"Phew… stuffed and satisfied," Uta murmured, exhaling contentedly as he leaned back.
Before him sat an empty plate, cleaned of every last bite. For a humble diner, the portions had been generous, and the food was delightful. Contrary to stories of bland or questionable cuisine in otherworldly tales, the dishes here were surprisingly delicious.
"Haha! Glad you enjoyed it!" The portly shopkeeper grinned from behind the counter. His jovial demeanor suggested that Uta's hearty appetite had brightened his day. "Not everyone takes to curry, you know. Some folks find it too strong."
"I can't imagine anyone not liking this. It's absurd," Uta replied, shaking his head.
Curry, while originally an Indian dish, was practically a national treasure in Japan. To dislike it was almost unthinkable—a culinary heresy deserving protest.
"Yeah, well, beastfolk—especially wolfkin—can't handle the smell. Their noses are just too sensitive for the spices."
"Ah, makes sense."
Considering the dog-like traits of wolfkin and their heightened sense of smell, the explanation was reasonable. Uta recalled seeing some beastfolk earlier in the bustling streets, their sharp noses twitching as they passed the various stalls.
"By the way," Uta began, leaning forward slightly, "curry—er, curry—is it a local specialty here in the Faubnir Kingdom?"
The cultural disparity was on his mind. Curry seemed out of place in a medieval European-style setting.
"Faubnir Kingdom?" The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you mean the Faubnir Kingdom?"
"Yeah, that's the one."
"You don't even know the name of the country you're in? Where are you from, kid?" The shopkeeper chuckled, shaking his head as he gathered Uta's empty plate.
"This dish comes from Alden, the Magic City to the east. My old man came from there—I took over this place from him. Word is, the Great Sage brought it here, trying to replicate food from her homeland. It spread from there."
"The Great Sage?" Uta asked, intrigued.
"Yeah. Five hundred years ago, she and the Hero defeated the Demon King and saved the world. She's still around, too—immortal, they say. Runs the Tower of Sages."
"Still… alive? But that was five centuries ago."
"Yup. They say she hasn't aged a day. The Great Sage Yukina—that's her name—is practically a living legend. Even the king bows to her."
"…"
The shopkeeper's story struck a chord. A Great Sage who introduced curry and went by the name Yukina? It wasn't just a coincidence; she had to be another otherworlder, likely Japanese.
(Looks like my next destination just revealed itself…)
If this Great Sage, summoned five centuries ago, was still alive, she might know a way back to Earth. With no other leads, heading to Alden seemed like the logical next step.
"Thanks for the info. I owe you one," Uta said.
"No problem, kid. Good luck with whatever you're up to."
Uta paid his bill, gave a small bow of thanks, and stepped out into the bustling streets.