[Inside the city: Local Inn]
Following a discussion with a man named Fukaze Oz. I'd gone to a little town inn where there weren't many people staying. We can call it a rundown by ordinary people. I don't mind staying in this type of inn; I just can't spend my money freely. I'd decided to re-establish our household, but I'd need a large sum of money to do so. I'm not sure if the Empire took our property, but I'm going to get it back no matter what.
I was sitting at the bar side of the inn, the food from the reception wasn't good enough for me so I tried the food from this place.
"Here is your order, Ma'am. Please enjoy." said the waitress who simply put the food that I'd ordered with a smile on her face. She served me a good-looking grilled chicken and this soup that has an awful green colour together with green bubbles on the edge of it. It looks like contaminated mud that I couldn't exactly explain.
Before the waitress could even go, I had to ask what they served. This soup wasn't included in the food I ordered. "E-excuse me...can I ask...w-what is this?"
"O-oh!" she exclaimed, returning my gaze. That's our speciality for the day. It's called Mint soup, and we're serving it for free, so don't worry about the extra payment." I'm more concerned about whether I'll get poison from this food, or if I'll die instantly. The waitress left me speechless, and I noticed that other people appeared to be enjoying the same soup that had been offered for free.
"Hm! This is so delicious! I wish I could eat this forever!"
"I can actually feel the mint in my mouth."
No. This is similar to ogre food. How can they claim it's delicious? My gaze reverted to the soup. I sniffed it first, but I couldn't detect anything, and then I scooped a small amount from the soup with a spoon.
"I swear if this soup is poisoned... I'm going to blow this whole place up," I said to myself. I mustered the guts to put a spoonful of soup in my mouth and taste it.
"Gah!"
"It's—."
Even though I wasn't supposed to cry, I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. My tears just spilt on their own. This is delicious! "W-what? How..." My face was appalled, but I was blown away by the majestic flavor of this 'I don't really know how to describe it.' It was certainly nasty, yet it has a powerful mind-blowing taste. Even Chasseur's opulent restaurant can't compete with this food.
The rich flavor of the soup drew me in instead of the main course I'd ordered. I started with the soup. "This is fantastic; I want more...
...I wonder how do people here ask for this soup..." My sight wandered over the room. When the person in front of me raised his hand, the lady server would approach him and inquire what he wanted.
"Sir, what can I get you?"
"I'd like another bowl of soup, please."
"Alright, Sir."
The lady waiter did not hesitate to offer the customer soup once more. They claimed to be giving this away for free today. I should request one as well. I raised my hand in the same manner as the other consumer. Someone picked up when I called.
However, instead of a woman, it was none other than Sekki who served me. "What can I get you?"
"W-what are you doing here?!"
Sekki was dressed in the same uniform as the other waiter. Look at how he's staring at me; he's not meant to be staring at me like this.
"I'm working here. Why are you even asking the obvious thing?"
"W-working? But don't you have money already?"
"It doesn't matter, now your order."
This guy is not good, just looking at me like this. This restaurant will surely go bankrupt because of how he treats the customer.
"Ah, Sekki... Is that your friend?"
An old man suddenly meddles in.
"Friend? " His eyes went to me. Why is he staring at me in this way? It's unsettling. "..." he stares at me, almost as if he's wondering if we're friends. Should I respond to him?
"If she's your friend, give her a discount. Ahaha! It's not every day we get someone to see Sekki with his friends!"
D-discount? For being his friend?
"Ye-yeah! I'm his friend, right?" I bit my lips, trying to give him a hint that he should agree with what the manager is saying. Instead, he is staring rather mad and annoyed. "Young Lady, are you, his friend? Ahaha. It seems you two are close."
"Y-yeah! We helped each other in examinations before." I answered the old man with a smile and a few chuckles on my face. "Oh! Are you perhaps the Lady that brought down the Schatten successfully?"
The old man mentioned that, but how did he know? Could it be this guy who told him?
"Y-yeah."
"Ahaha! I thought so. Thank you for saving our Sekki. I wasn't confident that he'll make it but I'm glad that he is here now."
'Our Sekki'?
"A-are you, his father?"
"Yeah. Ahaha."
"Hey. Your order—" Sekki tugged my shoulder rather rudely. I sighed and stared at him, "Uh... I would like another bowl of soup please." After I stated what I wanted. He left me without saying anything.
That man doesn't have any sense of humour in himself. We're having a good conversation with his father but he just chimed in to stop me.
"Don't misunderstand, Sekki. He always appears grumpy, yet he is a good child. To be honest, he got it from his mother. That's why I hope you two get along with each other."
Despite the fact that I want to get along with him. My existing circumstances indicate that I am unable to do so. The council is keeping an eye on me, and if I befriend him, I'm sure they'll target him next. Just like what happened to that kid.
Until now, I can't forget about him. How could I ever forget him? That's why I will find that man who killed him. I still need to find and ask who ordered him.
"Here's your soup." Sekki handed over the soup that I requested to the table. "T-thank you!" It's somehow awkward to act this way. Because normally, I start cursing and being annoyed by how he treats me but there's something inside me that has changed.
I changed because of that kid.
Anyways. This soup is really good. I slurped the soup and like I'd said, "It's good."