Episode 161 – Dragon Meat
After paying the innkeeper of Ponpokotei in advance for seven days of lodging, I left my luggage in my room and headed back to Main Street.
By the way, the inn’s accommodation fee was one silver coin and five copper coins per night, with two meals included per day. Considering that the cost of the rundown inn I had stayed at in Grezesta had been 3 copper coins a night, it seemed a bit expensive. But after taking into account the quality of the rooms and the facilities, I felt that it was a pretty reasonable price.
Now that I successfully managed to find a place to stay, I wanted to move onto searching for the [Azure Alliance]. With Ahmed’s distinct personality, if they were staying here in Landaust, I got the feeling that I would find them soon.
Since I didn’t have even the slightest bit of information on them, I figured it might be a good idea to ask around on Main Street or get information from the Adventurer’s Guild. However, since I didn’t have any acquaintances here, I didn’t think I would be able to get much information from the Adventurer’s Guild.
In the past, I had been able to get information from the Guild Chief in Grezesta due to the various incidents that had occurred, but they probably wouldn’t normally give out any personal information. In that case, the best thing to do would be to ask around the shops on Main Street at the places where the [Azure Alliance] seemed like they would frequent.
In that case, let’s go check out the shops.
Of the members in [Azure Alliance], Ahmed would probably go to a restaurant or a blacksmith who handles weapons and armor. For Smash, maybe a secondhand shop or a pawnshop, and for Dion, perhaps a fashionable clothing store or something. I had these notions because right before [Azure Alliance] left, each of them had introduced me to a store that they frequented. I was thinking that they might try to find similar stores over here in Landaust.
And with that said, let’s start with the restaurants. I’m feeling hungry too, so maybe I can get some food while asking for information.
★ ★ ★
….So this place is called Verski, huh?
The restaurant I ended up at was a place called Verski, which happened to serve dragon meat. I asked a lady at a street stall if she knew of any restaurants that served unusual foods, and she had mentioned this restaurant.
A store that sells rare dragon meat… I chose this restaurant knowing that Ahmed would definitely be interested in it. The shopfront looked pretty normal, but the signboard had the words ‘Dragon Meat’ written on it, so I was pretty sure this was the right place.
I quickly entered the restaurant. The interior was small and cozy, and, oddly enough, it had no tables but only seats at the counter. Each of the counter seats was equipped with an iron grilling plate where the meat would be cooked.
“…..Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”
The person who spoke to me was a man who seemed to be the head chef. He was standing at the end of the counter, preparing meat. He didn’t turn to look at me at all as he addressed me, so I couldn’t see his face and wasn’t sure what kind of expression he had.
“N-no. I haven’t made a reservation. Do I have to make one?” (Lewin)
“………Yeah, this place is by reservation only,” the head chef replied after a long silence. His voice had no inflections whatsoever, and he sounded unfriendly, which startled me a bit.
For it to be completely by reservation only… I wanted to try the dragon meat, but if that was the restaurant’s rule, then I didn’t have any choice.
I’ll ask and see if I can get any information, but otherwise I’ll just go to another restaurant.
“So that’s how it is. I apologize for coming in here without knowing.” (Lewin)
“………….Yeah.” (Head Chef)
“Actually, do you mind if I ask you a question? Has there ever been a tall woman here with a blue cloth headband wrapped around her forehead?” (Lewin)
When I posed this question to the chef, who had not been very responsive so far, he put down his knife and looked at me for the first time. Based on his reaction, there was a good chance he recognized who I was talking about. The characteristics I had described were those of a woman you could find anywhere, but if you really knew Ahmed, it would certainly ring a bell.
“………Of course I know someone like that. Are you an acquaintance of that person?” (Head Chef)
“U-umm… an acquaintance?” (Lewin)
I was about to smile at the prospect of getting information about Ahmed. But when I heard the unbridled anger in the chef’s voice and gaze, I started getting anxious.
What in the world had Ahmed done…?
“…If you’re an acquaintance of that person, you’re banned too. Now hurry up and get out of here.” (Head Chef)
“Umm, why is that? It’s a bit troubling to just be banned out of the blue like this.” (Lewin)
“….You really wanna know? That woman ate all of the meat in the restaurant, made a mess, and then left, saying to put it on her tab so she could pay for it later. I eventually was able to get the money, but I had to change the restaurant to a full reservation system after that.” (Head Chef)
I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable when I heard the chef’s bitter diatribe. The problem was, I could easily imagine Ahmed doing something like that, so he probably wasn’t lying. Hearing this anecdote made me a bit glad to hear she hadn’t changed…
“…What the hell are you grinning about? …I knew you came here to make fun of me… Get out, or I’ll call the soldiers.” (Head Chef)
“Sorry! That really wasn’t my intention… U-um, could you tell me a bit of information about that woman―” (Lewin)
“…If you don’t hurry up and get out, I’m seriously going to call the soldiers right this minute. There won’t be a third time.” (Head Chef)
It seemed that I had reached the limit when asking for information about Ahmed and had managed to completely incur the chef’s wrath in the process. I was hoping to weasel out even a smidge more information, but it couldn’t be helped. Knowing that the people of [Azure Alliance] were still here could be considered an inkling of progress though.
“I’m really sorry to bother you when you’re busy. Now if you’ll excuse me…” (Lewin)
“…….” (Head Chef)
I bowed apologetically to the head chef, who was still glowering angrily at me, and left the restaurant. The dragon meat smelled really good and I really wanted to try it, but… there was nothing I could do about that now.
Episode 161 – Dragon Meat
After paying the innkeeper of Ponpokotei in advance for seven days of lodging, I left my luggage in my room and headed back to Main Street.
By the way, the inn’s accommodation fee was one silver coin and five copper coins per night, with two meals included per day. Considering that the cost of the rundown inn I had stayed at in Grezesta had been 3 copper coins a night, it seemed a bit expensive. But after taking into account the quality of the rooms and the facilities, I felt that it was a pretty reasonable price.
Now that I successfully managed to find a place to stay, I wanted to move onto searching for the [Azure Alliance]. With Ahmed’s distinct personality, if they were staying here in Landaust, I got the feeling that I would find them soon.
Since I didn’t have even the slightest bit of information on them, I figured it might be a good idea to ask around on Main Street or get information from the Adventurer’s Guild. However, since I didn’t have any acquaintances here, I didn’t think I would be able to get much information from the Adventurer’s Guild.
In the past, I had been able to get information from the Guild Chief in Grezesta due to the various incidents that had occurred, but they probably wouldn’t normally give out any personal information. In that case, the best thing to do would be to ask around the shops on Main Street at the places where the [Azure Alliance] seemed like they would frequent.
In that case, let’s go check out the shops.
Of the members in [Azure Alliance], Ahmed would probably go to a restaurant or a blacksmith who handles weapons and armor. For Smash, maybe a secondhand shop or a pawnshop, and for Dion, perhaps a fashionable clothing store or something. I had these notions because right before [Azure Alliance] left, each of them had introduced me to a store that they frequented. I was thinking that they might try to find similar stores over here in Landaust.
And with that said, let’s start with the restaurants. I’m feeling hungry too, so maybe I can get some food while asking for information.
★ ★ ★
….So this place is called Verski, huh?
The restaurant I ended up at was a place called Verski, which happened to serve dragon meat. I asked a lady at a street stall if she knew of any restaurants that served unusual foods, and she had mentioned this restaurant.
A store that sells rare dragon meat… I chose this restaurant knowing that Ahmed would definitely be interested in it. The shopfront looked pretty normal, but the signboard had the words ‘Dragon Meat’ written on it, so I was pretty sure this was the right place.
I quickly entered the restaurant. The interior was small and cozy, and, oddly enough, it had no tables but only seats at the counter. Each of the counter seats was equipped with an iron grilling plate where the meat would be cooked.
“…..Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”
The person who spoke to me was a man who seemed to be the head chef. He was standing at the end of the counter, preparing meat. He didn’t turn to look at me at all as he addressed me, so I couldn’t see his face and wasn’t sure what kind of expression he had.
“N-no. I haven’t made a reservation. Do I have to make one?” (Lewin)
“………Yeah, this place is by reservation only,” the head chef replied after a long silence. His voice had no inflections whatsoever, and he sounded unfriendly, which startled me a bit.
For it to be completely by reservation only… I wanted to try the dragon meat, but if that was the restaurant’s rule, then I didn’t have any choice.
I’ll ask and see if I can get any information, but otherwise I’ll just go to another restaurant.
“So that’s how it is. I apologize for coming in here without knowing.” (Lewin)
“………….Yeah.” (Head Chef)
“Actually, do you mind if I ask you a question? Has there ever been a tall woman here with a blue cloth headband wrapped around her forehead?” (Lewin)
When I posed this question to the chef, who had not been very responsive so far, he put down his knife and looked at me for the first time. Based on his reaction, there was a good chance he recognized who I was talking about. The characteristics I had described were those of a woman you could find anywhere, but if you really knew Ahmed, it would certainly ring a bell.
“………Of course I know someone like that. Are you an acquaintance of that person?” (Head Chef)
“U-umm… an acquaintance?” (Lewin)
I was about to smile at the prospect of getting information about Ahmed. But when I heard the unbridled anger in the chef’s voice and gaze, I started getting anxious.
What in the world had Ahmed done…?
“…If you’re an acquaintance of that person, you’re banned too. Now hurry up and get out of here.” (Head Chef)
“Umm, why is that? It’s a bit troubling to just be banned out of the blue like this.” (Lewin)
“….You really wanna know? That woman ate all of the meat in the restaurant, made a mess, and then left, saying to put it on her tab so she could pay for it later. I eventually was able to get the money, but I had to change the restaurant to a full reservation system after that.” (Head Chef)
I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable when I heard the chef’s bitter diatribe. The problem was, I could easily imagine Ahmed doing something like that, so he probably wasn’t lying. Hearing this anecdote made me a bit glad to hear she hadn’t changed…
“…What the hell are you grinning about? …I knew you came here to make fun of me… Get out, or I’ll call the soldiers.” (Head Chef)
“Sorry! That really wasn’t my intention… U-um, could you tell me a bit of information about that woman―” (Lewin)
“…If you don’t hurry up and get out, I’m seriously going to call the soldiers right this minute. There won’t be a third time.” (Head Chef)
It seemed that I had reached the limit when asking for information about Ahmed and had managed to completely incur the chef’s wrath in the process. I was hoping to weasel out even a smidge more information, but it couldn’t be helped. Knowing that the people of [Azure Alliance] were still here could be considered an inkling of progress though.
“I’m really sorry to bother you when you’re busy. Now if you’ll excuse me…” (Lewin)
“…….” (Head Chef)
I bowed apologetically to the head chef, who was still glowering angrily at me, and left the restaurant. The dragon meat smelled really good and I really wanted to try it, but… there was nothing I could do about that now.
