There's no more rice!

　At the table in my home, I lay prostrate and moaned as I coughed up blood.

　There's no more rice. There was no more rice.

　It had been about a year since Tori had given me the rice he'd bought from somewhere. If I was eating it by myself, it would have lasted a year, but it was gone at an alarming rate because of all the food I'd eaten.

'Fume ga bodai no ka?

"Swallow it!　Swallow it before you speak!

　Rumba, one of the big food eaters, talked while taking a mouthful of egg rice.

　Because of this, the table was dirty with rice grains splattered all over the place.

　After chewing and swallowing the food in her mouth, Roomba opened her mouth again.

'There's no more rice?!

Yes. It will be gone soon.

'We don't want that!　Especially when the donning is one of my favorite things to do!　Mom, please have another large bowl of rice. And a raw egg.

Here you go. I've eaten a lot........why do I have to be the one to do it?

　He handed me a cup of tea too proudly, so I couldn't resist serving it to him.

　So I'm his mom!

'It's always like that in the house. I have a maid, and Elinora is working for me. Why the hell was Al getting Elinora's towel ready yesterday?

'No, something about an ice magic cooled towel just because it feels so good after a workout...'

　I put a large bowl of rice and a raw egg on the table with a vaguely bitter expression on my face.

　I noticed that the water was gone in the Roomba's cup, so I used water magic to fill it up and then used ice magic to add ice to cool it down.

''.....Al is so useful. I need one in the family.''

"I wish you wouldn't talk about people like they're handy.

　I think I learned this kind of attention to detail naturally when I was dealing with Elinora's sister.

　How to avoid the worst case scenario by making the other person's mood better.

　You have to know what they want and always serve them.

　That way, Elinora's sister would be comfortable and sometimes forget about the practice.

　I feel like I can at least be a butler now, even if I don't have a job in the future.

　I was also taught how to make a good cup of tea. The rest is just manners.

　The only thing that's above average is manners, but Erna's mother says I'm not very good at it.

　Well, that's not important. Right now, it's about the rice.

"At this rate we'll run out within a month.

　I store a few kilos of space magic for emergency use, but that doesn't count. It's for emergency use.

''As I recall, there's no rice in this village, right?

　Rumba asks as he cracks open a thick egg from the Coriat and mixes it with a spoon, gulping it down.

'Yes. 'Tory got them from somewhere.'

Then get Trey to buy some more. It's not hard to see how much money he's been making lately.

　Indeed, Tory's business association has grown rapidly and large in the past year.

　Many noblemen and even royalty have become their customers, and I'm sure they can buy more rice than they could a year ago.

　But if I'm going to go where the rice is, I want to go there myself. I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about.

　So this time I want to go out there.

I've sent a letter, but will he come in person?

　I wrote in my letter that if you don't come quickly, I'll have the Lazares Chamber of Commerce sell your chess....

　My heart is pounding because of the dwindling amount of rice. Has there ever been a time when I was so eagerly awaiting someone else's reply?

''Hmm?　I saw the Chamber of Commerce's carriage before I came here, so I'm guessing Tory's coming to the mansion.

'You can't wait to tell me that, you idiot!

　I ran out of my home and into the mansion with Roomba, who was saying important things in a smooth manner.



　◆



　Tory greeted me at the door as soon as I entered the mansion.

'Alfried-sama is waiting for you!　Huh?　Lady Elinora was heading to her own home earlier, but did you miss her?

　He seemed to be scurrying around, turning his head and looking for his sister Elinora.

　I ran out of my own home and used the transition just to save time.

　So it can't be helped if they're misplaced.

''I mean, I didn't tell anyone I was going to My Home today, did I?

　I didn't tell anyone where I was going today as I headed to my home to manage the food stored in my space magic.

　It was just before noon and Roomba came back suddenly.

''No, that's why I was in trouble, but something Elinora-sama said, 'I feel like I'm at My Home today, so I'll bring her over...'...''

　Tory replies with a bitter smile.

　As usual, sister Elinora's instincts are strange.

　She is playing with Thor and Asmo. Taking a nap on the plain. Celia Diner. Logan's house, the river, the woods...there are supposed to be so many places.

　How did I know it was my home in one shot....

　Well, it doesn't matter. Let's leave Sister Elinora alone and talk about the rice.

'Well, Elinora sister will be back sooner or later. We'll talk in our usual guest room.

　With that, he leads Tory to the guest room.


'I'll get right to it, Tory. Did you read my letter?

　I pluck the tea and sweets that Saara has brewed for me and ask when I've calmed down enough.

''No, I'm surprised, Alfried-sama. I heard it would be another year before the rice ran out.''

　I wonder... This roundabout way of saying things. It's a phrase that seems to probe the opponent's stomach.

　He smells like a bunch of noblemen I met at a party in the capital.

The family ate more rice than we expected. We don't have any more.

Is that another unusual dish, like spaghetti?

　I said the words as usual, but Tory's eyes narrowed.



''Haha, I knew Alfried was Alfried!　Going to a party in King's Landing wouldn't change that, would it?

　I take a swipe at him as a hassle, and Tory laughs as if he's relaxing his shoulders.

　Oh, it's the usual dumb-looking Tory.

Lately, there's been a lot of business like this with the aristocracy. I'm sorry.

　No, even a brazen guy who uses the word "sss" against a nobleman would have that kind of trouble.

　You don't use that ending with royalty, do you?

But more importantly, Mr. Alfried, I hear you.

What?

　Tory leans back with a sly smile.

　I have a bad feeling about this. It's a disgusting smile that looks a bit like Thor's.

'There are rumors that you had a sword dance with the second son of the Silford family at a party with the tongs, or that you were engaged to the second daughter of the Misfed family.... Rana-sama is four years old, right?　Master Alfried is very quick with his hands!

No!　Because they're both different!　That was a bit like a cute little fight over meat. Also, you're wrong about Rah.

　This is clearly a bad publicity stunt to bring me down. I must deny it once and for all.

''I heard it was a stubborn fight for a child, but Alfried-sama hasn't changed even if he goes to the royal capital.

　If you want to call me rude, I'd like you to be clear about being rude.

So, how's the engagement?

'A misunderstanding, of course. I'm sure every nobleman who was there knew that.

Isn't that right?　There's no way Alfried-sama would get engaged, right? Well, when I first heard the rumors, I was in a hurry.

　........what is it? This is a reaction that makes me angry.

　I feel like those words contain the words, aside from Silvio-sama and Elinora-sama. Is this just my paranoia?

'By the way, it's about the rice!　I'm talking about rice!

　I bang the table with a bang as Tory laughs happily at me.

　If they poke at the story of King's Landing any further, it's going to be detrimental to us, so we cut it off.

''Ah, that's right. Alfried-sama's story is interesting, so I just had to.

As I mentioned in my letter, we don't have any rice, so I need to go buy some.

You mean you want to go out and buy it, not buy it?

　Tori said perceptively.

　Yes, I don't want to buy from Trierra Chamber of Commerce, I want to buy there.

　I would be happy to go with you to buy it if you can.

''That's right. I want to go to the place where the rice is.'

Do you think Lady Nord and Lady Erna will allow it?

　Tori gives me a subtle look at my words, which I clearly answered.

　Eh?　I thought it wasn't around here, but is it that far away?　It was as if my dad would never allow it.

'Is it that far?　I mean, I didn't know I was going to ask, but where's the place with the rice?

　How far is it? Is it as far away as the royal capital?

　When I asked, somewhat uneasily, Tori slowly opened her mouth.

''........The country where the rice is located is called Kagura, on the eastern continent across the ocean.