Chapter 58

Today is packed with plans.

First, I need to go to the fish shop to buy some fish that can be filleted. Once I get home, I'll clean and fillet the fish, then lay it out and soak it in salt water. I also bought some shellfish for dinner, so I need to let them purge the sand. After about an hour, I’ll wash them, drain the water, and dry them in the shade.

I’ll leave the monitoring to Rada, who’s staying behind, and head to the hardware store with Koshin. I already received two of the rewards from Gabal yesterday.

The owner of the hardware store was a bearded man. Maybe a dwarf, but he’s not that short.

I told him that Gabal had introduced me and showed him the drawing of the whisk I had sketched yesterday. When I explained that the lines should be made of wire, he looked doubtful.

"…Is it impossible to make it this thin?"

When I asked, he seemed to take offense, raising an eyebrow and saying, "I didn’t say that."

"Just, making something this troublesome as a cooking tool… What does 'mixing' mean?"

Well, what does it mean, really? Mixing… hmm, just stirring the contents of a pot, right? There’s no such thing as stirring, you mean? Well, there’s butter, right. How do they make butter? Anyway, it seems to be uncommon.

"Let me show you."

When I suggested being shown the kitchen, he said there wasn’t one. He apparently eats outside. So, I had to do everything myself. I took a bowl and two eggs, and stirred them with five chopsticks.

"What are those sticks?"

"These are called chopsticks, and I use them like this."

I stopped and picked up two chopsticks, using them to deftly pick up the eggshell. In my previous life, I used to hold chopsticks in a very strange way. Thanks to my grandmother’s strict correction, I can hold them properly in this life too.

"Like a substitute for hands?"

"Hands…?"

I mixed the eggs thoroughly with air, and then mixed them again with a spoon, adding a bit of salt for flavor. Then, using the magic stove and a frying pan, I cooked them as similarly as possible. Essentially, scrambled eggs.

"Here you go."

The appearance was already different. The eggs mixed with a spoon still had some white parts. The important part is whether the taste is different, right?

The hardware store owner tilted his head and alternately put both in his mouth.

"Hmm. Indeed, the texture is different. The taste feels different too. Interesting."

He seemed a bit intrigued.

"Using a whisk, you can mix things more quickly and cleanly. Of course, if the wire placement is uneven or too soft, it won’t work. Since it’s for cooking, I’d like it to be rust-resistant and easy to clean. The handle should be about this long…"

"You have a lot of requests."

"Well, well, just try making it. If it doesn’t work, I’ll ask someone else."

"You brat."

He glared at me, but I can’t compromise. After provoking him, I managed to get him to agree to try making it.

Next, the woodworking shop. It’s for entertainment, so it’s not urgent.

"Hello!"

"Hey there! Welcome!"

When we saw the person who came out from the back of the shop, we both stopped and said, "Huh?"

"Is this Nina’s…"

Koshin was the first to remember.

"Oh, the one who was saying 'nya-nya'?"

"Ah! That time. My foolish son caused a lot of trouble. I’m sorry!"

"No, we’re fine…"

"What happened to your son?"

Oh, Koshin is asking?

"Ah, I threw him back to the family home. He’s probably being taught farming from scratch by my old man right now. He was always a bit soft, but I didn’t think he’d be this bad. Thanks to him, I had to bow to a lot of people."

It seems he avoided being sold into slavery. The old man looked a bit tired.

"The owner is out looking at some wood. He should be back soon. Is it urgent? If it’s something we have, I can help you."

"It’s not urgent. I want to have something made, so can I wait?"

"Sure. How about some tea?"

The old man started preparing tea. There was a small negotiation area, so I sat down there.

While chatting, the topic turned to his foolish son.

Originally, the old man’s family had been farmers for generations. But his son didn’t like farming. He didn’t have any other interests either. He received the woodworking skill, but found it boring and stayed at home. When his older brother got married and had a child, he felt uncomfortable and the old man introduced him to this shop. But he quickly gave up and started drinking… so they say.

"He says he doesn’t like making things. He doesn’t want to feel pain or learn anything."

The old man sighed and shook his head.

The skills you get when you become an adult are probably random. Some say they are inherited, but it seems to be by chance. A desert dweller might get the steering skill, or a prince living by the sea might get the woodcutter skill. You don’t always get what you want. But skills can be learned, and most things can be done without them. It’s not right to blame it on skills, I think.

"I hope he gets motivated, my son."

"I’ll be in trouble if he doesn’t. My old man is scary. He’ll hit me too."

The old man shuddered. How scary is his father? He said he came here to avoid getting scolded by association, calling it a "penitent visit."

"Ah, he’s back."

Voices started coming from the yard. The old man left his seat.

"By the way, Koshin."

"Hmm?"

"Did something happen yesterday?"

I said I wouldn’t ask, but I’m curious.

Koshin’s expression stiffened, and he looked distant.

"Maybe I should just become a monk…"

He muttered.

"No, no, no, what really happened!? Is the prince becoming a monk!?"

"…I’m not a prince."

"Ah, right."

Oh, this is serious. Koshin’s dark eyes made it hard to joke. He sighed softly as I looked at him.

"Dealing with criminals is better than this…"

According to what he told me, on his way back from disposing of garbage, a woman invited him to dinner. When he said no because his companion was waiting, more people joined. Then they started insulting each other, and Koshin was surrounded by three of them. Gabal happened to pass by, figured out the situation, and rescued him.

"…Not all girls are like that, though."

It seems the girls who approach Koshin are all aggressive. Even his natural aloofness doesn’t work on them.

"When you go out alone, you should wear a hood."

"I will. I’ll buy a hooded cloak later. When I’m with Leit, I don’t get those offers."

That’s because you’re seen as a parent with a child…

"Ah, sorry for the wait. You want something made?"

A muscular man came in, followed by the old man.