Master was grinning at my utter shock. He must have been just as surprised his first time; he really had a mean streak.
His gaze suddenly dropped to the floor.
"Oh, there it is. Hey! A silver one came out!" Master called out to the staff in a casual tone.
I thought a bug had appeared, but when I looked, I recoiled. It wasn't a bug or a rat at the tip of Master’s finger. Something silver was wriggling as it crawled across the floor!
"W-What is that thing, ssu?"
Its movement was sluggish, so it didn't feel particularly dangerous, but I couldn't help the indescribable sense of revulsion welling up inside me. However, I seemed to be the only one bothered; neither Master nor the other customers were the least bit fazed.
"It’s just a bit of grime. You'll be clean in no time."
"One moment, please. Sis, you're up!"
"Comi~ng!"
At the employee's call, a woman who looked completely out of place in a joint like this emerged from the back. Her outfit was incredibly revealing, and she had rabbit ears perched on her head. I thought she might be a beastfolk, but they looked like nothing more than decorations.
The bunny-eared woman held a short rod in her hand. Since Master had said it would become "clean," I wondered if it was some kind of cleaning tool.
While I watched, bewildered, she pointed the rod at the silver wriggler. That was it. But the effect was immediate. There was a flash of intense light, and the silver thing vanished without a trace.
It happened in the blink of an eye. The wriggler had felt like something loathsome, but apparently, it wasn't a big deal, just like Master said. At that rate, it really wasn't much different from a bit of dust.
"Phew... that was a shock, ssu. Where did that silver thing even come from?"
"What are you talking about? That came out of your body."
"...You're joking, right, ssu?"
"Hah! If I were joking, I’d tell a story that’s actually funny."
"Huh? I don't think I've ever laughed at one of your jokes, Mast—guff!"
Master is always too quick with his fists. And for some reason, I'm always the punching bag. Why is that?
Anyway, that silver wriggler had apparently come out of me, as unbelievable as it seemed. According to Master, there was a high chance of that happening the first time someone ate the Clean Green Curry.
"I-Is that really okay, ssu? There isn't something dangerous in the food, is there?"
You eat it and silver things crawl out of you? That's not normal food. When I whispered my concerns to Master, he burst out laughing.
"Gahahaha! It’s fine, don't worry about it! You’re such a worrywart!"
...Something was definitely wrong. There was no way the suspicious Master would trust something so unconditionally. I turned to look at the man in the next seat who seemed to know the score. He let out a long sigh and began to explain with an exasperated look.
"Just like you’re thinking, that old man complained at first, too. But then the shop gave him one of those 'Whatshisname Burgers' as an apology, and he was won over instantly. Now, he’s exactly what you see."
I see. That actually made sense. Master's greed for food was legendary. I’d often heard that the best way to persuade Master Dozuru was with rare delicacies. Even so, I couldn't just let it slide. If he was willing to sacrifice me for his own appetite, I wasn't going to forgive him.
Just as I was about to voice my complaint, Master took offense at the other man's words.
"It’s not a 'Whatshisname Burger'! It’s a Teriyaki Burger, you idiot! Among Dwarfs, it’s a legendary food! Besides, you’re the same way! You’ve been completely submissive ever since you ate that white, sweet thing!"
"Aahn? I couldn't help it! Not after I tasted how sweet that Ice Cream was!"
...Apparently, the guy next to us was just as spineless when it came to food. Was this shop really safe?
My wariness was growing by the second when the bunny-eared woman spoke up.
"It’s okay~. That dirty thing didn't come out because of the curry."
"Is that true, ssu?"
"Truly, truly!"
Her relaxed tone took the wind out of my sails. Since there was no point in doubting her without a reason, I listened to her explanation, and it actually made a lot of sense.
Supposedly, the Clean Green Curry simply cleanses the body and removes things that shouldn't be there. In other words, that silver wriggler had been inside me all along. What’s more, she said they only come out of people living in Bandelt Group Territory.
"Probably, there’s something bad mixed into what the people around here are eating~. So, it might be a good idea to eat that curry once in a while?"
The bunny-eared woman spoke airily. I didn't know if it was true, but I did have a hunch.
Until recently, this was a very poor region. Things only changed lately. It got a little wealthier because a Dungeon appeared or something. While the Bandelt Group siphons off most of the profits, at least some food supplies started trickling down to us.
However, there was a rumor about those supplies. They said some weird powder was being mixed into the barley distributed around here. A silver-colored powder. Now, it wasn't uncommon for low-quality grain to have additives to bulk it up... but seeing those wrigglers earlier changed everything. Silver powder and silver wrigglers. I couldn't believe it was a coincidence.
Just when I thought those bastards in the Bandelt Group had finally started looking out for the residents, it turns out to be this. I'd heard they’ve been hanging out with dangerous types lately, too. They really are the worst!
"Oh, that's right. The dirty thing wasn't the curry’s fault, but as an apology for startling you, you get a bonus. Which would you like, a Teriyaki Burger or Ice Cream?"
Oblivious to my indignation, the bunny-eared woman asked in her usual carefree voice. In that instant, Master and the other man—who looked like they were about to start a brawl a second ago—turned their bloodshot eyes toward me.
"Hey, Robdy. You're going with the Teriyaki Burger, right?"
"Wait, wait. I think Ice Cream is the way to go. And you should give it to me. I've been giving you the dirt on that old man this whole time, haven't I?"
Both of them looked possessed. Were the Teriyaki Burger and Ice Cream really that good? I was torn on which one to pick. But in any case...
"I'm the one getting the bonus, so I'm not giving it to anyone, ssu!"