第５０８堀：必要な休息 (Part1)
Chapter 508: Necessary Rest
Side: Shera
Although I had anticipated this, it really ended up like this, didn't it...
I thought to myself as I re-evaluated the situation before me.
"Ugh..."
"Kagura. You, don't you know when to stop?"
"Well, well. Ah, excuse me. Could I have another glass of this beer?"
"Ah, Mr. George, one for me as well."
"Understood. Three more."
"Coming right up! Three more drafts!"
How should I put it? It feels like a welcome party where the newcomer has completely crashed and burned.
Well, in reality, Kagura-san simply self-destructed by overeating.
It’s a common occurrence for those visiting Weed for the first time.
It’s a simple, clear-cut story: the food is so delicious that they eat too much.
That is precisely why it’s impossible to prevent.
"Firia-chan. Want some fried chicken?"
"Oh, I do want some. If I recall, this is the fried chicken from the uncle at the Lancer's place."
"Now that you mention it, that's right. They were supposed to be sourcing poultry from there. Would it be alright if I had some too?"
"Ah, in that case, please count me in."
"Got it. That makes four portions. Excuse me!! Four orders of the special fried chicken, please!!"
"Coming right up! Four orders of special fried chicken!!"
*Hah!?*
I ended up joining in on the order...
...Well, there’s no helping it.
Not eating that delicious fried chicken would be the act of a fool.
After all, it is our custom to eat dinner at home, and dining out like this is usually limited to lunch. However, Aslin and Firia are students.
Their lunch is determined by the school cafeteria.
Therefore, they rarely eat out.
Labyris and I work even though we are students, so we eat out occasionally, but having the four of us enjoy dinner out like this is a rare occasion. It’s a necessary act to deepen our bond as a group of four.
Therefore, eating fried chicken is perfectly okay.
As long as we don't forget our limits.
We just have to make sure we don't end up like Kagura.
Besides, I’m curious about dessert, so I should leave some room for that.
Fortunately, since Kagura only overate at the start, there shouldn't be any delays in the sightseeing Yuki-san requested.
She should be recovered by the time we finish eating.
"What's that!?"
"That looks delicious too."
"Was that fried chicken?"
I had thought that, but when the ordered fried chicken arrived, she suddenly revived.
"That's right."
"It's delicious. Want to try some?"
"That's right. You should try one."
Saying that, Aslin and Firia deftly handed one piece of fried chicken from the large platter to each of the three.
Since there are three pieces in a single serving, it works out.
If they need more, they can just order again, and since I don't know if it will suit their tastes, I think this is a good method.
The three who were handed the chicken pierced them with forks and ate.
Ah, naturally, they can't use chopsticks, so they use forks.
Weed provides forks for tourists, of course.
Since chopsticks are very convenient once you get used to them, many people seem to practice using them after seeing them used in Weed.
Of course, the three were surprised to see us using chopsticks.
But putting that aside, as for the three who ate the fried chicken for the first time...
"Delicious!? Give me more!?"
"Hey, don't touch what Aslin-sama and the others ordered. We should just order our own."
"That is true. My apologies. Three orders of this special fried chicken, please."
"Coming right up. Three orders of special fried chicken."
They kept repeating the cycle of tasting what we ordered and then ordering more...
"...Ugh. I, I can't eat anymore."
"Kagura. Are you aware that you are the representative of Haiden!? Come on, move!!"
"St-stop, if I move now, it'll spill. It'll mix with the beer..."
"Ah, 'spill'!? I, I am so sorry, Shera-sama. I will carry Kagura if I have to, so please let us move."
This is the state of things.
As Catherine-dono said, it is rare to see such a disgraceful display in this place, Weed, where it is no exaggeration to say the future of Haiden is being decided.
That said, we don't have the option of cutting ties with them.
If the connection Kagura-san holds with the Duke Kamishiro family were to vanish, our only remaining method would be to crush Haiden head-on.
If that were to happen, it’s obvious that our workload—in Weed, or rather, for us—would increase drastically, which would be counterproductive.
Kagura-san shouldn't be the type of person who doesn't understand that.
Then, why?
...Could it be that she's doing this on purpose?
Is she testing our true intentions, thinking that if we cut ties here, she can't cooperate?
Certainly, I wouldn't trust someone who treats others harshly just because they ate too much delicious food, but...
Is she more of a schemer than I thought?
Thinking this, I focus my consciousness to observe Kagura-san's movements in detail.
One can feel the flow of emotions from even the slightest movement; if she were doing this on purpose, there would be some awkwardness somewhere...
"Kagura!? Are you listening!? Do you think it's okay to be this rude!?"
"Now, now, Catherine-dono. Kamishiro-dono is still young and seems tired, so let's leave it at that. Shera-sama, I beg your pardon as well. I ask this of you, too."
For some reason, George-dono spoke up to defend Kagura-san, and both Catherine-dono and I tilted our heads in confusion.
"George-dono, why are you defending her?"
"Well, I understand the hardship. Between the battle with us and dealing with the rumored princess, I wonder if she has had any place to rest."
" "Ah." "
At those words, Catherine-dono and I remembered.
Come to think of it, despite her young age, Kagura-san had been handling frontline command, the use of magic, and taking care of that princess...
"What is it... It's fine to eat and drink a lot of delicious things, isn't it!! Do you have any idea how hard I've worked until now? I ended up commanding the Haiden forces without even knowing why, the Princess is useless, taking care of her just gives me a stomachache, I can't keep up with Yuki's talk, and I'm told to think about connections with my family... Why is it always me—... *hic*."
" "..." "
"Well then, it seems we have been pushing the young one a bit too hard. As someone who has tasted the same hardships, I would be happy if you could forgive her now that there is some leeway. It is to ensure that a promising young person does not break."
"...I also ask for your forgiveness. Please, would you not overlook this rudeness? I, too, have been forcing her to do too much."
"That is true. I, too, lacked consideration. She has had it tough in her own way, hasn't she? I will explain this to Yuki-san, so please rest assured."
" "Thank you very much." "
After the matter was settled, I realized Labyris hadn't participated in the conversation, so I looked toward her, and she was smiling at me.
"...Labyris. You knew, didn't you?"