Would You Tell Me Your Name? (1)
Beatrice had insisted with absolute confidence that she knew an excellent restaurant, so once again we arrived by magic carriage.
This time the one Anna was on her!
"My daughter…"
Ah! No. It's silver coins, Auntie. Silver coins.
The restaurant sat right on the main thoroughfare and seemed popular enough—adventurers of every sort milled about, and quite a number of them were women. The atmosphere felt familiar, like one of those always-busy eateries near a permanent gate.
"Hawawa, I heard the cooking here is simply exquisite! Even among the seniors the rumors are flying!"
The moment we stepped outside the restaurant a sharp, spicy fragrance rolled over us. Beatrice, faced with the long line of people, immediately shrank in on herself and timidly caught the edge of my cloak.
"My, Beatrice?"
"Th-then… would it be all right if I held your hand…?"
"Of course."
I smiled sweetly and promptly took the demure little hand she offered.
Heehee. Soft! Squishy! Haaah.
Perfect.
"Hawawa… somehow even waiting in line like this is fun!"
"Is that so?"
"Hehe."
Watching Beatrice's face as she held my hand so warmly and smiled, we waited a short while before stepping inside the shop.
It had the feel of a proper old establishment—the seasoning itself seemed to have soaked into the very walls. Beatrice and I glanced around; the moment we sat, a waiter was already laying out plates and side dishes on the table.
Wait, this is familiar!
It's a single-menu restaurant—no ordering required!
And it's mala tang of all things!
"Ha… hawawa?"
Beatrice, encountering this ruthlessly efficient table setting for the first time, once again lost the power of speech and stared blankly. I was still enjoying that adorable expression when the waiter set a pot down with a solid thunk.
At once the sharp, spicy aroma that had been lingering in the shop flooded thickly into my nose.
"Enjoy your meal!"
A vivid crimson broth packed with meat, vegetables, and noodles that looked surprisingly well-executed. Incredible. Just how many people from Earth had they summoned to recreate something like this?
I had only tried it a few times myself, but girls had always loved the stuff.
"Th-that… is food?"
Yes, Auntie. You might like it if you tried some.
"I… I see."
"Beatrice?"
"Hawawa? A-amazing…! Th-this is flame itself! J-just like the symbol of our house…!"
Uh… is Beatrice's family from Hell or something?
I portioned out a reasonable amount for her, then ladled some onto my own plate and politely lifted a spoonful to my mouth.
A tingling heat that numbed the tip of my tongue, layered over the deep, concentrated flavor of meat broth. Dopamine I had barely registered in my previous life exploded now, and the searing warmth sliding down my throat sent a thrilling shiver along with it.
So becoming a woman really does make mala tang taste better!
And somehow… the modern vibe was overwhelming. Whatever struggles and efforts had gone into it, the recreation rate was absurd.
Ah! Something this good existed and I wasted my whole life! I should have broken out of that white prison ages ago!
I wanted to shovel it down, but I kept every inch of my thoroughly drilled ladylike poise and quietly swallowed meat and noodles.
"The broth warms you right through. Delicious."
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Beatrice eating with careful grace as well—yet she looked thoroughly hawawa. Her face had turned the same scarlet as the soup, tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, and her little tongue was stuck out in the cutest way possible.
When she noticed my gaze she hastily pulled the tongue back in and pretended nothing was wrong.
"Ha-hawatt! Haa… Wh-why… eh? D-datt! Yes! The Flame of Ignisia! Th-this level of s-spice! I shall defeat it!"
I reined in Beatrice, who was trying to put on a battle-ready expression.
"Please eat slowly, Beatrice. Excuse me—waiter?"
"Is there something you need?"
"Do you have anything to drink?"
"Ah. Shall I bring milk?"
"Yes, two glasses, please."
I didn't particularly need any, but I ordered for the poor girl's sake.
"Lu… Lua…"
Beatrice looked at me, utterly moved.
Well, no need to get that emotional about it.
While Beatrice gulped milk and cooled her burning face—
BANG!
The restaurant door nearly flew off its hinges as a neatly dressed blonde woman strode in. I tilted my head at the newcomer; her eyes went wide and she marched straight toward me.
"My lady!"
Her face turned fierce as her hand shot for my collar.
What now?
I spun lightly in my chair, gently catching her wrist. Using her own momentum I gave her leg a soft tap with my foot.
"Euk!"
She spun and toppled naturally into my arms so that we ended up face-to-face.
"Hmm. Quite the passionate one, aren't you?"
I smiled demurely down at the woman cradled against me. She was solidly trained. And well-endowed. Her face was to my liking as well.
"Aren't you a little too close to that child?"
Hey, I didn't even cop a feel. That alone should count for something.
I savored the soft swell of her chest brushing my wrist and felt thoroughly satisfied.
The startled woman froze for a moment; then she met my eyes. Her silver irises trembled violently and her face flushed crimson.
"Hawatt! Elise! Wh-wh-what shameless behavior is this?!"
Beatrice—lips puffy and stained red with broth—shouted at the woman in my arms. The cry seemed to snap Elise back to her senses; she scrambled upright out of my embrace and stiffly took her place beside Beatrice.
All the earlier aggression had vanished; she stood there opening and closing her mouth, ears burning scarlet. Beatrice, apparently embarrassed by the whole scene, shrank into shy-mode again and fidgeted under my gaze.
"Is she your knight escort?"
"Hawawa… y-yes. Elise. This is Lady Lua. She is my benefactor—she saved me when I was in a difficult situation."
At Beatrice's words Elise grew even more flustered and bowed her head sharply.
"I had no idea you were My Lady's benefactor. Forgive my discourtesy."
Hmm. She says that, yet she's still watching me like a hawk, Elise.
I casually ignored the pinpoint pressure of her gaze and elegantly sipped more of the red broth from my plate. She studied me a moment longer, then unleashed a torrent of words on Beatrice.
"My lady! Entering the labyrinth alone—do you have any idea how worried I was?!"
"Hawawa… wh-why must you make such a fuss? I, Beatrice Areli Ign—"
"And what in the world is this bright-red food?! How many times have I told you that such stimulating dishes are bad for your health?! Look how swollen your lips already are!"
Oh. So Auntie was an angel after all.
The nagging intensity is no joke.
I quietly sipped the red broth and watched the spectacle unfold.
"Hawawa… Lua?"
"Yes, Beatrice?"
Beatrice glanced sideways at Elise, then twisted her two index fingers together, lifted her eyes, and spoke.
"Th-that is… from now on… would you call me Betty…?"
"My lady! You have known this person for barely a day—how can you grant her a nickname so freely?!"
Elise barked, launching into another lecture. Betty immediately went "Hawawa!" and retreated into shy-mode once more.
"Ah! N-never mind…"
Her ears… so cute.
We parted at the restaurant with promises of next time. Exhaling the lingering spicy fragrance from my lips, I headed back to the lodging.
Because of Betty I hadn't managed my goal of racing all the way to the fifth floor today.
Hmm. Maybe I'll go fishing tomorrow.
Back at the lodging's first floor—lobby-slash-dining-hall—Leon and Isili were talking with rather serious faces.
"Is something the matter, you two?"
When I addressed them demurely they both gave a light bow and answered.
"Ah, Lady Lua. Have you registered with the Pathfinder Guild yet?"
"Yes, Lord Leon. I've even stepped into the labyrinth a little."
Leon and Isili both looked startled by that.
"Uh… were you all right? We haven't gone in yet ourselves. A decree came down from the Central Adventurers' Guild."
"A decree?"
"Yes. Apparently a murder targeting beginners has occurred. The professors told us to refrain from entering the labyrinth until we form parties."
"Is that so?"
"Yes… haah. Don't tell me the practicals will be cancelled…"
Leon drooped like a puppy denied its treats. Isili timidly caught his sleeve and tried to comfort him. Pretending to soothe her, I reached over and stroked Isili's hair. She flushed shyly under my touch.
So the news has already spread, huh. Remarkably fast. The speed of the rumor mill almost reminded me of my previous life—another reminder that the Middle Ages are well and truly dead.
I sank into the darkness for a night's sleep, woke, and lightly worked my body in the lodging's backyard. As Leon had said, it was decently equipped—yet still a bit lacking for me.
Breakfast this morning: black coffee. The food was pancakes topped with a neat square of butter, flanked by plenty of crisp bacon and sausages. That crunchy bacon was completely my style.
I savored the bitterness of the coffee for a moment, then exchanged greetings with Leon and Isili. The two of them planned to head to the Central Adventurers' Guild, train, and look for a party.
As for me—today I go back into the labyrinth. Heeheehee. Wonder if anything will take the bait?
Today I thrifted on Annas and simply ran. When I tried to enter the labyrinth alone a guard cautioned me.
"Have you not heard the Central Adventurers' Guild decree?"
"It's all right. I already know the contents."
"Well… patrols inside have been reinforced, but please still be careful."
Not actively stopping me, then?
One Anna vanished again as the entry fee.
Hmm. Today I dropped into a place with mana-stone lamps along the passages—reasonably bright.
I hung the nearly brand-new Pathfinder Guild notebook neatly around my neck and walked with deliberately loud footsteps.
"Why are you moving so carelessly?"
It's bait. Bait. Robbing idiots like this is usually pretty lucrative, you know. Heeheehee.
"M-my daughter! You ought to love yourself more."
Yes, yes.
I spent quite a while playing beginner, slicing through jellies and little green brats. They had said patrols were reinforced—there were a fair number of them. With the map Betty had shown me yesterday still in my head, I carefully avoided the guards' presence. They moved in pairs, so they were easy to distinguish.
Not getting caught…
Hmm. Maybe I should just head to the next floor?
I entered a dark zone where the mana-stone lamps disappeared.
Even when they claim to manage the place, there are always holes.
Aha?
I suppressed the slight upward curl of my lips and walked casually down the intersecting passage with the same loud footsteps.
"Hey, you there!"
A sticky, arrogant shout rang out.
Oh, how mannerly. Calling out instead of just attacking.
Or… considering how they're approaching me in the first place, is that already a manners violation? Heehee.
"My? Whatever is the matter?"
"Huh?! That bitch…"
I turned slowly and glanced sideways. A man holding a not-particularly-bright Pathfinder's lantern stood at the front.
Heeheehee. It's Jake!
What are the odds of running into him again?
Behind him came a dissolute-looking man and a big-built fellow guarding his side. Both wore gleaming, expensive-looking armor. Bringing up the rear was a priest in the familiar white robes of the White Brightness Society.
I barely managed to swallow the laugh that tried to spill out.