Ch 83 -- Lambert-san's Wife

　　Fer, Sui and I were having a relaxing breakfast in the courtyard of the inn when the landlady brought a boy aged about 13 or so to us.

　　"You have a visitor from from Lambert Company." she said. I recognised the face of the boy when I looked closely, it was the lad I had seen a.s.sisting Lambert-san with his wagon on the way to Carerina.

　　"You see, the owner is waiting at the store ..." the boy seemed distracted by something. What's up? You're drooling, kid. I wondered if he was remembering the meal he had enjoyed while returning to town as he watched us eat. Okay then, growing kids have healthy appet.i.tes so your sempai here will treat you to breakfast.

　　"It's maybe a bit much for breakfast, but since you're young I think it'll be good for you." I said as I quickly grilled some Orc General meat pickled in miso, made a dish of Orc General miso-yaki-don, and pa.s.sed it to him. The boy looked between my face and the miso-yaki-don, back and forth.

　　"Someone as young as you are will never get enough of something like this." I rea.s.sured him.

　　"Oh, it's that good, is it?" He was still unsure.

　　"I made it for you." I pushed the bowl at him.

　　"Oh, thank you!" The boy began gulping down Orc General Miso-yaki-don.

　　"Oh, it is tasty ..." he said, eating it with a happy face. Once he finished the bowl I gave him some roasted green hot tea. I warned him to blow on it before drinking since it was something he hadn't encountered before.

　　"The food was very delicious and this tea is also delicious. Thank you so much." the boy bowed to me in thanks. Yeah yeah, he's a pretty polite kid. Having to work for a living when you're his age, this other world is a tough place to grow up in. Work hard, kid and don't give up.

　　"Oh, the store owner is waiting for you..." the boy suddenly remembered why he had been sent to meet us.

　　Of course, Lambert-san wants me to call on him. I accompanied the boy to Lambert-san's store along with Fer and Sui.

　　* * * * *

　　Lambert-san hurried out to greet me as soon as I entered his store.

　　"Mukouda-san, you finally came, I'm saved..." he blurted, a relieved expression on his face. A woman suddenly appeared from behind Lambert-san. She was about 30 years old, a determined-looking beauty with long olive-brown hair put up in a complex style.

　　"Dear, you promised to introduce me," she said, elbowing him in the ribs.

　　"Oh, ah... Mukouda-san, this is my wife..." he stuttered. Pus.h.i.+ng past Lambert-san, his wife took over.

　　"I am Lambert's wife, Mary. I am very pleased to make your acquaintance." she said, curtseying in her long skirt in a very refined manner.

　　"I owe much to Lambert-san so I am similarly pleased to meet you too." I replied, rather fl.u.s.tered as Mary-san slowly approached me, silently staring into my eyes.

　　"What is it?" My heart pounded as such a beautiful wife came close to me.

　　"You see, these items are..." She held out a basket containing the soap and rinse-in shampoo I had given to Lambert-san yesterday to try out. It turned out that Mary-san had noticed a nice smell from Lambert-san after he had a bath last night. Lambert-san had tried to conceal his use of the soap and shampoo because he was planning to surprise her with them on their wedding anniversary, but Mary-san would not be deterred from discovering the truth. Truly a determined lady.