Chapter 84

Chapter 84 \nChapter 84: That time when we harvested coffee\n

TL: kizenED: Filip/Gecko

In the evening, I went to the coffee shop to check on the state of things.

「Caam-san, we have less than half left of the beans」

I had put the coffee beans in a barrel to serve as part of the interior decor so I opened it to check and saw that more than half of it was gone.

「Ahー, it’s true. Doesn’t look like we’ll make it till the next harvest」

「Why are you so calm about it!? Isn’t this a pretty big problem?」

「You’ll still be able to operate for several days so don’t worry about it and just resume the operations. Iyaー, is this what you call the scream of happiness?」

「What are you talking about? I’m concerned about this you know?」

「It’s fine, it’s fine. Anyway, how are the sales? Just let me know how the sales are per day」

「Uhm, it’s about this much」

He showed me the bag where they keep the day’s proceeds.

After counting the money and subtracting the miscellaneous expenses, it was equivalent to the amount you’ll get for working 25 days at a decent place.

They won’t understand if I say it was worth almost a month’s worth of work so I’ll just simplify it.

「The amount we’ve got is the same as you two working for ten days even after deducting the expenses」

「「That much!?」」

「We’re not buying the beans after all. We’re also getting the rest of the required materials for cheap from Nils-san.  I don’t know how much your rent is but I think there’s still going to be a lot left even if we include that. I think it would be fine unless you start lavishly spending or get caught up in a weird scheme. Well then, I hope you’ll continue to do your best」

「Y-yes! We will」

「Ahー, if you ever feel like going back to the island, please inform the customers in advance with a sign that says you’ll be taking some time off. I’ll come to pick you up when that time comes」

「Understood」

「Well then, I’ll be busy starting tomorrow so I’ll deliver the beans as soon as I’m done with that」

「Thank you」

◇

「We’ve already used half of the coffee in the shop we established in town so we’ll be harvesting them today」

「What’s that? You want help?」

「I’m still uneasy about the mode of transport so I’ll just ask the harpy tribe and aquatic demonkin for help for now. We’re going to be paying them with meat so please hunt a lot. You can use this empty box and bag. Keith, I’ll entrust the meat to you」

「Leave it to me!」

After that, I went to the beach then made a slightly large stone in the air which made a loud splashing sound when it landed on the water.

After a while, Lucan-san showed up.

「Too loud! If you’re going to call then do it more gently」

Crap. I forgot that fish are weak to loud sounds in the water.

「Sorry, I will do so next time. Anyway, this is about work」

「What’s this? Is this about pulling the boat we talked about the other day?」

「No, we’re not doing that yet. It’s something urgent」

「……tell me more」

「To make money, we urgently need the fruit of the trees that are on the other side of the island. For land-based demonkin and humans, it would take quite an amount of time to get there so that’s why I called Lucan-san who can swim there quicker」

「Is that all?」

「We’re going to be harvesting the fruit so please select people who can go on land. We’ll need to fill up those boxes」

I pointed at the boxes that were piled up behind me.\n

「Got it. We’ll meet up on the other side of the island right?」

「Yes」

「What about you? How will you get there?」

「I’ll go there using magic」

「That’s pretty handy, huh? Well, we’ll be going ahead」

「Thanks, see you there」

After that conversation, I transported myself to the mountain in order to call the harpies.

「Ohー, hey Caam! What’s upー?」

I found Facile sloshing around in the hot spring.

「I’m here to talk with Chiarore-san about work」

「Is it meat~!? We’re going to get meat!?」

「Don’t misunderstand. I’m not giving it to you, you’ll have to work for it」

「Hm~?」

Facile tilted her head in confusion.

「You work for money. However, since you guys say that meat is better than money, that’s what I give you in exchange for your work. I’ll give you money if you want though」

「Meat!」

Thought soー.

「That’s why I’m here to discuss it」

「I see~. Dad is up there」

「I’m in a hurry so I need you to call him. Can you do it?」

「Sure~」

After saying that, Facile flew away even though she was still wet. I wonder if all harpies are like this……

While waiting, I inspected the area where the hot water gushes out and the drainage holes. As expected, feathers were floating around the drainage holes. Five minutes later, Chiarore-san arrived.

「Demon Lord. This visit seems to be about work」

Don’t tell me you already forgot my name.

「Yes. I would like your help to collect that red fruit. Enough to fill the boxes behind me」

「Got it. Should we carry those boxes too?」

「No need. I’ll do it myself. Let’s meet up in the direction where the sun sets」

「Meet up? Who else is coming?」

「They are the aquatic demonkin」

「I don’t like those guys!」

「Um, did something happen between you? If so then I might have to reconsider a lot of things」

「Can’t eat them even though they’re fish. They even fight back」

The heck? Can you only see them as prey?

「Er, since they are also demonkin, why don’t you treat them separately from fish?」

「Ohh, you’re as smart as ever!」

I’m done with this tribe. My head always hurts when I interact with them. It really makes me want to say 『My headache aches』.

「Ahー, un, are you going to leave immediately? The aquatic demonkin started swimming towards the meeting point from our village area just a while ago so I think it will take a while for them to arrive. How fast can Chiarore-san and the others get there?」

「Umu, the sun would have only moved a bit by the time we reached the place where the red fruit grows」\nThey’re fast as I expected. It would be great if we could give them jobs that could utilize that speed but I can’t think of anything aside from sending letters. That won’t happen until the island gets more developed though.

「Well then, let’s meet up at the beach at the direction where the sun sets」

「Got it」

After saying that, he immediately flew away. Doesn’t he still need to call his comrades? I decided to not think about that and just go to the meeting place using transfer magic.

When I arrived, there was nobody there yet.

I only told them the general direction so I decided to raise the ground and form it into a pillar to serve as a landmark. It might also work as a stone pillar later on. Since I already set this up, I guess I might as well place one in each of the 4 cardinal directions.

While I was busy with that, a half fish half human type demonkin rose from the water.

Why the heck did this guy arrive first?

I was thinking that, the sahagin that was pretty much human except for the fish for a head(an ajot?)  came over to talk with me.1

「Maou-san, you’re pretty fast huh?」

「Well, you’re pretty fast too. I’m astonished at how fast you are」

Wait, this guy has vocal cords?

「I’m the fastest in this area after all」

He did a thumbs up as he said that. If he had a human face, he might have been a fresh-looking young man but for some reason, I feel irritated when he does it with a fish face like that. However, I shouldn’t discriminate. That’s why I also smiled and gave him a thumbs up. I think that’s how I should reply to that. It would be really awkward if he meant it differently though.

「Are you just going to wait until everyone else arrives?」

「Yup」

If you only look from the neck down while he’s talking, he really seems like a nice young man. That image gets ruined by the head though. Am I the only one who thinks that?

After a while, the harpies arrived followed by the rest of the aquatic demonkin.

「Why the heck are harpies also here?」

「We were called by the demon lord after all」

「So were we」

A young harpy and aquatic demonkin started fighting like middle school kids but I just ignored them and began talking.

「We are all demonkin who are living on and around this island. Because of that, I called out to you so that we would all get along. Was I being bothersome for doing that?」

「No, not really……」

「That’s not it」

Both sides reacted like their fight was stopped by a teacher.

「When I spoke with the harpy tribe earlier, they seem to think that everyone living in the sea is fish except that you guys fight back. They could only think of you as food. In order to clear that misunderstanding, why don’t your tribes exchange food? That way, we’ll all be able to get along. Okay?」

「So that’s what it was. I thought they were idiots but I didn’t think they would be that stupid」

「Can’t really help it since you guys look like fish. We’re going to be careful from now on. I’ll also let the rest who aren’t here know」

「So it’s all good now right?」

「「So, what should we do?」」

Their conversation ended, then they came to me to ask for instructions. Despite their quarrel, they’re perfectly in sync.

Their tribes will probably get along from now on. I just hope they don’t make children with a human body, a fish for a head, and wings on their backs.

「Alright, it’s simple. Please collect the red fruits from the trees behind me and put them inside these boxes. That’s all. If it isn’t red, that means it’s not ripe yet so don’t take them. I’m also going to give you bags. You can put it inside the box once it becomes heavy. Simple, right?」

「That’s easy」

「Yeah」

「I’m also going to work so let’s all do our best. Of course, you will be rewarded with meat for your work」

「「「「Woohーーー!」」」」

It just dawned on me but, is this really alright? It hurts my conscience though. I should give them preferential treatment once our village flourishes.

\nWhat’s that gross thing?2

 

「Hey Caam」

「Hm? What’s up, Keith? You still have things to ask?」

「What’s with that one with a human body but with the head of the fish? There’s also that fish with human limbs growing out of it」

「Those are sahagin right?」

「No way. They should be more…… you know? Shouldn’t their fish features be more spread out along their body? Just like that woman over there」

Keith pointed at the sahagin woman who’s eating meat together with the fishing group leader.

「They only have fins on a part of their arms and scales on their hands and feet you know?」

「It’s one of the mysteries of life. That’s just how it works」

「Don’t brush it off as just a mystery. What the heck is that thing!?」

「They’re part of the sahagin and mermaid tribe」

「No way, they’re more like fish people rather than just a mermaid or sahagin. Where are their voices even coming from!?」

「It should be from their mouths, right? You’ll just go bald if you think too much about it. I’m just not thinking about it」

「Ah, I see. Well, I haven’t been able to sleep for a while because of that」

「You’re going to go bald you know?」

「I won’t! My dad has a full head of hair even now I’ll have you know」

「Just imagine, if that pairs up with a harpy, we’ll get that but with wings. I think it’ll look divine」

「What kind of evil god is that!?」

There were flying fish in my previous world but I wonder how it’s going to end up.  That evil god would have to form an alliance with mutation and the mystery of life to win against its DNA. It’s probably impossible though.