Chapter 39 - The True Form of the Dinette Sofa
Translator's Note: We have caught up with the raws, so we will transition from daily updates to updating whenever chapters are available.
I returned the cart to the Merchant Guild’s warehouse.
“Hey. Looks like you made quite a profit today.”
As I was filling out the return paperwork in the lobby, Orlando called out to me.
“...Are you asking for a cut of the earnings?”
“No! Our guild doesn’t do shady mafia stuff like that! How rude!”
“Well, if you approach me with that intimidating look, of course, I’d misunderstand.”
The receptionist who took the paperwork chuckled at my remark.
But she quickly stifled her laughter and retreated to the back, perhaps remembering Orlando was her boss
“Firelighters, survival sheets, stainless steel utensils... all stuff I’ve never seen before. Convenient things, huh?”
Orlando was holding some of the outdoor gear I’d been selling at the cart. He must’ve had one of his subordinates buy it for him, since I would’ve noticed if he’d come by himself.
“So, this is what the White Fenrir meant when he said you were the only one who could provide what he wants, huh?”
“......”
As the master of the Merchant Guild, Orlando seemed to have picked up on the fact that the items I provided were special.
He probably assumed I had some kind of unique skill or connections.
“I won’t pry too much, but I feel a bit more at ease now that I understand part of why the White Fenrir follows you.”
Not sure how to respond, I stayed silent as Orlando let out a sigh of relief.
“That’s good to hear.”
“The guild’s been flooded with inquiries. Do you plan to keep selling these items regularly?”
“Yes. I’m thinking of selling them on an irregular basis.”
While running the cart was fun, I couldn’t do it every day.
After all, the reason I’m earning money is to maintain a comfortable life in my camper van.
I could probably make a living just by selling items from the Shop, but that’s not the kind of life I’m looking for.
“Any plans to wholesale these to the Merchant Guild?”
“No. There’s a limit to how much I can provide, and I’m not sure how long I’ll be staying here.”
If I bought everything in bulk from the Shop and wholesaled it to the guild, I could earn a steady income without working, but I’m not ready to expand my business that far yet.
If I do, it’ll be after I’ve settled down a bit more.
“I see. In that case, could I buy a few sets to present to the country or the lord? If they understand that not only the White Fenrir, but also you, his master, hold significant value, it’ll make the familiar registration process smoother.”
“Makes sense. That’s fine with me.”
If it’s just a small favor to make things easier, selling a few items individually isn’t a problem. I’d hate for someone to think of eliminating me as the master to exploit Haku’s power.
“Three sets for eight copper coins.”
“Are you sure about that price? If you sold these to collectors or nobles, you could get dozens of gold coins per set.”
“I want to keep the outdoor gear affordable for adventurers and regular folks.”
The reason I decided to sell outdoor gear wasn’t just because I love camping—it was also because I heard from Franz and the others about the inconveniences of camping in this world.
In a world with monsters, camping isn’t something you can do casually, but I want adventurers who venture outside to enjoy a more comfortable experience.
“...If that’s your intention, then do as you please.”
“Thank you.”
I handed over three sets of stainless steel plates to Orlando in exchange for two silver coins and four copper coins.
“By the way, I’m thinking of registering with the Adventurer Guild too...”
“The Adventurer Guild?! That’s great! Do it, do it! Want me to write you a recommendation letter?”
“Why do you look so happy about this?”
You’d think registering with two guilds would be frowned upon, but Orlando seemed thrilled, throwing an arm around my shoulder and encouraging me.
“If both the Merchant Guild and the Adventurer petition for the White Fenrir’s familiar registration, even the country or the lord won’t be able to ignore it!”
Ah, I see. Splitting the responsibility between two guilds would make things easier for Orlando as the Merchant Guild Master.
“Plus, if you cause any trouble, we can openly call on the Adventurer Guild for help.”
“We’re not going to cause any trouble.”
“Anyway, I’ll write that letter right away. Wait here!”
Orlando, in high spirits, disappeared into the staff area and quickly returned with a letter of recommendation for the Adventurer Guild.
●
After receiving the recommendation letter from Orlando, I left the Merchant Guild. The sky had turned crimson, so I decided to head back to the inn for the day.
“So, how much did you earn from that cart today?”
Haku asked as we walked back to the inn.
“About sixteen gold coins.”
“Ho! Not as much as the monster materials I’ve hunted, but not bad for you, Tohru.”
I wish he’d either compliment me or brag, not both.
In terms of my previous life’s currency, that’s about 160,000 yen for a day’s work.
It makes working at a company seem ridiculous.
From what Orlando said, the Merchant Guild has been flooded with inquiries, and it doesn’t seem like the demand will die down anytime soon.
If I kept this up for a month, I could easily earn over 400 gold coins.
“At this rate, if I sold more profitable items instead of outdoor gear, I could make even more.”
“But you’re not going to, are you?”
“Not really.”
For now, I’m not planning to dive deep into business.
I’d much rather travel the world in my camper van.
As Haku and I chatted about the day’s earnings, we arrived at the inn.
I went around to the back of the inn, summoned the camper van, opened the door, and stepped inside.
Too lazy to head to the permanent bed in the back, I dove straight onto the dinette sofa.
“I’m exhausted!”
The lounge sofa is a bit cramped for an adult to sprawl out on.
That’s when I remembered the lever under the dinette table. Pulling it and pushing down from above lowers the table. Once it’s fully lowered, I place a custom mattress on top, turning it into a makeshift bed about 160 cm long and 1 meter wide.
Now I can relax to my heart’s content.
Today, I was on my feet all day at the cart, and my legs are killing me.
The unfamiliar customer service work also left me mentally drained.
As I lay there, Haku spoke up in his usual haughty tone.
“Hey, Tohru. Isn’t it about time for dinner?”
“......”
I wondered if this was how a mother felt when preparing a meal for her husband and children.
When you’re this exhausted, having a son fresh from club activities or a husband just back from work demanding food would be downright irritating.
But one of the conditions for Haku being my familiar is that I provide delicious meals.
Boycotting and telling him to make it himself is simply not an option.
“Give me a second. I’m thinking about what to make. Something quick and tasty...”
“Meat. I want meat. Just grill it.”
Haku’s first word is always meat, and his second word is also meat.
Asking him for dinner requests is pointless.
I brushed off Haku’s demands and decided on dinner.
“Alright, let’s make hot pot!”
Even in my exhausted state, I can manage this.
“There’s meat in it, right?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll add plenty of meat.”
To shut Haku up about meat, I quickly got to work preparing dinner.
I set up a table outside and placed a gas stove on it.
No energy for a campfire today, so this’ll have to do.
I grabbed the stainless steel pot with handles that didn’t sell at the cart.
It’s durable and designed to withstand direct heat.
It comes with a natural wood-textured lid, giving it a truly warm and inviting appearance.
The pot is 30 cm in diameter, perfect for large groups. It has a full capacity of 6 liters, making it an excellent piece of camping gear for group camps or camping with friends.
I chopped up some napa cabbage and enoki mushrooms and tossed them into the pot. Then, I add the ingredients I picked up at the Shop—pork, cod, tofu, and oysters. Finally, I pour in some kimchi hot pot base and add water.
Next, I lit the gas stove and covered the pot, waiting for it to come to a boil.
Once it started bubbling, I removed the lid, and a cloud of steam wafted up.
“Something smells amazing!”
Haku, drawn in by the spicy aroma of kimchi, leaned in eagerly.
“Ah, a blood soup?”
“It’s kimchi.”
Please don’t say scary things like that. I don’t want to drink blood soup.
I adjusted the knob to lower the heat just a bit, then placed some white onions and garlic chives on top.
Adding these at the end keeps them crisp and adds a nice texture.
After heating for another 30 seconds, I sprinkled sesame seeds on top.
“Done! Kimchi hot pot!”
The cooking time was just 20 minutes. All I had to do was chop the ingredients and throw them in the pot—super easy.
Inside the pot, the vibrant red broth bubbled, with ingredients simmering and releasing a savory aroma.
Soft, white tofu floated in the broth, its surface tinged with red.
The surface of the soup reflected the umami from the pork and vegetables, glistening enticingly.
As I divided the ingredients, Haku eagerly started eating right away.
“This red soup has a nice spicy kick and tastes amazing! The mild sourness adds to it, making it even more appetizing!”
“Glad you like it.”
As I watched Haku eating eagerly, I also dug into the kimchi hot pot.
“Mm, this is good.”
The first bite hit me with a spicy kick, followed by a deep, rich umami flavor.
The subtle tang of kimchi was perfect.
“The pork is great, but the oysters really shine.”
The heat had really concentrated the flavors, and it seemed like the richness had infused the entire soup.
But the cod held its own too. Its mild flavor complemented the spiciness of the soup while enhancing the other ingredients.
The napa cabbage had softened, soaking up all the delicious broth.
The white onions and garlic chives added a refreshing crunch.
“Seconds.”
“Coming right up.”
Haku finished his bowl in no time, so I served him another helping.
“Do you like the kimchi hot pot?”
“Yeah! I could eat this all day!”
“If you like it that much, I bet you’d enjoy kimchi stir-fried pork too.”
As I handed him his second serving, Haku didn’t even glance at it and turned serious.
“That’s definitely delicious. Make it right now.”
“No, I’m too tired today. Give me a break.”
After about an hour of back-and-forth, I managed to convince him I’d make it for breakfast tomorrow.
From now on, I’ll think twice before casually blurting out whatever comes to mind during meals.
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