63-Good friends

Sierra takes me by the arm and I jump into the crowd.

I've spent all my time working as an adventurer, so I don't really know much about this area either.

Maybe that's why my heart was filled with curiosity, although not as much as Sierra's.

'Brother, brother!　What's that?

Hmm?

Sierra pulls me by the arm and I turn my attention to the mobile stalls (wagons) on the side of the road.

These wagons can be found not only in the downtown area, but all over Zeto City.

Each wagon sells different things, but many of them, such as spit-roasted and steamed potatoes, were basically things you could eat with your bare hands while walking.

The wagon that Sierra had spotted was no exception, and the savory scent drifted to us as we walked down the street.

'I wonder what it is. Let's take a look at it.

Yeah.

Sierra, attracted by the appetizing smell, leads me to the wagon.

'Oh, come on. Miss and An-chan.

The old man in the wagon calls out to me in a friendly manner.

'Hello!　What do you sell here?

Hey, little girl, have you ever heard of an onion ring?

Onion rings?

When a friendly Sierra speaks to him, the old man holds out a container full of fried circular food.

The surface of the container is golden brown and looks very tasty.

The salt and peppery taste of the food and the faint spices are very appetizing.

Onion rings aren't much of a thing. It's just onions dipped in batter and deep-fried.

You are urged to try it, and Sierra takes one to her mouth.

Sierra's expression changes to a bright color as she pours the onion rings into her mouth, poof!

''Huh!　Brother, brother, this is delicious!

As she said it, Sierra picked one up from the container and brought it to my mouth.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

"Oh, I can't let you eat for free!

The owner of the store waits.

'It's our product in a crooked way, you know?　It's not good business for us to be snacked on so casually.

Nie, the shopkeeper folds his lips.

I see. So this is the way of fishing. This shopkeeper is good at business.

Well, she seemed to like it and held the container tightly to her chest.

I'll be d*mned. How much is it?

Five for a copper.

I hand the shopkeeper the five coppers out of my wallet.

'Every time,'

Brother, brother, come on, eat up!

Almost as soon as I handed her the money, Sierra brought the onion rings to my mouth.

'Oh, hey, relax, Sierra,'

Look, look, hurry up, or it'll get cold and won't taste as good!

So I meekly open my mouth, returning a wry smile to Sierra, who rushes me to eat.

'Oh, it's really good,'

Right!

The onions wrapped in a batter with a pleasantly crispy texture are sweet, and the spices and cheese powder also have a rich flavor.

Onion rings are not an unusual food for me, as I have memories of my past life, but for Sierra, who grew up in the countryside, this is the first time I've tasted such a snack food.

I'm still biting into the battered and deep-fried onions.

Don't get hungry.

Mm, I didn't break it.

I popped my head and teasingly told her that, and Sierra puffed out her cheeks in disapproval as she chewed on an onion ring.

'I don't know.　Which one of you ate too many tree strawberries from the forest two years ago and had a stomach ache.......ouch, ouch, ouch!

Shit!　Onii-chan's teasing!

I was slapped on the back clumsily. It was a pretty stiff momentum.

However--''

"It's been a while since you called me Onii-chan, hasn't it?

Hey, hey, I just said it wrong.

This was right before I turned ten. I'm not sure if Sierra wanted to be quiet, but she started calling me 'big brother' instead of 'big brother'.

Since then, she's been calling me "big brother" for a long time, and it's true that I felt a bit lonely.

When I was called "Onii-chan" once in a while, I felt a sensation of irritation and comfort.

I don't even know my brother anymore!

Yeah, yeah, you don't know that.

Well, it's the truth, isn't it?

Yeah, really, Sierra doesn't know anything about me.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, that's enough.

I'm not sure if she wants to make an "I'm mad at you" appeal, or if she wants to turn her head away from me.

Even such a gesture is cute.

And.

"Brother, brother, brother, brother!　Oh, look at that, there's a strange man!

I love the fact that right after she bends her navel, she tugs on my sleeve like that.

Hmm?　What's going on?

'Yes!　What is that man doing in that place?

Sierra pointed her finger at a human being who looked odd and didn't move, wearing a flashy hat with spiky feathers on his head and extremely colorful clothing.

It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on it.

And yet, he remained in an unsteady position, not moving in the slightest.

Yeah, it's called street art. It's called street art.

"Street art?

Yeah. He gets paid to perform tricks on the street. In his case ... pantomime, I guess?

When I explain, Sierra tilts her head in the air.

Well, it would be faster if I actually showed her.

I took out some coins and threw them into a small box that the pantomime street performer was spreading out on the side of the road.

As soon as I heard a clunk, it was as if the man's motionless time began to move.

'Wah, wah, wah!

Sierra looks at the street performer as he begins to move smoothly, and she is surprised and impressed.

I, too, can't help but watch.

I can only say that it's wonderful to see props that shouldn't be there expressed perfectly in a single movement. There was a magical power in the lean, yet exaggerated movements that made people marvel.

However, that magic power eventually came to an end and the street performer stopped moving again.

'Oh, Onii-chan, Onii-chan!　We've stopped!

I don't know if she's excited or not, but Sierra is calling me 'Onii-chan' again.

But she doesn't notice that, and she tugs at my sleeve and begs me to do it.

This is what makes Sierra such a spoiled child. Well, I guess it's better than being weirdly mature.

I'm not going to be able to do that. Just one more time?

Yeah!

I took out my change, promising just one more time.

--We ended up watching the street performance three more times before we left.