A Donut Shop's Name, of Course!
At Rachel's words, Barnett's eyes flew wide in disbelief, and he jerked his fist up.
"What? You son of a—"
The curse never finished. Orange light coiled around Rachel's hand, and her fist drove into his jaw. With a sickening crack, that bulky body teetered and went over backward, headfirst.
At the unbelievable sight, the children in the alley and the merchants from the neighboring shops stood with their mouths hanging open.
"Oops. Didn't hold back. I only meant to knock him out."
As anyone could have predicted.
Jackson gestured to his trembling underlings, and they hauled up Barnett, who lay sprawled with his tongue lolling out. It took four grown men clinging to him just to get him upright, and foam mixed with blood spilled from his mouth. Rachel watched them with open contempt, then let out a short laugh.
"Go."
"We're sorry."
"Don't come back."
"...Yes, ma'am!"
With that, Jackson's crew fled the alley. Rachel clicked her tongue and was about to step into Hills when half a dozen children at the end of the lane came running, eyes sparkling as they looked up at her.
"Whoa! You're crazy strong, miss!!"
"Idiot! Look at her clothes and the way she talks! She's a noble!"
"Ah! My lady, y-you're insanely strong!!"
"She must be a knight!!"
Rachel smiled at them and ruffled the hair of the boy at the front.
"I am pretty strong, aren't I. Were those guys bothering you?"
"No! Not us. They pick on the uncles around here."
"Tch. I should've broken every one of their legs."
The children traded glances at that, then looked back up at her.
"You must be the boss's friend!"
"So you know Blow."
"Yes! He gives us potatoes! He'll be out any minute!"
"Hmm. Doing something decent. Doesn't sound like him."
"Malred! You didn't sweep the alley today!"
"I'll do it after the potatoes!!"
They bickered on while Rachel watched in silence. Then the boy called Malred edged forward, looked up at her, and asked, very carefully.
"U-um... what exactly are you to Boss Blow?"
"The sort of relationship where, if Blow dropped dead tomorrow, there's a good chance it'd be because of me?"
The children immediately started whispering.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"They must be close."
"Not lovers, though. She said she'd kill him."
"Then who is Boss Blow's lover?"
"Obviously the young lady with the indigo hair!"
"No way. It's Lady Skadi, the one who's here all the time!"
"Hmm... if you ask me, I think it's the lady who owns the potion shop..."
In the middle of it, Blow came out carrying a basket heaped with boiled potatoes.
"I thought I heard someone. Lady Rachel?"
"Boss!!!!"
The children lined up in front of him at once. Blow jerked his chin toward the inside, and Hans bowed to Rachel before pressing potatoes into their hands.
"Boss! Boss! That lady punched one of Jackson's men! Pow! You could hear it!"
"He went down in one hit! One hit!"
Blow's brow tightened. He looked at Rachel.
"Jackson...? Who's that?"
"A thug."
"You didn't kill him, did you?"
"I'm not that unhinged."
"That's a relief."
Rachel scratched her head, grinning crookedly at his tone.
"I only wrecked his jaw. I was trying to just knock him out. Failed."
"He might have been better off dead..."
"Honestly, don't you think humans are far too fragile, Blow? Tap them a little and they break and burst."
She said it flatly, rolling her wrist to show him. Taking in that expression—and the black blade sheathed at her back—Blow could only wonder, privately, what on earth had possessed them to walk up to her.
"Next time, send them off gently, would you? You're meant to be the face of Straight."
"Oh? Wouldn't they like it even better? I beat up thugs."
"They were definitely thugs?"
"A bunch of them loitering around a perfectly decent shop at this hour—obvious, isn't it? The kids said so too."
"Come in. Hans, hand out the potatoes and get inside."
"Yes, young master."
As Blow stepped through the door with Rachel, the children called after them in chorus.
"Thank you again today!! Boss!!"
"Yeah. Seeing your faces in the daylight, you're a fine-looking lot."
"Where do I sit?"
"The seat you took last time. Closest to the kitchen."
Rachel settled in and began unfastening part of the armor she wore. Outside, a carriage bearing the crest of House Campbell drew up in front of Hills, and her trusted aides, Haghia and Sophia, stepped down.
"Lady Rachel. And Young Master Blow. We greet you."
"I saved you a table. Sit and eat."
"Yes, my lady."
Once their greetings were done, Blow turned to her, not quite following.
"What's the carriage for? Didn't you come on horseback, my lady?"
"The carriage? That's for Haghia's use."
"For the mage?"
"Yeah. Sophia probably rode one of the carriage horses."
"Yes, I did. The driver was inside the carriage with Haghia."
The master just gallops in on a horse, and inside that great carriage there's one mage and the original driver. Something about this is off.
They took the next table as if it were routine, already exchanging greetings with Megan. Rachel, squinting at the menu, shouted across at Blow.
"Why is the menu so short!"
"The head chef is over at the Edfolk place right now."
"What? That Melo's at Yulia's hotel?"
"Yes. She's there learning to cook. She should be back in about an hour. Wet your throat with some beer first."
"What does that child even have left to learn?"
"Quite a lot, from the look of it. Melo made canapés this morning before she left. Would you like to start with those?"
A salmon canapé and a Pilsner Paulos were soon set before her. Rachel's mood lifted the moment she saw them. She picked one up and popped it straight into her mouth.
"Incredibly fresh. This is good."
"I'm glad it suits you."
"That Melo—watch her and you'd swear she was born knowing how to season. Just right!"
"Here's a surprising fact. Melo seasons differently for every person."
"What?"
"Dishes meant to be shared, she seasons to the average. But when she's cooking for one person, she matches it to them. This canapé is just a touch salty for me."
"...What is she, a monster?"
"Yes. Like you, my lady."
Blow said it with a teasing lilt, and Rachel chuckled. Just then the door of Hills rattled open again, and this time Cunsai came running in with Luta.
"Boss!!"
"Hm? It's your day off. Why...?"
His eyes brimming, he dropped to his knees and pressed his hands together.
"Thank you! Thank you!!"
Chert Village, home of the beastkin.
Soldiers under Christopher, lord of Cypress, were busy making camp. The beastkin had been desperate to offer them their houses as well, but the homes were far too cramped for humans to enter. Several of their leaders came forward with bundles of fruit and held them out to Christopher and his officers. Christopher took the bundles himself.
"Well now. Fresh fruit the soldiers will be glad of. We'll see it's shared properly."
"My lord, we confirmed it by relay, but how did you arrive so quickly?"
"Lady Yulia Edfolk and Young Master Blow requested it in person."
"A request from Lady Yulia and Lord Blow..."
"As you know, you and we are each tied to those two."
At his easy smile, the elder answered in a rush.
"That is true, but..."
"And frankly, I'm not particularly fond of that Parso lot either. Living nearby, you hear a great deal."
"......"
"A justification fell into my lap. I thought it rather convenient."
Christopher smiled gently, hoping to ease their tension. Stein, an elder of the beastkin, bowed first, and the other village representatives followed.
"While you are here, we will do our utmost to receive you generously."
"No need. Don't overdo it."
"Pardon? When you say overdo..."
"Lady Yulia and Young Master Blow wouldn't want that. In any case, we'll only stay until the knights of House Edfolk arrive."
"Ah..."
"Besides, I only moved for my own gain."
Even so, a man who would raise troops and come at once was a man with backbone. Their kin working out in Cypress were, at least, treated like people while they labored. Thinking of that, they bowed again.
"We are truly grateful. We ask for your continued goodwill."
"And we ask the same of you."
Christopher held out his hand to Stein, the elder standing foremost. After a brief hesitation, Stein took it.
In time, this incident would come to be called the Tomato-Sugar Alliance—a name that, depending how one looked at it, was rather ridiculous. Even so, it would remain in history as the tremendous event that changed the balance of the South.
Afterward, Christopher's cloak snapped behind him as he went to see his soldiers, and the village representatives, one worry set down, let joy take its place on their faces. As they headed for the council hall in Chert Village, one of them offered a quiet suggestion.
"Shouldn't we have a statue made?"
"Of whom?"
"Young Master Blow, of course."
Soft laughter spread. But Tarkan, hearing it, smiled and answered.
"If we have money like that, we ought to expand the factory. That's how we repay the young master's kindness."
"Wise words."
"I do hope he visits us. Just once."
With the elder's moist-eyed words, a complete peace settled over the beastkin's faces.
Cunsai's thanks went on for nearly ten minutes, and ended only when Blow patted his shoulder. He pressed his hands together in a bow, then spoke in a voice as bright as he could make it.
"Young master! I'll head to Nyx!"
"Right. You'll be busy with the construction."
"Yes! And there's something I must ask of you."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Please name our donut shop!!"
Cunsai's eyes sparkled. Rachel, hearing it, pulled a face and shook her head.
"I'd advise against that. He may be all right at other things, but naming? He's genuinely terrible."
"Ah, my lady! Still, Hills and Red Forest are perfectly fine trade names, aren't they?"
"Hills and Red Forest probably aren't his."
"Eh...? Then the ones the young master named are...?"
"Cheese Corn Cheese, All Red, Yulia Amore... Go on, listen. Doesn't your chest just tighten?"
...What's wrong with my naming?
Blow stared at her, aggrieved, and Rachel shook her head as if there were no question about it. Even so, Cunsai did not back down. His voice grew firmer, and he clenched his fist.
"No! Even so! I must receive it from the young master!"
"Fine, whatever. It's not my brand. Well then, Boss Blow? Care to name it?"
Rachel said it in a bored drawl. At her words Blow fell into thought, stroking his chin, then murmured before he could stop himself.
"Donuts, donuts... it has to be Ace Donut, right?"
"Ace?"
Cunsai blinked at him. Blow had a sudden oh no and tried to change tack, but Cunsai, who had been thinking it over, raised a finger.
"Could it be! Our donut shop is the ace of Young Master Blow's brand?"
"Uh... uh......."
"What an honor, young master! Our donut shop's name! Ace Donut! We'll go with Ace Donut!!"
Before Blow could get a word out, Cunsai thanked him once more and was gone. Something about it felt off, but Cunsai had liked it that much, and Blow decided a name wasn't all that important anyway. Rachel, who had watched the whole exchange from the side, narrowed her eyes and gave him a dry laugh.
"That means something weird, doesn't it."
"No?"
"It's written all over your face."
"It really doesn't. I'm just grateful Cunsai caught exactly what I meant."
"......"
Having committed to brazening it out, Blow recovered his ease. Rachel shook her head as if she were sick of him and looked toward the entrance.
"They should be here soon."
"Who else is coming?"
"You think I'd reserve two tables just to sit by myself?"
"Wasn't that an entirely possible world?"
"Don't use difficult words, Blow Deblique."
No sooner had she spoken than it was not two Renerit Hersis who opened the door, but Renerit and Aurora.
"Oh my, it's really well done!"
"She said it's amazingly, amazingly good! Sister Rachel did!"
"Really? Then it must be delicious!"
Behind them came Mnevoir, calmly taking in the interior, and Rill Cadral, wearing an awkward expression. Blow rose at once and went to meet them.
"Hello."
"Oh my, Blow Deblique? A proper shopkeeper now! You still have to come back to school next year, you know?"
"Better than I expected. Blow."
While Aurora and Mnevoir offered their greetings, Rill, who had been hesitating, finally managed to speak.
"Hello, boss..."
"Ah, yes. You're here. Have a seat? The next table is free."
"Hello! Young Master Blow! We're all going to sit together! With Lady Rachel!"
Renerit Hersi beamed. From across the room, Rachel raised a hand.
"You're here? Welcome, sisters."
"...Sisters?"
At a turn of phrase he had never once heard from her, Blow's eyes narrowed. They were already taking seats beside Rachel and across from her. Then Mnevoir, beside him, murmured as if to herself.
"Blow."
"Yes, teacher."
"I'd like to see the potion shop, if I may."
She said it that way, but her face suggested there was something else to discuss. He left Megan at the table and stepped outside with her.
"Quick on the uptake, aren't you, Blow."
"Yes, teacher. What is it?"
Mnevoir stared at him, let out a thin sigh, and then spoke.
"I think I have to tell you something I'm a little sorry about, Blow Deblique."