204 - - 202nd Episode General Store

When I tried to pass through the gate of the labyrinthine city, I was taken to a guard station by a father and son named Gulli. Then a soldier appeared and left after shouting that he was going to detain us. It was the most annoying thing ever.

"I'm sorry. If possible, we would have interviewed him here and then passed the story on to him. ......"

The captain bows his head.

"Did you by any chance know the purpose of that soldier?"

"Yes, we're not close, but we've known each other for a long time. I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you.

He's going to have a hard time. If it were me, I would keep my distance from that type of person, but I guess I'm a bad person.

"Well, as long as there's no harm done, it's fine. So, can I go now?"

"No, I need you to answer a few questions."

I thought I could go home after fighting off the soldiers, but I guess not.

"Oh, I understand. But I haven't found a place to stay yet, so please do so as soon as possible.

They asked me about my meeting with Viscount Galli and my whereabouts when I was not in the labyrinth city, but I think there was only one trap.

In a casual conversation, I was asked what I was doing when Viscount Galli went missing, and I would have answered that I was sleeping because it was nighttime if Sylphy hadn't blown the wind out of me. Was it a leading question?

He was acting as if he had just found out about the disappearance of Galli and his son for the first time today, and it would surely be funny if he said he was sleeping at night or something. Maybe he was distracted by that soldier's dancing.

After that, I got into the swing of things and mastered a few questions. Sylphy told me I looked a little glum, but I think I did OK.

When I left the interrogation room after the interview, Gina and the others welcomed me. They said that they had finished the interview first. I bowed to them and left the room.

"Gina and the others were okay with the sudden interrogation, weren't they?

I was fine. I was fine. I had only been an apprentice for a short time, so I knew very little. But he kept asking me if I was interested in his whereabouts when he was not in the labyrinth city. I told him it was a secret because it was an important place, but he kept asking me over and over again."

"We had no problem either. They asked us if the master had gone out in the middle of the night and, like Gina's sister, they asked us where the master was based.

Hmmm, are you really that concerned about where my base is?　Yes, if Gulli and his son were kidnapped by me, I would consider the possibility that I am taking them back to my base.

"I didn't force them to tell me where their base was."

I've been asked so many times.

So are we.

I guess the military might do something stupid, but the guards don't seem to do anything too crazy.

Hey master, did you do something wrong to be interviewed by the guards?

Marco looks at me with innocent eyes. Well, I can't say that I've left the troublesome idiot aristocrat in a distant country because he's too depressed ...... yeah, I can't say that very much. I'll take that to my grave.

"Do you remember the last time we were staying at Marie's place and some pompous nobleman came to see us?　A very fat man."

"Yes, I remember. You are the nobleman who wanted the master to be his subordinate, aren't you?"

Marco and Kikka nodded their heads to Sara's words, as if they too remembered.

"I heard that he and his father had gone missing. They wanted to talk to me, who they had met before that.

Gina and the others nodded in agreement. My heart is aching, but someone once told me that if you tell a lie, it becomes true, so I'll take it to my grave.

"I know it's a little late, but is Gina coming back to her parents' house?

"Oh, that's right. Well, I'm sure we can talk now, so I'll go and show my face."

Okay, I'll see you at Torque's inn in the evening. If I can't get a room, I'll come to the dining room.

"Okay, I'll be there."

Gina leaves Gina to go visit her parents, and we head to Marie's grocery store. Gina went with Dolly, so we were in good hands.

**

"Welcome, Mr. Yuta."

I don't think I've seen this pattern in a long time. I step into the general store and before I know it, Sonia is right in front of me, greeting me with a smile. I wonder how she knows we're here. It's too strange.

"...... Sonia, it's been a long time. I would like to meet Marie, is she here?　If I can't make it, I'll come back. ......"

"No problem. I'll get you there right away. How are you doing, Sarah?

"Sarah and the others are going to take a look around, so don't worry about them."

I told Sarah and the others to pick out some accessories for their rooms, so they will have plenty of time to kill. Deanne was also somewhat excited, but I wonder how she is going to tell Sarah and the others.

I also had to buy curtains for everyone's rooms and Gina's bed for the mobile base. We'll have to go to the furniture store.

Sonia leads me and Sylphy to the reception room. After Ms. Sonia went to call Marie, a beautiful female waitress brought us some tea. ......Maybe I've been cleared of suspicion since I took Gina as my apprentice. I am very happy.

"Yuta, it's fine to be happy, but your face is sloppy. Marie will be here soon.

I was so happy and smiling, and then he told me I had a sloppy face. What did he mean by "sloppy face"?　As I was wondering, just as Sylphy said, Marie came in right away.

"Yuta-san, I'm sorry to keep you waiting.

"No, I'm sorry for coming on such short notice.

No, no, Yuta-san is always welcome. Would you like to stay at the villa again?

It's a little tempting, but Gina and Sara are looking forward to learning to cook from Mr. Torque. They will be disappointed if they stay in that house.

"No, we will stay at the inn this time.

I'm sorry to hear that. You are always welcome to stay with us, so please don't hesitate. Please do not hesitate to stay at our house or your house.

Marie says with a smile and a laugh. I don't even want to know why she included the main house.

"Thank you very much. ...... Well, actually, I have a few requests for you, Marie, if you don't mind."

Yes, of course. Yes, of course.

First of all, can you tell me if you have made any moves while I was not in the labyrinth city?

"Yes,...... well,...... the Marquis and Viscount Galli have gone missing in King's Landing, and there is quite a commotion. There are rumors that the culprit is Mr. Yuta.

I knew the topic of Gulli and his son would come up. Marie-san said, "Yuta-san did something to you, didn't he?　I feel like I'm making a face like that. I met Viscount Galli at Marie's other house, so I guess I can't blame her for being suspicious. But I've decided to take this to my grave, so I'll pretend I don't know anything.

"Oh, don't worry about that. I was interviewed by the guards and military personnel when I entered the labyrinth city.

"...... I see. I'm glad to hear that you're here, so you didn't have any problems. Also, the Adventurers' Guild has asked me to send a message to Yuta-san that they would like to talk to him when he arrives.

I was planning to go to the Adventurers Guild to ask about Gina's parents' house, so it's no problem.

I understand. I'll check in with the Adventurers' Guild later.

"Yes, and I also have to tell you that we have started selling the seasonings that Yuta-san told us about. It is not well known yet, but it is spreading little by little through the adventurers and the food stalls. It is going to be a profitable enough product."

Yeah, you finally got it out. You said you had to postpone the release because I threatened the adventurers in the labyrinth city and reduced your target. I got paid a lot of money just to tell you that, so I'm relieved that it's a safe product. I forgot about it until now.

I'm relieved to hear that the product is now safe and sound.

I forgot.

"The orthodox flavor is selling well right now, but I'm sure other products will eventually catch on. The staff are also interested in developing new products, and they come to the store to sell their own originals."

Marie tells me happily, with a bit of a wry smile on her face. All you have to do is powder various spices and mix them together. It's hard to make it taste good, but anyone can do it if they want to.

"It sounds lively and fun.

"Yes, we've had more trouble, but generally we're having a good time."

"Trouble?"

Yes, it's just a silly argument. There are arguments between employees who insist that their seasonings are the best at Rough Bird, and arguments between employees who think garlic powder is sacred and those who don't like it, and so on, in unexpected places.

Well, everyone has their own tastes.

"Yes, we knew this from the beginning, but it's surprising to see it so pronounced."

In Japan, there was a controversy between mushroom-shaped and bamboo shoot-shaped sweets, and it is surprising that people's tastes are so hard to understand each other. By the way, I prefer bamboo shoots. By the way, bamboo was found washed up on the beach, so there must be bamboo in this world, right? I'm getting a craving for takikomi-gohan. But the recipe I know calls for granulated soup stock and soy sauce.

I only have a liter of soy sauce, and I don't even know how to make granulated soup stock. If I try to use soy sauce, the damage of failure is too big, so I have to worry about it. I wonder if I can make soy sauce. I also want to make sauce.

I thought the sauce was surprisingly easy to make: ...... mix apples, vegetable scraps, spices, salt and vinegar, and leave it alone, right?　I think I saw something about a housewife in England or somewhere who made it by accident. Maybe I should ask Marie or Torque to make it for me.

I would have a hard time asking for help unless I can at least make a prototype myself and show you the real thing. I don't know what kind of vegetable scraps they use, and I'm starting to think it's impossible. I guess I'll just have to be patient.

Is something wrong?

"No, it's nothing."

This is not the time to be skipping to the source. I still have to ask Marie for a favor. Bell and the others are probably waiting to be summoned, so we need to get this done and get to the inn.