Babel—Pumpkin Restaurant.
Somni and Tetor's grueling days of training were set to begin tomorrow. Once it started, they would almost certainly be packed together like sardines in Norn's Territory. Therefore, serving also as a wrap-up celebration for the recent Babel entrance exam, we decided to eat at a restaurant along Main Street, the grand avenue stretching from east to west.
Well, this gathering had been Laila's idea in the first place, and having dragged them into the recent incident, I could hardly refuse.
"It is deliciousss!"
"It's so good!"
"Nom nom!"
The two little girls and one little creature raised their voices in cheerful harmony, each in their own way, as they stuffed their cheeks with the food piled on their plates.
Faf loathed being separated from me. Because of that, the two girls and one beast who always accompanied me being present here was, in a sense, practically inevitable. Furthermore, for Laila, the organizer of this dinner, their participation was a welcome pleasant surprise. Consequently...
"Faf, Mew, this one is delicious as well."
As expected of someone fond of children, Laila wore a blissful expression as she stayed glued to Faf and Mew's side, attentively looking after them. Normally, the immature Lumine would sour the mood in a situation like this, but she was entirely head-over-heels for the black pup eating on her lap, paying no mind to anything else.
"Yeah, yeah, this is seriously delicious. Here you go, Kai."
The youth Egg handed me a plate piled with food. I had no idea what kind of explanation Somni had given about me, but for a while now, Egg had been speaking to me strictly in honorifics, treating me as he would an elder.
I had strictly forbidden Somni and Tetor from speaking about me to outside parties. Thus, it shouldn't be because I had become their master. Let's try asking him a bit.
"Yes, thank you. Though I must ask: why take such an attitude toward me? I am the most incompetent person in this world—the kind of person you lot should despise and look down upon the most, shouldn't I be?"
At my simple question, the gazes of everyone at the table, starting with Laila, focused on us.
Egg glanced sideways at Laila before speaking.
"It's not that deep. It's just, thanks to this whole incident, I was able to get back to basics, so I'm grateful to you, Kai."
He replied while scratching his cheek with his index finger.
"Hm, I see..."
It was true that I had explained to Laila and the others that I became Rose's attendant through my mother's connections and that the incident had been resolved thanks to her intercession. Both Laila and Lumine believed my words and didn't pry into the finer details. However, under that explanation, the matter had been settled by Rose's will, not my power. It lacked any reason for someone to treat an incompetent person like me with such respect.
"I'm gonna aim to be a swordsman my own way."
Egg's hands were covered in countless blood blisters. He had surely been swinging his sword right up until coming here.
In any case, it was a good thing for a young man to find his own goal.
"Is that so? Do your best, and your efforts will surely bear fruit!"
Just as I nodded and spoke with conviction, a blue-haired woman in a white chef's uniform came dashing out of the kitchen.
"Kai Heinemann, this is the dish I made following your recipe! Try it!"
She rattled off excitedly, her face flushed red with exhilaration.
"Mm, it is done, then?"
She set the plates in her hands roughly onto the table. That savory aroma and distinct fragrance... It was the very dish I had made countless times in the labyrinth.
"Ah, it is 'gyoza'!"
Faf's eyes sparkled. Deftly manipulating the two slender wooden sticks in her right hand, she brought the food on the plate to her mouth.
"It is deliciousss!"
Clasping her cheeks with both hands, she cried out with a blissful look on her face.
Following Faf's lead, Mew joined in as well.
"It's true! It's so tasty!"
Mew followed suit, wearing a thoroughly satisfied expression. Laila and the others also brought the "gyoza" to their mouths with great curiosity, letting out exclamations of delight.
"It pairs well with the 'soy sauce' seasoning. For your first attempt, I would say it tastes quite good."
"Yeah! When I tried serving it to the customers just now, the reception was incredible—"
"Hey, Aba! What're you doing slacking off when it's this busy?!"
The owner emerged from the kitchen with a scolding shout. The moment he noticed me, his demeanor shifted instantly to a solemn one, and he stepped before me, bowing deeply.
"Boss, thank you for everything."
He offered his gratitude in a voice laden with heartfelt emotion.
My initial impression of him had been that of a manager who cowered before a foolish prince, but in truth, he was quite shrewd; according to Aba, once the nobles left, he would fly into a rage and spout a barrage of curses. Indeed, apologizing to tyrannical nobles made things proceed far more smoothly. That subservient prostration was likely an essential survival mechanism for them.
Come to think of it, every single cook in this restaurant was exceptionally skilled. Normally, they would be in high demand across the industry. Yet such capable cooks chose to remain at this restaurant, which didn't seem to pay particularly high wages. If the manager had serious character flaws, they would have quit long ago.
"No, all of this was done under Princess Rose's instructions, not mine. Thus, directing your thanks to me is misplaced."
When I gave a shrug, the manager looked around at all of us with a meaningful smile.
"Well then, let us leave it at that."
After offering another deep bow, he grabbed Aba by the ear and retreated into the kitchen.
"Kai, is Princess Rosemary skilled at cooking as well?"
"A-Ah, yes, that is correct."
I worried for a moment that someone oblivious to the mood like Faf might reflexively deny it, but she was so engrossed in the "gyoza" that she hadn't even heard.
Laila believed my words straight away. Rather, the very concept of me lying to her never crossed her mind. Therefore, if I said Rose was the cause, she naturally understood it as such.
Of course, if a lie was blatantly suspicious, even she would notice. The one time in the past I told a harmless lie and was found out, she cried and scolded me. This time, the scale of the lie was somewhat extreme. I couldn't even begin to imagine how she would react. Above all, given my current position, ignorance was far more blissful for her. I had no choice but to push through with it.
"I see. The Princess is not only kind, but excels in the culinary arts as well..."
As Laila voiced her admiration laced with strong envy, Somni and Tetor leaned in toward each other.
(This is totally Master's doing, right?)
(Yeah, no one other than Master could make such an outrageous dish.)
They began whispering scandalous things in hushed tones.
Listen here, you two, stop calling me Master! What if Laila overhears you?!
Regardless, while Laila's opinion of Rose had been skyrocketing lately, it caused no particular harm, so I decided to leave it be.
Lumine seemed quite fond of Fen, and Fen didn't appear to mind it either. I decided to leave the task of guarding the two girls to Fen. When it came to combat alone, Fen stood head and shoulders above the rest in the Subjugation Compendium. Through the Compendium, he could communicate with me, so he would easily buy enough time until I arrived.
I would have to come see Fen every day, but either way, Laila had strictly ordered me to show my face frequently. In that case, it wouldn't make much difference.
(Fen.)
'Hm? What is it?'
He leapt from Lumine's lap onto mine.
"Ah! Kai, that's not fair!"
Ignoring Lumine's voice of complaint, Fen looked up at me and asked for my intent.
(Live with those two for a while and protect them. Naturally, I'll drop by every day to bring treats.)
'Yeah, okay!'
He raised a tiny paw energetically, rubbed his cheek against me, hopped back onto Lumine's lap, and resumed eating his food.
For some reason, non-humans seemed to take a liking to Lumine. It was likely because she was innocent, simple, and straightforward with no hidden motives. She was practically the polar opposite of someone like me.
"By the way, where is Roman?"
I asked about the one person absent from this gathering. The host was Laila; I was certain he would participate.
"He had to attend a joint exercise with the Hero party, so he should be here in just a—"
Just as Laila began to speak, the restaurant door swung open with great force, and a handsome brown-haired youth rushed inside.
"Kai! What is the meaning of starting this gathering without me?!"
He stormed up beside me, shouting as he sprayed spit.
"Good work on your duties. Here, eat."
Piercing a "gyoza" with a skewer, I tossed it right into his mouth.
"Gmph?!..."
For a moment, he wore a stunned look while chewing in silence, but he quickly sat down at an empty seat at the table without a word and began devouring the food voraciously. He must have been terribly hungry. He really could be honest about things like this.
Letting out a heavy sigh at Roman, who was eating without even looking away despite my presence, I spoke up.
"Looks like this will run out in no time. Let's order seconds."
Raising my right hand, I called over the restaurant staff and placed our order.