Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: A Meal with the Gourmet
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“Princess, have you ever talked to an anomaly?”
Sehwa suddenly spoke up.
I was deep in thought about how to write the Princess Guide, so I gave a casual reply.
“Yeah. Back when I was living in the Backrooms, I’d sometimes chat with other anomalies. There were occasionally ones I could actually talk to.”
“Really? That’s interesting.”
Sehwa propped her chin on her hand, lost in thought for a moment.
Soon, she lowered her voice and cautiously opened her mouth.
“So, did the Princess have any anomaly friends?”
“Nope. No friends.”
Why was she suddenly asking if I had anomaly friends?
In the Backrooms, anomalies that approached for conversation fell into two main categories.
One type tried to trick me into lowering my guard so they could smash the back of my head.
The other type was just babbling nonsense because they’d lost their minds.
There was no way I could be friends with either of those.
“You just said you’d sometimes chat with other anomalies. If you could talk to them, doesn’t that make them friends?”
“Sehwa, you’re so silly. They’re anomalies. How could I be friends with anomalies?”
I’d never really felt lonely from not having friends.
Back when I’d first fallen into the Backrooms, every day was a desperate fight for survival.
Once I’d gotten somewhat used to life there, I started coming up with all sorts of games using the anomalies—things I could enjoy on my own.
So I never felt lonely while living in the Backrooms.
Come to think of it, even back when I lived on Earth, I don’t think I was the type to feel lonely being alone.
Probably.
Memories from that time are hazy, so I can’t recall clearly.
“Yeah, you’re right. I didn’t think that through.”
Sehwa nodded slightly.
We were almost at the destination she’d told me about.
‘Hehe. If I keep working on the Princess Guide, the research institute folks will end up thanking me, right?’
A pleased smile crept onto my face at the thought.
I could picture a future where I earned a 5th-grade card key by doing good deeds for everyone.
‘Speaking of which, I wonder where a 5th-grade card key can get me?’
Within my usual range of movement around the institute, the 3rd-grade card key I had now was enough for everything.
I’d never seen a door that required a 5th-grade key while wandering around.
‘Hmm, no idea. I’ll figure it out once I get the card key.’
The research institute was much larger than it looked from the outside.
Especially the massive underground facilities spanning several floors—you could really feel their presence.
The places accessible by 5th-grade card key were probably deep underground.
‘Once I get the card key, I’ll head underground and check it out.’
As I made my plans, we arrived at the destination.
I exchanged brief greetings with the researcher there.
“The anomaly we’re putting in the Ark this time is nicknamed the ‘Solitary Gourmet Who Is Not Lonely.’ Princess, you ready?”
“I’m always ready to eat.”
I declared it confidently and stepped into the room.
A high ceiling, luxurious chandelier, and elegant interior design caught my eye.
It felt just like a high-end restaurant.
“Hmm. You’ve arrived right on time for dinner again. I do appreciate how these folks keep their appointments to the letter.”
An anomaly in the form of a plump middle-aged man—who looked like he had a short temper—spoke up.
Dressed in a suit that strained against his bulging belly, it was seated at one side of a round table.
“Princess, just eat that guy. Can you do it?”
“Sure, no problem at all.”
I gave a simple reply to Sehwa and approached the anomaly.
The anomaly furrowed one eyebrow and scowled.
“Well, well, a little girl customer this time. Hey, waiter! The guest is here—bring the food already!”
At the anomaly’s shout, the researcher scurried about and fetched a silver tray with a round lid from somewhere.
The researcher hurriedly set the tray on the table and lifted the lid.
A perfectly grilled steak emerged.
“Beef tenderloin steak, is it? A common dish lacking any creativity.”
The anomaly prodded the steak with its finger as it spoke.
Then it turned to me with a gentle expression.
“Little miss, have a seat. Let’s dine together.”
The anomaly gracefully indicated the seat across from it.
I quietly went over and sat in the opposite chair.
“P-Princess! What are you doing?!”
Sehwa panicked and whisper-shouted.
The other researcher just stared at me in a daze, looking dumbfounded.
“I’ll have a steak too, please.”
I said it while looking at the researcher.
The researcher, who’d been frozen for a moment, hurriedly brought out the exact same dish and placed it in front of me.
Soon after, they brought a wine glass and wine, setting them on the table.
The researcher politely poured wine into the glass in front of the anomaly.
Once finished, the researcher sneaked a glance at me.
“I’ll have sparkling water, please.”
The researcher bustled off again, fetching sparkling water from somewhere and pouring it into my glass.
They’d gone in and out of the room at least three times now, by my count.
For some reason, Sehwa was frowning and holding her forehead.
“Finally, the table is set. Shall we begin our meal, little miss? Enjoy.”
“Itadakimasu.”
I picked up my knife and fork, cut a piece of steak, and put it in my mouth.
It was incomparably delicious compared to the stuff Sehwa usually brought me.
“Not bad at all. It would’ve been even better if it weren’t such a commonplace dish.”
The anomaly stuffed a big bite of steak and wine into its mouth and chewed noisily.
I washed down my meat with sparkling water.
Eating delicious meat after so long put me in a great mood.
“This guest knows her manners. Your dining etiquette is quite to my liking.”
The anomaly grinned contentedly while eating.
The researcher and Sehwa stood silently in one corner of the room, watching us.
Sehwa looked like she’d given up on something.
“What kind of food does our little miss prefer? For reference, I’m fond of Iberian Bellota ham from the lower regions of Spain paired with 30-year-aged Modena balsamic, or the combination of Beluga caviar from the Caspian Sea with blue lobster from Brittany, France.”
What the heck was that?
The anomaly spouted some incomprehensible fancy nonsense.
“I like all tasty food.”
“Hahaha! A most reasonable answer. As expected, you have an eye that pierces to the essence of cuisine, befitting your refined demeanor.”
Heaven knows what was so funny, but the anomaly burst into hearty laughter.
“It’s been ages since I had a guest with such compatible tastes. Most are just posers full of hot air.”
The anomaly kept chattering loudly without even finishing its steak.
I just wanted to focus on eating quietly.
“You’re noisy. Please be quiet.”
“Ahem, ahem. My apologies. It’s just been so long since I’ve had a guest like you that I got a bit carried away, unlike my usual self.”
I ignored the noisy anomaly and continued my meal.
Before I knew it, my plate was nearly empty.
The anomaly, having finished first, naturally turned to the researcher.
“I’m in the mood for dessert. Waiter! Bring the dessert.”
“Oh, I have dessert too. Want to try my dessert?”
The anomaly looked puzzled and stared at me.
“You brought dessert? Cookies or something? Hmm...”
The anomaly trailed off, seeming to ponder, then nodded vigorously.
“Very well. I’d love to sample the dessert our little miss brought. Thank you kindly.”
“Got it. Blergh.”
I’m a good person who knows how to share food.
I spat out the dessert I’d made earlier onto the plate.
“Wh-what! How dare you commit such a breach of etiquette at the table!”
The fat anomaly shot up from its chair.
Its face was bright red, like it might explode any second.
“You don’t want it? It’s delicious, though.”
“Eat that garbage yourself! A mannerless brute like you. I’ll teach you respect right now!”
The anomaly’s hands transformed into a knife and fork.
With surprising speed for its hefty build, it charged at me.
It swung its knife-hand while yelling.
“Food is sacred! A mannerless wretch like you dies here!!!”
“Itadakimasu.”
Nom nom.
The big anomaly tasted like a creamy, melty cream puff.
Perfect for dessert.
After swallowing the anomaly, Sehwa slowly approached.
“Phew. Good job, Princess. I was thrown off at first, but it worked out in the end. That was your plan from the start, right?”
“...Of course!”
Sehwa’s eyes flickered for a moment.
“Well, it’s resolved either way, so no big deal. You stored it properly, right?”
“Oh, right.”
Sehwa and the researcher focused their attention on me.
I continued carefully.
“I forgot and digested it.”
Sehwa’s eyes shook violently.