CH 82.2

-Azuma Kaito Restaurant Tarafuku-tei

Just like at the inn, I didn’t get a good look when I entered, but my attitude changed when I praised Mr. Daigami. I was hoping that maybe they would give me a free meal, but as expected, they did not. However, I have a lot of money, and I am not troubled by it at the moment.

Unlike Pablo’s or the one in the castle town, this restaurant is generally small. There are only about five tables and not many people.

***

What those people were eating was somewhat unusual. Two of them were slurping something thin like pasta in a black soup. It didn’t look delicious, but seeing that they were drinking all the soup, I wondered if it was actually tasty.

“This is the real place! Even the meat is different! I wonder if the sauce they use when they cook it is different?”

I wondered if it was not a popular restaurant, but the taste was outrageously good.

“Did you like it? Beef bowls are based on dishes that came from other continents, you know.

Well, it’s hard to find a restaurant that uses quality meat as much as we do. It’s all thanks to the blessings of Daigami-sama. Oh, may business be prosperous again next year…”

The shopkeeper suddenly puts his hands together and closes his eyes. Just like we did at the shrine. I’m not convinced that thanks to Daigami-sama, we can eat delicious gyuudon. If God is willing to go to such lengths, why are people like the ones who tricked us yesterday so unconcerned?

If there are no demons, then people like that must disappear too.

“Thanks for the food! I wondered what would happen at first, but it’s a nice country.”

“For Roel a good country would be anywhere she could eat good food… you said the same thing during the Wizard Kingdom festivities.”

“Ryua-chan, there are places in the world where people are chewing grass because they don’t even have anything to eat, let alone a good meal. That’s why it’s natural to be thankful for food.”

“Well, yeah…”

I don’t think I’m going off on some tangent, but I’m not that wrong.

When I was in the cave of the abyss, I used to roast the demons I killed and eat them, but there were many that I couldn’t eat because they were so bad. If that was all, there were even things that made me physically ill, so I had a hard time.

When I think about it, it seems normal to be able to eat decent food, and in fact, I think I am blessed.

“I admire your enthusiasm, but you can’t go to Mt. Daigami to pray. It’s surrounded by steep mountains, and it’s not a place for normal people to go near. There are people who risk their lives to go there a few times a year, but most of them have really lost their lives. For ordinary people like us, the view from the top is enough.”

The top of the Mountain of the Great Gods as seen from the window of Tarafuku-tei. Even from here, one can see only the tip of the summit. Even if there are no demons, there must be many wild animals. Even a bear is enough of a threat to those who cannot fight.

In addition, the road to the mountain is covered with deep forest. I was worried about whether I could make it up there without getting lost. I had plenty of food prepared, but if push came to shove, I would have to dash up there.

“Well, now that we’ve eaten, it’s time to go.”

“You two, get back there! Get to your ropes!”

Several more boisterous people entered the room. Unlike the people who came in yesterday, they were dressed nicely. I was most impressed by their hair, which looked like a horse’s tail growing out of their heads. 

They were wearing flat red armor that looked like boards laminated together, and swords at their waists. It looked less defensive than the armor I know, but that might make it easier to move around in. This is not the time to be relaxed. What is it with these people?

“This is Samurai-sama…how do you do?”

“Shopkeeper, get out of there. The girls here are suspected of insulting and disrespecting Daigami-sama.”

“What? What?

The expression of the shopkeeper, who had looked so kind, changed drastically. As if he were looking at something dirty, he frowned and scuttled away to get closer to the “Samurai” people.

“Oh, um, you can’t insult us Daigami-sama…”

“Shut up! Do not speak that name lightly! We have already heard of your rampage at the Grand Miko Shrine!”

“Ah…”

I knew it. That old man reported it to these people. I’ve been put in this situation because of something I said in poor taste. What should I do? Roel was doing an impressive job, but now it’s all ruined because of me. No good, I’m really no good. Even if I can fight, I can’t do anything else well.

I’ve been relying on Roel for everything except fighting, even cooking and reading and writing, and sometimes I feel bad for relying on him, but I’m grateful to him. And yet, here we are.

“Roel…me.”

“You can’t get caught, can you, Ryua-chan?”

“Eh…um, yeah.”

“We have many things we need to do. I hoped so, even at the Grand Miko Shrine. Do you want to end up like this, Ryua-chan?”

“…Roel.”

Maybe Roel knew it was because of something I said that was unnecessary. But she didn’t blame me. She was encouraging me, nothing more.

“Roel, hey.”

“Oh, okay.”

As I bent down, Roel hugged me and pulled me onto her back. The Samurais watched us with their swords at the ready, not understanding the significance of our actions.

“Let’s not do anything strange!”