422 - - Episode 420 Operation

I was able to get through Ms. Barotta's complaints without incident, but when I asked Martha for a favor, she gave me a difficult task. Well, Gina is my apprentice, so it is only natural that I should make a move. I would have preferred not to get involved, but I'll do my best.

"Good morning, Sylphie. Did the intermediate spirit of the earth go back?"

I woke up to find Sylphy drinking wine by herself.

"Good morning, Yuta. She was drinking until the last minute, but Barotta left the labyrinth city early, so she's already gone. Yuta was very grateful."

So Ms. Barotta has already left. I heard she's been waiting for me for quite a long time, even though she's busy working at the palace, so I guess she's got a lot of work to do.

"Well, I'm glad you had a good time."

I served him plenty of food for snacks before he went to bed, but it's almost gone, so he must have eaten and drank a lot. I'm up, which means that Belle and Fukuchan should be coming over for breakfast, so I'd better clean up the room first.

**

"Hmm?　Master, why aren't we in the labyrinth this time?　What about training as a necromancer?"

When I told her at the breakfast table about my plans in the labyrinth city, Gina asked me a question with a surprised look on her face. Well, I had told her before we came to the labyrinth city that we would enter the labyrinth this time.

"We'll do the labyrinth next time and Martha will teach us how to be a woman in the morning. Gina, Sara, and Kikka will study here in the morning and join Mr. Lee's training in the afternoon. If you want to learn how to cook from Mr. Tork, you can help him by getting up early like before."

It is sad to see you put off your training as a genie, but you need to grow as a human being and a woman before you grow as a genie. Besides, I've been busy with many things, and if I had to worry about Gina and the others who entered the labyrinth, my stress level would be maxed out.

"Master, what about me?"

"Marco, you'll be training with Mr. Lee all day. I'm going to have Vita check in on you regularly to make sure you're not too sick, but if it gets too tight, you'll let me know.

"Okay!"

I'd refuse to go through a full day of spartan training at all costs, but Marco seems very motivated. Youth is a wonderful thing.

Master. What's a woman's attitude?"

Why would Gina learn such a thing? You're looking at me like that. You don't even know what you're doing, so you have to learn. But it's hard to say it clearly in front of Sara and Kikka, because it would ruin Gina's pride.

"Yes, Sara and Kikka are still small, so I want them to learn how to be a woman from Martha. Gina is in a position to guide Sarah and Kikka, and I hope that she will take what Martha is teaching them and use it in the future."

"Yeah, Sarah and Kikka are just kids. I understand. I'll do my best.

The main person I want you to educate is you, whose s*xual knowledge is even inferior to Sara's. I'm glad you're honest, but I'm afraid you need to learn a few feminine tricks of the trade.

"Nice to meet you. After breakfast, Gina and the others will help Martha with her study. Marco, you're with me at the Adventurers' Guild.

After that, we'll figure out how to solve the problem Martha gave us. Oh, and I'll go to Jill's and deliver window frames and house parts. Marie's place is going to ask me to take care of her ...... rejuvenating weeds, so I'll show up after I've calmed down.

***

"Yuta. This way next time."

I asked for Mr. Lee at the Adventurer's Guild, and he showed up in less than five minutes, and we discussed the training schedule. After that, I finished delivering the parts to Mr. Jill, and was supposed to return to the inn to relax and plan the next steps, but for some reason, Bell and the others took me to the labyrinth city to visit the food stalls.

That's strange. Yesterday, Bell and the others were disappointed that they couldn't find any new stalls, weren't they?　So, is this at least the second time you've visited the food stalls you're visiting now ...... to buy more of your favorite food stall dishes?

"Yuta. Come on!"

Oh, no, Bell's flapping his wings, he can't wait. Anyway, it looks like we don't have time to think about it, so let's just hang out with them until they're satisfied. Hmm?　Too busy to think?　Whoa, this could be useful.

"Yuta, if we don't get going soon, Bell and the others will get upset."

Oops, we can't let the Belles get into a bad mood at a place like this. I've got a good idea, and now I'm going to throw myself at them. I feel like a father on holiday.

****

"So, Yuta, you seem to have come up with something, have you found a way to deal with Gina's father and brother?"

"Yes. Hopefully we can work something out."

"Oh, that's great. Tell me what you're going to do.

It's been a long time since I've had Sylphy look at me expectantly. I'm going to have to explain this with all my might.

"...... Yuta. Isn't that not a fundamental solution?"

"Yes. I've given up on fundamental solutions from the beginning."

"Well, are you sure about that?"

Sylphy asks, tilting her head.

"I don't know if that's a good idea...he's the father who made Gina grow up so ignorant in that environment. You can't talk sense to a monster like that. Do you think that my doing something will make her father change his mind?"

Gina's family runs a diner near a slum. The clientele is made up of poor beginning adventurers and slum dwellers who can afford to live a little longer. I may be prejudiced, but I think there are a lot of vulgar people there.

I don't even know what to do with them if they are raised to be so s*xually ignorant, even if it is in a masculine way. And with an older brother who seems to be on the same level as the father who raised him, it's just too much to ask for, isn't it?　

"...... That's not enough to make me change my mind."

I'm glad Sylphy agrees. If someone had told me that I had to be reformed, I would have run away from the situation.

"That's why we're stalling. If they are so busy that they don't have time for Gina, they will have less time for her. If Gina grows up in the meantime, we can compete with them."

No matter how busy they get, they will never stop being involved, so the strategy is to reduce the number of times they come to see you. It's a solid strategy that aims for a 70, not a 100.

"Hmmm. I know what you mean, but it's kind of pathetic."

"Leave me alone. I came to another world and unfortunately I didn't get the brains of a hero to solve everything. Then I'll do the best I can, no matter how pathetic I am.

Oh man, now that was kinda cool, wasn't it?

"You're saying it sounds plausible, but in the end, you can't come up with a perfect solution, so you're just stalling for time to make up for it, right?"

"...... Sylphy. Kindness that you know but don't say out loud is very important, you know?"

"Hmm. Yuta is my contractor, so you'd better work harder."

"Yes, sir."

Sylphy is strict. But, well, they expect us to do our best, so we'll just keep on trying.

"So, you said you're going to keep the cafeteria busy, what exactly are you going to do?"

"Yeah. I think food aid for slums is a safe bet. Sara and her friends were barely surviving without crime, but they were still very skinny, so I'm going to ask them to help reduce the number of people like that."

"And what about quid pro quo?　You're not going to convince me to give you a hard time for free, are you?"

Sylphy, you don't have to look so worried, I've thought it through.

"I'm going to give you food, seasonings, fuel, etc. on a regular basis. I'm sure they'll understand if we give them half of the food to cook for the children and let them use the rest freely. Besides, since they care so much about Gina, I expect that they will become less overprotective of her once they feel for the children in the slum."

If we can spare some ingredients and lower the price of food in the cafeteria a little, the cafeteria may become even busier and more prosperous. Isn't this a very good plan for a sudden idea?　

"It's a lot of work to wholesale the ingredients, and Yuta will be the only one who loses money, right?"

"Don't worry, Marie will take care of the work. With the money we are putting into investments, we can ask her to prepare and transport the relief supplies and she will do it for us. As for the loss, well, if my loss makes the kids a little happier, it's a good enough return for me."

"......What's the real story?"

You don't look like you believe a word I've said.

"Frankly, I have a lot of money, and I figure if I lose a little bit of money and don't have to deal with Mr. Pete as much, it's worth the change."

Sorry for thinking like a rich person. But if this plan works, Mr. Pete will be busy and Gina will be a little less overprotective, and Mr. Pete will be busy, but he will make money. Marie will also make a profit when the goods are sold, and I will be free from all the hassle.

I know this is not what Martha has in mind, but if everyone is happy, then that's all that matters, right?

"Hmm . I'm not saying it won't work, but it's an impossible plan unless Gina's father ...... Pete is willing to do it. Pete hates Yuta, but will he do what I'm asking?"

That's the problem. If I go to talk to them alone, I'm afraid they'll either turn me away or try to talk me into letting Gina go.

"If I go with Gina, I think there's a good chance that Pete will be convinced because he wants to show Gina how good he is."

I heard somewhere that fathers like to be cool in front of their daughters. I am sure that Gina will cooperate with us without any doubts when I tell her about the soup kitchen. I hope Gina will grow up, but for now I am grateful for her honesty.

It is almost dinner time and Gina and her family should be home by now. After dinner we can talk about ...... ah, Gina and Sara are on their first day of training and I don't think we have time to talk to them. If not, we can talk in the morning.