Chapter 14: New Inventions

"Ow. My back hurts."

"Are you okay? I've got some medicinal herbs. Do you want me to get them for you?”

“No, that's no good. I'll take care of the luggage! Grace-sama can just stay seated.”

“I can’t do that. I had you come all the way to such a remote place. I'll do what I can to help.”

After saying that, I carried the luggage with the merchant named Chris, whom I’d met the other day. I can't let Galatea, the robot, show her face yet and Bowman’s still holed up in the lab, while Vigna is helping me kill the monsters nearby.

The only one with time on his hands is me since I'm still working on the farm. It's not that I'm useless so I have nothing to do! In fact, it's because I'm capable that I'm bored.

“Edward-san is quite rough. Sending a single girl to peddle in such a remote area, you should at least have an escort."

“I'm okay, my skill is ‘monster repellent'. That’s why it is easier for me to go without an escort. And also because the escort fee is high.  Ah, please keep this secret from Edward-sama!”

"Oh, so that's how it is. Hiring adventurers and the like is also quite expensive."

She replies to my words with good grace. I didn't realize it when I first met her, but she seems to be a pretty good guardian of money. It's not easy to be a merchant if you're not money conscious. She’s free to make money however she wants. Edward probably knows about it but leaves it to her.

At least I think so.

“And can I see Vigna-san later?  I want to apologize for what I did the other day."

“Sure, she's not mad at you or anything, but I'm sure she'd appreciate you saying so. I'll make time for a conversation."

“Thank you very much. But still, that girl? Could it be that Vigna-san and Grace-sama have that kind of relationship? The other day, you made a very dissatisfied face when I misspoke. The pairing of a weak lord and a female knight is really nice.”

Chris-san was unexpectedly interested and her eyes were shining. I wonder, does she like such love stories because she's a woman? I've never had any friends, so I've never had this kind of love talk with other people.

" Chris-san, are you interested in that kind of talk ?”

“No, not at all. It's just that I thought it might be a good way to make money. How about it? Right now, I'm selling some accessories I made at a discount, so why don't you give them as gifts?”

“Ah, I see.”

It’s business after all. I was a little taken aback by Chris's words. But a gift might be nice. I gave Bowman a furnace, but I've only shown my gratitude to Vigna in words. Fortunately, I have some money from selling monster materials and potatoes, so I'm able to afford it.

“But will she be happy with accessories? I think she'd be happier if I gave her a weapon or something."

"Oh, she'll like it. Don't worry. There’s no girl who wouldn't be happy to receive an accessory from the man she loves.”

“Love? It’s not like that, I don't have that kind of relationship with her. Well, I'll take two. One that will look good on Vigna’s blue hair and another that looks good on a silver-haired girl.”

"Thank’s for the purchase! Then I'll bring them next time. I didn’t expect you to give gifts to two women. But don't make the girls cry okay?”

I don't know what's amusing Chris-san, but she's smiling and poking me. Isn't this girl getting too close to me? I felt it when I was with Vigna, but I guess she just says what she thinks.

We finished unloading, talking about trivial things, and finally checked the delivered items.

“This is our first transaction. Is there anything you dislike? I'll do my best to improve it.”

"Wow, as Edward-sama said, you're very kind to merchants like us. I think that's splendid.”

At my words, Chris-san retracted her earlier playfulness and smiled calmly. Her appearance was very mature, as if she was the ideal girlfriend.

When I looked at her suspiciously, she smiled again.

“Then allow me to hold you to your words. There are times when monsters still appear after all, the ground is uneven and inconvenient so I can’t speed up when I’m using my carriage. It's pretty painful."

When I looked at the wheels of the carriage she pointed to, I saw that they were indeed damaged. I knew it. The road we’re using now isn’t maintained at all. All that was done was a crude repair where Galatea pulled out trees and rocks that were on the way.

There's an overwhelming lack of people when it comes to road maintenance. Even if we were to ask Vigna, she's not an expert in earth magic. Although she could probably make it a little better than it is now.

“I guess we'll have to call in some craftsmen to do some groundwork.”

“No, I think that will be quite difficult, the work will take a long time and there’ll still be monsters.”

“So we'll have to do something about it."

I used the "World Library" while touching the carriage. It might be better to strengthen the carriage in some way. For example, the wheels could be of better quality. 

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Trent's Wheel: This wheel is made from the wood monster Trent. It’s much sturdier and absorbs shock better than ordinary ones.

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“Eh, you're using monster materials?”

“Oh, you’re very knowledgeable. You can tell the material at a glance, it's amazing. We only have one of these carriages, and it's a top-of-the-line one made of Trent parts.”

When she said this, she looked at me smugly. Even so, I'm glad they’re taking the trouble to use one of the best carriages they have. That's how much Edward-san expects from us. I would like to respond to that feeling, but the trees that grow around here aren’t very strong.

I then casually touched the rubber tree, surprisingly, I received new information about the other world, probably thanks to my better understanding of the other world now. Wow, I didn't know rubber was used this way in the other world.

“I might be able to help you with that.”

"Eh? Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I'll take care of it.”

I smiled fearlessly at Chris-san, who was looking at me suspiciously and answered. Then I immediately went to consult with everyone.

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