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Chapter 765 – Reconciliation Banquet
Evening.
Youko and I went to Niz Alcomeat.
Niz Alcomeat is reserved for today’s banquet.
However, it was not announced that someone reserved the restaurant.
Thus, some customers came in.
Lucky for them, Village Five will pay for everything this day.
I was tempted to ask whether the victim should bear this much responsibility but I heard that the apology received was more than enough to cover the cost so I did not ask more.
Even so, Niz Alcomeat is overflowing with customers. Some of them are even having a party in the cold outside. Are they going to be okay?
「Even if they get drunk and fall asleep outside, the guards will pick them up before they die. 」
No, that’s not what I’m worried about.
「?」
If this continues, the banquet will spread all over Village Five, right?
「Fufufu. That might really happen. However, fear not. The finances of Village Five won’t be that affected.」
I know that, but won’t those who couldn’t attend be dissatisfied?
Also, we have a limited supply of meat and alcohol, right?
It’s still winter.
We don’t want to run out of stock.
「Those who were not able to participate in the banquet can only blame themselves for not being able to participate. There’s nothing to worry about. Ah, the guards will take turns to join. As for the stock of meat and alcohol, I already told them to only take out within the budget. You don’t have to worry about it. As a precaution, I already told Miyo and the others in Shashaato to stock up meat and alcohol to ensure there won’t be a shortage.」
Mou, the perfect person to run the government.
I wish I could be like her.
-0-
The restaurant is overflowing with customers but Youko and I have reserved seats inside.
We are seated at the second-best table.
Niz and Seiten are sitting there, drinking.
Seiten looks like he’s done whatever he needs to.
Perhaps he was done apologizing so he’s now drinking.
I don’t really care but, is it okay for Niz to be drinking?
It’s fine because the employees are trained?
Niz is also involved in this so it’s better for her to participate than to serve.
I see.
By the way….
There was someone familiar besides Seiten.
It was the tiger holy beast, Sangetsu.
When you came to stock up some alcohol, you saw Seiten. Since you both personally knew each other, you decided to drink with him?
Seiten said the same.
It’s not strange if you knew each other?
You plan to invite the elephant holy beast, Ganeshui, next time?
I’m not forbidding you to come but please don’t cause trouble.
When I sat down, I smelled the meat being cooked by Niz on the table.
Then, Seiten made me hold a cup and poured sake into it.
These are definitely something I need to eat and drink.
I looked at Youko for confirmation and she nodded.
Ehto, thanks for the food.
Thanks for the drinks.
I drank the sake.
It’s not good to drink it all at once so I only took a sip.
And then, I went to get some meat….ah, it’s not fully cooked yet.
Let’s wait for a while then.
By the way, I’m kind of confused why no one is sitting at the best table.
I guess another group is coming since food is prepared at a table enough for 10 people….
Who is going to use that table?
When I asked Niz, she told me that it is reserved for the gods.
「Seiten-sama is also the familiar of the monkey god. It would be disrespectful for him to sit with me, the familiar of the serpent god, at a banquet as it would look like we’re treating gods as outcasts. Because of that, we prepared the best table for them to show respect.」
TN: I suddenly remembered that I translated 使い as familiar. Though apostle, envoy, or messenger is not wrong. They are holy beasts so I guess that’s the most appropriate.
Oh.
You’re a very pious person or perhaps that is expected since she’s the familiar of the serpent god.
However, those who don’t know the situation might cause trouble seeing the beast table in the restaurant is unoccupied.
「Don’t worry desu yo. If you explain them properly, they will understand.」
Is that so?
「Well, most people assumed that it is village chief’s table….」
Is that a good explanation?
「Of course. That table is for the gods after all.」
Why are they convinced then?
Is there some kind of strange religion born in Village Five?
I’m a little uneasy now.
Maa, let’s just leave it at that.
By the way, if you want to, why don’t I build a shrine for the serpent god?
「Is that alright?」
It will be small though.
I’m indebted to Niz after all.
I’ll find a place near the store.
「Thank you very much.」
As soon as Niz answered, a chair on the best table shone brightly.
As I was wondering what was happening, Niz rushed over to the table and returned with something.
She brought back something that was as big as her palm….emerald color….what’s that?
「Ehto……it looks like the scale of the serpent god. He said use it as shintai*.」
TN: Shintai is an object of worship believed to contain the spirit of a deity typically housed in a shrine.
Hahaha.
I guess that means the serpent god wants a shrine too.
I’ll try to build one as soon as possible.
「S-sorry for the trouble.」
Niz, this is not something you need to apologize for.
-0-
During the banquet, Youko took the opportunity to explain to Seiten what Kon had done.
Youko then tried to apologize on Kon’s behalf but Seiten stopped her.
「Ah, don’t mind it, don’t mind it. I’d already prepared myself to some extent when I decided to hire the silver foxes. There’s no need to apologize.」
「Is that so? No, I really should apologize….」
「Given that we are animals, we are prone to get in trouble with other races. The trouble caused by the silver foxes can be considered moderate. I don’t really mind.」
「I appreciate that you don’t mind but….are you really okay with that?」
「Hahaha. Try taking care of the monkeys and you’ll understand. I’m okay with it, I’m sure. If you want to, why don’t I tell you some incidents? They’re not very funny and they’ll make the taste of sake bad.」
「Ah, no. Let’s talk about it some other time. Sake should taste good.」
「Right. Come on, Youko-sama, drink too.」
「I’ll have some. However, that doesn’t change the fact that Kon’s group caused trouble. I think you should at least punish them.」
「Hnn. Kon and the others did not participate in this banquet, did they? I guess that’s their punishment.」
「….Understood. Seiten-dono, monkey holy beast, familiar of the monkey god, I, nine-tailed fox Youko, once again apologize and thank you on behalf of the silver fox race.」
「You’re so formal. There’s no trouble to begin with. Won’t we take it as that?」
「Understood. Then, I would like to offer you a drink.」
「Of course.」
The explanation and apology to Seiten seemed to have gone well.
It was a relief that Seiten was not the type that gets easily swayed by emotion.
Before Seiten returns home, I’ll give him some souvenirs.
-0-
The sun had completely set but the banquet is still ongoing.
As expected, there was no way I could leave in the middle of the banquet so I stayed behind.
Seiten and Youko are….completely wasted.
I don’t know about Seiten but this is pretty rare for Youko.
Well, if Seiten offered me a drink I wouldn’t be able to refuse.
However, you completely forgot that you have a meeting with the spiderlings after the banquet.
I’m a little worried.
Niz is drunk as well….but she doesn’t look wasted.
Strong.
How about the tiger Sangetsu….?
He’s drunk singing…or is he composing a poem?
I don’t know if the poem is good or bad but please don’t write on the wall.
It will be hard to clean it up.
Hnn?
Someone came into the store.
She easily passed through the many customers.
It’s the holy maiden Celes.
She looks angry.
What’s wrong?
「I’m the one who should ask that desu yo! What did you do! The beast gods are talking to me nonstop, one after another! I already have a headache!」
Eh?
「I don’t know what they want but the words “village chief” comes out at the end of every sentence. They said “I want one” or “build me one too”.」
Ah, probably because I said I was going to build a shrine for the serpent god.
I looked at the best table and saw that there were various things like gold, silver, and other shiny things on it.
I looked at Niz and she turned her head away.
「T-the serpent god has nothing to do with them. Neither do I, of course.」
I see.
「The noisiest is the fox god. Probably. She(?) seems to be calling Youko-sama….is she on her day off?」
Ah, she just drank to death.
I’ll tell her when she wakes up.
「Please do. Ah…..the voices have subsided. Apparently, a greater god came out and stopped them.」
That’s good to hear.
And sorry for bothering you.
「No, I’m sorry for yelling at you too. It wasn’t village chief’s fault to begin with….Yeah, it was all those gods’ fault.」
The holy maiden Celes went out in a good mood. Perhaps because she no longer has a headache….or not?
「Actually, I haven’t had dinner yet. May I join you?」
Please do.
There was still plenty of meat and sake to be eaten.
The banquet continued and after a while….
And then, Youko, who’s wasted, floated in the air.
When I looked up at the ceiling, I saw the spiderlings.
It seems like they can no longer wait for Youko and decided to pick her up.
What should I do?
「Village chief, you don’t mind if I cook meat over there, do you?」
Ah, ahhh, of course not.
The meat will taste better if you cook it around here.
「Okay. I’ll cook three at the same time. Ah, village chief wants some too, right? I’ll add three more.」
…..
Sorry, Youko.
When Seiten wakes up, it will be a problem if he doesn’t see me or Youko.
I’ll be sure to run to you when the banquet is over.
Seiten, please wake up soon.
I prayed on my mind while staying at the banquet.
By the way, Seiten woke up the next morning.