Upon arriving at the Library, we spot Yumi and Charcoal playing outside with Fufu.
Somehow, the cat has managed to perch itself atop the floating cabbage, and together, they glide through the air, chasing after butterflies. Yumi chases after them, laughing as she tries to keep up.
I chuckle at the sight. "Hey! Looks like you're having fun!" I call out.
"Dad!" Yumi's face lights up with a radiant smile as she dashes toward me.
To be honest, I'm still not quite used to being called 'Dad' by a cute little fox girl. It feels surreal. But I imagine Yumi must feel the same way—this whole arrangement is as new for her as it is for me.
"Sorry we're a bit late, sweetie. Are you hungry?" I ask, ruffling her hair.
"Yes! I'm starving!" she exclaims eagerly. "Where are we eating tonight?"
"How about ramen at the central market?" I suggest. "I haven't tried that yet."
"Ohh, good idea! Let's go!"
—————————
The Library is somewhat close to the market, so we get there in just under twenty minutes. It's already 8 PM, and the sun has set, leaving the stage in the sky for the huge moon. When we were at the library, we could see the stars clearly. However, as we get to the market, we can't anymore because the light pollution here is too strong. It's weird when I think about it, that a medieval fantasy world like this would suffer from light pollution just like modern Earth.
But well, even without the stars, Vera at night is still something else. No matter how many times I come here, I still can't help but be amazed. Sophia was right. This a city that never sleeps. The streets are lined with bright lamp posts powered by enchantments, and the vendors have colorful signs written with some kind of paint that glows. After a long day's work, people flood the streets to enjoy food and companionship. The air is filled with music and lively chatter. It doesn't feel like we are in a medieval city at all. It feels just like Tokyo.
Weird, but beautifully weird.
"Helena, stay close to me," I say to Yumi using her alias. Then, with Sophia and Yumi holding onto my sleeves, we navigate through the sea of people.
A few minutes later, we arrive at the food section of the market.
"Darling, do you remember where the ramen stall is?" Sophia asks as we weave through the crowded market.
"Of course."
I already have the entire place mapped out.
Most of the vendors here specialize in grilled meats, skewers, and sandwiches. There are also plenty of fresh salads and potato-based dishes—mashed potatoes, fries, baked wedges.
The food culture here leans heavily toward Western influences—lots of sausage, meat, and carbs. The biggest difference? Instead of Earth's familiar pork, beef, and chicken, many stalls offer monster meat, cooked with bold, aromatic spices that make the air thick with their exotic fragrance.
But tonight, we're here for something different.
Yesterday, while wandering the market, I happened to notice a particular food stall—Tsukiyo Ramen.
At the time, we were already too full to try it. But now? We've come prepared—with empty stomachs.
As we near the stall, the rich, umami scent of simmering broth fills the air.
"Wow! I can already smell the delicious broth!" Sophia exclaims, her eyes gleaming with anticipation as she spots the giant pot bubbling over an open flame.
Yumi is practically bouncing with excitement. "Ramen, ramen! Dad, Mommy, let's go!"
Needless to say, I'm just as excited as they are.
But first, we have to queue up. The line is long, a clear testament to how popular this place is. As we wait, a thought crosses my mind—there's only one possible explanation for how ramen made its way into this world. Someone from Earth must have introduced it. The name of the stall, Tsukiyo Ramen, is proof enough. If we weren't currently wanted criminals, forced to hide our real identities, I'd love to have a chat with the owner about how this dish came to be here.
After a ten-minute wait, we're finally seated at a cozy corner table, and a cheerful, middle-aged woman approaches us, a warm smile on her face.
From the information I've gathered, she's the owner of this place and also serves as the waitress, while her husband works as the cook. Together, they run the business efficiently, selling nearly a thousand bowls of ramen per day.
"Good evening, dear customers! What would you like to order?" she asks, her voice bright and welcoming.
"An extra-large bowl of pork ramen, please, with four extra eggs on top," I say.
"I'll go for the chicken one, medium size," Sophia adds.
"I'd like pork too, but small size, please," Yumi orders.
"And for the cat, could we get a small bowl of cooked chicken?" I ask.
The woman chuckles at the request but nods kindly. "Of course! Coming right up."
As we wait, Charcoal hops onto the table, his tail flicking curiously. I glance at him, realizing once again just how well-behaved he is. Of course, we always keep him on a leash when we go outside, but that's more of a precaution than a necessity. He never causes trouble and rarely disobeys either me or Yumi.
"You'll get your food soon, Charcoal," Yumi assures him, scratching his chin.
The cat meows in response, his eyes narrowing in bliss.
Before long, the vendor returns, balancing steaming bowls of ramen in her arms. The moment the bowls are placed in front of us, the rich, savory aroma of the broth floods the air, making my mouth water. The way the ingredients are arranged—the chashu slices, the marinated eggs, the delicate sheets of nori—everything is just as you'd expect from an authentic ramen shop on Earth.
Even Charcoal's bowl arrives, and to my surprise, his portion is fairly generous—tender slices of chicken arranged neatly over a small mound of rice.
As Yumi picks up her chopsticks, she instinctively clasps her hands together and begins to say—"Itadaki—"
She freezes mid-sentence, realizing her slip. Her face reddens. "Ah… I shouldn't have said that. Sorry."
I smile reassuringly. "Don't worry. I almost said it too."
Her fingers tighten around her chopsticks. "It's just… this feels like home, you know?"
Her voice is quiet, almost hesitant, and for a moment, the lively market around us fades into the background. I can tell—she's thinking about her family again, especially her father.
"Itadakimasu" is what Japanese people usually say before having a meal. But again, we are wanted criminals and have to be careful with everything we do.
Sensing the shift in mood, I turn to Sophia and lower my voice. "Hey, do fox-kin have a phrase they say before eating? Like a prayer?"
Sophia's ears perk up. "Ooooh! Yeah!"
Considering we're disguised as a family of fox-kin, it's always a good idea to learn more about their customs.
Sophia extends her hands toward us. "Here, hold my hands. Let's say a prayer to the Moon and Stars."
Yumi and I immediately comply, clasping Sophia's hands as she closes her eyes.
"Now, repeat after me."
Her voice turns soft, reverent, as she recites an ancient fox-kin prayer:
"In the radiant light of Luna,
We gather to share in this nourishment,
Blessed by the abundance of the Earth, Terra.
May this food fortify our bodies and souls,
And may our deeds uphold the harmony of the cosmos,
As we tread gently upon the world.
Grant us wisdom and insight,
In our passage through life's mysteries,
And may our spirits be as pure as Luna's glow.
In the name of Luna, the Goddess of the Moon and the Stars,
And Terra, the Goddess of Soil and Life,
We offer our gratitude.
So mote it be."
"So mote it be," Yumi and I finish.
The prayer is strikingly similar to what I've read in books about beastfolk culture. Like elves, the beastfolk worship three major deities: Luna, the Goddess of the Moon and Stars; Solis, the God of the Sun; and Terra, the Goddess of Soil and Life. During the day, they pray to Solis. At night, they offer their gratitude to Luna.
While I had read about these traditions before, the books I studied were a bit outdated, which is why I had Sophia lead us instead. After all, she used to have a close friend who was a wolf-kin—someone who must have taught her their customs.
That guy was none other than Curtis, the sly bastard who scammed us when we bought the Chameleon Earrings.
Speaking of Curtis…
"Your wolf friend—the guy who sold us the earrings—are you still in contact with him?" I ask casually.
"Huh? Of course not!" Sophia's brows furrow in annoyance at the mere mention of his name. "Why do you ask? If you want, I can help you find him. But I doubt he'd have the guts to show his face after what he did."
"Oh, nothing. He just crossed my mind, that's all."
I shake my head, dismissing the thought. There are more important things to focus on right now.
"Alright, we're done with our prayers. Let's dig in!"
"Yayyy!" Yumi cheers.
We lift our chopsticks, and the moment I take my first bite, I know: this ramen is incredible.
The broth is rich and deeply flavorful, the noodles have the perfect springy bite, and the pork melts in my mouth.
It's so good that Yumi and I both end up ordering extra bowls.