CH 47

Characters in this chapter:

Sapphiras Perfectio, 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge

Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier

Adeline, Margravine of Vanderwall, Percival’s mother

Susanna, servant in the Belisario household

“Sapphiras, are you ready?”

“Of course! I’m ready to go out anytime!”

When I finish getting ready, Percival picks me up from my room.

Today, we finally get to explore the city. I’m really looking forward to it, it’s so lively and there are so many different shops.

When I woke up this morning, the Belisario family had finished breakfast quickly and had already started their work. I heard that mornings in the frontier territories are very early. When I was feeling sorry that I overslept, Susanna-san told me that I didn’t have to worry about it, as each person does what they want to do in the morning according to their own convenience.

In addition to Susanna-san, Anna-san and Clarabelle-san looked after me during my stay. They are very efficient and I’m sure they are on par with the Duke’s servants.

When I told them that I was planning to walk around the city with Percival today, they advised me to eat less breakfast as there are many food stalls and restaurants in Oriens, so I should and enjoy eating while walking around.

Hence, my stomach today has plenty of room for me to enjoy eating and walking to the fullest. I’m looking forward to seeing what I can eat.

“Do you understand, Percy, make sure you show Sapphiras-san around.”

“Yes.”

“Sapphiras-san, I hope you enjoy Oriens to the fullest.”

“Thank you very much.”

Even though she must be busy, Madam Adeline went out of her way to meet me at the front door. She was smiling at as she saw us off, and we headed towards the city.

“Ah, that’s right. Is there a magical tool shop in Oriens?”

“Of course there is. There are magicians in the Vanderwall Army.”

“That’s good. I’m thinking of buying a wand here to commemorate my visit.”

“In that case, there’s a couple of places we can go.”

If Percival, a local, can show me the way, I’m sure I won’t go wrong in any of the shops I buy from. On the way to town, I ask him about the dish I saw yesterday – shaved meat wrapped in thin bread.

“You know, yesterday at the stall on the way to the castle, I saw a dish with chunks of meat shaved and wrapped in thin bread, what was that?”

“Oh……you mean the wrap. That was originally an outside dish. It was brought in by adventurers or mercenaries and spread here because it was easy to eat with one hand and not get your hands dirty. It doesn’t last long, but you can wrap various ingredients around it, so it’s convenient to carry around as a lunch. The main ingredient is meat, and the filling and sauce varies from shop to shop.”

“Hehhh! I’d love to try that!”

“Then let’s go to the wrap stall for starters.”

Oriens is a city that can be called a crucible of races. Both beastmen and humans live in a jumbled manner. There are also many merchants and adventurers. It was full of vitality that was different from the royal capital. Perhaps because I have memories of my previous life, the air in Oriens suits me better.

“There are several wrap stalls, but……”

“What do you recommend, Percival?”

“Well, is Sapphiras okay with spicy food?”

“Of course.”

Percival took us to his favourite stall, which sells spicy sauces.

A wooden stick was stuck in the middle of the meat, and it was roasted on the fire, giving off a savoury smell.

It’s a big piece of meat, but what kind of meat is it?

“This meat is bird meat. It’s made up of several pieces, stacked together in big chunks.”

As I stared at the meat, the man at the stall kindly told me. Uwah, this is bird meat!

“Percival-bocchan1, it’s been a long time!”

“I came back yesterday for a long vacation. I’d like to order two wraps please.”

“Coming up! Is that pretty boy over there a friend of yours?”

“Yeah, he’s new to Oriens.”

“I see. Well, then I’ll have to give you a bonus!”

Percival gave the shopkeeper money for both of us, and when I tried to give Percival my share, he refused me kindly.

“Let me take care of it, I’m showing you around.”

“……Really? I’ll take your word for it then. Thank you.”

Well, I’ll be the one to pay next time.

The owner spreads a solution of wheat flour on an iron plate and grills a thin bread. He then puts a lot of shaved chicken and vegetables on it, pours a reddish sauce over it, wraps it neatly in a roll and wraps it in wax paper. Just a while more.

It’s certainly a good way to eat meat and vegetables in one dish, and it’s also convenient to carry around.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you.”

After receiving the wrap, I immediately bite into it. The spicy sauce is appetising. Wow, this is delicious! It’s handy when you’re going into the mountains for a bit. Whoever thought of this is amazing.

When I finally ate half of it, Percival had already finished eating. As expected of a man from a fighting country, he eats quickly. I’m eating and am not aware of my surroundings, so Percival guides me as I walk.

Even though I’ve just eaten, my eyes are hungry for food. I can’t help it though, because whatever I see looks delicious. Susanna-san and the others are right.

I ate a pastry made from kneaded flour, shredded, fried in oil and drizzled with honey, half eaten with Percival. After that, I ate some cut-up fruit on skewers and some meat I didn’t know, but in the end, Percival paid for all of it. No matter how much I said I would pay, he wouldn’t accept the money. Percival has a kind of pushiness that makes you unable to say whether yes or no. I was sorry, but I ended up being spoiled by his kindness.

Having put everything I was interested in into my stomach, I headed for my next destination, the magical tool shop. The shop I was led to looked like an arms shop. The magical tool shop in the royal capital had a solemn atmosphere, while it was more like a general store in Saltus. The same magical tool shop has a different atmosphere depending on the location.

When I entered the shop, there were magical tools lined up in a narrow space. There are sceptres and magical weapons that I had never seen before.

“Uwah, incredible.”

“The wands are at the back.”

There are a lot of wands lined up at the back of the shop. What’s amazing is that the cheap wands are in proper wooden crates and placed on the floor. What’s this?

“Oh, they’re wands made from leftover materials from magical tools. Most of them don’t do much, but they are useful for children and beginners who want to become magicians. They’re cheap, so you can use them without worrying about them breaking.

“There is no wastage.”

“The merchants here are very commercial. You can also choose from materials here and have them make you a magical tool……”

“That’s nice. What kind of materials do they have?”

When I went to see the shelves where the materials were lined up, there were all sorts of miscellaneous things lined up there. Do you check your dexterity with the right materials here and get them to make you your own wand?

“What, bocchan. Do you want a wand made?”

The bearded shopkeeper approached.

“Yes. If possible.”

“Hmm?”

The shopkeeper looks at me as if he is assessing me. What is it? If it’s money, I’ve got it.

“……What kind of wand do you want?”

“Eh, what kind……?”

Once again, I don’t really know. After all, in my case, the wand is just for appearance, so I don’t have anything in particular to supplement.

“Um……cool, feeling?”

As I said this, the shopkeeper pulled out a black horn from a jumbled pile of material and held it out to me.

The spiral-shaped horn was heavy.

“Tricorn horn……”

It was the horn of the magical beast, Tricorn. Tricorns are ferocious horse-shaped beasts with three horns. They don’t eat grass although they are horses. They are complete carnivores and will eat anything when they are hungry, whether it be people or cattle. They are few in number and rarely encountered as they are solitary magical beasts, but even the best adventurers will immediately turn around if they encounter one when they are solo.

Of the three horns that grows, the one in the middle is the longest and most valuable. The shopkeeper handed me the middle horn, which is the most valuable.

The horn looks pitch black, but if you look closely, you can see silver particles glimmering on it, making it mysterious. If this were made into a wand, it would make a considerable gem.

I want it……

No, no! This is a rare material. I can never buy it with my pocket money. I mean, what kind of a shop would have such a high-grade material stacked together with such a motley assortment of materials? It’s normally kept in the back of the shop.

“……How much is it?”

Percival asks the shopkeeper for the price. Ehh, you’re going to ask. I bet the price is eye-popping. Tricorn horn is a super rare material that’s rarely available.

“Two gold coins including processing fee.”

See! I knew it!

“How much for the processing fee alone?”

“One silver coin.”

“……Got it. Let’s go, Sapphiras.”

“Ye-yeah……”

I give the horn back to the shopkeeper and follow Percival. I came out without buying anything, but, well, if you look at that horn, any other wand would pale in comparison. I’d better pause for a moment and then go back and buy another one.

“Sapphiras, there are Tricorns in Vanderwall’s magical beast forest.”

“Eh?”

“The chances of you coming across one are probably slim but……”

They’re here! Tricorns! It’s a very dangerous beast indeed, so it’s not something to be happy about.

“As the shopkeeper says, Sapphiras would be best suited for a Tricorn wand.”

It’s true that I have dark hair, and a black wand might suit me. If I could get it, I’d certainly want it, but I know its value, so I don’t want to force myself to get it.

“Please let me give you the materials when I encounter it in subjugation.”

“Ehh?!”

Are you serious about that?

坊ちゃん: young master or boy