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Volume 9 Chapter 227

The Hero Improves the World’s Cuisine

「Tina, didn’t you forget my name?」
I had made a deal with the Goddess of Memory to give me time to say goodbye to Tina.
With that contract, all memories of my name were supposed to be erased from the inhabitants of this world.
「No, I did forget Haruto-sama’s name. And the Goddess of Memory, also erased Haruto-sama’s from books in this world」
「So, how did you—-」
「In my memory and in books, there was no mention of Haruto-sama’s name. But this was the only thing left」
With those words, Tina showed me the bracelet I had given her.
It was a somewhat crude bracelet made by me using the leather of a certain magical beast.
「You still have that……」
「Of course. It was the first thing my beloved gave me」
After a hundred years, it was quite worn out, but it was clear that she had cherished it.
Faintly engraved on it were the letters H&T that I had inscribed with magic.
「I had lost memories related to Haruto-sama’s name, but I remembered that this bracelet was a gift from the Guardian Hero-sama. Also, Haruto-sama promised to come back」
Tina told me she had started earning money because I promised to return.
To live with me.
Then Tina told me how she had come to establish the world’s largest trading company.
「First, I defeated elemental dragons to raise funds. Since my level had increased from adventuring with Haruto-sama, I easily earned about four hundred million」
For the purpose of raising funds, Tina defeated eight elemental dragons alone.
At that time, Tina, who had already exceeded level 200, apparently wasn’t an enemy to be trifled with.
「Nowadays, I wouldn’t let Tina handle the subjugation of elemental dragons alone」
「Hehe, Haruto-sama, you’re overprotective. I’m the world’s top-level magic swordsman, you know?」
I know.
But even so, I didn’t want Tina to engage in activities that could hurt her.
「But being told that makes me feel cherished by Haruto-sama, it makes me so happy」
「Yeah. You are important to me, Tina. I love you so much that I could fight the world for her sake, even if it means becoming an enemy of the world」
「H-Haruto-sama!」
Tina hugged me.
An enemy of the world — it’s just a figure of speech.
If all the countries in the world really became my enemy, I probably wouldn’t stand a chance.
But someday, I want to acquire that power.
That much is necessary to protect Tina, the world’s strongest magic swordsman, and achieve my ultimate goal.
To punch the Evil God who killed me.
Well, leaving that aside—-
「Can I hear more of Tina’s story on the bed?」
Due to Tina’s pleasant scent and the soft feeling pressed against my body, I wanted to cuddle with her.
「……Yes」
Her ears turning red, Tina still accepted my request.
Today, everyone except Tina and I were out.
Yoko, Hakua, and Meldie were challenging a Ruins Dungeon.
Mai, Mei, and Rifa were on cooking duty, so they went shopping for ingredients.
Sela and Elmia seemed to be attending an event in the holy city, and had been out since yesterday.
Luna and Kikyou were each on dates with my clones.
For the first time in a while, Tina and I were alone.
Last time, it was just before the dungeon debut, so it’s been about a month, right?
We were chatting in the dining room, but I couldn’t wait to cuddle with Tina, so I picked her up a little aggressively.
「Kyaa! Uh, H-Haruto-sama!?」
Tina was surprised by the sudden action.
「Sorry. I just wanted to get to bed quickly」
「……Geez」
She turned her face away, looking embarrassed.
「Can I take you like this?」
She didn’t look at me, but Tina nodded silently, so I carried her to the bedroom, still holding her.
　──＊＊＊──
「So, how did you earn 500 billion?」
After a bit of cuddling with Tina, I decided to ask the question that had been on my mind.
「Haruto-sama, don’t you think that food has become much tastier than it was a hundred years ago?」
「I do! I think it’s become incredibly tasty!!」
「I received a lot of spices from Kana-sama. I reproduced them using the materials of this world」
A hundred years ago, when it came to seasoning ingredients, there were only things like salt or pepper.
Furthermore, pepper was a luxury item with limited circulation. Seasoning mostly meant sprinkling salt.
But now, various spices, including dressings, were available.
「You mean to say, the spices circulating in this world are—」
「Except for basic spices, everything else was developed by me」
「…… No way」
What a revelation.
It was all thanks to Tina that the cuisine in this world had become better.
「Originally, the spices in this world were quite bland, and the spices I made quickly captured people’s hearts」
「I bet」
「Moreover, the reason I was able to spread spices all over the world was also because of this」
Saying so, Tina took out a worn-out hemp bag.
「Ah, that!」
It was a bag I also remembered.
It was the highest-grade 『Storage Bag』 that could store anything, make the stored items weightless, and keep them in their original condition, which I obtained in the bonus room of the Ruins Dungeon.
「I’m sorry. In your absence, Haruto-sama, I have been using this. But thanks to this, I was able to control the logistics of the world」