Chapter 24: Door of the Miniature Garden part 4

“I’m really sorry!”

“You don’t have to worry about it.”

Thia is apologizing to me with great vigor. It was apparently because she couldn’t keep me company while I was in the city…But I had returned on my own volition, and since Thia-chan is so young, she shouldn’t have to worry about it.

When I remember that she is only 10 years old, I shudder because she has very good etiquette. Only 10 years old…The nobility of this world is abnormal.

“Hinami’s house is as amazing as always.”

“Is that so? I think I’m more amazed by Alfred-san’s dragon though.”

“Well, I guess not many people have dragons.”

Alfred-san slowly drinks the mana potion that tastes like black tea while playing with his red hair with his finger.

Kiruto seems to be fidgeting while nodding next to him.

“But I did not expect for you guys to come again…I’m really happy.”

“We are friends after all!”

Thia-chan answered me with a smile, which made me extremely happy. Friends are really nice.

Oh, that’s right…!

I hurried down the corridor into the bathroom, opened the dresser, and removed the robe.

It was Thia’s robe that I couldn’t return when I wore it on the last day I was in the city. Of course, it has been washed.

“Ah! My robe…I’m sorry, I completely forgot about it.”

“I am sorry too. We both forgot about it though.”

“Thank you very much!”

“You are very welcome.”

Because I gave the robe back to Thia-chan, it should be okay now. No, when I returned home I had gone straight to the roof. I was impatient, but it was because Thia-chan’s robe was left out to dry.

“By the way, what will Hinami be doing after this? I was thinking that we could go into the city.”

“Did you buy a house in the city?”

“Are you going to be selling potions?”

“Surely, anything that Hinami makes is amazing.”

Alfred and Thia asked me questions about my future quite rapidly.

“I’m planning to open up a shop in town.”

“A shop! That’s wonderful!”

“Certainly, there are plenty of people who would love to buy Hinami’s potions.”

“Is that so?”

Both of them seemed to agree with it, and I felt a little relieved. It seems like Kiruto approves as well because he is nodding his head.

I wonder if he’s not talking much because his contractor is here.

“I’m preparing for the store right now.”

“I’ll go buy some!”

“Thank you!”

Oh, I see.

Thia-chan is an adventurer, isn’t she? She was hunting when I first saw her. Even though she’s so small, she’s really amazing.

Kiruto and Thia almost seem like a knight and a princess. Although, doesn’t she have a fiancé?

“If Hinami is going to open a store, I’ll introduce you to the Merchant’s Guild. Or did you already register?”

“Oh, I haven’t done that yet. Do I need to register with the guild in order to open a store?”

“You don’t need to have one for stalls, but if you were to open a store, you’d need to register with the merchant guild.”

“Oh…I did not know that, then can you please help me?”

“Of course. I’ll introduce you to a property as well.”

“Thank you very much!”

It seems like with this I would be introduced to the guild without a hitch!

With this, I am one step towards my dream of opening a shop.

If Alfred-san had not told me about the merchant’s guild, it would’ve been dangerous.

Is that the merchant version of the adventurer’s guild? I’ll ask Ikuru later.

“Because the preparations aren’t done yet, can I visit the next time I go to the city?”

“Yeah! I’m usually not home in the daytime, but I’ll tell Sebas so you can come anytime.”

“Oh! I’m usually home so please come at any time.” (Thia)

“Thank you.”

As we were talking, a nice atmosphere had formed. All of a sudden the front door opened. The small bell on the door rang as if it was saying that someone was there. It seems that Ikuru is back.

“Welcome back, Ikuru.”

“I’m home. Is that…a customer?”

“Yes, this is my friend Thia-chan, her older brother Alfred-san, and their escort, Kiruto.”

Ikuru made a brief bow and lowered the backpack he was carrying to the floor. He then bowed again while looking at Thia.

“I am Hinami-sama’s curse slave, Ikuru.”

“I am Alfred Melditi”

“I am the younger sister, Cynthia Melditi, Hinami-san’s friend!”

“I am Cynthia’s curse slave, Kiruto.”

Ikuru greeted them politely, and they also introduced themselves.

I tell Ikuru that we were just talking about the store and that they are going to be able to introduce us to the merchant’s guild.

“If that’s the case then I’m relieved” Ikuru said. It seems that he was also very happy.

“It looks Hinami-san also made a contract with a curse-slave.”

“Yes, because being by myself is lonely, and because I’m weak.”

“Being by yourself in the forest would certainly be lonely. I’m relieved to hear that you have a guard now. Since Hinami-san was all alone in the forest I was a little worried.”

Thia-chan said “Thank goodness” with a smile, and it made me feel guilty. I didn’t think that she would be that worried about me.

Although, I am worried about Thia-chan. She seems like the type to be reckless. But maybe that’s just because I met her while she was in a pinch…

“So your name is Ikuru. You are a curse-slave that specializes in weapons, not magic? However you are supposed to be a guard…a special escort?”

“Yes. I use a staff.”

“A staff! What an unusual weapon.”

Is using a staff really that unusual? But Alfred-san’s words makes it seem like swords are more appealing to use as a weapon. Certainly, when we went to a weapons shop there were very few staffs that were shown.

“Since Hinami-san is a friend, I will ask you too.”

“Yes, of course.”

For some odd reason, Alfred-san feels like my guardian…?

Alfred-san is only one year older than me, but he seems much more mature than me. Is it a social difference between commoners and nobles? Or is because he has acknowledged that I am a hopeless person? Or is it just all in my mind?

“Hinami-san. If you have any recovery potions that you’re selling, I would like to buy some before we leave.”

“Oh, sure. Right now I have marine potions, and princess potions too.”

“Really!? You saved me because I am a magician. Mana potions are essential for me.”

Oh, I see. Both Alfred-san and Thia-chan are magicians

Upon hearing that, Thia-chan laughed and said “It’s because brother is rough with potions, unlike most people.”

I guess if you’re rich, you can use potions like drinking water. As I was tilting my head, Alfred-san explained the reason.

“It’s because I’m the only one on duty in a dangerous place, unlike other adventurers who pick locations that are less dangerous. So if I’m careless, I can get a serious wound or worst…I can even lose my life.”

“Eh! Why are you going to such a dangerous place?”

“Oh, well, because my party is full of strong people, there is no problem.”

Alfred-san answered full of confidence. He really trusts his party members a lot. Thia-chan had indeed said something about someone being in a hero’s party…so it was Alfred-san!

The fact that he was so willing to go to a dangerous place, makes me convinced of his confidence.

“So the potions that I want to buy today are for me and my party members.”

“I understand.”

“Well, if you’re going to open a shop, have you decided on the prices yet? I’ll buy it for that amount.”

“Oh, I haven’t decided on the price yet.”

Hmm. The price?

I thought about just going into town and looking at the prices there to decide on mine, so I had not thought about it at all. This is a problem.

“For now…Oh, that’s right…Alfred can introduce me to the merchant’s guild, so should it be lower than market price?”

“Does Hinami-san not know the actual value of your potions?”

“Huh?”

“Well, try to think about the price before I leave.”

“Oh, okay…”

Alfred’s words have some weight to it. Thia-chan’s older brother came here to tell me the harsh truth, but it was comforting to hear it.

“Fufu, Hinami-san should have more confidence. Ah, but not too much confidence like my brother.”

“……Thia, I can hear you.”

“Oh…”

While laughing, Thia-chan tells Alfred “I’m sorry.” I think that Alfred-san has a sister-complex even though he’s glaring at her. I’m certain that Alfred-san will always listen to Thia’s requests.

“Oh yeah! Hinami-san, I brought you gifts.”

“Huh?”

As she said that, she opened her bag, grabbed the gift, and handed it over to me. I automatically receive it, but the weight…it feels light yet heavy at the same time.

“May I open it?”

“Yes!”

I undid the ribbon on the bag, and as I open it, something like hand mirror comes out. When I opened the item that was folded in half, I was right in the fact that it was a hand mirror.

The design was very cute with a ribbon motif, and it fits in my hand perfectly.

“Look Hinami-san.”

“Oh! Now we’re matching!”

Thia-chan took out the same hand mirror from the bag and showed it to me. It looks like she got us matching mirrors.

“Here, look. You should push here.”

She pointed to the ribbon part of the hand mirror, and I push the button wondering what it does. 

Suddenly, I hear ringing from Thia’s hand mirror!

“Yes, this is Thia.”

“Eh!? Thia-chan is in my mirror!”

“This is a magic tool, although it’s not that strong so the distance that we can communicate is small.”

“But it’s still amazing! Are you sure I can have this?”

“Yes, this is also a repayment for the potions I received here last time…But the distance of communication…well, it’s enough to connect us when we are both in the city.”

“I understand, thank you very much.”

This mirror is like a smartphone in my world, I am super happy. As Thia says close friends should stick together, especially if they are aristocrats. But because the communication range is small, this gift is perfect in terms of price.

As expected though, it can’t be used from the forest to the city because of the distance. However, when I go into the city, I’ll try using it.

This is indeed a fantasy world. There are things that I cannot even imagine from back when I was in Japan.

“Please contact me at any time!”

“Yes! Thia-chan can contact me at any time as well! The next time I go into town, I’ll contact you immediately.”

“Yes! I am looking forward to it!”

The two of us are laughing and we are excited about the future. I hope I can have a good time the next time I’m in the city.

Ikuru, Thia, Alfred, Kiruto and I spent the rest of the time talking with each other. By the way, it seems that Alfred-san will come and buy my potions on a regular basis. Thank you!

Indeed, the talks go on longer if there is another girl! We can get excited over cute miscellaneous goods and clothes in town that are popular.

Well, the men might have just listened…

“Well, it looks like it’s already evening, so should we start getting reading to go home?”

“Oh, it’s already this late.”

Alfred-san looks out the window and says that they should be returning soon. Time passes by quickly when you’re having fun.

“Oh, I’ll need the potions.”

“Oh, of course, what do you need?”

“If you have 80 health potions, 60 mana potions, and 50 princess potions, I’ll take them.”

“Okay, I’ll grab them for you right now.”

Ikuru goes into the basement and brings the potions that Alfred needed immediately. Oh, that was quick? Why does it feel like Ikuru knows the basement better than me now?

“Thank you. I can’t hold them all as it is, so just put them into this bag.”

“Okay. Put them in there?”

Alfred’s bag was smaller than the bag that we have to contain the potions.

“Oh, this is because the bag has space magic applied to it so it can store more than it looks.”

“Wow! That’s amazing!”

Alfred-san keeps on steadily putting the potions into his small bag. I did not know that such a convenient bag existed…I should buy one the next time I go into town.

When Alfred-san finished putting all of the potions into his bag, he gave me a super heavy bag. I opened the bag and all I could see were shining gold coins…how much was actually in here?

“I can’t accept all of this.”

“It’s okay. You should take all of the gold and use it to open up your store in town.”

“No, no, you should take some back.”

“Thia, Kiruto, it’s going to get dangerous outside since it’s getting dark, so we should go home!”

““Yes”” (Thia and Kiruto)

Alfred-san ignored my plea and goes out the front door into the garden. As expected though, I can’t accept all of this gold, so I chase after him, but he is too quick and is already riding on his dragon…it seems like he didn’t want to listen.

Hmm, what should I do?

“Hinami, that amount of money is a reasonable amount for your potions, so just take it!”

“That’s right Hinami-san!”

“Eh…”

“Since Hinami already knows the value of your potions, I’ll order some from you next time as well.”

“Alright, I understand. Thank you, Alfred-san, and please come back all three of you!”

The dragon starts to flap its wings and floats a little from the ground.

“Hinami-san, don’t forget to keep in touch!”

“Yeah! Thia-chan, stay healthy okay?”

After those words, the dragons flies away, and in the blink of an eye it goes super high and becomes small.

The way it looks flying towards the orange sunset looks magical.

“It seems that Hinami-sama made a wonderful friend.”

“Yeah…maybe so.”

When I hear Ikuru’s words, I felt happy again.

By the way, when Ikuru returned, was he not surprised at all by the dragon in the garden?

No…if it’s Ikuru he would probably say something like “it was nothing” if I were to ask him.