“Ugh…”
Smells like blood…
Well, I am dismantling something the size of a dinosaur. Can’t be helped.
But in this environment, even if I eat, it won’t taste good…
…I know!
Then, wouldn’t it be good to bring out something with an even stronger smell than blood?!
So, I’m making curry.
But not just any curry! Indian Curry!
Keema curry and a sweet butter chicken curry!
And, the usual bread… and Tandoori Chicken! With a side of sauerkraut and pickles.
For dessert, Chocolate Cake!
Uoo! Eat your fill!
“Sooo gooood!”
“The flavor is… rich… and delicious!”
“The smell is so strong, I can’t smell the blood anymore!”
“Yeah! I’ve been smelling nothing but blood all day, so the scent of spices is soaking in!”
“This… has an oily taste… and it’s good!”
It’s a big hit.
Spices are a luxury item, and curry, a stew dish using plenty of them, is a popular dish for both commoners and nobles.
Often, writers with bad heads, who think they’re writing a gag, have their characters react to curry like it’s poop… like a kid.
But… the meals of the commoners in this medieval world are basically vegetable potage. That’s much closer in texture to vomit or feces. Besides that, liver pate, or mashed lentil soup, etc.
To begin with, these guys basically eat with their hands, wipe their hands on the tablecloth, and… well, you know? They haven’t reached that level…
Recently, some nobles have started using two-pronged forks and table knives, but the commoners still eat with their hands.
Well, but the Blue Comet are an internationally diverse bunch.
Katrina, as a noble, uses something resembling cutlery, and Easterners like Kaede and continentals like Xiaolin use chopsticks. Elves… I don’t know if it’s their culture, but they use a mysterious spork-like thing.
Shio? Eats with her hands… She even drinks soup with her hands or puts her mouth to the bowl…
These kinds of guys, in the end, are happy with a whole roasted pig, so you don’t have to do anything strangely eccentric.
Well, what?
Anyway, it was a big hit.
Everyone was gobbling up curry and bread, the dismantling kids were working hard, and they were having a lively time…
The captured mercenaries? I’ll throw them the leftover old bread. As long as they don’t die…
“Phew… is this the end of the expedition…”
I said, taking off my cooking bandana and mask, and slumping into a chair.
I’m pretty tired…
But, everyone eats everything without being picky, and there weren’t any kids with injuries at the level of being beyond repair, so I feel like it all worked out somehow.
“A, you’re tired, desu?”
Oh, Kaede.
“What’s up? Want to talk?”
I got into my usual listening posture. At any time, I listen to the stories of cute girls…!
…Kaede is more scary than cute, right?
Umm… well… that’s true, but she’s cute…?
Conversely, you know. I think there’s a demand for beautiful women who are so scary like Hachishakusama, like a monster.
Even if you say ugly or scary face, that’s the values of this country, the Garnia Kingdom.
Even in modern Earth, depending on the land, the fatter you are, the cuter you are! Or, the longer your neck, the cuter you are! There are so many lands with those mysterious values, right?
According to my values, even black-haired, monstrous-faced beauties who are avoided in the Garnia Kingdom are totally okay! That’s what I’m talking about.
By the way, according to the values of the Garnia Kingdom, the most beautiful woman I’ve met so far is… Count Missgancia’s wife…
The Garnia Kingdom prefers blonde hair and blue eyes, white skin, and a body type that is good for childbirth.
Tribesman with brown skin like Shio are counted as unclean, and slender women like Kaede are shunned as being poor. That’s awful! But, a world without diversity is like this.
…While thinking about this, I was listening to Kaede’s story in the background.
In summary, it was a word of appreciation for me.
She had been watching me doing my best in one-person back-end support…! You really did your best…! That’s what it seems like.
I honestly accept the words and say thank you.
“This time, if Dru-san didn’t give us the Demon Blade from the Fire Dragon, there would have been casualties… I’m really grateful…!”
“No, no, it’s fine. There’s nothing better than you guys being safe.”
“Is there anything I can do in return? If there’s anything I can do, please tell me!”
“Eh? Then come to my place again sometime.”
“Such! That would be a reward for me…!”
“I’m happy too, so it’s mutual!”
“M-Mou! Dru-san…♡”
How cute.
“Wow… I’m so lucky to be liked by so many beautiful women…”
“Eh?”
Eh?
Ah, yeah.
That’s right.
You guys don’t think of each other as beautiful, do you…?
“Um… am I ugly…?”
According to the values of this country, and of course, even according to the values of Azuma Country, Kaede is treated as ugly.
This girl has big eyes. Snake-like goggle eyes are a big minus in that country.
Also, being taller than the average man is a considerable minus point, right?
“I like you! That’s all!”
But according to my values, she’s a tall, slender beauty with long black hair and double eyelids!
“Haa… you have strange tastes, desu ne…?”
“Shut up! You’re cute! You’re cute, you are! Have more confidence!”
“H-Hai…”
I spent the night like that… and the next day.
The last troublesome thing came…
“P-Please reconsider! If you guys take the mercenaries away, who will protect this village?”