The knife stuck in the pudding trembled slightly.
Suddenly, a knife appeared out of nowhere. As everyone’s gaze turned toward the kitchen, Scarlet hurried over in a panic.
“Oh my, I’m so sorry. I made a mistake while doing the dishes.”
“Be careful. You could have hurt someone.”
Scarlet bowed repeatedly, apologizing profusely.
Rodelin and the others generously accepted his apology.
It was considered a simple mistake, a natural conclusion. I too, pretended not to notice and accepted his apology.
‘Maybe he wasn’t targeting me after all?’
Yes. It could have been someone else.
Rodelin is a descendant of a prestigious family, Luna is the last survivor of the Lester family, and Rezé is the perfect prey for hunting.
It wouldn’t be strange if anyone’s life was targeted.
“I’m terribly sorry. Though it’s hardly a replacement, I will provide you with the best service possible.”
Scarlet bowed deeply and pulled the knife out of the pudding somewhat roughly.
At the same time, he shot me a menacing look.
From Rodelin’s point of view, only the back of his head was visible.
‘Ah, so I’m the target?’
Despite my denial, it seemed I was indeed Scarlet’s target.
‘Well, it was Caron who sent us here after all.’
But such attacks would be difficult in the future.
Due to Rodelin’s exceptionally sharp intuition.
Should he throw a knife again, it would only raise Rodelin’s suspicions.
It would be better to enjoy the leisurely course meal.
“Hmm, for an appetizer to be of such high quality. I’m looking forward to the starter.”
“I agree with Miss Luna. To think that even a small tavern could cook food of such profound quality. Truly, the empire is a place of many talents.”
As they continued to exchange various conversations,
“Here is the first starter dish. Lamb that has been marinated in wine for three days and mixed with a secret sauce. It will be very tender.”
Astonishment burst from everyone’s lips.
The color, aroma, and plating. It was of a quality one would only expect to find in top-tier restaurants.
“Mmm! This is incredibly tender? It melts right away!”
“To think the aftertaste of wine remains in your mouth. Astonishing.”
“So, so delicious!”
I felt the same as them.
‘Wow!? Delicious!’ The words and sounds seemed to dance around me.
Even upon tasting it again, the flavor was astounding.
The only odd thing was that the aroma of the meat in front of Rezé was even more intense?
However, I had no complaints. What was in front of me was sufficiently delicious.
“We should thank Zero for introducing us to this restaurant.”
“Keke, earlier you said it was surely a den of criminals, did you not?”
“Hmm! I haven’t completely dropped my suspicion. Just slightly less so.”
“I’m, I’m full…”
Rezé’s plea for help interrupted their conversation.
Everyone took a bit of her meat.
The scent of wine was much stronger than what I had tasted.
Just as I was about to bring my fork to it,
Scarlet, who was in the kitchen, pointed out the window and exclaimed,
“Ah! A phoenix symbolizing the bright future of the empire!”
“What!? Where? Where is it?”
Rodelin stood up abruptly and headed toward the window, while I quickly withdrew my hand.
Ting ting ting!
Three knives thrown by Scarlet grazed past the plate, cutting my lamb to pieces.
It would have been dreadful to think if my hand was still there.
“Oh… it was just a passing sparrow. I must have seen it wrong.”
“Too bad. I wanted to wish for the empire’s bright future.”
Rodelin returned to her seat.
As I put a piece of the carved lamb into my mouth, I thought,
‘So, he’s to be known as the universal merchant in the future.’
It was a clumsy method, but he assessed us in a short time.
He eavesdropped on our conversations and learned about each individual’s traits.
Currently, the most troublesome existence for Scarlet was none other than Rodelin.
‘Because she’s quick-witted and reacts well.’
It was too easy to notice the weapons he threw.
That’s why Scarlet mentioned ‘the empire.’
He knew Rodelin would lose her focus at the mention of the empire.
Eh? What about Luna and Rezé?
…That’s exactly my point.
I glanced subtly in Rezé’s direction.
Shivering.
Perhaps sensing an attack, Rezé was quivering.
She looked as if she wanted to hide in a box immediately.
Rather than protecting me, she was too busy protecting herself, so pass.
And Luna? Of course, she was.
“Ah~ Delicious. When is the next dish coming?”
…She was completely lost in the food.
She didn’t notice we were being attacked, her nose buried in the plate, licking it clean with her tongue.
This pig. Do you have any idea who I’m going through all this trouble for!
“Ah! A glittering starlight symbolizing the splendid future of the empire!”
“What!?”
Ting ting ting!
“It wasn’t.”
“Too bad.”
“Ah! That’s the empire’s…!”
“Where? Where is it?”
After a few more exchanges,
Finally, Luna spoke to me.
“Chewing… Zero, what’s going on? Why are you holding the plate?”
“Keke, it’s so delicious. I wanted to lick the plate.”
“Oh dear, no matter how delicious, maintain the dignity of a man, the dignity.”
…Luna, could you wipe the sauce off your nose before saying that?
Ting!
As I blocked another attack, I was lost in thought. It was strange, no matter how I considered it.
‘Why resort to such childish attacks?’
Annoying, yes, but not difficult to defend against. Not threatening in the least.
Moreover, these childish attacks couldn’t possibly be ordered by Caron.
There must be a significant reason.
‘Tsk, is this a battle of wits? I can hardly get any rest.’
While using a plate as a shield against Scarlet’s attacks, I realized something odd.
‘The trigger for the attacks. It’s not Luna but Rezé, isn’t it? What’s happening?’
Indeed, it was strange. Normally, the high-quality food should have gone to Luna, but it kept being placed in front of Rezé.
Why could that be?
It’s unlikely that Caron messed up the information transmission.
‘Is this a way to express dissatisfaction for including Rezé in the party? To see if I’m worthy of protecting everyone?’
All this trouble for such a simple reason?
No, there must be another reason. The headache intensified amid the ongoing battle of wits.
Creak-.
Someone entered the tavern. It was a person wearing a black robe.
Scarlet immediately approached.
“…Who are you?”
“Hmm, I’ve come to dine.”
The voice was low. No, intentionally lowered.
‘Trying to hide their gender?’
They might be a rat planted by Caron.
I casually used the [Information Window] skill but,
[???]
No information appeared. Naturally.
The face wasn’t visible because the robe was pulled down too far.
‘At least half the face needs to be visible for the Information Window skill to work.’
I tried it just in case, already knowing the information but wondering if there was a chance, especially if they were a spy.
I was slightly tensed when,
“Leave.”
“Excuse me?”
“No, please leave. Today we are only serving reserved guests.”
“What, what kind of…!”
“Come, come. Please leave.”
“No, no…!”
And so, the person in the black robe was driven out.
Watching them leave, I thought,
‘Could this also be Caron’s doing?’
Truly perplexing.
Caron, what exactly is your purpose in sending me here?
“Tsk! Kicking out a guest! Is that reasonable? What a spoiled establishment!”
The person under the black robe grumbled.
Judging by the melodious voice, it seemed to be a young female. A girl whose voice hadn’t fully matured yet.
Yes. The girl under the black robe. Her identity was…
“Ah… I should be helping Luna… but I can’t do anything.”
Yuridia. The third daughter of the Count de Rownter family, known as a genius in magic and a charming girl loved by all.
Currently, she was.
“I must find a way. Now that the formidable Rodelin has appeared, without my help, it’ll be a one-sided affair.”
…Beyond just supporting Luna’s love, she was fervently protecting it.
Yuridia chewed her nails.
‘Zero seemed interested in Senior Rodelin. And the senior seemed a bit shaken too…’
Late-night talks that grew intimate, to the point where even Rodelin blushed.
That Rodelin blushing.
Such an incident would not be out of place in the Annwood Academy’s weekly student newspaper.
‘There’s definitely something subtle starting between the two.’
She remembered clearly the moment when Rodelin shyly offered the restaurant coupon.
Crunch-.
Yuridia’s teeth ground together.
The thought of them dining alone was infuriating enough, let alone dragging Luna into it.
To Yuridia’s eyes, it was as if an adulteress had been invited to a couple’s dinner.
What exactly was happening inside?
‘Don’t tell me, outside Luna’s sight, something and something…!?’
She recalled when she tired of romance novels and delved into infidelity stories.
Scenes of exchanging affections under the table while the lawful wife sat beside.
Thinking of Zero and Rodelin sitting face to face, Yuridia’s suspicions deepened.
“I must get in somehow… Is there no way?”
Yuridia, hugging the wall under the tavern’s window, was scouting the situation.
Then, she caught sight of someone.
“Eh? That person is…”
Yuridia quickly hid herself.
She thought they would pass by. But no, astonishingly, their destination was this place.
The tavern where Zero and his party had entered.
“Miss, this is the place.”
“Hmm~ To call this a gourmet spot, the exterior is too shabby. And what’s with the name? ‘First Cup is a Sleeping Potion, Second Cup is a Trip to the Netherworld’? Isn’t this a tavern?”
“Keke, it’s precisely these kinds of places that are the real gourmet spots. Hidden gems, if you will.”
“Well, that may be so. But nanny, could you cut down on the ‘keke’ laughs? They’re killing my appetite.”
“Don’t worry. The food here is so amazing that it’ll bring back even a lost appetite. You can look forward to it, miss. Kekeke.”
“…It must be contagious. I’ll have to contact the disease control bureau the day we leave.”
“A disease? This is just an attractive way of speaking. Everyone thinks so, right? Kekekekeke!”
Yuridia could only be astonished.
She knew the person well, but more so because they were a widely recognized figure.
‘Why, why is Hero Lucia here of all places?’
It’s worth noting that the fact Lucia was guiding Zero and his group was information known only to a very few.
Not just because Lucia’s nanny was controlling the surroundings at her request, but more so because Caron was strongly controlling the information.
So, it wasn’t strange for Yuridia to be shocked.
“Ah, I don’t want to get involved with that guy. Isn’t there a big age difference?”
“Kekeke, are you saying it would be fine if not for the age difference?”
“That, that’s not what I meant! Age is a basic requirement, you know?”
“Keke, so age is a basic condition, but everything else is to your liking. That’s what you mean?”
“N, nnnn…! No! How could I possibly like that kind of guy! From start to finish. I don’t like anything about him?”
“There’s a saying that strong denial is a strong affirmation. You’re saying you like everything about him from start to finish.”
“Ah, come on! That’s not true!”
Yuridia, eavesdropping on Lucia and the nanny’s conversation, quickly pieced things together.
From their exchange, it seemed the nanny was recommending Zero as a potential husband.
‘Another rival in love!?’
Yuridia couldn’t help but be shocked.
Rodelin was already a formidable rival, and now Hero Lucia was joining the war of love?
Moreover, this was a battle she couldn’t win.
Family background, wealth, honor, maturity, size (?)…
The only advantage Luna had was her insane cuteness. That was it.
“Is this really a gourmet spot? The more I think about it, the stranger it seems…”
“Keke, just trust me. As soon as we open the door, your appetite will return.”
“Really? If you say so, nanny…”
Creak-.
With that, Lucia and the nanny entered the tavern.
The very tavern where Zero and his party were.
Watching them enter, Yuridia couldn’t help but feel anxious.
‘Luna is in danger!’
There was no chance for Luna now. So, it was up to her to help.
As Cupid of love!
With that resolve, Yuridia dashed into the tavern.
–TL Notes–
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at patreon.com/MattReading
Join my Discord! https://discord.gg/BWaP3AHHpt