Chapter 242: Let’s Get the Stall Ready

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We rented a vacant lot. And I also slapped a flier with an illustration of Ryoku on the town’s billboard, telling people, 『We’re going to run a stall in the evening! Recruiting helpers! Since we’re also going to have a mini-live with a lute, you should all come to visit!』

While staring at the board with my arms folded, I muttered, “I think I should have started from the part whether people can actually read in the first place, but in the worst case, the guildmaster will have his staff read it out.”

“That’d be fine too. But rather than that, your sure ’bout takin’ money?”

Staring at Sword, I seriously told him, “Yes, I’m sure. I hate charity. It’s not a financial issue either. You simply can’t build a good relationship by always giving. If you don’t have money, you can exchange it for something, sing a song, or even work. It might take some time and effort to establish an exchange of money, but doing stuff for free is bad. You should also stop it, no matter what people tell you. On the other hand, donations are different since those allow you to get the other party indebted to you.”

After looking confused for a moment, Sword nodded, “……I see. You got a point, I guess. But wait, donations are okay?”

“The church is based on a different way of thinking to begin with. The folks working over there don’t get paid. In exchange for donations, they offer prayers or help the weak, so it’s not just giving. That’s why they can squarely accept donations, you see? If you believe from the bottom of your heart that 『you’ll give the donation back in a different form or use it for a specific purpose』 without feeling obliged, it won’t be charity, and I also give donations with that idea in mind. And if it’s relief aid, you can hand over the money as long as you want to, if the other party is asking for it. It’ll allow you to feel like you’ve done something good while helping the other party.”

Sword smiled, “Gotcha. I’ll stop treatin’ people without a thought.” Then he stroked my head, “So, what you gonna sell at the stall?”

“Seeing how we’re at a bay, I should use sea food, but today we’ll have all the meat from the subjugation requests. I’ll grill it simply with herbs, and then roast it together with barbecue sauce and veggies. Moreover…I guess I’ll also go with gyoza. Smallish deep-fried gyoza is easy to eat, and while at it, I think I’ll also make a meatball tomato stew. Oh, as garnish, veggies, steamed food, and mayonnaise!”

Sword went down on his knees.

“What’s wrong!?”

“Sounds delicious. Way too delicious. When I thought I’d love to eat it right away while drinkin’ some booze, my body lost all its strength.”

What’s up with that?

＊

After recovering his strength by getting all motivated, Sword completed five guild requests. I went with him on the first one, but because it led to us not encountering any monsters, Sword told me, “Go and prepare the bar. Your not suited for subjugation requests.”

Guuh, grmbl… But, I have no choice, I guess. I don’t want to kill scared monsters either.

“Call me if you find any useful monsters who seem like they wouldn’t be frightened when cooperating with us.”

I started my stall preparations after reminding Sword.

＊

I had enough plates and forks since I had created heaps of them in advance, suspecting that I might need them sooner or later. Since I wanted to make the stall like a Spanish bar, I built a counter and tables for drinking while standing in addition to the chairs and tables I had built beforehands.

Last time, the stall was a success because I got various people to help me out and because people knew my face to some extent, but this time customers might stay away since we’re doing this all of a sudden.

Oh well, I’ll deal with that when the times come. Then again, I suppose it’d also be fine if I can enjoy a drink with just Sword.

＊

As far as I’ve heard from the guildmaster, this town has relatively many late birds. In other towns, people spend their evenings at home once it gets dark and the bars also close before the sun sinks completely, but the capital and this place feel like an urban center of the otherworld with the time after the sun sets being when the real party starts.

It looks like it’s only natural for everyone to bring lamps with them…I have to be careful of fires, I guess.

＊

Now then, if we’re talking about Spanish bars, the first thing coming to mind are tapas. And when it comes to tapas, pinchos are first on the list.

But, the amount of bread is overwhelmingly insufficient. I got only around three baguettes, and on top of that, I’m not quite sure whether I’d be in time, if I started to bake new ones now. I guess, for now I’ll go with baking a stock of crackers.

…As I prepared things while considering all kinds of things, Sword came back.

“For the time being, this is the first game.”

Is there any need for you to deliberately come back here after each request!? What a strong sense of duty!

“Thanks, that’s a big help.”

When I took the monster from him, I suddenly started to wonder why the meat of the monsters in this world tastes well despite them being carnivores.

“Hmm, in the other world, carnivores had such a strong smell that you couldn’t quite eat them, but in this world you can eat monsters despite them being carnivores. How weird.”

When I muttered under my breath, Sword became dumbstruck.

“Monsters don’t eat meat, though?”

“Huh?”

Now it was my turn to become dumbstruck.

Sword explained, “They eat magic stones, not meat. Well, they might eat the flesh around the magic stone. I mean, look, aren’t your charge cows eatin’ grass? The snake of a cockatrice eats small monsters, but that’s for the sake of gettin’ their magic stones. It’s because they’re swallowin’ their food whole. Worms also swallow their prey whole, but normally they eat soil.”

*shooooock*

“…Just shows even more clearly how sinful humans are. In other words, no creature other than humans eats meat, huh!?”

Sword became flabbergasted.

“Personally I think killing for the sake of eating meat or magic stones is basically the same either way.”

…Certainly he’s not wrong about that.

＊

Sword went back hunting while I resumed my cooking.

Given that salt-pickled, fermented meat serves as a great seasoning, I’ll cut it into slices and combine it with fruits and veggies to make pincho.

Okay, then I have to get some veggies next, I suppose.

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