500 Servings?
“There are conditions.”
“What conditions?”
First, teach Leon the basics of watercolor painting properly.
Keep his part-time job, and use only his free time for painting.
Make sure he gets enough sleep every day.
“Sleep?”
“Yes. Sleep is important. If you don’t rest, your mind won’t be clear, and your health can suffer. If you want to paint good watercolor, you have to make time to rest too.”
“If you want to paint good watercolor…?”
“Yes. If you can follow these rules, I’ll agree. The teaching fee will be average, so not too high. But I’ll also provide paints, a palette, and three small brushes—the same as Leon’s—and give them to you later.”
“But we’re the ones asking. Shouldn’t we provide them?”
“This is a necessary expense. I’m the one requesting it, so it’s only natural to provide them. Of course, I’ll also supply thick paper. Each student will get 50 sheets, so I want two sets made.”
“If one set is twelve sheets, that makes four sets.”
“This is a first attempt, the drawing space is small, so things will feel different. Also, we need to account for possible mistakes in calendar printing.”
“… Understood. I’ll do it. Thank you.”
“Since we’ve agreed, shall we make a contract?”
“Yes, please. Also, I’d like to include the teaching fee and its average amount in the contract.”
“Understood. Once I have a draft, I’ll bring it.”
“I’ll be away starting tomorrow. Could you give it to my mother?”
“Understood. Please inform her beforehand. By the way, Young Master Reinhardt, you mentioned a desk calendar. Will you not make a version with numbers only?”
“Why?”
“I’m interested in desk calendars too. Especially the paper.”
“Ah, so I can write my schedule in the margin.”
“Exactly. Just writing meetings and gatherings helps a lot.”
“In that case, one sheet can cover two months—front and back gives four months. Three sheets make a set. That should be affordable.”
“That’s really helpful, but how do you come up with these ideas?”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Also, I’ll move the numbers up to leave margin space. I’ll have the children handling printing try it.”
“Thank you. I’m looking forward to it.”
I’ve just created more work for myself. I need Rosa to quickly take over… or rather, manage it.
Additional tasks for the orphanage, paper requests to the paper supplier, and a complete set of watercolor supplies for Shawn will be entrusted to Georges. I told my mother to expect contact from the Merchants’ Guild. That should cover it.
Starting tomorrow, I’ll spend two to three weeks visiting villages in the territory.
Why is the schedule longer than last time?
Because I have to collect the items requested by the gods along the way.
Two days ago, I tried to write a letter asking the cooks to prepare 50 servings of food for the winners I’ll visit this time, but Brother Chris and my mother stopped me.
They said it was unfair to request food just for me—how did they know I included my personal share?
Brother Chris wants it for the royal capital, and for the employees there, totaling 100 servings. Mother wants some for herself and her staff too.
The chefs have already been asked to work overtime multiple times, and the knights accompanying me mean extra coordination, so I’m causing them trouble.
The food from the chefs is probably better than mine… but the prize-winning dishes aren’t available anytime, so I want to eat them while I can.
I can’t argue with Brother Chris—he guessed I wanted my share because I would act the same.
The maids at the door are watching me expectantly.
Alright, I’ll ask for enough for everyone.
That makes it 400?
Forget it—let’s make it 500 servings.
I wrote a letter asking for 500 servings, they’ll all be surprised. Sorry about that.
I planned to have Georges deliver half the payment with the letter and a time-stop Magic Bag, but he said to handle it myself, so I was put in the carriage and sent to the Adventurers’ Guild.
Mobius noticed me arriving and immediately ushered me into the reception room.
Has my treatment gotten rougher lately? I am the lord’s son, after all.
MacBerry, the guildmaster, rushed over and said,
“So, why did you come without notice?”
He jumped straight to business without formal greetings. Fine by me—I don’t mind skipping the formalities…
“I have a request. Sorry for the urgency, but I need this letter, the payment, and a time-stop Magic Bag delivered immediately.”
“May I ask how the Magic Bag will be used?”
“It’s for the prize winners’ meals. In the villages and towns I’ll visit, I need 500 servings prepared.”
“500 servings? Why so suddenly?”
“Various circumstances require 500 servings.”
“… Understood. I’ll assign someone trustworthy. The time-stop Magic Bag will be collected when receiving the food?”
“Yes. We’ll cover the Magic Bag fee.”
“When’s the earliest you can make the delivery?”
“Around ten days.”
“Alright, there’s still some leeway. Since it’s urgent, extra fees will apply.”
What do you think about this chapter?
