By the Grace of the Gods

Side Calm Norad

I woke up accompanied by a pleasant aroma.

Ms. Shelma was preparing breakfast.

...This morning, the smell was unlike any before.

It’s a good scent in its own way, but what could it be?

For over half a year now, every morning has been peaceful and familiar.

While getting ready and guessing the breakfast menu, I headed to the dormitory’s dining hall.

“Ah, good morning.”

For some reason, the manager was helping with breakfast preparations.

“Good morning, Manager. You’re unusually early today.”

Since the manager also oversees the North Mine, he usually comes to the shop from there, so it’s rare to see him here at this time.

Curious, I asked what happened.

“Actually, yesterday before heading home, I stopped by Mr. Serge’s shop, and our conversation got so engrossing that, following the flow, I went to the commercial guild to meet the guild master. We got carried away there too. Before I knew it, it was quite late, so the guild master kindly let me stay overnight in the guild’s nap room.”

“Ah, that explains the early arrival.”

Of course it’s early; he didn’t even return home.

I hope he rested well, but there was one thing I wanted to ask separately.

“What exactly were you discussing with Lord Serge and the guild master?”

“Oh, right. I don’t think it’ll affect the laundry business, but I wanted Calm-san to hear it too. Actually—”

“Good morning!”

Oh? Ms. Jane and the others have arrived.

“Huh!? Manager!?”

“Oh? The manager is really here?”

“Good morning, Manager.”

“Good morning. Sorry to intrude. Oh, Calm-san, we can continue this during breakfast.”

“Understood.”

The manager seemed to be helping Ms. Shelma here and returned to breakfast preparations.

...Returning from a journey, then having a late-night discussion, and now helping with early morning breakfast—does he even get enough rest?

While I was thinking this, the employees steadily arrived at the dining hall.

Soon it was breakfast time...

“So that’s how it is.”

The manager casually recounted an extraordinary story as if it were nothing.

“So, Manager, you’re saying you’re branching out into other fields too?”

“For me, it’s preparation to achieve my goal of ‘returning to the Shurus Great Tree Sea’ and an investment in myself to accumulate knowledge and skills. But yes, as a result, that seems to be the case.”

I understood what the manager meant. For example, "preparation for a journey."

The manager, who can use spatial magic, can carry far more luggage and sleep safely at night than someone who can’t. But I’ve heard that adventurers often can’t secure supplies and must rely solely on themselves.

In fact, the manager is planning to go to one of the country’s five most dangerous areas. Situations may arise where he must conserve mana or cannot use magic at all.

If he ends up unable to use magic, he can’t do anything—that would be a problem. So it’s only natural that he wants to carry better camping gear and preserved food to rest his body and mind as well as possible even in such circumstances.

I remember when I was called by Gimul, I camped during the journey and ate not-so-tasty preserved food, and was pretty exhausted upon arrival.

Even without being an adventurer, traveling, even with guards, can be a huge burden for those not used to it.

For adventurers who travel and camp regularly, it’s natural to seek better provisions if they have the money.

But would any adventurer start from scratch researching preserved food making?

...No, except for this person in front of me.

Moreover, the manager wants to research not just preserved food but a wide variety of things.

Last night, we discussed how broad this “variety” was. If he carries it out, who should be contacted first for coordination? How much funding will be needed? And so on, he kept consulting repeatedly.

Furthermore, he wrote letters to guild masters of other guilds besides the Duke’s household and the commercial guild. He’s also attending a meeting of guild masters three days from now... He calmly says such extraordinary things as if they were nothing.