Otaku Translation: I! Anomaly Cleansing Agent! C33

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There was no way he could afford medical expenses for hundreds of people. After the public water contamination incident, the price of anti-diarrheal medication in the old city areas had skyrocketed by at least fifty times. The specialized alchemical remedies needed to treat this epidemic were even more expensive—his entire year’s salary wouldn’t buy much.

Though there were only four or five hundred severe cases in the Red Brick Road Hospital, tens of thousands of residents in the old city area had been affected. Many couldn’t afford treatment and were simply enduring their suffering.

The silver lining was that the disease wasn’t highly contagious. As long as one avoided direct contact with feces and vomit, or remained out of enclosed spaces where such substances evaporated heavily, infection was unlikely. Most people were safe.

The real trouble lay in the fact that this waterborne illness didn’t seem to resolve on its own. At the very least, an injection of alchemical medicine was required. But given the income levels in the old city areas, few could afford such treatments.

The only solution Leon could think of was to gather evidence of negligence from the Char Waterworks Company and the Department of Public Works. Whether he reported it to higher authorities in the kingdom or tipped off a fearless newspaper, the goal was to make enough noise to force them to foot the bill for the medicines!

And if that failed…

“Sir?”

Seeing Leon suddenly lost in thought, his expression shifting between anger and sorrow after hearing his name, the coffee stall owner raised an eyebrow in curiosity. He then called out gently, “Sir, your meal is ready. That’ll be one and a half copper coins.”

“Oh, oh!”

Snapped back to reality by the vendor’s voice, Leon responded with a couple of distracted “ohs.” As he reached for his money, he shook his head slightly, his face troubled.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “Your name reminded me of something… And, well, you’re older than my father—it feels disrespectful to call you by your first name. I’ll call you Uncle instead.”

“Heh, sure thing! If you’re willing to call a street vendor ‘Uncle,’ who am I to refuse?”

After serving Leon his coffee and bread, the kindly-looking stall owner, who guessed Leon was at least two years younger than his daughter, smiled warmly. He pulled over a wobbly stool, sat beside Leon, and asked softly, “Since you’ve called me Uncle, let me ask: when I mentioned the Char Company earlier, your expression turned grim. Did something unpleasant happen between you and that company?”

“Hmm… you could say that…”

After a brief hesitation, Leon didn’t mention his plans to investigate the Char Waterworks Company. Instead, he recounted how Anna had been injured in the so-called “gas pipeline explosion.”

Ah, so you’re the one who refused compensation.

“That must have been tough for your family,” the coffee stall owner remarked, blinking sympathetically. He sighed and continued, “Your sister is already sick, and now this misfortune… Well, since you’ve called me Uncle, here’s what I’ll do: from now on, anything you order from me will be half-price. How does that sound?”

???

What? Calling him “Uncle” has this much effect?

Leon raised an eyebrow in surprise at the sudden generosity of the coffee stall owner, unsure how to respond. Before he could figure out what to say, the seemingly honest vendor grinned, returned half a copper wheel, and added, “Of course, since you’ve called me Uncle, remember to visit often and keep supporting my business, alright?”

“…”

I see. By calling you “Uncle,” I’ve essentially signed up for a membership card, haven’t I?

Clever. If I were the kind of person who couldn’t say no, I’d probably feel obligated to stick to your stall no matter how cheap other vendors got. Eating breakfast elsewhere would leave me guilt-ridden for days. You really put some thought into this, didn’t you? No wonder you’re making money.

Realizing this was likely another clever tactic to attract customers, Leon chuckled but didn’t press the matter. He accepted the offer without further comment. After all, though this coffee stall was pricier, it was the most comfortable spot on the street. With the added discount, there was no reason to refuse.

After quickly finishing his bread and ham, Leon bid farewell to his newly acquired “Uncle,” wrapped Anna’s handmade scarf tightly around his neck, and stepped back into the biting autumn wind.

Once Leon had left, a regular customer sipping coffee near the stove leaned over with a teasing grin. “Old Char! I’ve been drinking coffee at your stall for seven or eight years, and I’ve never seen you lower your prices for anyone! What’s gotten into you today?

“Could it be that your daughter’s still unmarried, and you’re scouting for a son-in-law? Trying to get cozy with the young man?”

“Heh, nothing like that,” the coffee stall owner waved dismissively. Watching Leon’s retreating figure, he chuckled and added, “I just felt a connection with the boy. He seems to be going through some difficulties lately, so I thought I’d help him out a bit. It’s also good for business if he keeps coming back.”

He paused, then mused aloud, “Though, come to think of it, he’s not a bad catch. A bit thin, but tall and handsome. Look at the direction he’s heading—only the municipal district offices are up ahead, so he must have a decent job. Plus, he’s polite—even to a street vendor like me. Hmm… not a bad kid at all.”

After pondering the other details he had heard from his daughter Amy, the coffee stall owner slightly raised an eyebrow. He then exchanged a few more casual words with the regular customer before sitting back down on his chair. Leaning his head back to gaze at the dark canvas roof of the coffee stall, he thoughtfully stroked the gray stubble on his chin.

People tend to hide their true selves around those they know well, revealing more to strangers they perceive as beneath them or unlikely to cross paths with again.

This young man had unwittingly shown glimpses of something rare… Gentle, respectful, diligent, and sharp-witted. If Amy liked him, I wouldn’t object…

But there is one issue: our family does not accept the tradition of daughters marrying into the son-in-law’s family. Instead, we only allow sons-in-law to marry into our family. Would he be willing to agree to this arrangement?

.....

Unaware that he’d been added to someone’s list of potential son-in-law candidates, Leon arrived at the Cleansing Bureau after braving the cold wind. Upon opening his office door, he was greeted by the sight of the new anomaly described by the red-haired chief—a black broom floating mid-air.

[Name: The Lazy Witch’s Rental Broom (Corruption, Flight, Protection)]

[Appearance: A hard wooden broom painted entirely black, adorned with a few raven feather tassels at the top. It carries a faint smell of pine resin, and small cat paw prints frequently appear on the handle.]

[Abilities: Magical Enhancement, Flight, Airflow Shield]

[Cost: Every Friday afternoon at 3:30 PM, a feline creature will knock on your door. Be sure to treat it well.]

[Record: An old broom discarded by an unnamed witch. This witch plays flying ball every Friday afternoon and returns home early Sunday morning. Too busy to care for her beloved cat, she struck a deal with the Cleansing Bureau’s Leo Bureau: renters of the broom must take care of her cat once a week.]

[Evaluation: A simple yet practical anomaly. Bonus: free cat to pet. Chief Beverly’s favorite.]

[Contamination Value: 0.5]

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