Chapter 67

I wanted to go to the dessert buffet... ←

"It's delicious, isn't it?"

"...Yeah."

When Yurii said this with a carefree tone, Brook responded after a brief pause. In front of them were plates with desserts and pasta, a cup of soup, and a glass of water. It looked like a casual meal, but the plate with desserts was larger, and the pasta seemed like an afterthought.

This place was the "Paradise of Food," and they had come for the dessert buffet, which was held twice a month. As the name suggests, most of the people around were women, especially young women. Occasionally, there were couples, but the men seemed to be there just to please their girlfriends and didn't seem particularly enthusiastic.

In this setting, Yurii, who was smiling and eating desserts normally, was being looked at by the men as if she were some strange creature. The staff serving the food also had similar expressions. And everyone was looking at Brook, who was eating silently with a nearly expressionless, calm face, as if he were some tragic figure.

...However, despite not showing it on his face, Brook was very happy to be in a situation where he could eat as many desserts as he wanted. He just didn't show it.

Brook didn't show his happiness because he knew that it would be creepy if he smiled while eating sweets. He was right about how he would be perceived. With his cool and handsome appearance and the air of a seasoned warrior, no one would want to see him lose his composure over sweets. Brook didn't want to show that side of himself either.

"Hey, I brought some new roll cakes!"

"Welcome back, Rerei."

"Here, this is Yurii's share. And this is for Mr. Brook."

"Thank you~"

"...I appreciate it."

Rerei, who had returned with a plate piled high with roll cakes, divided some for Yurii and some for Brook. Rerei, who seemed to be in a good mood, sat next to Yurii and cut a roll cake in half with a fork, then put it in her mouth. She smiled, saying it was delicious, and she always looked like she was really enjoying her food.

The roll cakes Rerei brought were all made with plain sponge cake, filled with whipped cream and fruits. However, the variety of fruits used with the cream created different flavors. Some even had colored versions, probably because fruit juice was mixed into the cream. Even though they were all roll cakes, the different fillings made them taste like different desserts.

Incidentally, this idea was suggested by Yurii to the patissier, Lucia, of the "Paradise of Food." The idea was to increase the variety of desserts by changing the fillings or fruits used in the same production process. Using seasonal fruits was also an option. This method required less effort and was an easy way to increase the variety. While the idea was simple, it was Lucia who brought it up to a level suitable for the store. Yurii was very satisfied because she could eat a lot of delicious roll cakes. The roll cakes were about five centimeters in diameter, with a sponge cake wrapped around the outside and cream and fruits in the center. The cream was abundant and delicious.

"Why don't you go get some yourself, Yurii?"

"Hmm, I was thinking about it, but..."

"But?"

"Back~. Hey, this jelly looks super delicious, so I brought some for Yurii too. Oh, of course, I brought some for Mr. Brook as well."

"...Rerei, and everyone else, it's like this."

"Yeah. I'm sorry. Yurii, you don't have to get up from your seat."

Hermine returned in a good mood. She wasn't showing her wings because they would get in the way. On her plate were several bite-sized jellies. They were round and looked very cute. The different colors probably indicated different flavors. Hermine, smiling happily, rolled the jellies onto Yurii's and Brook's plates.

Yurii had intended to enjoy the buffet by looking at and choosing the desserts herself. However, after going once, she ended up sitting quietly and waiting for the desserts to be brought to her. The women didn't have any ill intentions; they were taking on the task of getting desserts for Brook, who found it difficult to get up. Naturally, they brought desserts for Yurii as well. That was all.

Brook, thanks to the women, was enjoying the happiness of having desserts brought to him without having to get up. He only got up to get soup, pasta, bread, or drinks. ...Basically, the dessert area was mostly women, making it hard for a man like Brook to approach. After all, no one would believe that a man with his appearance was a sweet tooth.

"Wow, Rerei and Hermine, you both brought so much."

"We can't talk, Frau."

"...Yeah, that's true."

Returning with a cheerful conversation were Frau and Tiphana, the sister duo. Frau was skillfully holding a plate of pasta in one hand and a plate of desserts in the other. Tiphana was carefully holding a plate of bite-sized tarts with both hands. They were a contrasting pair.

They also gave some of the desserts they brought to Yurii and Brook. Both gratefully accepted them, but Yurii was a bit puzzled as to why his share was included. Probably just as an afterthought. Yurii wanted to go and look at the desserts again and enjoy the process of choosing which ones to eat.

So, the group that had come to the dessert buffet today was all gathered. They had originally planned to come earlier, but since the opening, the number of customers hadn't decreased. When they decided to come after the crowd thinned out, they realized the number of customers had actually increased. So, they decided to come today.

"Mmm! It's sweet and delicious!"

"Rerei, you have cream on your nose."

"Huh? Ahaha, I was so happy, I guess."

"By the way, how did you get cream on the tip of your nose?"

"Hmm? I don't know."

Hermine laughed in a way that suggested she was exasperated by Rerei, who was eating the roll cakes with a big mouth. Even Hermine, when she put the colorful jellies in her mouth, smiled happily. The sight of Rerei, who was eating energetically, and Hermine, who looked like she had stepped out of a painting, was subtly drawing attention from the surroundings. However, they didn't seem to care and were enjoying their desserts.

Frau was eating pasta elegantly. She was also enjoying the desserts, but to avoid a overly sweet mouth, she brought pasta as a palate cleanser. Next to her, Tiphana was slowly savoring the small tarts. She wasn't particularly engaging in conversation and was eating quietly.

Yurii and Brook, surrounded by these four women, didn't seem to mind. After all, they had come to enjoy delicious desserts, so this situation was perfect for them. However, from the outside, it looked as if Yurii was an afterthought and Brook was a reluctant companion brought along by the women, either as a bodyguard or a wallet. This was far from the truth.

"Still, with such a huge success, Lucia must be very busy..."

"But Lucia is happy."

"Really?"

"Yes. Because her dream is to have many people enjoy her desserts."

Hermine said this with a smile. She had known Lucia longer than anyone else in the group. Not just longer, but deeper. For Hermine, who loved delicious desserts, Lucia was an invaluable patissier. However, it wasn't just that; they had also deepened their personal friendship, making her words credible.

Occasionally, Lucia could be seen bringing desserts from the kitchen. She was busy, but her face was full of smiles. When she met Yurii's eyes, she would bow politely. Not wanting to trouble her, they would wave and see her off.

"...The desserts here are really delicious."

Brook muttered this softly, perhaps to avoid being heard by others. Yurii thought it was unnecessary to worry, but he was the only one. The women wanted to hide the part of Brook that loved sweets, as it created a huge gap with his cool and handsome appearance. If he were a child, it might be a bit better, but for a man who looked to be in his thirties, the gap was too large. Brook, who had hidden this side of himself for a long time, couldn't suddenly reveal it. Even though he found it delicious, his face remained serious, deeply ingrained in his "concealment mode."

"That's true."

"Even the sponge cake is made with good materials and skill. There's no strange sweetness."

"Exactly, the sponge cake here doesn't feel dry when you eat it!"

"I like the whipped cream. Sometimes, the cream from other places is too sweet~"

When Brook praised the sponge cake, Rerei agreed. She emphasized that cheap cakes often stick to your mouth. Her plate was almost empty, and her eating speed was quite peculiar. Hermine, looking at the roll cake Rerei was eating, praised the whipped cream. She liked the cream that didn't rely on sugar and brought out the flavor of milk.

Thus, the three of them started discussing the desserts, saying things like, "This is good" and "That is good." It was mainly Brook's occasional comments that Rerei and Hermine built upon. Although they weren't usually that close to Brook, the shared enjoyment of delicious desserts and the common topic allowed them to converse without much hesitation.

"It's delicious~"

Surrounded by the three of them discussing the desserts, Yurii was eating at her own pace. Delicious desserts were a reward. While she could make some herself, the professional touch made a difference. Yurii smiled happily, saying it was delicious.

Incidentally, when they left, they were lucky enough to receive some baked goods as a souvenir from Lucia, who came out in a hurry.

Delicious sponge cake doesn't feel dry.

The whipped cream I like doesn't taste too sugary.

Ah, I want to go to the dessert buffet...

I look forward to your comments and feedback.