Idle Talk   Bread is bread even if you’re half-baked.

Extra Part 2









"Wow……！ "



　Azami looked around the city and couldn't help but marvel.



　After several days of traveling in a series of cheap passenger carriages from the port town of Koula, she arrived in Vinceton, the royal capital of the Kingdom of Castall.



　The main street, with its rows of buildings to look up at, seemed like another world to Azami, who was what you might call a "country bumpkin".



　Her surprise was not limited to the buildings, though. The large number of people passing by, the diversity of clothing and equipment, the gleam of the stores. All of them were things she had never seen before in her life.





"It's amazing...... it's like a dream."



　From now on, I will open a bakery here, she thought.



　That was Azami's dream now.



　Having abandoned the Kisshou school name, she bowed down to Toukichirou, borrowed money, and left the island on her own...... with nothing more to lose.



　Azami's "challenging" behavior was met with a lot of opposition from those around her. But her will was firm.



　Azami truly felt that she wanted to be honest about what she liked.



　Needless to point out whose influence this was.





"Well, first I need a place."



　But reality did not work out that way.



　To her surprise, Azami had no knowledge about opening a bakery. She was naive enough to think that she could just "make bread and sell it".



　In order to sell bread, you need ingredients and space. In other words, her plan to decide on a location, get the materials there, and then just make and sell it...... was not too far-fetched.



　However, this could not be helped. Azami had been devoted to Sword-drawing since her birth. Because she had been holed up in the Land of the Eight Swords, an island country with extremely limited access to information, and had been receiving meager communications, she had only a superficial knowledge of what a "bakery" was.





"A-Are……? "



　As Azami looked around the main street, she noticed one fact.



　There was no space to set up the store anywhere.



　This was perfectly natural. The main street of the kingdom's capital was so popular that it was no exaggeration to say that it was the best land in the kingdom. It seemed as if the best restaurants in the world were competing to be here. It was not a place where Azami could easily set up a store on a spur-of-the-moment visit.





"……Not good. I need to find someplace other than here."



　Azami slumped her shoulders and left the main street.



　At that time...... a store suddenly caught Azami's eye. It was a small, cozy store with a good old-fashioned atmosphere.



　The sign stated.



『Grocery Store Icicle』



　Perhaps I can purchase hard flour and yeast here, she thought. With this in mind, Azami decided to take a quick peek inside the store to survey the stock.







"――Welcome! "



　Upon entering the establishment, the bell rang, and the girl manning the store greeted Azami with a smile.





"…………"



　Azami was speechless.



　For starters, this Icicle place was cleaner than any other store she had ever known. There was not a speck of dirt on the polished floor, not a fly on any of the shelves where the colorful food items were displayed in spectacular fashion.



　This seemed obvious, but it was very difficult to do. This would not be possible if thorough sanitation were not ingrained in the daily routine. For Azami, who had lived in the Land of the Eight Swords, where even the concept of sanitation was a little sketchy, this was quite a culture shock.



　Secondly, the girl who tended to the store was adorable. Azami was taken aback not only by the polite greeting with a smile and courteous bow but especially by her clothes. It was a tightly sewn white shirt, an embroidered black vest, a pretty skirt, and a ruffled apron, not the attire of someone who specializes in handling groceries. The garments were luxurious to look at. Why would a grocery store clerk dress so neatly? She wondered. Azami couldn't make sense of it all of a sudden.





"W-What? Stop staring."



　The girl on duty at the store broke the silence with a stern look, perhaps feeling Azami's passionate gaze.



"Oh, I'm sorry. Because you were so cute."

"Eh!? "



　Azami casually delivered the same offhanded and disturbing line that Masamune usually did.

　In response, the other party's face flushed slightly red.



"Can you tell me your name? "

"……It's Ice."

"Thank you. I am Azami. I just got here today from the Land of the Eight Swords. Nice to meet you."



　The girl on duty at the store said her name was Ice. She was the poster girl for the grocery store Icicle.



　Learning from Ice's polite bow, Azami bowed elegantly.



　Ice was a bit taken aback by this, but when she realized that Azami was a "traveling customer," she changed her mind.



"Nice to meet you, Azami-san. So, what do you need from my place today? "

"Oh, yes. I wonder if this place has hard flour and yeast. "

"It's for sale. Do you make bread? "

"Yeah. I was thinking of opening a bakery."

"Wow, that's great!　Where are you planning to open it? "

"That hasn't been decided yet. Where do you think is the best place, Ice-san? "

"Eh...? "



　Azami said it so naturally that Ice froze, her eyes turning into dots.



　The person whom she thought was a traveling customer told her that he was going to open a bakery. If that was all, it would still be okay. The problem, however, was that the location of said bakery had not even been determined. On top of that, once again, the fact that she was trying to purchase materials through a retailer like Icicle was also a major problem.



　Too ignorant. Ice raised an eyebrow and held her head in her hand.



"What's the matter? "

"No, that should be my line……Azami-san, what's the matter with you? "

"Nothing, I'm opening a bakery……"

"Even though you don't even know where it's going to be?　What about legal procedures?　What about notifying the Kingdom and the Guild?　What about a bread oven?　Do you have the funds to open the business in the first place?　If you were trying to procure the ingredients in my place, you probably don't even know wholesale exists, do you? "

"……Uhmm……"



　Finally, Ice looked up to the heavens.

　She put her hand on her forehead and exclaimed, "Oh dear God".



"I-I'm sorry. I didn't think it was that bad……? "

"Ahh……Listen, okay?　It is similar to you just walking into a forest where monsters are crawling with no weapons in hand, alright? "

"Ah, if that's the case, then long ago......"

"Eh? "

"Eh? "



　They stared at each other in astonishment.



　After a moment of silence, Ice opened her mouth again with a single phrase, "Well, that's fine".



"It's impossible. You, at this rate, will never be a baker. I won't say anything bad about it, but first, you should get hired at some other store and learn the trade. You will learn a lot there, and then you can start your own business. That would be better."

"I-Is that so?"

"That is so! "



　Ice seemed to be getting more and more annoyed with Azami, who was too naive, and while slightly angry, she offered some sound advice.



　Azami, on the other hand, seemed to be a stranger to the situation, saying, "I guess that's how it is here".





"Thank you, Ice-san. I've learned so much. Do you mind if I come back to shop again? "

"Yes, come again. Just looking at you makes me reーーally worried. Rather, come see me regularly, please."

"You're a very kind person...... okay, I will do so."

"I'm not trying to be nice. It's a mental health issue for me."



　Ice waved her hand in the air and said, "Yes, yes," as Azami repeatedly said thank you, thank you, thank you.



　There are some strange people out there. She thought of that with a dismayed look on her face.



　This was how Azami and Ice met.











　The next day.

　Azami had visited Icicle in the morning.



　Then, half-crying, she reported the fact that the inn she had entered at random had cost 4,000 CL per night.



　When Azami insisted that this was a rip-off, Ice shrugged it off, saying, "That's just the way it is".



　Apparently, the cost of living in the Land of the Eight Swords and the Royal City of Vinceton were vastly different. Azami was now learning such things, and Ice's concern was only growing.





　Then came some uninvited guests……





"――Comin' through."



　Opening the door and entering was a group of sharply dressed young men.



　Starting with the greeting of the man at the front of the line, the crowd gingerly entered the store. There were five of them. Apparently, they were not mere customers.



"Hey, what's with you guys……!?　Did you come again to try and get me to leave!?　Don't be ridiculous!　I don't care how many times you say it, it's my store! "

"Well, well, calm down. I know, I've heard it a hundred times from both parent and child."

"What do you want then!? "

"Oh, that's strange. This is a grocery store, right?　Of course, we came here to buy groceries."

"……uh……! "



　Immediately, Ice turned hostile.



　The men rummage through the store with sly smirks on their faces.





"Do you know each other? "



　Knowing that this was not a simple situation, Azami asked Ice a question. At the sound of her calming voice, Ice manages to regain her composure.





"……The bar next door sent them. They bought land on both sides of our property, and it looks like they're trying to get our land too. But no matter how much money they pile on us, we won't leave. I'm proud to run this store. The feeling is the same for Mom. We don't want money from selling our pride."





　It was a small voice, a harrowing cry.

　However, Ice's voice was loud enough to earn Azami's respect.



　She guarded this grocery store alone with her mother. They never backed down, not even a step, even when dealing with a large group of men.



"There are rumors that they are profiting from illegal gambling. No. There is also evidence. It's a disgusting act that makes one forget one's pride...... Absolutely unforgivable. I love this city and the proud people who live here. That's why I can't tolerate it. I will not back down, no matter how hard they try. I will proudly resist until the end. No matter what kind of harassment I get……"



　Shaking her slender body, Ice glares at the men.





　――Azami couldn't help but want to applaud. She felt compelled to go around and loudly tell the people of the city about that prideful resolve of hers.





　But there was no way for men who had abandoned their pride to understand the virtuousness of Ice, which Azami found so inspiring.



"Hey, hey, hey!　Look at this meat, it's rotten, man! "

"Stinks!　It stinks horribly! "

"These beans over here have bugs all over them! "

"Oy!　I'm starting to feel nauseous! "

"It's the worst place I've ever been to!　I will never come back! "



　They deliberately shouted out things that were not there, loud enough to be heard outside the store.



　The men laughed obnoxiously. "Wouldn't this be a problem? ," They even give Ice that look to express that sentiment.



"This is business disruption!　Go away!　I'll call the Knights! "

"Oh, scary!　Even the woman who works here is hysterical."

"We're just telling the truth, right? "

"Shut up!　Shut up!　Get out!　Get out of here!! "



　Ice clenched her fists tightly, tears welling up in her eyes, and shouted with all her might.



　……Then the men all turned back to their serious faces and said in a brusque voice.





"We'll come back."





　For the impotent Ice, it was nothing short of horror.



　How long will this continue? Just thinking about it would make one feel faint.





"Oh, Azami-san……? "



　That's why...... Azami couldn't overlook it.



　Now that she was freed from the constraints of her school, she was not willing to be bound by anything that would get in her way. Even if it was about someone else, she could not bring herself to ignore it. Her respect for the proud Ice inspired her own pride as a samurai.



　Azami thought as she moved silently, trying not to be noticed by the men.





　――Ice showed a proud determination. I'm also proud of my decision――







"Kyaaaa! "



　The moment the men put their hands on the door to get out of Icicle. Azami stepped between the men and the door, shouted loudly and deliberately, and fell out of the door.



　The people walking outside the store took notice, wondering what was going on.





"Hey, watch it."

"What the hell is this bitch? It's not our fault, right? "

"Is she some accident faker? You gotta be kidding me."



　The men complained quietly so that the people in town could not hear them.



　Seeing his attitude, Azami secretly grinned.





"Noo!　Stop!　I'm going to get raped! "





　Immediately after, Azami exclaimed. Something that never happened.



　It was the same thing they did.





"Huh? "

"Don't come!　I can't believe that five people would come together and try to rape me!　You beasts! "

"H-hey."

"Are you the guys from the bar next door!?　I will not forgive such barbaric behavior!　Anyone?　Anyone?　Call the guards! "

"This bitch!　Shut up! "



　A scream that was clearly theatrical. Passersby hesitated to decide whether or not to intervene.



　However, as soon as the word "bar" was mentioned, the men's expressions of irritation immediately turned to panic.



　And then, thinking they had to shut this woman up right away, they approached her.



　In this case, Azami had already achieved what she wanted.





"――"



　A flash.



　The Kisshou School head's 《Silver Sword-drawing》 sliced through the air and something else as well.





"Uh……? "



　The men could not understand what had happened. But all they knew for sure was that the woman in front of them now had definitely done something.



　Because it seemed to them that Azami's eyes…… for just a moment, revealed a terrifying sharpness that would make even the demons of hell run away barefoot.



　But after a few seconds, nothing happened. The men were relieved that they had been mistaken.





"Noooooooooooooooooo!　Five perverts! "

"Tch, shit!　Shut her up! "



　After a beat, Azami started shouting again. The men took a big step forward to cover up her mouth.



　Whereupon……





"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!　Are these guys taking off their clothes in the middle of the street!?　They're really trying to get to it! "



"Eh……Geh!? "

"Whoa!?　Me too!? "



　Two of the five men, the two closest to Azami, had their pants fall to their ankles with a thud.



　Azami had cut off the belt with the sword she had just drawn.



　As a result, the two men were pants-less.





"What the hell is this woman? "

"Hide it quickly, idiot!　We need to leave! "



　The men withdrew helplessly.



　The way they hurriedly lifted their trousers and ran away was just comical.





"Whoaー……"



　Passersby were stunned.



Many of them may have wondered, "Is that what the bar next door is like?".





　……Conversely. Very few believed the words the men were ranting inside of Icicle.



　Everyone knew it. Everyone who lived in this city knew it. That Icicle was not that kind of store. The city took pride in the fact that it was a great store.





　Therefore, it was no wonder.



"Eh, EHH……? "



　Those in town who knew about the situation in Icicle applauded enthusiastically for Azami's silly, even ridiculous, little performance.



　Azami was puzzled. Well, that was a given. Although she expected the atmosphere to be somber, she did not expect to receive applause of any kind.





"Azami-san! "



　Immediately afterward, Ice, who had witnessed the whole thing, rushed to Azami.



　Then.





"What are you doing!?　You're worrying me!　Fool!　You're really an idiot now!　Thank you!　My heart feels so refreshed!! "



　She hugged Azami tightly and thanked her while cursing at her.





　When Azami hugged Ice back, she noticed that her body was shaking slightly.



　She must have been really worried. Azami felt that Ice, although about ten years older than her, was like a caring and anxious younger sister, and she smiled warmly at her.





"I'm sorry for worrying you. I just wanted to show my appreciation in my own way."

"Yes, I got the message. But……It didn't look all that great."



　Saying "No kidding," they both laughed.





　After a few moments, when Ice stopped shaking, Azami disentangled herself, faced Ice squarely, and opened her mouth.



"I wonder if I can make a living in this honorable city? "

"……It's okay. I'm sure you will, Azami-san. I can vouch for that."

"Uh, well, you know, uh……"

"? "

"I was wondering...... if you could lend me a place in your store?　I only need about one tatami mat's worth. I wanted to sell bread."



　Ice pouted for a moment then smiled daringly.



"Rent is expensive."

"……How much? "

"You will work as a bodyguard for us. Then I will rent you a place with three meals and a bed. How's that? "

"Ah……"

"What? "

"Ice-chan!! "

"Wait!　Hey!?　Don't hug me!　Ugh! "





　Azami thus took the first step toward her dream of opening a bakery.



　Soon after, the "cream buns" boom hit the royal capital...... but that's another story.



======



Thank you for reading.

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Cheat sheet

Stats details

＜Status Details＞

• HP　Hit Points
• MP　Magic Points
• SP　Stamina Points
• STR　Short range attack skill power, strength, physical power.
• DEX　Long range attack skill power, dexterity, hit rate.
• AGI　Quickness, avoidance rate.
• INT　Attack Magic skill power.
• LUK　Good luck, critical rate.
• VIT　Simple defense.
• MGR　Magic defense.

Types of combat skills

Named after shogi pieces (The word in bold is the one being used in this translation). From easier to acquire to harder.

1. Pawn/Soldier (Fuhyou)
2. Lance(Kyousha)
3. Knight (Keima)
4. Silver General (Ginshou)
5. Gold General (Kinshou)
6. Bishop (Kakugyou)
7. Rook (Hisha)
8. Promoted Bishop/Dragon Horse(Ryuuma)
9. Promoted Rook/Dragon King (Ryuuou).

List of Swordsmanship skills

Swordsmanship

1. 《Soldier Swordsmanship》　                  Normal attack.
2. 《Lance Swordsmanship》　                    Piercing attack.
3. 《Knight Swordsmanship》　                   Precision attack.
4. 《Silver Swordsmanship》　                     Strong single-target attack.
5. 《Gold Swordsmanship》                           Small-range attack to all directions.
6. 《Bishop Swordsmanship》                      Quick and powerful piercing attack
7. 《Rook Swordsmanship》　                      Rush piercing attack
8. 《Dragon Horse Swordsmanship》　  Powerful ranged attack in all directions
9. 《Dragon King Swordsmanship》　       Most powerful range attack, takes time to prepare

List of Shieldmanship skills

Shieldmanship

1. 《Soldier Shieldmanship》　                  Normal defense.
2. 《Lance Shieldmanship》　                    Piercing deflection.
3. 《Knight Shieldmanship》　                   Defense + knockback.
4. 《Silver Shieldmanship》　                     Defense +chance to parry
5. 《Gold Shieldmanship》                           Ranged guided defense + knockback.
6. 《Bishop Shieldmanship》                       Reinforced defense (Temporarily boosts VIT and MGR)
7. 《Rook Shieldmanship》　                      Rush attack
8. 《Dragon Horse Shieldmanship》　    ???
9. 《Dragon King Shieldmanship》　       Powerful shield attack, takes time to prepare

List of Archery skills

Archery

1. 《Soldier Archery》　                  Normal range attack.
2. 《Lance Archery》　                    Piercing range attack.
3. 《Knight Archery》　                   Precise sniping range attack.
4. 《Silver Archery》　                     Strong single-target range attack.
5. 《Gold Archery》                           Weaker range attack with added knockback.
6. 《Bishop Archery》                       Strong piercing range attack.
7. 《Rook Archery》　                      Very strong single-target range attack with scaling % damage.
8. 《Dragon Horse Archery》　    Powerful Area of Effect piercing range attack.
9. 《Dragon King Archery》　       Powerful on-impact range attack, takes time to prepare

Types of Magic skills

They use the “Form” or “step” system of martial arts. From lower to higher.

1. First Form　      　      Regular attack
2. Second Form　      　 Extended range attack
3. Third Form　      　    Strong single target attack
4. Fourth Form　      　  Strong extended range attack
5. Fifth Form　      　      Extremely powerful extended range attack

• Their cast time becomes longer in this order First→Third→Second→Fourth→Fifth.

Ranking of the skills

From lower to higher, then it changes to the “Dan” system of martial arts, which means Grade.

1. 16th class
2. 15th class
3. 14th class
4. 13th class
5. 12h class
6. 11th class
7. 10th class
8. 9th class
9. 8th class
10. 7th class
11. 6th class
12. 5th class
13. 4th class
14. 3rd class
15. 2nd class
16. 1st class
17. Grade 1
18. Grade 2
19. Grade 3
20. Grade 4
21. Grade 5
22. Grade 6
23. Grade 7
24. Grade 8
25. Grade 9
26. Title

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 ToC    

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