Chapter 14.4

Chapter 14.4

「So even if we swapped people around, that wouldn’t count as a preventive measure?」

Haruna pinpointed the most troublesome issue from what she could affirm from the report. If they had made it seem like he was doing work as usual, it had to be enough to quell suspicion, or else it was futile.

「That is essentially the idea. Well, thanks to Hiroshi, we were able to narrow things down to tea leaves and mealtime, so it’s probably way better than before. At worst, he could pretend to eat the food and have you people secretly make something.」

「You’re fine with that, despite being royalty…?」

「Yeah, even I think that’s going a bit too far…」

Makoto held her head at how roundabout Layotte was being. Meanwhile, Haruna just said what came to mind at those strange words. By this point, they no longer felt the sort of apprehension or prudence that was accompanied by royalty. Well, in the first place, they no longer had such things around Layotte in private situations like these anyway.

「Sure, but if that’s the case, don’t we have a more simple thang?」

「Simple?」

「Yeah, how ’bout this?」

Hiroshi said, and out of his belongings came…

「Instant ramen!?」

「It’s the freaking cup variety!」

「Hey, Hiroshi-kun. First a miso maker, now this? How exactly are you…?」

「You even have the package perfectly replicated. That’s Sensei for you…」

Indeed, it was a famous brand of instant ramen. Just as Mio had commented, he had carefully and perfectly replicated everything up to the package. As for the variety, there were only two types of cup ramen and two types of bag ramen, but it was true that these were perfect for secretly eating later.

「And when’d you even complete these?」

「Steadily while Haruna was workin’ at the stand. Like the egg pockets or the taste of the soup, it was purty difficult replicatin’ all that.」

「I know this always happens, but why are you always fine with expending your effort in these sorts of areas…」

By this point, Makoto could only feel powerless at just how screwed up Hiroshi’s priorities were. Still, despite making such a comment, she did not let go of the cup ramen in her hand.

「And what might this be?」

「Other than this miso ramen, the others are noodles that can usually be eaten within one to three minutes after pourin’ boiling water.」

「Oh? And they’re tasty?」

「They aren’t exactly the best examples of super tasty food, but they’re great for those who like them, I guess? Everything here, I personally like for the most part.」

「Haruna-san, I didn’t know ya ate instant ramen ’n the other things too. Figured yer family was super particular over the food they ate, bein’ super celebs ’n all, so I didn’t think ya’d even pay attention to these.」

Haruna wryly smiled at what Hiroshi had said. True, her mother was a world-renowned million-hit singer, and her father was a popular actor, so there was no denying that they were extreme celebrities. Also, even in relation to the daily meals, her great-grandfather from her father’s side of the family was someone who had worked as a head chef at a first-rate Tokyo traditional Japanese restaurant, so it was also true that her father was super obsessed with the kind of food they ate. Even for her mother, perhaps because she ate such good meals, she was super good at cooking to the point where even Haruna and her younger sister knew how to cook meals. However, it wasn’t like their parents would be dedicated to the point where they left food for both girls every time they were gone. Whenever it was just too much to cook, they would do things like put vegetables into bag ramen or even just eat cup ramen.

「Well, in terms of nutritional balance, it isn’t something too good for your body, so it’s also true that we never ate it all that frequently.」

「Hm. You say that it isn’t good for your body, but it seems like everyone else doesn’t pay it any mind. What’s that about?」

「I guess it just shows that the worse something is for you, the more enjoyable?」

Haruna wryly smiled as she answered Layotte’s query, gazing at the three people discussing this with such fervence. In actuality, it was difficult to recommend it to anyone in terms of nutritional balance, but neither was it so bad that it caused illness. In the first place, the person who invented instant ramen would always eat a meal of ramen per day until they died at a ripe age of 96, so no one could exactly say that it was fatal to one’s health.

「Okay, so we still haven’t eaten lunch. Wanna try it out?」

「We’re able to?」

「Well yeah. Ya just pour hot water into the cup ones, and all ya need for the non-miso ramen bags are a don ’n hot water.」

「A don, you say?」

「This is what it looks like.」

The king closely gazed at the donburi that Hiroshi pulled out of his belongings. There was nearly no food that was made in Farlane that was piled into bowls like these. Incidentally, Layotte had already eaten soba in a workshop, so he knew about donburi.

「So all we need to do is procure some hot water?」

「Heck, I can even get ya some right now.」

As always, their conversation had totally shifted to eating. While wryly smiling at that fact, Haruna, who was the most composed out of anyone, made a comment.

「It’s all well and good to test out food, but are we all done with the briefing?」

「Ah, right. Somethin’ I wanted to confirm with ya.」

「Confirm?」

「Before the luncheon and evenin’ party, would it be possible to bring in and drink potions?」

Layotte made a quizzical face at the word “potion”. Meanwhile, as if sensing what he was trying to say, the king was contemplating something for a bit.

「Could you be more specific as to what you mean?」

「A few panaceas as a precaution to poison. If we mix it in a bit, it’d clear away practically all poison within six hour’s time. And well, from the ingredients we got on hand, we can only go up to Level 4 in terms of healin’.」

「…Could you maybe make some for us as well?」

「Yup, as long as ya lend us the tools and location it should be a piece of cake.」

「Very well. We will arrange all of this shortly after.」

「Thankie much.」

Having finished addressing the first set of concerns, Hiroshi gave his thanks as he took out a pot and water. He then proceeded to discuss the next set of concerns while boiling the water.

「The other set of concerns are in regards to troublesome things the gals might hafta do. There any dancin’ or the like?」

「We have used Elena’s bodily condition as a pretext for not actually dancing. However, it is also true that we cannot say for sure that there will not be any dancing whatsoever.」

「Kay. Also, this is sorta a similar issue, but can Haruna ’n the others really fight with just special skills even while wearing dresses?」

Having pointed that out, the others made startled faces, identifying various problems.

「The corsets don’t quite feel up to it.」

「And the length of the hems might prove troublesome. I am totally sure that I would trip on them during a scuffle.」

「And it definitely isn’t possible to draw a bow with a dress.」

All the answers that came back to him were quite harsh.

「If that’s the case, leaving tomorrow outta the equation, after that we’d probably leave the undergarments to Mio and the dressmaking to me.」

「Right. I’m sure that there won’t be any sort of development today or tomorrow that involves getting into any scuffles, but those preparations of yours will be pivotal. That being said, is it even possible to make dresses that are that mobile?」

「Well, if we take away some aspects then dresses can change quite a bit. And in a worst-case scenario we can trick ’em with some enchantments.」

「Enchantments really are all-powerful, aren’t they?」

「Nah, there’s also quite a bit they can’t accomplish.」

Compared with the enchantments on weapons, there were quite the variety of enchantments to put on clothing, armor, and the like. Nearly all of them seemed to not amount to much in terms of digits, but in actuality, they were even more important than pure defense. Especially with things like metal armor conductivity preservation and inward temperature regulation, they were treated more like memes in the game, but in reality, they were indispensable to wear. Decrease Movement Hindrance was essential for full-bodied armor, long-hemmed clothing, or things like highly decorated clothing. With it, there was a huge difference in terms of penalties, and the higher up you got, you could eventually even swim in water with full-plated armor. These things weren’t seen as very important in-game, but there were also cool enchantments for purposes like protecting the chest area for bow users that they were making full use of after coming here.

In the game, every time any usable enchantments increased, he would always feel exasperated with the creators (after all, you couldn’t even use the majority of them), but now that the game became reality, he found himself wanting to instead thank the creators for how much they prepared for this game. Everything was so calculated. Of course, there were also things mixed in like electrical wave reception. It made him want to ask what kind of roguelike game item information this was. That was just how many unidentifiable enchantments were mixed in.

「Well, let’s go with that for the dresses then. I’m countin’ on ya for the fabric ’n thread.」

「Let us arrange some at once. Is there anything else?」

「Not outta the top of my head. Oh, right.」

「What is it?」

「When we eat delicacies like this, will Elle pout if we don’t call her?」

Layotte wryly smiled at Hiroshi’s query, using some sort of tool to communicate with her. Aearis didn’t take much time to arrive to the room after being called.

「So what sort of delicacy might I be obliged to eat today!?」

「Wow, yer excited as always.」

Nobody could hold in their laughter at how Aearis was acting. Albeit a bit sullen at how they were treating her, Aearis could not avert her eyes from the mysterious meal that Hiroshi and Haruna had prepared for her.

「It would really be best to put in some vegetables, you know…」

「Well, how ’bout we go orthodox today?」

Deciding to start with sampling everything, they prepared small bowls enough for everyone, with two cup varieties per person and pioneer bird bagged ramen with raw egg dropped into the egg holder and three cups of hot water poured in. Bagged miso ramen was more delicious when stewed, rather than just pouring in hot water.

「Wow, this is, uhh…」

「Yeah, I can’t… I can’t resist…」

Tatsuya and Makoto found themselves unable to perservere as they watched him cook. Even Mio was fidgeting in some way.

「For now, just go ahead and distribute it however you want, okay?」

Haruna said, putting some of the pioneer bird ramen into her own small bowl as an example. Makoto had already begun stirring around the soy sauce flavored cup ramen, dragging out the amount she wanted and putting it into her small bowl. Tatsuya was apparently going for the seafood variety.

「Incidentally, why don’t we have any curry noodles?」

「That’s cuz I put all the spice we had on that there curry bread.」

Hiroshi said, happily slurping the pioneer bird ramen and letting out a sigh. As for the royal family in question…

「To think that you can produce such a flavor with such simplistic cooking methods…」

「Hiroshi, I implore you to spread this recipe. This food could be revolutionary to armies or adventurers.」

「A simple, but delicious flavor.」

This was one of the most cheapest, bottom-of-the-barrel food that Japan had to offer, and their eyes were lighting right up.

「I dunno how much I can do in a day, so for now I’ll just prepare some sorta specialized bag like these ’n share it ’n make just enough to go ’round…」

Aearis’s eyes sparkled as she nodded at Hiroshi’s proposal. Japan’s prized instant ramen food had now taken the royal family of Farlane captive.