The Lazy Grand Strategy of Asora: Lord Mito and His Retainers' Guild Boom
Misumi Makoto just wanted a quiet life. Instead, he got summoned to another world, called ugly to his face, and thrown into a wasteland by a goddess who decided he wasn't hero material. Rude, honestly.
But Makoto isn't the type to grovel. Armed with five mysterious rings, a pocket dimension called Asora, and a crew of loyal (if eccentric) retainers who insist on calling him "Lord Mito," he's decided to do the one thing no one expects from a discarded hero candidate: open a shop.
Between sellin
The Lazy Grand Strategy of Asora: Lord Mito and His Retainers' Guild Boom - Band-aid demonstration — Tomoe rejoices exaggeratedly
The morning Mirage Plaza was crowded with people again today.
Voices hawking fish, the clatter of vegetables being arranged, the sound of carriage wheels ringing against the cobblestones. All sorts of smells mingled together, so lively it made your head spin.
Misumi Makoto stood before a stall, staring at a small box wrapped in white cloth.
Inside were magic bandages made by the dwarves of Asora.
Yesterday, those adventurers had slammed them down as "fakes."
"...Today's the day I make them believe."
Makoto narrowed his eyes quietly—visible even above his mask.
A black cloth mask. Deep brown eyes. Short black hair swaying slightly in the morning breeze.
In his hand, he gripped a small knife.
"Lord Mito, what do you intend to do this early in the morning?"
A woman with long silver hair tied back appeared from beside the stall. Her golden eyes were fixed on Makoto's hands.
Misumi Tomoe. Makoto's first retainer, and in truth a high dragon bearing the epithet "Invincible."
A Japanese sword hung at her hip. She was also a troublesome dragon who fancied herself the Kaku-san of a period drama.
"I'm going to demonstrate."
Makoto answered briefly.
"A—a demonstration, you say!?"
Tomoe's voice instantly grew loud.
"Yeah. Words won't convince them. So showing them is fastest."
Makoto switched the knife to his left hand and rolled up his right sleeve.
A slender but firm arm was exposed.
"Lord Mito! Please stop! There's no need for such a thing—this Tomoe will—!"
Tomoe hurriedly tried to grab Makoto's arm.
"Tomoe."
Makoto quietly called her name.
"I'm a merchant. If a merchant doesn't believe in his own goods, who will buy them?"
"But...!"
"Besides, showing is faster than being doubted. You think so too, don't you?"
Makoto's deep brown eyes looked straight at Tomoe.
In them was unwavering resolve.
Tomoe stared at Makoto's face for a while, then slowly let go of his arm.
"...As you wish. If Lord Mito has decided, this Tomoe will watch in silence."
Tomoe stepped back and took her place behind Makoto.
Her golden eyes never left his arm.
(Lord Mito...)
Pride and a faint ache mixed in Tomoe's chest.
(He is a man who carves his own path, no matter where it leads.)
Makoto turned his gaze to the plaza.
The morning market was growing more crowded by the minute.
The adventurers who had called the bandages fake yesterday might be somewhere nearby.
"...Let's do this."
Makoto pressed the blade of the knife against his right arm.
A cold chill.
He drew it across in one motion.
Slice.
A red line ran across, and blood immediately welled up.
"Lord Mito!"
Tomoe cried out softly.
Without even flinching at the pain, Makoto took out a white bandage.
He gently pressed it to the wound.
Then—
The bandage glowed faintly, seeping warmth.
A pale blue magic circle rose faintly on the white cloth.
The wound closed up before their eyes.
The red blood stopped, and the torn skin slowly but surely knit together.
"...Hey, look at that."
"The wound... it's disappearing?"
"No way."
Passing merchants and adventurers who had come to shop stopped in their tracks.
Gazes gathered on Makoto's arm one after another.
In less than ten seconds, the wound had completely vanished.
Not even a trace remained.
Makoto quietly raised his arm.
"This is the Kuzunoha Company's magic bandage. It closes any wound, perfectly. It's still in the testing stage, but the effect is real."
A corner of the plaza grew abuzz.
"Amazing... it really healed."
"Isn't that faster than a magic potion?"
"Hey, how much for one?"
A crowd began to form in front of the stall.
"As expected of Lord Mito! A dignified figure, like presenting the inrou seal!"
Tomoe said, her eyes sparkling.
"The inrou has nothing to do with it."
Makoto sighed.
But the corner of his mouth was ever so slightly relaxed.
From the crowd, a woman stepped forward.
She looked about twenty. Short dark brown hair, with sharp, spirited eyes.
She wore light leather armor, with a short sword at her hip.
An adventurer.
"You the owner of this shop?"
The woman looked straight at Makoto.
"That's right. Raidou of the Kuzunoha Company."
Makoto answered in a businesslike tone.
"I'm Toa. I'm an adventurer. ...That thing just now was really something. Cutting your own arm—you've got guts."
Toa said, sounding impressed.
"Showing is faster than being doubted."
"Hmm. Interesting guy."
Toa grinned.
"Hey, I'd like to try being a monitor for those bandages."
"A monitor?"
"Yeah. I get hurt a lot, see. I'll test whether your product really works."
Makoto stared at Toa's face.
(This woman... she looks casual, but her eyes are serious.)
"You really sure? I can't take responsibility if something happens."
Makoto pressed the point.
"If it works this well, it's worth trying, right? Besides, I like that kind of thing. Being first in line for something new."
Toa laughed without a care.
There was no guile in that smile.
"...Understood. But listen carefully to the usage warnings."
Makoto held out one bandage to Toa.
"This uses a little of the wearer's magic to heal the wound. Don't use it when you're feeling unwell. If anything feels off, peel it off immediately."
"Got it. I'm tough, so I'll be fine."
Toa took the bandage and tucked it carefully against her chest.
"Then I'll come back to report."
Toa gave a light wave and disappeared into the crowd.
"Lord Mito, you've gained a fine collaborator!"
Tomoe said happily.
"Yeah. I'm grateful."
Makoto nodded quietly.
(A monitor, huh... Not bad.)
Unlike yesterday, when everyone doubted his product, he felt like he'd definitely taken one step forward.
A few days passed.
The atmosphere of Mirage Plaza began to change, little by little.
"Hey, you know that Kuzunoha shop?"
"Yeah, the magic bandages, right? It's the talk among adventurers."
"They say wounds heal in an instant—is that for real?"
"An adventurer named Toa tested them, apparently. Says they work amazingly."
More customers began stopping by Makoto's stall than before.
People picking up the bandages and examining them with interest.
People hearing the price and hesitating.
Some even made small cuts on the spot and tried applying one.
"Whoa... it really closed up."
"This is incredible."
"Three silver coins for one... not cheap, but you can't put a price on your life."
Word of mouth spread slowly but surely.
That afternoon.
Toa appeared before Makoto, who was minding the shop.
"Raidou!"
Toa came running up to the stall.
"Oh, Toa. What's up?"
Makoto looked up.
"Amazing! It really healed! Look at this arm!"
Toa thrust her right arm out in front of Makoto.
There was clean skin, without a single scratch.
"Yesterday I got hit by a monster in the forest. It was a deep cut, but I put your bandage on and it completely closed overnight! No scar left, and my magic's fine too!"
Toa's voice was buoyant.
"I see. Good."
Makoto let out a quiet breath of relief.
(No defects came up, then.)
A little relief spread in his chest.
"This is a grand invention to rival the inrou! No, it may even surpass it! Lord Mito, with this, you could take the whole realm!"
Tomoe shouted dramatically from beside the stall.
"I'm not taking any realm. It's still a trial sale. Don't get carried away."
Makoto replied calmly.
But the corner of his mouth was ever so slightly relaxed.
(Not bad. ...Really, not bad at all.)
"Hey, Raidou."
Toa peered into Makoto's face.
"I want to let my little sister Rinon use it too—is that okay?"
"Your sister?"
"Yeah. Her name's Rinon, five years younger than me. She looks up to adventurers and gets hurt a lot. I want to let her use your bandages too."
Toa's eyes were serious.
(A little sister... The feeling of caring for family—that's genuine.)
"Yeah, sure. But make sure she follows the warnings."
Makoto handed Toa another bandage.
"Thanks! Raidou, you're a good guy, despite appearances."
Toa smiled brightly.
"'Despite appearances' is unnecessary."
Makoto gave a wry smile.
"Ahaha, sorry, sorry. But with the mask on, I can't tell your expression, you know. ...Oh, but your eyes are kind."
Toa stared at Makoto's eyes.
"...I see."
Makoto averted his gaze slightly.
(Kind, huh. ...I'm not that kind of person.)
He muttered that in his heart.
But seeing Toa's smile, it didn't feel bad.
"Then I'll come again! I'll tell Rinon too!"
Toa waved cheerfully and left.
"Lord Mito, Lady Toa is quite a pleasant young woman, isn't she."
Tomoe said, beaming.
"Yeah. ...Well, not bad."
Makoto muttered quietly.
That evening.
Makoto was preparing to close up shop.
He recorded the number of bandages sold in the ledger and put the remaining stock into a box.
(Five sold today. ...Not bad at all.)
Sunset light streamed into Mirage Plaza, casting long shadows.
In the distance, the evening market merchants were raising their voices.
"Lord Mito."
Suddenly, Tomoe whispered in Makoto's ear.
Her voice was different from before—low and sharp.
"...Hm?"
Makoto stopped his hands.
"There's a suspicious figure out back."
Tomoe's golden eyes were fixed sharply on the back entrance of the shop.
"...Same as that time, then."
Makoto quietly stood up.
A few days ago, at closing time, a man in a white hood had been prowling around the shop.
Makoto remembered that time.
"Yes. It seems he's rummaging through the box of discarded bandages."
Tomoe put her hand on the hilt of her sword.
"I'll go look."
Makoto killed his footsteps and went around to the back of the shop.
Tomoe followed close at his diagonal rear.
The back of the shop was dim, with the smell of garbage drifting in the air.
The sunset light was blocked by the building's shadow, barely reaching.
And in it—
A man with a white hood pulled low was crouching.
In his hand was an empty box of bandages Makoto had discarded.
The man was tracing the inside of the box with his finger, as if checking it.
"...What are you doing?"
Makoto asked in a low voice.
The man's movement stopped dead.
Slowly, he raised his face.
Beneath the hood, the man's mouth twisted into a grin.
"...Nothing. Rummaging through trash is my freedom, isn't it."
The man's voice was hoarse and grating.
"That box belongs to my shop. Do you need something?"
Makoto stepped forward.
"Need something? Who knows. I just thought you'd put out a fine product. ...This bandage, is it really safe?"
The man tossed the empty box at Makoto's feet.
"Whether it's safe or not, I'm testing it now. It's none of your concern."
Makoto said in a cold tone.
"It is my concern. If someone dies from this, it'll be to my credit."
The man slowly stood up.
"...Who are you?"
A cold light settled in Makoto's eyes.
"Who knows. Just a passing merchant."
With that, the man turned his back on Makoto.
"Wait."
Makoto called out, but the man didn't turn around.
"Sorry, but I'm in a hurry. ...We'll meet again, Kuzunoha's master."
The man vanished soundlessly into the depths of the dim alley.
"...Lord Mito, shall we pursue?"
Tomoe came to stand beside Makoto.
"No, it's fine. Even if we chase him, nothing will come of it now."
Makoto stared at the alley where the man had disappeared.
"That man has the scent of a corrupt magistrate. And a thoroughly nasty one at that."
Tomoe didn't take her hand off her sword hilt.
"...Yeah. And that man is probing for defects in the bandages. As if he knew from the start."
Makoto said quietly.
The letter from the goddess.
'I'll destroy everything precious to you.'
Those words echoed in his head.
(Is that man the goddess's pawn? Or someone else entirely?)
Something heavy sank in Makoto's chest.
"Starting tomorrow, watch the back entrance too. And be even stricter about inventory management than before."
Makoto told Tomoe.
"Understood. Shall this Tomoe stand watch over the shop all night?"
"No, there's no need to go that far. ...But don't let your guard down."
"As you w
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