Inside the Tavern Zenbei, Queemil in Avangarde Territory
“Roel-chan! It’s been a while! I haven’t seen you around lately!”
“It’s been a while, Pablo-san. It was when I accepted the water collection request, right? Oh, and I go by Kurinka now.”
This is Queemil, a town within the Kingdom of Avangarde. It was the first place I reached after exiting the Abyss Cave, and it’s where I met Kurinka. Just as she said, I took on a request at this tavern and headed into the cave. Pablo welcomed me with his round face, just like before. This tavern is quite large for a town of this size, open both day and night, and I remember the food being delicious. Gantetsu treated me here once, too.
After the battle with Aboro, I thought about returning to the Royal Capital, but I suddenly remembered this place and decided to stop by. Back then, I thought it was a bustling town, but compared to the Royal Capital, it feels rather small. To get to the capital from here, I have to cross Kizel Valley, so it’s no wonder it’s called a rural area.
Despite having been under Vandalsia’s control, it has surprisingly bounced back quite well. It’s not a large town, so perhaps it was overlooked for a while. Regardless, it’s a pleasant surprise.
“That’s right! You’ve become quite famous since then! I thought you wouldn’t be interested in a rundown place like ours anymore!”
“This tavern has the room we used to live in, so I need to tidy it up… and it’s not a rundown place at all.”
That room was where Kurinka lived when she was Roel, all by herself. It’s been left untouched for so long that it must be covered in dust. Now that she’s married, she’s decided to live in a new home in Ikana Village, so there’s no point in keeping the room here. That’s why she’s going to clean it up.
“This Yaibai Squid’s Ink Pasta is delicious too, Kurinka.”
“It’s tasty, this place has great food. It’s one of the few places in the country where you can eat Gyudon, a dish that originated from Azuma… right, Platiu-chan? Is it good?”
While Kurinka was already on her third plate, Platiu was quietly eating a hand-formed hamburger lunch. She had said it was her first time in a place like this, yet she chose the hamburger without hesitation, which was surprising. She was munching away like a small animal, and upon closer inspection, she was eating quite quickly.
Wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts that were hand-me-downs from me, the fit was all wrong. I tried to buy her nicer clothes, but she stubbornly insisted that this was fine, so I gave up. It looked baggy and not very flattering.
“Pl-Platiu-chan, you can take your time, you know?”
“Mmm, I’ll get scolded.”
“Scolded by whom?”
“…Never mind.”
After Kurinka expressed her concern, Platiu, with sauce smeared around her mouth, looked back and forth between us. She finally stopped her rapid eating and began to eat slowly.
“Now that Rua and Kurinka are here…”
I decided not to pry. I could tell it was a result of her difficult past. Even when she’s with us, Platiu sometimes exhibits strange behaviors. She changes clothes unusually fast or pulls my hand, urging me to leave quickly. But when we calm her down like now, she regains her composure.
“I got scolded for not keeping time.”
“…I see. That’s not the case now.”
“Yeah.”
As I gently patted Platiu’s head, Kurinka was about to dig into her fourth plate. The soup was a bright red, filled with noodles. It looked incredibly hot, or rather, it seemed like it wouldn’t taste good at all. What did Kurinka order?
“This is Blazing Tanmen. It’s a dish from Kashiram, and it’s supposed to be hot and delicious!”
“Oh, really? I remember this place has a menu with dishes from various regions. But still, it doesn’t look very appetizing…”
“Let’s dig in… mmm!”
As Kurinka started slurping it down, she quickly paused to gulp down her water. Sticking out her tongue and panting, she looked quite strange.
“It’s sooooo spicy! My mouth is on fire! I can’t eat this!”
“Is it really that spicy? Kurinka, you can breathe fire, right?”
“That’s different! Right now, I’m human! Anyway, Pablo-san, this is way too spicy!”
“I-I’m sorry! I tried to recreate a famous dish from Kashiram, but I guess it didn’t work out…”
I took a small taste of the soup, and it felt like flames were dancing in my mouth. It was more painful than hot. I barely managed to stop Platiu from trying it.
“Yikes! This is dangerous! Pablo-san!”
“Sigh… it feels like I’m just spinning my wheels here…”
“You seem down… that was really spicy…”
“How’s the customer count looking?”
“What do you mean? There are a lot of them?”
It wasn’t completely full, but there were a few customers scattered around. Some were adventurers taking a break from their work, while others were quietly eating alone. I wondered if there was some issue, as Pablo was sighing heavily.
“I’ve been thinking lately… is this place really okay as it is?”
“Is it going to go under?”
“No, it’s doing alright… But you know, I recently found out that there are places far more prosperous than Zenbei, even within this country, with better food… Some are high-end restaurants frequented by noble patrons…”
“That might be true, but…”
“Compared to that, I can’t help but feel how small our place is… The current menu was an attempt at reform, but it’s just not working out…”
Now that I think about it, the menu has indeed expanded significantly. It’s almost doubled since my last visit. While having dishes from various places is a good point for this tavern, I remember that the unique homemade dishes used to be more popular. What happened to this spicy Tanmen?
“Excuse me.”
“Oh, welcome…”
“What’s this? A customer looking pale at the sight of the food? The owner isn’t doing a good job with service, is he?”
As soon as the newcomer saw Pablo, he averted his gaze awkwardly. He wore a tall chef’s hat and had striking golden sideburns. His thick leather chef’s attire and boots made him look like a chef, but he also carried several sheaths on his back that could hold large swords. He was probably an adventurer.
[Starph, Level: 57, Class: Hunter Chef, Rank: A, 86th, HP: 420]
“Hunter Chef as a class… Kurinka, is that a real class?”
“Yeah, it’s not very common. A Hunter Chef is, as the name suggests, a fighting cook.”
“Oh dear, this is unsettling.”
Starph looked suspiciously at the Detect Ring but quickly lost interest and turned a smile toward Pablo. But it wasn’t just any smile; it was a smirk filled with disdain.
“A customer has arrived. Aren’t you going to take their order?”
“Y-Yes! Right away!”
“Hmph, let’s see… What should I choose? It’s all so terrible.”
As Starph sat down, he complained while shifting his gaze to the flustered waitress who hurried to take his order. The atmosphere felt quite unpleasant.
“Ugh! Is this all you have? Is this a restaurant or a joke? Even in a rural area, how can you call this a dining establishment? Huh? Monsieur Pablo?”
“I’d like to think about it a bit more…”
“Huh?! You’re still thinking? It seems you completely underestimate cooking… and food culture itself!”
Fiddling with his golden sideburns, Starph continued to berate the shrinking Pablo. What a terrible person he was, acting like an adventurer but speaking so harshly.
“And if you look closely at the customers here, it’s just as bad… What’s with that mountain of plates? To eat such peasant food with such gratitude is proof that their taste buds are completely warped!”
“Hey! Are you talking about me?!”
“Oh, did I let that slip? My apologies, my apologies.”
“Pablo-san! Who is this guy? Please kick him out!”
Even I would want to say something about Kurinka’s mountain of plates, but calling the food peasant food was too much. Everyone here was clearly annoyed with Starph. If this continued, it would surely lead to a fight.
“Then let me ask you, madam. Is the food here delicious?”
“It is delicious!”
“How is it delicious?”
“How? Well, it’s just… delicious!”
“Hahaha! There you have it! If you can only say it’s delicious after tasting it, then it’s all the same, isn’t it? The quality of the customers is just as poor… that mountain of plates proves it! In the end, you’ll eat anything, right? As long as it’s edible!”
“N-No, that’s not true!”
Sure, Kurinka was overeating, but that was an exaggeration. Starph—no, Starph, I could easily make him stop fiddling with those sideburns.
“I… I admit that when I was little, I lived alone in a hut and only ate the apples I was given. But they were so delicious… and I was so hungry… Even now, because of that, I tend to overeat. Everything tastes good to me, and maybe that’s true.”
“Kurinka…”
“To satisfy a dragon’s appetite… it might take not just apples, but a whole feast.”
“Hmph, what nonsense are you spouting…? Hm? Kurinka… that name sounds familiar. Well, whatever.”
The reason Kurinka eats so much is that when she was young, she only ate the apples given to her by Seigel. That constant hunger left a lasting impact on her. I, too, didn’t have much to eat when I was in the Abyss Cave, but Kurinka had even less. Knowing that it must have been tougher for her than I can imagine makes me want to hold her close.
“Kurinka… it must have been hard for you…”
“I’m sorry for bringing this up…”
“There, there, Kurinka.”
I grasped Kurinka’s shoulders and pulled her closer. Platiu, unsure of what to do, stood up and began to pat Kurinka’s head. I couldn’t hold back any longer. Whoever hurt Kurinka to this extent wouldn’t get away unscathed. Just as I resolved to stand up, Pablo raised a hand to stop me, shaking his head silently, signaling me not to act.
“Cheap, low-quality food attracts those who gorge like pigs… No matter what they eat, they can only muster thoughts beyond ‘delicious.’ They might as well feast on pig slop. Monsieur Pablo, I want to hear your answer today.”
“Alright, alright… I’ll do as you say…”
Pablo slumped, resigned. I didn’t know what they were talking about, but I would never forgive anyone who called Kurinka a pig. I wanted to temper my anger, but it was boiling over.
“I’ll renovate this place. I intend to turn it into a first-class restaurant. Even if you refuse, this shabby establishment has no future. I, too, feel frustrated that I can’t teach you the taste of true cuisine. It would be dull for both of us, wouldn’t it?”
“That’s true…”
“Wait a moment! What on earth is going on here?!”
Kurinka slammed her hands on the table, knocking over her chair as she stood up. Platiu, startled, fell back into her own chair. It looked painful.
“Madame Kurinka, I run several first-class restaurants across the country. All of them are praised by discerning nobles and high-ranking officials. My reputation in the culinary world is well-known.”
“And what of that?”
“Dining is indeed a necessary act for our survival! But food is more than just sustenance; if all we needed was to maintain life, we wouldn’t need chefs! Anyone could just munch on their favorite apples! The beauty lies in the presentation on the plate, savoring it with our eyes! Breathing in the aroma! Only with the finest ingredients and skill can we create… in other words, gourmet cuisine!”
“And what of that?”
Kurinka was already furious. For a moment, I thought she was about to grab her staff. I watched as Platiu, growing increasingly uninterested, glared at Storulf with a steely gaze. She always had that intense look, but it was more pronounced now.
“What do you mean, ‘delicious’? You taste buds are absurd! If that’s all you can say after eating something good, then you lack the intelligence of a human being!”
“So, Storulf wants to spread the culture of gourmet cuisine… to transform a shabby place like ours into a top-notch restaurant…”
Pablo intervened, trying to calm the fired-up Storulf. So that’s what this was about. If that’s the case, it’s simple: just refuse. Why was Pablo so weakly complying with him?
“That’s right. Fortunately, I’ve finally received Monsieur Pablo’s consent, so let’s call it a day. We’ll begin the renovations in earnest tomorrow! Don’t worry about the chef; I’ll arrange for one! Any cook can be reborn into a first-class chef! Hahaha!”
Laughing foolishly, Storulf said whatever he wanted and left the restaurant. What remained were the now-cold customers and the Blazing Tanmen that Kurinka was supposed to eat. The entire place felt as cold as that tanmen.
“Pablo, why did you agree to this?”
“I had no choice… His influence in the culinary world is immense… If he says our restaurant is the worst, it will plummet in an instant… Even travelers passing by will avoid it… If that happens, it’s truly over for us…”
“…That’s not the only reason, is it?”
“Yikes!”
I checked with the Detect Ring, and it seemed he was indeed a formidable figure. There were several of his restaurants in the Avangarde Royal Capital, all praised by royalty and nobility. It seemed he personally sourced ingredients, using high-quality items that were hard to come by. He was also famous as a top chef, having received invitations to join the royal kitchen multiple times. Once, during a public cooking show in the capital, he captivated many, earning the title of a charismatic chef in some circles. Reservations were required to dine at his establishments, and one had to wait months to get a table. I remembered wanting to go with Kurinka, but when I found out we would have to wait eight months, I decided against it. It was definitely the right choice to avoid his restaurant.
“You’ll end up being used by the chefs he sends, and before you know it, you’ll lose your ownership. In other words, you’ll become his pawn. Pablo, do you really want to become a top chef at that cost?”
“I-I have no choice! People rave about Storulf’s restaurant! Compared to that, Zenbei’s value is…! I’ve been troubled lately… Is there even a point in continuing a restaurant when there are more people who don’t need it…?”
I wondered if he had been struggling with this for a long time while cooking. He always served food with a smile, and I thought he genuinely loved what he did.
“Do you hate cooking, Pablo?”
“I love it! That’s why it frustrates me! So many people gather to praise a far superior competitor…”
“Do you like this restaurant and the customers?”
“I-I don’t hate them…”
“I understand. Then, Pablo, let’s refuse Storulf’s proposal.”
With tear-streaked cheeks, Pablo looked up. Kurinka’s gaze was intense, and she seemed angrier than I was. She was firm with Pablo, not speaking to him gently at all. It looked like she was angry with him too.
“W-What are you saying…? It’s too late to back out now…”
“Which side are you on, Pablo? Do you really want to follow that man and become a top chef?”
“I don’t want to, but I can’t go against him… He’s been making snide remarks every day, waiting for me to give in… And…”
“You don’t want to, do you?”
Seeing Pablo nod weakly, Kurinka sat back down and quickly slurped up the now lukewarm tanmen. It must have been spicy, but she endured it and finished what she had ordered. Though she was teary-eyed for a different reason than Pablo, she stood up again and simply said, “Alright.”
“I love this restaurant. Before I met Lua-chan… you fed me for free when I had no money. Not just that, but… well, I’ll save the rest for tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? What will happen then…?”
“Tomorrow, let’s challenge him to a cooking duel. He won’t refuse; he has absolute confidence in his ideas and cuisine.”
Kurinka’s unexpected declaration caused not only Pablo but also the surrounding customers to stir. Everyone shared the same opinion: there was no way to win.
“We can definitely win! First of all, the food from this restaurant is on par with any top-tier establishment. Moreover, I think he might overlook something important.”
“Something important?”
“Yes. So, after today’s business, let’s prepare for tomorrow!”
I had planned to take down Storulf myself, but things took a strange turn. Simply defeating him might make us the villains, so maybe this was for the best. But I would make him pay for calling Kurinka a pig. Absolutely.
As everyone remained bewildered, Kurinka eagerly ordered another dish.
◆ Shin Report ◆
From under the table, I quietly sneak a dish.
Why must Shin be so secretive?
After all, I am the overseer of Rua and Kurinka.
I should be acting boldly.
That annoying, amusing Storulf is a bothersome guy, but I want to try his cooking.
What is this?
Using the names of the Shun Geki Shoujo and Homura Hime,
I should never approach this restaurant again.
If the reputation of this place falls, it will be your fault, and I will come to crush you, using fear as my weapon.
Sweeter than the black sugar jelly I ordered.
Well, it seems Kurinka has some sort of plan.
Just barging in and ending things is a tired development.
What? Who would benefit from that?
Shin has been acting strangely lately.