Chapter 384: Chapter 382 – Kounatsu in Trouble

Kounatsu in Trouble

They finished their meal fully satisfied. There was enough food to fill their stomachs. The vegetables in the soup and the sauce poured over the perfectly-grilled meat was on par with high-class restaurants.

Hikaru understood why Alice brought them here.

「What do you mean you can’t supply me with more?」

「As much as I’d like to, I just can’t.」

「I bet it became popular in other places and now you don’t want to come all the way here to the capital.」

「No. That’s not it.」

Hikaru’s party paid and left the diner, when they heard people arguing. Hikaru checked it out and saw a large man— judging by his thick black body hair, he was a Beastman—and a lanky young, blonde man behind the diner, most likely right outside the kitchen.

「What’s wrong, Silsil?」

「They seem to be fighting over something.」

「Whoa.」

You’re a public servant. Why are you getting excited over hearing about trouble? Hikaru thought.

But Alice’s frowned when saw the scene.「Wait… That’s the manager. I know him.」

「Really?」

Hikaru glanced up at the signboard. The name of the diner was straightforward—Full Stomach Diner. The signboard, painted in primary colors, stood out from a distance.

Deciding to intervene, Alice approached the manager.

「What’s the matter, chief?」

「Oh, Alice. It’s nothing, really.」

The manager scratched his head as though he was caught doing something wrong. The young man turned his face toward them. Aside from his large, aquiline nose, he had ordinary features, his attire painting him as a commoner merchant.

「You were quite loud, so I was curious what was going on.」

「Sorry. It’s really not a big deal. It’s just that this Zepet Trading Company says they can’t supply me kounatsu anymore. I’m thinking the fruits are selling well in other places, so there’s no need for them to come to the capital.」

「Zepet Trading Company?」Alice titled her head, as though the name sounded familiar.

「Th-That’s not it.」the young merchant denied.「There are too many bandits on the route to the capital. The route to other cities is safe, though. We’ve already been attacked twice this month.」

「Yeah, right. Are there even bandits who’d steal kounatsu?」

「Kounatsu are delicious. I know how the bandits feel.」Lavia cut in out of the blue.

Surprised, the manager and the merchant glanced at the hooded, silver-masked girl.

「I-I see…」

「I’m glad you like our kounatsu, but I have no idea why the bandits are after them…」

「Kounatsu are delicious. Kounatsu is justice.」

「Uh…」

「It would be awful if the capital can’t eat them.」

She plans to eat a lot more while we’re here, huh? Hikaru thought. Paula seemed to think the same too, chuckling as she traded glances with him.

「Are the bandits only after kounatsu?」Hikaru asked.「What about other fruits, food, or the usual merchant caravan?」

「Only kounatsu. They don’t attack military personnel carrying confidential intel, noble convoys, and merchant caravans carrying goods that would be worth a lot. Of course, those caravans hire competent adventurers as guards.」

「Wait a minute. You don’t hire guards for kounatsu?」Lavia asked, baffled.

「It’s unusual for bandits to go after kounatsu, young lady.」the manager answered.「Stealing two or three is understandable, but a whole bunch? What are they gonna do with them?」

「Eat them.」

「True. There’s no other use for them. In that case, caravans carrying meat or wheat are better targets. That’s why I told this guy to stop lying, and just say they will not conduct business in the capital anymore.」

「I’m telling the truth! I will never lie to the Full Stomach Diner. You guys created a bunch of kounatsu recipes for us.」

Hikaru knew where the manager was coming from. Attacking a merchant for fruits was clearly not worth the risk. Though that was probably why they didn’t hire bodyguards for fruits like kounatsu, which were consumed in large quantities. Paying for guards would increase the price of the product as well.

「You spread the recipes to other places, didn’t you?」the manager accused.「I’ve heard adventurers saying they can have the same salad and sauce that I make in other towns.」

「Come on. That’s not our fault. Staff from other diners came here to steal the recipe directly!」

「No way spies would come to a run-down diner like this.」

Alice gave a start upon hearing the word spies. It seemed like the manager wasn’t aware of her job.

「I’ve been to a lot of diners, and I think the food here is of high quality.」Hikaru said.「They’re probably as good as what the nobilities eat.」

「R-Really?」The manager scratched his head in embarrassment.

「He’s right! So, please don’t call this place a run-down diner.」the young merchant said. He seemed to have made up his mind.「Fine. I’ll do everything to bring kounatsu to the capital. I give you my word! I’m looking forward to more kounatsu recipes next time we meet.」The merchant bowed and left without waiting for the manager’s reply.

「There he goes. More recipes? I don’t even have anything prepared. It’s not like we’re changing our stocks.」

「Chief. Has that man been here before?」Alice asked.

「Oh, you don’t know, huh? It’s been a while since you’ve come to my diner, after all.」

Since Alice traveled to other countries as a spy, she was not in the capital as often. Once again she gave a start.

Not noticing Alice’s reaction, the manager started reminiscing.

「People have been successfully growing kounatsu in the southern part of the empire. Kounatsu were sold in the capital since a few years ago. But since it had a peculiar taste, people knew no other method of eating it except gnawing it directly. Nino… It’s the name of the merchant just now. Nino tried so eagerly to sell them to us that I had to think of a way to make them work. And that’s how the people came to love kounatsu.」

「I didn’t know you did so much.」Alice said.

「Well, of course. I do my job seriously. Anyway, let’s forget about that. Alice, you’re going to be in the capital for a while, right? You should drop by again some time.」

And so Hikaru and his friends left Full Stomach Diner. At this point, Hikaru never imagined that this matter involving kounatsu would continue on in the future.