Summer arrived once again, and I turned nine.


    I returned to the Mird territory, where I focused my all on managing Sagami Co. and Tote and delving deeper and training in the 『Ancient Forest』.


    First was Sagami Co.


    With Rainer''s introduction, I was able to cheaply purchase a shop and a residence for mypany.


    The residence was a 4-story building, located in Straheim''s suburbs, and the fact that it was an entire storyrger than the Mird family''s could only be called ironic. At the very least, it was excessivelyrge for the ten of us, and we would primarily use the first floor.


    The shop, on the other hand, was a fancy 3-story brick building that ran along the main street. Because the building and its location were quite luxurious, it was apparently even more expensive than Sagami Co''s.


    Still, even though we were running a store, we hadn''t decided anything for the menu. I nned to open the store once we finished the menu, but focused too much on developing seasonings, and as a result, opened the store around half a yearter.


    We developed the following four seasonings.


    We created miso, soy sauce, and vinegar out of the soy (soybeans) and riso (rice). I had first thought these simple to make, but much to my chagrin, it took several months to reach them to reach a level that I was familiar with. I couldn''t do much with just knowledge, as it was out of my expertise. Vinegar, especially, was especially hard to make with yeast.


    The final seasoning was mayonnaise, created with vige eggs, vinegar, and sd oil drawn out from soybeans.


    The foods that would appear on the menu would be a simple stew of meat and vegetables with miso and soy sauce, soy sauce-vored yakiniku, vegetables stir-fried with miso and One-Horned Boar, and sd dressed with mayonnaise.


    However, even though this would be quite the in lineup on Earth, it wouldn''t be an exaggeration to call these seasonings the blood, toil, tears, and sweat of the Japanese. It took quite a lot of money to get here, but customers got addicted left and right, and the restaurant soon overflowed with adventurers and merchants.


    As a result, we decided that we couldn''t continue running the restaurant with just 10 people. So just the other day, we decided to hire more people to manage the store so we could focus on developing other foods.


    Well, even Ca gained mountains of experience during this half-year, and her etiquette remarkably improved, so right now she was finding sess attracting customers to the store, but she still returned to the same-old demanding girl once the store closed and the customers left.


    In any case, we had finally began developing a working menu.


    We haven''t been following Sagami Co.''s original objective---developing convenient things from culture, ever since the clock. It was obvious that if we went at it with this many people, there wouldn''t be enough for everyone to do, but most importantly, Leroy was working on making more clocks so he couldn''t help create other contraptions.


    Next was Tote''s management.


    For defense, we officially organized a security squad with Mos as its leader, and they began protecting the vige. It was also good that squad was always on reserve so that they could increase their defense capabilities.


    In order to put them on reserve, we had to do a 180 on Tote''s management. Basically, we had to turn a self-centered mishmash of a group into a single organization that focused on structure.


    It was the first step to the security squad. In exchange for a sry, they would uphold public safety, fight, and solve any problems that might arise while defending the vige.


    The security squad''s first mission was remodeling the vige.


    I made everyone in the squad learn earth magic, had them dig deep trenches around the perimeter and set up high walls that covered the vige with said magic. Additionally, I created watchtowers to oversee the area around the vige.


    Since I had already destroyed the goblin nest, which was the most powerful thing nearby, the previously oppressed kobolds and orcs rose up and attacked the vige.


    However, we easily repelled their attacks with our walls and trenches, and quickly annihted them with magic and bows fired from the watchtowers.


    Once the vige''s remodeling nearedpletion, I began focusing on battle training. I talked with Caesar in Straheim and invited one of his associates toe in as an instructor. He said the vigers'' skills would soon rise, so I''m excited to see how far they''ll go in a couple of years.


    There were also new members for the security squad---the winged fairies that had been captured by the goblins and had chosen to live in the vige.


    However, they didn''t feel good just freeloading, so they actively helped out with reconstructing the vige. They originally had diligent personalities, so they put effort into ever job no matter how menial it was, and the vigers gradually opened up to them.


    Then, just about a week ago, we heard that they wanted to protect the vige as well, so we gave them permission.


    Originally, their growth rate waspletely different from humans, so they''d probably be put as the squad''s main force.


    The livestock and agricultural side also went extremely well.


    All the vigers helped plow the fields, and we nted soy (soybeans) and let Uru (sheep) graze thend.


    We sheared their wool and made cheese by adding vinegar to their milk. Almost all the money made from selling those products was put into the vige''s savings, and a portion was used to buy other provisions.


    Once spring arrived, we nted rye, which grew surprisingly well. There was seven or eights times more than before, so we were able to keep a lot even though 50% was taken out as tax. Now, there was plenty in storage, and we could turn the rest into cash if we so chose to.


    Incidentally, other than a small percent, the women captured by the goblin wanted to stay in Tote. Honestly, I don''t understand what they''re thinking. Still, it might someplicated feeling about wanted to reset everything and start a new life.


    In any case, Tote''s management was going swimmingly, and I was quite pleased to be able to obtain plenty of data on agriculture and animal husbandry.


    Next was exploring and studying the 『Ancient Forest』.


    I obtained a new magic after wandering around the 『Ancient Forest』, finding magic stones and precious drops.


    I would repeatedly drain my magic to a set point at night before casting my recovery magic and fall asleep. As a result, my stats improved remarkably.


    Grey Mird


    Status


    HP: D (12/100%)


    MP: B (9/100%)


    Strength: D (34/100%)


    Endurance: D- (13/100%)


    Magic: B (3/100%)


    Magical Endurance: D (44/100%)


    Agility: D+ (4/100%)


    Luck: D+ (1/100%)


    Drop: D+ (57/100%)


    Wisdom: ΛΦΨ


    Growth Rate: ΛΦΨ


    My Magic and MP finally reached B, and as expected, Strength and Endurance didn''t grow much.


    Sate, Judo, and Ca followed a simr training regimen, and their Magic and MP reached E+, while the others reached an average of E.


    I also made Judo''s group learn high-rank magic, so unless something really bad happened, they shouldn''t lose.


    As for me, I learned the basics of top-rank fire, water, earth, and wind magic, as well as special-rank magic like light and dark magic. [1]


    Incidentally, healing series magic is ssified as holy-type magic. Well, that''s just how the magicians of this world ssify it, and I''ve some doubts of its veracity.


    Right now I''m in Straheim''s tradingpany''s reception office with Judo and Ca, as we were beckoned over by the Commerce Guild.


    It seems to be about the royalties of the 『Hand Pump』and the 『Clock』. I''ve been focusing on what to do after I turn 13, and so have been far more concerned about the experimental management of Tote and my restaurant, so I''vepletely forgotten about the inventions.


    "Sorry for the wait, Grey-dono," Arge man, the Director of Straheim, Ikose mo, bowed once before sitting down in front of me.


    "Hey there, Ikose-san. Congrattions on your promotion to Branch Leader."


    "Please, this was also thanks to your efforts, Grey-dono. That 『Clock』brought us mountains of profit, and President Rainer wanted to meet you as well."


    Former Branch Leader Rainermonly stayed in the capital as the Commerce Guild President, and Ikose often delivered invitations to said capital. Things seem to be working out for him because he''s so busy.


    "Yeah, I want to visit the capital too, and I n to once I turn 13," I said.


    "That''s good. You should be working on a bigger stage, Grey-dono."


    I always think this, but I feel like he''s always overestimating my abilities, though I am happy about it.


    "Thank you for thepliment," I said. "So what did you want to talk about?"


    "First, these documents detail the royalties on the 『Hand Pump』and the 『Clock』.


    Royalties -- Grey Mird


    Hand Pump: 300021 Gold, 51 Silver 22 Copper


    Clock:  1530094 Gold 06 Copper


    Total: 1839862 Gold 51 Silver 28 Copper


    "That''s quite the amount," I remarked.


    1.83 million gold. I thought of the hand pump for Sate''s sake, and the clock was for my own convenience during future research and business prospects. To be honest, I only thought about earning enough money so that I could freely move about. To think that I would rake in this much......


    "1, 10, 100, 1 000, 10 000, 100 000, 1 000 000, 1 830 000," Ca counted. "Um, it costs 100G to supply our vige with food for a year, so this is......"


    "18 000 times more!!" Judo shouted as Ca paled.


    I''ve since taught them several things, and they''ve mastered simple calctions. Judo was especially diligent from get-go and put everything into studying, even going so far as to cut into his sleep. He was a promising student and top of his ss.


    "Haha, you immediately realized how grand this amount is," Ikoseughed. "That''s plenty promising. Also, President Rainer earned even more than Grey-dono did."


    "More than Boss did!? Is he a monster!?" Judo shouted.


    "A monster, huh. That might be true. The Commerce Guild''s assets arerger than any country. You''ve got promise. Train and study under Grey-dono. If you do so, someday you''ll surely be able to see this view.


    "The view that Boss sees......" Judo whispered in ecstasy. Judo and Ca are pretty smart, but I can''t deny that they can be reckless sometimes. I try not to stir up that side of them.


    "It''s not fair that it''s just you, onii-chan. What about me!?"Ca pouted.


    "Weren''t you trying to be a doctor?" Ikose asked.


    "Yeah, but..."


    Ever since the raidst year, she''s found interest in healing the sick and injured. I slowly been slowly teaching her the basics, and she''s been excelling, probably because she''s interested in the subject.


    I nned to test her once her skills and knowledge reached a certain level. Obviously, I n to make it next to impossible, but if she passes despite that, then I''ll throw her a celebration party fitting for her achievement.


    "Oh, also, this is from President Rainer," Ikose said, handing me a letter.


    It''s probably another invitation toe and mess around the capital. Uncharacteristically for Ikose, it looks like he''s gotten homesick.


    "Thank you. I''ll take a look at it immediately," I said as I opened it up. And as I thought, the contents said there was someone he wanted to meet, so I shoulde to the capital.


    I don''t want to be conspicuous right now. I''m already known as the son of some poor noble who somehow has close connections with the top of the Commerce Guild. I''llpose a letter of refusalter on.


    "Well, we''ll take our leave now."


    "Yeah."


    I bid farewell, putting a mask on as I left the room. The mask was because I''ve recently attracted a lot of attention, and I''ve named myself Shirabe Sagami while under its guise.


    Straheim''s church clock rang 3 o''clock---the clock was abination of my designs of the bell and time and Rainer''s requests.


    Developing the clock changed the lifestyle of those in the empire, no, the entire world.


    First of all, the central church of mankind''s religion, The Holy Light, dered the usage of clocks.


    The various countries of the world, including the empire, agreed with the church, and in the blink of an eye, the clocks spread throughout the world.


    This was all aplished by Rainer''s Commerce Guild spreading word on every front, of course, but as a result, the world obtained the power to tell time.


    However, due to wealthy merchants and high-ranking nobles, the clock didn''t spread to the general public. Well, it''ll take a while for the concept of time to normalize anyways. At the very least, it would be several years before clocks truly because an everyday item.


    "Leroy-san, long time no see," I said.


    "Yo, Grey."


    "How''s the work on the new clock?"


    "Going smoothly. I mean, I''ve gotten a little tired of developing clocks."


    Figures. Leroy had been tasked by the Commerce guild, and recently has been doing nothing but developing clocks.


    "Then would you now consider joining mypany?"


    "No question about it. I want to make something that''ll get my heart going again."


    If Leroy joined mypany, the path to developing goods would open up again. There''ll probably be a small influx of new inventions in the future.


    "Let''s settle the paperwork another time. For now, could you try making this?" I asked and handed Leroy a blueprint.


    "A transparent board---ss......"


    ss was a fundamental, and moreover, extremely important material developed through culture and science. Without ss, scientific experiments would go nowhere.


    It wasn''t that difficult to make ss in it of itself.


    You take silica sand, created from weathered granite, as well as sodium bicarbonate and limestone, created from trona.


    The mines of this world currently mine for gold, silver, copper, and iron, while other minerals like silica sand, limestone, trona, and even coal are thrown away inrge quantities.


    If you heated trona with coal coke, you could get sodium bicarbonate. And before you know it, there''s ss.


    Still, it''s unknown whether the minerals of this world function the same as those on Earth, so I purchased some test materials from Giresse.


    If all went well, I could buy up the gold, silver, copper, and iron abandoned from the mines at dirt-cheap. And it''d be possible with the fortune I''ve amassed so far.


    "Yeah, it''s transparent so you could use it for tableware and windows; it''ll revolutionize living."


    "I''m always thinking this, but where did you get this knowledge from."


    "It''s just an idea. That''s why I''m asking you to make a trial piece."


    "Well, sure. I''ll get on it then," Leroy said as he went deeper into the room, and after giving him a light bow, we left the workshop.


    ◇◆◇◆◇◆


    "You really won''te with me to the capital, Grey?" Aqua asked me yet again while I was eating with the servants in the kitchen.


    Incidentally, after returning home from training in Straheim, Aqua somehow knew I was eating with the servants in the kitchen and began eating with us as if it were a good thing.


    Aqua had just gotten into the empire''s Magic Knight Academy. First Cliff, and now Aqua; my stepmother was surely jumping for joy. And so, Aqua would be returning to the capital tomorrow.


    Recently, every time Aqua opened her mouth it was to ask me this question. Some type ofst-minute persuasion, I guess.


    "Thank you, dear sister, but I hear the empire is expensive. I don''t have any assets in this family," I answered as a feeling of relief washed over me.


    "I talked with Father about that matter. So, please?"


    It was certainly alluring to not have to see eyesores like my stepmother and Linda, but I didn''t want to be in debt to my father and having him refuse me leaving the Mird family in the future would be really annoying.


    But my stepmother and Linda frequently harass me.


    They make me clean and doundry, and if there''s even a speck of dust, they''ll burst into rage and order me to do it all over again. They also order me, a child, to chop with a dangerous axe and patrol at night.


    However, their remarks go in one ear and out the other, and I''vee to be able tomunicate with the other servants while cleaning, doingundry, and chopping wood, so I''m quite thankful. Any nine-year-old would be afraid of patrolling the mansion at night, but unfortunately for them, I''m actually a middle-aged man and there''s no way I''d get scared by that.


    In short, despite not being able to do anything about it, their harassment doesn''t bother me in the least. Moreover, it''s far more important to make sure there aren''t any obstacles preventing me from leaving the future.


    "It''s a promising proposal, but in any case, I n to leave the family and visit the capital when I turn 13 anyways, so I''ll wait until then."


    "Young Master, are you really going to leave thisnd once you turn 13?" Dom asked the same-old question as a thick unease crept onto his face.


    "Well yeah. It''s been arranged that way from the start so..."


    "Once I graduate from the academy, I n to live in the capital as well. I guess I''m okay with this then," Aqua said, giving her consent. Actually, recently Aqua has been saying, ''Grey, you can''t stay in a ce like this,'' every time we meet.


    "Aqua-ojousama, wouldn''t it better for Young Grey to seed Mird?" one servant murmured.


    Aqua sighed in response, and silently red at Sebastian. "Sorry, but it''s a rule among nobles; I think either Cliff-oniisan or Linda-oneesan is going to seed the position." She gave a dryugh, as if she had already given up on the future of this family. She probably things that only I can be saved.


    I don''t know what kind of conflict Aqua, who has a strong sense of justice, has had to brave in order to reach that conclusion, but it probably wasn''t anything normal. The dark rules of this empire are just that deep I guess.


    "Dear sister, please be careful."


    She''s done a lot for me, so there were no lies in that statement.


    "Thanks," Aqua said. "However, if it''s too much to bear juste to the capital. Promise me that at least."


    "I promise."


    Aqua stood up and embraced me, trembling all the while---she was probably crying. I don''t know if it was from separating with me, or from not being able to do anything here. No, it might have been both.


    The next day, Aqua departed for the capital. When Cliff went, only a few officials and the Mirage vige head were there to see him off, but every Mirage viger went to see Aqua off. Aqua must have been toiling for this vigers of thisnd, at least, that''s what that difference shows.


    [1] For those who don''t remember since the nomenture doesn''t make it immediately obvious, the ordering used so far is Low, Middle, High, Top, Special.