Chapter 53.1 – The Fall Festival’s Closing Speech, Go to Bed

Too much.

Those are frightening words.

If you’re a man who’s very particular about things, you’ve probably been told these words at least once or twice.

『Do you even need to go this far…..(stunned)』

『You did too much (stick)』

『Do you know what this means (anger)』

These words, in addition to being uttered with cold gazes from the opposite sex, are deeply terrifying to men.

You know they’re not expecting you to do that much but you still ended up doing too much.

This is the sad nature of men.

「Do you even need to go this far….」

「No, haha….」

We are currently in a shiitake mushroom field. It is on the place where the theater was to be built and was separated by a rope. Here, logs were lined up in a narrow space….

There were so many shiitake mushrooms growing from them that they covered the entire logs.

It’s a fortune enough for one to build his own house but if this is put into circulation, the effect will be worse compared to what I did with the fish.

Shiitake mushrooms are a very valuable commodity.

The market price would collapse and it would surely draw resentment from local nobles.

In any case, we can’t sell a lot.

I picked one from a log nearby.

It was thick and the shape was good. This would surely be delicious.

The next sprout was already emerging from the place where I had plucked.

I’m not sure what to think but the buff I put on the fungus should have worked too good since it became like this in no time.

I’m sure it will settle down in time…..

In the meantime, we can open what we have now to the slaves for leisure shiitake mushroom consumption.

I was thinking about this while chomping down the shiitake mushroom that Laura-san and I grilled together after sprinkling salt on them.

-0-

The day of Thanksgiving, which we had been preparing for some time, turned out to be a sunny day.

The Schenker Street was crowded with spectators and slaves since morning and I heard that it was very busy.

Laura-san and I spent the morning at the school and came to see the Bon Odori dance, which was organized by the Schenker family, late afternoon.

The Bon Odori dance, which is held in the morning and in the evening, had already finished so the number of people had somewhat decreased. Thus, the street was easy to walk to.

Gorgeous women in their finest clothes go back and forth while chilling at the food stalls. Men are chatting happily in the somewhat cheerful atmosphere.

Since today was the Bon Odori, we made the people who are working for the Schenker event wear happi coat* that we had prepared. That made the atmosphere better.

TN: a workman’s lively/happy coat. It is usually a hanten or traditional Japanese coat

It is easy to recognize who the officials were and seeing something Japanese like this makes me feel a little more cheerful.

I don’t think it’s quite right to have “Schenker” written in red letters over a blue coat but….

I guess it won’t be strange if you think of it as a trade name.

It was surprisingly popular with the family and people in the city have complimented us for how gorgeous it is.

There was even a report where my second brother had swindled one but I’ll tolerate it if it’s just that much.

It’s a festival after all.

-0-

Boom boom boom!

Kakakakaka!

Don don don!

The drums are beating at the top of the central tower.

Around it, several people in happi coats are gathered, playing instruments like banjos, drums, and two-stringed wood bass that looks like a drum with a stick attached.

I’m not familiar with all of them.

I am just the sponsor.

「You like music as much as play, don’t you?」

「I like fun things.」

The people around us are noisy so we naturally talk face-to-face while looking into each other’s eyes.

Laura-san, who is wearing a Schenker family happi coat with me, is in a good mood with a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

She doesn’t mind the noise.

「Those who go to the front line like music.」

「Really?」

「Yeah, and even I looked forward to it back then. From officers to recruits, we all gather and listen.」

「Hehh, there will be greater music later today so please enjoy it.」

She replies with a smile and nods.

Laura-san had yet to see a Bon Odori dance so I’m sure she would be surprised when the music and dancing started.

Tooooottttt!

A whistle sounded nearby.

「Pickpocket!」

「Wait! This bastard!」

Beyond the crowd, I caught a glimpse of a small bearded man sprinting away.

A group of adventurers with sasumata* tried to chase him but the man was too quick for them.

TN: It’s a kind of fork that is used to catch men.

As the pickpocket tries to run away from the crowd, a shadow casts over him from above.

Looking up, I saw Vongo, one of my original adventurers, flying by.

In a flash, Vongo uses a rope with stones on both ends at the pickpocket. Thud! The pickpocket fell to the ground.

The adventurers rushed in and the man was beaten to a pulp and captured.

Good job.

I waved to Vongo. She noticed me, landed nearby, and approach me.

「…….pra…ise?」

I couldn’t hear what Vongo was murmuring given how noisy this place is but I could guess what she wants.

I patted her head, which had already passed my height before I knew it, and handed her a reward money.

Vongo puffs her chest put with satisfaction. She took off through the gap in the crowd and fly into the sky again.

Security is a difficult job on days like this.

I’ll give the adventurers some goodies later.