CH 84

Episode 84 – Keeping the Price

After leaving Elf’s Tears, I went to Clive’s shop, which was my last stop for the day. I still didn’t know the name of this shop, by the way. There was a sign on the shop front, but the letters were so faded that the words were no longer legible.

…To me, this store still had a bit of an unfamiliar, alien feel to it, so I felt a little nervous about going in alone. Feeling as if I were about to step into a foreign country, I walked into Clive’s shop.

When I entered, I smelled a fragrant, spicy aroma in the air. After visiting each shop in succession, I found that it was rather interesting that each store had its own unique characteristics that were hinted by the smell.

…Anyway, this spicy aroma smelled a lot like curry, and it made me want to eat some, too. I thought about making curry again today, but I would have to make curry at least once a day from now on. Speaking of which, I should find Clive first.

I made one lap around the store but didn’t see Clive anywhere. It occurred to me that perhaps he was upstairs in his living quarters, but for now I decided to ask the shop assistant lady who was watching the store.

“Excuse me, could I have a moment?” (Lewin)

“Ah, welcome! What kinds of food ingredients are you looking for?” (Shop Assistant)

“Ah, it isn’t about food ingredients. I’m looking for Clive-san, do you happen to know where he is?” (Lewin)

When I asked her that, the shop assistant lady tilted her head. I started wondering if Clive was perhaps using an alias or something, when she suddenly clapped her hands together as if she remembered something.

“Ah! The shop manager Clive-san, is it? I haven’t seen him at all lately so I almost forgot he existed! For some reason he’s always been shutting himself in his room, so if you go to the upper floor, you should be able to meet with him.” (Shop Assistant)

So Clive was upstairs after all, huh? But what she said about Clive-san shutting himself in his room caught my attention. Had he been shutting himself in his room since the last time I came when he treated us to curry…? In terms of the dirtiness of his room, it was at a level that it wouldn’t be too surprising to think that he regularly holed up in his room on a regular basis… It was a bit worrying.

“So he’s on the second floor! Thanks for the information. After I finish my business with him, I’ll be coming down here to shop, so I’ll see you soon!” (Lewin)

“Sure thing! I’ll be here whenever you want to shop.” (Shop Assistant)

The shop assistant lady said that he was holed up in his room, but what in the world was he up to?

Arriving in front of his living quarters, I knocked on the door.

“Clive-san! It’s Lewin! If you’re in there, open the door please!” (Lewin)

I knocked on the door and called out to him, and after waiting a while the door slowly creaked open. From inside, Clive emerged, looking as if he was swaying on the verge of collapse, with fatigue emanating from his entire persona. His eyes were completely bloodshot, with heavy, dark bags underneath, and his hair was oily and disheveled.

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“………..Oh. If it ain’t Lewin? …What’s up?” (Clive)

“…Clive-san, are you alright? Your health seems to be in… terrible condition…?” (Lewin)

“….Ah. I just haven’t been sleeping since I was experimenting with the Glutamate Herb that you gave me the other day.” (Clive)

“Experimenting with the Glutamate Herb…? You haven’t slept either? Have you not slept since that day you made curry for us, perhaps?” (Lewin)

“…Well, I guess so. It’s been a long time since I was so immersed in something,” Clive said with an empty, husky laugh that made him sound like he was going insane.

It had already been four days since that day he made curry for us. For any normal person, not sleeping for that number of days… it wouldn’t be strange for him to collapse at any moment.

“Clive-san, you should get some sleep! You’re going to collapse, you know?!” (Lewin)

“Ku―hahaha! It’s not something that I can say with a straight face. Oh well. To be honest, this Glutamate Herb has the power to overturn the entire world of cuisine. At the moment though, I’m lacking in strength so it will still take a bit more time.” (Clive)

“Huh? That means…” (Lewin)

“Yeah. If you can bring me more Glutamate Herb, I’ll continue to buy it at 5 silver coins like before. It wouldn’t be strange for the price to be higher given the effect of this herb, but I would like to continue to thoroughly ascertain its effects in the future.” (Clive)

Ooohh! Before I left the other day, he said that the price would likely drop, but I really didn’t expect him to keep the purchase price the same! This was a really welcome proposition.