ch21-ch40 · 040-ch39
Chapter 39: 364 Days a Year
The next day.
I was helping out at the Rock Kitchen with Papa. And sitting between Papa in the driver's seat and me in the passenger seat, making himself quite at home, was Melkid.
"Hey Melkid, weren't you supposed to be staying home while Papa was working?"
"Hmm, apparently he doesn't like being captured by Tamura Maro all the time when he's at home."
Melkid started trembling beside Papa, who said this with a wry smile—probably remembering Shogun-chan.
"Please, I beg of you, I am really bad with dogs, you see."
Ignoring Melkid, who had developed a strange accent from remembering his terror, I looked at Papa's profile as he drove.
"……Is something wrong?"
"Hmm, well, those glasses aren't bad either, but I think the previous black-rimmed ones suited you better."
Papa was using his spare silver-rimmed round glasses as a replacement for the broken black Boston glasses.
"That's true. And it'd be trouble if they broke again, so maybe I should buy another pair. We can stop by Chōshi-kun's place after we finish today. …Will you pick them out for me, Ai?"
"Eh. Umm, well, I guess I don't mind."
While having that ordinary conversation, I was observing Papa a little. He seemed relaxed, with no particular tension or wariness.
Probably, what Papa said was true—it seems like he can only come from the other world once every seven days. So at least until next Wednesday, he should be fine.
After that, I asked in detail with Melkid too, but in the other world Ceylo, there's no concept of months or anything, and the days cycle in order: Black, Red, Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow, White, and they can only come to this world for one hour from the day of rest, White Day, to the next day, Black Day.
And that weekly cycle happens 52 times a year, making a year 364 days… which is close to this world, so that's surprising, right.
So, our Wednesday and Thursday correspond to their White and Black Days.
But just because of that, it doesn't mean they'll definitely attack on Thursday!
Melkid and the others took nearly a week for their search too. And it's not like their stay period is limited to within a week—they might suddenly attack ten days after coming here, for example.
Besides, it's not guaranteed that another one will definitely cross over on the next day of rest. When you think about it, Papa can never let his guard down, and it must feel suffocating.
But for now, it's confirmed that they won't come until next Wednesday, and Melkid also testified that there's no one else already here, so this might be a precious time when we can completely relax.
While I was thinking about that, we arrived at Papa's workplace.
It was located right in the middle of an office building and a shopping district—a prime location where an old general store used to stand, but the owner retired and cleared the land.
The owner of that land, the general store's master, is a friend of our landlord, and he's generously letting us use the place.
Grandpa's connections are really amazing.
"Alright, then let's get ready."
"Yes!"
Opening the back of the truck, Papa and I assembled tables and chairs.
There are more customers overall on weekdays, but while weekdays have mostly takeout orders, Saturdays have more people eating on the spot, so we set up three tables. We place a napkin stand in the middle of each and put a trash can next to the truck.
Set up the menu easel, extend the canopy from the truck, and we're ready.
"Quite skilled for a young lady, aren't we."
Melkid peeking from the passenger window.
"I've been helping out since I was little, after all. Customers will be coming soon, so you can't talk anymore. And stop with 'young lady'."
It's embarrassing, or rather, it feels ticklish.
Rei-chan might be used to being called "young lady," but I'm just a completely ordinary citizen.
…Ah, now that I think about it, being a half-blood with another world might make it hard to call myself an ordinary person. I still don't really feel that way though~.
Translator's Note: In the original Japanese text, Melkid uses "wagahai" (吾輩), an archaic and formal first-person pronoun that conveys dignity and pomposity. This pronoun was historically used by aristocrats or those of high status, and in modern times is often used to give characters a distinctive, pompous personality. Melkid's use of this pronoun reinforces his character as a knight from another world with a formal, slightly pretentious way of speaking. In this translation, "wagahai" is rendered as "I" with formal phrasing patterns to maintain readability while preserving his archaic speech style.