I don’t know how much time passed, but I woke up and joined the rest in sharing barbecue again, chatted with the others, and before I knew it, the time had passed in a flash.
I thought about helping with the cleanup, but there wasn’t a single speck of dust left in the area by Ein’s hands. With a wry smile that spontaneously appeared on my face, I heard Neun-san call out to me.
[Miyama-san. If you want, I have some souvenirs you can take home with you…… First, here.]
[What’s this?]
Ein-san handed me a… black, square block-shaped jewel? There doesn’t seem to be anything special about it other than its shape.
[This is, well…… To put it simply, it’s like a storehouse that you can carry around. It has Spatial Magic and State Preservation Magic on it, making it able to store all sorts of things in it.]
[……Doesn’t it make this jewel something really amazing……]
That is to say, isn’t this that thing!? That an Item Box that’s a must for any Isekai stuff! I see, Ein-san was using a magic tool like this to prepare various things in an instant…… However, wouldn’t this thing be quite expensive?
[No no, it’s not that big of a deal. I made it out of the leftovers this morning, so don’t be shy and just accept it.]
[Sechs-sama is a master in making magic tools after all.]
[T- Thank you very much.]
Probably sensing my anxiety, Sechs-san calmly laughed and told me not to worry about it. Thanks to the fact that I’ve gotten to know him to a certain extent, I’ve noticed that even though Sechs-san looks like a skeleton, his expression changes properly. It might be strange, but I heard that there even are demons in the Demon Realm that have bodies made of ore, so if I just think about small details, it would be my loss.
[Muuu~ Even though I thought I would make Kaito-kun’s “Magic Box” myself~]
[Please give him a break. If Kuromu-sama were to use your magic power just to make it, it would become a national treasure just by itself……]
In response to Kuro who muttered out her complaints while puffing out her cheeks, Acht muttered something that sounds disturbing for some reason.
Apparently, this thing is called a Magic Box. Probably sensing my lack of understanding, Raz-san added some additional explanation.
[The amount of stuff that can be put into the Magic Box depends on the magic power of the creator~]
[Is that so?]
[Yeah, someone with an average magic power could make a Magic Box about the size of a closet to as large as a room…… But with Kuromu-sama’s magic power, it would probably have a ridiculous amount of space that I think you could fit an entire metropolis in it.]
I don’t know if I should say that it’s to be expected from Kuro or something like that, but I certainly couldn’t see any future where I would want an outrageous item like that. This made me doubly grateful for Sechs-san.
[Well, I think the space in Lord Sechs’s Magic Box would be bigger than a house though.]
[…………….]
……Even the substitute was already ridiculous enough huh.
While I’m surprised by the words Acht told me, Neun-san made some kind of magic circle-like object appear in the box and as she pointed at the center of the magic circle, she spoke.
[Touch the center of the magic circle. Then, the ownership will be registered to Miyama-san. Ah, you don’t have to be clad in magic power in particular.]
[Ah, yes.]
Touching the magic box as I was told, the magic box glowed for a moment, but there’s no particular change in its appearance. Did I do it right?
[Yes, the ownership has been successfully registered to Miyama-san. Next, well… The way to use it easily. Holding the magic box, think of the thing you want to take out and you would be able to, and if you think of storing an item while touching the item you want to store, you would be to store it. Ah, you can’t store living beings, so just keep that in mind…… After that, you could also check the contents, and you could also make the magic box itself recall and reappear.]
Receiving Neun-san’s explanation, I tried recalling the magic box in my hand, and in an instant, the black jewel disappeared. When I thought of making the magic box appear again, it appeared in my hand. What the heck, this is very convenient! As one would expect from magic!
Seeing me being impressed by the magic box, Neun-san smiled and then made a magic box appear on her hand as well.
[Well then, once again, I’ll be giving you some souvenirs.]
[Eh? Isn’t the souvenir this magic box……?]
[Ah, no, it’s just because having that would be convenient to carry and store stuff…… That aside, these are actually the main stuff!]
[T- These are…… Could these be……]
What Neun-san took out was a white wondrous stuff compressed into a triangular shape and it looks like it’s shining to me right now. The yellow color of the garnish makes a wonderful contrast and even feels divine to me now.
[Yes, the heart of the Japanese…… Onigiri and Takuan! I thought you might be missing them by now.]
[Gulp.]
(T/N: Riceballs and Pickled Daikon Radish)
I couldn’t help but gulp down looking at it. Neun-san…… So you’re actually a goddess……
It’s the fifth day since I came to a different world…… The food we have at Lilia-san’s mansion is extremely delicious. However, I guess it may just be a Japanese thing, but as expected, when I’m being served bread every single day, I tend to miss the white rice.
But unfortunately, there is no white rice in Lilia-san’s house. I’ve heard that white rice exists, but in spite of that, eating bread is the norm in this world, and rice is rarely distributed. I was even prepared to eat bread for the whole year.
[W- Would it be alright? I heard that rice isn’t widely distributed in this world, so it should be valuable……]
[You don’t have to worry about it. These are rice I grew personally. I assure you that it tastes great. I’m also a former Japanese, so as expected, I wouldn’t like to eat bread all the time. I have prepared lots of them, so please enjoy it with the others.]
[Thank you very much! I’m really happy about this!]
What a surprise, Neun-san says she personally makes her own white rice. I’m aware that they would earn her some money, but I’m seriously happy about this. I could even see a halo shining behind Neun-san’s back.
Moreover, the color and shape of these onigiris are wonderful. I can tell that it’s delicious for sure just by looking at it. Not only in her appearance, but her actions are also like a mirror of a Japanese.
[……Even though she said that, it was Sister Raz who made the rice and she was also the who cooked it though.]
[Uggh…]
[By the way, we don’t eat a lot of rice, so it’s almost only Neun-san asking for it, or rather, I felt like she just made it because she’s throwing a tantrum about wanting to eat it.]
[……She was very enthusiastic, saying “If it’s breakfast, it’s no good if it isn’t white rice, takuan, and miso soup!”.]
[Uuuhhhhh……]
Ah, it’s not Neun-san who made it huh……
With Acht and Ein-san’s tsukkomi, Neun-san’s shoulders slumped as if to say that she had been hit in a sore spot.
[……Even I tried to do it myself in the beginning. However, compared to Raz-sama who grows the highest quality produce regardless of the weather or topography, or Ein-sama who could bring out the flavor more skillfully than a skilled cook, how am I supposed to win over them……?]
[Ahaha, well, Raz also had fun raising all the rice-san~ You don’t need to worry about it.]
[I’m a maid, so please don’t compare me to a mere cook. Being able to cook all kinds of food is the least I can do as a maid.]
Apparently, Raz-san is an expert in farming. Also, I don’t know how many times I’ve had to go through this…… but what exactly is a maid? Is it actually the title of a superhuman?
[Well, whoever is making it, it’s thanks to Neun-san that I got the white rice. Thank you very much.]
I gave comforting words to the slumping Neun-san, and after a little while, I received the souvenir from Neun-san who finally revived.
The magic box has a magic that preserves the state of the rice in the box, and it has a wonderful function that keeps it in the same condition it was when you put it in, so I can eat freshly made rice whenever I put some in it.
Moreover, as Neun-san said, she had prepared large quantities of rice, so I don’t have to worry about white rice or takuan for the time being.
And what’s more, I’m also given soy sauce, miso and other seasonings, as well as some Japanese sweets such as youkan. Apparently, Neun-san also requested Ein-san to make this…… This person seriously can do anything.
[I’m really grateful for everything…… Thank you very much.]
[Please don’t worry about it. As someone from the same world, I can understand the hardships of the different food cultures more than anyone else…… And not only are you an invaluable friend for Kuromu-sama, Miyama-san, but to us as well. You can always count on us for help.]
[She’s right~ Raz is always willing to help~ When it comes to plants, you can leave it to me~!]
[Yeah yeah, you don’t have to worry about it. Just the thought of repaying this favor someday is enough for us.]
[……Ara? I don’t recall you being involved with any of the souvenirs though?]
[……Elder Sister, you promised that you wouldn’t say that……]
Ugghh… I feel like the warmth of these people (?) soaking into my body. I mean, these people are really nice that I’m almost in tears.
Receiving so many gifts, I just bowed my head over and over again as they just told me not to worry about it. I’m really glad and grateful that they called me their friend and treated me as if it’s natural. I really can’t thank Kuro enough for organizing this barbecue.
Then, as I chat with them for a bit, Neun-san opened her mouth again, looking a little reluctant to say something.
[……Miyama-san. I’m not saying that this is something that I’m asking in return, and I won’t mind if you don’t know what I’m talking about……]
[What is it?]
[……Do you have any idea how to make tofu?]
[Tofu, is it?]
It was an unexpected question that Neun-san asked me.
According to her, products similar to rice and takuan have existed before, and as for the miso and soy sauce, Neun-san has made it with the knowledge she had about them, but she was unable to make tofu just by knowing that they’re made from soybeans.
As expected, even Ein-san wouldn’t know how to make tofu just by listening to the characteristics of the finished product and even Neun-san somehow wanted to know how to create tofu.
It would have been nice if she was able to ask the previous heroes, but the heroes are basically state guests and they travel around the country, so she had little opportunities to talk to them and she felt awkward approaching just to ask them about it.
However, this is the first time that Neun-san had a chance to talk with me, a Japanese, so she decided to ask me about it.
As I recall, Neun-san was born in the Taisho Era and was summoned when she was much younger than I was, and at that time, there were few ways for individuals to obtain knowledge they didn’t know about, especially with the lack of internet.
I’m sure that she feels bad that she’s trying to get information in return for the white rice, but I rather appreciate the opportunity to return the favor.
[This is just something I’ve heard myself, but if I’m not mistaken……]
Though I explained so, that doesn’t mean I’ve actually made tofu before either. However, when I started living on my own as a university student, I remembered reading through some cooking sites and I happened to see a recipe for making tofu. I told her about the things I remembered from that.
However, I’ve only read about it, so I told her right from the start that I don’t know much about the quantities needed for each ingredient or stuff like that……
[……I see, I think I roughly understand how to make it now. Neun-sama told me it was just a white, jiggly food made from soybeans, so I didn’t understand, but I could roughly imagine it after what Kaito-sama explained. I think I’ll be able to produce it with no problems.]
Although I felt that I had poorly explained how to make it, Ein-san seems to have understood the process to some extent. She nodded her head, saying that it’s possible to reproduce it. It’s frightening thinking that this outrageous person would be able to make it really quickly.
[Thank you very much! Miyama-san! With this, I could finally get some tofu!]
[Ah, no, it would be me who should be the one thanking you……]
As if she’s very happy to hear that she can eat tofu, Neun-san held my hands with a really happy smile on her face.
Neun-san has been in this world for hundreds of years, so this might be the first time she may be able to eat tofu for a long time, and as a big fan of Japanese food, it must have been a real delight for Neun-san. In any case, I’m glad that she’s happy about it.
Thereupon, the time to say goodbye came and everyone saw me off as I got into the carriage that’s picking me up.
[Well then, Kaito-kun. I’ll come visit you again tomorrow~]
[Ah, thank you again for everything, Kuro.]
[Miyama-san, I’ll go share some of the tofu with you when they’re ready.]
[Yes. I’m looking forward to it.]
[Oh, then I’ll be going with you at that time then, and unlike Kuromu-sama and Lord Sechs, I’m not famous in the Human Realm, so I can visit you out front. I think my partner would want to meet Kaito as well, so that would be perfect.]
[Ahaha, you have to at least try to look human though, Acht.]
[Raz is also coming with them~]
[Yes. By all means.]
[I’ll be visiting Duchess Albert together with Sei later, so we can talk at that time as well.]
[Yes, I’ll be expecting your visit.]
[Kaito-sama, please take care of yourself…… I hope to see you again.]
[Thank you very much. Ein-san.]
Smiling at the words that everyone said, I get into the carriage and waved back at everyone who was waving at me.
Today was really fun, and I think it was a good change for my mental state as well. When I get back to Lilia-san’s mansion, I’ll write an unaddressed letter again that has turned into a habit. I change some contents of the letter a little bit……
Dear Mom, Dad—- Today was the first day I’ve truly enjoyed being in another world. And also—– I’ve made some friends.
(T/N:
I’ve decided to change the title/names of the Six Kings because of a certain information I read on Chapter 20… you know what? I’ll just post it today as well, but no chapter in Saturday. Anyhow, Pluto/Hades is turned into Underworld King and so on.
-LazyCat