「Now then, Roa。Answer me straightforwardly。Who is this person？」
Haruto listened as Roa, and the mysterious girl sat straight down。
「This is Aisha-san of the desert people。I met her in the middle of shopping……。We became friends。」
Shy little Roa was able to make friends。He should be pleased about it。If it’s a friend、it was a bit annoying to come home without being notified、but it’s within the allowable range。
「So why was she in the closet？It’s not like you’re playing hide and seek right？」
That’s the biggest mystery。I do not know the reason for hiding her。
「There are important reasons for that……Anyway, please listen to me。」
After Haruto went out, Roa went out to buy a wine screw。After purchasing cheese and while walking down the road trying to get home、she found a beautiful girl with brown skin lying down。
Since she can’t ignore it while pa.s.sing by、Roa called out。
「Are you okay？」
「……H……ungry。」
「Eh！？What is it？」
「I’m hungry……。」
Apparently, she seems to be hungry。The Roa right now is working at Asuma’s Store but was initially an orphan begging on the street。She knows the harshness of hunger、and that it wasn’t other people’s business。
Roa decided to give the cheese and bread for the time being to ease the hunger。After the brown-skinned beautiful girl finished eating it with great momentum、she thanked Roa and introduced herself。
The desert people are ethnic groups living in the desert。They trade with Claris, but sometimes we have a deep relationship with war。Since war just happened three years ago、the connection is terrible, and you wouldn’t see much of them recently。
The desert people are famous worldwide as combative people. They’re an ethnic group that threw out the invasion of the Thunder King Anders IV due to them having superhuman physical strength. The fists of a desert people can kill a lion with one blow, and a spear blow can pierce a dragon’s scales. It is said that each of them is comparable to 100 trained soldiers.
Honestly, it’s a c.o.c.k-and-bull story but, it’s a fact that the desert people have high combat capabilities。Roa heard about the desert people from Aisha with the price of cheese and bread。
While talking、Roa and Aisha hit it off and they became very good friends。When she became friends with Roa、she heard the reason why she was in Claris and why she collapsed。
「I want to see what the world in the West is like。But if you walk through the streets, your wallet will be stolen. Moreover, you’ll be chased around by slave hunters……。Thank you so much for your help。」
Desert people sell at high prices。Many people try to kidnap desert people aiming to get rich quick。Of course it’s a criminal act, but the relationship between Claris and the desert people are not good。So it was tolerated。
Roa sympathized deeply with Aisha。She wanted to help Aisha。
「Will you come home with me？You can hide there for a while……。」
「Eh！Really？Thank you！！」
Aisha was delighted and embraced Roa。At that moment, Aisha’s big b.r.e.a.s.t.s touched Roa’s arms。Roa thought at that time。Maybe Haruto will probably get taken by her。
Aisha is a beautiful girl。Roa does not feel like she’ll lose in appearance but Aisha has better style。Moreover, their ages are similar with Haruto。More than anything、beautiful blonde hair and brown skin create an exotic atmosphere。
She might lose in collective strength……。
Roa has grown recently、beautiful hair like ruby would not lose to Aisha。But Aisha is very mysterious。If Haruto is stunned by Aisha……。
Roa lied for a bit。Saying that the man that lived with her hated desert people。So when he comes home, hide。
Aisha swallowed it。
「That’s why……。I’m sorry!!」
Roa is half-crying。On the other hand, Haruto has a bitter smile。He was too stupid to get angry over something so ridiculous。
Haruto sighs and caressed the head of Roa who was crying。
「I guess we have no choice。Don’t ever do it again。」
When Haruto speaks kindly、Roa embraces Haruto。
「Haruto-san！！」
She buried her face in Haruto’s chest and held Haruto’s body tightly。Haruto does not feel bad either、they just hugged each other。
「Ano~(Uhm)、am I good now？」
When Haruto and Roa started having an atmosphere between each other、Aisha called out to the two people。Roa’s face turned red and started to leave Haruto。
「Is it really alright since Asuma-sama hates desert people？」
Aisha tries to confirm with Haruto。Haruto nods。
「Ah、that’s Roa’s lie。I do not dislike desert people、there is no such feelings。You do not need to add -sama to my name。」
When Haruto says so, and Aisha had a relieved look。
「Well then、Haruto。I wonder if I can stay here for a while？」
Aisha talks with caution。Haruto answered with a smile。
「There seems to be somewhat complicated circ.u.mstances。I do not care。However、I’m not so kind that I’ll let you stay for free。」
「So then、what should I do？」
「That’s right……。I’m sure you definitely have some strength？Do heavy work at the factory where we operate。Because all the workers in the factory are slaves, you cannot leak out any information。And teach me the language of the desert people。And then I want coconut oil. I want to buy it from the desert people somehow。Please introduce me。」
Honestly, the presence of Aisha is preferable for Haruto。By selling favor to the desert people、he was able to grab a clue on how to get coconut oil。
「The factory and language is okay。Leave it to me。Coconut oil is……it’s difficult in my position。Oh well、I’ll try my best。」
Aisha smiled, and answered。Haruto wished that he could just accept those words, no problems。
「By the way, you are good at Krist language。Where did you learn it？」
Haruto casually said, but Aisha answered while shivering。
「It’s something I must learn at home。I was taught。I thought that I have no use for such a thing……I didn’t know that I’ll fall back on it to save my life。」
「I see。」
Haruto nodded and holds out his hand。Aisha got a red face for a moment、she took Haruto’s hand。
「Nice to meet you。Haruto Asuma。」
「Nice to meet you too。Aisha。」
「Mumumumumu！」
When the two people shake hands、Roa raised a groan。
「Why are you abandoning me so suddenly！Even I have to attach “-san”！」
Roa complains to Aisha。Haruto turns to Roa and says。
「Well then、why don’t you also drop the honorific。」
「Is that so。Then I won’t hesitate。Ha-Haruto……-san。Ha-Haruto、Ha-Haruto……」
Roa tries to call Haruto’s name without honorifics several times。After a while、Roa has a red face、stomping her feet in frustration。
「Enough！！」
Roa puffed up her cheeks and turned around。Haruto laughs seeing it。
「You should call me the easiest way for you。」
After Haruto said that、he lifted the wine bottle。
「By the way, do you drink wine？」
Aisha nodded heavily。
「Head hurts……。」
Haruto got up from the bed while holding his head。
Yesterday, three people drank the wine that he bought。Because the wine flew away quickly、they bought a couple of additional ones. That was bad。Roa was the first to go down、then Haruto crashed followed by Aisha。
「After that I entered the bed without washing my body……。」
Haruto casually put his hand to the side。Dangerous weapons touched Haruto’s hands。
「Na~」
He heard a feverish voice from below。In a panic, he took his hand back、it was Aisha’s b.r.e.a.s.t.s。Fortunately、she didn’t woke up。Haruto moved away from Aisha、and went to wash his body。
After washing his body and returning、Aisha was awake。She rubbed her sleepy eyes。
「Good morning。How about washing your face？」
「Un(Yup)。Going。」
Aisha heads to the well outside。
「Haruto-san、good morning。」
Roa raised her voice to Haruto as she exited the warehouse。She had cleaning tools on her hand。
「Ah、good morning。Thank you for your hard work。」
「No no、this is nothing。」
Roa answered while smiling。
As Aisha finished washing her face and came back、she had a light breakfast. Because Haruto and Roa do not eat much in the morning、it’s only bread and cheese。Three people finished eating breakfast at once。
「Roa、take Aisha to the factory。I’ll go to secure some slaves and pots。」
The slaves he bought two months ago have gotten used to the production of soap。The results of talking with Roa、they decided to add 15 slaves after that。With this, the number of slaves will be 60。It seems necessary to add a building to increase it further。
「Yes。I will explain it well。」
「What is it……。Why are you here？」
The voice of Eugene was sinking。If you look closely there are dark circles around his eyes。
「Looks like you’re tired。Did something happen？」
As Haruto asked closely、Eugene answered with a sigh。
「Ah。Recently there are many……。」
What is the incident that made Eugene look this tired。Haruto was interested、but he suppressed his curiosity and told him what he wanted。
「I see。Slave……。Prepare it in one month。But it’s expensive。170,000。」
「Oi！Isn’t it too high？」
Because the last price was 150,000、it means that it went up by 20,000。
「It was too cheap so far. Calm down. The price per people is low at 150,000. 170,000 is also cheaper. If you have a grudge, then take it out on the Empire’s new Emperor. Ever since His Majesty Westly ascended to the throne、the economy is improving. The slaves are decreasing accordingly. Slave merchants around the world are screaming. Because the money lending business is my main job、it’s a good thing that the economy is good.」
The overall price seems to be rising as well。It cannot be helped。Haruto signed the contract。
「I want 10 pots。I would like to have it in one month、how much does it cost？」
Haruto told Bacchus。Bacchus answered after thinking for a while。
「10 pieces in one month……。I don’t think so。It’s a different story if the price is special。」
「How much is it？」
Haruto said so、Bacchus smiled and answered while grinning。
「Maybe 550,000。Actually I would like to say 600,000、but you seem to be looking after me in the future。And recently the price of iron is falling thanks to the new emperor。」
Since the Emperor Westly took the throne、the war between the empire and the kingdom ceased。It seems that due to the wars decreasing, the price of iron is falling。
「No problem。I’ll pay 550,000。」
When Haruto signed the contract、Bacchus smiled joyfully。
「Every time。Take care of me in the future。」
On the other hand、Roa and Aisha were in the factory。
「Aisha, please bring the olives and the ashes。」
「Alright。」
Aisha went to the warehouse while saying so。
「Ne~(Hey you)、Roa-chan。That cute child of the desert。Why is she in such a place？」
Pudding asks Roa。Roa looked back at Pudding and replied。
「I heard that she had no money since her wallet was stolen。She is also being targeted by slave hunters。So I decided to keep her for a while。」
「I see~。You are a good person~。Do the desert people……want to sparー。」
When Pudding says so、Aisha came out of the warehouse。Holding five barrels of olives。
「Where should I put this？」
Aisha’s expression showed that she still has some leeway。Roa answered with surprise。
「E~tto、please carry it towards the person over there。」
「Understood！」
Saying that、Aisha carries the olives with a trot。
「W-Well~。That’s awesome……。If I tried to spar, I would be strangled……。」
Pudding mutters while breaking out in a cold sweat。The story of killing a lion bare-handed might not be a lie。
「I agree。By the way, why do the desert people get trapped by slave hunters？Even though they’re so strong……。」
Roa looked at Aisha、doubting。It seems tough to tie them up with that strength。
「U~n、if a large number of people shoots an arrow painted with numbness medicine, it will do something？After catching them……hemp rope will be torn off most likely、so might need an iron chain？」
To Roa’s question、Pudding answered。Because she’s a mercenary、she seems to be stimulating a battle in her mind。
While Roa was talking about this, Aisha had gone back and forth to get the barrels many times。
「It seems good to leave all the heavy lifting to Aisha。This will increase the work efficiency of producing the soap。」
You can’t get this much labor just by providing lodging。It was a good bargain if she thought about it now。
「I don’t know how to fall in my life。」
Roa instinctively says so。
「I just noticed that there is only one bed in this room。What to do。」
Haruto suddenly said。
「That’s what I’m talking about。N？Where are Roa and Haruto sleeping？」
Haruto and Roa point to the double bed。Aisha blushed。
「U-unmarried man and woman sleeping in a bed together……。Shameful！」
Roa had a red face、refuting Aisha。
「B-besides I have not done anything that I should be guilty about。Besides, Haruto-san is like my fiancee……。」
Haruto smiles bitterly。It’s certainly not preferable for an unmarried man and woman to lie down on the same bed。
「So what are you going to do？Should I sleep on the floor？」
「If Haruto-san sleeps on the floor, I would also sleep on the floor。Please use the bed Aisha。」
「Well、if I’m going to sleep I won’t sleep on the bed、it’s strange that you, the Lord of the house, is sleeping on the floor。I will sleep on the floor。」
「No、Aisha is a guest of Roa。I’m uneasy making a friend of Roa’s sleeping alone on the floor……。」
「Well then、should I sleep in the slave dormitory？」
「That’s no good。It’s insane to make the guests sleep in the same building as slaves！」
Three people continue to talk to each other。Eventually、
「Let’s sleep on the bed with three people。From right to left Haruto-san、me、then Aisha and there should be no problem。」
It was settled by Roa’s proposal。
November Balance
Income: ~15,000,000（30,000 soap）
Expenses: Total……17,730,000
2,550,000（slave）550,000（pot）2,000,000（slave maintenance cost）100,000（shop rental & maintenance fee）60,000（four carriage rental fee）9,000,000（olive oil 1300 barrels）1,200,000（seaweed ash 1200 barrels）300,000（mercenaries）10,000（salary）10,000（salt）450,000（sales tax）1,500,000（income tax）Earnings－Expenses ＝－2,730,000
Liabilities: 20,000,000
Balance: 2,890,000
Real Property: －17,110,000
Other Property: 45 slaves
Staff
Accounting officer and slave director: Roa SamarasMercenaries: Rusk & PuddingWarehouse 1（warehouse attached to store）: 300 soap
Warehouse 2（warehouse attached to slave accomodation）:
17 pots20 olive casks15 barrels of seaweed ash