Riot Grasper Vol 3 Chapter 2

Volume 3, Chapter 2 【The Royal Capital Horn】

「Aah… Amazing. This is just like the king said. Now I get why he said, ‘you must visit at least once.’」

7th Month, 4th Week, Day of Earth.

After departing from Merville and covering the distance worth two days, I had arrived in the Royal Capital of Lech.e.l.le, Horn.

It would have taken more than double the time had I opted for a stagecoach. However, I was able to enjoy the journey thanks to the quick feet of Rook. Although I had paid a hefty sum to purchase this Scaled Dragon, Rook, from the beast mount shop back in Merville, it was money unmistakably well spent.

While running on the highway leading north from Merville to the Royal Capital, I had caught sight of numerous farm villages. I was also able to confirm many towns of reasonable scale.

However, now that the Royal Capital had settled into my view, the scale of all those villages and towns combined seemed smaller in comparison; it was that big.

――A metropolis where hundreds of thousands of people live.

Such was my first impression.

Well, it could not exactly be called a metropolis in terms of my previous life. With reference to per unit area, however, the population density was quite low. That’s probably why it looked bigger than it was.

Or perhaps my common sense had adjusted to this world’s? it would definitely not be a mistake to call it a metropolis.

The capital, which extended to the coast, was developed with the river, which flowed into the sea, as the centre. Hence, countless ca.n.a.ls streamed freely down the town.

Under the bridge that connected brick houses, a ca.n.a.l that could accommodate several boats could be seen. The boats carrying people and goods were moving to and fro.

The Capital of Water… It was such a place, huh? The spectacle was overflowing with romance.

As for me, I was in the middle of moving through one such ca.n.a.l on Rook.

Riding a horse was not prohibited in this town per se; it was out of the question.

Rather, there were many pa.s.sages for pedestrians. However, they were all crowded. It would in fact take more time on Rook. Therefore, I dived into the ca.n.a.l.

Never did I imagine that the merit of Rook being an amphibian would come into use here.

Although my body had gotten wet a little, the water did not smell at least. The drainage control seemed to be neat.

…What a relief.

Swimming leisurely in the ca.n.a.l, touring the town all the while, I decided to head to the inn.

There was a solemn building which seemed to be a church, and a distant building which was most likely the Royal Palace. There was a circular building, too, that looked like an arena――There was no end to the attractions.

Midway through――The sun started sinking into the horizon, dyeing the sea red.

Although the environs had dimmed due to the setting sun, there was no sense of insecurity.

Equally distanced, phosph.o.r.escent lights started illuminating the entirety of the town.

Just what kind of contrivance is it?

Although it was not at the level of 『Dazzling』, it gave a sense of security. Also, it was not oil lit. Even Merville didn’t have those.

「It would be worth coming here even if it was just to witness this spectacle.」

――Although I had lost my way, I was somehow able to reach my destination. I ordered Rook to get out of the ca.n.a.l.

Splas.h.!.+ Jumping vigorously out of the water’s surface, Rook dropped me and shook her body, spraying drops of water.

「You… did that on purpose, didn’t you?」

「Kwuu」

…Having decided to dry the wet clothes later, I proceeded to secure lodging first.

The building before me must be the inn I had been informe
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d of.

And the name carved on the signboard was――『Bellyful Flavors』

Un… this is it.

To tell you the truth, the one who informed me of this inn was Dario-san.

Before departing from Merville, I was greeting everyone who I was obliged to. That’s when, “If you’re going to the Royal Capital Horn, how about…” Dario-san informed me of this inn.

When I asked him the reason, he just scratched his head, embarra.s.sed… It was quite a fine inn.

It had three storeys just like Feeder Pops’, which I was grateful to, of Merville. However, the scale of this building was larger.

Is every room laid out separately?

…I, who was absentmindedly looking up at the inn, came to my senses upon my body colliding with someone.

「Owaa. Sorry. Are you hurt?」

「Ah, it’s okay. I was in the way.」

Standing flat footed in front of the entrance to the inn would obviously be obstructive. The man who was carrying a large barrel on each of his shoulders must be a worker at this inn.

「No, it’s fine. Erm… Are you perhaps a customer who plans on staying here?」

「Yeah, I do plan o…oon?!」

「W-What happened? Is there something on my face…?」

When his face – that had been hidden behind the barrels – showed, I leaked a surprised voice.

The other party also raised a questioning voice.

The man’s height was ten centimeters more than mine, and he had a solidly built body. From how he was holding not one but two barrels at the same time, it could be seen that he had considerable strength.

However, that was not what surprised me.

Even though he did not have a moustache, his had an intense look. Even so, his voice was not intimidating in the slightest; it was gentle.

…I knew one such man… old man, who had me experience the same ‘gap’.

If you shaved this man’s head, you would get the younger version of that man.

I didn’t even have to use 《Thief’s Eyes》.

Still, I wanted to make sure.

These eyes were specially granted to me when I reincarnated in this world――Iris. It could display brief description of an item and the status of a target. It was quite a handy unique ability.

Name: Uran Fot
Race: Human
Age: 22
Job: Inn Employee
Skills
Cooking Lv3 (12/150)
Fis.h.i.+ng Lv2 (42/50)

…I knew it.

Family name: Fot… This man is Dario-san’s son, isn’t he? Undoubtedly.

As for why he was embarra.s.sed when I asked him for the reason of recommending this inn, is this perhaps why?

Both of them possessed Cooking Skill; like father like son.

「Erm, are you really fine?」

「Fua!? Ah… I was surprised for a moment. By the way, is there a vacant room in the inn?」

「…Erm, I’m in charge of the kitchen. Please wait――Stella, do you have a moment?」

Opening the door to the Bellyful Flavors, Uran-san headed in. Putting the barrels down, he called someone’s name out.

Apparently, the first floor of this inn too was a dining hall c.u.m bar. The woman serving the tables turned around.

「Yes. Ara, a customer? Can you please wait a moment? I’ll finish the check-in procedure right away.」

Since it was evening, the inn was flouris.h.i.+ng with guests intending to stay and customers intending to eat. The woman named Stella was busily moving around. Uran-san had withdrawn to the kitchen, too. And here I was waiting quietly.

…Fumu. The guests who were taking the food down their throats――had a satisfied expression about their face. Well, that was to be expected of Uran-san who was in charge of the kitchen.

Although his Cooking skill was not at the level of Dario san, it was quite high nonetheless.

*Slurps*

「――I’m sorry to keep you waiting. Please fill in this form.」

I, who had finished the check-in procedure at the reception, paid Stella-san a fleeting glance.

With her pale pink hair bound into a knot for ease of movement, an impregnable smile on her always smiling face, and a neat ap.r.o.n; she had the appearance of a working woman. Calling her a kanbanmusume would not be wrong. (TN: Pretty girl who attracts customers to come inside a shop)

The accommodation charges were relatively higher: 600 Dalas.

Considering the location like the Royal Capital and amenities like bath, it was appropriate.

「Is this inn run by you two?」

「Not at all. It is managed by Proprietress-san. The chef you met earlier, the one with the scary face――is Uran. Both of us are employees here. Ah, my name is Stella, by the way.」

Apparently, Proprietress-san was busy at the moment, arranging beddings in the guest rooms.

Making a kanbanmusume, who would garner popularity amongst the customers, a waitress was indeed the right decision. Stella-san was scratching her cheek, blus.h.i.+ng.

She was 20 years old. Although she was a senior, it would not be wrong to call her a cute girl instead of a beautiful woman.

「Sir, you seem to have a beast mount with you. I don’t mean to say you have to, but… you can leave it in the inn’s care. It would be charged additionally, though.」

Stella-san, who was reviewing the form, seemed to have found the checkmark next to ‘do you have a beast mount?’

「Ah, thank you very much. It seems to be tied outside at the moment.」

Nodding, Stella-san called out toward the kitchen.

「Uran, I’m going to the beast mount for a bit. Please serve the tables while I’m away.」

――After leaving Rook in the hut annexed to the inn, I had dinner in the dining hall.

Stella-san, who was carrying the dishes-

「Uran’s cooking is quite something.」

-said so and lined the plates up on the table.

First, I took the soup to my mouth.

This is… cold potato soup! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vichyssoise)

As if potatoes, which had fully ripened after having absorbed nutrients in the soil, were freshly brought from the farm to the Royal Capital market. And this sweetness; Carbs, warmed at moderate temperature, became exquisitely sweet after melting and turning into sugar.

Taste? It was not short of even bouillon made from meat and vegetables. Seasoning? It was not disorderly even one bit. Lastly, the refrigeration had tightened the entire flavor.

This cold soup had oven fresh bread dipped into it. The fact that I was used to dried up bread was embarra.s.sing enough. Won’t my stomach get bloated like this?

…Even though the main dish, tomato base pasta, was waiting for me.

It need not be mentioned that this tomato pasta was not an ordinary tomato pasta either.

Capitalizing on it being a coastland capital, a variety of seafood――squids, shrimps, sh.e.l.lfish, etc. was sautéed with salt, garlic and fragrant herbs, and then cooked in tomato sauce. Since the sourness of wine could be tasted, it was undoubtedly used as a secret ingredient.

There was no way that it would not be delicious.

…Thanks to Dario san’s cooking, I had developed quite a knack for taste.

――As for Uran-san’s cooking, it was enough to delight my stomach.

「Puhaaa, that was tasty.」

I, who had finished eating, expressed my honest impression.

Since I was taking all of my time enjoying the food, the customers had dwindled down by the time I surveyed my surroundings.

「I’m glad to have made you say so.」

「Cooking is the only thing Uran is good at.」

Uran-san, who had been occupied with the kitchen, had room to show up with Stella-san.

「That ‘only’ part was cruel. I’m good at fis.h.i.+ng, too. Do you know who caught all the seafood for today’s main dish――」

「Yeah, yeah. I have to tidy up the tableware. Don’t disturb me.」

Cutting Uran-san’s story short, Stella-san collected emptied dishes off the tables quickly.

「Jeez… Ah, by the way. Sir, why were you surprised when you saw me? Have we met before? …I don’t think so, though.」

「You were not surprised at Uran’s face? like――ah, don’t attack me!」

「It was not like that. Stella, keep quiet for a bit.」

「Really? I had such a thought, though, when I first met Uran. That scary face.」

「You.」

…They don’t get along, these two.

When Uran-san advanced a step, Stella-san carried the tableware she was holding to the sink with quick feet.

「――No, Uran-san looks like an acquaintance of mine.」

「Eh, don’t tell me…」

Albeit briefly, I described how I had been taken care of by Dario-san of Feeder Pops’ all these days.

「I see. Old man and mother are still full of energy. I moved to the Royal Capital four years ago seeking cookery practice. I write them several letters a year, but… still, I’m glad to hear it from you.」

Uran-san, who was taught the Art of Cooking by Dario-san, had a dream of opening a store of his own.

Although he was this young, he had this level of skill.

Even if he opened an inn, or a cooking specialty restaurant, his dream would come true.

「I may be inexperienced in comparison to my old man, but please rest at ease in our inn as long as stay in the Royal Capital.」

Ku… they really are father and son with such an outrageous gap between the packaging and the contents.

Should I stay at Bellyful Flavors for a while…?

「Fuun, but customers run away when Uran serves the tables. Those who come to me, though, get well accustomed to this place.」

Before we knew it, Stella-san had returned from the sink. She muttered so, idly.

「I’m in charge of the kitchen, that’s why! Sociability is best suited to a girl with Stella’s looks. If you’re so confident, how about I hire you when I open my store?」

「…I’ll think about it.」

Stella-san, who had poured cold water on the invitation, turned back.

Chasing her, Uran-san also returned to the kitchen.

Although the number of customers had decreased, work had yet to be finished.

Wetting my throat with the fruit juice, I looked up at the atrium styled ceiling of the inn.

…No matter how you look――

「――‘They are clearly a couple’ …is that what you’re thinking?」

Wha…t?

Upon an unexpected whisper from my side, I turned my head strenuously.

Standing there was a woman with a good physique, smiling.

Her hair was covered in a white kerchief and the lower half of her body in an ap.r.o.n, just like Stella-san.

「Did I surprise you? I’m Magdalena; I manage this inn. I haven’t seen your face before… are you an adventurer?」

Upon the enquiry of the proprietress, whose eyes had rested on the hisage shaped plate down my neck, I nodded. (TN: Hisage is a ceremonial decanter)

「That so? You better not overdo anything absurd. Oh well, Uran might have said that already, but; rest at ease here.」

「Okay. That, earlier…」

「Aah, you have noticed, too? It can be found out the moment you see them. If only that girl was just as honest… Whatever; when Uran becomes independent and these two leave together, it will be a great loss to me. 」

Proprietress-san left with a hearty laughter.

‘Whatever’ …huh?

The reason being, Stella-san’s cheeks were lightly red upon Uran-san’s earlier remark.

After witnessing that, I would get it even if I were a kid.

However, it was strange.

Although I was ready to raise my magic power to the max and invoke Explosion Magic――《Flames of Envy》 (※unusable) after witnessing such a commonplace scene, it didn’t come to that.

After thoroughly enjoying a delicious meal, I might have become tolerant.

‘Fu… I’ll let it pa.s.s, but just this once.’

Oh well, since I had no right to interfere, I just watched them gently.

Rolling on my tongue the dessert made from the large grapes–specialty of Horn–in condensed milk, I stood up from my seat and pondered over tomorrow’s schedule.

――It was the start of my new life.