人与ZO〇交

Note/TL comment:

In case you don\'t know by now, "-san" is an honorific added to a person\'s name. Typically like for acquaintances. It\'s a polite title like adding a "Miss" or "Mr". Also, Laura-san should be addressed with a "-san." This is more like a reminder for myself, as I keep forgetting to add the honorifics, so again please excuse me for forgetting to add that detail in the previous chapters.

The city streets in the territory of the Marquis of Grandeur are bustling, full of life. It’s good that the people of our territory are doing well.

Today, I came to town to shop incognito. I had asked Marie to lend me her childhood clothes so that I wouldn’t be recognized as the daughter of a noble.

“It’s been a long time since I visited a human city.”

For some reason, Leon is following me in the form of a young boy. I told him that he couldn’t come in the appearance of a holy beast because they’re rare, but I had also said that a cat would work. Despite that, he’s still very conspicuous, so I asked him to wear glasses. His different colored eyes are uncommon.

“Milady, what are you looking for?”

“I’m looking for the metal fittings for the lifeline equipment, which will be used in the treehouse, I mentioned yesterday.”

Of course, Marie also followed along. Marie comes to the city to shop sometimes, so she should be familiar with the city.

“Well, in that case, you might be able to find it in a store that sells gardener’s tools.”

“Then, let’s go there.”

I followed Marie. However, we couldn’t find any store that sold items like that.

“Marie. Are we still far away from reaching the store?”

Turning around, Marie looks back at me and bows her head, saying, “I’m sorry, Miss. I got lost.”

“Eh!?”

She was walking without hesitation, so I assumed that she knew the location of the store. Despite her confidence, she was confident and lost.

As I was thinking about what to do from here, a familiar face came up to us.

“Oh? Well, how unexpected, I thought I was mistaken but isn’t this Young Miss Katariona?”

It was Miss Laura, the owner of “Sandorion”, where I ordered my dress from the other day. Help has arrived! When I told Laura-san that I was looking for a store that sold hardware and got lost, she said she knew where I could find a store that dealt in hardware and offered to show me the way.

“I apologize for inconveniencing you, Miss Laura.”

"No, that\'s fine. I have some business to attend in that direction, so it’s no trouble. By the way, why don\'t you ask one of the servants to do the shopping for you instead of going out yourself?"

"Well… You see, I wanted to secretly give some pruning hardware to our gardener who has always been very good to me. I really wanted to pick it out myself, and so, I decided to go out to town in secret~?"

I know it\'s a painful excuse. Thomas, I\'m sorry for using you as an excuse. I\'ll give you some pruning tools as an apology.

"I see. Well, your gardener is lucky to have such a good master. However, although the city is safe, it\'s dangerous for a young lady of nobility to be out and about."

“It’ll be fine. I have an escort.”

I push Leon to the front. Seeing him, Laura-san looks confused.

“…What a cute knight you have.”

“He may look like a child, but he’s very reliable.”

I covered Leon\'s mouth as he tried to deny it. She doesn\'t seem convinced, but Laura simply smiles and says, "I see."

"Around the corner, over there, is the store you want, young lady."

Laura-san pointed to a store just around the corner off the main street. You can see it from here.

"Thank you for showing us the way. Miss Laura."

"You can call me Laura. You don’t need to say keep addressing me with “Miss”."

After thanking Laura for walking us down the main street, we walk off as Laura sees us off. Laura’s such a lovely adult woman. I want to become a woman like her, who gives off an intellectual impression.

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When I entered the store, I found a lot of gardening tools. Unfortunately, I couldn\'t find any lifelines for pruning trees. Maybe I should ask the owner sitting at the back of the store.

"Excuse me… Do you have any of the metal fittings that you use to prune tall trees?"

The owner of the store is an elderly, stubborn-looking man. He has a stout face and a strong physique, just like a true craftsman.

"Ah. Do you mean a carabiner and pulley? I don\'t think so, but little lady, who’s going to be using it?"

The voice that speaks to me is gentle, unlike his rugged appearance.

"Um, well, it\'s for my… grandfather, who\'s a gardener, and my… brother, who helps out."

It’s difficult trying to speak like a commoner.

“I see. Well, give me a minute, I’ll be right back.”

The owner walked into the back of the store and, after a while, brought out a piece of equipment similar to the lifeline Thomas had shown me.

"What about the harness?"

“Harness?”

The owner seemed to have brought a harness with him and showed me the actual product. It looked like a big belt.

"You wrap it around your body like this and attach the carabiner and pulley like this."

The owner personally demonstrated to us how to wear it. I see, so you fasten it by wrapping the belt around your legs and waist? That looks pretty secure.

"Well then, I\'ll take two sets. Also, can you help me find some pruning scissors?"

“Alright. Is it a present?”

“Yes, that’s right. I was asked to get the metal fittings, but the scissors are meant to be a surprise."

Actually, the metal fittings are for Marie and me, while the scissors are a gift for Thomas. It\'s just that metal fittings are quite expensive, so it would be strange for a child to buy them as a gift.

Noblemen and commoners have a very different monetary perception. I\'ve already learned that in my previous life.

"Your grandfather is very lucky to have such a good grandchild. I\'m sure he\'ll be very happy to receive a gift from you."

The metal fittings and scissors were wrapped with cushioning material to prevent them from getting damaged, and the scissors were wrapped in cute packaging.

"The metal fittings set is worth three gold coins, and the scissors are worth one silver coin."

“Thank you.”

I asked Marie to pay for it. This is because having a commoner and a child in possession of gold would look suspicious. I had explained to the shopkeeper that my grandfather was the exclusive gardener for a wealthy merchant, so he was able to buy the goods at his convenience. Everything was true other than the fact that I was a noblewoman.

Because this city is in the Marquis of Grandeur\'s territory, if I say I\'m a noble, people will recognize me.

"It\'s your first errand. You did great."

The owner praised me and patted me on the head, and said, "If your grandpa asks you to do his errands again, come here. I\'ll give you a discount."

Whenever I need hardware, I\'ll be sure to come back to this store.

＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊

Leon didn\'t go into the store. Instead, he waited for me outside. He has a keen sense of smell, so he doesn\'t like the smell of metal equipment. I wondered if he would be okay with all the hardware we were going to use in the treehouse.

"Leon, sorry to keep you waiting."

"Did you get what you came for?"

Marie was carrying our luggage. She\'s surprisingly strong.

"Yes. I got exactly what I wanted. Now I can climb the treehouse."

"That\'s great."

The light reflecting off his glasses prevented me from being able to see his eyes, but I could tell he was smiling because the corners of his mouth were lifted up.

"Hey, Leon. Now that we\'re in town, why don\'t the three of us go out on a date?"

“A date with three people?”

This time, his mouth bent into a crooked line.

“I won’t go into the small details. I just want to go to a café or something.”

"If that\'s the case, there\'s a café that recently opened near Sandorion that has a reputation for their delicious cakes."

I see you\'ve already researched all the best places to eat, Marie. Try not to get lost this time, okay?

[!