Japanese Paper Shop
After wearing laborer clothes and attracting attention in a different way from the first time I arrived here, I continued walking down the street without worrying about it, and then I found a signboard with the beautiful writing of Washi 『和紙』.
Un, it’s simple but actually easy to understand. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
The shop is located in an isolated area a little away from the main street.
It’s quite simple when you compare it to other shops and it looks like people will overlook the shop and think of it as a background if they don’t pay attention.
But, it doesn’t look bad when you look at the unique atmosphere hanging around the shop.
A hidden shop like this often has some really good stuff.
With an adventurous spirit, I pass through the crowd and start walking toward that shop.
Opening the attached shoji1, a room with a calm atmosphere spread out before me.
The inside of the shop is dim, there is a single orange light shining from the ceiling.
Inhaling the drifting scent of wood and paper, I felt relieved by that.
Although the shop itself is small, there is a lot of completed Japanese paper lined up on the shelves and tables.
There is no one inside here. There is probably someone in the room that continues deep inside divided by a partition working on something since the sound of water can be heard constantly.
Though, I’m more interested in the items in front of me now rather than buying them.
A square, colored Japanese paper is placed on the table.
I think dyes were mixed when they made the paper, but could this be a decoration of a sort to be appreciated like this? Or is there another way to use it? www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「Oh, a cute child has entered the shop. A foreigner too」
Just when I was observing the items inside the shop while tilting my head in confusion, an old woman came from the room in the back.
I know that the granny is quite old but she has quite the energetic voice that makes you doubt that fact, she was wearing a little flashy, red Kagura clothes.
The reason she can wear such Kagura clothes at this age must be because of the charm that came out naturally from this granny.
「Excuse me」
「Sure, sure. There may not be anything interesting here, though」
「No, that’s not true at all. They’re just something unfamiliar to me. What is this colored square paper?」
I try asking the humble granny about the item I'm curious about.
「Ahh, that. Try pushing the button of the magic tool located underneath it」
When I looked under it, I saw a square board was laid out over there. I was so absorbed by the color that I didn’t realize it was there. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
As I pushed the button as she told me, a light flashed from the middle of the paper.
「Ooh, it’s lit!」
「Ihihihi, that’s right」
The granny happily laughs after seeing my reaction.
She laughed like a witch, but it seems somewhat natural when this granny does it.
Even so, the light is beautiful.
If I’m not mistaken, this is a lampshade, right? There was also a light like this in my grandma’s house back in my previous world. I remember going to sleep while staring at the lampshade after turning off the light at night.
The light in front of me was so beautiful it made me remember the scene at that time. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「Can I also turn on this round one here too?」
「Sure」
I was kinda curious about what the yellow and white-mixed sphere thing nearby would be like so I also pushed the button in the same manner.
Immediately after that, light also emits from the middle of the sphere like the paper.
「Ooh, it’s a full moon!」
It was like the color of the full moon floating in the night sky, and it felt like I was staring at the full moon outside but it was inside the room.
The shades of this paper seem to represent the unevenness of the full moon.
「Ihihihi, what a strange child」
「Eh? Really?」
「These days, it’s rare to see children who are happy about paper light like you」
For Kagurans, they have seen these kinds of paper products since they were born, so I guess if they have gotten used to them? www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
But from my point of view, although Japanese paper is something that seems familiar there are also a lot of things I don’t know about it.
As I was thinking about something like that, I immediately noticed something strange nearby.
There are brightly colored flowers inside a metallic frame. Judging from the shape, I think it’s a strap but the middle part..... decoration
「This is, could the inside is also paper?」
「Right. There are papers inside them」
The granny nodded as she smiled when I asked her.
「Eeh? How do you make them?」
When I asked her that, granny went to the back and brought back a board-like tool.
「You put paper into this mold and then add clear resin to it. The resin will then harden when it’s exposed to warm air」
I see, so it’s using hardened resin and then sealing the paper inside, huh? I guess the glittering material inside is probably a kind of mineral that has been scrapped and put inside. It’s sparkling and very pretty.
All you have to do is prepare and pour the resin into the mold and tidy it up, it looks like even beginners will be able to do it.
「Do you want to use it?」
「Eh? Sure?」
「There are few children who are interested in papers so this is more like introducing stuff. Besides, this one is old already and I don’t use it anymore」
After the granny told me that, she gave me the mold and a tube containing resin, and several sheets of glittering papers.
Ooh, I came here in search of Japanese paper but I unexpectedly received a nice tool instead.
「Thank you very much」
「Ihihihi, I will be happy if you show me something you made」
「I will definitely show it to you at that time」
This seems like a good hobby to do inside my room. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
I definitely want to make pretty accessories-like things and give them to the granny.
And it feels like I’m leaving the shop after receiving something but I nervously ask for my reason for coming here.
「Umm, I would like to see the common papers used here, can I see them?」
Although it was already too late, granny nodded with a smile on her face without being surprised.
◆
I bought some papers the granny showed me, and then I Teleport to the dry riverbed.
I stealthily use Space magic under the bridge and store the accessories set.
Then, I take out a scissor and the scoop for scooping the small I made with Earth magic before.
After cutting the paper into a round shape, I only opened the scoop frame and put the round paper into the frame.
The structure is like the scoop from the 100 yen store in my previous life. This way, the frame will not be thrown away and only the paper part will be exchanged and be able to be used repeatedly.
After checking that the paper did not come off from the scoop, I found a depression that was made after they made a trap. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
If it’s here then it won’t get affected by the water current and I’m going to be able to test the paper’s endurance. And when I look closely, there are also juvenile fish so it’s like killing two birds with one stone.
Bending my knees while smiling at the good place I found, I put the scoop into the water.
First will be the test where I won’t mind the effect of the water on the paper and try to move the scoop to chase the fish.
Normally it is stupid to submerge the paper into the water and use it to chase after the fish since it would put the water pressure against the paper, but it’s an experiment this time.
The wet and submerged paper doesn’t appear to tear even though the color has changed.
And when I continued to chase after the fish, I actually managed to scoop a fish.
The fish is jumping around on top of the paper, it is struggling and looks cute.
Since I’m looking for a paper that is strong against water, it looks like it won’t tear easily.
Releasing the fish, I put the scoop into the water again.
I wonder if it has been twice I repeated the test in the same manner. The corner of the paper was finally torn.
Hmm, it is at the level where you can use it to scoop fish even when you handle it relatively roughly.
But, this water-resistant paper. This is a little expensive so I’m hesitating. The granny probably gave me a discount since I was interested in the paper, but still, I’m hesitant.
Paper that is not resistant to water is cheaper.
I wonder if I could use that non-resistant paper, so I changed the paper on the frame into the non-resistant paper as a test.
When I put the scoop into the water and moved it, the paper softly crumbled and it started to collapse.
Un, I knew it, I can’t use ordinary paper.
If it were for the Harvest Festival then at the very least we need several hundreds of papers.
I didn’t buy Kagura’s paper when I went here, so people will just be suspicious of where I buy them if I were to suddenly buy a lot of them.
Besides, it would have a huge impact on my pocket money and it wouldn’t be good to force my way with just that.
People are going to Koryatt village after all so if possible I would like it to be only materials that can be found around the village.
「……hmー, should I postpone the paper for now?」
When push comes to shove there is also the method of sending the people of Toriela’s company to get this paper, but that’s a last resort. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
Having decided that, I Teleport back toward the mansion.
◆
「Nine hundred ninety-eight! Nine hundred ninety-nine!」
After changing my Kagura clothes and walking back toward the mansion on the straight road, I heard Eleonora-neesan’s clear voice even when I was outside of the gates.
Then, as soon as there was a 「One thousand!」 like when someone feels like they’ve said it decisively, Mina’s scream of joy resounded.
What was that? What the heck is going on in the courtyard?
Curious, I entered the courtyard and there, Mina, Sara, and Sylvio-niisan were standing as if surrounding Eleonora-neesan.
「Yahoo, you did it! Eleonora-sama! You did it a thousand times!」
「Congratulations, Eleonora-sama」
「That’s amazing, neesan」
「Yeah, thank you!」
Eleonora-neesan responded with refreshing words of thanks as she was praised by everyone.
She held the ball under her arm, her skin was slightly flushed, and she was sweating, she probably had been juggling the ball since earlier, huh?
I Teleported immediately after watching them so I don’t know, but it’s probably like that judging from the atmosphere.
Rather, doing it a thousand times......
I don’t know if I should be impressed or shocked she managed to improve her skills in less than half a day.
For now, there’s nothing I can say since I don’t know the situation.
I head toward the entrance of the mansion, instead of joining with the group in the courtyard.
「Hey, Al! What do you think, my ball handling?」
I was trying to move quietly while erasing my presence, but I got caught by Eleonora-neesan,
Eh? What? Was that sarcasm? I wonder if that was sarcasm that I didn’t see her do the juggling?
But, as far as Eleonora-neesan’s expression is concerned, there is no ill will at all when she asks me.
If anything, it feels like she genuinely wants me to praise her. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
Ah? Is this the pattern where she didn’t notice me since she was so absorbed in juggling the ball a thousand times? That’s a stupid thing for the sharp Eleonora-neesan.
If that’s the case, there is no need to ruin her mood and honestly say that I didn’t see it.
Let’s just praise her and said the same thing as the others.
「Un, I saw it. That was amazing. I didn’t think you could do that so suddenly for a thousand times you know. As expected from Eleonora-neesan!」
「Fufuhn~, it’s good if you understand!」
And sure enough, Eleonora-neesan smiled happily when I threw out the praises she wanted.
Sylvio-niisan - who is standing nearby - wryly smiles, perhaps he already noticed that I haven’t been here from the start. However, it looks like he doesn’t have any intention to betray me.
Yosh, next I have to get inside before the truth is exposed――
「Eh? But Alfried-sama was going out earlier so you didn’t see watch Eleonora-sama, right?」
Then Mina interjects with that unnecessary remark.
Read the air, you!
「……heeー, so you didn’t see」
「Noo way, Mina. No matter how thin my presence is, that’s cruel of you to treat me like I’m not here」
「Eeh, but, you really――ow!?」
I was sending an appealing gaze to her while joking about it, but it didn’t seem to reach Mina so I made as small Shock Ball as possible and shot it at Mina.
「What wrong Mina?」
「So, somehow, there is a tingling pain around my eye....」
「Sand must have gotten into your eye. Why don’t you wash your face a bit」
「Hwa, hess......」(Yes)
As I make eye contact with Sara, the maid who can read the air then leave with the maid who can’t read the air.
「I’m thirsty. Shall we also head inside?」
「You didn’t watch me, huh?」
The moment I turned around and said that, Eleoora-neesan looked into my eyes with a gaze that seemed like it was able to see through my heart. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
There is something frightening about those cold eyes of hers, so I ask Sylvio-niisan for help.
「Tha, that’s not true. Ri, right, Sylvio-niisan?」
「U, ummー」
「Looking at the ground in the courtyard, I can only see Al’s new footprint you made」
「That’s right. Al went somewhere after the first few tries」
The moment Eleonora-neesan muttered so, Sylvio-niisan easily betrayed me.
Sylvio-niisaaaaann!
Darn it! She can even see my footprints in a place far from here? Could she be just bluffing? Or so I would like to think, but everything has become in vain the moment Sylvio-niisan betrayed me.
「Hmーm, so you didn’t watch me. It’s fine anyway.....」
I thought she would hit me for sure since she would be angry and that I lied but Eleonora-neesan only unhappily told me that.
Honestly, it was a letdown, but it was immediately clear when you look at Eleonora-neesan that she is displeased.
I wonder why, this feeling of incomprehensibility.
No, I mean, it’s not like I want to be verbally abused or hit but, this is quite strange.
And the feeling of guilt also arose.
If anything, it will be many times more relieving if she were to just hit me or get angry at me for lying.
Eh well, whatever.
Just when she was about to walk trudgingly inside, I call out to Eleonora-neesan.
「Y’see, since I haven’t seen Eleonora-neesan’s ball handling, I would like to see it～. I mean, I can only do it for a bit you know」
「……you want to see it that much?」
「Un! Sylvio-niisan also want to see it again, won’t you?」
You betrayed me after all. So I will forcibly take you along.
「Eh? U, un, I want also want to see it again!」
And when the two of us flattered her like that, Eleonora-neesan happily say,
「Can’t be helped then. Watch me do it again a thousand times!」
「「Huh? Ya, yaaーy!」」
Our dry cheering echoed in the courtyard as Eleonora-neesan happily juggled the ball. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
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TL Note :
1. Shoji, Japanese sliding door.
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