第２９５堀：表は穏やか (Part3)
It looked like a common public eatery, with tables and chairs set out on the street. It was likely positioned to target laborers heading out for work, city guards, and travelers. If they were looking to cater to the city’s residents, they would have set up near the shops or residential districts rather than right by the gate.
"Welcome! What can I get for you?"
As soon as we took our seats, a staff member approached us. Incidentally, water must be plentiful here, as it was served in simple wooden cups. However, in a civilization where parchment was the standard, convenient things like printed menus didn't exist. It was hard to see from the outdoor tables, but the names of dishes were written on wooden placards hanging inside the shop.
"Um... what should we have?"
"Let's see. I'm sorry, but this is our first time in the Royal Capital. Do you have any recommendations? We don't mind if it's a bit pricey."
"Well, as you can see, this is a place for commoners, so we don't really have anything expensive... Oh, but our specialty is bread with various fillings. It’s reasonably priced, and the locals buy it too."
"Then, we'll have two of those, please."
"Yes, please wait a moment."
With that, the girl—presumably the shopkeeper's daughter—headed back inside.
"She was quite a cute girl. Though, not quite on the level of Sister Aslin or Sister Firia."
"Your standards for comparison are all wrong. But are you sure about this place? It seems to be gathering quite a few rough-looking characters..."
Being located right at the gate, the clientele was noticeably suspicious, likely travelers or mercenaries. A girl like that seemed like she’d be looked down upon and stiffed on the bill.
"Hahaha, you don't have to worry about that."
The voice came suddenly from the table next to us. I turned to see a man with a greatsword strapped to his back.
"That girl is Teles Hausen. She’s the daughter of the owner of this Hausen Diner."
"The name Hausen... is that a known family?"
"Hm? You don't know the Hausens?"
"We just arrived in the Royal Capital of August, so no."
"I see. From your appearance, I thought you were young ladies from a good family... but looking closer, you're in the same line of work, aren't you? The weapons, the build..."
"If you look at us with those eyes again, I'll kill you."
"Whoa, scary. That's not your average killing intent. Well, if you're from another country, I suppose you wouldn't know. Then, does the name Laraina ring a bell?"
"That... wasn't she a Magic Sword User of this country?"
"Exactly. Her full name is Laraina Hausen. She's the daughter of this shop and Teles's older sister."
"I see."
"The ones running this shop now are their parents. They’ve retired from active duty, but back in the day, the father was a captain of the Royal Guard—a real powerhouse. And yet, he’s a pleasant guy who doesn't throw his weight around. That’s why he’s running a diner for travelers and mercenaries like this."
"An eccentric, then."
"Agreed. He's definitely an eccentric. But thanks to that, we get to enjoy good food without any brawls breaking out. And if anyone tries to mess with Teles..."
"The father comes out, right?"
"Exactly. But because of her parents and sister, Teles herself is actually quite capable. Just the other day..."
The moment the man started to continue, a plate with something that looked like a sandwich was slammed down in front of us with incredible force. I was glad it was a wooden plate; at that speed, ceramic would have shattered.
"Moment-san!! Stop saying weird things to the customers!! Honestly, it’s rare enough for female customers to stop by—what are you going to do if they stop coming?!"
When she said that, Kirika and I scanned the shop. Indeed, there were no other women. Well, with such a rowdy crowd, it was no surprise that new customers—especially women—rarely visited.
"Come on, the usual ladies and kids come to eat, don't they?"
"That’s only because I worked myself to the bone advertising to them!! Female travelers usually go to the shops further in."
I suppose that makes sense.
"Anyway, I'm sorry. Here you go. It's called a sandwich. Please, try it."
"Oh, thank you."
"Thank you for the meal."
We took a bite. The bread was harder than what we had in Weed, but it was definitely a sandwich. It was the type where a long piece of bread, like a frankfurter bun, was sliced open and stuffed with ingredients.
"Mmm. It's delicious. I think I might eat here every day."
"I agree. That might be a good idea."
"Thank you so much!!"
Even with a Doppelganger body, I needed nutrition, and cooking at home was a hassle—mostly because there were no stoves or induction cooktops.
"Um, may I ask your names? Since it looks like you'll be regulars..."
"Oh, sorry. I'm Milly. And this is Moment-san, please take care of her too. We're here for a bit of sightseeing. Her name is..."
"I am Kirika. Pleased to meet you."
"And as Moment-san said, I'm Teles, the poster girl for this Hausen Diner. Looking forward to seeing you again."
"Yeah, count on me. As fellow professionals, feel free to rely on me."
"Don't expect me to spend the night with you, though. I'm already married, and I'm devoted to that person. As for Kirika..."
"I'll pass."
"Seriously?! Damn it!!"
"Wait, you're a mercenary even though you're married!?"
"Well, life has its circumstances."
Still, this man named Moment was clearly a cut above the rest. The people around us were listening intently to his words. It seemed like his own way of looking out for us. Because we were women, we were easy targets for disrespect. By showing his connection to us, he was effectively warning others to keep their hands off. The lecherous gazes that had been fixed on us before he spoke had vanished. He had definitely done this on purpose.
If so, we wouldn't hesitate to take him up on his offer.
*Clink.*
"Oh, are you paying already?"
"No. Moment-san, could I buy some information with this silver coin?"
"Hm? I don't know any information worth a whole silver coin. Wouldn't another informant be better?"
"I told you, this is our first time in this city. Besides, thanks to Teles-chan's introduction, you seem reliable, and I'm sure you wouldn't want to tarnish your own reputation, right?"
"...You really know how to corner someone. Fine. What do you want to know? I'm telling you, I don't have anything worth a silver coin."
For an adventurer—or a mercenary, as they were called here—information was the most vital asset. Knowing where the profitable jobs were and where the dangers lay was how we survived and earned our keep. Even if a job promised riches, nobody wanted to go somewhere with a 100% mortality rate. It was better to take safer, smaller jobs and save up steadily.
Information trading seemed simple, but nobody would buy from someone they didn't trust. And the seller risked losing all credibility with a single failure. That was why I chose to ask the man who seemed close to Teles-chan. This wasn't the place to lie; there were eyes other than Teles-chan's, and if he said something foolish, his hard-earned reputation as a mercenary would crumble.
"I don't need anything grand. Once I meet up with my husband, we plan to travel around the August kingdom. I just want to know about any landmarks or dangerous areas."
Yes. That was the information we needed most. We would start by getting the basics from Moment-san and then gather more details from there.
The Milly and Kirika duo had begun their intelligence gathering in the Royal Capital! Now, onto Yuki and the others' meeting. I wonder what their next move will be.