kscans

Chapter 35 - A New Pilgrimage and the Little One, Part One

"Banri!"

"Well now, it has been a while."

The moment she arrived at the temporary residence in Yamen, the Little One dashed off toward Pandæmonium, with a flustered Chihaya and Dorfen in tow. Zack tried to bolt after them too, but Adonis, who was in charge of unloading their luggage, caught him. Reluctantly, very reluctantly, he turned back toward the carriage.

Reunited with Banri, the Little One gave her legs a soft hug and looked up with an innocent face.

"...You've heard, haven't you?"

"Of course I have. Welcome back, little miss."

With a mischievous lift to the corner of her mouth, Banri’s eyes crinkled into a soft smile. She had received word of the Little One’s return from Sakura. As a former citizen of Kilfan, Banri understood reincarnation and, while surprised, accepted that such things could happen. Two souls in one body. They had separated, and a new Little One was born. It was as simple as that. If she had inherited the memories, there was no problem. They would simply continue their relationship as before.

Banri and the other people from Kilfan possessed a way of thinking that was frighteningly similar to that of the Japanese.

As the Little One clung to her affectionately, Chihaya, who had followed from behind, stared at his sister with wide eyes. Chihiro was friendly, but she was also highly cautious. Chihaya had been surprised many times by her cunning, how she would carefully observe people from behind a smile.

"That one’s no good. I’ll let Romel know."

Her words were as sharp as if she were spitting them out.

Days later, when word got around that Prince Romel had uncovered corruption in several departments based on that information, Chihaya shot a look at his sister. It was clear his placid-faced sister was involved, but he had no idea how it had all happened. Even though he had been in the same place.

I need to study more...

Suppressing a surge of anxiety, Chihaya, taking Chihiro as his model, was often seen frantically burying his nose in books. But that is another story.

This was the woman his ever-cautious sister was clinging to without a shred of wariness.

Noticing Chihaya’s wide eyes, the woman offered a gentle smile.

"You must be her brother. It’s a pleasure. My name is Banri, and I’m in charge of Akitsu Farm. It is good to meet you."

"Akitsu Farm?"

It was the Little One who reacted to the greeting meant for Chihaya.

"The new Kilfan has been established, you see. I took the name of the capital in its honor. Pandæmonium is no more. Now, it is a farm focused on agriculture and animal husbandry."

Banri’s lips curved into an arc.

Come to think of it, she wasn't wearing the red lipstick she used to. Her kimono was also a casual style with a half-width obi and pongee silk. Realizing this, the Little One’s face lit up with a brilliant smile.

"Wow... Hasn’t it gotten way bigger than before?"

Chihiro remembered that while it had been fields as far as the eye could see before, the horizon of the wilderness was visible in the far distance. But the land now spread before her eyes was so vast she couldn’t even see the horizon. It was an expanse of overflowing green and immense fields. Even the area around the horizon was covered in green.

"Ten years is a long time, little miss. After that, we closed the pleasure quarter and expanded the restaurant and farm, and it all went swimmingly."

She explained that during Frontier’s period of transition, when the country could no longer manage its food exports, their farm had become invaluable. The neighboring country of Flowers, in particular, suffered from chronic food shortages due to its geography. To make up for that deficit, they had rapidly expanded the farm. As a result, they had gained enormous profits and support, transforming the farm into what it was today. It was a charming little quirk that, despite being in Frontier, it was known as the breadbasket of Flowers.

"I see... I see!"

The Little One ran off toward a grove of cherry trees, their blossoms only about twenty percent open. Although the early spring mornings and evenings were still chilly, Frontier was a warm country. The cherry blossoms bloomed a bit early here. Pandæmonium had been freed from its cursed yoke. Overjoyed by this from the bottom of her heart, the Little One outran Dorfen and the others chasing her and zipped all around the farm.

Only the monsters could keep up with the Little One when she was running at full tilt.

Soon, the sun set, and twilight enveloped the area. The Little One finally returned to the temporary residence.

"Tonight we’re eating at Akitsu Farm, nyo. I’m so excited!"

Zack glanced at the Little One, who was hopping up and down, and his face showed open disappointment. Adonis clapped him on the shoulder and furrowed his brows in a consoling manner.

"I told you, didn’t I? The princess was definitely going to eat out."

Zack glared resentfully at Adonis’s sympathetic face and turned his eyes away with a huff.

"It’s fine... With a little processing, it can be eaten tomorrow."

Staring at the dessert ingredients he had prepared, Zack let out a small, secret sigh.

"Yeehaw!"

The Frontier party appeared in their casual clothes.

Seeing them, Banri’s eyes narrowed with nostalgia. Ah, that’s right. They came just like this ten years ago, too. I was so surprised back then.

Banri straightened her collar and smiled brightly at the Little One and her group.

"Welcome. We have everything prepared. Please, come inside."

Guided by Banri, who was dressed beautifully, unlike during the day, the Frontier party entered the same large hall as before. An appetizer was already on the low table. The knights Romel had carefully selected were the members of the former Little One squad. With practiced ease, they each took their seats. The few newcomers in their midst awkwardly took their seats as well, following the lead of their seniors. Then, they timidly poked at the appetizer that had been served, murmuring nostalgic lines like, "A tree root?" or "Slime?" that made one want to burst out laughing. Someone actually did burst out laughing, filling the room with a cheerful mood.

They watched with concern as the Little One munched on her sashimi, held their breath at the beautiful women who appeared, and let out sighs of admiration at the final dish of ochazuke. They perfectly traced the actions of the knights who had experienced Japanese food for the first time before.

Their bellies were full, and just as sleepiness began to creep over the Little One, a new dish was placed silently before her. Uni? The Little One, who had been rubbing her drowsy eyes, was instantly wide awake, her gaze fixed on the plate in front of her. There before her was a magnificent dessert. On a pure white square plate sat matcha warabi mochi, a sesame ball filled with red bean paste and cut in half, and a red and white nerikiri confection woven into a rope.

"Whoaaaaa!"

The Little One involuntarily held up the plate and let out a strange cry.

"Huh? You didn’t have this before, did you? Whoaaaaa, for real?"

"We only served food to accompany sake before. There was no need for sweets like this."

At Banri’s explanation, the others around them also stared at the plate.

"Is this a sweet? This?"

The Little One nodded with all her might at the bewildered knights.

"It’s my favorite kind of sweet. I’m so happy!"

Overcome with emotion, the Little One shed a few tears. Watching her from the corner of their eyes, Zack and Adonis met each other’s gaze. Then, as if by mutual agreement, they nodded, stood up as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and headed for the kitchen.

We have red beans, and we can make red bean paste, but we can’t match this level of craftsmanship. I love simple sweets like zenzai and ohagi, but this is irresistible too!

While the Little One was drowning in bliss, she was unaware that in the kitchen, a pastry chef was teary-eyed as Zack and the others, who had stormed in, prostrated themselves and begged him to teach them the recipe.

However, neither did the pastry chef in question know of the future that awaited him, where the two, realizing that authentic Japanese sweets could not be made overnight, would show up on his doorstep to become his apprentices.

A moment of silence for the poor artisans of Akitsu Farm♪