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

 

 

Returning to Work After a Long Time

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

The day following my drinking with Yeran and Richter, I rose from my bed and took a morning smoke. I sat upon the edge of the bed, lit my cigarette, inhaled the smoke, and exhaled it in a slow rhythm.

How shall I describe it… the sensation of smoking immediately upon waking, when the blood vessels in the brain seem to constrict ever so tightly, is exquisitely pleasant. I truly cherish this moment of the morning.

“Faaah…” (Gentoku)

Extinguishing the cigarette in the ashtray, I proceeded to the kitchen, and it was at that moment that I realized something.

“…N-nothing at all.” (Gentoku)

Indeed, I had gone drinking with Yeran immediately upon returning yesterday, and Richter had joined us. We continued drinking until nightfall. Upon returning home, I collapsed into bed without even remembering to purchase supplies.

“Ah… well, there is no helping it. I suppose I shall procure something from a street vendor for breakfast.” (Gentoku)

I washed my face, brewed coffee into a pot, packed my wallet, smartphone, and newspaper into my bag, and departed from the house.

The company was roughly a 15-minute walk away, and along the way, there were no shortage of cafés or street stalls. It was still around seven o’clock in the morning. Breakfast followed by departure to the office would suffice.

I arrived at a café I had visited several times before, only to be surprised.

“Eh? Snow-san and Yuki-chan?” (Gentoku)

“Good morning, Gentoku-san.” (Snow)

Indeed, Snow-san and Yuki-chan were present. I wondered why they were here so early in the morning when suddenly Snow-san explained.

“We came to purchase freshly baked bread. Since Rosso-san and the others begin work tomorrow, we thought to buy bread for lunch now while it is still early.” (Snow)

“I see. Well, you did only just return yesterday.” (Gentoku)

“Yes. We have already had breakfast, so presently everyone is relaxing in their rooms.” (Snow)

“I understand. Snow-san, how do you find the royal capital?” (Gentoku)

“It is a fine place. Its liveliness is different from that of the sea.” (Snow)

“Nyaa, neko~” (Yuki)

At some point, Yuki-chan had taken hold of a cat. It appeared to be a stray, and several gathered around her from the alleyways.

Snow-san broke off pieces of the bread she had purchased and gave them to the cats.

“Nyaa.” (Cat)

“Fufu, if you are hungry, you may have some. Now, everyone, be amiable with one another.” (Snow)

“Nya.” (Cat)

“Snow-san, you understand the language of cats?” (Gentoku)

“Yes. I am a feline beastkin… Are you not aware? Beastkin can understand the language of the animals from which they originate.” (Snow)

I had not known this. Perhaps the ‘Nyaa’ just now meant ‘I am hungry’. Yuki-chan stroked the cats and even moved her own tail.

“Come along, Yuki. Even the cats have work to do.” (Snow)

“Nyaa.” (Cat)

“Nyah… understood~” (Yuki)

Yuki-chan released the cats and took Snow-san’s hand.

“Until next time, Gentoku-san.” (Snow)

“Yes. When you have leisure, please come and play with Rosso and the others. Farewell for now, Yuki-chan.” (Gentoku)

“Nyaou. Goodbye, Oji-chan.” (Yuki)

The two of them departed.

A pair of happy feline companions… I truly hope they live contentedly.

Well then, I shall eat my breakfast promptly and make my way to the office.

 

—

 

At last, it was my return to the workplace.

The first floor consisted of the workshop, the basement held the materials storage, the second floor contained the lodging quarters, and there was the office connecting to the exterior staircase. I inspected all areas thoroughly, finding nothing out of the ordinary.

Entering the office, I poured coffee from the pot into a cup and began reading the newspaper at my desk.

“Today, I suppose I shall first work on magical apparatuses for autumn and winter. Perhaps a hot carpet and a kotatsu. Heating devices are not particularly advanced in this world, possibly because autumn and winter are short.” (Gentoku)

The coffee was delicious.

While reading the newspaper, I considered the design of magical apparatuses.

“A kotatsu would be a table with four legs. Wait, in this world, chairs are more common than floor tables. Well, that is acceptable. A magic stone engraved with the heat magic symbol could be set atop the table with a protective mesh attached. As for a hot carpet… there is no culture of removing shoes and lying upon carpets here. Perhaps an electric blanket-like device would suffice. Embedding a heating wire within a blanket and placing a magic stone engraved with the ‘heat conduction’ magic symbol… it should be manageable.” (Gentoku)

I talked to myself quite frequently, but the plan was mostly complete.

I drained the coffee, closed the newspaper, and placed the cup in the sink.

“Very well, let us commence work.” (Gentoku)

It was time to resume operations at the Oda Magic Tool Development Center after a long interval.

 

—

 

“For now, this will suffice.” (Gentoku)

I set a magic stone engraved with the ‘gentle heat’ magic symbol upon the table and affixed the protective mesh to prevent accidental burns. Using a bedding blanket in place of a kotatsu cover, I placed the tabletop above it. The switch was connected to a cord attached to the table, and a push-button mechanism controlled it.

Upon sitting in the chair and pressing the switch, warmth gradually emanated.

“Yes, this should be adequate. A simple ‘heat’ magic stone would be too hot. A ‘gentle heat’ is appropriate. For the prototype, this shall suffice.” (Gentoku)

Next, I addressed the blanket with the embedded heating wire. Embedding it into a single blanket proved impossible, so I prepared two blankets of identical size and sandwiched the wire between them. Securing it to prevent movement was tedious, but I inserted a ‘gentle heat’ magic stone, and upon activating the switch, it emitted a soothing warmth.

Testing it, I laid the blanket upon a bed in the lodging quarters and reclined.

“Mmm… very good. Neither hot nor cold. This temperature should suffice.” (Gentoku)

The cost would also remain low. A low-cost new product suitable for commoners… and it had been completed within a single day.

Returning to the office, I drafted the specifications and submitted an application for the magic stone. The magic symbol to register was ‘gentle heat’. Merely engraving the kanji upon the stone was simple enough.

At that moment, a knock sounded at the office door.

“Good work, Gentoku-san.” (Richter)

“Oh, Richter. Perfect timing. Here, take a look.” (Gentoku)

“This is…?” (Richter)

“Autumn’s new product, the electric blanket and the kotatsu.” (Gentoku)

“Hmm…” (Richter)

Richter examined the specifications.

“I see. A blanket that emits heat, and a table that similarly emits warmth. A new magic symbol… I understand. A mere ‘heat’ magic symbol would produce excessive warmth, so you have incorporated a symbol that moderates the heat.” (Richter)

“Exactly so. What do you think?” (Gentoku)

“It is excellent. Cost is low, and it could be sold as a new product suitable for commoners. I shall present it at the Alexandrite Trading Company’s product meeting. The prototype is ready?” (Richter)

“Yes. It is in the workshop on the first floor.” (Gentoku)

I handed Richter the prototype, concluding work for the day.

Before departing, Richter spoke.

“By the way, I investigated the hot springs. There appears to be one in the northern mountainous region.” (Richter)

“So, they do exist. And the mountainous region?” (Gentoku)

“Yes. In a large mining town called Dodofado. They extract iron ore and process metals there. It is also a city of dwarves, attracting many magical apparatus technicians.” (Richter)

“Dodofado… a visit there might indeed be worthwhile.” (Gentoku)

Hot springs and a mining town… an intriguingly unique combination. I must experience a hot spring at least once.

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)