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

 

 

Leave It to the Man from Another World

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

“I am sorry.” (Poisson)

Several days had passed since Michaela’s incident, and I had nearly forgotten about it when the Elf girl, or rather, the Pisces Witch, Poisson, appeared at my workplace and suddenly bowed her head. To be honest, a young girl bowing deeply in front of my workshop could easily cause misunderstandings if the neighbors saw it.

In a fluster, I guided Poisson up to the second-floor office and had her sit on the reception sofa. As soon as I served her some fruit water, she began to speak.

“Michaela seems to have caused you some trouble. About the power of thunder. I told her that it still required research, but it seems she was convinced of her success and pushed forward with the work.” (Poisson)

According to her story, ever since Michaela discovered thunder and realized it might be possible to imbue energy into a magic stone, she had been preparing a plan to remodel the Klein Magical Trading Company’s magical tools to adapt them for thunder attributes.

At the same time that she began developing new magical scripts, she had also started modifying and manufacturing magical tools. By the time I had warned her to stop, a considerable number of them had already been completed.

When she finally realized thunder could not be used effectively, all of those magical tools were shelved, resulting in significant losses.

“At present, the Thunder Attribute Research Division of the Klein Magical Trading Company is researching ways to imbue the power of thunder into a magic stone and store it for long periods. But it will take time. Perhaps 100 years, or 50, given how advanced humans are now. It seems this was entirely Michaela’s overreach.” (Poisson)

“Well, that sounds about right. How is Michaela doing?” (Gentoku)

“She is depressed. She had never known failure before. But I think she will be fine since Abel is by her side.” (Poisson)

“Then, perhaps you should tell her a story. It might lift her spirits.” (Gentoku)

“Fufu, perhaps I should.” (Poisson)

I lit a cigarette while Poisson sipped her fruit water.

“I intend to research the power of thunder as well. What about you, Gentoku?” (Poisson)

“I will continue at my own pace. It is not as though I particularly need the power of thunder.” (Gentoku)

“I see. Fufu, that sounds like you. Do you have anything you want to do?” (Poisson)

“Well, let’s see. I already built a bike, and for now, I do not have anything else I want to make. So, I plan to focus on my work repairing magical tools.” (Gentoku)

Recently, the number of repair requests had been increasing. I did not want to travel far for a while, so I decided to settle down as a magical technician.

“Well, if something comes up, feel free to request my help. But no troublesome ones, and nothing involving thunder.” (Gentoku)

“Fufu, understood. Say, may I visit from time to time? Farzan and Claipes are in the royal capital, and I would like to introduce you to them.” (Poisson)

“That is fine.” (Gentoku)

“Then, I shall come again.” (Poisson)

Poisson rose from the sofa and descended to the first floor. I opened the window to see her off, but then…

“Nyaa, let’s play.” (Yuki)

“Grrr, I brought badminton.” (Kuroha)

“Kyu, I have snacks too.” (Lisa)

“Oh my, I have been invited… Fufu, shall we play then?” (Poisson)

“Woof!” (Hikoroku)

“Nyaa!” (Yuki)

In the vacant lot beside the workshop, Poisson was soon pulled into a game of badminton with the neighborhood children.

Well, she makes a fine playmate for them, so she is welcome anytime.

 

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Now then, today I had two repair requests for mist sprayers and one on-site repair for a refrigerator. The mist sprayers had damaged magic stones and deteriorated spray components, but replacing the parts was enough. The refrigerator repair was for a nearby café, so I brought my tools and fixed it quickly.

After returning to the office and writing in the work log, I heard a familiar voice.

“Hey, Ossan, we came to hang out!” (Rosso)

“So, today’s work is done.” (Gentoku)

“Fufu, we brought a souvenir magic stone.” (Ao)

“Ah, I am tired. Gentoku, do you have something to drink?” (Blanche)

Rosso, Ao, Blanche, and Verde had arrived.

“Good work, everyone. There is fruit water in the refrigerator. Drink whatever you like.” (Gentoku)

“Yay, can we have snacks too?” (Rosso)

“Daifuku, come here.” (Ao)

“Verde, would you bring me some ice?” (Blanche)

“Sure thing. Oh, I will take the berry fruit water.” (Verde)

The office instantly became lively.

I placed the souvenir magic stones I received from Ao into the underground safe and returned upstairs. Rosso and the others were engrossed in conversation, and Daifuku was purring contentedly on Ao’s lap.

“Hey, Ossan. Actually, our tent got torn. Could you fix it?” (Rosso)

“Rosso swung her sword while half-asleep and cut it open.” (Ao)

“Hahaha, sure. Leave it here and take the spare one instead.” (Gentoku)

“Thanks! You are the best, Ossan.” (Rosso)

Good thing I had made a spare tent. Then, Blanche sighed softly.

“Sigh…” (Blanche)

“What is it, Blanche? It is rare to see you sigh.” (Gentoku)

“Well, lately I have been worried about my skin’s firmness.” (Blanche)

That was a difficult problem for me to address.

Isn’t she only seventeen?

She was far too young to be worried about skincare. I was just an old man, so I could not relate. Speaking of beauty devices, I wondered how Barion’s death-mask-like massage machine turned out. That thing was absurdly ticklish.

“The beauty device sold by the Peridot Trading Company was discontinued, and I would love to have a better magical tool.” (Blanche)

“A beauty-type magical tool, huh. That is not really my area. Wait a moment.” (Gentoku)

I could not create something professional, but maybe I could craft something like those facial rollers I once saw sold online. Though I had heard overuse was bad.

“Give me a moment.” (Gentoku)

“?” (All four)

I went down to the basement, processed the bones of a metal orc to form a handle, melted more of the bone, poured it into an earth magic alchemy mold, and shaped two spheres. I attached the spheres to the ends of a Y-shaped handle.

The spherical parts rolled smoothly when turned.

“I think this is how it looked, but I am not sure it is right to hand over something made from such vague memory.” (Gentoku)

I tried rolling it over my cheeks and neck. It felt surprisingly good. I even rolled it over my face, though I had no idea whether such a thing was truly beneficial for the skin.

I brought the finished product upstairs.

“What were you making, Ossan? Wait, what is that?” (Rosso)

“I am not entirely sure. It is a beauty device from my world, though I have no personal experience with such things. I just made it from memory.” (Gentoku)

Blanche’s eyes sparkled.

“H-how do you use it?” (Blanche)

“You just press it against your face and roll it, like this. Do not expect dramatic results. Overuse might be bad, but honestly, I do not know since it is not something I ever used.” (Gentoku)

Blanche rolled the beauty roller along her cheeks and shoulders.

“Ahh… it feels wonderful.” (Blanche)

“Me too, me too, let me try!” (Rosso)

“I would like to try as well.” (Ao)

“I admit, I am curious.” (Verde)

“I do not even know whether it is a success or failure, but that one is yours, Blanche. Just do not overdo it.” (Gentoku)

“Yes. Fufu, thank you, Oji-sama.” (Blanche)

Blanche immediately began massaging her face with the roller.

“Hey, Ossan, I want something too.” (Rosso)

“What?” (Gentoku)

“You gave Ao a fishing rod and Blanche that roller. Verde can do without, but I want something too.” (Rosso)

“Even so…” (Gentoku)

“Rosso, you already received plenty from Gentoku. Do not be greedy. And what do you mean by ‘Verde can do without’?” (Blanche)

“Well, I guess so.” (Rosso)

True enough, I had made them various things, but if I considered the souvenir magic stones they often brought me, my crafts hardly measured up.

Today’s gift alone was an eight-star magic stone. That was worth several million Sedols.

“Then, Rosso, is there something you want? Some kind of magical tool you would find useful? If it is within my ability, I will make it.” (Gentoku)

“Really? Hmm… Oh, I know. I want to eat something sweet made by you!” (Rosso)

“Something sweet, huh. Let me think.” (Gentoku)

Come to think of it, is there ice cream in this world? There is milk and sugar, so I could probably make it. But since ice is precious in the Edelstein Kingdom, it might not be common.

“Oh, right. Sandrone asked me to teach some cooking techniques for a restaurant. Would you all like to come along? I will make some rice bowl dishes and maybe some sweets.” (Gentoku)

“Seriously!? I am in!” (Rosso)

“I will come too.” (Ao)

“Of course, I shall accompany you.” (Blanche)

“Fufu, I will join as well.” (Verde)

And so, I decided to bring the four members of the Scarlet Camellia along with me to instruct a restaurant.

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)