"First things first—food. Let's get something to eat."
Uta strolled along the bustling thoroughfare, his nose catching the delicious aromas wafting from various stalls. Vendors offered skewered meats, steaming bowls of soup, and other tantalizing street foods. While these options were tempting, a particular spicy scent caught his attention.
"What's this…?"
He followed the enticing aroma to a small eatery. The building was modest but clean, with a welcoming atmosphere that suggested good food at a reasonable price.
"Looks perfect."
Entering the shop, Uta was greeted by a cheerful, rotund man behind the counter.
"Welcome! Take any open seat!" the man called out.
"Thanks," Uta replied, taking a seat at the counter. A menu lay on the table, and though it was written in unfamiliar script, the meaning became clear to him as if by instinct.
"Curry…?"
His suspicion was confirmed: the source of the mouthwatering aroma was curry. The menu listed various options, including Vegetable Curry, Chicken Curry, and Seafood Curry.
"I'll have the chicken curry," Uta decided.
"Sure thing. What'll you have to drink?"
"Just water, please."
"Got it. Payment's upfront—550 Pt."
"Uh… right…" Uta hesitated, unfamiliar with the currency. He pulled a gold coin from his pouch and placed it on the counter, gauging the shopkeeper's reaction.
"Whoa, a 10,000 Pt coin. Got anything smaller?"
"Sorry, this is all I have today."
"Ah, no worries. I'll grab your change. Hold on."
The shopkeeper disappeared into the back, returning shortly with a handful of coins.
"Here you go—your change. Count it up."
"Thanks."
Uta inspected the coins: nine large silver pieces, four smaller silver coins, and five copper coins. The shopkeeper had mentioned that the gold coin was worth 10,000 Pt.
"Okay… so, big silver coins are worth 1,000, small silver ones are 100, and copper coins are 10. Makes sense."
The pricing seemed comparable to Japanese yen, with his chicken curry priced at 550 Pt—affordable and fair.
"And the king gave me a pouch with around 100 gold coins… so, that's a million Pt."
Not bad at all. Perhaps the king had been generous, knowing full well he planned to kill Uta afterward and reclaim the money.
"Well, jokes on him. This works out great for me. I'd hate to have had to go back and collect more."
The thought of facing the aging king again brought a wry smile to Uta's lips.
"Order up—chicken curry!"
"Oh, that smells amazing!"
The shopkeeper placed a plate of steaming curry and naan bread before him. The fragrant spices filled the air, making Uta's stomach rumble in anticipation.
"Time to dig in!"
For now, thoughts of the future could wait. With a piece of naan dipped in the rich, flavorful curry, Uta began his meal, savoring every bite.
+
After finishing his meal, Uta leaned back with a satisfied sigh.
"Ah… I'm stuffed."
The plate before him was empty, cleared of every last bite. For a modest diner, the food had been generous in portion and exceptional in taste. Contrary to the clichés in manga and light novels where otherworldly cuisine often left much to be desired, the food here was surprisingly good.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it!" the portly shopkeeper beamed, his jovial expression brightening. "Some folks can't handle curry—it's too much for them."
"I can't imagine how anyone could dislike this," Uta replied, shaking his head in disbelief.
Though curry originated as Indian cuisine, it had become a national staple in Japan. The idea of someone not appreciating its deliciousness was unfathomable. He felt a strong urge to protest on curry's behalf.
"Yeah, well, beastfolk—especially wolfkin—usually can't stand the smell. Their noses are way more sensitive than ours."
"Ah, that makes sense."
Like dogs or wolves, creatures with sharp senses of smell would likely find the aroma of spices overwhelming. He'd noticed several beastfolk wandering the streets earlier; their heightened olfactory senses were probably similar.
"So, curry… or curry, as you call it. Is this a specialty of the Fafnir Kingdom?"
The thought had been nagging at him. He didn't know much about the culture here, but curry was typically associated with hotter climates, like India. It seemed at odds with the medieval European vibe of the town.
"Fafnir Kingdom? Oh, you mean the Faubnir Kingdom?"
"Yeah, that one."
"You don't even know the name of the country? Where are you from, kid?" The shopkeeper chuckled, shaking his head as he cleared the empty plate from the counter.
"This dish comes from the eastern city of Alden, the Magic City. My old man was from there—I took over this place from him. They say the Great Sage created it, imitating a dish from their homeland, and it spread from there."
"The Great Sage?" Uta asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Yep. Five hundred years ago, they teamed up with the Hero to defeat the Demon King and save the world. Came from another world, like you. They're still alive, running the Tower of Sages."
"Still… alive? But didn't that happen five hundred years ago?"
"Ah, well, the Great Sage Yukina is immortal," the shopkeeper explained matter-of-factly. "She hasn't aged a day since then. Even the king himself doesn't dare cross her."
"…"
From the shopkeeper's explanation, it seemed this Great Sage was another otherworlder. Given the introduction of curry and the name Yukina, there was a high probability she was Japanese.
(This might be my next destination…) Uta thought.
If this Great Sage, summoned five centuries ago, was still alive, she might know a way back to his world. With no other leads, heading to Alden seemed like a logical first step.
"Thanks for the info. I appreciate it."
"Not sure what you're planning, but good luck."
"Thanks for the meal," Uta said with a polite bow before stepping out of the diner.
For a first day in this world, Uta had already determined a course of action. He would travel east to the Magic City of Alden and seek an audience with the Great Sage Yukina. If anyone knew how to return to his original world, it was her.
(Five centuries of experience… She must have some answers. And while I'm at it, I should also learn more about this Demon King business.)
"Eep!"
"Huh?"
As Uta exited the diner, lost in thought, he collided with someone. The small figure stumbled backward, landing on the ground with a soft thud.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" Uta crouched, offering a hand.
"I-I'm fine…" The girl glanced up nervously, brushing dirt off her knees.
Wait… Uta blinked. She looked familiar.
"Hang on… Aren't you the girl from earlier?"
The petite girl stared at him in shock before quickly averting her gaze. She seemed to hesitate, as though weighing her words. Then, with a sudden burst of resolve, she spoke.
"Um… do you need a guide?"
"…A guide?"
"You're not from around here, are you? Your clothes are weird… And, um, you helped me earlier, so as thanks, I'll show you around town!"
"…"
Uta blinked, bewildered by the girl's sudden assertiveness.