024: Super Spicy

Koriat Village is preparing for the wheat harvest, which fed an excited atmosphere. The way the wheat changes from green to gold increases people’s anticipation, Summer has come to an end this year. Wheat seeds will be sown in October, and the harvest will be August to September. This world has four distinct seasons and the climate is close to that of central Japan. Spring is welcomed with flowers of all colors, Summer raises the temperature, Autumn cools down and turns the leaves red, and Winter often brings snow. As the seasons change, we can tell that time has passed.

Some villagers use the same outfits year round, but what is that about? I noticed the distractible farmer Roland has this behavior. Men usually wear shirts and trousers made of loose linen. Women usually wear dresses with a string tied around the chest or hips. Sometimes it’s loose around that area and hard to ascertain, but that’s wonderful too. By the way, it’s at the end of summer today, the day when the traitor will arrive.

The traitor was once a compatriot with Bartolo and I. That’s past tense for sure, no longer a comrade. Death to the traitor, I’ll find a way to get back for ratting us out. He arrived a little after noon, Sarah announced his visit, and Bartolo and I left to find him in the garden.

When I got through the entrance, there were three large carriages lined up in the garden. That’s surprising, since last year he only had one medium carriage, two assistants, a mercenary, and various luggage. Perhaps he mixed the goods for the village and Slowlette family across all three carriages so he had to bring them all to the mansion?

“I’m here again this year! Alfred!” Triela

He spreads his hands wide as if he’s happy to meet us again. So that’s it, he’s forgotten about turncoat acts.

“Hi Triela, you’ve made it this year too.” Al

Translation: I can’t believe you came back this year.

“I’m glad to see you!” Triela

Translation: I’ll take my lumps since I’m honorable

“That right? I’m happy with the oil.” Bartolo

Triela looks a little cautious after sensing our black hearts. As expected of a merchant, he has a sharp intuition. However, he can’t be that smart if he didn’t expect retribution for his betrayal.

“Aren’t you parked too far away? Come into the mansion for discussions” Bartolo

Bartolo is amazing, he could see that we would want Triela in the mansion to be able to get revenge. I wonder if that’s what a butler does, or maybe a bodyguard.

“Eh? Well then, pardon me for imposing.” Triela

Is it necessary to be so polite? Mel and Sarah like to enforce a similar level of etiquette. Triela looks at us, but enters the mansion with little hesitation. The traitor will get his reckoning.

Triela is a man who has been serving small villages as a peddler since before I was born. He inherited the business from his father, who ran into back issues as he grew older. Triela has a slim build, unlike his father. He often adds a ‘ssu’ sound and the end of words, and has the air of an unpredictable military recruit. He’s 22 years old, with blonde hair and green eyes, his face is mor cute than rugged.

In previous years, he dressed like a austere villager, but he’s upgraded to a fine white shirt and green jacket over green three-quarter trousers held up with a solid black belt. His ambiance is a mix between unreliable and forgetful. In conversation, I usually refer to him as Tri. However, Tri’s intuition is sharp, he can tell what the situation soon after meeting Celia.

“For some reason, the women in this village are tough customers, I don’t want to make them into enemies.” Triela

What you notice in one glance is Tri’s habits, it must have passed to him from his father. I’ve heard rumors of how aristocrats in the royal capital behave, the royal capital must be a terrifying place. Luckily, Tri puts out novel and interesting products, this is partly because he is monetizing my otherworldly knowledge. We don’t have a problem, since this is a long-standing relationship based on mutual trust. And I don’t feel like becoming a merchant as that would require startup fees. I think I’ll just make money by transporting perishable ingredients.

“Thanks to Reversi profits, I was able to open a storefront in the royal capital.” Triela

Triela arrives in the drawing room, sits down and stretches a bit.

“Thanks to Triela’s efficient sales and licensing, it’s been quite profitable. The village is much enriched.” Al

I happen to know that Reversi revenue has been incorporated into the Slowlette family budget, though I don’t know how much it brings in. Since a lot of sugar and salt have been brought this year, I assume it’s a significant amount. We’ve also bought up cows and chickens for the villagers to raise. I’m sure Triela is doing well from his share as well.

“Alfred has been a good customer, and he came up with the Reversi game. I’d like to stay connected with him for a good while!” Triela

Triela and the Slowlette family have a win-win relationship. He’d like to continue it since he can profit by monetizing their ideas. However, I still feel the betrayal of last year when he leaked our secret purchases. Because of that, Bartolo and I had a more difficult time with recipes. It was a troublesome time, Triela should encounter some trouble in response.

“Well then, I want to get to the business talks, but I couldn’t take a bath because of my long trip…” Triela

There is no such thing as a hotel in this world, and if you don’t have a good water source during your trip, you won’t be able to bathe all the time. If you go through a village, you can visit the inn, but there is no bath in most inns. It looks difficult for me to travel, since I’m a reincarnated Japanese person.

“Sure, I’m not in a hurry. Take a bath. I’m ready.” Al

“As expected, Mr. Alfred. The bath here is more amazing than a luxury inn in the royal capital!” Triela

Triela gets up from his chair to leave. Should I play a prank in the bath?

“Oh, that reminds me, Alfred was looking for that white cereal called rice?” Triela

“Hey! Don’t leave yet, let’s have a quick chat.” Al

Rice? I’ll get rice!

“Well did you bring it?” Al

“Well, uhh. There’s only a few?” Triela

“A few kilos? A few bushels? How much is a few?” Al

A staple food that represents Japan, Rice. The base of our soul food. The older I got, the more I searched for ingredients I could use to approximate rice in recipes. However, few people understand how much rice a Japanese person consumes in a year. Each Japanese person eats around a 60 kilograms (130 pounds) of rice a year.

Obviously, rice is grown in rice fields. Next, how big of a field is needed to grow enough rice for a single individual to eat over a year? Based on my memory, I think a common size is a square field of 31.5 meters, or 992.25 square meters. From that field, you can get between 8 and 9 bales of rice. Which should then feed 7-8 people for a year. For reference, about half the size of a tennis court will provide a single person’s worth of rice.

Even if I’m a six-year-old child, I’d like to get at least 40kg.

“Well, Mr. Alfred? Are you listening?” Triela

“Oops, I got lost in thought.” Al

“You were looking unusually serious.” Triela

“So how much did you get? 500kg?” Al

“No, I can’t bring that much, I only managed to get around 100kg.” Triela

“Only that much? That’s barely two person-years worth.” Al

“No, I’ll bring it again the next time I visit.” Triela

“Tri… I’m glad I met you. Look, go take a bath, then I’ll get you a cold ale and a hamburger steak, another new recipe.” Al

Perhaps I’m most happy in my six years of life at this moment. I’m not worrying about revenge at this point, I’ll be happy if I have rice.

“Uh, huh. Thank you for the business. I’m glad I was able to meet your expectations.” Triela

“Look, I’ve brought some candy.” Al

“Huh?” Triela

“It’s sweet and delicious when you lick it, if you want a quick burst of energy, start licking one.” Al

I hand Tri a sweet that’s been cooled by Ice Magic so it won’t melt for a while.

“Thanks” Triela

I laughed at Triela who was delighted by the chilled candy.

I politely guide Triela to the bath, then return to my comrade in the kitchen.

Hmm, Triela has brought rice this time, revenge may not be necessary? Or should I stand with Bartolo? Bartolo seems set on revenge.

“Alfred” Mina

“Hmm, what?” Al

Mina stops me as I’m walking down a hallway.

“I heard from Triela that Alfred is holding some sweets.” Mina

Ah, it’s just Mina’s sweet tooth.

“I don’t have any more” Al

“Oh, please let Eleanora know, she was curious” Mina

“Uhh… I was joking, I have three left here!” Al

Turn around and give Mina three candies. When Mina has the candies secured, the frowns. It’s like she’s about to do something naughty.

“Alfred” Mina

“Yes?” Al

“Jump up and down” Mina

“Hmm?” Al

Uh oh. I should make like a rabbit.

“There are more, right?” Mina

“Oh… yes. I’m sorry this is the last one.” Al

As soon as Mina gets the candy, the puts it in her mouth and you can see the satisfaction written all over her face.

“That was highway robbery!” Al

No one saw my embarrassing act, but my anger at Triela was rising again. I’ve been robbed blind because I couldn’t make a convincing lie. Mina is a maid, right? I’m the son of a noble, right? Why is this happening? No, in this village, Mina is a woman and a maid, and I’m a man and a noble…

“Oh, Al. I’m making a hamburger steak filled with Akara fruit!” Bartolo

Akara fruit are very spicy fruits that look like withered cherry tomatoes. Add a little, and it’s just a little spicy, add more than you meant to, and it’s super spicy. This time, I was thinking about making a special dish for Triela.

“Really? Akara?” Al

“What’s wrong, didn’t you want revenge?” Bartolo

“A hamburger with a moderate amount of Akara isn’t enough. Because of Triela’s mouth, Mina caused me a new disgrace.” Al

“What?” Bartolo

Bartolo stares at me with a stunned look, he seems sorry. Perhaps it was a mistake to have downplayed revenge.

“Then, this hamburger isn’t spicy enough. I’ll add more Akara fruits. And I can fry the mushrooms with Akara to add a bit more spice.” Bartolo

Bartolo redoubles his efforts and make an even spicier hamburger. It’s amazing that he would go to this level, the grudge against ingredient interference is strong. Hmm, wonder what we should do with the spicy hamburger steak?

The prototype spicy hamburger steak is sitting on a plate in the kitchen. In order to hide the Akara fruit’s color, it had been colored to look like carrots.

Should I prank Silvio with it later? Maybe…

I’ll get over and start cooking with Bartolo. Once each hamburger patty is formed, they start baking.

“Wow, it smells good! Hamburger! I like these!” Eleanora

Eleanora has been attracted to the kitchen by the cooking smell again. Does she take after dogs?

“Sorry, I don’t have any to eat right now, we’re baking hamburger steak right now.” Al

It’s almost ready to flip, must keep an eye on it.

“Hmm, I don’t want to wait. I’m a little hungry so can I eat something? I had sword practice this morning.” Eleanora

Did you see me and think you could bully me into giving you something? Eleanora rests her elbows the table…

“Hmm? Can I eat this hamburger steak here?” Eleanora

“The one I just set out?” Al

“Yeah” Eleanora

I really just want her to eat something and clear out so the super spicy plan doesn’t leak.

“Then I’ll get this one sitting here.” Eleanora

“Yes, yes, go ahead. It was specially made by your cute little brother, Alfred, with all my love and care.” Al

“Hey, Al. Which one did she just pick up?” Bartolo

“Hmm, sitting out? Eh? Ah! Hey!” Al

Before I could give a warning, Eleanora grabbed the special hamburger steak and put it right into her mouth.

“Spicy! Ah ah ahhhh! Gafuwah!” Eleanora

Eleanora is shouting hysterically, what was she even saying on that last word. I’m not sure what she’s saying, but I know she’s angry.

After five minutes of drinking water and eating various items, Eleanoa is glaring at me. It seems her tongue is still tingling and breathing is difficult, that’s spicy foods.

“I see, I understand Al’s feelings now.” Eleanora

Eleanora may be smiling, but it isn’t a nice smile. Did she learn this from Mother?

“Uh, no… I meant… that Eleanora is the spice of my life, the flavour of my days…” Al

At that point, I was force fed hamburger steak and joined Eleanora in enjoying Akara fruit. I don’t remember much after that, I eventually woke up in my bed. At that point, I might have just bowed down and asked for forgiveness. Maybe I went too far.

Translation

Good Job!

Do Better!

Chapter

Love It!

What?

FFS!

Really?