Since returning from the Elf Forest, I have only worked once.
Thanks to the increased sales of vibrators and potions after Einzheil became a nation, I have been able to enjoy more leisure time, feeling that my ideal life is drawing nearer.
「Lord. I am hungry.」
「Shiro-chan. You just ate, didn’t you?」
「I did not.」
「You did… You had six helpings.」
I was sitting on the sofa, trying to look intellectual while reading, but Shiro draped herself over me from behind, so I closed my book and attended to her.
「Hmmm, I am hungry!」
「Eh, are you really hungry?」
「Hmm.」
Seriously…
She has been going to Kukuri-sama’s place for combat training and seems to have grown significantly stronger, but has her appetite increased as well?
Originally, Shiro ate quite a lot, easily several times more than me, but… Is this youth?
「Is it a growth spurt?」
「Hmm. Shiro is growing. I will grow more and more. Soon, I will have oppais.」
That area does not seem to be growing much… But silence is kindness.
Well, it is not entirely untrue, and every journey begins with a single step.
「Then, shall we go eat something?」
「Hmm!」
Thus, we went for a walk to fill Shiro’s stomach, but… Shiro-san?
「…Why are you on my shoulders?」
「Hmm?」
「When you look at me with such innocent eyes and a question mark, I feel like I am the one who is wrong…」
Also, please stop sticking your face forward, it is dangerous.
「Recently, Shiro has been going to Kukuri’s place all the time.」
「That is true.」
I know well because I was the one taking her.
Thank you very much for asking for more Nijuhattai, it was a great help!
「Hmm. So there is not enough time with Lord.」
「…Is holding hands not acceptable?」
「It is not.」
It is not acceptable… Well, it cannot be helped.
The residents of Einzheil will just say, “Oh, it’s them again”, and while others might glance, they will likely just see us as a close parent and child.
「Understood. But get down when we reach the shop, okay?」
「Hmm!」
A good response.
However, Shiro? No squeezing my face with your thighs.
If you ask, “Does it excite you?” I will just make a weird face.
After that, she clung to me as if hugging my head, placing her hands on top of it, and riding tightly. Although I could not see her, I heard her humming from above, so she seemed to be in high spirits.
「Lord, where are we going? Beef skewers?」
「You like beef skewers, don’t you…」
「Hmm. I love them. They are my favorite.」
「Hahaha. Well, beef skewers are good, but the fried sticks from the Republic that I ate with Renge the other day were delicious. I thought we could go buy those too.」
「Hmm. Fried sticks? Do they have meat inside?」
「Ah. There are various things inside, including meat. They are crispy and have a good texture. They also sell xiaolongbao, and since I made spoons for them, shall we buy those too?」
「Hmmm? Making spoons… I do not understand, but okay. If it is delicious, it is fine.」
Thus, we searched for that Republic food stall, but… Huh? I thought it was around here… It is not here.
「Lord? What is wrong?」
「Sorry. Did I take the wrong turn…?」
No, to leave the town, we just had to go straight down this street, so there was no way I could have made a mistake…
「What is wrong, niichan? Are you looking for the Republic food stall that used to be here?」
「Eh? Ah, yes, yes. It was here until recently, wasn’t it? Did it move, perhaps?」
I was surprised when a stranger suddenly spoke to me, but this man seemed to know something.
Since it had become such a topic of conversation, perhaps it moved to a better location?
「Recently, it became popular, so many people like you are troubled. But, it suddenly disappeared.」
「Suddenly disappeared? You say?」
「That is right. They probably returned to their country, but since sales were quite good, I do not know the reason. It was perfect for drinking snacks…」
「Is that so… I see. Thank you very much.」
「Yeah. Well, there are still many delicious shops, so do not be discouraged.」
See ya, the man said as he left. Thanks to him, I realized I had not taken the wrong turn, the shop was simply gone. I see… It is gone. It is a pity, as it was delicious.
「Lord?」
「Hmmm… Let us go to the beef skewer shop.」
「Hmm!」
Well, as the man said, there are still many delicious shops in Einzheil.
Let us go to the beef skewer shop and buy beef skewers and Shiro-pan as usual.
I have been associating with the beef skewer shop for a long time now.
Well, it is also because Shiro likes their beef skewers, so we go often.
When I first tried them, they were seasoned only with salt and pepper, but after realizing that the old man’s special sauce was delicious, I have been ordering them with sauce ever since.
It pairs better with Shiro-pan, and for that price, the flavor is unmatched.
As I thought about the beef skewers, I started craving them myself.
Hmm… One skewer should fit!
「Oh. It smells good.」
「Hmm! …Mmm?」
「What is it, Shiro?」
「Hmmm…? Probably just my imagination…」
「Hmm?」
What was it?
I thought something might have caught her attention, but she kept her promise to get down when we reached the shop, so I held her hand and walked toward the beef skewer stall.
「Yo, old man. I came to buy beef skewers.」
「Oh, it’s you, brother. Sorry for the trouble. Ah… That’s right. Since you are a regular, I will give you one each for free today.」
「Eh? I will pay normally.」
「No, no. Here, take them.」
Oh, okay?
What is going on?
If he is giving them, I will gratefully accept them, but… His demeanor seems different from usual?
Oh, if I hold it like this, the sauce will drip, so I hastily took a bite.
「Hot… Haa… Mmm… Hmm?」
「Ah-mu. Mm… Hmm?」
Hmm?
Huh? Something feels…
「H-How is it?」
「How is it? It is delicious, but… It feels a bit strange…」
「Hmm. It is delicious, but different from usual.」
「Is that so… You really can tell…」
「W-What is wrong, old man?」
The old man, who usually stands to serve customers, sat down on a chair with a deep sigh.
Beside him was a half-elf boy who worked here. When I last saw him, his apron was clean, but now it had nice stains, showing he had gotten used to the work, which was reassuring… but he looked flustered.
「Boss… But they said it was delicious.」
「Ah. It was delicious.」
「I see… But the previous one was better, wasn’t it?」
「That is…」
「Hmm. The previous one was better.」
「I knew it… I think so too. Shiro-chan seemed to really like our beef skewers. You really can tell. Thank you for being honest.」
Well, it was almost unchanged, or rather, it was a similar flavor profile and definitely delicious.
…Well, the difference was probably slight, but the previous one was indeed better.
「I am beaten… Sigh…」
「Boss… I think it is delicious enough…」
「Well, I cannot serve bad food to customers, so I thought I made something good…」
「Then…」
「I have my pride, niichan. Sorry for making you taste it. Unfortunately, we will be closed for a while.」
「Hmm… You are closing?」
Eh!?
Wait, wait a minute.
「What is going on? Why did you change the flavor from before? If you are not satisfied with the new taste, just go back to the old one, right?」
「I would if I could… but I cannot…」
「Cannot? Shiro wants to eat those beef skewers again…」
「Sorry, Shiro-chan. I want to feed you too, but… I can no longer get the ingredients…」
「Ingredients? Why?」
Shiro leaned over the stall counter and asked the old man.
I was curious too, but Shiro seemed even more concerned.
…The fact that she could not eat this shop’s beef skewers seemed to affect her significantly.
「Hm? You do not know? Recently, the Republic withdrew from the alliance.」
「The Republic… Did the Gigoshoku Republic withdraw from the alliance with Einzheil!?」
Was that it?
The alliance formed with the Kingdom, the Empire, Roukaku, and others?
「Ah. Due to that influence. I cannot reveal the recipe, but my sauce uses special spices from the Republic. They are produced in such small quantities that they do not reach the market. An old acquaintance used to supply them to me specially, but… I suddenly received notice that he could no longer send them… Sigh…」
From the Republic… Due to the withdrawal from the alliance?
But, the sauce existed before the alliance was formed, didn’t it?
Since it seemed to be a personal acquaintance, would it not be fine even without the alliance?
「…Even if they withdrew from the alliance, can merchants not travel back and forth?」
Shiro seemed to think the same, and she continued to lean forward and ask the owner.
「No… It seems that is not possible. Apparently, a King who suddenly appeared demanded the offering of delicious foods, and those spices caught his eye. It seems all the merchants and cooks who were in this country returned to deal with the situation there.」
「A King in the Republic…?」
Was not the Republic a non-monarchical state?
I did not know the details, but there should not have been a single leader.
What does it mean that a King appeared in such a country?
「I do not understand it well either, but he is a terrible King. He is selfish, ordering the offering of delicious foods, demanding beautiful ornaments, cutting ties with other countries, and doing as he pleases. Furthermore, he prefers strong people and will not meet anyone who is not strong.」
TN: I can’t help but place a comment here….it’s very familiar….
「What is that…」
What tyranny.
In Gigoshoku terms, it feels similar to the behavior of Dong Zhuo, but cutting ties with other countries is quite extreme.
「Well, that is why I cannot gather the important ingredients… Unfortunately, I have no choice but to close the shop until this matter is resolved… Ah, do not worry. In the meantime, I will dedicate myself to researching how to make that sauce using other ingredients. Hey. I will pay your salary, so please help me out?」
「Y-Yes! Of course!」
「Sorry to you two as well. You came all this way to eat. Well, when the Republic returns to normal, I will prepare the old sauce, so please… come eat again.」
Old man…
He looked sad, or perhaps lonely…
I thought the current sauce was delicious enough, but he might hate seeing his regulars tilt their heads in confusion.
As the old man said, it was likely his pride.
I understood the feeling of not wanting to release half-hearted products through alchemy.
When the Gigoshoku Republic returns to normal… huh.
The sudden appearance of a King who demands strong people implies he became King through military force, correct?
Or perhaps his followers are incredibly strong…
Otherwise, it is hard to imagine the three nations of Gigoshoku simply staying silent about a King who disrupts peace.
For now, we bought Kebanya from a nearby stall and headed home…
「…Shiro. Are you okay?」
「Hmm…」
Her ears were drooping flat, and her tail seemed listless…
Even when buying Kebanya, she said three would be enough, which clearly showed her depression.
「…I want to eat beef skewers again…」
「Yes… I hope the Republic returns to normal soon…」
「Hmm…」
It was rare to see Shiro so depressed.
I wanted to do something, but it was a matter concerning another country…
Leave a Reply