Earlier, I had unconsciously used my item box, yet there was no guarantee it would actually work. I figured it would be smart to check if I could use Transfer as well, so I decided to visualize my room in that mansion in the other world and attempt a Transfer.
"Transfer!"
In an instant, what was before me changed, and I found myself standing in my room on the other side. At least I was able to use Transfer. That put my mind at ease. I felt relieved.
"Transfer!"
Once again, back to my room in Japan.
I can definitely use my skills here, and with some clever application, I could become incredibly wealthy.
That said, I should have around a million yen in savings. I have decent money over there and I believe I can keep earning more, but here, I've probably already been fired for long-term absence from my part-time job, and I have no desire to seek another.
Is there a way to make quick cash without a part-time job? Using Transfer to become a Woo〇ーEats delivery person might be an easy way to earn, but it's inefficient, and I can't just flaunt my Transfer ability in public, so that's out of the question.
I could certainly make plenty of money through illegal means, but of course, I can't go down that path.
Is there a good way to make a profit? With only a million yen to start with, I can't afford anything too ambitious.
While my motivation wanes, my alchemy workshop can synthesize any material. In other words, if I have the will, I can create just about anything. However, if I were to try making money, I'd likely exhaust myself after producing just a few grams and wouldn't be able to do anything else that day.
If I have the base materials, my energy consumption can be minimized.
Ah! There are some expensive items I could make with the materials around here.
I once heard that this substance is made from sugar. I stored the contents of the sugar jar from the kitchen in my item box and then moved it to the material box. Now I had everything I needed. Time to get started!
I was excited, but then I wondered, how exactly should I proceed? I recalled that if sugar is subjected to high temperature and pressure, it would naturally lose hydrogen and oxygen, ultimately becoming a lump of carbon. The carbon atoms would then tightly bond together to form the final product.
I envisioned a cylinder and poured the sugar inside. The idea was to heat it while pressing down a piston from above. Here we go. I believed the temperature should be around 1500 degrees Celsius. I would heat it up to that point and then gradually apply pressure to the piston. I should have checked the recommended pressure beforehand, but it probably wouldn't reach 1000 atmospheres; after all, the bottom of the Mariana Trench is at that pressure.
If I increased the pressure by increments of 10,000 atmospheres, it should begin to form. First, I set it to 10,000. No change, as expected. Then 20,000, still the same. At 30,000, 40,000, and 50,000, was there a slight shift? Let's proceed with smaller increments of 1,000 from here. At 51,000, 52,000, and 53,000, it felt like things were progressing nicely. I brought it to 54,000, 55,000, and finally 56,000. Maybe I should let it sit like this for a moment.
After about five minutes, I focused on the alchemy workshop and noticed that the carbon, heated to 1500 degrees and glowing a bright orange, was beginning to show transparent areas emerging within it.
"Did I pull it off?"
I gradually lowered the pressure and temperature. From my item box, I lifted a transparent crystal alongside some black charcoal; it was an octahedron, resembling two pyramids joined at their bases, with each face slightly bulging.
"Yes!"
Although I mixed up a few steps, I had checked the pressure, temperature, and time for diamond formation on my smartphone, and it looked promising.
Next, I searched for the price of synthetic diamonds. One carat cut diamond costs around 80,000 yen?
I realized I wouldn't be able to cut diamonds myself. This venture wouldn't pay off. If I could cut synthetic diamonds in Japan and sell them in another world, they might fetch a good price, but I need yen here. This idea is a no-go.
By the way, I noticed several missed calls from my part-time job on my phone, including an email notifying me of my dismissal.
While making synthetic diamonds wasn't overly difficult, the low profitability made me abandon the idea. The only upside is I can now create hard materials at my alchemy workshop anytime, though most items can be processed there anyway, making it nearly pointless.
I want to create something valuable using easily obtainable materials, but other than diamonds, I can't think of anything. Perhaps I could sell crafts made from readily available resources online in that other world. It would take effort, but I can just hire help, and we might manage. Still, starting capital is crucial, and without a solid business plan, loans seem out of reach.
If only there was a sure-fire way to make some quick cash. Should I take the easy route and get involved in something illegal? For instance, if there were a band of thieves hoarding their loot, I could take some of their stolen goods. While that would certainly be a crime, it's unlikely the thieves would report it to the police, so it probably wouldn't become a major incident. Hence, I should be safe from arrest or prosecution.
But enough of that daydreaming. To make my life a bit more comfortable over there, I locked up my apartment and headed to the nearby supermarket. This large store not only sells groceries but also clothing, household goods, and hosts several tenants, making it a one-stop shop for most needs.
First, I picked up toothpaste and toothbrushes for everyone from the miscellaneous section near the entrance, followed by a decent supply of towels. I also stocked up on tissues and toilet paper.
As I wandered over to the candy aisle, I considered buying some sweets for the kids but decided against it—no matter how much we brushed our teeth, sugary treats could still lead to cavities.
For myself, I opted to buy a case of canned beer. Since I could heat things up in the alchemy workshop and even make ice, cooling my drinks shouldn't be a problem.
With my cart piled high with items, I paid at the register and then moved to a discreet spot to store my purchases in my item box. After this shopping trip, most of the contents of my treasury had turned into Sky. I prefer cash over electronic payments, so I'll need to visit the bank tomorrow to withdraw some cash.
Lacking the funds I needed, I decided to call it a day. As I walked down a secluded hallway past the supermarket's restroom, I noticed a bulletin board leaning against the wall displaying the faces of three missing high school girls. The images, mere photocopies, were of poor quality.
"It was only a matter of time before they filed a missing person's report. Three high school girls disappearing is a big deal. Perhaps it's fortunate for me that I'm not involved in this situation. I feel for their parents, but if I were to step forward claiming, 'I know where your daughters are,' it would only raise unnecessary suspicions. So let's leave it at that."
After glancing at the photos one last time, I used Transfer to appear in the living room of the mansion. My smartphone remained at my apartment, plugged into a charger.
Back at the mansion, I called the children together and handed each of them toothpaste and a toothbrush, conducting a little dental hygiene workshop. They were initially taken aback by the minty flavor of the toothpaste, but soon they managed to brush their teeth.
After rinsing their mouths, the children delightedly puffed out their cheeks and exhaled in satisfaction, savoring the freshness.
"Remember to brush your teeth when you wake up and before bed. Got it?"
""Yes!""
"If the toothpaste is running low, let me know before it runs out."
"Yes!"
I was still playing the role of the children's caretaker. I had considered the idea of cooking for them myself, but when I thought it through, I realized it was unrealistic for someone like me, who had only ever cooked with frozen foods and takeout, to take on that challenge.
So, I needed to figure out a solution for meals. Since hiring someone would involve wages and other complications, I decided to return to the slave trader where I had purchased the children. My goal was to find someone who could cook and would be kind to the kids. I wasn't sure if such a person existed, but I figured there must be at least a few.
As I entered the slave trader's premises, the assistant manager who had helped me last time stepped forward.
"Welcome back, Zenjiro-sama. How may I assist you today?"
It impressed me how well he remembered my name after just one visit. Such memory might just be a basic skill for a businessman, but it was one I lacked.
"I'm looking for someone who can cook and has a fondness for children."
"While I can't guarantee that any of them absolutely love kids, I can provide several candidates who seem suitable. You can choose from among them."
He signaled to a young worker waiting nearby, who quickly dashed into the back room.
I settled into a chair at the round table to wait.
I hadn't specifically asked for young women or beauties, but the young man brought three young and attractive women with him. Unlike the children, they were dressed normally and not in tunics or barefoot.
As for me, despite my own flaws, I have a strong tendency towards lookism, so I welcomed the beautiful women. It might be my prejudice, but I've found that most beauties tend to have kind hearts and pleasant dispositions. When someone is visually appealing, there seems to be an inherent charm.
All three of them were beautiful, making it hard to choose, but I decided to buy the smallest one, named Lisa. She was 20 years old, with a small face and shoulder-length black hair.
"Zenjiro-sama, let me explain this briefly once again.
The slave you are purchasing falls under the category of debt slaves. Her total debt amounts to 80 gold coins, and the merchant guild has covered her debt, charging a guarantee fee of 20 gold coins. She will be freed from slavery after working off her debt of 100 gold coins. Her monthly repayment rate is 2 gold coins, which translates to a 50-month slavery contract.
At the end of the contract period, she will be freed from slavery. After that, her employment will be the same as that of an orphaned slave who has reached adulthood.
As I mentioned last time, slaves cannot be moved outside the country. If someone attempts to take a slave abroad, or if a slave has already been taken out, severe penalties will be enforced."
"What is the reason that she can't be taken abroad?"
"With Zenjiro-sama, it's certainly not an issue, but there are regulations in place because there's a risk that slave contracts may not be properly fulfilled overseas."
I see.
"Also, please note that any form of sexual coercion towards debt slaves, including her, is a crime. Now, regarding her price, it will be 100 gold coins plus an additional 50 coins for our expenses."
It's a well-thought-out system. Moreover, anything inappropriate is strictly prohibited, which is a relief for me. There must be places meant for that sort of thing if the need arises. I'm not worried about diseases, so I can use those places without fear.