Chapter 45

Shinobu's Special Pudding

As the autumn sun set, the ancient city was enveloped in deep darkness. The moons, which usually illuminated the night streets from the sky, were nowhere to be seen. Today was a double new moon, a rare occurrence where both moons were new at the same time. When the twin moons hid together, the darkness of the stable street was deeper than usual. The wind, however, was unusually strong, making the leaves of the trees planted along the street dance.

"...On such double new moon nights, they come out."

Eifa muttered while wiping the table.

"Come out? What comes out?"

When Shinobu asked, Eifa, trembling slightly, answered.

"...Witches."

"Witches. Witches, huh?"

Shinobu's face read, "Surely there are no such things as witches." But there were. Shinobu and Taisho, who had come to the ancient city from elsewhere, didn't know such common knowledge, but witches indeed lived in the forest.

"What are witches like?"

"They live deep in the forest and perform mysterious curses at night. They ride brooms through the sky, make eerie potions, kidnap small children, and rebel against the church."

"They sound almost the same as the witches we know."

"Also... they love alcohol and sweets."

"Sweets?"

Witches love alcohol and sweets. According to legend, they love sweets so much that they are said to have built houses out of candy.

"If they love alcohol, they might come to this shop."

"Yes, double new moon nights are dangerous."

That's why Eifa couldn't say they should close the shop. Indeed, today's izakaya Nobu wasn't doing any business. It was completely empty. No customers had come since they opened. The only visitor was a butcher's apprentice who had delivered a letter to the wrong address, and the izakaya Nobu was in a state of being open but not operating.

It was no wonder, as there were almost no people on the street outside. Only the idle lamplighters wandered aimlessly, looking for customers. On double new moon nights, only those with urgent business or the adventurous dared to go out.

However, it seemed that Shinobu and Taisho didn't think it was a reason to close the shop. They thought it would be sad if someone suddenly wanted to drink and found no place to do so.

Eifa thought their reasoning was admirable. It would be nice to have a few such shops in the ancient city. Still, witches were scary. She could have taken a day off like Hermine, but somehow she ended up coming.

Unfortunately, it even started drizzling. The autumn rain was cold. Just as Shinobu sighed, thinking no one would come today, the glass door was gently knocked.

"Ah, welcome!"

"...Welcome."

When the glass door was opened, a female customer stood there. She was wearing a black hooded robe pulled deep over her face, so her face was not visible. It was a witch.

Eifa thought about hiding, but that wasn't possible. This was an izakaya, and the person was a customer. Besides, it wasn't certain that she was a witch.

Eifa looked at the customer closely but couldn't even guess her age. However, the skin of her hands, visible at the cuffs, was beautiful, as if she were in her mid-twenties.

"Opening on such a night, this place is quite eccentric. I feel bad coming alone, but I'll bother you a bit."

Her voice was hoarse, sounding like that of a woman in her sixties. After shaking off the rain from her robe, the customer sat at a table in the back. She didn't remove her hood, so her expression was unreadable.

Her order was ale and some snacks, preferably something warm. This kind of order was Shinobu's forte. She first served the customer some Triazuna and otoshi to wet her throat and settle her stomach, while Taisho prepared a simmered dish.

The otoshi was a mix of octopus and cucumber in vinegar. Eifa tried a bit and found the texture of the octopus interesting.

The mako flounder used for today's simmered dish was a choice selection by Taisho, who boasted that it would be delicious even as sashimi if it weren't for the double new moon. Knowing there would be few customers, he had decided to simmer it from the start.

The simmered dish was delicious. It was as good as the flounder served to the late emperor when he visited the shop. Although Shinobu preferred a light taste, Taisho had been gradually making the dishes richer based on customer reactions. He had also been working hard on improving the broth.

The customer seemed to enjoy the taste, skillfully picking the meat from the bones with a fork and spoon, savoring it.

As Eifa observed the customer discreetly, the customer let out a soft, sneaky laugh.

"Are you scared of me, little girl?"

Eifa shook her head frantically, trying to apologize but unable to find the words.

"No, no, you're not a witch, and I'm not scared of witches, and even if you were a witch, I would properly serve you because this is izakaya Nobu."

The customer chuckled at Eifa's desperate explanation.

"I see, you thought I was a witch. You're a sharp one. It's understandable to be afraid if that's the case."

"Ah, no, that's not..."

Was this customer really a witch or not? But it was true that she was dressed like one. Eifa thought there was no need to walk around the city dressed like that on a double new moon night, but perhaps it was her hobby.

"Still, this is quite an interesting shop."

While savoring the simmered dish, the customer, who looked like a witch, looked around the shop. "Thank you," Shinobu replied, and the customer looked at Eifa and chuckled again.

"Well, not only is the staff, including you, interesting, but the shop itself is interesting. It feels like it's infused with lost magic."

"Magic...?"

The word "magic" made even Shinobu look puzzled. Her expression suggested she didn't think the customer was really a witch, but the word "magic" made her uneasy.

"Yes, magic."

The customer stared intently at the kamidana. The kamidana, which today featured a special five-ingredient inari, had an exotic design for the people of the ancient city. Was the customer talking about the kamidana when she mentioned magic? Eifa had once had a strange experience with it, but she hadn't told anyone.

"Even if it's magic, it's good magic. I don't know where it connects to, but it seems to have a filter that only lets the necessary people through."

"Huh, connects to somewhere?"

Shinobu and Taisho exchanged glances. Eifa hadn't told anyone about the secret of the back door leading to a mysterious place. Shinobu and Taisho knew, of course, but how did this customer know?

Only the necessary people could pass through.

Now that she thought about it, Eifa had never seen anyone come through the back door. It was a strange thought, but perhaps it was due to magic.

"In the past, there were many doors around here. Have you ever seen mushrooms growing in a perfect circle in the forest? Have you ever hidden something important in a tree hollow and found it gone the next day? Have you ever seen someone you met on the road walk into a dead-end and never come out?"

"Are all those things magic...?"

Eifa asked, and the customer laughed again.

"They could be magic, or they could not be."

Eifa couldn't stop her knees from trembling. Shinobu held a tray in front of her chest, deep in thought. Taisho, on the other hand, looked excited, as if waiting to hear what the customer would say next. He might be interested in magic.

"Even this simmered dish, for example. I've lived around here for a long time, but I've never tasted anything like this. Where did you get such fish and seasonings?"

Was this customer really a witch? Eifa understood that if the secret of the shop's back door were to leak, it would be a serious problem. In the worst case, izakaya Nobu might disappear. She didn't think there was only one greedy person like Backes Hof. Shinobu and Taisho wouldn't want that either. What did this customer know?

Just as the customer was about to say something after taking a sip of Triazuna, the glass door was knocked again, hesitantly.