Slices of meat sizzled over the wire mesh, the savory aroma drifting into the air.
The marbled fat glistened as juices welled up like beads of sweat on the surface, the glossy sheen practically begging to be eaten.
"Nom, chomp... Ahhh?! Kaito-san, I was tending to that piece of meat specifically!"
"There's still plenty left, isn't there? Besides, whose wallet do you think is paying for this? Do you even know the meaning of the word 'restraint'?"
"Food eaten on someone else's dime is the most delicious kind there is!"
"You little..."
Right before my eyes, Alice—wearing her usual opera mask—continued to devour the meat with terrifying momentum.
How did it even come to this? As I recalled, after our conversation in the garden of Lilia-san’s mansion reached a stopping point, Alice told me she had something she wanted to discuss and asked me to follow her. I obliged, and yet...
Somehow, I had ended up treating her to a yakiniku dinner. Seriously, how did this happen?
"Munch... Well, look, I’ve pledged my loyalty to you, Kaito-san... Nom... That means I’m the subordinate and you’re the boss. In situations like this, the boss is supposed to treat the staff!"
"..."
This jerk. She had started spouting some awfully convenient logic.
I was exasperated, but... well, her money was likely gone as usual, and since she had helped me out and I had been the one to ask for her cooperation, I figured I could at least spring for a meal.
"Still, I’m surprised there are yakiniku restaurants in this world. Did the concept spread from the past Hero-roles?"
"Yeah, something like that. Of course, the culture of grilling and eating meat already existed in this world, but thanks to the sauce introduced by a Hero-role, it became a mainstream hit almost overnight."
"I see. So this world really is heavily influenced by the world I came from?"
"Hmm..."
Upon hearing my question, Alice stopped reaching for the meat for a moment, her masked face tilting as if she were wearing a thoughtful expression.
"Comparing your world and this one... well, between the differences in science and magic, and the divergent paths of our histories, I can’t say for sure which one is more developed. But when it comes to food culture, your world is overwhelmingly more advanced."
"I see."
Certainly, the magic and magic tools in this world could achieve things impossible for science. Since our cultures and histories were so different to begin with, there was no objective way to decide which world was superior—nor was there much point in trying.
However, in the specific field of cuisine, it seemed my world held the upper hand. Food culture here had apparently been profoundly influenced by the preferences of past Hero-roles.
"Well, it’s not like every single thing caught on. Like, what was it called... white rice? That’s, how should I put it... for those of us who grew up with bread as a staple, it still feels a bit strange."
"That makes sense. I feel the same way if I eat nothing but bread for too long, so I guess it’s just a matter of what you're used to."
"Exactly. That said, because the Hero-roles are always so happy to have white rice, every country grows a small amount of it. Being able to make a good impression on a Hero-role is a point of pride and status for a nation, after all."
"Yeah... I can definitely understand that feeling."
You really did find yourself craving rice. I had been truly moved when I received some from Noin-san, and I was still gratefully eating it to this day.
Thinking of that, a comment Alice made earlier suddenly brought something to mind.
"Come to think of it, Alice... there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask."
"What is it?"
"Mitsunaga-kun... do you happen to know how the boy playing the Hero-role this time is doing?"
Alice was the Phantasm King, the one who held the strings of an information network spanning the entire globe. It was highly likely she had a grasp on Mitsunaga-kun’s movements.
I had fellow Japanese people like Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san nearby, and thanks to meeting so many wonderful people, I was actually managing to enjoy my life here. But what about Mitsunaga-kun? Being alone in a place with a completely different culture had to be lonely. I was a little worried about him.
"...You really are a softie, Kaito-san. Yes, well, I have a general idea... Let me pull up the latest report for a second."
"Eh?"
Alice let out a small smile behind her mask and snapped her fingers.
Almost instantly, the woman who had been serving us as a waitress approached our table. She produced a bundle of papers from seemingly thin air and set them down before us.
"Here you go."
"Good work."
The waitress gave a sharp, professional bow and returned to her duties as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Alice began flipping through the documents.
"Hey, Alice. That person just now..."
"Hm? Oh, she’s one of my subordinates. My people are stationed in almost every major location, so I can get the latest intel like this in a heartbeat."
"Does that mean she knows your true identity?"
"Ah, no. I give all my subordinates magic tools that react only to my specific magic power. If I send out a pulse, they know exactly where I am."
The Phantasm King's subordinates existed in every corner of the world... Realizing the weight of those words, I felt like I had finally glimpsed the true scale of Alice’s power.
However, Alice’s demeanor didn't change at all. She studied the documents for a few more moments, made the papers vanish into thin air, and then turned back to me.
"It looks like he’s currently staying in the eastern region of the Arclesia Empire."
"Is he doing well?"
"Yeah. Though apparently, he was a real piece of work when he first arrived."
"What?"
Hearing Alice’s disinterested tone, I remembered Yuzuki-san saying something before about him "getting carried away."
Was Mitsunaga-kun really okay?
Perhaps sensing my concern, Alice let out a weary sigh.
"When he was first invited to the Royal Palace, he acted like he was the center of the universe. It sounds like he was doing nothing but making selfish demands."
"No way..."
"He was even asking if there were any slaves available... Honestly, what era does he think he lives in?"
"..."
Mitsunaga-kun... Well, I suppose slaves are a staple trope in otherworld light novels, but they simply didn't exist in this world. Making a request like that would only result in people looking at him with utter disdain.
Still, perhaps it was somewhat unavoidable. Being summoned as a Hero-role and treated as a state guest, he probably felt like he had actually become a light novel protagonist and believed the world would bend to his will.
"The Kingdom’s side tried to caution him with polite, strained smiles at first, but apparently his behavior didn't improve for a while."
"I see... So, what happened?"
"A bit before the Treasure Tree Festival, while they were in a town within the Kingdom of Sinfonia... the Second Princess who was accompanying him finally snapped. She unleashed a slap on him that she had been taught directly by Duchess Albert."
"Wha—!? Wait, wait a minute... Taught by Lilia-san? Is Mitsunaga-kun even alive?!"
"...I think I’ve just gained a very clear understanding of how you view Duchess Albert, Kaito-san."
But a slap from Lilia-san... I mean, it wasn't Lilia-san herself, but a technique based on her direct instruction? If Lilia-san ever slapped me for real, my head would probably fly off. Not as a metaphor—it would be physically detached from my shoulders.
To think Mitsunaga-kun took a hit like that...
"Well, that incident seemed to shock the 'king' act right out of him. His behavior has improved significantly since then."
"I-I see... That’s a relief."
"And then, about three days ago... it seems the Hero-role proposed to the Second Princess."
"Why?!"
"Well, apparently he’d been pampered his whole life. He said that when she slapped him, it was like a bolt of lightning struck his heart. He claims he felt the touch of destiny."
"Ehhhhh..."
Mitsunaga-kun?! Could it be that he’s a massive masochist?
No, no, let's put that aside. Everyone has their own preferences; it wasn't my place to judge. More importantly, I was dying to know how it went.
"So, what was her answer?"
"In response to that confession, the Second Princess... apparently slapped him again."
"Again?!"
"Well, my reports say they were sightseeing together in a town they visited today as well, so it’s not like they're on bad terms."
What kind of relationship was that?! I was genuinely curious, but... well, I suppose it meant Mitsunaga-kun was doing fine in his own way.
At the very least, I had heard what I wanted to know. Actually, I now had even more questions than when I started, but prying into other people’s romantic affairs was tactless. I decided to leave it at that.
"Anyway, thanks, Alice."
"Don't mention it."
"By the way, I’m only just remembering this now... didn't you say you had something you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Ah—right. What should I do? Hmm."
When I asked about the original reason we had come here, Alice crossed her arms and let out an awkward groan.
"Let’s save that for next time. There’s no point in rushing it, and you’ve already had a very long day, Kaito-san."
"Hm? Well, if you’re okay with that, Alice..."
"Yeah! So, on that note... can I order seconds?!"
"Do whatever you want."
"Yes! As expected of you, Kaito-san! You’re wonderful! I love you!"
"..."
Watching Alice completely revert to her usual shameless pace, any trace of her previous hesitation gone, I let out a heavy sigh.
"I really do wonder why an idiot like this is one of the Six Kings."
"Hey, Kaito-san?! That wasn't an internal monologue! You’re broadcasting that in your ikemen voice for the whole world to hear!"
Noisy and annoying... She was exactly as Chronoa-san had described her.
The fact that someone like this was one of the most powerful beings in the world made her a truly monumental weirdo.
Dear Mother, Father——
I was able to get an update on Mitsunaga-kun from Alice. For now, it’s a relief to know he’s doing well. As for Alice, she’s as much of an eccentric as ever, a truly strange person... but as I realized that I actually enjoy spending time with her, I thought to myself—I might be a bit of a weirdo too.
To put it simply, it was a yakiniku date.