Chapter 92

"There's no more rice!"

I collapsed on the table at my home, groaning as if I were spitting out blood.

There's no more rice. It's gone.

It had been about a year since we received the rice that Teree had bought from somewhere. It was supposed to last a year if I were eating alone, but it disappeared shockingly fast due to the big eaters.

"Fuuu, what a big eater!"

"Swallow it! Swallow it before you speak!"

Lumba, one of the big eaters, spoke with a mouthful of egg and rice.

Because of that, rice grains were scattered all over the table, making it dirty.

After chewing and swallowing, Lumba opened his mouth again.

"There's no more rice!?"

"That's right. It's almost gone."

"That's a problem! Especially since I love donburi! ...Mom, give me a second helping of rice and some raw eggs."

"Sure. Eat up... Why am I being used like this!?"

I ended up serving him because he handed me the bowl so confidently.

Am I his mom or something!

"In the mansion, it's always like this. Even though we have maids, I get used by Elinora. Yesterday, why was Al preparing Elinora's towel?"

"Well, she said a towel cooled by ice magic feels good after exercise..."

I placed a large serving of rice and raw eggs on the table with a somewhat bitter expression.

Noticing that Lumba's glass was empty, I used water magic to fill it and added ice to cool it down.

"......Al is so convenient. I want one in every household."

"I don't want to be treated like a tool."

I feel like I naturally learned these small attentions from dealing with Elinora.

How to keep the other person in a good mood and avoid the worst-case scenario.

Understand what the other person needs and always serve them.

If I do that, Elinora will be comfortable and might even forget about practice sometimes.

With my current skills, I feel like I could be a butler even if I don't have a job in the future.

I even learned how to make a good cup of tea. The only thing left is etiquette.

My etiquette is passable, but Elna mom says I need to stand up straighter...

Well, that doesn't matter. What matters now is the rice.

"At this rate, it will be gone within a month."

I have a few kilograms stored by spatial magic as an emergency supply, but that doesn't count. It's for emergencies.

"Didn't you say there's no rice in this village?"

Lumba asked while mixing the rich eggs from Koriatt with a spoon.

"That's right. Teree bought it from somewhere."

"Then, why don't we ask Teree to buy more? He seems to be doing well lately, so it should be easy, right?"

Indeed, Teree's guild has grown rapidly over the past year.

He has gained many noble and royal customers, so he should be able to buy more rice than before.

However, if I go to where the rice is, I can use spatial magic to teleport there directly after going once.

So, I want to go this time.

"I sent a letter, but will he come himself?"

I wrote in the letter that if he doesn't come soon, I'll sell the chess set to the Lazarus guild... Will he come?

My heart is racing because of the dwindling rice. I've never been this anxious for someone's reply.

"Huh? I saw a guild carriage before I came here, so maybe Teree is at the mansion?"

"Say that sooner, you idiot!"

Ignoring Lumba, who casually mentioned something important, I ran from my home to the mansion.

◆

As soon as I entered the mansion, Teree greeted me at the entrance.

"Master Alphried, I've been waiting for you! Oh? Lady Elinora went to your home just now. Did you miss each other?"

He was looking around, searching for Elinora.

I used spatial magic to teleport from my home because I was in a hurry.

So, it's not my fault if we missed each other.

"By the way, I didn't tell anyone I was going to my home today?"

I went to my home to manage the ingredients stored by spatial magic, so I didn't tell anyone where I was going.

Lumba just happened to come back at noon.

"Well, I was confused, but Lady Elinora said, 'I feel like I'm going to be at my home today, so I'll bring him.'"

Teree answered with a wry smile.

As usual, Elinora's intuition is off.

There are many places she could be: playing with Thor and Asmo, napping on the plain, at the Seria restaurant, Logan's house, by the river, in the forest, and so on.

How did she know I was at my home right away?

Well, that doesn't matter. Let's talk about the rice and ignore Elinora.

"Anyway, Elinora will come back eventually. Let's talk in the usual guest room."

Saying that, I led Teree to the guest room.

"Right, Teree. Did you read the letter?"

After sipping the tea and eating the snacks served by Sara, I asked when I was calm enough.

"Wow, I was surprised, Master Alphried. I thought the rice would last another year."

...What is this roundabout way of speaking? It's like he's probing me.

It reminds me of the nobles I met at the capital's parties.

"Our family ate more rice than expected. We're out of it."

"Did you try some strange new dish like spaghetti again?"

As he said this, Teree's eyes narrowed.

"......Hey, this conversation feels like I'm dealing with a noble. It's so troublesome."

"Hehe, you're still you, Master Alphried! You haven't changed even after going to the capital."

When I said it was troublesome, Teree relaxed and laughed.

Ah, it's the usual clumsy Teree.

"Recently, I've been dealing with a lot of nobles. Sorry about that."

Well, I didn't expect a thick-skinned guy like Teree to use such polite language with nobles.

I doubt he uses it with the royal family, right?

"By the way, Master Alphried, I heard something."

"What did you hear?"

Teree leaned forward with a sly smile.

I have a bad feeling. It's a bit like Thor's lecherous smile.

"I heard that you did a sword dance with a spoon with the second son of the Silford family and that you got engaged to the second daughter of the Misfield family... Lady Lanna is only four, right? You're quick, Master Alphried!"

"That's not true! Neither of them is true! It was just a cute fight over some meat. And the misunderstanding about Lanna."

This is clearly a rumor to tarnish my reputation. I need to firmly deny it.

"From what I heard, it was a serious fight for a child. But you haven't changed even after going to the capital, Master Alphried."

If you want to call me impolite, just say it clearly.

"What about the engagement?"

"Of course, it's a misunderstanding. All the nobles present should know that."

"Right? There's no way Master Alphried would get engaged. I was worried when I first heard the rumor."

...What is this reaction? It's making me angry.

I feel like his words imply that it's fine for Lord Silvio or Lady Elinora, but not for me. Is this just my paranoia?

"Anyway, let's talk about the rice! The rice!"

Ignoring Teree's cheerful laugh, I slammed my hand on the table.

I need to cut this off before the conversation about the capital puts me at a disadvantage.

"Oh, right. Master Alphried's stories are so interesting, I got carried away."

"As I wrote in the letter, I want to go and buy rice because we're out of it."

"You want to go and buy it, not just buy it, right?"

Teree cleverly picked up on my words.

Yes, I want to go to where the rice is, not just buy it from the Teree guild.

If possible, I'd like you to come with me.

"That's right. I want to go where the rice is."

"Will Lord Nord and Lady Elna allow it?"

Hearing my clear answer, Teree made a subtle expression.

Huh? I thought it was nearby, but is it that far? So far that even Lord Nord might not allow it?

"Is it that far? By the way, where is the place with rice?"

How far is it? Could it be as far as the capital?

Feeling a bit uneasy, I asked, and Teree slowly opened his mouth.

"...The place with rice is in a country called Kagura, on the eastern continent across the sea."

My work "I Can Talk to Animals and Monsters" is being published as a book. For more details, check the activity report.

If you're interested, please read "I Am a Dullahan, Looking for My Head"!

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