Chapter 343

Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 343

She and the Match 2

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Four days have passed since the match began. Speaking of my store’s situation, it’s doing quite well.

The number of customers increases every day, so much that I had to hang up a sign before the opening informing of two-hour waiting time.

Wire’s store also has a queue in front of it, but it’s not as big as on the opening day. Since there’s usually around ten people lined up, it’s calm.

When it comes to the number of customers, I’ve pulled far in front of Wire’s store, so you could call it a great victory.

But, this match is decided by putting coins in the box of the more delicious place, so I can’t be careless just because I have a lot of customers.

“I thought Mr. Wire would come check the situation at least once, yet he hasn’t come.”

During lunch break in the staff room, I complained to Cain in front of me while drinking tea.

No matter how busy it is, I make sure to properly take two breaks a day. Right now it’s my break time, so I relaxed while leaving everything to others.

“… Shall I go observe him?”

“Nn… I’m curious, but… I’ll hold back during the match.”

It’s the middle of the match. I want to concentrate on my own store.

“Master.”

“Nn?”

While I was enjoying a leisurely chat with Cain, Lars, whom I entrusted store-keeping the curry store to, peeked into the waiting room. When he has time he also cooperates. I asked him to help during the busy lunch period today, but is there any problem?

“What? Has something happened?”

“No, you have a visitor, Master. I thought it’d be improper to have a visitor come from the front, so I had her enter from the back.”

“Nn? Who?”

Nobody immediately comes to my mind at the word visitor. When I stood up despite my doubts, a woman appeared from behind Lars.

“Lidi, are you well?”

“Ms. Tithi!”

The person who showed up, Tithi, was a woman who had helped me in town before. When I met her, she was a prostitute, but now she’s a brothel-keeper.

She has a mole under the other eye than Helene, and her clothes emphasize her body lines. She has more presence compared to that time, but even as a fellow woman I think she’s an amorous, good woman.

Joyful about our first meeting in a long time, I hurried to her.

Ms. Tithi examined me from the top of my head to the toes of my feet, and said with admiration.

“After all it’s as I said, right?”

“Eh?”

What is she talking about? When I looked at her suspiciously, Ms. Tithi winked.

“I said women change depending on the man they’re with. In the time I didn’t see you, you’ve become a good woman. You seem to give off a faint sex appeal now. It’s because you’re loved by your husband, right? I’m glad you’re happy.”

“Ah!”

“It was from a distance, but I watched the parade. Congratulations.”

“T-Thank you very much…!”

I thanked her, and then we both talked about how we had been recently. Lars only guided Ms. Tithi, then he went back to the kitchen. Perhaps Cain too sensed that a person I’m close with came, as he disappeared before I knew it. The amiable conversation between just the two of us was very fun.

Ms. Tithi looked very interested in the Japanese café and asked various questions.

“Amazing. I’ve never seen anything like this. You know various things.”

“Various, or rather… I only know this.”

After that, I explained the menu. Completely immersed, Ms. Tithi unconsciously said.

“I visited many countries after leaving the island, so I know various cultures. But, I’m confident that I’ve never seen anything like this. Just which country’s culture is it?”

“Err, it’s my… imagination… Wait, the island?”

Even if I said Japan she wouldn’t understand, so I gave a noncommittal reply, but Ms. Tithi’s words felt strange, so I hurriedly asked.

“The island… Perhaps, it was Arcanum Island?”

“Good job telling. That’s right. I’m sure it won’t be a problem, so I’ll tell you. I’m actually a rabbit beastman. My ears and tail are hidden with the magical art though.”

“Rabbit… Sol clan?”

When I asked while recalling what I knew about beastmen, Ms. Tithi’s eyes went round.

“You really are knowledgeable. I didn’t think you’d know even the name Sol. As expected of the Crown Princess I guess.”

“N-No… It’s only natural I’d study about foreign countries. Um, perhaps Ms. Tithi, you were kidnapped into prostitution…? Ah, no, it was an insensitive statement. I’m sorry.”

I don’t want to open old wounds.

I shut up in a hurry, but Ms. Tithi laughed cheerfully.

“I didn’t, I didn’t. I wasn’t kidnapped or anything. I disliked the insular Sol, and I didn’t want to be tied down by a mate, so I left myself. I became a prostitute because it was convenient. Rabbit beastmen, well, have it hard in various ways. I’m saved that I can easily find a partner whenever I want to copulate.”

“I-Is that so…?”

“That’s why you really don’t need to worry. I like this life. Sometimes I remember my little sister whom I left behind in our hometown, but I left on my own will. It’s too late to tell me to go home. Besides, I don’t want to go back to the place that refuses relations with other countries.”

I couldn’t see a falsehood in Tithi-san’s appearance as she talked in a bright tone. She was confident as a woman and proud of her current job. It looked like that.

“Ms. Tithi, if you’re fine with it, I won’t interfere or tell others, but… Ah.”

While saying that, I remembered.

About my friend who’s searching for her older sister, Ilya.

Ms. Tithi is a brothel-keeper. Perhaps she’s heard some rumors about Ilya’s older sister.

“U-Umm… Can I ask you one question?”

“Nn? What is it?”

“Actually, I’m looking for a cat beastman… Her features are――”

Without talking about Ilya, I told Tithi-san the characteristics of her older sister. At first Ms. Tithi was listening to my story with a difficult face, but when I said the missing person’s name, her complexion changed.

“The cat beastman Philia? Why do you know about that child?”

“E-Errr… I was asked by a friend…”

When I glossed over it, Ms. Tithi made a suspicious face.

“Your friend isn’t someone suspicious, right?”

“T-They aren’t! They’re absolutely safe!”

“Absolutely safe?”

I nodded my head over and over at high speed. She’s searching for a relative, so I’m absolutely sure she’s safe.

“Y-Yes. It’s alright, you can trust me. And, err, since you asked, perhaps you know something about Ms. Philia, Ms. Tithi?”

I’m sure Ilya would be happy about information. I thought so, but Ms. Tithi clearly said, “I don’t know where that child is now.”

“Philia is eight years younger than me. That child is a patriarch’s daughter just like me. I used to take care of her in the past because of that connection, but… I left the island at the age of eighteen. That child was ten when I last saw her. I don’t think it’ll help you.”

I was so surprised by them being acquaintances that my eyes went round.

Ms. Tithi asked worriedly.

“I remember her being a fairly strong-willed child. Did that child disappear?”

“… So it seems.”

“I see… Then that child’s little sister must’ve been sad. Philia has a two-year younger little sister. The child is called Ilya, she was small and always following Philia…”

I blinked my eyes from surprise at Ilya’s name coming up. Since they’re acquaintances, there’s no point hiding it. Rather, she’ll be more eager to cooperate if I tell the truth.

I double checked that there was nobody around and told Ms. Tithi.

“Umm… By my friend I meant Ilya. She asked me to look for the whereabouts of her older sister…”

“What a surprise! There are so many beastmen, and yet it’s a small world!”

Ms. Tithi was astonished when I said Ilya’s name.

But she immediately tightened her expression.

“Since it’s a request from none other than Ilya to search for a child I looked after in the past, I certainly would like to cooperate, but unfortunately, I have no information nowadays. I’ve lived hiding that I’m a beastman for a long time. I don’t want to get involved with beastmen either. I’m sorry I can’t help.”

“No, you can’t help it.”

There’s no denying that beastmen have to protect themselves.

Ms. Tithi looked to be pondering then said after a short while.

“Got it. I’ll ask my acquaintances. I can’t ignore a fellow beastman that’s gone missing, especially when it’s a child I know. Lidi, I’m grateful you told me. I’m hiding that I’m a beastman, but I don’t intend to become a monster who’d ignore her acquaintance.”

“Yes…”

“If I learn anything, I’ll contact Lars. Is that fine?”

“Yes… Yes…”

I’m happy to acquire trustworthy support. I nodded many times and asked Ms. Tithi.

“Umm, Ms. Tithi, can I talk about you to Ilya?”

“Of course. Tell her I’ll cooperate. Ah, your husband is also involved in it, right? I don’t mind if you tell him about me.”

“C-Can I?”

When I stared at Ms. Tithi, dumbfounded that I can tell Freed her identity, she smiled teasingly.

“If your husband was a man who’d go around incessantly talking about my identity, I wouldn’t tell you that it’s fine. But the Crown Prince is trustworthy, right? He’s your husband after all.”

“! Yes!”

Told that since I’m trustworthy, my husband, Freed, is trustworthy too, I became overcome with emotion.

Tithi-san said, “In exchange,” and reached out her hand.

“Huh?”

“Your original recipes, Japanese sweets. I want to eat them by all means… Yeah. You can think about that as the compensation for telling the Crown Prince my identity. It’s simple, right?”

Told so playfully, I blinked my eyes. Then I broke into a grin right away.

“Yes! Eat as much as you like!”

We prepared enough yesterday. It’ll be alright even if I treat Ms. Tithi with all the varieties.

When I nodded with a smile, Ms. Tithi narrowed her eyes and smiled as she said, “I’m looking forward to it.”