Vol. 1 - Ch. 91 - Mimosa (1)

Chapter 91 - Mimosa (1)

With a bang sound, the entrance door was violently flung open. The girl at the lead looked all cool, but the man behind her harbored a rugged expression. There were two of them who entered the shop while the bodyguard-ish person was, surprisingly, made to stay outside.

“What are you here for, Mimosa? I’m sure I heard someone saying ‘This is the final warning’ the other day, now what?”

The girl— or more like, the woman seemed to be in her mid to late 20s. But the manner with which she carried herself suggested that she could be in her 30s as well which was well hidden by her wheat-toned skin and short chestnut hair that gave her a youthful vibe. Her face was a bit small, but she was quite a looker.

The woman glanced at the boss and replied.

“...You stubborn fool will never understand, huh? You know, too much obstinacy isn’t good for one's health, right? But don’t be too antsy, I’m not here to greet you today. I happened to receive a tip from the association that a menace — ‘Mad Hound Ren’, a B-rank explorer — has stepped into the city.

I’m this town’s boss after all, so I thought I should do my due greetings and handle the situation in case he decides to have a fit. So I was waiting outside all this time but then I saw no one coming out. I almost wondered if he was even here and came to check it out.”

Mimosa explained and then glanced at me. Her gaze was serious as if she was looking at someone of equal caliber and not a 12-year-old brat.

...Hmm, was that how it was? She even had the association in her pocket. At the very least, not just any riff-raff or puny villain could employ these methods.

Either way, irrespective of what sort of tricks she used, she had effectively become the kingpin of a town of considerable size. Hmm, I guess she wasn’t actually doing it for simple clout or due to rebellious behavior.

But that aside, how did that rude nickname ‘Mad Hound’ even make it to this distant town’s branch?... I truly underestimated the information network of the Explorer Association.

“Y-You’re really a B-rank?!”

The boss asked in a flustered tone. Ah, right. He never believed my words after all.

“She’s right. I’m Ren, but I’m more of a gentleman than the rumors say. It’s just some wannabe who gave me the notorious title of ‘Mad Hound’ for no reason. How did you know I was here?”

Mimosa shrugged her shoulders.

“It wasn’t hard to find you to begin with. Aren’t you lodging in an inn that the association recommended? I visited the inn after getting to know where you were staying, but I heard there that ‘someone who matches your description had gone out in the east direction while also saying that he wouldn’t be needing dinner’.

I assumed that your goal must be this harbor and witnesses reported the same, but I really didn’t expect you would choose this store, of all places. The situation would have turned into a mess if we entered recklessly so we were waiting outside.”

Huh, wow, even the inn was at her beck and call... And no shit given about privacy, eh? Well, even in Japan, the strictness about personal information was a recent year thing that was introduced with the advancement of information technology.

I guess even if I complained, nothing would come out of it. I would just have to move in more secrecy next time.

“Alright, I understand the gist of it. By the way, did thoughts like ‘Wow, is he really that person?’ or ‘What a pig in wolf’s skin!’ not cross your mind on seeing my actual appearance? I mean, that’s usually how some single brain cell idiots end up picking a fight with me and when I beat them up like how they wanted to beat me up, they sully my reputation by giving me meaningless titles like ‘Mad Hound’.”

I said with evident disgust toward the nickname, but Mimosa simply burst out in laughter.

“Ahahaha! A fake wouldn’t be talking with that attitude after all. At the end of the day, all I care about is the peace of this town. Who you are is hardly important.

In fact, I would have been thanking the heavens if you were really an imposter. It would be easier to straighten out a pig with force rather than a wolf, right? Anyway, as for your question, you looked like the real deal and not someone average Joe as well. It’s a pity that my appraisal often turns out to be true.“

Mimosa raised her hands in surrender as if to say ‘beats me.’

Oh hoh, she didn’t seem half-baked as a boss. How rare was it to see your local overlord actually working for the betterment of their town?

“Now that you get why I’m here, I would like to take some of your time but...are you currently having dinner? Then we’ll wait outside until then.”

Huh, a man— I mean, a woman of principle too?

Everyone looked at me with such scrutiny that I couldn’t even do one nasty thing! As if that wasn’t enough, I even get called when nerve-wracking individuals like you come to the town... no more. I can’t go on like this anymore!”

Err, I don’t think complaining here would do anything... No wait, forcing this shop to merge into their company doesn’t count as nasty? Huh, just what kind of wacky criteria did she have to define something evil...?

“Miss, I think that’s enough liquor...”

Gatx, who had been nearby, held out water to her.

“Shut up! Hic-cup. Look, Gatx doesn’t take me seriously as well. Ren~, come, let’s play <Drink or Die!>! You can do anything to me if I lose.”

Mimosa wrapped her arm around mine without hesitation and suggested a mysterious game.

A game huh?... But I’ve never heard of it. Haa, rumors are just piling up on their own thanks to that shiny bald man...

“Can you not latch on my right arm? It’s in the way! First of all, I’m drinking to raise the quality of the food, not to get drunk. Hm~! Woah, delicious! What the heck is with this refreshing flavor of prawn miso over the sashimi?!”

“To think there would come a day where Mimosa who’s usually indifferent to men would be so chummy with one... Uh-huh, is this the day when the alias ‘iron panties’ would finally bid a tearful farewell?... Ah, it’s the fruit juice of unripe jigo fruits that has been blended into miso.”

The combination of thick sashimi slices and rich miso along with the tangy taste that was akin to sudachi was creating an exquisite blast of flavor.

I knew it. This boss just lacked ingredients, otherwise, he was definitely a first-class chef when it came to seafood.

“By the way, why does the so-called iron panties want this stubborn old man under her wing?”

“Who are you calling iron panties!? Shut up!... It all happened because no boy could match my spirit. I have an older sister who is a single mother, but she likes to take care of my adorable nephew.

By the way, I’m going commando today. Lucky, aren’t you? It’s your chance to be hot with a lady. Still, you’re a strange fella. You said you fell in love with the old man’s cooking here in just one try so why do you think I wouldn’t want such a place under my command?“

“But you just wanted to stock up on money and build a tough ship, no? I thought you planned to just get the boss and then move him to another grandiose shop, but I guess I was wrong, huh? You just wanted Ginkgo to keep continuing like this... The price is a bit on the higher side here but revenue from this little shop would hardly be adding to your big dream, after all.”

She was blabbering under the effect of alcohol, but when she talked about ‘the thing she wanted to do’, I could tell from her tone it was coming from her heart.

On the other hand, the boss paused on whatever he was doing. Even the madam was now looking at Mimosa with a serious expression.

However, Mimosa, noticing her negligence, instantly curled her lips into a smile and steered the conversation to another topic.

“Who cares, but are you really going to ignore it when a lady is so assertively throwing herself at you? Haa, truly a boorish fella. Oh, maybe you’re a virgin?”

“W-W-W-What does this have anything to do with our discussion? And only an idiot would follow the lead of a girl who purposely got herself drunk when meeting a stranger. As if that’s possible with the mana!

Enough with the roundabout way of talking, just spit out why you want the boss. Or what, do you have some ideas about me as well? I don’t like wasting my breath over useless stuff! If it turns out to be a good idea, I wouldn’t mind helping you out though.“

On the side, Madam nodded to herself, seemingly convinced that I was a dead sure virgin.

Mimosa squinted her ash eyes and made a bold laugh.

“Fufufu, so you noticed, huh? I think it’s the first time that someone has seen through my plan. I’ll give you credit for it, but ever heard of tact? Girls do get drunk and like to fawn over guys and they also like to be teased. But they hate a virgin like you who jumps into the core of the matter directly. So, learn to play along with a woman's teasing, alright?

......A grandiose birthday party for Count Serdos’ son is going to be held at his estate. Marquis Grauksh is going to show up there as well. Given the hierarchy, it typically doesn’t happen... I want to slip into that convoy. ”

“And the reason?”

“...I want to directly congratulate my adorable nephew on his birthday.”

T/N - I guess she wasn’t actually a crazy one then, eh.