kscans

Chapter 29 - The Neighboring Forest and the Little Person, Part Four

"Ooh."

There were wooden lanterns made with timber framing and a sliding door of natural wood that emphasized the grain. It looked just like a door from a purely Japanese house. There was nothing between the wooden lattice, and she could see inside the shop. The little person’s eyes glinted at the sight of the numerous dishes visible from there.

That is...!

Chihiro’s eyes lit up, and she put her hand on the door.

Then, a perplexed voice called out, and soft, slender fingers stopped her hand. When Chihiro turned around, she saw the exotic beauty from before.

"This is a problem, sirs. You know what kind of shop this is, don’t you? It’s no place for a little girl. Now, be on your way."

A beauty is a beauty even with a wry smile.

Staring at the wryly smiling woman, Chihiro was swiftly lifted into the air by Dolphen.

"Pardon us."

With that short utterance, Dolphen turned on his heel, but was stopped by a small hand patting him repeatedly.

"Chihiro-sama?"

"Chihiro?"

"Eh?"

For some reason, a series of three questioning lines followed. Dolphen, the beauty, the little girl. Each of them looked at each other in confusion.

"Isn’t this a place to eat?"

"...You can eat here, but it’s a place where sake is the main attraction."

".............."

Don’t go silent now, Dolphen. Read the room, you.

Fortunately, it was a group of a dozen or so men. It would probably be fine if one child was mixed in. With a bright smile, Chihiro instructed Dolphen to put her down. With an obviously reluctant face, Dolphen unwillingly set her down.

"There are lots of adults, so sake is okay. Please give us some food."

The stunned beauty was also a sight to behold.

Giving up on persuading the innocently smiling little girl, the beauty looked around as if seeking help. But the surrounding men, including Adoris, were also looking up at the heavens with faces of despair.

Everyone here knew.

When it came to food, the little person could not be stopped. They could not stop her. If they tried to restrain her, she would surely find a gap and bolt off on her own. It was better to let her run wild where they could keep an eye on her.

Their silence indicated their consent.

"...You can’t be serious."

The beauty looked at the little girl, wondering what to do.

"If I can request someone, I’d like you, big sister."

"Huh?"

"""""Eh?"""""

Everyone’s jaw dropped at the sudden words.

I can tell from the conversation. It’s that kind of shady establishment. Whether you receive the services or not is up to the customer, right? As long as you pay, it’s fine to just have someone to talk to, isn’t it?

If I can eat that, I’ll gladly pay.

Chihiro was running a large-scale sweets business under the Little Person brand at the royal palace. She was quite the little rich girl.

The little person grinned.

If you request a girl and pay money, you are a customer no matter who you are. The beauty gave the innocent little girl a meaningful smile and slowly pulled open the shop door.

"Welcome to the Manmaden. My name is Sakura. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Chihiro’s face instantly froze.

Sakura? Sakura? This person, could she be?

As she was led into the shop, a large sign made from a single slab of natural wood cut diagonally hung near the ceiling.

On the sign, which was read from right to left, the words Manmaden were written in charcoal-black ink with a brush.

With kanji.

The little girl stared up at the sign, dumbfounded.

Sakura was quietly observing her.

"How much for your company?"

"Ordinarily, it would be three large silver coins for one night, but..."

Dolphen probably knew the nature of the shop. He bluntly asked about the service fee. But Sakura was also perplexed. For just an hour or so of serving a meal, that was too exorbitant. As Sakura pondered what to do, Chihiro tugged on her shawl.

"Here you go."

What she received from the small, clasped hand were three gold coins. To the surprised Sakura, Chihiro flashed a wicked grin.

"Call four or five pretty ladies. Just pouring drinks and serving is fine. Use the rest for the food. I’m expecting something delicious."

At the challenging gaze of the little girl, Sakura also gave a magnanimous smile.

"Understood. I shall light a fire under the chefs and provide a satisfactory reception."

A back-and-forth as if they were both trying to figure something out about the other.

Dolphen and the others could not understand the female conversation unfolding before them... though one of them was a little girl.

"Oh, right."

As if remembering something, the little person once again tugged at the edge of the shawl.

"Hey, by any chance, do you have something like a kimono?"

Sakura’s eyes widened.

"Wear that. You can show your shoulders, but make sure the obi is tied properly."

Just how much does this child know?

Sakura narrowed her eyes sharply with suspicion, but she could read nothing from the nonchalant child.

And so, the group was guided to a large hall.

There, tatami mats were laid out with zabuton cushions, and there was a step down under the low table where they could put their feet. The knights curiously took their seats and poked at the appetizer that had been prepared with their forks.

"Is this food?"

"It’s like the root of a tree..."

"Do they eat tree roots in the Empire?"

Chihiro couldn’t believe her eyes.

Before her was a simmered dish of gobo and konnyaku. She involuntarily held it up, tears welling in her eyes.

No way. The dishes I saw from beyond the door weren’t an illusion.

Choking back tears of emotion, she hesitantly ate the gobo she hadn't had in so long. The distinct, firm texture of the gobo. The flavor of the broth seeping from within.

Ah, it’s dashi. And they’re using soy sauce, aren’t they? They have soy sauce.

As they watched Chihiro eat with gusto, the others around her also hesitantly tried it. And their eyes widened.

"So good... What? This isn’t a tree root, it’s soft."

"This one too. I thought it was like a slime, but it has more of a bite. Not that I’ve ever eaten a slime."

"Stop it, don’t make me imagine it. I won’t be able to eat."

As they lively expressed their various impressions, the food was brought into the hall.

"Thank you for waiting. From all of us in the kitchen, our masterpieces for our long-awaited patron. Please, enjoy."

As a man dressed like a chef shouted, a large amount of food was brought in.

Boiled leafy greens, pickled root vegetables, simmered dishes, and grilled dishes were lined up, along with tempura and sashimi. And so on.

Is that brown one simmered offal? Aahh, isn’t that miso dengaku? They have miso and tofu too? Is this place heaven?

Leaning over the table and about to grab some sashimi, driven by instinct, Chihiro was stopped by Dolphen.

"Is this not raw fish? You know that fish have parasites. Eating it raw is a suicidal act."

Dolphen’s face was grim, his gaze as if it could shoot the chef dead.

Ahhh. Right, I see. But...

Even while being glared at by Dolphen, the man who seemed to be the head chef did not flinch and stared back at Dolphen with a sharp glare.

"It is fine. The fish used in this sashimi was farmed in an environment where parasites do not grow. Furthermore, it was immediately frozen, so even if there were any parasites, they would be dead."

Right.

To serve it so brazenly, they must have taken every precaution.

But...

As Chihiro brought the sashimi to her mouth, she glanced at the chef.

That’s modern knowledge from Earth, isn’t it?

At first, she thought Sakura was a reincarnator or transmigrator from Earth, but that didn’t seem to be the case. It seemed the Empire itself had been influenced by a Japanese lineage.

Munching on the long-awaited sashimi, Chihiro’s eyes narrowed at the accompanying wasabi and shiso spikes. To be so particular about the details of authentic Japanese food meant that there was a professional or someone in a similar profession in the Empire. Without a doubt.

However, from the bare-legged slit of the qipao and the naming of the place as Manmaden, it reeked of chuunibyou, so the little person had a feeling it was the latter.

To accomplish all this alone must have taken a very long time. From procuring ingredients, to cultivation and farming. Brewing and distilling seasonings. It was not something that could be achieved overnight.

This effort alone was admirable.

She couldn't be more grateful. Yes.

Those around her watched the little girl munching on raw fish with worried eyes. Although they had been given an explanation, they probably couldn’t understand the explanation itself. Even though it was a world with magic, they seemed to be rigid in their thinking. They had shown such a strong aversion to the qipao as well. They must be unable to break away from conventional superstitions.

It was not good to worry them too much, and she wanted to eat other things as well. By the time Chihiro had savored the tempura, miso dengaku, and other nostalgic dishes and was fully satisfied, the sake was served, and beautiful women appeared.

Beautiful kimonos of red and purple silk with stitching and dyeing. Obi with abundant gold and silver embroidery, and the collarbones and napes of their necks peeking out from their loosened collars were alluring. Their hairstyles were also either up or down. The knights’ eyes were glued to the charming women, each looking their best in a style that suited them.

I knew it. It was a perfect match.

Japanese traditional attire. And the geisha-style appearance had a modesty within its glamour that she thought would be a direct hit with the tastes of Frontier men.

"Here you are."

Prompted, everyone obediently took a glass. What was poured into the small, shot glass-like cups was a clear liquid.

Chihiro’s eyes glinted once more.

Adoris, who drank as he was told, widened his eyes.

"What is this? It’s different from wine or beer. It has alcohol, but it’s clean and smooth. The color is beautiful too. When it’s aged in a barrel, it usually gets color... Is it not aged? No, this flavor..."

As Adoris murmured things like a food review, the party continued, and the woman who appeared next was wearing a black silk kimono like a geisha.

Her hair was also in a splendid Japanese style. The main act has arrived.

"Thank you for waiting."

"Not at all. With a setup like that, it’s only natural it would take time. You look beautiful, Sakura."

"Thank you very much."

Realizing that the smirking woman was the same person in the qipao from before, the people around her let out sighs of admiration.

"How... beautiful you are. Why would you wear the clothes of a servant?"

You are a truly honest man, Dolphen.

At Dolphen’s involuntary murmur, the men around him nodded rapidly. At that, Sakura and the other women’s brows furrowed slightly, and they quietly exchanged glances.

"In the Empire, beautiful things are hidden. Men do not seek such things from prostitutes like us. Rather, they tell us to bare our skin as much as we want if it brings in money."

"That is... most unfortunate."

Pushing aside the knights who were sympathizing from the bottom of their hearts, Chihiro asked Sakura a question. There was something she wanted to ask more than that. It was possible that they might have that.

"Hey, the ingredient for this sake, could it be...?"

Sakura blinked and replied gracefully.

"It is rice. It is a grain that is a specialty of the Empire."

I knew it. Which means...

With a bad feeling, Chihiro looked at the fusuma door leading to the hallway.

As expected, what arrived to finish the meal was red miso soup and chazuke.

"You must be feeling a little hungry after drinking. Please, help yourselves."

Noooooo!

Sakura, smiling sweetly, looked like a demon.

The little person, who had stuffed herself to the brim, couldn’t possibly eat any more.

But. I want to eat it. Waaaah!

There was a bowl of steaming red miso soup, and in another, a grilled rice ball. The others were adding condiments like green onions, pouring dashi-infused tea over it, and eating with relish.

"This is delicious. It’s fragrant and whets the appetite."

"This soup too. It’s salty but has depth and makes you want more."

"It’s called rice, is it? I’d like to get some to take back."

Those around her were giving their own food reviews and chatting amiably with the women.

What kind of hell is this, being food-terrorized when I’m full? Is this a punishment game? A new kind of punishment game?

Unable to resist the temptation of the grilled rice ball before her, Chihiro hesitantly brought the chazuke to her mouth. Just a small bite made her stomach feel like it was going to rebel. The food she had eaten seemed to have expanded over time.

But, I want to eat it. Uuuuh.

Seeing Chihiro eating with a pained expression, Adoris rushed in to stop her.

"Hey, Chihiro. Are you eating too much? You look pale."

"I’ll eat... I have to eat now."

"Your stomach is about to burst. It’s impossible, please stop."

Dolphen picked Chihiro up and pulled her away from the table.

"Nooo, I wanna eat. The food, the rice, ahhh!"

To the thoroughly exasperated hall, where the little girl was thrashing about and doing somersaults, Sakura, who had gone outside at some point, rushed back in.

"Take this as a souvenir."

Opening the package she was handed, she found two grilled rice balls and two rice balls with wakame rice. It seemed she had asked the kitchen to make them with what they had on hand.

Crying "ahhh," she accepted it, and the little person, clutching the faintly warm package, leaned against Dolphen’s chest with a soft ‘koton’.

"""Eh?"""

In the hall where a chorus of voices rang out, the little person, held in Dolphen’s arms, was breathing softly in her sleep. She was clutching the package in one hand and sucking her thumb. She must have been tired from crying so much on a full stomach. She had been in a carriage all day, so she must have been exhausted.

...However.

"...She’s asleep."

"This kid..."

"How adorable. What a fine young lady."

At Sakura’s soft laughter, Dolphen and the others were at a loss for words.

Without a doubt.

Dolphen and Adoris exchanged wry smiles, thanked Sakura, and then left the shop together in a line.

The little person, exhausted from crying on a full stomach, did not let go of the rice ball package even when laid in bed, and fell asleep just like that.

And it was only natural that the next day, upon seeing the squashed rice balls, the little person let out a scream.

Encountering a culture she knew yet didn’t know, laughing, crying, and feeling down.

Yesterday had a lot going on, but the little person will be fine today.