Today, Haruka and her friends went to Aella's to make pastries.

　The other day, we were having a cooking discussion at Aella's store. As a result, instead of having Aella-san teach them how to cook, Haruka and her friends also decided to teach them how to make pastries using fresh cream.

　I hadn't really heard about it, so I didn't really understand how it happened.
　And of course, Nao and I had to stay at home.
　I can't cook, and it's hard to get into that chattering vortex.

　In the beginning, Mary and Mitya were also going to stay at home, and Yuki said to me, "Why don't you go on a date with Mary and the others? However, they were clearly focused on making sweets.

　So I somewhat forcefully sent them off with a group of women.
　They could eat a lot of sweets if they followed me.

　They (and to a lesser extent Nao? I'm sure you're not the only one who's trying to get me and Mary together. ......

　I'm not sure what to do.

　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that. She's in the lower to middle grades of elementary school.

　She's old enough to be carrying a school bag.
　You can't see her as such an object.
　If a high school student has romantic feelings for an elementary school student, he is branded as a pedophile.
　For me, it's "No, Lolita, No, Touch".
　Mitya is a kindergartener. That's a little girl.
　That's a serious matter.
　Liking or disliking a girl at this age is a problem before romantic feelings.

　I mean, I do feel slightly guilty about letting a child of that age fight, but that's because she wants to, you know.

　To be honest, I think the reason they want to hook you up is because they feel they can't touch you. ...... You don't have to worry about it, though.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you. .......
　I'm not sure if there's any such thing as wind magic or soundproofing magic.
　I'm not in a hurry to get married, and I'm hoping to get married by the time I'm 30.
　--I'm in no hurry to get married.
　If that's the case, well, ......?
　I don't know, I'm not sure.
　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea.
　Well, if you think about it, Nao and Haruka were like that too.
　They live next door to each other.
　In their case, there's no age difference, but they're very devoted to each other.

　　　　"Nao, do you want to go out somewhere?

Nao, let's go out somewhere.
What do you mean "somewhere"?

　After the women had left, I asked Nao to go out with me since I was on vacation, and she replied in a natural way.

　There's no place to play, you know.
　I'm not in the mood for fishing right now. To be honest, it's just work.
　For other things, see .......

"Oh, you mean like s*x?

　Nao's eyes widened when I said that.

"Wait, wait, wait!　Did you go?

"Well, I mean, yeah.

I was told not to go. I don't know, man.　If you get sick... If you get sick... if you end up crying to Haruka, I won't follow you, okay?

I'm sure it'll be fine. It was expensive.

　I'm sure you'll be fine, but I'd expect you to follow up in case something goes wrong.
　If Nao's there, Haruka won't lose her temper.
　On the other hand, if I take Nao with me, my life might be in danger.

"How much did you spend?
"Uh, ......, that's all.

　I say, and hold up three fingers.

"Three gold coins?

　I shake my head at Nao's words.
　Then Nao made an indescribable expression and wiggled her eyebrows.

"You're not going to give me three ...... large silver coins, are you?
"No.

　When I nodded my head, Nao's jaw dropped and he slammed the table.

"Toya, seriously?　Thirty gold coins?　How much did you spend?
"Hmm. I thought I'd spent a little too much.

　But it can't be helped.
　When you're in a mood like that, you can't control yourself, that's what men do!

It's not "a little"!　I'm talking about what kind of high class entertainment!

No, but I heard that in the old days, a prostitute could spend over a million dollars and not get laid.

What's the comparison?　--No, no, no, is that a comparison?　I'm not sure what the standard is for .......

　I'm not sure what to make of that.

I don't know what the standard is. At least, not in theory.



　I don't really know what it is.
　I've never been there, so I don't know much about it.

　But I'm guessing that there is no s*x industry that offers 300,000 yen for a few hours - or more, considering the difference in labor costs. --I don't think there are any.

...... Well, good. It's your money. If this was before we split the purse, I would have killed you half to death along with Haruka and the others.

No, I'm not going to let that happen, am I?

　I'm not the kind of person who would touch the common expenses when everyone else is saving.

I'm not going to tell Haruka and the others, but I'm not going to go broke. At least don't let the money make you misjudge the situation when adventuring, okay?

Don't worry, you won't be in trouble.

　I'm not going to take a high-risk job because I want to go to a brothel, and I'm not going to go out and earn money by myself.

　I know that I am the best in direct combat, but I know that I can only do that with the support of my party members.

　It's too stupid to die of ego.

But Nao, you're not going?　I'll keep my mouth shut.

To be honest, I'm not really interested.

You're not?　Nao used to read pornographic books and manga.　You've seen pornographic videos, right?

Those are just fiction. It's not the same as actually doing it, right?

Well, it's ......, isn't it?

I don't want to do it with someone I don't like, to be frank.

You're dead, man. Are you really a high school boy?

It's not that I don't want to do it. It's not that I don't want to do it.

Are you saying you want to f*ck Haruka?

"Yeah, no comment.

　I almost nodded, no, almost completely affirmed, but then said no comment.
　I'm not sure if this is another one of those chastity things?

...... I have no intention of going. Of course, I'm not going to go, but I'm interested in ....... How did it go?

"You're not interested, are you?

"I'm not interested in going. I'm not interested in it in the sense of wanting to go there, but I am interested in the situation of brothels in this world. Academically.

Academically, huh? --Well, okay.

　Same guy. Let's not get into that.

　I'll tell you the difference between a "rice shop", a "brothel", and a "blue house", and the price range, including my experience (although I've only been to the blue house).

　Since it was a good opportunity, I tried to tell the joke I heard at that time, but they looked at me like "wow ......".

　No, well, it was vulgar, but please don't look at me like that. It hurts my heart.

What do you think?　Are you interested?　It's pretty ...... good, huh?
"No, I'm not going.

　I thought for a moment that I could make him an accomplice, but he was so determined.

　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it.

It's a good thing I'm not. I'm afraid of what will happen if I force myself on her.

　I don't know.

Tommy's a ...... dwarf. Is that too much to ask?

No, don't do it!　Even if you can't, you shouldn't!　He's got a steady job and makes less than us!　Are you trying to bankrupt us?

"Right. You don't have thirty gold pieces.

　It's a lot of money that the average person can't make in a month, and it's going to melt in a few hours.

　I don't know what Tommy earns, but I don't think he earns more than we do.

Okay, well, let's stop talking about it and go ask Tommy out.

No, I mean...

Oh, not for s*x, just for fun. Tommy told me the other day about a place that serves great stewed pork chops.

"Lunch?　That's fine, but where's the ...... talk about going out for fun?

That's the thing. ...... There's no place to hang out.

There are not many people who can afford it. We don't have anything to do either. ...... Let's make some analog games.

Analog games, like chess, chess, Reversi, cards?

Or do you want to go one step further, like Catan or Dipmacy?

No, not Catan, but what about Dipmacy?

　If I were to explain Dipmasy in simple terms, it would be the European strategy game.

　The rules are simple in a sense, and the game is easy to make as it requires few tools, but it is a game that chooses its players.

　There is no randomness in the game, and players negotiate with each other to make alliances and sometimes betray each other to increase their territory.

　If you don't cooperate, you can't win, but if you don't betray at some point, you still can't win.


　It's a game of attrition, depending on how you look at it.

You can't do that with just us and Tommy, can you?　It's not like the people in these towns have any idea of diplomacy or anything.

They don't even recognize the name of the ...... town deputy.

If it becomes popular, it's going to be scary.　Friendship destruction game. If adventurers played it together, it could lead to bloodshed.

　In a way, it's a game that's all about how to betray your friends.
　If you're going to make a game, I think it would be better to make it more casual.

Would you make it popular with the nobility?
That's more scary!　"That's scarier! It might lead to a serious use of force!

　In a sense, it could be used as a teaching material for diplomacy, but since it's a game based on betrayal, I'm afraid that if more and more nobles learn from it, the country will become more and more desolate.

It's better to play something simpler. For example, ...... darts or billiards.

"Billiards!　I like that!　I've always wanted to play billiards. I've always wanted a billiard table, but I couldn't justify putting one in my house.

I know what you mean.　Billiards is something I admire, isn't it?

　Of course it's cool, but it's also fun, billiards.
　But it's not easy to play on a high school student's allowance.

But Nao, you don't have darts, do you?
Well, yeah. Darts are pretty expensive too. And .......
And?
My parents are gonna be pissed when they see all the holes in the wall.
Yeah. I get it.

　You can't fight your parents.
　It's better if you don't take it off, but you can't do it right the first time.

I don't think the plastic ones are any good.
"Oh, ...... looks like a toy. It has no austerity.

　I like the way it sticks out.
　It's not the same when it clicks and the score is calculated.

First of all, my room is not that big.
"I'm pretty sure it's about two meters away, right?　You can't really keep that distance, can you?

　It would be difficult to secure a space to play darts in a room with a bed, a desk, and a bookshelf, let alone an empty room.

　At least, most high school students in Japan do not.

"Then why don't you make darts?

"Oh, we'll just play billiards for now. I feel like playing darts is like training for combat in this situation.

"Ah~......

　I can't help but nod in agreement with Nao's indescribable expression.
　In fact, I'm practicing shuriken as well.
　I'm still practicing.

I'm still practicing, but... "Besides, at a distance of about two meters, you're almost certain to hit the target, now. And I have the throwing skill.

As a game, it's a little delicate.

　I'm sure there are ways to get more distance, or use shurikens that are a little harder to throw, but then, as Nao says, it becomes a true combat exercise.

I'm not sure if you'll be able to find a way to do this, but I'm sure you can.

I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure you can do it.　I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how to use it.

"Oh, a backpack. It seems to be a modest seller.

　Here in Raffan, we are seeing more and more adventurers with backpacks on their backs.

　According to Diora, the products that are sold in the neighborhood are made here, but if they are sold far away, they are made in the local area.

　Diora was happy that she was able to "sell my debt to the guilds of other towns," as she was able to provide work for retired adventurers.

　It seems that there is a lot of conflict, if not feud, between the guilds in the town.

I think it's about 22 gold coins?　Selling price.
That's about it. I don't know how much of that is Haruka's share.

　I don't know how much of that is Haruka's share, but considering what I've heard before, I'd say about 10%.

　...... No, it seems like it wasn't selling as well as it is now back then, so it might be a bit more.

But you're paying for our food, aren't you?
Yeah. That's fine.
It's fine.

　We're not so shameless as to demand our share just because we've expressed our opinions.

　But apart from that, the sound of unearned income is appealing.

But can we afford to have it made?　Didn't you say that all the workshops are busy because we supplied the wood?

They're busy, but they don't seem to have any spare time.

Is that so?

Yeah. You know, furniture made of fine wood is made to order, right?　--Not in the sense of made-to-order, but in the sense of being an exceptional product.



I understand. Yes, I do.

　In terms of made-to-order, even the cheap furniture that people buy is usually custom-made.

　Sometimes they have parts that have been made to a certain degree in stock, but they don't have a large selection of finished beds and chests of drawers to choose from.

The buyers are also aristocrats and rich people. The buyer is also an aristocrat or a rich man, so they are very particular about the details, but they can't just make a phone call to check.　It can take a few days to get a response from the next town over, or months if you're a little further away.

So you're saying that you have a lot of work to do, but you still have free time?

　If you have multiple jobs going on at the same time, you'll have less waste, but if you're dealing with aristocrats, that might be difficult.

　Even if I'm late because of my own selfishness, they might say, "If you have time to do other work, do this! If you're late because of your own selfishness, they might say, "If you have time to do other work, do this! It's just my own image.

"Don't you think it's a good idea to work in your spare time?　Original products?

Well, I've heard that when they interview factories on TV, they talk about their own products.

Right?

But even if it works... The people who buy billiards are rich and aristocratic, right?　Won't they end up ordering all kinds of custom-made products?

　They'll definitely say, "I don't want it to be the same as the others. I don't want it to be the same as others. I want it to be more luxurious. This is just my own image.

　However, Nao seemed to agree with this, and was silent for a moment.

"...... No, what about a pool bar?

"Is such a fancy bar acceptable in this town?　I'm not sure what to make of it.

Maybe that's because we're going to a bar in the middle of nowhere?　I don't know, but... I don't know, but I'm sure Simon will tell us if he can't.

It's free to bring it up. We're just amateurs.

　If it's impossible, he'll say it's impossible.
　You can consult Diora, who can help you in such cases.

Well, for now.
Okay.
Shall we go out to eat?
Sure.