same. We could do no more than preserve it to prevent corrosion as much as possible. Yet two thousand years have passed. It is already in tatters.” (Raslanuf)

“And the request is, perhaps–…” (Gentoku)

Raslanuf nodded.

“On my responsibility, I petition thee. You, who are a person from the same world as Atsuko, repair this box, this magical device.” (Raslanuf)

“…Hah.” (Gentoku)

She made a request that was difficult to refuse.

“Is that acceptable? If it is beyond me, it may break.” (Gentoku)

“I do not mind. If we leave it as it is, it will surely decay in time. Better to entrust it to thee.” (Raslanuf)

“…” (Gentoku)

“I shall pay 500 million Sedol in advance, and if it can be repaired, I shall pay an additional 500 million.” (Raslanuf)

“Bbph. Fi, 500 million!?” (Gentoku)

“Wha, Raslanuf-sama, that is–…” (Sandrone)

“It does not matter. Money is so plentiful that it may be swept aside.” (Raslanuf)

So, that is petty cash. And with the advance, a total of one billion. Astonishing. Well, money is no bad thing. It might be pleasant to run a farm, or to run a café with coffee beans. No, not immediately.

“Is that dissatisfactory? Then, I permit you to do as you wilt with Sandrone’s breasts.” (Raslanuf)

“Eh.” (Gentoku)

“R, Raslanuf-sama!?” (Sandrone)

“Sandrone. Regarding the development of Zanad, I shall allow you to take a part. With my name, there will be no trading house in Zanad that opposes you.” (Raslanuf)

“…Eh.” (Sandrone)

“Fufufu, if you offerest your breasts, your work within Zanad will proceed more smoothly. What sayest you? Men love a maiden’s breasts, do they not? A reward of one billion, and Sandrone’s breasts. What wilt thou do?” (Raslanuf)

“…Very well. Breasts are merely organs for nursing. It does not particularly matter.” (Sandrone)

“Heh. Having it put that way, a man’s honor is at stake. Fine, I will do it.” (Gentoku)

I cracked my neck and flexed my fingers. Raslanuf smiled in relief and bowed her head to me.

“My thanks, Gentoku.” (Raslanuf)

“Yeah, leave it to me.” (Gentoku)

“…Stop saying that while looking at my chest.” (Sandrone)

Thus, I am to repair the mysterious small box. Still, what could be inside it?

“By the way, what is this development of Zanad?” (Gentoku)

“Yes. In truth, the king has offered great sums to develop the castle town of Zanad, and has told us to make developments suited to a maritime nation. Under my leadership, magical-tool artisans and craftsmen from throughout the country have been assembled. Developments unique to a sea nation, what should they be, I wonder.” (Raslanuf)

“Hm. A sea nation. If it were me–…” (Gentoku)

On a whim, I spoke of a fanciful idea along the lines of, “This would suit a sea nation”.

Raslanuf fell into thought.

“…Indeed. I shall organize my thoughts a little. Gentoku, I leave it to you.” (Raslanuf)

“Sure.” (Gentoku)

“R, Raslanuf-sama? Surely you do not mean to use Gentoku’s idea… Ah, enough. Gentoku, we will come again.” (Sandrone)

“Th-then, please excuse us.” (Richter)

Sandrone and Richter left as well.

I did not entirely understand it, but first I began with the work before me.

“Now then, this wooden box, what is inside it, I wonder.” (Gentoku)

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)