Volume 2 - CH 81

Alme and Falk walked through the front door of Campbellina’s Ice Cream shop.

The two whispered to each other.

“For the time being, we got inside. Successful infiltration…If Miss Campbellina is inside, we may be kicked out.”

“Let’s be vigilant.”

Alme casually looked around, but did not see Campbellina. While looking for her, she should also observe the situation in the shop.

Not only the exterior, but also the interior of the shop is resplendent. Elegant tables and chairs are lined up under chandeliers.

Unlike Alme’s shop, they do not have an ice cream counter, but rather it is a place to sit down and order.

The waiter led them to a seat by the window. So far, so good. And this is where the real reconnaissance begins.

Alme looked at the handed menu and confirmed the type of ice cream.

“Strawberry ice cream, mango ice cream, honey lemon, orange, coffee…and Shirotaka ice cream.”

“It’s the same menu as Alme’s shop, but it doesn’t seem like there’s any new ice cream that’s been released recently. Popsicles and such. Will they be added soon…?”

“Hmm, I don’t know. Popsicles are cheap and for the common people. Holding a stick and biting into it doesn’t seem to appeal to nobles, but…”

She felt that popsicles, which are eaten while lapping at the melting and dripping ice cream, are unacceptable in a prestigious establishment.

While whispering about this and that, they decided on their order for the time being.

“I’ll try strawberry ice cream and Shirotaka ice cream.”

“Then, I’ll order honey lemon and Shirotaka ice cream.”

Falk called the waiter and told him their order.

While waiting for the ice cream, Alme looked around the shop again.

The only customers are the wealthy. Formally attired ladies and gentlemen enjoy chatting and eating ice cream in an elegant manner.

It’s not something she should be thinking about right now, but it just occurred to her. She thought that the stylish parfait would go well with the atmosphere of this shop.

(The berry parfait I made the other day looks really good. It’s gorgeous and the colors are stylish…)

While she was thinking about this, the ice cream she ordered was delivered. The waiter placed it on the table.

Alme and Falk were surprised to see the ice cream that came out.

“This is Shirotaka ice cream!?”

“It’s grown a lot taller!”

The Shirotaka ice cream was a whopping three heads tall.

The Shirotaka-chan ice cream from Alme’s shop is a round chick. On the other hand, this Shirotaka ice cream was properly shaped like a falcon. It looks like a white sculpture.

Alme held her head in her hands.

“Geez, the technique is amazing… How can you make a proper falcon out of milk ice cream? I can feel the skill of a confectioner… I can’t do it… I lost.”

“Please don’t feel defeated, Miss Arme. I prefer chicks. Or rather, if it is made so elaborately, I feel that it is difficult to eat on the contrary.”

Falk poked the Shirotaka ice cream with the tip of his spoon. It made a cracking sound. It seems that the falcon’s shape is made by carving the frozen milk ice cream. It is very elaborate.

In Alme’s previous life, there was a high-speed train, and as she recalled, the ice cream sold on it was frozen to a crisp. Somehow, it reminded her of that ice cream.

“Well, let’s eat first. Evaluation will be done after that.”

“Yes… let’s have it.”

She grabbed a spoon and inserted it into the Shirotaka ice cream. It was hard and a little difficult to eat, but she managed to scrape out a bite and chewed it.

Melting it in the mouth, the taste of milk ice cream comes through.

After a short silence, Falk gave his impressions.

“Shirotaka ice cream, I thought that if it looks great and tastes bad, it’s no longer my ice cream… This is…”

“I wonder what it is. Like it doesn’t taste as good…?”

“Should I say thin, or would you say it’s light?”

After eating two or three bites, it became clearer and clearer. The milk ice cream at this shop is refreshing and smooth, but lacks richness.

“Hmm, maybe it’s the difference in milk.”

“I personally find the rich milk ice cream at Alme’s to be better, because the taste of the cold food just flies off the tongue.”

“I think adding condensed milk or something would make it just right”

Sorry to be stingy, but her tongue, accustomed to thick milk ice cream, felt it was lacking.

With this taste, she felt like she could fight back with milk ice cream from her own shop.

The milk ice cream match, which seemed to end with Alme’s complete defeat, had an unexpected opportunity to win.

With a renewed feeling, she tried the strawberry ice cream as well.

“I don’t really taste the difference with strawberry ice cream.”

“Honey lemon doesn’t seem to make much of a difference either.”

While the two of them were eating steadily, they exchanged vague opinions.

It is difficult to perceive subtle differences in taste when it comes to cold food like ice cream.

If this was a warm dish, the superiority and inferiority would have been more clearly distinguished.

While exchanging impressions, the ice cream plate became empty. After eating, Alme gave her general review.

“Yes, both the milk ice cream and the fruit ice cream were delicious. However, even if I do say so myself, I’m proud that the ice cream at our shop is just as delicious, so I can’t decide who wins or loses. I feel that since the scale of the shops are different, it’s a bit of a stretch to call it a draw.”

“I like the little chick ice cream, so I would like to vote for Miss Alme’s shop.”

“The chef’s technique is amazing, though. My little shirotaka-chan ice cream is going to be at least two heads tall now, no, it’s going to be just two chicks stacked on top of each other”

“I think that’s cute, though.”

While taking a break from eating, they secretly exchanged conversations. Alme relaxed her shoulders and breathed a sigh of relief.

“That being said, I thought it would be even more devastating, but I’m glad I didn’t take too much damage.”

Her heart, which had been tense for the past month, felt relaxed.

From the attitude of Campbellina she saw before the shop opened, she was worried that it would become a terrible shop that would tarnish the name of Titty’s shop… but the atmosphere inside the shop was better than she expected.

Alme didn’t think there was such a marked difference in the ice cream that was served that it was completely unwinnable.

As for the milk ice cream, she felt it was richer and tastier at her own shop.

That’s why she felt a little better.

Since this feeling and various information were obtained, she would call the enemy situation inspection operation a success for the time being.

“Well then, let’s get out of here soon. I can’t calm down if I continue to sneak around here. Let’s continue to talk in the carriage.”

“Yes, I see. Now, let me get the bill…”

After taking a breather, when the two tried to move, a waiter passed right by Alme.

At the same time, there was a clang underfoot.

It seems that a waiter dropped a plate of ice cream he was carrying to a customer. The plate broke with a loud bang and the ice cream splattered all over.

The waiter looked blue and rushed to apologize.

“I’m sorry! Are you injured!?”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Really, I’m very sorry! I will guide you to the ladies room, so please check there for any damage to your clothes–“

The waiter hurriedly called the female waitress and pulled out Alme’s chair.

They don’t have to make such a big deal out of it, but she guessed that’s what a prestigious shop like this is all about.

For the time being, she should just make sure there are no stains on the hem of the dress, just as the waiter said.

Alme stood up as she was urged.

“Excuse me, Mr. Falk. I’ll just take a look at the hem of the dress. I’ll be right back.”

“Don’t worry about me. There may be debris, so be careful.”

“Yes. Then excuse me.”

The female waitress led Alme away from her seat.

Alme walked towards the ladies room.

Seeing that figure leaving, the owner of the ice cream shop, Campbellina, chuckled.

She walked out from the back of the shop to replace Alme.

Shaking her fluffy blonde hair in elation, she headed towards a certain white falcon, feeling as though her heart had wings.