Kays Translations

Chapter 2: Peaceful Hydrangea ① – His Bed

I’ve seen the witch’s bed many times.
I still don’t really understand it. It’s ridiculously huge and cluttered with all sorts of things—cushions, pillows, clothes, even underwear.
Well… I probably can’t buy one like that.

By the way, there’s that billion-unit debt from the witch.
No matter how you look at it, there’s no realistic way to pay it off.

The witch said she has a plan for it.
So she said that the money I currently have, and the money I earn from now on, are separate from that debt.

Does such a debt even exist?
I mean, she’s not planning to collect it—that’s a relief.
Still, even if I paid 1 million Ouro a month, it would take years. A ridiculous amount.

Mineha-san and Haiyaan also said they would help repay the debt.
I don’t want to involve Mineha-san, though.

But she’s stubborn—she insists on paying it back no matter what.
For now, I have no choice but to leave it to the witch.

Also, I’m glad I realized this early.
I almost asked Mineha-san about beds.

“For now… let’s go hit that rabbit. Yeah.”

I quickly returned home and went to the watchtower.
In the corner of the first floor, there was an old, oddly placed full-length mirror.

This is the gate. Insert the key I received, and it distorts a view of another scene.
Passing through it leads to a corridor leading to the lab.

The corridor has two rooms on each side, but the doors won’t open.

The passage next to the gate ends in a dead-end, but I know what it is.
There’s a diagonal unnatural cut—probably a shutter. It was firmly sealed.
I noticed Liv-san watching it closely.

Going straight ahead without worrying, the door opens automatically, and I reach the lab.
The front is glass, with a touch-panel console nearby.

Four long pedestal-like universal tables are arranged in a square.
The surrounding walls aren’t stone or brick—they’re a strange grey material.

I can’t see what’s beyond the glass.
Haiyaan called it the “Caldron System.”
Caldron… yeah, that was the witch’s cauldron.

And the Caldron System is supposedly filled with liquid.
A liquid that preserves things indefinitely, apparently. What the heck.

Haiyaan was struggling with the touch panel.
Complaining that it’s difficult with rabbit hands.

One unusual thing: Haiyaan was wearing a lab coat.
A white lab coat on a white rabbit—it’s a little odd, but he seems to like it.
Apparently, lab coats exist in this world too.

“Haiyaan.”
“Wof? I’ve just gotten some interesting data.”
“Before I hit you, I have one question.”
“Wait—hit it?”

Haiyaan looked puzzled.
I clenched my fist tightly.

“—Was your advice to ask girls about bedding sincere?”

“Y-you… you actually asked…? No way… did they really answer you?!”

Haiyaan was shocked. His large rabbit eyes widened even further.

“Ah, yes. They answered properly.”

I raised my fist and moved closer.

“Th-they? Multiple? You mean… multiple girls answered you, Wof?!”
“Yes, they answered.”
“I-Impossible! When I asked before, it was said to be creepier than asking about underwear colors! You… you asked multiple girls about their underwear—”

I punched him.

“…The bedding data?”
“Yes. Comfort☆彡 bedding data. With the materials, I can make it.”

The bumped-up rabbit manipulated the panel.
A projection appeared in midair. What’s with the ☆彡 in the name?
The materials needed: slime blocks, fixative liquid, storage bags… not entirely sure.

“Hmm… slime blocks… is this maybe Pakira-san’s bed?”
“What? Pakira’s?”
“She said the slime bed was a hassle to maintain.”
“I see, I see. Prototype stage, so it’s marked as frozen due to the effort required.”
“Anything else?”

Well, anything besides straw works for me. Maybe feathers.

“Oh, here’s a feather futon.”
“There is?”
“Comfort🌙 feather futon. Materials are Big Goose and Wind Duck feathers.”

Ah, 🌙—same maker as the other.

“They’re all monster-like, huh? How many do we need?”
“Five each. Ten total should be enough.”
“Big Goose and Wind Duck live in wind-related dungeons.”

Wind, huh. That dungeon exists. I haven’t entered any except water yet.
Let’s go. And while I’m at it, I might as well take a guild quest.
Even a little income is better than none.

Walking through town, I notice Hydrangea feels busier and livelier than usual.
The anxiety from just a few days ago feels like a lie.

It was six days ago.
Suddenly, the city administration, not the guild, announced something big.
“Big” meaning using rare megaphone-like devices and legacy communications to notify everyone.

Rarely do they broadcast citywide, but this time it was necessary.

In one month, Hydrangea will host the “Great of Rounds.”

The Great of Rounds is a major event of the Grand Guild, the headquarters of the Adventurer Guilds.
Held every five years, it’s a large conference where all first-class adventurers gather.

Yes, a conference.
But it’s more like a city-wide festival.
Every first-class adventurer attends—no exceptions.

Bards sing of heroes in the streets, plazas, and taverns.
It’s the only chance to see them alive.
Announcing it a month in advance allows preparations for the festival.

Prominent figures will also attend.
The ruling nobility.
And the king himself.

Well… I can’t say I have no connection.
I’m a disciple of a first-class adventurer witch, so I’m slightly involved.

The guild is orderly as always.
Some counters are closed, though.
They’ve been sent to help with the Great of Rounds preparations.
Even staff from nearby towns and villages have been brought in.

It’s a lot of work.
Partly because of me too, I can’t complain.

Now, the wind dungeon quest.

“Ah, it’s for Big Goose meat.”

So I just need to collect feathers and hand over the meat.
200 Ouro per bird. Minimum ten birds. Not bad.

The quest number… hmm. Got it.

“Ah, ah! Wof-sama!”

I turn and see Juicy, the black-haired dog-girl, running straight toward me.
She stops just before hugging me. Good girl.
Her tail is wagging like crazy. Also… she’s a wolf.

“Wof?”

“Rell-san. Hello.”

Rell greeted me.
He’s a beautiful young elf man with long silver hair, wearing silver-rimmed glasses and a black coat.
He gives off a cool impression at first glance.

He reminded me of Dova-san—makes sense, he’s her real brother.
He’s also Juicy’s older brother, a rare combination.

“It’s a bit surprising to see you here at the guild.”
“Ah, ah, Wof-sama is an adventurer.”
“I know that.”

“Hmm, where are Axe-san and Hoss-san?”
“Axe has a cold. Hoss is nursing him.”
“Oh… I hope he gets well soon.”
“So I have free time. I remembered that the 14th younger sister wanted to improve her archery.”

“Ah, ah, woof. Big brother, I’m Juicy.”

Juicy shot Rell a quick glance.

“Sorry. Force of habit.”
“Ah, ah, please be careful. If the sisters find out, it’ll be troublesome… for you, big brother.”
“Y-yeah, that’s right.”

“Um, by the way, Wof-sama, why are you at the guild?”
“I thought I’d get the materials for a bed and take that quest.”

Rell read my explanation and nodded.

“…Big Goose meat, huh.”
“Ah, ah, a bed?”
“I thought it’s time to graduate from straw.”
“I see. A feather futon, then.”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. We were about to head to the wind dungeon anyway.”
“Ah, ah, if you don’t mind, Wof-sama, would you like to come along? Right, big brother?”
“Ah, of course.”
“Really?”

If it’s together, I’m more than happy.
I don’t know anything about the wind dungeon.

“No problem.”
“Then, thank you very much.”
“Likewise.”
“Ah, ah, woof! I’m so happy. Thank you!”

Juicy smiled joyfully.
Once Rell got the quest, we headed to the counter and then sat on a nearby bench.

Juicy wagged her tail wildly, looking only at me with a gleeful expression.
Her legs swung back and forth, her bright eyes fixed on me. Perfect timing.

“Why does Juicy seem to like me so much, or at least pay me so much attention?”

It’s been like that since we met.
It’s always puzzled me, and I wanted to ask about it for a while.

Juicy thought for a moment before answering.

“Ah, ah, Wof-sama, you like buttered rice, don’t you?”
“Yes… I do.”
“Ah, why do you like it?”
“Why…? I like the taste, I guess.”

It also feels nostalgic.
Deep in my past life’s memory… I feel like I used to eat buttered rice like that.

“Ah, ah, the taste, huh?”
“The taste, yes, but also various other reasons… that’s why I like it.”
“Ah, I feel the same way.”
“Eh…?”
“Ah, ah, woof. For the same reasons.”

Juicy smiled brightly.

“I… I think I kind of understand now.”

I smiled too. Somehow, I get what she means.
Being liked by such a beautiful girl is embarrassing, but not unpleasant.
Still, her intense gaze makes me nervous.

“By the way, Juicy, you’re not becoming an adventurer early as an exception, right?”
“Ah, woof. Yes. My birthday is coming up.”
“Oh, really?”
“Ah, ah, next month.”
“Close… so… you’ll turn 14?”

Juicy smiled. Once she turns 14, she can officially become an adventurer.
Wait… so she’ll be older than me.

It’s a complicated feeling.
Among the girls around me, except for Mineha-san, they’re all older.
And even Mineha-san looks older anyway.

What a situation…
For now, I should prepare a present.

“Ah, ah, by the way, Wof-sama, do you have a ranged weapon?”
“Huh, ranged?”
“Ah, woof, monsters in the wind dungeon are always flying. You can’t defeat them without shooting them down.”
“What…?”

And for the first time, I realize:
I don’t have a single ranged weapon.

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