Ruri To Yuri To Hime To Majo Chapter 14

(TN note: Sorry it took so long, since this chapter was twice the length of usual chapters. Also, sorry for those of you who don't like the eastern island country. This entire chapter takes place there. Enjoy)

                It was pouring rain. A single shadow pa.s.sed over the sky that hadn't experienced a huge downpour for several years.

                The shadow belonged to a figure riding a broom, flying so elegantly, as though there was no rain falling.

                The rider's hair and clothing were completely dry, as though a mysterious power— magic was there, intercepting every single raindrop.

                Who was the girl that had tanned skin and light purple hair?

                「—…found it. So, that's the eastern island country?」

                —On a broken heart trip, it was Iris J. Rozequartz.

                Landing at the outskirts of the port town, Iris carried the broom on her back as she walked. Fortunately, in that district, the rain wasn't pouring down.

                After about 5 minutes, she reached the port town's gate. In its own way, it was a splendid gate, with a serious faced guard and a gentle faced guard working. Both had black hair, and wrapped in clothes that Iris had never seen before, with thinly wrapped swords strapped to their backs.

                「Please halt, are you a traveler?」

                The gentle faced guard called out in a similarly gentle tone.

                「Right, as you can see by the tone of my skin, I'm from a foreign country.」

                「I see, I see, we welcome you from such a far away place. To enter this city, you'll need to answer some questions, do you mind?」

                「I don't mind.」

                「Then, what is your purpose, coming to this city?」

                「I didn't particularly come to this city for any reason. This is just the first city since I've arrived in this country. If I had to say a purpose, I guess I'd say for sightseeing. I'm in the middle of a broken heart trip.」

                「So it was like that. For that to happen to a girl like you, that must've been a foolish man, huh.」

                「Haha, thank you, your flattery makes me happy.」

                「No, those are my real feelings. Anyway, next, can you tell me the duration of your stay? There's no problem with a rough guess.」

                「I haven't particularly decided yet, but, around 2~3 days, I'm thinking.」

                「Okay, that's sufficient, you may pa.s.s now. Also, if you're sightseeing, by all means try out our fish cooking, since it is delicious even when uncooked.」

                「That's nice to hear. Incidentally, could you recommend an inn to stay at?」

                「If you go straight forward, on the right side, you'll see a building called『Golden Fox Pavilion』, which is a good place. The price is a bit expensive, but the food is delicious.」

                「The fish cooking is?」

                「The fish cooking is, yeah.」

                「Thanks, I'll check that place out.」

                Saying her grat.i.tude, Iris advanced down the street as she was told. Then she thought back to the stern looking guard, who hadn't talked at all. Perhaps he was a combat specialist.

                「—Senpai, please do your work.」

                「No way, no way, no way! I don't have the courage to speak with such a pretty girl!」

                「Maybe you should quit being a gatekeeper.」

                The Golden Fox Pavilion had a clean outward appearance, as a splendid 3 story building.

                Iris finished the preparation at the reception and received a key, before heading to her room.

                The room was thoroughly cleaned, and the rug laid on the ground gave off a strange fragrance. It was strange, but it wasn't unpleasant. In fact, it was rather pleasant. Iris began to like the inn even before eating their food.

                Iris put her broom down, before locking her door and leaving.

                She returned the key, then reported that she would be heading out.

                'Have a good trip', Iris left in a good mood.

                Walking along the stall lined street, an arousing fragrance drifted over to Iris. Searching around for the source, Iris came across a stall selling round, grilled foods.

                「Shopkeeper, what is this delicious-seeming food?」

                「It's not 'delicious-seeming', it is delicious. These are takoyaki.」

                「Takoyaki?」

                「Right. This is a rough explanation, but, you put these in round, cooked wheat dough.」

                Saying that, the shopkeeper showed off a bunch of live and slimy creatures.

                「! Aren't these Devilfish?! You're telling me these are eaten!?」

                「Yeah, it seems that overseas there isn't culture in eating them. But, here, they are a common food. I'll let you sample one, so just think of it that you were tricked and try it.」

                「…」

                Iris accepted the takoyaki stuck onto a toothpick, and after a moment's hesitation, she put into her mouth.

                「Ah! You idiot!」

                「!」

                The shopkeeper's warning was too late, Iris's mouth was thrown into chaos as the heat spread.

                Spitting out ragged breaths, in an attempt to cool down, she swallowed the takoyaki.

                「…the skin in my mouth feels like it will fall off.」

                「Sorry, I should've said that it was hot.」

                Apologetically, the shopkeeper held out a gla.s.s of water. Iris accepted it and drained it in one go.

                「—Fuu. What, I don't care. This kind of thing is also one of the pleasures of travelling. 」

                「It helps me out if you say such things.」

                「Ah, but these are quite delicious, these takoyaki. I'll buy a plate.」

                「Thanks for the patronage! As an apology, I'll throw in 3 extras.」

                「Thanks.」

                After saying her thanks, iris ate as she walked. It is bad manners, but stall cooking is that kind of thing.

                Afterward, Iris went around seeing and buying unknown textiles and odd hair ornaments, putting them into the magic bag she received from Lily. Pa.s.sing by lots of people in their attire seemed fun, so Iris entered a clothing shop and changed.

                Because the sun was setting, Iris returned to the inn.

                As Iris was receiving her key back, she was praised for how well eastern clothing seemed to fit her.

                Night.

                Heading to the dining hall, Iris was given a food listing plate from a fit and kind middle aged man. On the 'menu', the meals were listed as rice with miso soup, sashimi from migratory fish and boiled spinach with soy sauce, a seasonal tempura and a cold tofu dish. Iris was told that if she didn't care for the uncooked fish, they would cook it, but she decided that she would at least try it.

                The strange scent from the rug— tatami it seemed to be called— and the sitting pillows called zabuton caused Iris to become bewildered at the difference in culture. With a flop, she sat down. Then, carefully using the fork she was given, she started to eat.

                Iris started from the raw fish, adding some soy sauce, then taking a bite.

                「…Wah…」

                She let out a simple breath. She had thought that fish was inedible without being cooked first, but it seemed that it was a bias view. The fat melted on her tongue, creating a fluffy kind of taste.

                The cooked fish was also delicious, making the choice of which was better even harder.

                Then she went on to enjoy the tempura, miso soup, and boiled spinach. With each that entered her mouth, Iris was silently thankful to the guard that recommended the inn.

                「Is it okay to sit next to you?」

                As she was drinking a warm, roasted green tea, suddenly a voice called out. Turning, Iris found the gatekeeper that she had just been reminded of, holding a plate.

                「Ah, I don't mind. I was just wanting a companion to talk with.」

                「Then, excuse me.」

                Sitting down cross-legged, the guard said 'Thank you for the meal', before eating.

                「Did you just finish your job?」

                「Yeah. Remember the other guard with the stern face? I left everything to him.」

                「Hm? Wasn't he a combat specialist?」

                「Hahaha, when seen like that, its not unreasonable, but, he said that he couldn't talk to such a beauty like you.」

                「I-is that so? …But the guard wasn't looking?」

                「I also think so.」

                「…Ah—, that's right. I haven't given my thanks yet, for recommending this inn. Thank you. The service and attention to the cooking are really good.」

                「It's fine, that's just part of being a gatekeeper.」

                「Speaking of which, should I treat you to a cup of sake?」

                「Ah, sorry, I don't drink alcohol.」

                「Is that so, sorry, that wasn't considerate.」

                「No, no. But in subst.i.tute, can I ask something?」

                「Sure, if it is within my abilities.」

                The guard moistened his lips, then, with a serious expression, opened his mouth.

                「—You said that you were on a broken heart trip. In that case, would you be willing to take me as your partner?」

                「…Can you tell me your reason?」

                「Love at first sight… it wasn't something like that. That said, I still don't really understand love. But, being together was fun. I guess that's my weak reason?」

                「No, that's enough, but, I'm sorry. I can't answer to your feelings.」

                「So it really was no good, huh. You can't forget about your previous man, something like that?」

                「No, it's not something like that… since it'd be an injustice to not say anything to a sincere talking partner, I can't see men as an object of romantic interest.」

                「…」

                The gatekeeper froze.

                「…Basically, you like girls」

                「It is as you say.」

                「Haha, so I had no hope from the beginning.」

                「Sorry.」

                「It's fine. Still, liking girls… huh.」

                「Is it bad?」

                「Not at all! There isn't a man that would think ill of a mutual love between girls.」

                「I-is that so.」

                「Yes, I can confirm it.」

                「…I see. Thank you for not dragging it out.」

                「No. You may have been turned down, but I hope that sometime, you encounter a wonderful girl.」

                「…Thank you. —Now then, I'll be returning to my room. It was fun talking.」

                Standing and clearing up her dishes, Iris returned to her room.

                Iris was alone in her room, thinking.

                If she had normal sensibility, she would've gone out with him. But, after thinking and thinking, no answer came.

                Floating in her mind was only the maid uniform wearing, silver haired girl. Indeed, she couldn't even move on, Iris laughed in self-deprecation.

                While being reminded of her, Iris suddenly felt like drinking black tea.

                From her magic bag, she brought out her personal tea set and created hot water with magic, to brew her tea.

                「…Bland.」

                She should've been careful with the steaming time and temperature, but, it didn't reach the tea from her memories.

                「…ah, it really is bad.」

                When she became aware of whose tea she was comparing it to, she laughed again in self-deprecation.