Chapter 4

"Good morning, Lord Jin."

The next morning. As I was preparing breakfast, Seram woke up.

"Ah, good morning, Seram."

I wasn't used to being greeted by someone at home, so I returned the greeting a few seconds late.

"The water really helped."

"Ah, you can put it on that table."

Seram came into the kitchen and placed the glass and water jug she used yesterday on the table.

"Is there anything I can help with?"

I was about to say no, but waiting around idly probably didn't suit her personality.

"Then, can you bring that dish to the table?"

"Got it!"

When I gave her a task, Seram smiled and brought the rice, grilled salmon, pickles, nori, and salad to the table.

In the meantime, I did the final check on the miso soup to make sure it didn't boil over.

"Yep, this should be good."

It might be a bit too strong for those who prefer a lighter taste, but it's better to have a saltier soup in the summer when you sweat a lot.

Yesterday, Seram also seemed to enjoy it, so this should be fine.

After turning off the stove, I ladled the miso soup into two bowls and brought them over.

Seram was already sitting on the zabuton, waiting with a fidgety look.

"Shall we eat?"

"Yep!"

"Let's eat."

The pre-meal prayer, which I learned yesterday, was something Seram took the lead in.

She might have actually liked it.

The breakfast menu was simple: rice, miso soup, salmon, pickles, nori, and salad.

If Seram, being from another world, wasn't familiar with rice, I considered making a Western-style breakfast, but my house, where I usually eat Japanese food, didn't have any bread.

So, it was Japanese food again, just like yesterday.

"This salad is so fresh and sweet."

"It's a mix of things from the garden that aren't good enough to sell."

"I thought the same thing yesterday. This is the first time I've tasted such fresh and sweet vegetables. Lord Jin, you grow wonderful things."

Seram took a small tomato in her mouth and smiled.

I don't know what vegetables were like in Seram's world, but from her words, they seem to be better than what she's used to.

I've never been told something like that before, but it doesn't feel bad.

Still, she was crying in the bedroom last night, but this morning she's all cheerful.

Maybe she's calmed down after a good night's sleep, or maybe she's naturally positive. Honestly, I can't tell, but she doesn't seem to be forcing it.

"Wow! What rich fat! I've never tasted a fish with such a lack of fishy smell! What kind of fish is this?"

"It's salmon. Have you never eaten it before?"

"Yes, I've never eaten a fish like this."

It seems that while some ingredients exist in her world, others, like salmon, do not.

"Then, what kind of fish did you eat in your world?"

"In my world, a fish called Adonko is often eaten. It's cheap and widely available, but it's muddy and not very tasty."

When I tried to have a more in-depth conversation, Seram answered without any particular concern.

It sounds like a far-fetched story, but it's interesting to talk about it this way.

"Hmm, it's hard to eat this neatly."

Seram, with a serious look, was struggling with the salmon using a fork.

"Eating with a fork is probably too difficult. Give it to me."

I took the plate of grilled salmon from Seram and used new chopsticks to break it up into bite-sized pieces.

I should have thought more about making the meal easier for her to eat...

"With this, you should be able to eat it with a fork."

"Thank you. I was thinking the same thing yesterday. It's amazing how you can use those two sticks so skillfully."

Seram stared intently at my hands as she spoke.

Now that I think about it, it is pretty impressive that I can use chopsticks so naturally.

As I was moving the chopsticks, I noticed Seram staring at me intently.

"Want to try using chopsticks?"

"I'll give it a try!"

I handed her the new chopsticks I used to break up the salmon, and Seram observed my fingers and tried to mimic the grip.

Then she tried to pick up the salmon with the chopsticks.

However, her grip quickly collapsed, and she couldn't pick it up properly. The salmon fell back onto the plate, and Seram looked disappointed.

"This is quite difficult."

"Well, it's all about practice. You'll get better the more you use them."

"......The more I use them......"

Seram's expression suddenly fell.

She had been cheerful during the meal, but my words about the future seemed to weigh on her.

"What are you going to do from now on?"

"I don't know. I don't even know if it's possible to return to my original world, let alone how to do it."

That's true.

I thought she was in a forest in another world called Twiege, but she was found unconscious in a rice field here.

"Was there any clue to return to the rice field where you were found?"

"I've already checked, but there was no trace of magic or a magic circle."

It seems she had already checked.

If that place, which could have been the only clue, is gone, then it's even more unclear what to do.

"Still, I can't keep being a burden to Lord Jin. After breakfast, I'll leave the house."

"Leave? What are you going to do after that?"

"I'll find a way to survive on my own. I have some martial skills. If I take on monster hunting, I should be able to earn some money."

She seems confident in her abilities. Seram answered confidently.

"Let me tell you, there are no monsters in this world."

"Wh-What!? No monsters!? That's ridiculous!"

"It's the same everywhere in the world. Japan is one of the safest countries. There are no conflicts between people, so you can't do mercenary work either."

"Then, how am I supposed to survive!?"

"That's what I'm asking."

Seram was genuinely panicking upon learning that her only source of income was gone.

The confident Seram from a moment ago was now the pitiful Seram.

"But I'll find a way to earn money! I'm confident in my physical strength!"

Seram, who had regained her composure, said, clenching her fists.

Indeed, if she can run that fast, she might be suited for physical labor.

However, it's questionable whether an otherworlder who knows nothing about this world can find such a job.

She doesn't have a residence or a guarantor.

It would be impossible for her to work at a regular company. The only place she might be able to work is in the underground world, but a young and beautiful girl like her would just be taken advantage of.

"Thank you for the meal. I've been a bother, Lord Jin."

While I was thinking all this, Seram had finished her breakfast and stood up.

She took the dishes to the sink and moved to the entrance to put on her armor.

"Wait."

"What is it?"

"......If you help with the farm work, you can stay here with free meals and no rent."

"Really!?"

When I said this hesitantly, Seram came close to me.

I can tell she's excited, but her face is too close.

"Ah, yeah. But I can't pay you much. My income has just stabilized, and I'm not making a lot of money, so I can't pay you much."

"As long as I have a place to stay and food to eat, I'm fine! But, is it really okay for you, Lord Jin?"

Seram looked up at me, looking worried.

As you can see, she's an otherworlder with no residence. She doesn't know anything about this world, and it's clear that hiring her will be a challenge.

However, Seram is not a bad person. Even someone like me, who doesn't socialize much, can tell that much.

I don't like building complicated relationships.

That's why I quit my job and decided to do farming in my hometown.

Hiring Seram and living with her would mean building a strong relationship.

While I find it troublesome, it's much better than leaving someone in need.

"I was thinking I could use some help. Besides, I have extra rooms, so it's not a problem."

It's better for my mental health to hire a familiar female knight who seems good at physical labor than to hire a stranger. Plus, it won't hurt my wallet.

"Lord Jin, I'm grateful! Then, I'll be counting on you from now on!"

While this was a calculated offer, it seems Seram was also happy with it.

When Seram reached out her hand, I extended mine and shook it.

"I'll be putting you to work from today."

"I'm looking forward to it!"

And so, my cohabitation with the otherworldly female knight, Seram, began.

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[Author's Note]

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