Chapter 33
After making it through the harsh, cold winter, warm spring arrived. I'll be taking the Royal Academy entrance exam next winter and enrolling in the spring after that, so I have only one year left living here.
It was a little sad, but since it wasn't a farewell for the rest of my life, I was more excited than sad.
It had also been a year since I was reincarnated. The time had flown by. I still remembered my life in Japan, but I increasingly felt that I was Leon.
It was sad to gradually forget Japan, but perhaps that was a good thing for living in this world.
There were things I could never forget, though. Comfortable and convenient living, Japanese flavors like soy sauce, miso, and rice, and entertainment like television, smartphones, games, and manga... I really couldn't forget any of them at all!!
The more I remembered, the more I wanted them... For now, I would obtain a comfortable life! After that, I wanted to get soy sauce, miso, and rice, too. I had no idea how, though...
But I wouldn't give up!
One morning that spring, Mom and Dad suddenly told us something.
"Leon, Marie, we're going to your grandparents' place for a week starting tomorrow."
I was shocked to hear that. Come to think of it, it was only natural that I had grandparents...
I hadn't thought of that because I'd been so focused on surviving until now. Besides, I hadn't seen them even once during the past year.
According to Leon's memories... I might have met them when I was very young. But the memories were from so long ago that they were vague, and I couldn't really remember.
"Grandpa and Grandma?"
Marie tilted her head as she asked. If I had only met them when I was too young to remember, Marie probably didn't remember them either.
"That's right. My parents, and Jean's parents. We haven't gone to see them even once since we went when Marie was born, so I thought we'd go this year."
"I'm sure they'll be thrilled to see you and Marie."
If they hadn't gone to visit them at all, that meant they didn't live nearby, right? Were they not in the capital?
"So Grandpa and Grandma aren't in the capital?"
"They are in the capital, but my parents farm, and Roana's parents raise livestock, so they're in the outskirts of the capital. Their family homes are right next to each other."
So they lived on the farmland I could see when we went to the forest! If their family homes were next to each other, that meant they had been childhood friends, right? Were arranged marriages through introductions from parents common in this world, too?
Come to think of it, why hadn't Mom and Dad taken over farming and livestock raising?
"Why didn't you and Mom take over your family's work?"
"I'm the second son. My older brother took over."
"My older brother took over my family's business, too."
I see. So they got married, moved to the city, and started a diner.
...That meant they had bought this house after getting married, right? I thought this was a pretty nice house. Had they bought it? If so, it must have been expensive...
My house has a courtyard and a well. At first, I thought having a well in every house was normal, but apparently it was a great luxury. Most houses shared a single well with the others in their area.
"Did you and Mom move into this house after you got married?"
"That's right. At first, we planned to rent a small room and find work at a workshop, but a merchant who used to come to our family homes to buy supplies introduced us to this house. Apparently, a wealthy merchant had built it for his second son, who wanted to run a diner. But that son never had any children, so there was no one to take over the diner, and the house was offered to us."
"We were really lucky to get this house so cheaply. And I get to stay with Roana, too."
"Jean..."
The two of them gazed into each other's eyes and started acting all lovey-dovey. This was awkward... I had to bring up another topic.
"Um, hey, how far away is my grandparents' place?"
"Well... It wouldn't take that long by carriage, but since we'll be walking, it's fairly far. If we leave in the morning, I think we'll arrive around evening."
What!? It's that far? And we're walking there!?
"Isn't there a carriage service? Like a shared carriage?"
"There aren't any shared carriages going out to the farmland. We'd be lucky if we could get a ride with a merchant, but on the way there, they're carrying goods to sell on the farmland, and on the way back, they're carrying goods to sell in the city. There aren't many merchants who have room for extra passengers."
I see. So we'd be walking...
Well, I exercised and could use body-enhancement magic, so it probably wouldn't be that difficult.
Since I could use magic, I had to at least be prepared to carry everyone's luggage.
"Then we'll have to walk. I'll do my best! I'll carry the luggage, too!"
"Oh, thank you. Then we'll prepare for tomorrow! We'll be closed starting today."
"Okay! What should I bring?"
If we were walking, we couldn't carry very much luggage. Maybe there weren't that many things we needed?
"Leon and Marie, put your own clothes in the baskets we use when we go to the forest and get them ready. Also, prepare a beast-repelling bell and a knife for self-defense, just in case."
"Got it."
"Me too!"
I could carry that much without a problem. Maybe I should bring some souvenirs, too.
"Mom, can I bring some souvenirs?"
"I'm sure they'd be very happy."
"What do you think would be good?"
"Well, both sets of grandparents work outdoors, so I think they'd appreciate something to protect them from the sun, or some tenugui."
"Got it! Then can I go look for some souvenirs?"
"Sure. Be careful."
"Okay!"
Just as I said that and was about to leave, I had a thought. Come to think of it, didn't Mom and Dad each have an older brother, and didn't those brothers have wives and children, too?
"Hey, Mom and Dad each have an older brother, and those brothers have wives and children, too, right?"
"Yes, they do."
"Then do I need more souvenirs?"
"They'd be happy if you had some, but I don't think you need to. We never bring souvenirs. Once we get there, playing with them and helping with their work will be enough."
"I see... Well, I'll think of something! I'm off!"
I left the house and headed toward the street lined with shops, thinking about what would make a good gift. First, I'd look in a store that sold clothes and fabric.
I went to a fabric goods store that seemed to sell the best things around here.
"Welcome. What are you looking for?"
The clerk was a plump older woman. I replied without using polite speech so I wouldn't seem unnatural.
"I want to buy presents for my grandparents. Do you have anything like tenugui?"
"We do. They're over here."
Most of the tenugui there were undyed, but a few had been dyed different colors.
"How much are these colored ones?"
"Those are five small copper coins each. The undyed ones are two small copper coins."
That's five hundred yen and two hundred yen. Well, they weren't too expensive.
I'd go with the colored ones. They were presents, after all.
"I'd like two blue ones and two red ones."
"That'll be twenty small copper coins."
"Can I pay with two copper coins?"
"Sure."
"Here you go."
"Thanks!"
I bought two bluish tenugui and two reddish ones. I thought it would be nice for Grandpa and Grandma to have different colors.
All right, what else should I get? This world didn't have a lot of things, so souvenirs might be difficult to choose.
As I walked down the shopping street, wondering what to get for everyone else, I found a shop selling wooden tableware. Tableware could break and need replacing, so it might make good souvenirs.
I decided to go in. The owner was a sturdy-looking man.
"Welcome! Running an errand, kid? What can I get you?"
"I'm not running an errand. I'm going to meet some relatives soon, so I was looking for souvenirs. Do you have anything good?"
"Then I've got just the thing! These are bamboo water bottles. Apparently, they used to be the standard, but for some reason, leather pouches became popular at some point, and recently these have started becoming popular again. I've tried using one myself, and this is definitely more convenient. I have no idea why leather pouches ever became popular."
So bamboo existed here, too! Come to think of it, there might be some in the forest I always visited... I hadn't looked closely enough to notice.
A bamboo water bottle was definitely easier to use! Leather pouches were incredibly difficult to drink from. Why had they become popular...?
Well, I didn't know what would become popular, but I sensed something deliberate about it...
"How about it, kid? Want one?"
"How much is one?"
"One copper coin each. That's not too expensive, right? Can't afford one, kid?"
That's cheap... Maybe it was because the raw materials could be found everywhere.
More importantly, these might make good souvenirs! If you worked outdoors, staying hydrated was essential. They had hemp cords, so you could hang them around your neck or tie them to your waist. They were really convenient.
I wanted one myself, so I'd buy some for my family, too.
Four for our household and four for my parents' older brothers' families, making eight in total.
"Then I'll take eight of these."
"Eight!? Do you have that much money? That's eight copper coins in total!"
"I barely have enough. Is it okay if I pay with a silver coin?"
"Oh, if you've got it, that's fine. Hang on. Since you bought so many, I'll put them in a hemp sack for you as a bonus. It'd be hard to carry them home otherwise."
"Thanks, sir!"
"No problem. Here you go. Two copper coins in change and eight bamboo water bottles."
"Thank you!"
"Come back if you need anything else."
"Okay!"
Great, I'd made some good purchases. This would make going to the forest more convenient, too! In truth, I didn't need a water bottle because I could use water magic, but everyone thought I had the healing attribute, so I couldn't use water magic without being found out. I wanted to be able to use it whenever I wanted...
As for the children, I didn't know what they needed. But I was pretty sure there was still some sugar left, so maybe I could bring it along and make them some sweets.
With that in mind, I headed home.