CH 20

At first, we promoted the restaurant through takeout and flyers, trying to dispel the negative image of a restaurant on polluted land by naming it “saint cafeteria” and using my title. We also applied a triangular cone-shaped purification flour at the entrance to ward off evil spirits.

The Odyssey Quest Guide | Assassin&...

Thanks to various efforts to appeal to adventurers, the saint cafeteria started with a full house.

I worked in the magic kitchen as a cook, while the hall was managed by the onee-sans from Maytart Village.

Since all the onee-sans had previously worked as maids or in restaurants, they brightened up the restaurant with their cheerful smiles from the first day.

By the way, the decoration of the purification with wheat flour is just a visible “charm to ward off evil spirits.” It has no effect on purification or exorcism. The purification and exorcism abilities of a saint are activated when you taste my own cooking.

My saintly ability only manifests when you don’t speak about it. However, it’s important to make it visible for customers.

The magic kitchen is visible from the restaurant. This is not only to make customers feel at ease by seeing the cooking process but also to make them feel more comfortable eating food prepared by a saint.

There are only two set meals, A and B. 

And the difference is only in the main dish. It’s a self-service system where customers carry their own tray and clean up after themselves.

For those who want takeout, we provide a special bento box. 

The lunch boxes are also made from the trees in the demon beast forest, so even if adventurers accidentally throw them away in the forest, they are made in an environmentally friendly way. The skilled craftsman who processes them is an old man from Maytart Village.

If you bring back an empty lunch box, we’ll give you a small snack as a gift on your way home.

“Saint-chan, we’re here!”

The adventurers who shared a carriage with me before called out to me. They had just finished a job, and their sunburned skin and sweat made them look refreshing and cool.

“I’m glad there were still some left. Saint-chan, I love your dumpling set.”

Today’s set meal includes bread, soup, and dumplings.

Dumplings are made from dough kneaded with flour and filled with meat, vegetables, mushrooms, or whatever ingredients are available that day. 

Adventurers call them by various names, such as gyoza, pierogi, or pelmeni.

Today, we’re wrapping mushrooms and beast orc bacon that have been chopped up with vegetables and boiling them. Set A includes dumplings with white sauce and herbs, while Set B includes dumplings with sweet and sour tomato sauce.

“Wow, hot soup came out from inside. . .!”

“This is delicious even without any sauce!”

“It’s also delicious to dip the bread in the overflowing meat juice from the dumplings. . .”

I’m very happy to see the tough and muscular onee-sans enjoying the delicious food with their eyes closed. Other muscular adventurers also finish their meals and say “Thank you for the meal!” before leaving. 

“Thank you very much!!”

I thanked them with a smile from the bottom of my heart.

The onee-sans also finished their meal and took the plates away with a glossy face.

“Thanks for the meal. If you ever have any scary experiences, tell us. We’ll be happy to help.”

An onee-san winked at me while flexing her biceps.

“Thank you very much!”

“Hmm, but Saint-chan is so small~. She looks like a little sister left behind in the countryside.”

“Ah, please don’t pat my head, it’ll mess up my hair.”

The satisfied onee-sans left with smiles on their faces.

Even as they left, more and more customers came in. It was a happy scream.

Before I knew it, it was already past noon.

I thanked the onee-sans who had come to work and paid them their daily wages.

“Phew. I need to take a break and prepare for tomorrow.”

I stretched and turned around, and Synovidos was standing there silently.

“Wow, you scared me.”

“It seems like it was a great success today.”

“Yeah. Synovidos, you were supposed to go defeat the Demon King, right?”

“Yes, indeed. However, we didn’t even make it to the Four Heavenly Kings today.”

“Hahaha, that’s too bad.”

As we talked, we entered the dining room and I lit the magic cooking stove.

“I saved some for Synovidos. Would you like to eat with me?”

“Is that okay?”

“It’s better to eat together, isn’t it?” 

Synovidos scratched his hooded head at my words and sat down at the table with his lanky body. 

“Since it’s the last meal, I’ll make it special. I’ll make a vegetable soup that’s cooked until it’s soft and tender, with crispy bread crumbs on top. . .I’ll serve both boiled and fried dumplings!”

Synovidos clapped his hands at the meal I prepared.

“Isn’t this a feast~? Well then, itadakimasu.”

“Itadakimasu.”

We faced each other and put our hands together, eating together.

I could see Synovidos lifting his mask slightly and breathing heavily as he ate behind the steam.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying the food.”

“It’s delicious, so it’s only natural.”

“Synovidos and Demon King-sama are kind of similar, aren’t they?”

“Gofongofolorogowonpkigohogoho.”

“Are you okay?!?!! Drink some water.”

“. . .Ugh. . .I thought I was going to die.”

I gave him some water and patted his back, and after a while, Synovidos seemed to have calmed down.

“I’m sorry, I said something weird.”

“No, no. . .But why do you think I’m similar to the Demon King?”

“Because you both say [Itadakimasu.] when you eat.”

Synovidos fell silent as if he had just realized something. Had he not noticed it before? 

“I like both Synovidos and Demon King-sama, but I especially like the way they eat when they have meals together. It makes me feel like they cherish the food I make.”

“. . .As the Demon King is connected to the earth, he never forgets to be grateful to the land. Of course, I do too.”

“I see. . .”

As I sipped my soup, I wondered what kind of existence Demon King-sama was. In the stories that the citizens had been told since they were young, he was a scary and evil being that threatened the country. He was an existence that was connected to the earth and never forgot to be grateful to the land. Somehow, Synovidos’ view of Demon King-sama seemed a little different from the normal historical recognition.

However, when I saw the kindness of that Demon King-sama, I felt that Synovidos’ view was much more convincing than the Demon King-sama in the story.

“Hey, Synovidos.”

“Hmm?”

“You’ve been staying over quite a bit lately.”

“Well, umm, that’s. . ..”

Synovidos suddenly became flustered.

“Well, if it’s convenient, I thought it would be safer for Hiira-dono if you didn’t live alone, so I’m staying over. It’s not like I have any ulterior motives or anything.”

“Why are you panicking? I’m happy about it.”

“Huh?”

I smiled at Synovidos, who stopped moving abruptly. 

“Since I’m no longer a member of the same party as Synovidos, he doesn’t have to bother with me anymore. . .But still, thank you for always coming back.”

“Hiira, dono. . .”

“I’m happy to have dinner with you.”

“. . .That’s my line. . .”

Synovidos stirs his water while speaking vaguely.

“Ahem, I forgot to take my mask off.”

“Aah, cloth! I’ll bring a cloth!!”

Laughing, our night goes on again today.

I didn’t particularly think about what it meant for Synovidos to have free time.