Chapter 236: A Grateful Heart for Friends
Rest had left the villa, but he did not return directly to the Royal Capital. The sun was already setting, and it felt inappropriate to head home at such an hour. So, he decided to stay overnight at an inn located in a nearby village.
“Still… this is quite an impressive inn. It seems far too grand for a village like this…”
The inn was surprisingly large for the size of the village. It was a two-story building with over twenty rooms. Clearly, such a facility was ill-suited for a small fishing village that was not a tourist destination.
“The villagers say the same thing. They believe such a large inn is unnecessary for this village,” replied the innkeeper, who had guided him to his room.
By the way, it was obvious that Celestine was not in this room. She was staying in a separate room with her female attendant.
(From the patterns so far, I thought they might be sharing a room… but I guess I’ve been too influenced by Yuri and the others…)
“This inn was built by Madam Sanada. She even paid for maintenance costs for the next several decades. Well, since it’s mostly used by the occasional peddler, it’s usually utilized as the village office.”
“Madam Sanada…”
That referred to Shoko, the Queen Dowager. It seemed she had invested her own wealth to construct this inn for some reason.
“She used to visit often during her lifetime. She enjoyed the hot springs here at the inn.”
“Hot springs? You have hot springs here?”
“Yes, indeed. There’s an open-air bath that the villagers also use. Tonight, it’s reserved exclusively for our guests, so please feel free to enjoy it.”
“…………!”
Rest couldn’t help but gasp. Hot springs. An open-air bath. These were things that every Japanese person cherished deeply.
(I’ve only been to a hot spring once or twice since I’ve never gone on a family trip… but still, hot springs are quintessentially Japanese!)
He understood the Queen Dowager’s intention behind building such an extravagant inn in this village. She had constructed it to enjoy the hot springs herself, even if it seemed unnecessary.
(She must also be quite Japanese… Perhaps there was a hot spring in the rural town where Shoko lived…)
Japan is a country where hot springs can be found everywhere. It wasn’t surprising. In contrast, the Aiwood Kingdom had very few hot springs. While it was free from earthquakes, as a Japanese person, he felt a certain longing for them.
“I’ll bring your meal shortly, so how about taking a bath once you’re finished?”
“That sounds good… By the way, what’s for dinner?”
“I’ll be serving the village’s specialty fish dish. I’ll prepare it right away.”
The innkeeper smiled brightly before leaving the room. Left alone, Rest let out a sigh and sat on the bed.
“A hot spring inn, huh… It would have been more atmospheric with tatami mats.”
The room was a standard Western-style one. It had a bed, a table, and even chairs. He thought a Japanese-style room would have given it more of a hot spring inn vibe, but it was likely that the materials for tatami mats, like rush grass, were unavailable in this country.
(That must have been a bitter point for Shoko as well… probably.)
Having met and spoken with her once, he felt a strange sense of familiarity towards the Queen Dowager. Aside from Gascoin, she was the first Japanese person he had encountered in this world. Meeting a fellow countryman while staying abroad for an extended period might evoke such feelings.
“Thank you for waiting. Here’s your meal.”
“Sashimi…!”
Rest couldn’t help but exclaim in delight. The main dish for dinner was sashimi.
“This is also a dish that Madam Sanada enjoyed, called ‘Sashimi.’ Those from outside often have reservations about eating raw fish, so if it’s unpleasant for you, I can prepare something else…”
“No! Please, I want that dish…!”
“Oh, um… yes…”
“I’m ready to eat…!”
The innkeeper, slightly taken aback, arranged the dishes on the table. Rest immediately dug into the sashimi.
“It’s delicious…!”
It was fish that tasted similar to sea bream. Although he was dissatisfied with the lack of soy sauce and had to use a salty dipping sauce instead, it was still a nostalgic taste from his homeland. It was simply delicious.
“I could really go for some rice… Why is it always bread…?”
“Oh? Madam Sanada said the same thing!”
“That’s no surprise…!”
Anyone who was Japanese would likely think the same. They craved sashimi. They wanted rice. They longed for soy sauce and miso… Surely, the Queen Dowager had also struggled with such cravings while trying to recreate even a fraction of her life in Japan here.
“Here are the grilled fish and the fish powder soup. Please enjoy.”
“Thank you.”
While the other dishes were imperfect, they had a flavor that somehow reminded him of Japan. Rest savored his dinner, feeling grateful for his friend, Shoko Sanada.