22 Let's get ready for now.

Today, my muscles are sore, but I'm getting used to it.

In the first place, the fact that the muscle pains come late is only because of the absurdity that comes later, but there's no difference in the fact that it's the price of exercise.

If you tell yourself that, it's not unbearable.

At this rate, my body will adapt to it, and I will be able to live my daily life without difficulty.

I don't know what I'll do today, but I heard that Ilias has been off duty since the day before yesterday, so he must be working today.

Maja said she's busy today, and that's why we talked about scheduling for the future.

I get out of bed.

I knock on Wolfe's door, wondering how he's doing, though it doesn't seem to make sense.

No response. I don't even know if she's there or not.

I haven't even told him what knocking means.

"Wolfe, it's morning.

I open the door.

There's no one in the room.

Hmm, so it must be Ilias's room.

Then you hear the door of Ilias's room open, and your head moves.

A sleepy-looking Ilias emerges. I remembered that he was wearing his armor in work mode, and his plain clothes in a crisp manner, but this was the first time I had seen him in his nightgown, and it was quite refreshing.

"Good morning, Ilias.

"Oh, good morning. You're here today, aren't you?

By the way, this is the first time I've greeted Ilias in the morning, since I've been passing him all the time in this house.

Is Wolfe in your room?

Yeah, I just wandered in here in the middle of the night. ...... It's different from usual, so I might be a little sleep-deprived.

Ilias stretched lightly and pushed the sleepiness out of his eyes.

But I didn't feel bad about it.

But I didn't feel uncomfortable, because I was wanted and depended on.

Personally, I'm surprised that Wolfe has taken to Iliad so honestly.

He almost strangled his benefactor on their first meeting, and then forcefully washed him clean when he didn't want to.

And all in one night.

By nightfall, he seemed to have grown attached. I wondered if there had been a change in his mind.

"Are you working today?

Yeah, I got the day before yesterday off to invite you to a ceremony, and yesterday I was in the forest to help you.

Not a good day off.

Thanks to you!　

I was going to report to you when I got back, but it seems that Kara and the others were going to report to you instead.

He probably wanted Ilias to stay in the barracks to wash Wolfe, since she was a woman.

What are you going to do?

"Well, Maja's busy today. I think I'll go to Mr. Van's and get some clothes.

Clothes?

Can I go to the ceremony the day after tomorrow in plain clothes?

......!

He didn't think of that.

I'd ask Saira for clothes, but she was off yesterday, which means she'll be working at Dog Bone today.

I'm also curious about her taste in normal clothes. .......

You can't take Wolfe with you, can you? You'll need to think about where you're going to leave her.

That ......, I'm sorry I invited you and didn't help you prepare anything.

I'm sorry it took me so long to invite you.

You're right.

After that, they got ready for each other.

Wolfe woke up, wearing the clothes he had borrowed from the barracks as his nightgown.

If there's no problem, then it's fine.

She can change her clothes by herself, but she cannot do her hair yet, so Ilias does it for her.

Then Ilias went to work.

He also gave me money for food for Wolfe.

The number of pimps has increased to two.

"Well, let's go out.

"Yes!

First, we had breakfast at the market.

The grilled chicken and fruits are enough to fill us up.

Wolfe seems to take pleasure in eating, but he doesn't eat that much.

He has been living like that for a long time. It is not surprising that his stomach has become smaller.

In "Dog Bones," he demanded a second helping of food, which must have been so delicious.

"Yesterday's food is the best!

I understand that, but don't say it in front of the restaurant.

Yes!

I gave up trying to stand out and went to Mr. Van's office early.

I was taken to my usual room and Mr. Van came in.

For the time being, we reported each other's progress.

Mr. Ban had been put in charge of the trade between the Kuro Wolves and the Tarz by the government.

For the time being, the merchants could only negotiate with them through Mr. Ban.

They are exempted from taxes on their presence in the territory until they come under the protection. After explaining the details of the Tarzan's patronage, he said he would leave it to them to decide. 　　

I've already destroyed the troublesome bandits, and I think I can handle the beasts on my own, so it looks like we'll be on equal footing for the time being.

"Yes, but if they know our technology and how much we've developed, they may eventually ask for our support.

You're going to use your possession to negotiate, aren't you?

Yes, in light of what you said the other day, I'm going to ask one of my trusted subordinates to use hers.

In order to speak the language of the inhabitants of the other side, it is necessary to impart the magic of the people of the other side to the spirits, so it would be better to accompany them at first?

I don't think there will be any problem, but if you want to fulfill your promise to Wolfe, you will have to.

It's a bit uncomfortable to be in a position to make such a dare, but it can't be helped.

We'll pay you well, so you'll have to do your best.

We also talked about our share.

The main reward is a salary for helping us find the Kuro Wolves and acting as an intermediary to conclude negotiations.

And after trading with the Kuro Wolves, you will receive a percentage of the net profit, excluding expenses.

If you make a profit of 10,000 yen, you will receive a few hundred yen.

Depending on the size of the profit, you may be allowed to set a limit on your share. In exchange, we will receive preferential treatment for the items we want in the future.

This case came to us by chance, and while we would like to take advantage of it, we can't depend on it.

I want to use it for its original purpose, which is to spread the taste and to lubricate the search for new resources.

Oh, I'm looking for something to wear to the ceremony tomorrow, to which Lord Ragdoll has invited me.

"Oh, well, well. He's been instrumental in the defeat of the bandits, so it's only natural.

Will you make it in time?

Of course. I'll take the measurements now and contact the dressmaker. By the way, speaking of clothes, what's that outfit you're wearing, Mr. Wolfe?

Uruffe?

I asked one of my prospective dressmakers to make it for me. Do you remember the boy you had with you the second time you came here?

"Yes, that was Master Sila, the waiter of Dog Bone. She gave you this, huh?

"If it suits the Kuro Wolves, it could be used for our export.

We're kindred spirits, I'm sure. Let's talk to her sometime.

"Yes, it would be a unique opportunity for her.

Considering Sila's position, Wolfe's clothes would be a good advertisement.

After all, it is the Wolfe who stands out. Naturally, the avant-garde clothes that Wolfe wears also attracts attention.

Perhaps it won't be long before Cyra becomes independent.

"Also, I'm looking for a place to keep Wolfe for a day. ...... Aside from Ilias and Maja, Ban seems to be the most reliable. ......

Wolfe is also somewhat forgiving of Ban-san.

It was Mr. Ban who taught her how to break the chains in that village. 　

The old man is trustworthy, but Wolfe is wary of him because of his performance.

"Yes, of course. I'll leave it with you when I change here tomorrow.

That's why, Wolfe, I want you to wait for me at Mr. Van's tomorrow.

Uh, yeah, Mr. Van's place.

Good girl.

After that, we had tea and chatted, and then I went to the dressmaker who had arrived to take my measurements and arrange my clothes.

Now I should be ready for tomorrow.

We had plenty of time and a good amount of money.

I thought about today's plan and headed for the market.

After eating and shopping, I went home.

"Okay, then it's time to study Wolfe.

"Oh!

The first thing I'm going to teach you is the facilities of the house and how to use the tools.

We'll skip the cooking tools and focus on the cleaning tools.

I'll explain how to use the bathroom and the well outside.

Once we've covered everything we can think of, we'll start learning the language together.

While reading a children's book, write the words with a stick on the sand in a container.

It's a good way to memorize the words, although they need to be written a little larger.

Books read through possession not only allow you to read the text. You can also understand the meaning of the text.

Of course, this does not mean that you will understand the truth.

It's just that when you read the word "red", you can understand the image of red in your mind.

I tried to read the Yugoslavian Bible, but I gave up after the first page.

I wonder if a person's experience also makes a difference in the effect of possession.

In that case, there is a possibility that Wolfe's learning speed will be slower than ours.

However, this fear was unfounded when he saw how earnestly she was learning.

"Okay, then, keep writing for a while, Wolfe.

"Yes, okay, Shisho!

It was just before dusk, and I had to get to work.

I'm heading for the kitchen, to cook.

The other day, Ilias asked me if I could do it, and I said I couldn't, but I've never actually tried it by myself.

It's not good to say you can't do something without trying.

So, let's start cooking.

First, the soup.

Boil the water, throw in the chicken bones, and wash them once.

Add the chicken bones, ginger, garlic, and green onions to the pot again and bring to a boil.

Keep watching for a while to remove the lye.

After simmering for a while over low heat, strain the soup through a colander to complete the base of the chicken soup.

After that, add the vegetables that may have been in the soup in "Dog Bones" and the chicken in the same way.

Add salt, a little spice, and herbs for flavor.

Hmm, it's a little rough, but it's good.

With this, the danger of annihilation has been eliminated.

I nodded at the food I was working on at the same time.

There is wheat in this world. But I wanted to find out what kind of flour it was.

Light flour and strong flour depend on the ratio of gluten in the wheat.

But in this world, there is only one word: flour.

So I bought some wheat from Tarzan's territory and am experimenting with it.

If there is something like bread, I think it is strong flour.

"Is this stickiness ...... close to strong flour?

So I started trial and error from the viewpoint of strong flour.

Mix in the egg, water, and a pinch of salt.

Keep mixing until it becomes sticky.

Ignore your worries about whether it will come together and keep mixing for about ten minutes.

It seems to be coming together.

Knead it again and again.

Knead, knead, knead, knead.

Then cover it with a wet cloth and leave it for an hour.

I took out my second partner, a piece of wood.

Actually, when I went to collect the books left behind by Grandpa Kara and Docola, I picked up a reasonably thick and large one in the forest.

And for the past few days, I've been gently polishing it before going to bed.

I never thought I would use it for cooking.

I rolled out the dough, folded it, and cut it.

Now all that's left is to boil it and the noodles are ready.

...... is a bit lacking in firmness.

I think it is more like ramen noodles than pasta noodles.

They are made of wheat, salt, and egg, so they have almost no flavor.

Well, this is not so bad.

Let's make a sauce in an empty pot.

Finely chop some tomatoes, boil them down, and sprinkle salt.

Then mix in the fried vegetables and meat, and boil again.

Again, add salt, spices and herbs to taste.

Pour it over the noodles and you have spaghetti with tomato sauce.

No, tomato sauce ramen?

I don't like the texture, but I'll give it a pass.

I wonder if baking soda exists in this world. .......

I'm home now--what's that smell?

The Iliad came home at the right time.

I had a little time on my hands, so I did some cooking, just for practice.

"Well, this is close to the soup I saw in Dog Bone. And this one... what's this long, thin thing?

I honestly don't know.

I don't know. ...... but it smells delicious. I'll go change.

And the three of us eat.

Chicken soup with tomato sauce noodles.

"Bon appétit!

"Hmm, the broth is tasty, if a bit bland compared to 'dog bones'.

It's possible there were a few things left out of the vegetable prep.

"This food has a unique ...... texture. But it's good.

How's the Wolfe?

It's the next best thing to dog's bones.

The saltiness of the food is correct, so it's better than most.

However, this is not good enough to be sold.

I'll let Karla's wife taste it next time and ask for her opinion.

Tomorrow's ceremony starts at noon, right?

Yeah, are you ready for that?

I'm going to change into the clothes Mr. van has prepared for me. I'll leave Wolfe with Mr. Van.

Well, Grandfather Kara said he'd pick him up, so I'll tell him to head over there.

Doesn't the Iliad ever change into such clothes?

I'm a knight and I'm going out to be recognized for my exploits. I'm going out as a knight to be recognized for my exploits, of course I'll be dressed as a knight.

That's what I was thinking.　　

I was so focused on changing into formal wear that I completely forgot.

He's a knight.

What's the matter, are you tired?

No, I was thinking about my formal attire and imagined the Iliad in a dress. It just came out.

Oh, yeah? ...... Oh, yeah?

"Shall I sleep with you tonight?

Sorry. I hurt my back the other day when the Iliad strangled me. I'm going to have to rest alone for a while.

Ugh, Irias, I want to sleep. No!

You're lying to me so fluidly.

You stand up quietly and turn your back.

Then you roll up your jacket.

Someone's arm is clearly marked on your back.

Oh, here we go again.

Ilias swims his eyes.

"...... No, I mean, I'm sorry.

That's why, Wolfe, I'll keep you company during your naps, but you'll have to put up with me at night.

Yes!

Wolfe started to study after lunch.

Wolfe started to study after dinner. He said he wasn't sleepy yet and wanted to get some work done.

What an industrious child.

I'm impressed, but I have to clean up the dishes.

There is no concept of water or detergent in this world.

To wash dishes, we use ashes.

Let the ashes absorb the dirt, and then wipe them with water.

To be honest, this culture gap is new to me, but it also makes me uneasy.

However, there is a saying that one should follow one's hometown.

Maybe I'll try making soap or something next time, yeah.

"You're wiping very carefully.

Ilias, who I thought had returned to his room with Wolfe, comes back.

I'm ready to help you.

That's right. ...... Does it hurt that much, that bruise?

Oh, that one.

"The bruise is still there, but it doesn't hurt as much. If anything, it hurts more like the back of my head where I was hit when the Kuro Wolves attacked me.

Bruises remain, but they're indistinguishable from sore muscles. It's the bumps on my head that hurt the most.

What, you don't care?

It's ...... natural. ......

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea. In addition, they don't do much physical labor, so their bodies are fragile. That's the way it's designed. You don't need to worry about it.

You may be right, but ......

But you should take it easy on me. It's hard enough to be treated like a normal man. It would be really bad if they treated me like Kara and the others.

"Oh, okay, .......

I'm sure you're feeling awkward because you did it in a light-hearted way and the other person is more seriously ill than you expected.

"Don't be so depressed. Don't be so downhearted. I also said something insensitive and offended the Iliad. Let's just call it even.　　

Okay. ......

God, you're making me feel awkward with that scowl on your face.

I walked up to Ilias and put my hands on his cheeks.

Ilias's face contorts into a grimace.

"Muguu ......

It's a good idea to make fun of him with that kind of face at occasions like this.

"Muguu......

"...... Pfft, hahaha!

I'm on the point, I'm in pain, I'm dying.

Oh, you!

Oh, yeah, that's better. I like it when you're that energetic.

"Nuh-uh. ......

Tomorrow you'll be recognized in front of many knights. Let go of your sullen face.

Enough, I'm going to bed!

Ilias went back to his room.

I may have angered him too much, but I don't think that's too much to worry about.

I didn't expect you to be so worried about me, though, did you?

Ilias is trying to maintain the image of a strong and dignified knight.

But inside, he's sensitive to the opinions of those around him and worries too much.

That is why he has trained himself to overcome his fears.

If you think about it, Iliad's unusual strength is her own way of saying.

"Am I thinking too much?

After what happened to Wolfe, she's become more inclined to treat others differently.

This tendency is not good.

I need to clear my mind a little.

I need to get back to my normal self.

I remember what happened before I came to this world.

Remember, trace the memory.

--Oh, it's okay.

The normal me is right here.