Chapter 61

Hikaru wrote down a few requests for wild herb collection and went to the "archive" — which this adventurer guild also had — to check the maps and information about plants in the vicinity.

There was no need to accept the collection requests in advance. He would go to the counter after the collection was done.

It was still before noon, but he would depart tomorrow. He needed to buy bedding.

It was when Hikaru and Ravia left the adventurer guild.

"Excuse me, you two."

"———"

Hikaru turned around with caution.

There stood a green-haired person.

"May I have a word with you?"

The green hair was long and tied back.

He exuded an intellectual aura, which felt different from the blonde from before.

【Soul Board】League = Green Demon = Rumania

Age 19, Rank 4

11

【Magic Power】

【Magic Power Amount】1

【Spirit Affinity】

【Earth】1

【Dexterity】

【Tool Proficiency】

【Pharmaceutical Instruments】1

【Intuition】

【Inspiration】

【Invention】1

【Intelligence】

【Calculation】1

He seemed to be a scholar type.

Upon closer inspection, there were strange calluses on his middle and ring fingers of his right hand. It must be related to "pharmaceutical instruments."

"Are you going to answer me? You're one of the blonde's friends, right?"

"Yes, I remember you. I thought you wouldn't be interested in anyone. I apologize for his rudeness. It seems that the reason I ended up attending the academy is that I was treated as a troublemaker at home... I react sensitively to words like 'useless' or 'incompetent.' As an apology, would you like me to treat you to a meal?"

"Do you think I'm struggling to eat?"

"No. Your clothes are quite expensive. Therefore, I will introduce you to a delicious restaurant. It's a famous place that you can't enter without an introduction. If you know about it, you can use it again next time."

"———"

Hikaru didn't like being led, but he loved good food.

"Deal. This way, please."

"I haven't said I'm going yet."

"I hope it suits your taste——oh, by the way, what's your name?"

This was the first time he had been able to push the conversation so smoothly since coming to this world.

(Well... it's fine. If anything strange happens, I can use "Group Barrier" to escape.)

It didn't seem to be more dangerous than the "Ancient God's Underground City."

"This guy is amazing. He doesn't back down from Hikaru at all."

"Ravia, don't admire him in weird places..."

"Mr. Hikaru, right? I'm League... you can just call me League."

He pushed his way into the conversation.

Strangely, Hikaru didn't feel any aversion.

It might be because League's speech lacked emotion, or because he seemed to have no interest in Ravia.

Of course, the unsettling feeling of not knowing what he was thinking remained, so Hikaru didn't let his guard down.

While using "Magic Detection," they walked into a residential area. Each house was large, with an atmosphere similar to a noble's mansion in Gii-Porsonia.

League stopped in front of one of the houses.

"This is it."

"......It just looks like a regular mansion to me?"

"That's the point. You can't enter unless you're guided by a member of the Rumanian clan."

"Then I can't come alone even if I like it. Didn't you say I could come again?"

"......"

League clapped his hands.

"That was a blind spot..."

He squatted down and held his head.

"Oh... what should I do? I don't know any other restaurants... In that case, I'll cook... Cooking and mixing medicine are similar, it's fine, it's fine. Theoretically, there's no problem. I have experience making a full-course dinner."

"Wait a minute. You're saying some unsettling things."

League stood up suddenly.

"Then let's change the restaurant. I'll take you to my apartment."

"I'm not going. You've never cooked, right?"

"......It's fine."

"Why are you 'pausing'? I don't feel fine at all."

"Theoretically."

"There's no such theory. ——Alright, this place is fine. I can't come alone, but it's true that I can't experience this otherwise. It must be delicious, right?"

"Yes, it is. That's the reputation."

"......Reputation, huh?"

"I can't tell if something is delicious or not. I just imagine the ingredients."

"Then why did you try to serve me a home-cooked meal?"

Led by League, they entered the mansion, where butlers and maids greeted them.

They were offered individual rooms on the second floor, but Hikaru requested a room on the first floor, citing a dislike for a closed-in feeling, and chose a room with a window.

"I see, you suspect that my invitation is a trap? That's a reasonable judgment. I wouldn't want to have a meal with a suspicious person like me either."

"Doesn't it make you sad to say that about yourself?"

"My emotional fluctuations are less than others, so I don't feel sad."

Hikaru thought he was a weird guy. Still,

"......"

"What's wrong, Hikaru?"

"It's just that Ravia isn't joining the conversation. She seemed irritated when talking to the muscle instructor."

"Come to think of it, I don't really notice it——Hikaru, was I that irritated?"

"Well, somewhat."

"Oh, what should I do? Hikaru, do I have a strong possessive desire? I've never thought about it."

"Strong possessive desire is a form of love. Just a general statement, though."

The emotionally flat League interjected. "Oh, love, such, but..." Ravia was flustered again.

(Such a Ravia is cute.)

Hikaru was thinking about trivial things.

Then the food was served.

It seemed to be a local dish from the League's homeland, Rumania.

Heated and melted cheese was diluted with white wine, and ingredients were added and mixed with the cheese——cheese fondue.

"How is it? It's quite rare, isn't it?"

League was confident.

"Can I ask you something? Your homeland is a highland with vast grasslands, where livestock and dairy farming are thriving. Inexpensive dairy products——soft and hard cheeses——are widely available. For example, you can use a block of cheese as collateral to borrow money. ——Is it something like that?"

"You've done your research! That's exactly right."

It wasn't a culture spread by a reincarnated person...

"I see... Did such a culture spread 'rapidly' after a certain period?"

"That's right. There was a person who founded the dairy industry——"

The name wasn't Japanese, French, or Swiss, but a name from this world. A reincarnated person, perhaps.

There were occasional reincarnated or transferred people who influenced this world, but they didn't have a significant impact. For example, they didn't invent steam engines or penicillin.

Why?

Hikaru speculated that the existence of "magic" and the benefits of "gods"——"professions"——in this world might be the reason.

Even if there were reincarnated or transferred people, they didn't have the kind of cheat abilities that could change the world. They didn't have something like Hikaru's "Soul Board."

Sarika Tanoue was an excellent adventurer, but she was only at rank B. It was possible that she was intentionally holding back.

However, whether she was world-famous or not,

"Can I ask one more thing? Do you know an adventurer named Sarika Tanoue?"

"......? I don't know her. Is she famous?"

"If you don't know her, it's fine. Thank you, League."

That was the extent of it.

With "magic" and "professions" in this world, there was no need to develop technology. It would be more efficient to improve "healing magic" than to develop medicine.

(......But there should be a lot of people who want to make money. If there were such people, they could bring in Earth's culture and make a big business... For example, gunpowder, guns——revolvers... Wait a minute.)

Hikaru suddenly realized.

There was no doubt that there were reincarnated or transferred people in the ancient Poelnsian Empire.

He or she tried to advance the clock rapidly.

However, there was something that didn't like it.

It sent giants to destroy the civilization.

(Calling it a "god" is too simplistic. A persecuted ethnic group used forbidden magic... or another reincarnated person created the giants... such possibilities cannot be ruled out.)

"Hahaha..."

As Hikaru was thinking, League laughed.

"Thank you, League. Does that mean you feel more affection now, compared to when you called me 'you'?"

"Shut up, don't get too cocky."

"Ah, it's fine. There's no problem. You seem to be hiding your shyness. I can tell that you are actually a person full of affection."

This guy, saying whatever he wants—Hikaru realized the "true intention" behind League's words.

The servants who served the food moved with considerable refinement. They were well-mannered, and especially showed deep respect to League. He was almost certainly an important figure in the Rumanian clan.

Hikaru, clearly from another country, was being rude to such a person. League might have thought that the servants might lose control. To prevent any "accidents."

"......That's quite considerate of you, League."

"Thank you for the compliment. Mr. Hikaru is also very intelligent. You are one of the top people I have met."

"Of course."

For some reason, Ravia puffed out her chest.

"How is the food, Miss Ravia?"

"The white wine used to mask the smell of cheese is of high quality, but it's too strong and ruins the flavor of the cheese. A cheaper wine might be better for a cheese dish."

"......I see, Miss Ravia is also a person of distinction. The chef probably tried to be considerate. Rumanian cheese has a strong flavor, so it was adjusted to be milder for guests from other countries. I should have confirmed it before serving. ——I'll tell the chef that."

League said to one of the servants, who bowed deeply and said,

"Understood."

He left the room.

Now no one was in the room.

"Mr. Hikaru, I have a request."

Hikaru thought, "Here it comes."

There was no way League invited him to a meal without a purpose.

It would be easier if he said it clearly—

"——I want you to accept a request."

"What is it?"

"I want you to collect 'Dragon Kidney Flower leaves.' If you succeed, I will pay you the same amount as the guild's reward."