The Other World Dining Hall (WN) Chapter 99

TN: There’s too many types of cabbage rolls, so I was torn on which to use as the cover picture. Of course I use the j.a.panese one for the chapter though.

Cabbage Rolls

Feeling the bleak wind of chilling winter pa.s.sing through the holes of her frayed hooded cloak that was no better than her rags of clothes under it, Sarah reflexively trembled.

[So cold!]

She unintentionally screamed and hid further inside her cloak while looking at the road that seemed to continue endlessly.

(It was supposed to be this way…)

Ever since she left her hometown, she had walked for a long time. The city where Saria could live in peace was far away, her shoes were so worn down that there was a hole on it, and even when she walked with trails of blood trickling down her wounded legs, there was no sign that she would arrive soon.

(So hungry…)

As she walked, her stomach growled in hunger, she then looked inside her bag made of hemp and sighed.

There was nothing more that could be eaten inside her bag, and at the same time, there were only a few copper coins inside her wallet.

It was obvious that she would dry up quickly if she couldn't find her older brother somehow as soon as she arrived at the capital.

(Onii-chan, I hope you're still alive…)

She thought about various things to forget the pain of walking.

Saria decided to leave for the city after receiving an invitation from her older brother who left home a few years ago.

Unlike Saria, her older brother received a superior protection for fighting and said he would like to test his strength before stealing the sword their great-grandmother used during the war decades ago and ran away from home.

Then he came to the capital and became an adventurer, so he succeeded… it seemed.

She thought that that brother of hers became a thief, but according to a human peddler that visited the village, it seemed that he set up a small shop in the capital, married a beautiful woman and lived happily.

That's why, Saria decided to leave their hometown to rely on her brother.

While she couldn't fight well, she was confident in the robustness of her body and her good eyesight, so she decided to go to the capital alone.

(I already had lunch… I wonder if I can arrive by the evening.)

Although she could hear in the dark, it was still scary for a woman to camp alone.

She would like to enter the capital before that if possible.

Thinking that, she quickened her pace, and at that time.

(E? What is that?)

Suddenly it appeared in front of her, Saria who narrowed her eyes due to the brightness of daylight was very surprised.

A black door standing among the forest trees of the highway road.

Standing alone among the forest trees, Saria could see the picture of a cat on the black door.

(What is that…)

Saria who originally had strong curiosity approached the door and observed it.

Even if it's at the forest, there was neither mud nor dust on it, a beautiful black door.

Saria touched the well-polished door handle.

[…Eii.]

Turning the handle, it seemed that the door was not locked and it opened with a bell sound.

[…Ah.]

Her stomach growled.

The door opened to a bright room that was blurry, so she couldn't tell what's inside.

However, a warm air with appetizing smell leaked from inside.

Saria unintentionally stepped through the door and entered an unknown place.

[Waa…]

The moment she came inside, the inside of the blurred room became clear and Saria's pupils narrowed.

In the room, some people were eating food.

[You don't understand! The cutest grandchild in this world is Sarah!]

[What are you talking about? My grandchild Adelheid is the pride of the Empire and is not inferior to the people of the Kingdom.]

While sipping some brown drink and drinking a gla.s.s cup of beer, two elderly male were arguing on whose grandchild was the cutest.

[Hou. Not bad. It's regrettable that you're not crushed by humans yet.]

[Even if you're a high priest of Light, you're having the time of your life. That's you alright. The origin of Umeshu that's the recent rumour of the Princ.i.p.ality.]

In the vicinity, there was a calm environment of a dwarf and female human quietly drinking cups with amazing speed.

[So, what are you talking about?]

[Aa, Ellen. It's almost time…]

While considering whether to finish the meal or not, a young man who does not seem to live a comfortable life like Saria was about to saying something with great determination while gazing at a woman with similar life condition.

(What is this place? …A restaurant?)

Perhaps it's a restaurant. Even though she had never seen the cuisine before.

The scent of warm food served in the restaurant tickled her nose and made her stomach growl.

[Welcome, customer. Is this your first time?]

She was dumbfounded when she heard a young male voice calling out to her, Saria's shoulders trembled and she looked at the source of the voice.

Standing in front of her was a young human male looking a little older than Saria.

His hair and body were clean, and his clean white shirt and black pants were much more high quality compared to Saria's ragged clothes.

The young man also directed a friendly smile towards Saria that couldn't be described as beautiful and waited for her answer.

[A, ano… yes.]

Saria responded while looking down… it would be bad if he saw her face.

[Well then… welcome to Western restaurant Nekoya. Let me show you to your seat.]

Hearing Saria's answer, the man tried to guide her to a seat with a smile.

[A! That… I'm sorry. I don't have enough money with me…]

Although she was charmed by the promise of food, Saria excused herself.

She only had a few coppers left in her wallet. That much money could only buy her a cup of alcohol at a bar at the end of a day where even Saria with her ragged clothes could enter.

That's why, there's no way she could afford the food here.

[Aa, that's alright. For a first-time customer, we can serve whatever food on hand for free.]

However, the man said something surprising.

[E?]

[The thing is, the entrance of this restaurant is strange and no one thought that it was an entrance of a restaurant at first. That's why, there are many people who came through the door without bringing any money, and they don't know whether they would like the food or not, so the first fee is free.]

Seeing Saria's surprised face, the man explained the system of the restaurant.

[That's why it's fine for now, so why don't you have something to eat? I'm not boasting, but this restaurant has a good reputation.]

While saying such, he led her to a beautifully arranged table.

[Today's daily special is cabbage rolls. It's good for your body.]

To the young man saying such words.

[…Well then, please.]

Saria laughed a bit.

Fortunately, the food came soon.

[Sorry, it seems that my stupid grandson still needs to more training on customer service.]

It was an old man with gray hair that brought the food. Probably he was the chef, and based on his words, the grandfather of the young man from earlier.

While he apologized, he placed a deep dish with red soup and large green lumps in front of Saria.

[Today's daily special of cabbage rolls. Feel free to eat however much bread as you want, so there's no need to be shy.]

With such words, he also placed down a plate with beautiful brown bread on it.

[Well then, please enjoy.]

As soon as the old man left, Saira couldn't bear to further withhold from eating.

She took a silver spoon and scooped the red soup.

She then carried the spoon to her mouth.

(…It's delicious!)

It was a little sour, but the soup contained meat and vegetable taste.

This soup was unlike the normal soup that Saria knew well, usually the soup looked like water with only sc.r.a.ps of vegetables floating in it, but this one was incomparable to that and had a deep taste when it pa.s.sed down her throat.

With the warmth filling her stomach, she sighed contentedly.

It was really delicious especially since this was Saria's first decent meal in a long time.

Her hand couldn't stop, she continued to scoop the soup to her mouth.

She got rid of her annoying hood that got in the way.

(This, just the soup alone is already delicious…)

She was a little glad when she saw the green lumps were gradually becoming more visible as she continued to drink the soup.

The main lead of this dish… the dish called "cabbage roll" that the young man said was probably this green lumps in the red soup.

With her mouth watering again, she grabbed the bread at the side and bit it… her eyes widened to its softness and subtle sweetness.

If she believed the old man's words, she could eat as much bread as she wanted with no change in price, but to think that something that was served as an extra had such a tremendous taste.

[Excuse me! I would like one, no, two more bread please!]

She loudly told the young man who was serving another customer.

[Yes! Please wait a moment!]

Hearing Saria's words, the young man replied back.

(We, well then now…)

While waiting for the bread, Saria reached for the green lumps of cabbage rolls.

She cut the cabbage rolls swimming in the red soup with her spoon.

The green lumps were cooked well and she was able to cut it apart easily.

(…This is, meat?)

The green colour was a leafy vegetable. It was stuffed with meat.

Saria scooped up a spoonful of the green vegetable with plenty of meat, she then peered at it closely.

The green vegetable was tinted slightly red from the soup and packed with cooked brown meat.

Following her appet.i.te's order, she immediately ate it.

There's no way she could oppose it.

(…Haa, it's meat. It's really meat!)

The meat juice that overflowed every time she chewed mixed with the sour soup absorbed by the leafy vegetable, the mixture warmly spread in her mouth.

Saria's body became warmer, and joyfulness filled her heart.

Such a lovely joyousness, Saria cut the green lumps and brought it to her mouth over and over again.

Although the lumps were quite large, it disappeared into her stomach in a blink of eye.

[Hou…]

Saria satisfactorily sighed for her first decent meal in a long time.

It was truly delicious. But it's not enough.

[Thank you for waiting. Here's your bread…do you want another serving of cabbage rolls' soup as well?]

[Yes! …A…]

Without thinking, Saria turned to face the young man and when he immediately looked at her eyes, she noticed her blunder.

(He, he saw it!)

She hurriedly lifted her hood to hide her face, but it's too late.

He already saw it. Seeing that Saria had cat eyes with vertical pupils… he now knew that she's a "demon".

There were still many people that feared demons.

Saria was heading towards the "demonic city" of the Empire where demons could live without being scared.

[You, you saw my eyes…]

She timidly asked. While feeling uneasy as to whether she would be driven out or not.

[E? Is that a problem?]

But contrary to Saria's expectation, the young man only tilted his head in confusion.

[…E?]

[…Etto, you have beautiful eyes. It's just like a cat's.]

While staring at the new customer, the young man realized that maybe she was concerned with the slight difference of her eyes, so he said so with a smile.

…Unfortunately, the young man was not good at complimenting girls, so he couldn't say something better.

And to answer that smile, the door opened violently and one of the "regulars" strode in.

[Ou! Katsudon! Give me katsudon!]

[…Ee!?]

The customer who came in… he was two heads taller than Saria and had a strong blessing with lion's face, Saria was very surprised when she saw him.

[…Maa, a lot of our customers are strange people. Even if he's a little different, he's fine.]

In order for Saria to continue enjoying her food, the young man said such words and gently placed the bread on Saria's plate.

[Again… please enjoy.]

And in order to respond to the customer's request, he went to the kitchen to pick up the cabbage rolls' soup.

TN: And here I thought that it’s her brother that came in.