Chapter 44

Let's make breakfast once in a while.

Since I could only drink water last night, I wanted to have a proper breakfast.

When we arrived at the usual hilltop overlooking the port with Yararai, I started preparing. I ignored Yararai, who was looking curiously at the gas stove and gas canister, and continued with my preparations.

There were about four eggs left from the day before yesterday.

Then I should make that, right.

I got the kettle, which had only been approved for purchase, for 2,800 yen, and a new approval for it.

【Bacon = 376 yen】

【Soy Sauce = 265 yen】

【Bread = 135 yen】

I bought these.

Remaining balance: 9,271,160 yen.

I placed the bacon in the heated frying pan. As the delicious fat started to sizzle, I cracked two eggs into it and turned down the heat.

I carefully cooked them to a half-done state, placed them on the bread, and handed them to Yararai. I would have preferred to toast the bread, but there was no toaster. I didn't even plan to try getting one approved since there was no electricity.

Yararai accepted it silently.

"You can add salt and pepper, but a little soy sauce is also good."

"Is that so?"

He chose the soy sauce without hesitation and drizzled it over the sunny-side up eggs. I was worried he might pour too much, but he seemed to have applied just the right amount.

"…It's delicious."

That's good. I cooked my share as well.

"Hey, Yararai, which do you prefer, sandwiches or this?"

"…It's hard to choose, but… warm food is comforting."

Indeed, the mornings in this wilderness country are still chilly. The temperature is so low that it's hard to believe it will soon rise to the point where just standing still will make you feel dizzy from the heat.

"Then let's do this from tomorrow."

We finished our breakfast and decided to have a coffee break. This time, I boiled water in the kettle to make coffee, so Yararai probably wouldn't be too suspicious.

Yararai sipped the instant coffee from his personal cup, which he took out of his item bag.

"It's bitter… like medicine?"

"I heard it was used as a restorative in the past… but it's more of a wake-up call, it clears your head. Do you want to sweeten it?"

"Can you do that?"

"Just a moment."

I realized I hadn't checked for sugar. …Yeah, no problem, it was approved.

【Sugar (1 kg) = 603 yen】

…No, wait, that's not suitable for coffee.

【Sugar Sticks (3g × 100) = 208 yen】

Yeah, this is better.

While I was at it, I bought about 20 liters of water, 10 liters in a bucket, and the rest in plastic bottles.

Remaining balance: 9,271,060 yen.

I put one sugar stick in Yararai's cup and stirred it with a spoon.

"Let me know if you need more."

"…Is this sugar?"

"Yeah, I have plenty, so don't hesitate."

"…I see, um. …One more, please."

"Sure thing."

I added another one for him.

"…It's delicious."

"That's good. Oh, right, I need to give you today's share."

I handed Yararai one gold coin, worth 10,000 yen.

"Understood."

Remaining balance: 9,171,060 yen.

Just as Yararai was putting the gold coin into his bag, the usual red-haired, red-clothed, tomboyish girl, Chelina, arrived.

"Good morning."

"Hey."

"…"

Yararai's reaction was as thin as ever.

Chelina, who usually left when Yararai arrived, stayed this time, and with a slightly puzzled expression, greeted me.

"Good morning, Akira-sama."

"Hey, good morning. So, there's a bit of a situation. From today, I'm asking Yararai to be my bodyguard. Please take care of him."

"Bodyguard…?"

She clearly frowned.

"I was attacked on my way back from the guild yesterday, so it's for safety."

It was likely not just a thief, but there was no need to tell Chelina that.

"You were attacked?!"

Was she that surprised? We had just been attacked together a few hours earlier.

"By who? What did they look like?"

"Well… I couldn't really tell. They didn't seem very wealthy from their clothes."

I don't really understand the norms of this world, so it's hard to explain.

"They were thugs, but they knew martial arts. A repelling barrier was set up. They were not ordinary."

As I hesitated, Yararai gave an accurate description.

"That doesn't sound like just thugs…"

"That's why I'm having Yararai as my bodyguard."

"I see…"

"Well, you're also in a position where you might be targeted, so it's good that you're getting a bodyguard in the city, right? You usually don't like having a bodyguard in the city, right?"

"…From today, I will have a bodyguard in the city."

She glanced at the two bodyguards who had protected us yesterday, who were watching us from a distance.

"If you're going to have a bodyguard, keep them close."

"…"

I was glared at for some reason.

"Hey… want some?"

I offered my empty insulated steel cup.

"Huh?"

I quickly added two sugar sticks and instant coffee, and stirred it with hot water.

"Be careful, it's hot."

"…Okay."

She took the cup with a sigh and sipped it.

"It's bitter and sweet."

"The sweetness is from the sugar. I like black coffee… coffee without sugar."

"The taste plays with my mouth… the unique aroma that tickles my nose is stronger and more interesting than tea."

"Thanks for the detailed food review."

"This is…"

"Ah, I don't have enough to sell."

"I understand."

The implicit message that I wouldn't sell it seemed to get through to Chelina. It's nice to have a smart woman around in situations like this.

"Still, sugar…?"

Is it a valuable item?

"In my hometown, it was a surplus product."

"Really?!"

"Yeah, we had a lot of sugarcane, and we could import cheap sugar, so both salt and sugar were cheap."

Butter, on the other hand, had become more expensive.

"I'd love to trade."

"I don't know where it is… but if I could go back, I would."

I'm not that attached, but I would like to go back if I could.

"Anyway, let's clean up."

I took out the bucket filled with water and threw in the dirty cups. I rinsed off the oil lightly, then used the cleaning air tool to quickly remove the remaining dirt and water. I stored everything in the container via a hemp bag.

"Let's go."

Let's start work today!

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