Chapter 16
Bread and Stew
Translator : PolterGlast
When I say
"someone I didn't want to see," it might be a bit of a misnomer, to
be honest.
I just didn't want to
get involved in the main story that would happen three years from now, and I
had no grudge against Lotus himself. If anything, I was grateful to him, and it
would be strange to be afraid of him. Even though he often had a somewhat
dangerous look, I knew that at his core, he was a kind older brother. But I
didn't want to get involved.
Swallowing all those
various feelings, when Lotus came in with the light bell sound, I clenched my
fist tightly and psyched myself up. "W-w-w-w, Welcome!!!"
"Aren't you acting a bit weird?" Please forgive me for being all
pumped up. Sorry.
It was the busiest
time of day, and the restaurant was bustling, but as expected of a regular, he
secured a seat himself. He always ordered the same thing, so I just needed to
confirm it as a formality. I was only hired at this restaurant until
Sutra-san's leg healed, a period of only a few months at most, so my
involvement with Lotus would also be for a very short time (or so it should
be).
He always came at this
time, glanced around with his sharp eyes as if checking his surroundings, and
then quickly devoured his usual meal. I don't want to get too involved with
him, but sometimes I worry that he should chew his food a little slower.
Ichi and the others
had recently been using their helper skills to navigate the crowded space,
cleaning and delivering food, and honestly, they seemed more helpful than me.
Those guys were amazing.
(Well, I guess it'll
work out somehow...)
Lotus stuffed his
mouth full of hard bread soaked in stew, said "Globglob!," and
disappeared. He probably said "Thanks for the meal." The landlady,
who was taking another customer's order, muttered, looking at his already small
back, "Oh dear, Lotus-boy has already left. If you're so busy, you
shouldn't have bothered to come at all." So he must have been a long-time
customer. Maybe even since he was a child.
Lotus was probably
busy. He was just a low-ranking soldier now, but he would steadily rise in the
ranks and become the kingdom's greatest knight. So, of course, every day must
have been hectic for him. In that case, even though it was a little suspicious,
he probably didn't have the time to bother with just some random kid, and I
felt relieved again. Then I had to earn money to my heart's content. I couldn't
stay at this restaurant forever.
"Gyaaa! El, table
three, the soup spilled and it's all wet! Clean it up!"
"Y-yes,
ma'am!"
While I was hurrying
to get a cloth at the landlady's words, Nii and San were secretly sucking up
the soup with their bodies. Their appearance, as if saying "Leave it to
us...", was too cool.
But did I really have
a purpose being here? I placed the cloth on the floor as if I had done their
job myself, and the landlady praised me, "Oh my! You've already cleaned it
up? You're quick!" and I just smiled awkwardly. I had no choice but to
smile.
***
After spending several
days in such a life, where it was hard to tell if it was peaceful or chaotic,
Lotus came in, and as a formality, I looked up and asked, "Stew and bread,
is that alright?" Usually, he would just nod curtly, but he was staring at
me intently with his black-purple eyes. Since Lotus was sitting in a chair, the
distance between our eyes was much closer than usual, and I couldn't help but
worry if the illusion skill I had applied to my eyes had worn off.
"Hey, come to
think of it, I never told you my name, did I? It's Lotus."
"Eh. Yes, I
kno... know it. From the landlady."
Come to think of it, I
hadn't heard Lotus's name directly from him, but had just eavesdropped on the
name that the somewhat laid-back-looking gatekeeper and the landlady had said.
I rubbed under my nose with one hand to cover up my slight awkwardness, but he
didn't seem particularly concerned about that and just nodded casually, saying,
"Oh, I see." Then he continued.
"You're El,
right?"
Since he asked so
suddenly, I involuntarily straightened my short back and nodded repeatedly.
"El, the
restaurant's closed tomorrow, right? Can I have some of your time?"
I immediately wanted
to shake my head. But sadly, he wasn't asking me, but the landlady behind me.
"Oh, sure. It's
the day for stocking up. I was planning on giving her a day off anyway."
"Then that's
good."
No, it wasn't good.
But somehow, the
conversation had been decided. To his question that sounded like a
confirmation, "Then I guess I'll come pick you up in the morning." I
could only nod silently.
What was going on?
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