Chapter 26

"It's done."

I sat down next to the warehouse and took out a cigarette.

As I inhaled the nicotine deeply, the irritable fatigue was expelled with the smoke, and I finally managed to take a breather.

"Thank you very much."

On the other hand, Cherina was sitting on the spot, exhausted.

It was only natural. She had been helping to move 10 kg bags non-stop.

The trick was simple. I just bought potatoes at the SHOP. During the first conversation with the Pig King, I secretly added potatoes to the list.

[1 kg of Potatoes = 300 yen]

[10 kg Bag of Potatoes = 3000 yen]

When 1 kg of potatoes came out, I tried ordering a 10 kg bag, and it was easily approved and added to the list.

It was fortunate that the bag cost wasn't added. Maybe the discount for bulk purchase covered the bag cost.

It was also helpful that rough burlap bags were commonly used in this world.

After explaining the situation in the warehouse, I had Cherina bring the money, and we kept buying and arranging the potatoes.

Incidentally, while Cherina was fetching the money, I had been buying as much as I could with the money I had, and her expression when she returned was quite amusing.

18 tons for 5.4 million yen.

1800 bags was an unbelievable amount.

At first, Cherina tried to get the store clerk to help, but I vetoed it.

My ability would be exposed, and who knew if the king's agents were mixed in.

Sweating profusely, Cherina and I kept taking out and stacking the potato bags. We had no time to waste and worked at full capacity.

Incidentally, Cherina was amazing.

She placed the chains and stacked the bags faster than I did. I could focus on buying.

If I couldn't directly produce the items from my hands, it would have been impossible to stack 1800 bags of potatoes.

The method was simple: produce a bag of potatoes, Cherina adjusts the alignment, then produce another. If we had to carry the bags to the pile, we wouldn't have made it in time.

Cherina worked hard. She worked incredibly hard.

Her aura told a story of not bowing to the Pig King.

Before appearing before the Pig King, I cleaned my clothes with a cleaning tool.

Incidentally, by clearly imagining it, I could clean my clothes while wearing them.

When Cherina saw the quality of the potatoes, she said she had never seen such high-quality potatoes, so I decided to take preventive measures.

Looking at the Pig King's physique, it was clear he was a glutton, so I decided to use the ultimate delicious food strategy.

Since I couldn't spend too much time, I chose something easy to make.

I asked if there was any buttered potatoes, and since there wasn't, I decided to make that. Fortunately, a steamer was also approved.

[Stainless Steel 2-tier Steamer with Glass Lid = 5600 yen]

I immediately bought water and the steamer.

Remaining balance: 1,369,280 yen.

I had Cherina pay for the potatoes, so the net cost was zero. For some reason, my divinity didn't increase.

I had Cherina pay for the potatoes to be offered to the Pig King, and I stored the rest in my container.

Next time, I'll make meat buns.

I explained the recipe to the guild members and instructed them to serve it to the soldiers. I told them it was fine to teach the recipe but to be vague about the steamer.

I thought it might be overthinking, but this precaution turned out to be effective.

When I guided the Pig King to eat the buttered potatoes after showing him the 18 tons of potatoes, he easily fell for it and retreated with the potatoes.

That's how we finally got a breather.

"Well, I'll consider this a favor."

I exhaled the purple smoke.

"Yes, I will definitely return it."

"Still, I'm exhausted."

"Me too."

Of course, you would be.

"Take a good rest. I'm going home."

"See you tomorrow."

"...What?"

As I slowly turned around, she replied with a full smile.

"Oh, didn't you just become a consultant today? We have a lot to do from tomorrow."

This woman...

"Hey, back then..."

"His Majesty won't give up. He might even resort to any means. Only someone like you, who can think on your feet and isn't afraid of the king, can be relied upon. Please, I beg of you."

She bowed deeply.

I understood her point, but why me? There are plenty of capable people.

"Akira-sama's ability is unique, and only I and the Shadow know about it. I believe I am the only one who can fully and secretly utilize it. I think it's a win-win situation."

It's hard to say that Hagg knows too. Is this a kind of threat?

"Well, it would be easier to do business through you."

"Yes. Please use me to your heart's content."

So, we both have our uses. As a consultant, we can be together without arousing suspicion.

I see, this woman is really cautious.

"I'll consider this a favor."

"You can't leave until both favors are returned."

Women are devils!

This woman is scary!

Damn!

My life is too much of a mess!

I lit my second cigarette.

---

The front of the Whale Inn was noisy.

I couldn't tell what was happening due to the crowd, but as I got closer, a familiar voice shouted in anger.

"Damn it! Why are we staying at the same inn as those damn elves again!"

"That's my line. Why are you always where I am?"

The slightly broken voice was a baritone but had a strangely refreshing tone.

"I was here first! You came later! Get out and find another place!"

"No! I won't listen to a smelly dwarf! I've already paid for a month. If you pay for it, I'll go somewhere else."

"Why should I pay!"

"I won't stay in an elf-smelling inn!"

"Then you leave!"

"Why should I listen to a bug-smelling elf!"

"You're the unreasonable one. You need to realize that."

"What did you say! I'll crush you with my hammer!"

"...You want to be skewered by my black needles. I'll grant it."

As I pushed through the crowd, I saw two people facing each other with a tense atmosphere.

One was the familiar dwarf, a good-natured man who saved my life. His name is Hagg.

The other was unfamiliar.

Hagg called him an elf.

Is this the famous fairy?

However, he looked completely like a Native American.

He wore a thin leather jacket with bird feathers and animal teeth or claws as necklaces. His beautiful blonde hair was tied into fine dreadlocks.

I'm not criticizing dreadlocks, but it seems a bit wasteful.

His eyes were long and large, and he was a strikingly handsome man, as in many stories. He had no beard.

But the most distinctive feature was...

"Why is an elf a lean, muscular dreadlocked guy!"

I couldn't help but comment.

This was my first meeting with <Black Needle> Yararai. But that's not important!

Anyone would comment.

His body, taller than mine, was muscular. It was hard to tell if his slightly brown skin was natural or from the sun, as he was only wearing a jacket over his bare body.

He had a six-pack and was well-built, but not overly bulky like a bodybuilder. He was more like a boxer than a wrestler. His long limbs made him look lean despite his muscles.

"...Who are you?"

"It's Akira."

Both of them looked at me, taken aback.

"Is being muscular bad?"

"Aye, elves are annoying, but I can admit this one's muscles are not bad."

Hey, Hagg...

"Weren't you fighting just now..."

I suddenly felt drained.

"N-no, I was about to crack his head open. Akira, you should watch."

"No way! I was in a peaceful country! I don't want to see a dead body!"

"Be a man, the one who falls is the dwarf. Relax."

"No way! You're full of killing intent!"

The crowd murmured, "What a great comment" and "Is this a skit?" making me almost collapse.

"So, why were you fighting? What's the reason?"

"Aye, this tree-sap-smelling elf was staying at the same inn as us."

"The smelly dwarf told me to leave, which is unreasonable."

"Wait, that's it?"

"Aye! That's enough reason to crack his head open!"

Hagg's smug face.

I shuddered and took a deep breath.

"It's all your fault, you idiot!"

I slapped Hagg's head hard.