The Cidre House was as lively as ever.
Delvers filled the place, exchanging drinks and chatting noisily.
"Quite the racket."
"It's always like this here."
Even as I said that, it did feel a bit louder than usual.
Was something going on?
"So then, how about today—Wof, that table's open."
A table for two happened to be free.
We sat down.
A server came by to take our order.
Of course. I ordered butter rice.
Pakira ordered sausages.
A blood sausage, to be specific.
"Do you like those?"
"Hm?"
Pakira tilted her head with a blank look.
"The blood sausage."
"Ah, yes. Those are rather good, especially the ones here. They suit my palate."
"………"
Blood sausage is an acquired taste.
Those who love it really love it, but for others it’s just not appealing.
Blood sausage also has its own distinct varieties and flavors.
The blood sausage at Cider Hall is especially rich.
That makes sense, since the ingredients are pig’s blood, pig fat, just a little ground meat, salt, and pepper.
It’s almost entirely blood and fat. That’s stuffed into a casing and boiled.
The taste is something that enthusiasts absolutely adore.
“Whoaaaaa!!”
“Sooo gooood!!”
“Incredible, that’s fifty-eight servings!!?”
“Wait, he’s still going!?”
“He did it!!”
What’s going on? I can hear unusual, rousing cheers from the opposite side.
“What on earth is happening?”
“I wonder.”
“Honestly, what are they making all this noise about in the middle of the day?”
Pakira grumbled with clear annoyance.
“Who knows, really.”
“Hmph, it’s just a pointless racket anyway.”
Well, she’s not wrong.
So we waited, and the food was brought out.
Butter rice and five kinds of blood sausage. Plus drinks.
I got the lemon-lime. Pakira went with orange juice.
I put my hands together before eating.
"Thanks for the food."
"What's that supposed to be?"
"Uh, it's a greeting from my hometown."
"Oh."
I just do it without thinking. A habit from my past life.
I immediately scoop up some butter rice with my spoon and take a bite.
"Mm. Delicious."
I'm completely hooked on butter rice by now.
But lately… that's exactly why I feel like something's missing.
That feeling grows stronger day by day.
And I know exactly what it is I'm missing.
Soy sauce.
Soy sauce on butter rice is the ultimate combination, I'm sure of it.
It's not fish sauce, though.
I tried it, but it wasn't the same. I wonder if there's soy sauce anywhere around here.
"Now that's good. This flavor."
Pakira was happily munching on a blood sausage.
"I figured you liked fish."
"Because I'm a cat?"
"Yes."
"Cats eat meat too, you know. Fish is meat as well."
"Now that you mention it, you're right."
"I'm not a cat, mind you. Cat-type, certainly. Of course. And I do like fish."
"I like fish too."
"But all you can eat around here is river fish, isn't it?"
"Seafood is hard to come by, yeah."
"Mm. With the distance, preserving it is..."
The frontier region where Hydrangea sits is at the far northwestern edge.
But Hydrangea is inland, far from the sea.
Virtually all the seafood that makes it in consists of processed goods suited for preservation.
Preservation technology isn't well established, and transport methods are limited.
There are barrels and bottled goods, but no canned food yet.
Still, the imperial capital, the royal capital, and the larger cities—
I heard they've got widespread freezing technology that uses Relics and Legacies.
When will the day come that I can eat fresh sashimi out here in the frontier?
Or maybe I should just visit a seaside town sometime.
But it's far. Even the fastest route would take a month.
Hmm? What's that about? The commotion is also on my mind, but Pakira...
Was she fidgeting and squirming? Does she need the bathroom?
"Is something wrong?"
"Well, you see... I have never... eaten a meal alone with a member of the opposite sex before."
"Huh? But I'm a minor."
"Still, you're of the opposite sex."
"Well, that's true, but..."
I was baffled. Why would she suddenly get nervous around a kid like me?
Pakira lowered her gaze.
"How embarrassing. I was the one who suggested this, after all."
"If you're not comfortable around the opposite sex, that can't be helped."
"You're awfully philosophical about it, aren't you."
"A-am I?"
Maybe I am. Maybe not.
"WOOOOOOOW!!"
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!"
"INCREDIBLE!!"
"The legendary sixty-second bowl!!?"
"He actually did it!"
— Seriously!?
— Hey, hey. So this is what a Grade II delver looks like...?
What in the world.
Pakira was getting irritated, too.
— Even so, this is rather loud.
— S-sorry.
A female shopkeeper passing by apologized.
Perfect timing. I asked.
— What are they doing over there?
— A drinking contest.
— With Agaro?
— Y-yes.
— And who's the opponent?
— Um, Black Devourer... that's what they were called.
— Could it be Megadia the Black Devourer!? Isn't that a Grade II delver!?
— A Grade II delver, same as Agaro...
So the person Agaro had been waiting for had finally arrived, huh.