The Other World Dining Hall (WN) Chapter 39

TN: I know that the picture is a seafood paella. Though I typed pilaf in google search, only paella images came out. Since they’re similar anyway, why not? *shrugs*

Seafood Pilaf

Alfred, a hired employee of the Empire, was accompanying a beautiful girl and walking around the city center of the Capital.

[…Is it true?]

His master this time… a young daughter of a n.o.ble family, Aisha, with loose, undulating black hair and lightly tanned skin from the Sand Country of the far away West Continent, asked him again.

[Ee. It's true.]

Alfred nodded to her question.

Alfred had a secret plan.

“I don't want to be a constant burden of people talking in the Empire, I want to return to the Sand Country, I would be delighted to have you as my husband.”

The Capital City of the Empire was a young capital city.

It was only 50 years since the Capital began to flourish ever since the wise emperor Wilheim made the country to be called "Empire".

There used to a country with the same name as the Empire.

It seemed that it was a prospering country, although it was not the leading major powers of the Eastern Continent like the Princ.i.p.ality which hailed from the Old Kingdom and was the first country for humans.

But a country with the same name as the Empire… the old Empire faded away quite easily. Their location and luck were too bad.

During the last years of the Evil G.o.d War, after many battles between humans and demons, the vicinity of the former Empire's Capital became the forefront of the battlefield.

The battle was terrible, it was said that many cities and villages were destroyed and its citizens were killed.

And one time, the leader of the demon tribe "the Demon King" who possessed the most power among all demons wanted a human city… he rallied his whole army and attacked the former Capital.

In any case, the opponent was a demon during the age of Evil G.o.d War, that demon was a monster capable of decimating an army.

The old Capital capitulated, only two of the royal family had survived, the princess who had the excessive fortune to be saved by the four heroes and her son.

The princess who survived then became Emperor Mother Adelheid and her son was named Wilheim who later became the wise emperor, and the history of the Empire began there.

The Empire was a country where people lived poorly for a long time until Wilheim discovered the Baron's fruit and spread its cultivation.

Therefore, the rich people were still few and there were only a few high-end shops.

In addition, the Capital was located in the middle of the Eastern Continent and the ocean was far away.

And so…

[To be honest I can't believe it. I don't know that there's a restaurant serving rice dishes using seafood.]

It was a dish that Aisha extremely wanted.

Aisha was born in the Sand Country of the Western Continent.

There, rice was commonly eaten as a staple food and seafood was familiar at the port towns of Sand Country.

Not only were they at the Eastern Continent, they were at the inland Capital.

For the food that Aisha wanted, not even gold was enough to obtain it except by being helped by a magician.

Alfred said that he knew where they could eat the dish, but Aisha was skeptical.

[There is no shop in the vicinity. Really…]

Besides, the location also said that there's something fishy about Alfred's story.

Yes, they were now walking around the corner where foreign n.o.bles were living.

It was a place where there were no shops as it was usual for the merchants to carry their merchandise straight to the aristocracy.

Due to that common sense, there was no way that there's a restaurant.

[That's right. I understand that. Until recently that is.]

However, Alfred reacted to Aisha's retort with a wry smile.

It was "7 days ago", when he encountered a Halfling that he had never seen around there. Driven by his curiosity, he decided to ask him.

The only "restaurant" that appeared in the Capital was in this area.

[Yes, we've arrived.]

Alfred pointed to a narrow alley between n.o.bles' mansions.

[…Why is the door at that place?]

Aisha tilted her head seeing the door so close to the narrow alley where people wouldn't even notice.

[Eeto, that's the way it is. That door.]

When he replied to Aisha, he smiled wryly seeing the same expression that he had when the Halfling told him the same thing.

[That place, it appears only once every 7 days, a different world restaurant… the doorway that leads to the otherworld dining hall.]

He remembered the delicious dish he ate that Aisha craved.

'Chirinchirin', the door opened.

[Welcome to Nekoya Western Restaurant!]

Reflexively looking to the door, a waitress wearing a short skirt said to those two.

[…A demon waitress? This restaurant.]

Seeing the small horns growing from her temple, Aisha asked Alfred.

There were many demons in the Capital, she saw many of them before, but it was unlikely that one worked at a place that catered to n.o.bles.

[Looks like it. But you shouldn't be surprised by this much.

There's none currently, but there are monster customers as well.]

Alfred said that as if to admonish Aisha.

[Monsters!? You must be joking…]

Before he could reply, the door opened.

[Mu. You're in the way. Move aside.]

[Hii!?]

Aisha unexpectedly screamed when she looked backwards and saw a lizardman standing behind her… his bulging muscles s.h.i.+fted.

[So, sorry. We'll step aside now.]

[Mu.]

Alphonse hurriedly pulled away the stiff Aisha, the lizardman nodded and ordered after seating on an appropriate seat.

The waitress was accustomed to it and took his order with a smile.

[Wha, wha, wha, wha, what is this restaurant, isn't it strange!?]

Due to the sudden events, Aisha protested to Alfred with teary eyes.

[Certainly, they were not there when I last came because it's late afternoon at that time, but this is a bit…]

Alfred smiled wryly, and was surprised when he saw the door opened and a horde of faeries came in.

The story that he heard when he first came turned out to be the truth.

Sometimes people could be led by Halflings who loved this kind of jokes.

[Let's sit down for now… are you okay with us sitting here?]

Looking inside the restaurant, it was beautiful as always, though he felt like he had seen the girl with similar air as Aisha in the Empire before. She was talking excitedly with a n.o.blewoman of the Sand Country sitting beside her table while a man with similar features to the n.o.blewoman wasn’t doing anything though he seemed to be listening to their conversation.

Alfred saw an empty table next to them and asked the n.o.bleman.

[…Aa, do as you like.]

He had lightly tanned skin, glossy black hair that seemed well taken care of, and wearing exotic clothes that were embroidered with golden threads. The man that seemed to be a n.o.bleman of the Sand Country nodded disinterestedly.

[Is that so. Thank you very much… well then, ojou-sama, this way.]

Luckily Alfred got his permission and urged Aisha to seat there.

[…Really, is this okay? This restaurant?]

Already feeling worn-out due to numerous surprises, Aisha asked Alfred.

Seeing as there were "siblings" coming from Sand Country that she was vaguely familiar with seating next to them, he used that coincidence to rea.s.sure her.

[Excuse me, I would like to order?]

Confirmed that Aisha had seated, Alfred called the waitress to order.

[Yes! Well, what would you like to order?]

[Etto, 2 seafood pilafs please. And kaffa… ah wrong, coffee for after the meal.]

Quickly ordering… the same food that he ate last time, he asked for the "rice dish using seafood" that Aisha wanted.

[Yes! Thank you very much. Please wait for a moment.]

The waitress nodded and retreated to inform the owner as soon as possible.

After that.

[Thank you for waiting. Here're your seafood pilafs.]

After receiving the order at the kitchen, a middle-aged man who should be the owner placed the plates in front of both of them.

Rounded, red peeled Schripe, clear white rice mixed with chopped vegetables, and white peeled sh.e.l.lfish that had grid-like cuts.

The smell of b.u.t.ter tickled Aisha's nose and she gulped her saliva.

[Please enjoy your meal.]

The owner retreated to the back after saying that.

And only the seafood pilaf with b.u.t.tery fragrance was left before them.

[…It looks pretty good.]

After swallowing her spit, Aisha said that with a straight face though she inwardly blushed when her stomach growled.

[Well, let's enjoy it before it gets cold.]

Ignore that sound magnificently, Alfred urged Aisha.

[I, I know!]

Even though she unintentionally raised her voice, she picked up a silver spoon.

She scooped up the rice and ingredients… to her mouth.

(A, so delicious…)

The moment she ate the spoonful, to that desired taste, tears p.r.i.c.ked the corners of her eyes due to the food that was even more delicious than she thought.

Soft, freshly cooked rice, wrapped by the b.u.t.ter's scent.

Spices that were valuable in the Empire were used as seasonings, and when the umami of the seafood was soaked up by her tongue, the flavours unraveled in her mouth.

It seemed that the rice's quality was excellent; its flavor came out whenever she thoroughly chewed her food.

The ingredients' flavours were also top quality.

She couldn't think that these were transported from the sea. They were so fresh that there was no bad smell.

Small Schripes that were chewy and Clarco1 that were carved with latticed cuts to make it easier to eat.

The unknown sh.e.l.lfish contained plenty of seafood juice.

Bright vivid orange, yellow and green vegetables were finely minced and mixed with the rice, making an excellent combination.

And the water that oozed out from the vegetables combined with the seafood juice to make western sauce, raising the overall taste of the rice dish.

Before she realized it, she finished the seafood pilaf.

Her stomach felt satisfied.

With the warmth of the seafood pilaf warming her belly, Aisha sighed.

[How was it, ojou-sama? Do you like it?]

[Well… so-so, I guess.]

Seeing Alfred smiling happily, Aisha smoothed her expression.

…With a grain of rice on her face near her mouth.

[That's good. I'm glad that you're pleased with it.]

After confirming that his master was satisfied, Alfred started on his seafood pilaf.

It was delicious. Just like the previous time he ate it.

(I'm glad that ojou-sama gets to eat this too…)

Apparently this dish was also very delicious to a foreign n.o.ble.

For a girl who normally had a small appet.i.te, she cleared her plate with surprising speed.

(…Un?)

When he was eating, he noticed.

Aisha was staring at the Alfred's pilaf.

[…Ano, excuse me. Please give another serving of the same dish.]

[Yes, thank you very much.]

He called the waitress and asked for additional order.

[…!? I, I don't need another serving! 1 serving is enough!]

Aisha refuted half-heartedly.

[Ee. I know. But since I'm a man, one serving is not enough.

…But since another serving is too much for me to finish, will ojou-sama help me finish it?]

Alfred pleasantly suggested to the ojou-sama.

[…! It, it can't be helped! Understand that!]

Aisha nodded while smiling enthusiastically.

(Yareyare. What a troublesome master… still, she has a pretty cute side.)

Smiling wryly at Aisha, Alfred continued to eat his pilaf.

At the moment they stepped outside, the door vanished.

[Really, what a strange restaurant.]

[Maa, it's a different world after all.]

While exchanging such conversation, they left the location.

[Will you come with me again next time, ojou-sama?]

While walking, he made that proposal.

[That's fine. Maa… if it's once in 3 days, I wouldn't mind.]

Beside him, Aisha looked happy though she pretended to be calm.

[No, that restaurant only appears once in 7 days…]

[Ee!? Is that so!?]

Hearing that, Aisha's face drooped in sadness.

(Un. Let's go again 7 days later.)

Alfred secretly made the next schedule.

TN: Eh, I don’t like Aisha. She’s too much of a whiny and tsundere girl. I applaud Alfred for skillfully handling her. Can their outing even be considered as a date?