Dad’s Thinking Of Quitting His Job And Opening A Bakery

“Dad’s thinking of quitting his job and opening a bakery.”

After leaving the room, Tooyama, Lazaar, and Rida sat on a bench in the courtyard.

While blankly watching insects gather around the oil lantern that kept burning, Tooyama murmured.

“Huh?”

“What are you talking about, Naruhito?”

The murmur fell completely flat.

Tooyama cleared his throat and continued speaking.

“…Well, I mean exactly that. My life goal is to live happily according to my desires, and the thing I most want to do right now is build a house by a lake… But do you know what I need for that?”

“…Money?”

Rida tilted his head and looked at Tooyama.

“Rida-kun, correct. Exactly. Money. In the end, if you want to make your wishes come true in human society, you absolutely need money to some extent. As long as the economic system and society are connected, you can’t look away from money.”

Tooyama knew well the misery of having no money and the influence money had on life.

It was a ticket to freedom, and also a collar of inconvenience.

“Hmm. In short, Naruhito, are you saying money is the most important thing?”

Lazaar asked Tooyama, slightly pursing his lips.

Knowing him, he probably did not have only good memories concerning money.

“No, it’s not the most important. That’s what makes money so troublesome, Lazaar. Money is power. You could even say it’s the greatest achievement we humans have invented. If you have it, you can somehow manage most things. That’s why everyone misunderstands. They think having money means they can be happy.”

“That’s wrong, Boss?”

“Yeah, it’s wrong. If you don’t have money, you become unhappy. That isn’t necessarily wrong. Not being able to eat what you want or do what you want easily leads to unhappiness. But does having money make you happy? I think that’s also slightly different.”

Tooyama smoothly answered Rida’s question.

The courtyard had little light.

However, the white moon floating in the night sky thinned the darkness.

“Then what should we do?”

“It’s simple, Rida. Money is only a means. Think of it as a ticket to reach somewhere. Basically, it’s about balance. Save moderately and spend moderately. Leaning too far either way is unhealthy. Earn a lot and spend a lot. That’s the important part.”

Money.

Something one could not avoid relating to within society.

It was power, a weight, and also a reward.

“The most important thing is the scenery. Where you want to go and what you want to become. Everything is laid out before us. In practical terms, we’re free. We have the right to go, to see, to become what we want to be, and to do what we want. Money is nothing more than a tool to make that smooth… Everyone forgets that.”

When caught up in the life right before one’s eyes, it suddenly became impossible to see that. Anxiety and the hardship of each day became a curse, stealing the strength to move forward.

Tooyama knew that well. He also knew well that only despair awaited those who could no longer move forward.

“What I want to become…”

“According to desire. That’s the one thing that doesn’t waver in me. For that, I need money. Lazaar, what do you want to become? What scenery do you want to reach?”

Scenery. People needed that. Even if it was only a single fragment within days easily swallowed by despair.

The scenery of wanting to become something. Hope. Tooyama properly recognized that it must never perish.

To share it with his companions, Tooyama wove his words.

For an instant, a message appeared, but it vanished as if unraveled by the moonlight.

“…I want to fill someone. I want to change myself, who only took from others. I want to give something to someone.”

Lazaar answered the question. His words were like something wandering through darkness. Yet the voice he properly released reached Tooyama.

The lantern light swayed.

“Good, then you’ve got no choice but to open a bakery. Argument settled. Next, Rida.”

With a brute-force reply, Tooyama decided Lazaar’s fate.

“Hey, Naruhito.”

Lazaar sounded dubious. However, his face looked somewhat happy.

“Huh? Wh-What is this, Boss? What kind of conversation is this?”

Rida, who had suddenly been dragged into the conversation, began to fluster.

“Just answer. What do you want to do? What do you want to become from now on? What do you want? What do you seek? Say it.”

An orphan from the slums, where there should have been no hope.

Tooyama asked him the same thing.

He asked about hope, about the scenery of desire.

“I… I…”

Stared at by Tooyama, Rida mumbled the words repeatedly. Eventually, he inhaled and exhaled.

“—The water was cold.”

“Oh?”

Rida’s calm words. Tooyama and Lazaar quietly listened.

Beneath the moonlight, the cries of insects quietly overlapped.

“When I washed my body earlier, it was really cold… It was my first time. Water that wasn’t lukewarm like rain… It felt good. The others seemed to enjoy washing themselves too… Honestly, right now, I feel so blessed that I don’t really know. But I think it’d be enough if this could continue. That’s enough for me…”

“Maintaining something is also a battle, Rida. Yes, in other words, we have no choice but to open a bakery.”

“…Um, Naruhito. Do you want to open a bakery?”

“I do!! Originally, after quitting being an explorer, I wanted to try doing some kind of business. It’s not a job you can keep doing forever, after all.”

“Business, huh. I see… There’s no need to worry about me. I’ve decided to follow whatever you do.”

“B-Boss! I feel the same! I’ll follow you!”

They were reassuring words. Tooyama smiled a little.

Then he looked up at the night sky and gazed at the moon.

“Haha. I’m so grateful I could cry.”

“…But why a bakery? Naruhito, if you are going to run a shop, I think there are many other options.”

Lazaar asked an extremely reasonable question.

To that question, Tooyama murmured.

“It was only your bread and Drako’s steak.”

The gentle taste of Lazaar’s bread returned to his mouth. The heat of the steak where spices and meat juices had melted together.

Those had been delicious.

“What?”

“The things I’ve eaten since coming here that suited my mouth. Well, I haven’t eaten many other things, so I can’t say for certain, but how do I put it? I’m probably among the top ranks in this world when it comes to having a refined palate.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Ah, I don’t really want to talk about this kind of thing, but… Rida, that meal the old hag shared with us earlier—how was it? Was it good?”

“Yeah! It was delicious! I’ve never eaten anything that good before.”

“…I see. Lazaar?”

“Yes, I enjoyed it. Come to think of it, Naruhito, you barely ate any of it.”

“…It tasted bad. Not like I couldn’t eat it. It wasn’t food that would ruin my stomach either. But it was salty, had no savory depth, was overcooked and dry, and had no mildness or aroma. …It was like food from an English street.”

In short, it did not suit his taste. A muddy soup that was nothing but salty no matter how much he ate, with dry vegetables and some kind of meat.

He understood after one bite.

There was a very high chance the common food of this city would not suit his palate.

“Salty? Savory depth?”

“The place where I was born was a strange country. When it came to food, it was probably one of the top one or two pickiest countries in the world.”

“Country…?”

“Yeah. If we know something is delicious, we’ll eat it even if it contains poison that makes your whole body go numb and kills you. If a missile is fired directly over the country, we’ll probably just express regret, but if someone messes with our food, we’ll seriously go kill them. That kind of country.”

“Mi… ssile? Boss, what’s that?”

“Just think of us as a people with an abnormal obsession with eating. Well, just like the rest of them, I have a ridiculously refined palate as a citizen of that country. Most Imperial cuisine probably won’t suit my mouth. It’s a serious situation, but it can be used.”

For someone from Nihon, this was a crisis of the highest order.

The food did not suit him. This was a matter that needed to be resolved quickly.

However, precisely because of that, he had noticed something.

“Wh-What do you mean, Naruhito?”

The lizard-man opened his eyes wide. Tooyama Naruhito had noticed his talent.

“Lazaar, in other words, your bread really is delicious.”

“M-My bread?”

“Yeah. It had a gentle taste. It was different from the bread earlier, which was only hard and coarse. The dough was soft, yet it had a proper chew, and though it was simple, I could enjoy the natural taste of wheat. That bread was truly delicious.”

“I-Is that so? Somehow, hearing it said properly makes me embarrassed. It’s a method passed down in my clan. I use the cheaper kind of angel powder, the black one with a lot of bran.”

“Ah, I see. So it’s black bread. I liked it because it had a brown-rice kind of feeling.”

People with refined palates would probably understand what was good about it. Most likely, it was the flavor of the ingredients themselves, without butter or anything else added.

He did not know why it became so deeply nourishing in taste, though.

“Well, basically, Lazaar. I’ve said it many times, but your bread is delicious. It will sell. Your bread will sell without a doubt. I saw a business opportunity and a chance of victory in your bread.”

Tooyama already had an image formed in his mind.

His strategy for this otherworld life. He was imagining how they would reach it.

“B-But Naruhito, I am a Lizardonian. I cannot imagine that the people of this city would accept bread made by someone like me…”

Contrary to his tense voice, Lazaar’s tail drooped.

Those words were certainly correct. In doing business, the image of the person involved became quite important.

“Don’t worry, Lazaar. You’re the craftsman and the president. Your job is to make delicious bread, and selling it is my job as department head. I’ll definitely find a way. I’ll spread your bread throughout this city—no, throughout the entire Empire or whatever.”

“B-Boss, you were thinking that far… But that’s probably very difficult.”

Rida really was clever. Clever enough to understand the difficulty of that path.

Tooyama smiled at his reliable employee.

“Not ‘but,’ Rida. Isn’t that fine? Doesn’t it make you excited?”

That tongue made people boil.

“A discriminated race, a Lizardonian; brats who just came out of the slums; and a wandering, homeless, jobless man. Well, unfortunately, everyone here is at the very bottom of society. So low it’d be hard to find anyone below us.”

“…”

Tooyama’s self-deprecating words. Yet they were the truth.

However—

“Hihihihihi. This is an otherworld life we finally got. I’ll live however I like, according to my desires. We’re going to start the classic thing. All of us.”

But Tooyama was not a man who would give up his steps or his desires over something like that truth.

“The classic thing? What is that?”

“Rising from the bottom.”

A short phrase.

Tooyama stared at the flame flickering in the lantern and murmured.

“It might be out of fashion compared to when it was trending, but it’s a good thing. Good things never perish. I’ll prove that. I’ll carve our existence into this world and prove our value.”

Even in this short time, he had felt the discrimination directed at them.

He was not particularly driven by righteous indignation over it. As long as people were people—no, as long as living things were living things—discrimination would always exist.

But overturning it might be interesting.

The driving force of Tooyama Naruhito. Desire. Various fuels were being thrown into that fire.

“Building a house by a lake, building a shop, maintaining the present. I affirm all of your desires. I will definitely take you there. So please, lend me your strength. I need you for my otherworld rise-from-the-bottom life.”

Things he had not accomplished. His modern dungeon life had ended, but the continuation was here.

Then this time, he would do everything. He would do everything he wanted to do, take everything he wanted, and then die.

Reasons not to do what he wanted, excuses for giving up what he wanted. Even the time spent thinking about such things was wasted.

“…Heh, Naruhito. You are a strange man. Even though I do not understand what you are saying, listening to your words makes me excited. It is as if you have the tongue of a snake.”

“Boss, I’m someone who has been given something by you. At the very least, I want to follow you. I want to stay by your side and see the same scenery you see. I’m the one who should be asking you.”

“Good. Then it’s settled. Our immediate goal is opening a bakery. From now on, we’ll gather what we need for that.”

By the shortest, fastest route, they would smash through every difficulty. They would absolutely reach it.

Tooyama Naruhito stated it simply.

“First is money. Without that, nothing starts. At minimum, I want to secure enough that we won’t have trouble with a place to sleep or food to eat.”

“That is true, but how will we earn it?”

“Methods that break the law are no good. Compliance comes with corporate activity. We have no choice but to earn money through clean methods. Rida, Lazaar. I’m a little ignorant of common sense. Without connections or anything, what methods can you think of that quickly earn money without risking one’s life, aside from crime?”

“A method like that…”

“Boss, that’s a bit…”

“Well, I guess that’s the same in any world. Then I’ll loosen the conditions. What’s a proper way to earn money in exchange for your life?”

“…I see. So that is what you mean. Heh, in that case, that is a different story. There is a job perfect for you, dragon slayer.”

“…Adventurer.”

“So that’s how it goes. Hmm, adventurer, huh.”

Tooyama could not suppress his grin. He remembered the moment he had first learned of the profession called explorer.

The numbness of the instant when life began to move.

It was an otherworld life. He would become an adventurer, kill monsters, earn money, and run a shop.

His companions were few, and their position was weak.

A lizard good at baking bread, and fairly clever orphans.

They were all oddballs, but that was what made it good. He would have nothing to do with boredom.

“All right, let’s keep it simple. First, we earn enough money to avoid trouble in our daily lives. The fun, fun money-making part begins.”

“Boss. Um, I want to become an adventurer too.”

“No, Rida. Sorry, but you kids should stay quiet for a while. Those people called the Crows—I killed everyone who tangled with us back then, so I think it’s fine, but until things cool down, it’d be better for you not to stand out.”

“U-Um, okay.”

“No, would it be safer for you to act with us? Lazaar, what do you think?”

“Hmm. They are cunning and tenacious. But as Naruhito said, the Crows who knew about the relationship between us and the children are no longer in this world. It should be safe to assume there will be no pursuers for a while. Rather, we stand out. If people do not see us together too much, rumors should be less likely to spread.”

“Okay, decided. Rida, you look after Luca and the others. That’s a job only you can do. Got it?”

“…I understand, if that will help you.”

“I like kids who listen. Now, Lazaar, for you—”

“Come now, Naruhito. There is only one choice. I will become an adventurer too. I will not let you take all the risk alone.”

“No, but I want to leave all bread production to you.”

“Complete division of labor is for after we have a shop, right? I may indeed be bad at combat, but as a scout, I can probably do work on par with a first-class adventurer.”

“That shadow… I see. Hmm, but still…”

“Do not worry, I will not be reckless. Basically, in dangerous situations, I will follow your instructions. It is like saying one cannot hunt a Hollow’s neck alone.”

“Yeah, okay. I more or less understand what you mean. …All right, Lazaar. Lend me your strength.”

“I will follow you. Besides, if I become an adventurer, hunt monsters, and raise my level, my body will grow stronger too. Physical strength is indispensable for bread making as well. If I am lucky, my dexterity might also rise.”

“Yeah, that’s true… —Hm? Level?”

“Yes, level. There may certainly be risks, but there are also appropriate returns. …Hey, please do not tell me you do not even know about levels.”

“No, I know the concept, but, huh? They exist? Levels?”

“…How did you really kill a dragon? Naruhito, where did you truly come from?”

“I told you, I’m from Japan.”

“There you go again… Well, fine. In any case, me becoming an adventurer is not only risk. There are returns too. More hands are better for earning money, right?”

“Well, that’s true. But levels, huh. I see. So there are levels…”

“…If you are that curious, you should have them check at the Adventurers’ Guild. I do not know how the Empire does things, but at least in the Kingdom, if you became an adventurer, you could receive that kind of service.”

“Seriously? Damn, no time to waste. Tomorrow’s plan is becoming adventurers. Let’s see, we go register at the association—no, the guild, right?”

“Well, probably. The Kingdom and Empire may have different application methods, so I cannot say for certain.”

“Good, tomorrow’s course of action is decided! Anyway, money. We’re going to earn money! The money-making part begins!”

“You are energetic. Fwaah. I will soon sleep as well. Rida, you should rest properly too. Tomorrow, I will pay the innkeeper enough for us to stay five days.”

“Sorry, for everything you’re doing for us. Will there ever come a time when we can repay you?”

“Of course. I’ll have you working plenty from now on. Tomorrow, don’t leave the inn until we return. Rest in the room, then play in the courtyard. Kids need that kind of time too.”

“Play… huh. I never thought we’d have time like this until yesterday. Thank you, Boss, sir. When the time comes for us to work, tell me anytime.”

“Yeah, I’ll work you hard, so be prepared. Lazaar, I’m going to sleep. About what time should we wake up tomorrow?”

“Hmm, the Adventurers’ Guild should be open from early morning. There are adventurers who hunt monsters that only appear in the morning, after all. It would be best to act early.”

“Got it. Then we start moving at sunrise. Ahh, I want to brush my teeth. We need to review living standards around that too. Come to think of it, there was memo paper in the room, right? Isn’t paper valuable around here?”

“Paper? If it is pulp paper, it is one of the Empire’s major industries. It is not especially valuable.”

“Hmm, it feels like technological progress is uneven. The buildings and such are medieval Europe, but…”

“What are you talking about?”

“No, don’t worry about it. Well, I’m ignorant of various common-sense things. I may ask you about all kinds of things again. Anyway, let’s sleep. Tomorrow starts early.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

“This is my first time sleeping in a bed. You really can sleep that deeply in one.”

“I get it. After sleeping on stone and stuff, you really appreciate a bed. Mm, I miss mattresses and springs instead of straw and cloth…”

The three of them murmured as they pleased while returning to the room.

The night passed peacefully. Tooyama and the others, having set their expectations and goals for tomorrow, returned to their room and fell asleep with surprising ease the moment they lay down.

“So sleepy…”

On the memo pad placed in the room, Tooyama dipped the tip of a quill in ink and finished writing notes using the faint candle flame and the moonlight shining through the window.

“That should be about it… Another world. Actually coming to another world gives me way too much to think about. Hah, it would’ve been a bit easier if this were the type where I could say ‘status open’ and see everything.”

Unfortunately, that sort of classic convention did not seem to apply. The closest things to it were the arrows and messages that appeared at key points.

“Fully trusting them is out of the question, but completely ignoring them feels wrong too. …Well, I’ll sleep for today. Tomorrow is the Adventurers’ Guild, huh. Mufufufu. Damn, just the name Adventurers’ Guild gets me excited. Can I even sleep like this?”

The sleeping breaths of the children, who were huddled together on the bed, and Lazaar, who slept while standing in a corner of the room.

“Well, it’s not bad. Having something like this once in a while.”

The instant Tooyama lay down on the straw-and-cloth sofa, he dropped into sleep.

Just like the night when he first went exploring, he fell into a deep, wandering sleep without even knowing when he had fallen asleep.

……

…

He dreamed.

In a plain filled with mist, something was writhing within that mist.

It felt somehow nostalgic, and yet it also felt like something he did not know at all.

Farther beyond it, he could see light. The light of a lantern swaying unsteadily.

A building…

Before he knew it, he was looking up at that building.

It was an impressive building with circular glass walls. For some reason, that building was burning. Sparks flew with crackles.

Even when he touched it, it was not hot. Suddenly, a sign stood before him.

“Ba&#lt€2 Archives.”

Before he could understand the meaning of those letters, the dream abruptly ended.