The Other World Dining Hall (WN) Chapter 62

TN: Happy New Year to all of you! Let’s hope it’s another peaceful year and not a chaotic one.

Pot au feu

He ran into a cabin that someone built and Arnold, a travelling adventurer, breathed out.

[Somehow, we're saved… hey, Eri. We're save now.]

[Really? It's alright now?]

He a.s.sured his daughter that he was carrying on his back since sunset.

Before sunset, it was raining hard enough that they decided to wait for it to end under their cloth canopy set up in a tree's shade, however, it was night time when the rain's intensity became stronger.

The strong rain fell sideways so their canopy cloth became useless.

The momentum of the rain caused their bonfire to be snuffed out.

Arnold decided not to rely on their lantern as it would not prevent their body from chilling, but it was dangerous to move around at night while carrying his daughter.

Apparently his judgment was correct and Arnold managed to find this cabin not far away.

[…Eri, you should change your wet clothes for a dryer set.]

[…Un. I understand.]

After he made sure Eri changed her clothes, he also took off his clothes and took out a replacement set from his st.u.r.dy bag.

After he gently wiped his wet body and changed into dry clothing, Arnold was finally more comfortable and looked around the cabin.

[…Un. If it's this place, then there's no need to be worried about the rain.]

Thought its purpose was unknown, it seemed to be something that a member of n.o.bility would build.

Even with this rain, it was built solidly to the extent it wouldn't leak.

On the other hand, it had a strong dusty smell.

Apparently, it had not been used for several years.

And if they stayed until the rain stopped, there's no complaint.

[…Well, there should be firewood here somewhere.]

Regrettably, there was no firewood though there was a fireplace, Arnold pulled Eri's hand.

[…Let's go, Eri. Let's explore this place.]

[…Un.]

Eri who finished changing her clothes nodded and held Arnold's hand.

It seemed that he was uneasy in this place when the only illumination came from their lantern.

He held her hand firmly.

(…Still, there's a possibility that this is a haunted house.)

Suddenly, he involuntarily insured that he brought holy water in his pocket.

Sometimes there were buildings called "haunted houses" if they were not used for several years.

…If it's just a ghost, it should be okay to endure its presence for several days. But if it's a lich, then they should immediately run away.

While he was a warrior, Arnold was slightly overloaded with his child.

[Yos.h.i.+, let's go.]

[Un.]

Arnold grasped Eri's hand firmly.

His wife pa.s.sed away to desperately hold off monsters' invasion, so he must protect his daughter no matter what.

That's why he quitted adventurer's life and travelled with his daughter to return to his parents that ran a weapon shop in his hometown.

[Yos.h.i.+, let's start from here.]

He started on a black door with bra.s.s handle, which was exquisitely made for this cabin.

It was built to be locked, but there's no keyhole.

Arnold decided to take a risk and opened it.

'Chirinchirin', the sound resounded when the door opened.

[Uo!?] [Kyaa!?]

At that moment, they were blinded by the light with intensity of daylight.

[Oya, welcome. To come at this time, is there something wrong?]

[You're somewhat wet. Are you alright?]

Arnold's eyes were blinded.

A surprised voice of a middle-aged man was joined with the voice of a young woman.

(…Kuh, what should I do!?)

A strangely bright room and voices of strangers who suddenly appeared in the abandoned cabin.

To judge them as friends and greet them or treat them as enemies.

Arnold had to make that decision.

[Otou-san…]

She became anxious and gripped his hand tightly.

[They're wet so they should be quite cold… Aletta, bring me towels.]

[Yes! Just a minute.]

Both of them spoke warmly, and Arnold solidified his decision while holding his sword hanging from his waist.

If he looked closely, the girl who headed to the back was a demon and the man who was still there slightly lowered his head towards Arnold and Eri.

[Welcome to Western Restaurant Nekoya.]

[Ne, Nekoya…?]

Arnold tilted his head after hearing the unknown word.

[Yes. That is the name of the restaurant. For customers like you, this place is the "otherworld dining hall".

…The business hours had ended, but it seems that you have unexpected circ.u.mstances.

I can serve some employee food, would you like to eat something?]

Upon saying that, Arnold's clothing hem was tugged.

…'Kyuu', a belly growled.

They wiped their hair and bodies with strange woven cloths called towels that easily sucked water and the two sat on an appropriate table while looking around.

[…It's somewhat amazing, this place.]

[Aa.]

Arnold obediently nodded to Eri who only the city where she was born.

It was a mysterious place even for Arnold who travelled here and there due to his job.

Chairs and tables that were carefully made and brightly polished, a room as warm as spring season that was as bright as daytime though there was no sign of fire like a fireplace in the room.

Well-made gla.s.s bottles and small potteries lining up on the tables.

According to the owner… Arnold's eyes were capturing the sight of another world.

(I wonder if that cabin itself is made for this purpose…)

Suddenly, he noticed the possibility.

The door to another world that appeared only once in 7 days.

Someone who knew of its existence, probably no longer in the world, built that cabin as a place to use the door.

Such an imagination crossed his head.

[Sorry to keep you waiting! I brought hot milk for you.]

While he was thinking such, one of his orders came.

Warmed cow's milk, well known to Arnold and Eri.

Arnold's and Eri's shoulders sagged as they smelled the scent of warm milk that filled the large pottery cups.

[As the food needs to be re-warmed, the master said that it needed a little more time.]

The girl named Aletta returned back to the kitchen.

[…Aa, how warm.]

[…Un, tasty.]

As soon as they grasped the cups' handles, they drank at the same time and exhaled.

The faintly sweet warm milk warmed their bodies.

The warmth of the fresh cow milk was currently the most delicious treat for them.

They silently drank the hot milk.

Every time they drank, their bodies became warmer, but at the same time, their bellies were empty since they only ate cold preserved food at noon.

[I wonder what kind of food that's going to be served.]

[Un…]

Eri nodded to Arnold's muttering.

Because of the lack of remaining ingredients, the owner told them that he could only make otherworld soup.

(Instead, the price of the food stated was a very fair price that's kind to my wallet.)

He did not know what kind of food that's coming, but it should be delicious since they're hungry.

As they slowly drank their hot milk, the long-awaited dish came.

[Thank you for waiting. Here's pot au feu.]

The owner placed the bowls in front of them.

[Waa… looks delicious.]

The deep and thick soup bowl was filled with large pieces of vegetables and fat sausages swimming in the soup.

Next to it were two silver spoons and two breads the size of a child's fist that emitted a warm aroma as if freshly baked.

[…Is this okay? It's more luxurious than I thought.]

After swallowing his spit, Arnold asked the owner.

This did not seem like an employee meal.

But the owner nodded and said.

[Ee, I made it with the remaining vegetables and sausages.

A, the soup and bread are free to refill, so please eat as much as you want.

Well then, please enjoy.]

After saying so, the owner retreated to the back.

Only Arnold and Eri were left in the quiet room.

[…Well, let's eat.]

[Un…]

They started to eat the pot au feu.

(…This is an extraordinarily luxurious soup.)

After drinking a spoonful of soup, Arnold immediately noticed that it was exquisite.

He could note that there were vegetables like Baron's fruit and Caryute, pale green leafy vegetable, sliced sweet Oranie and thickly sliced mushrooms. The taste of meat could be attributed from the sausage and the taste of melted b.u.t.ter added to the soup made a finis.h.i.+ng touch on the dish.

But the wonder of this soup was not the vegetables or the faint meat taste… he could feel it now.

But Arnold was surprised not just because of that.

(No way, it's spices…)

It was natural that there was the salt but this tingling taste… it's the taste of pepper.

As it was a trade item from the Western Continent, it's a valuable commodity in the Eastern Continent.

The amount used was small enough that the child Eri could eat it (she was silently eating her soup and bread), but the pepper gave the soup that was full of vegetables and meat a refres.h.i.+ng flavor.

(And the bread…)

He reached for the bread and took a bite.

It was different from everyday bread, a soft and slightly sweet bread.

It had crispy baked crust and soft cotton-like inside that was softer than any bread Arnold ever ate.

Even this bread alone made a delicious dish.

[Give me more! Bread and pot au feu!]

Without considering unnecessary things, Eri held out her empty dish towards Aletta.

[Yes! Please wait a moment.]

The empty dish was taken and when Arnold saw Aletta bring the second serving, he felt a little frustrated and resumed eating.

The vegetables were cooked to the extent that there was no crispiness left and bursting with soup every time he chewed though they still retained their shape.

The meat tightly packed into the intestine fills his mouth and had plenty of meat juice.

[Excuse me! Seconds for me too!]

Finally, after wiping the remaining soup with his bread, he asked for a second serving.

The father and daughter food compet.i.tion continued until the evening had pa.s.sed.

The next morning, Arnold and Eri continued travelling again while looking up towards the blue sky.

[It was delicious…]

[Aa…]

Remembering the breakfast of eggs with bread, Arnold involuntarily agrees.

After all, yesterday they borrowed a corner of the warm restaurant and slept.

And they ate the "morning meal" prepared by the owner before they left.

[I want to eat it again…]

[Aa, someday…]

Arnold nodded to Eri's words.

They would arrive at their hometown in five days.

After their journey was over, it would be the start of a modest life of a father and daughter.

(When my daughter gets bigger, maybe we can come again…)

He thought so while grasping Eri's hand as a memento of his wife.

Next time, they'll visit as proper customers during daytime.

Arnold walked slowly to match Eri's strides while thinking so.

While firmly looking forward.