Chapter 13.2

Chapter 13.2

With that, Hiroshi and Haruna sprang into action, both following their hearts. The more mature members of the party were astonished by their finesse to bring the conversation back to their initial objective. Their dedication was worthy of acknowledgment, honestly.

Of course, they wouldn’t have a defense to the fact that most of their dedication revolved around food.

「Every time this happens…」

「Yeah?」

「Those two have only been around each other for less than two months, right…?」

「…Right…」

Tatsuya mumbled, hearing Makoto point this out. In truth, their M.O.s were so similar, that anyone wouldn’t be surprised if they were lifelong best friends.

「Anywho, watch some crazy woman pick a fight with him while he’s on his own. I’ll go with him.」

「Okay.」

Taking out his wallet, Tatsuya followed after Hiroshi, with some sense of obligation. Other than women picking a fight with him, someone could sell him something, taking advantage of his sheepishness, or worse get mugged because of it. In fact, in his early days in Wulls, Hiroshi had often found himself in non-women-related incidents while on miniscule quests, from which the more experienced adventurers had gotten him out of.

「What should we do, then… Why don’t we explore the town a little bit? Elle? Mio? Reena?」

「Okay!」

「Sounds good.」

Aearis and Mio answered as they got up to leave. Rayna didn’t particularly voice her opinion in these cases.

「I think I’ll take advantage of the hot spring while we’re here.」

Elena concluded.

「Then I suppose I’m holding down the fort with Haruna?」

「Looks like it.」

And so, the day was set in motion. After all, everyone in the party would end up enjoying the sudden rest-and-relaxation that was shoved down their throats, in their own ways.

Holy crap, y’all!

This transmission was heard by all the Japanese members when Haruna had just about finished the dough for the hot spring steamed buns. Makoto’s group had not returned yet, and the only ones back at the suite were Elena who had returned from the hot spring, as well as Douga (who stayed the entire time) and Haruna, who had been working in the kitchen. Hiroshi had already reported on the hot spring’s temperature, so Haruna had begun boiling the eggs already, with the permission of the inn’s manager.

What happened?

I found somethin’ amazin’! I’ll bring back as much as I can! Meet y’all back at the suite!

While Haruna wasn’t sure what Hiroshi was so excited about, she decided to continue to steam the buns, as she had nothing else to do while she waited.

「What’s the news?」

「Apparently, Hiroshi-kun found something very newsworthy.」

「Hm. I’ve come to notice there’s a fifty-fifty chance that what he considers newsworthy only to he and himself. 」

Douga said to Haruna with a chuckle. A few chuckles could be heard from Elena as well, who had been listening in to the conversation from across the room.

「We’re back.」

「Hey, there you are.」

When the first bun was just about done steaming, Makoto’s group returned.

「What’s he freaking out about?」

「I don’t know, but he wouldn’t call everyone together unless it’s something worth the trouble.」

「I mean, Tatsuya’s with him, right? He wouldn’t act like that if it wasn’t worth it.」

「Right?」

They chatted away as Haruna took out a steamed bun. After tasting the first, Haruna took out the second one from the steam basket for Aearis, who had been extremely fidgety.

「Here you go, Elle-chan. It’s very hot, so be careful.」

Hearing this, Aearis blew on the bun to cool it as she politely took small bits. When she bit through the weird texture of the exterior, the elegant sweetness of the white bean paste spread in her mouth. Dreamy eyed from the mysterious, new sweet flavor, she finished the bun with impeccable etiquette as usual.

「Elle-chan. You always have a blast eating, don’t you?」

「Seriously. Put her on a food commercial. She’ll be a celebrity.」

Chuckling at Aearis’ behavior, Makoto took a bit out of her bun. While this iteration utilized the lesser-known white bean paste, it was nice to have a Japanese dessert for the first time in a while. Even Mio was enjoying a freshly steamed bun with thinning eyes.

「So, what happened to the boiled eggs?」

「I think they should be ready, actually.」

「Ooh, can we taste it later?」

「Sounds like a plan.」

As they planned another tasting, they handed out the buns to Douga, Elena, and Rayna.

「Wow, those guys are taking forever.」

「You think they’re in trouble?」

The very ones who called for the meeting were late. As the women speculated, Haruna prepared more buns while watching for Elena’s and Aearis’ reactions to them. Makoto simply decided to watch her. Truth be told, there was not much to do in the suite.

「Sorry we’re late!」

「Got a little greedy out there, took us longer than we thought. 」

Tatsuya and Hiroshi returned when Haruna had started thinking about steaming the second batch of buns.

「So what did you find, anyway?」

「This ol’ thin’ right here.」

What Hiroshi produced in response to Makoto’s question was…

「Is that…!?」

「Rice!?」

「Ya betcha. A Japanese breed, at that.」

The Japanese women in the room froze in excitement. If this was true…

「We can have curry on rice?」

「Don’t forget ‘bout beef and rice bowls, rice omelets, and of course, sushi.」

「Rice and miso soup… Stew and grilled fish…」

「We can do ‘em all!」

Hiroshi exclaimed, triggering a thunderous cheer among the Japanese members. The members of the party native to Farlane, however, watched this with a puzzled look. While they weren’t quite sure what was happening, they could see that this was an incredible breakthrough for the all the Japanese members.

「So… How much of it do we have?」

「Lessee… What we were able to gathers about… Six or seven pounds of grain?」

「Okay. Not a lot to spare…」

「There was still a field full, so there’s enough out there to get a major harvest in.」

Hiroshi noted, to which the other members jumped on.

「The thin’ is, it was just growin’ on its own. No selective breedin’ been done here, ya can’t expect it to taste as good as we’re used to.」

「We’re not going to be picky. It’s rice!」

Haruna said, more serious than ever.

「Speaking up, what are we doing for lunch?」

「Lord Layotte has told us to make our own if want any. They didn’t have time to prepare lunch at the inn during the sudden arrangements.」

「Then let’s borrow the kitchen to make curry on rice!」

Haruna declared, erupting more cheers. Odd how Aearis joined in on the excitement of the Japanese members.

「Then I’ll let y’all go get any ingredients we need. Brother and I’ll start threshin’ and polishin’ the rice.」

「Okay!」

Responding with unparalleled enthusiasm, the Japanese women left the adults of Farlane behind. Elena, who had been lost in the overwhelming and confusing commotion, finally said:

「What in the world is going on?」

「Lon’ story short, we found rice, the food to our hearts, so we can finally eat curry on rice, our national dish, for the first time in months.」

「…I am completely lost…」

This didn’t resonate with Elena, who had never been in a situation without a shred of her native cooking. Of course, the same went for Aearis and Rayne, but they jumped into the excitement nonetheless.

「May I ask a question?」

Aearis spoke, an important question on her mind.

「What’s that, Elle?」

「Does this dish… Taste good?」

「The best.」

Hiroshi reassured her with a brimming smile. Now, expectation were set high.

「Now, I’ll go prep ‘em.」

He declared with the same smile as he cradled the precious cargo out, along with Tatsuya. Haruna began making a list of other ingredients required to make curry on rice. Overcome by her curiosity, Aearis followed Hiroshi out. This was the day that the party had finally acquired the biggest piece of the puzzle to recreating Japanese cuisine, rice.