Gratz: One of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Kingdom. A Minotaur.
When is a parent at their happiest?
Every parent likely has their own answer, but for me, it was when my son or daughter relied on me.
Yesterday, I received a letter from Alfred, who was staying in the Royal Capital of the Demon Kingdom. He said there were guests he wanted to host by serving the ramen from the food stall I ran in Village Five, and he asked if I could come to the Royal Capital Academy.
That was rare. To think a request like that, asking me to do something specifically for him, would come from Alfred.
However, though I say so myself, I was not in such a casual position that I could just hop out of the village over a single letter. The spring harvest was approaching, and the expansion plan for Village Four was underway. Even if the Teleportation Gate made travel instantaneous, I would have to bring the food stall along, which would be quite an undertaking.
As the Village Head, I couldn't go.
...Well, as a father, I went anyway.
When a son who rarely relies on you asks for help, you have no choice but to go. Besides, Michael-san had also asked me to encourage the auction caravan while I was there.
Still, even if I was going, I had to report it to everyone in the village first. I wasn't so irresponsible as to just vanish on my own.
When I announced it during dinner, it turned out that I wasn't the only one who had received a letter from Alfred. Donovan, Yoko, and Miyo had all received letters as well. Donovan was asked for sake. Yoko was asked for sweets from Kuro and Yuki and the Korin Sweets Shop. Miyo was asked for the curry from Maruura.
What exactly was he planning? Was he holding some kind of Academy Festival? Was he essentially outsourcing the catering for it? No, that didn't seem right, considering the location was an academy. I knew that the common sense of my previous world didn't apply here, but surely they wouldn't serve alcohol at a school. They wouldn't, right?
At any rate, my departure was approved. While the final companions were being selected, Donovan was a definite. As for Yoko and Miyo, they would each be dispatching employees from their respective shops.
The problem that arose was how many portions to prepare. Based on the tone of the letter, I thought a few people's worth would be sufficient, but it was better to be sure. I also needed to finalize the schedule. I asked about these details in the letter I sent back agreeing to go.
The reply that came back simply said: "I'm sorry. As much as possible. As soon as possible."
Early in the morning five days later, I arrived at the Galgard Noble Academy where Alfred and the others were studying. I had wanted to move a bit earlier, but ramen required extensive prep work. Furthermore, if I was going to serve a large crowd, there were other logistics to consider.
For instance, I needed people to actually make the ramen. The number of people I could serve by myself was limited, so I needed help. It would have been fine if the High Ogre maids could have accompanied me, but Ann, the leader of the High Ogre maids, and Ramrias, the Number Two, were both pregnant and unable to work. Even so, I felt hesitant to take away the High Ogre maids who were maintaining our daily life in the village. I couldn't push them too hard.
That was why I decided to borrow employees from Noodle Shop Buritoa in Village Five. The negotiations to borrow them ended quickly, but I had to teach my specific methods to the staff. I wasn't going to serve the standard menu from Noodle Shop Buritoa, after all. These were the kinds of preparations that had been necessary.
Now then, my companions for this trip were several Dwarves led by Donovan. Several employees from Kuro and Yuki and the Korin Sweets Shop joined us at Village Five. Then there were the Noodle Shop Buritoa employees helping with my stall, and the Maruura employees who joined us at Shashato City.
Additionally, about thirty Angels, including Malbit and Ruincia, volunteered to work as general waitresses. They hadn't been asked; they had come forward themselves. They claimed it was part of a reconciliation policy with the Demon Kingdom. Apparently, after the recent parade, they felt like things might get ugly if they stayed as they were. There was also the matter with the Garlet Kingdom to consider.
Furthermore, Galf, Daga, and about ten High Elves came along as our escorts. I thought we would be fine with the Angels there, but Lu insisted that a proper escort was necessary and sent them with us. I was honestly happy to be worried about, so I accepted. It wasn't... that she didn't trust Malbit and the others, right? Right. Hahaha. Anyway, Lu, please look me in the eye when you answer that.
As unplanned additions, Yuri and the Ramen Queen had joined us at Village Five. It seemed both of them had been invited by Alfred as well. I could understand Yuri, since she was the Demon King's Daughter, but I wondered what his intent was in inviting the Ramen Queen. Well, it wasn't for me to worry about, so she came along.
After arriving at the Academy, I was welcomed by Alfred and Tiselle, who guided me to the area where we were to set up the stalls. The location was within the Academy grounds but away from the school buildings. It was a spacious vacant lot in an area where students built their own houses.
It was quite a large area. Several tents had already been pitched, and there were exhibits of some sort on display. Once again, it felt like an Academy Festival, but those present were clearly nothing but adults. There was even an area where Gratz was in command, filled with people who were obviously military. What in the world were they doing?
"Father, please set up around here," Tiselle said, indicating the location.
The equipment we brought consisted of three Ramen Stalls, two stalls for providing liquor, one stall for tea and cakes from Kuro and Yuki, one stall for manju and senbei from Korin Sweets Shop, and two Curry Stalls from Maruura. Additionally, I had brought the Camping Carriage for support. It was better to provide our own outhouses for the employees to use, after all.
I arranged the stalls while considering the flow of the guests and employees, and everyone began their preparations. I used the word "guests," but it had already been settled that the Demon Kingdom would pay for everything. Alfred was the one who had negotiated that. At any rate, no money would be changing hands at the stalls.
As for those guests... they were gradually gathering around us as we prepared. As I thought, there were many adults. I just had to serve these people, right?
Tiselle, rather than Alfred, answered my question. "Yes. We're counting on you."
I understood. By the way... "What is that?" I asked.
A short distance away, a group of Angels had surrounded an elderly man who was on his knees with his head in his hands. They were dancing around him. It looked a bit like the Mayim Mayim... or perhaps the movements were closer to Kagome Kagome?
"Um, that is the Dance of Hospitality," Tiselle explained.
Is that so?
"Yes. The person in the middle is the representative of those we want to host today... well, he's a representative of sorts. It seems he was an old acquaintance of the grandmothers."
So that was why it was like that. I see. However, were they truly "hosting" him? I felt an incredible sense of despair radiating from the man in the center.
"He hasn't started crying yet, so it's still fine. The grandmothers will surely stop before he actually cries."
...Why would hosting someone involve the risk of making them cry? Well, since the Demon King and Beezel—who were, for some reason, at the very front of the line for my stall—weren't saying anything, I supposed it was fine.
Ah, the Demon King's Wife was there too. I had to go greet her.