Chapter 46

Summary of the previous chapter ------------------------------------------------------

Staying at the "Drowsy Bear."

The next day, Haruka and the others made backpacks, and Toya went out somewhere.

Nao went out for a stroll in the city alone.

There were stylishly arranged shops with potted flowers in front.

A shop that didn't have the usual atmosphere of "No first-timers allowed, this shop has its own rules!"

Hmm, I can probably go in. It feels like a nice café... huh? A café?

I suddenly realized and stopped my hand that was about to reach for the door.

This shop, while it looks like a slightly stylish café from the outside, is in a world where Japanese common sense doesn't apply.

—Is this, in a sense, an ultra-high-end place?

It's not something I need to particularly mention, but I don't have much money myself.

Our wallets are managed by Haruka, and since we almost always act together, there's no need for me to carry money.

So, I only have pocket money.

Specifically, 500 rares.

In other words, it's really just pocket money.

Haruka gave it to me saying, "You must feel uneasy with zero money, right?" but I haven't actually used it.

We get decent meals at the inn in the morning and evening, and we eat in the forest at noon.

If I think about buying snacks because I'm hungry, the "taste of the first day's food stand" acts as a strong brake.

Of course, there are probably delicious places, but for a little snack, the dried fruits that Haruka buys in bulk are enough. They are quite tasty and guaranteed, so I don't feel like taking a risk with my limited money.

However, even the pocket money I thought was sufficient makes me a bit uneasy in this shop.

The appearance of the shop is different from other restaurants. Can I really say the prices are not different?

I gently pulled back my hand that was about to reach out and was about to turn around—

Clack!!

Just before I turned around, the door opened, and a girl who was a head shorter than me came out. From the hair tied up at the back, her slightly pointed ears peeked out.

"Y-You, you're a customer, right!?"

"Y-Yeah."

Oh no! I ended up agreeing.

But what can I do? It's a beautiful elf girl?

She looks a bit teary-eyed and has a bit of a lolita vibe.

When such a girl says it with a bit of desperation, you can't help but nod, right? As a man.

Huh? I'm an elf too, and Haruka is an elf, right?

That doesn't matter. A beautiful girl is a beautiful girl, no matter how many there are!

...Oops, I've been a bit of a dad lately, so I might have gone a bit overboard.

"Please, come in!"

Prompted by the elf girl, who changed from teary-eyed to a full smile, I entered the shop.

As expected from the exterior, the interior was a cozy café.

There were multiple counter seats and table seats, arranged with some space, creating a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

Unlike the restaurants I've seen in this world, there were also potted plants placed around the shop.

—Yes, this is definitely a high-end place.

In my original world, 500 rares—about 5,000 yen—would be enough for a light meal at a high-end café, but here it might be dangerous... I can probably manage with a drink, right!?

"Please, sit here!"

I sat at the counter seat, prompted by the elf girl, who was still a bit nervous but smiling.

The elf girl confirmed and immediately went behind the counter, standing in front of me.

"What would you like to order?"

"Um..."

While feeling a bit nervous about the high-end interior, I casually looked around the shop.

In this world, menus are usually hung on the walls, but there wasn't one.

Otherwise, you can usually order something vague like "meat and drink," but I don't have the courage to do that here.

"Menu, is—"

"Ah, sorry! Here it is!"

The elf girl, who was flustered, crouched down and took a board from under the counter, handing it to me.

"Thank you."

Maybe because the elf girl seemed a bit flustered, I felt more relaxed.

It's like a small child trying to help in the shop, which is quite endearing.

Of course, there's a possibility that the elf is older than me, but I felt like admiring her for a while. Now, I need to find something I can afford with my pocket money.

The cheapest item is—

"Huh?"

Looking at the menu, I tilted my head in confusion.

It's... cheap?

Well, compared to food stands, it's definitely more expensive, and the drinks are a bit pricier, but the food items are similar to regular shops.

Compared to the "Drowsy Bear" restaurant, which is cheaper than average, it's more expensive, but it's a price I can afford with my pocket money.

I slightly shifted my gaze from the menu and looked around the shop.

—Yeah, no need to look around. No one is here.

"Is something wrong?"

"N-No, nothing. I'll have the daily special, then."

"Okay! Got it! Please wait a moment."

The elf girl smiled and quickly went to the kitchen in the back.

...Hmm. What's going on here?

It's lunchtime now.

No customers at this price...?

The daily special I ordered is 50 rares. It's an average or slightly cheaper price for a meal in a restaurant.

In this world, you can usually get a daily special for this price at almost any restaurant.

Even if it's not listed as a daily special, you can usually get a meal by ordering "rice" or "something to eat."

It's relatively cheap and filling, so it's often ordered, but the quality is usually quite mediocre.

We once ordered it, and what came out was a plate with a few boiled carrots and asparagus, a pile of fried scraps of meat with organs, and a large piece of black bread.

To be honest, it was quite unappetizing. The vegetables were stringy and had a strong flavor, the meat was very smelly, and the black bread was hard and sour.

It was a bit better than the food stand, but it was still quite difficult to finish.

Since then, we've been going back to the inn for lunch even if it takes more time.

There might be other good restaurants, but the risk of getting a bad meal is too high.

—Well, today I was alone, so I decided to take a gamble.

From the exterior, I thought it would be a hit, but even the food stand had customers.

Yet, no one is here.

If it's so bad that no one comes, it might be interesting in a different way.

Of course, it's not necessarily bad.

"Here you are! Today's daily special!"

"Oh, this is..."

The dish came out without much waiting.

Its appearance was different from the meals I've had before.

First, the vegetables.

Four types of vegetables, cut into bite-sized pieces and beautifully arranged.

The meat was cut into cubes and had a nice, crispy browned surface.

The main dish seemed to be mashed potatoes, but I could see minced meat and vegetables mixed in, neatly shaped and placed on top.

In my original world, it would be at the level of a family restaurant, but compared to the "just put food on a plate" and "what's plating?" of other restaurants, it's a world apart.

"Hmm... Let's dig in."

Finally, the moment of truth.

"...Mmm."

It's quite delicious.

While the variety of seasonings is limited, making the taste a bit bland, it's not unappetizing at all. I could come here occasionally.

It's on par with the inn's old man's cooking.

If the inn's cooking is described as rustic, this one is a bit more refined. It's a taste that would appeal to women.

On the other hand, it might be a bit lacking for manual laborers, but it's perfect for the atmosphere of this shop.

"How is it?"

The elf girl, who was worriedly watching me from the other side of the counter, timidly asked.

"Very delicious. I'm curious why there are no customers."

Hearing my honest opinion, the elf girl's face contorted, and tears welled up in her eyes. She leaned over the counter and clung to me.

"Can you, can you listen to me as a fellow elf!?"

"Y-Yes. I might just listen, but—"

"Even that is fine..."

She seemed quite desperate, and even my vague words made her look relieved.

She sighed in relief, prepared two cups of tea, placed them on the counter, and sat next to me, starting to speak hesitantly.