5-06 計画と準備 (1)
殿下の見送りを終えた私は、お店の看板を閉店へと変え、しっかりと鍵をかけると、応接室のソファーにぐったりと身体を預けた。
「うー、あー、たー」
精神的疲労から、私が意味もない呻き声を漏らしていると、申し訳なさそうな顔をしたアイリスさんたちが、応接室に戻ってきた。
「お疲れ様、店長さん」
「本当にお疲れですよー、みんな逃げるしぃ~?」
姿勢を崩し、脱力したまま非難がましい視線を向けた私に、アイリスさんとケイトさんは困ったように苦笑する。
「すまない。だが、万が一粗相をしたら、と思うと......」
「えぇ、私も殿下の相手なんて......むしろ店長さんは、よく普通に応対できたわよね」
「まぁ、師匠のお店にも貴族は来てましたから」
それに加え、学校でもそのへんのマナーは多少習ったし、親しい先輩が貴族だったから、侯爵家の当主なんて高位貴族とも会ったことはある。
だから一般人よりは少しはマシだろうけど――。
「でも、王族と関わるようになるとは予想外だったよ~。ノルドさん、厚意なのかもしれないけど、正直、ありがた迷惑!」
「確かにな。断ることもできないだろうし」
「もちろんですよ! こんな所まで来た殿下に、『王族相手のお仕事はちょっと......』とか言えるわけがないです!!」
報酬は良いけど、それが心労に見合うかどうかは微妙だよね。
失敗したら、命が危ないし?
「サラサさん、温かいお茶を淹れましたが、飲みますか?」
「もらう~」
ロレアちゃんの心遣いを飲んで、一息。
一緒に差し出してくれたクッキーもパクリ。
優しい甘さが心を癒やしてくれる。
「ふぅ~。ありがと」
「いえいえ、私は何もできませんし......でもあの人、王子様だったんですね。格好いい人だとは思いましたけど」
「そうなんだよ。......ロレアちゃんはああいう人がタイプ? 結婚したい?」
なんだか『ほえ~』と目線を上に向けているロレアちゃんに尋ねてみれば、彼女は慌てたように両手を振った。
「い、いえ、全然! 住む世界が違うので、全然! 美形だな、とは思いますけど、まったく実感が湧かないというか......想像も付かないというか......」
「そっか。ロレアちゃんだとそうなるか。アイリスさんとケイトさんは? アイリスさんは一応、貴族の令嬢ですけど」
「私も同じだな。店長殿が言う通り、本当に
「考えられないわ。相手が王子だと、私とロレアちゃんの差なんて、あってないようなものだもの」
学校だと王子様に憧れて、『きゃー、きゃー』言っているお嬢様方もいたけど、まぁ、あそこは高位貴族の人も多かったからかな?
私の親しかったプリシア先輩とか侯爵家令嬢だし、王子様のお相手としてもあり得なくもない。――本人にそんな気は、全然なさそうだったけどね。
「店長さんはどうなの?」
「私もまったく。あんまり関わりたくないですよね、あのへんの人たちって。良い人もいるんですけど、大抵の人は付き合うと、精神的に疲れるんですよ......」
そんなのが一生続くとか、ちょっと勘弁願いたい。
生まれついての王子ですら、ストレスで髪が抜けちゃうんだから。
......いや、人付き合いが原因とは言ってなかったけど。
一見良い人に見えた殿下自身も、笑顔の下に何か隠していそうで......そんな人との結婚生活なんて、お金を貰ってでもやりたくない。
「ふむ、店長殿でもそうか。――しかしまさか、フェリク殿下が護衛も連れずにこのような場所に来るとはな。実は、かなりの実力者なのか?」
「殿下自身も腕が立つとは思いますが、護衛はいたと思いますよ? おそらくは、ですけど」
さすがにウチの中には入ってきていないとは思うけど、家の周囲には何か違和感があったから、たぶんあれが護衛の気配だと思う。
でも、さすがは王子に付くような護衛。
私程度だと『なんか普段と違うかも?』程度にしか判らなかった。
だから、ただの勘違いという可能性もあるけど、殿下の身分を考えればいると考えるのが自然だよね。
「それに加え、身を守るための
あれなら、ちょっとやそっとじゃ怪我もしないだろうし、護衛が多少離れた位置にいたとしても、なんの問題もない。
「そういえばお茶もお出ししませんでしたけど、大丈夫でしたか?」
「あぁ、それは問題ないよ。貴族相手だと、お茶会や食事に誘ったのでもない限り、出さないのが普通だから。特に親しい相手を除いてね」
貴族ともなれば、何が入っているかも判らない物を口にできるわけがなく、必要であれば自ら連れてきた従者が用意する。
なので飲食物は出さないのが普通だし、出された場合に手を付けなかったとしても、マナー違反にはならない。
手を付けないのが判っていても、一応はお出しして歓迎の意を示す方法もあるけれど――。
「万が一、何かあった場合――それが食中毒だったとしても、疑われたりしたら致命的だからね。文字通りの意味で」
それが平民だったら、あっさりと首が飛ぶ。物理的に。
「はぁ......面倒なんですね、貴族って」
チラリとロレアちゃんから視線を向けられ、アイリスさんはパチパチと瞬きをして、プルプルと首を振る。
「ん? ウチは全然違うからな? 自慢じゃないが、貴族を招くことも、招かれることもない。そもそもそんなマナー、初めて聞いたからな!」
「アイリス......それ、本当に自慢にならないから。学ぶ機会もないから、仕方ないとはいえ、ね。その点、店長さんがロッツェ家に入ってくれたら、凄く助かるんだけど――」
「その予定はありません」
流し目を送ってきたケイトさんに、私はきっぱりと首を振る。
――あ、でも、貴族の地位が手に入れば、プリシア先輩たちとも少し付き合いやすくなるかな?
先輩たち本人は気にせず可愛がってくれてるけど、錬金術師になったとはいえ、私は所詮平民で孤児院出身。偏見の目で見られることは避けられない。
名目上でも貴族になれば......いやいや、ダメダメ。
さすがにそれは、アイリスさんにも失礼だよね。
「......それはともかく。お仕事を引き受けちゃったからには、頑張らないといけません」
「そうよね。失敗も遅延も許されないし。店長さん、大丈夫? プレッシャーとか」
「そこはいつも通り、真面目にやるだけなので。ただ、ミサノンの根を採りに行かないといけないのが難点ですね」
「それは予定通りではないのか? 殿下が来る前も、そのことを相談していたし、その素材も候補に挙がっていただろう?」
天候を見計らい、『見つかったら良いな?』ぐらいの軽い気持ちで採取に行くのと、期限が区切られ、『是が非でも見つけねば!』と採取に行くのでは、全然違う。
「採取できることは間違いないので、一応候補には挙げましたが、比較的採取難易度が高い素材なんですよ、これ」
実のところ、発毛剤と育毛剤はほぼ同じ物で、真冬に採取したミサノンの根を使うと発毛剤に、それ以外の時季に採取した物を使うと育毛剤ができる。
錬金術大全を熟すことだけを考えるなら、最も簡単な育毛剤も、汎用的な発毛剤も、最も面倒な個人専用発毛剤にも違いはなく、作るのはそのいずれでも構わない。
私も冬山での採集経験は乏しいため、今冬は採取の難しいミサノンの根をスルー。
比較的容易な採集物で冬山の経験を積むことを目的とし、春以降、育毛剤でも作ってお茶を濁すつもりでいた。
「実習で入った経験はありますが、冬山って、決して侮ってはいけない場所ですからね。アイリスさんたちは......」
一応とばかりに尋ねてみれば、案の定アイリスさんは胸を張って断言した。
「うむ、一度も入ったことはないぞ! 再び、自慢じゃないがな!」
「私たちの領地には、雪が積もるような山はなかったから。もちろん、採集者として冬山に入るような技術も持ってなかったし。装備にもお金が掛かるでしょ?」
「はい。装備の性能が生存率に直接影響しますからね。もし真冬にミサノンの根を採りに行くにしても、この地で何年か冬山の経験を積み、それからと思っていたんですが......。事前準備をしっかりと行ってやるしかないでしょうね」
問題は、その事前準備にもお金が掛かること。
殿下が置いていってくれた前金、金貨二〇〇枚はあるけれど、これだけだとちょっと心許ない。
さて、どうしようかなぁ?
132 5-06 Planning And Preparation (1)
When I finished dropping off His Highness, I turned the shop sign into a closed shop, and when I locked it tightly, I kept my body securely on the couch in the reception room.
"Uh, uh, tah."
Out of mental fatigue, Iris, who looked sorry when I was leaking a meaningless groan, returned to the reception room.
"Good day, Mr. Store Manager"
"I'm really tired. - Okay, guys, let's get out of here. No?"
I broke my posture, and there was blame as I weakened. Mr. Iris and Mr. Kate grin as troubled as I turned my gaze.
"I'm sorry. But in the unlikely event of a coarse phase..."
"Yes, I can't believe I'm dealing with His Highness either... Instead, the manager was able to respond normally."
"Well, the noblemen came to the master's shop, too."
Besides, I learned some of the manners around it at school, and since my close predecessor was a nobleman, I have met with noble nobles such as the head of the Marquis family.
So it would be a little better than the average person...
"But I wasn't expecting to get involved with the royalty ~. Maybe it's generous, Mr. Nord, but honestly, thanks for the annoyance!
"Sure. You won't even be able to say no."
"Of course you are! There's no way I can say to His Highness that I've come to this place, 'Your royal opponent's job is a little...' or anything!!"
The reward is good, but it's subtle to see if that suits your hard work.
If you fail, your life is in danger?
"Mr. Sarasa, I made you a warm cup of tea, would you like one?
"I'll have it."
Drink Lorea's care and take a breath.
The cookies you offered me together are also pachry.
The gentle sweetness soothes my heart.
"Phew. Thanks."
"No, I can't do anything... but that guy, he was a prince, wasn't he? I thought you were a nice guy."
"That's right.... Is Lorea the type of person you are? You want to get married?
I kind of asked Lorea, who was looking upwards at 'yeah' and she waved her hands like she was in a panic.
"Yes, no, not at all! The world you live in is different, so at all! Beautiful shape, I think, but I don't feel it at all... I can't even imagine it..."
"Oh well. Will that happen if it's Lorea? What about Mr. Iris and Mr. Kate? Mr. Iris is an aristocratic maid for once."
"Same goes for me. As the manager said, it's really one thing to respond."
"I can't think about it. When they're princes, there's no difference between me and Lorea."
Some ladies longed for the prince to say it was school, and they were saying 'hey, hey, hey,' but, well, was it because there were a lot of high-ranking nobles over there?
He's my closest senior Priscia or Marquis housekeeper, and he can't possibly be the prince's counterpart. - I didn't seem to feel that way about him at all.
"What about the manager?
"Not at all, either. You don't really want to get involved, do you, those people around here? Some people are good, but most people are mentally tired when they hang out..."
I'd like to give you a break if that lasts a lifetime.
Even a born prince loses her hair because of stress.
... No, I didn't say dating was the cause.
His Highness himself, who seemed like a good man at first sight, seems to be hiding something under his smile... I don't want to get paid to do a marriage with someone like that.
"Hmm, even the manager? - But I didn't expect His Highness Felik to come to a place like this without escorts. Actually, are you quite powerful?
"I know His Highness will be able to arm himself, but I think there was an escort, right? Probably."
I don't know you're just in our midst, but there was something uncomfortable around the house, so I think that's probably the sign of an escort.
But that's the kind of escort that goes with a prince.
About me, I said, 'Something out of the ordinary maybe?' I could only tell to the extent.
So, there's the possibility that it's just a mistake, but it's natural to assume that if you consider your Highness's identity.
"Plus, you wore quite a few smelters (artifacts) to protect yourself. Probably something the master made."
That wouldn't hurt you a bit or softly, and even if your escort was somewhat away, there's nothing wrong with that.
"Speaking of which, I didn't even serve you tea, were you okay?
"Oh, that's not a problem. Because if you're a noble opponent, unless you invited them to a tea party or a meal, it's normal not to serve them. Except for the one you're particularly close to."
If you are also a nobleman, there is no way that you can speak of objects that you do not know what is in them, and if necessary, prepared by a squire who brought them himself.
So it's normal not to serve food and drink, and even if you don't get your hands on it if it does, it won't be a violation of manners.
Even though I know I won't get my hands on it, there are ways to serve it and show my welcome for once -.
"In case anything happens - even if it was food poisoning, it would be fatal if they suspected it. in a literal sense."
If that were a civilian, my neck would fly light. Physically.
"Ha... you're troublesome, nobleman"
Chilari and Lorea turned her gaze, and Mr. Iris blinked with a pussy, shaking her head with a pull.
"Hmm? Because we're completely different, aren't we? I'm not proud, but I don't invite nobles, I don't get invited. I've never heard of such manners in the first place!
"Iris...... because I'm not really proud of that. I don't have a chance to learn, though, do I? In that regard, it would be very helpful if the manager walked into the Rotze house."
"I don't plan on doing that"
I shake my head clearly to Kate, who sent me a run-in.
- Oh, but if you get aristocratic status, will it make it a little easier for you to hang out with your senior Priscia?
The seniors themselves don't care. They adore me, but even though I became an alchemist, I'm an alleged civilian and from an orphanage. It is inevitable to be seen in the eyes of prejudice.
If you become aristocratic even in nominal terms...... no, no, no.
Exactly, that would be rude to Mr. Iris, wouldn't it?
"... whatever that is. You've taken the job, but you have to work hard."
"Right. Neither failures nor delays will be tolerated. Mr. Store Manager, are you okay? You know, pressure."
"As always there, because I just take it seriously. It's just that I have to go pick up some Missanon roots."
"Isn't that on schedule? Even before His Royal Highness came, he would have consulted about it, and the material would have been listed as a candidate, wouldn't it?
Forecasting the weather, he said, 'I hope they find me, okay?' I'm going to pick it up lightly enough, and the deadline is separated, 'but I have to find it!' and go pick it up, not at all.
"There is no doubt that it can be collected, so I mentioned it as a candidate, but it is a relatively difficult material to collect, this"
As a matter of fact, the hair growth agent and hair conditioning agent are about the same thing. When using the root of the misanone collected in the middle of winter, the hair conditioning agent can be used when using the hair conditioning agent and the other products collected in other seasons.
If you only think about ripening the alchemy daiichi, there is no difference between the easiest hair conditioner, generic hair conditioner, or the most cumbersome personal hair conditioner, and you can make any of them.
I also have little experience collecting in winter mountains, so this winter I pass through the difficult Missanon roots to collect.
The aim was to gain winter mountain experience with a relatively easy collection, and after spring, it was also intended to make it with hair conditioners to cloud the tea.
"I've been in internships, but Winter Mountain is a place you should never insult. Iris and the others..."
Asked once and for all, Mr. Guido Iris assured him with his chest stretched.
"Um, I've never been in there before! Again, I'm not proud of you!
"Because there were no mountains in our territory like snow. Of course, I didn't have the technology to go into Winter Mountain as a gatherer. Gear costs money, doesn't it?
"Yes, because the performance of the equipment directly affects survival. If I were to go pick up Missanon roots in the middle of winter, I would have gained some winter mountain experience in the land and then I thought... We'll have to prep him."
The problem is that its advance preparation also costs money.
I have an advance, 200 gold coins, but I'm a little reluctant that this is all I have.
Well, what am I going to do?
The Novice Alchemist’s Store
[Web版] 新米錬金術師の店舗経営
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-novice-alchemists-store/
Adventure Comedy Fantasy Shoujo Ai Slice of Life Supernatural
Adapted to Anime Adapted to Manga Alchemy Artifact Crafting Artifacts Business Management Carefree Protagonist Crafting Cute Story Fantasy World Heartwarming Herbalist Jack of All Trades Marriage of Convenience Orphans Protagonist Strong from the Start R-15 Store Owner Sword And Magic
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3174fc/
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