Starting A Life Together With A Female Knight

“Good morning, Jin-dono.”

The following morning, Seram woke up while I was preparing breakfast.

“…Oh, good morning, Seram.”

I wasn’t accustomed to having someone greet me at home, so it took me a few seconds to return her greeting.

“The water was a great help. Thank you.”

“Sure. Just leave everything on that table.”

Seram placed the glass and water pitcher she had used yesterday on the table, then came into the kitchen.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

I was about to tell her there wasn’t, but apparently, sitting around waiting wasn’t in her nature.

“Then could you carry those dishes over to the table?”

“Of course!”

When I gave her something to do, Seram’s face brightened, and she carried the plates of rice, grilled salmon, pickles, seaweed, and salad to the table.

Meanwhile, I gave the miso soup, which I had been gently simmering without letting it boil, one final taste.

“Yep, that should do it.”

It might have been a little too strong for someone who preferred a milder flavor, but since we sweated a lot during the summer, a little extra salt was a good thing.

Seram had seemed to enjoy the miso soup yesterday, too, so this should be fine.

I turned off the stove, ladled the miso soup into two bowls, and carried them over.

Seram was already sitting on a floor cushion, waiting restlessly.

“All right, let’s eat.”

“Indeed!”

“Itadakimasu!”

Although Seram had only learned this world’s customary expression of gratitude before meals yesterday, she was already saying it enthusiastically.

Perhaps she had taken quite a liking to it.

Breakfast was a simple meal consisting of rice, miso soup, salmon, pickles, seaweed, and salad.

Since Seram was from another world and unfamiliar with rice, I had considered making a Western-style breakfast, but there wasn’t any bread in my house because I normally preferred Japanese food.

And so, just like yesterday, we were having a traditional Japanese meal.

“This salad is wonderfully fresh and sweet.”

“It’s just a collection of vegetables from my fields that weren’t good enough to sell.”

“I thought the same thing yesterday, but I’ve never tasted vegetables so fresh and sweet before. You truly grow wonderful things, Jin-dono.”

Seram popped a small tomato into her mouth, and her face lit up with delight.

I didn’t know what vegetables were like in Seram’s world, but judging by her words, the ones I grew tasted better.

It was the first time anyone had complimented my vegetables quite like that, and I had to admit, it felt pretty good.

Still, she had been crying in the bedroom last night, yet this morning she seemed perfectly cheerful.

Had she calmed down after a night’s sleep, or was she naturally optimistic? I honestly couldn’t tell, but she didn’t seem to be forcing herself to act cheerful.

“Mm! What incredibly rich, flavorful fat! I’ve never tasted a fish with so little unpleasant odor! What kind of fish is this?”

“That’s salmon. You’ve never had it before?”

“Indeed, I’ve never eaten a fish like this.”

Apparently, some ingredients existed in both worlds, but others, like salmon, seemed to be completely unknown where she came from.

“So, what kind of fish did people eat where you’re from?”

“Where I lived, a fish called adonko was commonly eaten. It was widely available and inexpensive, but it had a rather muddy taste and wasn’t particularly delicious.”

When I tried asking her a slightly more personal question, Seram answered without seeming the least bit bothered.

The idea of another world sounded utterly ridiculous, but talking with someone who came from one was surprisingly interesting.

“Hmm, eating this neatly is proving rather difficult.”

Seram was struggling with her salmon, wearing a serious expression as she battled it with her fork.

“I guess eating that with a fork is pretty difficult. Here, let me help.”

I took Seram’s plate of grilled salmon and used a fresh pair of chopsticks to break the fish into smaller, more manageable pieces.

Maybe I should have prepared something easier for her to eat…

“There. You should be able to eat it with your fork now.”

“Thank you. I thought this yesterday as well, but it’s remarkable how skillfully you can manipulate two little sticks to eat your food.”

Seram murmured in amazement as she carefully watched my hands.

I used chopsticks so naturally now that I never gave them much thought, but when I stopped to consider it, she had a point.

As I demonstrated by opening and closing the chopsticks, I noticed Seram staring intently at them.

“…Want to try using chopsticks yourself?”

“I do!”

I handed Seram the clean chopsticks I had used to separate the salmon, and she observed my fingers before attempting to imitate my grip.

Then she tried picking up a piece of salmon.

However, her grip quickly slipped, and she couldn’t lift the fish properly. It fell back onto her plate with a soft plop. Seram looked utterly devastated by her failure.

“This is quite difficult.”

“Well, it’s just a matter of practice. If you keep using them, you’ll eventually get the hang of it.”

“…If I keep using them…”

Seram’s expression suddenly darkened.

She had been cheerful throughout breakfast, but apparently, my words, which made her think about the future, had dampened her spirits.

“What are you going to do from now on?”

“I don’t know. I have no idea how to return to my original world, or whether returning there is even possible in the first place.”

That was understandable.

One moment, she had apparently been in a forest in another world called Twiege, and the next, she had found herself lying in a rice paddy in this world.

“Was there anything in the rice paddy where you collapsed that might provide a clue about how to get back?”

“I’ve already investigated it, but I couldn’t find any traces of magical energy, magic circles, or anything else.”

Apparently, she had already checked.

If the one place that might have provided a clue had turned up nothing, it was even harder to imagine what she could do next.

“Nevertheless, I cannot continue imposing on your kindness, Jin-dono. I shall leave your home after breakfast.”

“Leave? What are you going to do after that?”

“I shall find some way to survive on my own. Fear not, I am well-trained in combat. If I take on jobs exterminating monsters, I should be able to earn enough money to get by.”

Seram answered confidently, apparently having considerable faith in her abilities.

“Just so you know, there aren’t any monsters in this world.”

“N-No monsters?! Th-That’s… That’s impossible!”

“And I don’t just mean around here. You won’t find any anywhere in the world. Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. There aren’t any armed conflicts here either, so you can’t exactly make a living as a mercenary.”

“Then how am I supposed to survive?!”

“That’s what I’m asking you!”

Seram was genuinely panicking now that she had learned her only means of earning money didn’t exist here.

A moment ago, she had been the dignified and confident Seram, but now she looked more like a helpless little seram.

“E-Even so, I’ll find some way to earn money! I’m confident in my ability to perform physical labor!”

Having somehow regained her composure, Seram clenched her fist as she spoke.

Considering how fast she could run, perhaps she really was suited to that kind of physical work.

However, whether someone from another world who knew absolutely nothing about this one could successfully find such a job was another matter.

She had no official identification, and technically, she didn’t even have a registered address. Nor did she have anyone who could act as a guarantor.

Working for any legitimate company would probably be impossible. The only places that might overlook those problems belonged to the shady underworld. If a beautiful young woman like her ventured into the city alone, she’d probably end up being exploited.

“Thank you for the meal. Jin-dono, I am truly grateful for everything you’ve done.”

While I was turning those thoughts over in my head, Seram, who had apparently finished breakfast without me noticing, stood up.

She carried her dishes to the sink, then headed straight for the entrance and began putting on her armor.

“Wait.”

“What is it?”

“…If you’re willing to help me with the farmwork, you can live here rent-free, with three meals a day included.”

“Really?!”

When I made the offer somewhat hesitantly, Seram immediately rushed toward me.

I understood that she was excited, but her face was awfully close.

“Y-Yeah. But I won’t be able to pay you much, all right? My income has only just started to stabilize. I’m not exactly making a fortune, so I can’t afford to give you a big salary.”

“As long as I have somewhere to sleep and food to eat, that’s more than enough! But Jin-dono, are you truly certain you’re comfortable with this arrangement?”

Seram looked up at me and asked anxiously.

After all, she was someone from another world who didn’t even have official identification. She knew absolutely nothing about the customs of this world, so hiring her would undoubtedly come with plenty of difficulties.

However, Seram wasn’t a bad person. Even someone like me, who had largely withdrawn from socializing, could tell that much.

I hated dealing with troublesome relationships.

That was precisely why I had grown tired of working as an office employee, quit my job, and returned to my hometown to become a farmer.

Hiring Seram and living under the same roof would mean establishing a close relationship with another person.

The thought of dealing with that was admittedly troublesome, but it was far better than the bitter feeling I’d be left with if I abandoned someone who genuinely needed help.

“I was thinking I could use an extra pair of hands anyway. Besides, I’ve got plenty of spare rooms, so it’s not like having you here would be a problem.”

From a psychological standpoint, hiring a female knight I already knew, who seemed well suited to physical labor, was preferable to hiring a complete stranger. And it wouldn’t put much strain on my finances, either.

“Jin-dono, you have my deepest gratitude! Then allow me to formally say that I look forward to working with you from now on!”

Although I had made the offer with those practical considerations in mind, Seram seemed genuinely delighted by it.

When Seram extended her hand, I reached out and clasped it firmly.

“I’m going to put you through your paces starting today, you know.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way!”

And so, my new life living together with Seram, a female knight from another world, began.