Episode 24: Soap Business
My jobs are apothecary and physician.
But in addition to that, there’s one more thing I do…
“Here, scented soap. It’s in a gift box, take it.”
“Understood.”
That is, soap making.
I’m registered with the Guild as a soap maker, too. As an apothecary, too, but soap seems to be classified as medicine.
Well… the method for mass production at the business level, I sold it to the Lord along with my gratitude…
And, there’s a friend who helped me get in touch with that Lord.
That’s this man…
“Thanks, Andrews. This will satisfy the women of the main family.”
A handsome man with blond hair and blue eyes, like a noble prince, Maximilian Wiyard.
He’s the illegitimate son of the Wiyard Family, a noble, and a semi-aristocratic Strider with deep ties to his family.
He’s appointed as a first-class Strider because of his high credibility and aristocratic abilities, a bit of a hero…
Furthermore, he’s the head of the Strider Clan called ‘Guardian’s Shield’, which guards nobles and wealthy merchants.
He has a good personality and face, and his swordsmanship is even better.
He’s a perfect superman.
I’ve known him since he started as a Strider…
Through his connections, I got in touch with the Lord of this territory, sold the soap business, became relied upon by the Lord in terms of medicine… he’s the guy who helped me take the first step in my success (?).
So, I can’t really treat him badly…
One way or another, I ended up having connections with his family, the Wiyard Count Family.
“My sister says your ‘Scented Soap’ is popular even in the Royal Capital.”
“Oh, so it seems. But, the Royal Capital is…”
“Haha… well, indeed, the Mazoku and Changelings might face strong headwinds there.”
“The Church, you know…”
“N-no, the Church is, in its own way, a necessary organization…?”
Those money-grubbers?
No way!
…I thought, but I won’t say it.
He’s from a noble family, so he probably has deep ties with the Church.
When acquaintances are fighting! That’s the most annoying thing, right? I’ll read the atmosphere there.
“Well, whatever. That’s the new Vanilla & Coconut scent. The ones below are the usual citrus.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“By the way, I’m using Vanilla & Coconut today too. How is it?”
I rake up my hair and let him smell it.
Instantly, the handsome man in front of me blushes a little.
“…Eh?”
“D-don’t get me wrong! I’m not into that! But, you are, even from the perspective of another man like me… handsome!”
“Ah, okay…”
Certainly.
Changelings are basically born incredibly beautiful.
A bewitching charm worthy of the name “Fairy Changeling”…
And then, further polished with shampoo and soap, with cologne, and properly dressed… well, yeah. He might become a handsome man beyond handsome.
“But… yes! Certainly, the scent is amazing! It’s a scent I’ve never smelled before… this is, that, vanilla?”
“Ah, a heavy yet smooth sweet scent… mellow and fragrant, right? It wouldn’t be bad to mix it into cream-based sweets.”
“Even our people can easily produce soap in large quantities, but you’re the only one who can blend ‘fragrant oils’ and ‘effects’. I’ll continue to rely on you.”
“Ah, as for me, I want to get along with customers who pay well.”
“That’s appreciated. …Oops, I should get going.”
“Are you leaving already?”
“Yeah, I just stopped by on the way from a guard request.”
Guard…
“Ah, Viscount Gilmett came, right?”
“Oh, did you know?”
“Yeah, I just chased away Viscount Gilmett’s servant who came earlier.”
“W-what are you doing?!”
“My work here takes priority…”
Viscount Gilmett, even if I meet him, it’ll just be solicitation and conversation… and then he’ll ask for sweets.
“No, no… if you prioritize this over meeting the Viscount, that’s, well, troubling?”
“It’s fine, it’s not a big deal anyway. Work comes first.”
“What if you get targeted?”
“I’m a Changeling, right? My lifespan is so long I don’t even know it. I can escape somewhere far away and start over from scratch. Fortunately, my disciples are growing up.”
As we were talking…
“Hey, hey, hey! What will happen to my position if you do that?! First of all, what will Count Missgancia do…!”
Oh, Viscount Gilmett.
A gentle middle-aged man with a potbelly, a double chin, and a brown Kaiser mustache.
But, however, a noble deerskin vest and gold-worked brooch, and a purple mantle… every aspect of his gait and gaze shows his noble status.
While Maximilian kneels instantly, I raise one hand to greet him.
“Ah, hello.”
“It’s not ‘hello’, you?! I’m a noble, you know? A legal noble, though!”
“Then, what do you want? If you want me to prostrate myself, I will.”
“That’s why, if you make me do that, Count Missgancia will kill me?! Don’t do that, just normally, respect me appropriately…?! Besides, to make the son-in-law of Count Missgancia bow down to the ground…”
Huh?
Huuuh?
“…What did you say? Count Missgancia’s, son-in-law?”
“Huh? Isn’t that the story?”
“I don’t know! I haven’t heard anything about it and I haven’t accepted it!”
“I-is that so…? Count Missgancia and his daughter seemed to be in that mood… well, never mind. More importantly, don’t stop coming here! At least, if I’m the cause of it…!”
Viscount Gilmett shudders in fear.
Each time, his belly fat and double chin jiggle amusingly.
“Haha, funny.”
“What’s so funny?!!?!?!?!”
“No, it’s jiggling…”
“Don’t laugh, you?! No, I’m a noble, you know?! Summary execution is possible, you know?!”
“If you don’t want to be laughed at, you should lose weight, Lord Guilmert.”
“You…?!”
“Such obesity is likely to cause illness. You’re not young either. You won’t die, but you’ll either lose your sight or your feet will rot.”
“Mu…”
Yeah, that’s right.
Viscount Gilmett has diabetes and I have treated him before.
In other words, this person can’t live without my medical care.
That’s why he can’t blame my disrespectful attitude…