The Noodle Shop Under Threat
“So you came here to collect protection money from us?”
“Th-that’s right!”
At least he had guts when it came to speaking boldly. The problem, however, was that his ability to read the room was severely lacking.
“Haa……”
I hated getting involved in big incidents, which was why I had deliberately settled down in this quiet countryside village. I never expected something like this.
Just a bunch of pathetic thugs showing up to pick a fight.
“Master. Shall I take care of them?”
At that moment, Jin Soso, who had been watching from the side, spoke up. Her voice was thick with anticipation.
“No. Just wait for now. I really hate it when things get complicated.”
In that instant, I saw it. The one who looked like the leader licked his lips while staring at Jin Soso.
“Is that girl over there your disciple too?”
“……”
“Both of your disciples have quite pretty faces.”
“What?”
“If they come to me, I’ll take them as concubines. It’s a waste for them to stay with a weakling like you.”
How dare he spout such nonsense?
I hadn’t wanted to make a big deal out of this, but if he was going to act like that, the story changed.
“Soso.”
“Yes!”
Her voice was noticeably brighter, as if she had been waiting for my call. She didn’t seem bothered by the thugs’ words at all.
“You looked like you wanted to deal with them earlier.”
“D-do you mean I have permission?”
“Yeah. But don’t reveal all your skill. And don’t kill them.”
“Thank you!”
Her voice was brighter than ever as she slowly approached the thugs.
With Soso’s level of skill, she could knock out punks like them with her eyes closed.
It was something I could have handled myself. But both Soso and Seolah needed one thing absolutely.
Real combat experience.
No matter how much they trained, without actual fighting experience, they couldn’t properly utilize their strength. That was why giving them opportunities like this was the best way to raise their abilities.
Huh?
Wait a second. I wasn’t supposed to let them get stronger.
I had just been racking my brain trying to stop their growth, yet I forgot about it already…….
Haa…… I should have just done it myself.
Even though I regretted it, the water had already been spilled. I had acted on impulse and failed to judge properly. I’d just have to do better next time.
Jin Soso walked up to the thugs and stopped about a step and a half away from their leader. Up close, the height difference looked even more extreme. He was nearly two heads taller than her.
“Ha!”
The leader looked down at Jin Soso, who was staring up at him, and let out a light snort. It was clearly a sneer.
“Sending your disciple into the lion’s den. What a pathetic master. If I were her, I’d rather……”
His words never finished.
Because her fist had already buried itself in his stomach.
THUD!
“Kugh!”
He clutched his belly and collapsed to the ground. He stayed there for a long time, dry-heaving as if he had been hit somewhere vital.
“Get up.”
“Ugh! You little bitch……”
With a face flushed red, he looked up at her. Both hands were still clutching his stomach. It seemed he had taken a very bad hit.
“Why are you so weak? Hurry up and stand.”
“You! You! I’m definitely going to kill you!”
In a burst of rage, he shot to his feet and reached for his waist. A massive blade was drawn with a metallic ring.
Srrrng.
Its size was enormous, nearly as tall as Jin Soso herself. Anyone who saw it would be overwhelmed with fear.
But Jin Soso was different.
“……”
She silently took her stance. It was the classic fighting posture—left hand and left foot forward. Her eyes were burning more fiercely than ever.
“Hup!”
With a powerful shout, he raised the blade high. It was an incredibly threatening sight, but the attack never came.
Because Jin Soso’s kick had already slammed into his jaw.
CRACK!
The heavy impact rang out loudly. Her airborne kick was far too powerful for him to endure. Without any resistance, he was sent sprawling to the floor.
THUMP!
After the sound of his fall, a heavy silence descended over the training hall courtyard. No one could even move a finger.
Only Jin Soso was still moving. She walked over to the fallen leader and reached out. Without a word, she picked up the blade he was holding.
“……!”
“Huk……”
The sight of her lightly holding a sword nearly as tall as she was with one hand and smiling was more than enough to terrify them.
“Come at me.”
When she crooked her finger and spoke, indescribable fear flooded the thugs’ eyes.
“W-we’re sorry!”
“We’ll never come back!”
They suddenly bowed deeply in apology. Then they all lifted their fallen leader together and fled out of the training hall. Anyone watching would have thought they had seen a tiger.
“Wow. Good job, Soso.”
“……”
Despite my praise, she just stood there silently. A moment later, she tossed the blade aside and turned to walk toward me. For some reason, her face looked incredibly gloomy.
“Maaaster……”
“Y-yes?”
“I was really looking forward to it. But they all ran away.”
“……”
Was that why she was so depressed? Once I realized the truth, it felt absurd.
“Is that… something to be that sad about?”
“Of course! I was so excited to fight someone else! Fighting with my senior sister isn’t fun at all because she’s no match for me.”
“Haha……”
She really had unusual tastes.
“Hmm……”
I looked at the two disciples standing in front of me. One was upset because she didn’t get the fight she wanted, and the other was upset because she had been threatened. If I didn’t cheer them up, it would probably drag on for quite a while.
There was one easy way to lift both their moods at times like this.
“Hey kids. Want to go eat noodles?”
“……!”
“R-really?”
Taking them to the noodle shop they both loved so much.
Since it wasn’t mealtime, the noodle shop was empty. Five or six tables sat inside the old building, every corner bearing the clear traces of time. We sat at a round table with food placed before us.
“Waa……”
“Thank you for the meal!”
Both of them smiled brightly at the dishes in front of them. Each had a bowl of noodles and a plate of dumplings, but for these two, that was more than enough.
I watched them pick up noodles with their chopsticks. Their moods already seemed completely lifted.
It really feels like I’m raising daughters.
The thought made me chuckle involuntarily.
At that moment, Jin Soso, who had been chewing her noodles, looked at me. She swallowed and spoke.
“Huh? Master, why aren’t you eating? It’s delicious. It won’t taste as good when it gets cold, so eat quickly.”
“Yeah, I know.”
I picked up my chopsticks and shoved some noodles into my mouth. The moment they touched my tongue, the flavor took over. The rich umami of the broth combined with the perfect texture of the noodles created a fantastic taste. The crunchy vegetable toppings kept the delicate balance from falling apart. And then there was the savory flavor from the egg garnish.
I occasionally picked up a dumpling too. The oil bursting from the meat mixed with the vegetables created an incredible savory taste, all wrapped up in that chewy dumpling skin. It was perfection.
Khh……
It was too delicious. I had no idea how they could create such flavor from simple noodles and dumplings. I had never tasted anything like it in my previous life either.
This noodle shop was now officially a regular spot for me. Actually, it already had been. The food was amazing and the owner was kind—what more could you ask for?
“Oh, right. About what happened today.”
“……?”
“Today’s incident?”
At my words, both disciples’ gazes snapped toward me. Unlike Baek Seolah, who immediately put down her chopsticks, Jin Soso kept eating without stopping.
“Don’t go around telling people what happened. I hate getting tired from all the attention.”
“Of course. Master absolutely hates becoming known.”
“And one more thing.”
Baek Seolah’s hand, which had been reaching for more food, froze.
“If something like this happens again, just handle it yourselves.”
“That means……”
“If it seems impossible, just subdue them.”
“I-is that really okay?”
Unease flickered in Baek Seolah’s eyes. But why did Jin Soso look like she was getting excited?
“Of course it’s okay. You’re not servants. You’re my disciples. You have the right to handle that much.”
“Ah……”
Baek Seolah seemed to think for a moment before nodding with determination.
“Understood.”
“That’s reassuring.”
When I smiled at her, a smile spread across Baek Seolah’s lips as well. After that, we went back to eating.
While we were focused on our meal, someone approached. It was an elderly woman in her seventies with pure white hair and a slightly hunched back. She was the owner of the noodle shop. She placed a plate on our table, then brought over a chair from the next table and sat down.
“You all eat so heartily. Here, have some of this too.”
“……!”
At that moment, both disciples’ eyes sparkled. On the plate was a stir-fried pork dish seasoned with spices.
“Th-this is so expensive……”
“I’m giving it to you because you eat so prettily. Just eat comfortably. If you don’t, I’ll just have to throw it away anyway.”
“Then we’ll gladly accept.”
At the same time as my thanks, the disciples’ chopsticks flew toward the plate. Half the food disappeared in the blink of an eye.
“Hehe, you’re eating so fast. Shouldn’t you leave some for your master?”
“B-but the food is just too delicious……”
Jin Soso grumbled quietly but didn’t stop chewing. The grandmother seemed to find the sight utterly adorable.
“Haa…… It really bothers me that I won’t be able to see these cute children anymore.”
“Pardon……?”
Can’t see them anymore? What did that mean……? Was she closing the shop?
Her sigh was heavy, and her face had grown far darker than before. Anyone could see she was deeply troubled.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Sigh, you haven’t heard yet? Those people from the Five Dragon Association or whatever they’re called.”
“The Five Dragon Association……?”
Was that the same group that had come to the training hall earlier and caused trouble?
“Young man, you must not know yet. Those bastards suddenly showed up and said if we don’t pay protection money, they’ll drive us out.”
“……”
“Sigh, what power do merchants like us have? We either pay the protection fee obediently or get kicked out. Those are the only two choices.”
Now the story was completely different.
If it had only been directed at us, I could have just beaten them up and chased them off. But they were doing this to all the nearby merchants too.
“Master……”
The disciples’ expressions had turned grim. Even Jin Soso, who had been slurping noodles enthusiastically, had stopped. She must have felt uncomfortable knowing that the noodle shop we visited often was now in danger because of a few thugs.
There was one thing I really hated.
Seeing worry on the faces of people around me.
At this point, it would be hard to forgive those bastards.
“Do you know anything else about them?”
“Y-young man, why are you asking about……”
“I’m just curious.”
It looked like I would have to round them up after all.