Chapter 59: 59

Military Academy Culture

Two pots are placed on the stove in the kitchen and the milk is put on the heat. What Alme is making now is milk ice cream liquid.

From now on, she has to make plenty of milk ice cream for the ice cream shop and Café Heston.

While she was enjoying the sweet vanilla and milk scent from the pot, Ena and Jayla called out to her from behind.

She directed them to peel the fruit on the counter. This is for fruit ice cream.

“Alme, what happened to your reply to Mr. Charikot last time? Are you actually in a relationship already?”

“No way! I was thinking of replying to him this week.”

“Oh! you’ve already decided what you’re going to say?”

Alme cringed a little at the expectant gazes of Ena and Jayla. Because she can’t give a good answer…

“I’ve decided to decline Mr. Charikot’s invitation. I feel like it’s not sincere to date someone just to gain social experience… I thought I’d take it easy, but as a result of thinking about it with an easygoing mind, I came to this conclusion…”

She truly felt sorry for Jayla, who was the mediator for her. However, after all, she felt that this kind of lighthearted love affair was not suitable for her.

This is Alme’s honest feelings.

“I’m really sorry that you’ve taken the trouble to create an opportunity for me, Miss Jayla. If I’m like this, I’ll never be able to gain experience…”

“It’s okay. Refusing because you don’t feel like it, is also an experience.”

Contrary to Alme’s sullen face, Jayla was smiling brightly as usual.

Ena continued to talk while peeling an orange.

“Yes, refusing is also an experience. It takes a lot of courage to reject someone.”

“Yes…I know but actually I don’t have the courage to do so, so I’ve been putting off replying…it’s really the worst.”

“Nah, it’ll be fine, that Charikot guy won’t mind. If it’s hard to refuse, I can show you a better way.”

“A better way?”

When Alme asked, Jayla taught her the ‘easy way to behave like a soldier’.

“It’s what the guys at the military academy do, when you reject someone, you give them a bracelet instead of replying. Put the name of the God of war on the leather cord and hand it over with the words “May God bless you with divine protection”.

“That’s an interesting culture. I’ve never heard of it before.”

At school in Alme’s previous life, there was a culture of receiving a second button from someone you liked, but it seems that military academies in this world also have their own culture.

“The more you get rejected, the more blessings the God of war gives you, and the stronger you get.”

“So instead of letting your lover go, it’s a mechanism to get divine protection.”

“That’s right. We can compete with each other for the number of bracelets and make a story out of it, and it’s easier on both people involved than having to deal with the formalities, right?”

Certainly, this way the atmosphere would not be too awkward. If a modest gift is given, it can also serve as an apology.

“The ice cream shop is closed tomorrow, right? If you are free, would you like to go buy one? There’s a good place I know.”

“By all means, please! I would also appreciate it if you could tell me what you think would suit Mr. Charikot’s tastes.”

“Then I want to go too! I want one of those fancy bracelets as a talisman for Aiden and also as insect repellent.”

When Alme heard the word talisman, she suddenly had an idea. In that case, she should take this opportunity to give one to Falk.

“Do you think it’s okay to give a soldier’s talisman to a priest?”

“Are you going to give it to Mr. Shirotaka? A military priest is like half a soldier, so why not?”

“No, it might be a nuisance to receive a gift from a commoner…”

The thought crossed Alme’s mind that it might be a nuisance to receive a cheap ornament. But, Ena’s bright voice pushed Alme’s thoughts back before she could be troubled.

“It’s okay, Mr. Falk will definitely be happy! I remember saying the same thing to Alme before.”

“When I picked out the scarf for Mr. Beatos…”

“I’m sorry…somehow…”

Ena and Alme chuckled as they repeated the exchange they’d had when they picked out a gift for Julio before.

She hoped that this time she would be able to give the gift safely and make him happy…

The next day, Alme met up with Ena and Jayla and headed to a leatherwork shop.

It seems that Jayla has been a patron of this store since she was in the military academy. The shop is located in the back of a maze-like alley, and it seems to be in a place with a high degree of difficulty that even locals get lost.

As Alme followed her down the alleyway, she found a small workshop.

The walls are entwined with vines, giving the shop an mysterious ambiance. It’s like a witch’s house, or a secret base, and it’s exciting.

When Jayla cheerfully opened the door, there was not a witch inside the workshop, but an elderly male craftsman.

A leather craftsman with a thick white beard, the owner smiled and narrowed his eyes.

“Oh, Jayla. It’s been a long time. What’s the matter? Are you making men cry again?”

“It’s not me today. It’s this girl who wants to make a man cry.”

Jayla pushed Alme on the back and pushed her in front of the owner.

“Hey, making him cry is misleading…!”

“Wow, is this young lady from the military academy? For some reason, she doesn’t look like she’s going to hold a sword. Also, the blond young lady over there has pretty, delicate hands.”

“Well, we’re not from the military academy. We’re outsiders, can we buy a bracelet?”

Alme and Ena huddled together and looked at each other to see if they were all right. Despite their worries, the shopkeeper guided them to the back of the shop.

“Of course you are welcome. No, let me say that you are most welcome. We only get military school kids here, so it’s nice to have you ladies from the city. Come on, take a look around.”

Inside the small shop, shelves line the walls, and leather cords and small items are lined up in a row.

Leather straps are often flat, about the width of a finger. It’s a simple design, but it’s colorful and fun to look at.

“This flat cord is for the bracelet, so pick your favorite color. After choosing the cord, choose the beads to match. And finally, please decide what words to engrave. After I complete the bracelet, the price is 3,000 G for one.”

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“Oh, we can choose the combination.”

“It’s fun! What color should I use?”

It seems that the bracelet can be semi-custom-made. It’s a question of taste, but it looks like it’s fun to choose a combination.

Ena and Jayla quickly looked around at the cords and each picked up a color they liked.

“I’m going to give it to Charikot, too. I think I’ll get an orange one.”

“I’m going with rainbow colors. The flashiest one!”

“Jayla, what colors does Mr. Charikot like?”

“Hmm, I think that guy has a red color on a lot of items.”

“Well, I’ll give Mr. Charikot the red color. As for Mr. Falk…”

Alme was about to pick up a white one, but then she held off. Light colors tend to get dirty quickly.

Since this is a gift for someone going to the battlefield, she would choose a color that doesn’t make the dirt stand out…although she didn’t know if he would wear it anyway.

She decided to choose blue, taken from the color of the priest’s uniform. It’s a beautiful shade, as deep as the daytime sky.

The leather strap is soft while being firm, and seems to be comfortable to wear.

After selecting the leather strap, the next step is to move to the place where the beads are placed.

Bead cases are placed all over the table, and square flat beads that match the size of the leather cord are shining.

The glossy beads look like candy. The colorful beads are so varied that one can’t help but get lost in the selection.

Leaving aside the question of taste, all three of them had already chosen their favorite colors. It was now time for the colorful bracelets to be made.

They put their selections on a tray and move on to the next location. Next, they decide on the words to be engraved on the leather.

Gathered at a small table at the end of the store, the three girls sat close together. The shopkeeper put some booklets on the table.

“Here’s a guide. Here are the names of the Gods and spirits. Here are prayers and incantations. Here are poems and the lyrics of popular songs. Only short sentences can be used, but of course you can come up with your own message.”

Alme picked up the booklet that was handed over and flipped through it.

It’s interesting to see a variety of things, such as prayers to seek protection from Gods and spirits, prayers for good luck, lyrics of love songs, and so on.

The city’s old song, “Life is easy, love is true,” was also right in there.

Jayla said, pointing to the open page.

“I think this is good for Charikot. Blessed by the God of war Gladius. A classic talisman for soldiers. I’m going to make mine a Gladius too~”

“Well then, God’s name and blessings to you, Mr. Charikot.”

“What should I do with Aiden’s? I’d like to have my name printed in big letters but I also want a good luck spell on it too.”

Alme and Ena were troubled as they looked at the booklet. Alme also opened the booklet that contained poems.

While following the string of letters with her eyes, she found a poem that seemed to be good.

‘Precious one. Morning bread with you.’

Somehow, Alme liked the simple phrase. She felt a sense of life and warmth in the clear words.

(Does it mean let’s eat together? Mr. Falk often comes to the store in the morning, so it might be good. He doesn’t eat bread, but ice cream.)

Alme decided to engrave this poem with the hope that Falk would return safely from the battlefield and come to eat ice cream.

“For the blue bracelet, I decided on this poem. What did Ena do?”

“I decided on my name and a prayer to the God of War.”

“Okay then, grandpa, this is how we want it~”

“Yes, I’ll finish it soon, so please wait.”

The owner took a note and walked to the back work area with a tray of three bracelet sets.

The engraving metal fittings are tapped with a mallet and the letters are engraved into the leather. After inserting the letters, beads are threaded through and clasps are attached to both ends of the cord.

Soon after, the finished bracelet was placed on a tray and brought to the three girls.

When Alme saw the finished product on the table, she couldn’t help but let out a squeal of delight.

“Wow, nice!”

“It’s fashionable! It’s kind of a waste to give it to Aiden… it looks like he’s going to get dirty soon. I wonder if I’ll make one for myself next time.”

“It’s a real waste that the only customers are soldiers! Grandpa, you should advertise your shop more.”

“It’s hard to tell people where the shop is, even if I want to advertise it. Only the locals in the area know where it is, so I’ve given up. I rely on referrals, so you ladies bring your friends.”

The generous owner laughed, shaking his bristly beard as he said this.

After paying the bill, Alme and the others left the shop. The shop owner saw off the three young ladies who were walking away into the back of the alley and muttered deeply.

“I’m happy when customers come to my shop, even if it’s just for my hobby. But still, you are very passionate to choose that poem. Youth is a good thing!”

The poem chosen by the black-haired young lady, “Precious one. Morning Bread with You,” was taken from a certain classic literature.

It is passionate words of love given by a wife to her husband who is heading off to war:

I love youcome home earlyand hold me tightlythrough the nightprecious onegreet the morningsun in your armsand eat morningbread with you

That is the meaning of the poem. It’s a very popular passage for those familiar with the classics, but not many people know about it.

It seems that the girl is quite knowledgeable for choosing this from the large number of poems in the booklet.

How happy is the person who is presented with this poem by a maiden!

While stroking his beard, the owner thought there must be a happy person somewhere in this city.

~❆~

T/N: hmm, this poem was quite tricky to translate. Apparently 大切な人has the meaning of special someone; special person; important person; precious one; significant other; loved one; etc. For now, it’s open to interpretation but by all means, let me know if there is a better translation.

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