A certain seaside.
A blue sky stretched overhead, and glancing into the distance, one could see the ocean.
Asphalt-paved ground and road signs.
Rest sat on a bench at a bus stop, listening to the sound of the waves and the cries of seabirds.
"Man, takoyaki really is delicious. You'll make okonomiyaki next, right?"
"...No way. What a pain."
Sitting next to him on the bench was a girl in a familiar sailor uniform—Sanada Shoko.
Rest narrowed his eyes and glared at Shoko, who was brazenly begging for more.
"Your villagers had me making mountains of takoyaki. My fingers are killing me now because of it."
"Use healing magic on them, then. You're good at it, aren't you?"
Shoko giggled cheerfully and took out a PET bottle of cola.
When she popped the cap open, the characteristic hiss of a carbonated drink sounded and white foam bubbled up inside the container.
"In a dream, you can eat whatever you want, but... it's still just a dream, isn't it? It's tasteless and unsatisfying."
Shoko drank about half the cola and handed the bottle over.
When he poured it into his mouth, she was right. It tasted like the familiar carbonated beverage, but somehow it was flavorless.
A dream. Yes... it was a dream.
This was Rest's dream world. Something like a mental landscape.
The woman called Sanada Shoko did not exist in reality. She, and the queen dowager, had long since died.
"In that sense too, I was so happy that you made takoyaki for me. I tried making it myself back when I was alive, but... it just didn't work out. It looks easy, but it's really hard, isn't it?"
"I don't think you're quite at that level, though... you're just clumsy, aren't you?"
"Oh, how rude! If you're going to say things like that, I suppose I won't share my little secret with you, then."
"A secret?"
"It's got your attention, hasn't it? Well, I guess I have no choice... Should I tell dear Rest all about it?"
"............"
Annoying.
Rest felt irritation rising, but merely urged her to continue with a look.
"So, you're looking for ingredients to serve at the party, right? Well then... what about something like a Diamond Bear?"
"A Diamond... Bear?"
Bear meant a bear, presumably?
He had heard that bear paws were sold as luxury ingredients, but... personally, he didn't have the most appetizing impression of them.
"The Diamond Bear is a monster that lives in the eastern part of the kingdom. It's not exactly a mainstream ingredient, but it became quite the topic when House Lavender presented some to the royal family. I received some too, and it had a unique flavor — nothing like what you'd expect from bear meat."
"Oh... something like that exists? I had no idea."
"You're close with the young lady of House Lavender, aren't you, Rest? Why not ask her about it?"
"............"
He wondered if she meant Urla Lavender.
He was indeed on good terms with her.
Just the other day, they had infiltrated a centipede's nest together, and for some reason he had ended up promising to give her a ring.
"Come to think of it... maybe I will ask."
He didn't have any plans for after this anyway.
He had never eaten bear meat—not even in his past life—and he was curious about it.
"All right... then let's try heading to House Lavender's domain next."
"Just make sure you don't go looking for food you can't eat yourself~ Hehehe."
"............?"
Rest couldn't help but give Shoko a bewildered look, as she grinned mischievously for reasons he couldn't fathom.