第５３２堀：相変わらずの彼と彼女 (Part2)
"Well, Yuki-san, I don't think he intended to hide it."
"Indeed. He likely just saw no reason to mention it. This place is, quite literally, a laboratory for culinary experiments, after all."
"Still, it’s surprisingly delicious, isn't it? What shall we eat today..."
It was only then that she finally looked past the shopkeeper and locked eyes with us.
"Ahhh!? You unfaithful wretch! You were safe and sound, yet you didn't show your face to me until now!!"
"Shut up!! I had other things to deal with!! Besides, you should have come to see me!! How am I supposed to worship you like this!?"
"What did you say!? Who are you calling a useless freeloader who just eats and sleeps!?"
"You’re self-aware, aren't you!?"
As we shouted, Luna and I reached out and pinched each other's cheeks, pulling them taut.
If we were to have a proper fight, the surrounding area would be reduced to a vacant lot, so this was our compromise.
"Um, Shopkeeper, Luna-san. There are other customers here. Could you please stop?"
" "Yes. We’re sorry." "
Well, it was a routine between Luna and me, so we stopped the playful bickering immediately.
Cleena, Samantha, Lilishe, and Hifii were used to it and didn't even try to stop us.
Nonoa had been flustered, but since we returned to normal so quickly, she just tilted her head in confusion. After all, we had come here to eat in the first place.
Prioritizing that was only natural, and thus, the 23rd Useless Goddess Conversion War ended without a resolution.
In other words, it was business as usual. A foregone conclusion, as they say.
"Right, I'll take this, this, and this. Oh, and for dessert..."
The useless goddess kept ordering one thing after another.
By any measure, it was far more than four women could finish.
"Hey, you’d better eat all of that."
"Obviously. It’s not like I have to finish it all during lunch. This counts as dinner too. It’s basically like a cafe."
"Wait a second, Shopkeeper. Is what this idiot is saying true?"
"Well, it is. She doesn't cause a scene, she comes by every day, and she tastes my experimental dishes, so it’s not a problem. This room has basically become a private space for Luna-san and her friends."
"That’s right. I’m a regular here. You should be grateful, Yuki, since I’m contributing to the improvement of your diet."
...What a troublesome, useless goddess.
Is she like those middle-aged ladies who camp out at a family restaurant for hours with free drink refills?
No, I suppose it’s better since she’s actually ordering food?
Then again, calling it both lunch and dinner—how slothful can you get?
However, as long as the shopkeeper wasn't complaining, it wasn't my place to say anything.
So, I ignored the useless goddess and placed my order.
Once Cleena and Samantha finished ordering, the shopkeeper left the room.
Seeing that, Luna opened the conversation.
"So, do you have business with me?"
"Meeting here was a coincidence."
"Meeting *here* was. But surely you wanted to see me, didn't you?"
"It was a matter of professional necessity."
"Hmm. Well, fine. I didn't expect to be summoned to that land, after all. I’ll let it slide in exchange for today’s meal."
"It wasn't exactly your mistake... but still. *Sigh*, a necessary expense."
"I don't like you calling it an 'expense.' You get to dine with a peerless beauty, yet you look so miserable that it’s actually annoying."
"Unfortunately, 'peerless beauty' is a term I reserve for my wives. Or what, are you planning to marry me and join their ranks?"
"Spare me the jokes. I don't need a nagging husband who acts like a sister-in-law. Anyway, putting that aside, you want information on that land, don't you?"
"That’s the gist of it. A dungeon core was discovered just the day before yesterday. It turns out you had your hands in that place, too."
"Oh my. I’m surprised an item from over 500 years ago still exists. Truly."
"Is it possible it’s an artificial object?"
"Not a chance. The magic formula—or rather, the system—embedded in a dungeon core is a type of matter-creation system. It converts magic power into any kind of substance and discharges it. It’s a tool that replicates the miracles of the gods. Though, coming from you, I suppose you’d call it a 'replicator' or something from science fiction. Regardless, as you can probably tell from that, it far exceeds the technological capabilities of the locals, so it couldn't possibly be artificial."
True enough.
If they had the technology to create dungeon cores themselves, this world would either be much more advanced, or a single great empire would have conquered it by now.
"So, what happened 500 years ago?"
That was what I really wanted to know.
Why did Luna stop interfering? What happened to the dungeon master? There were many questions, but that was the place to start.
"Let's see. Before that..."
Luna glanced toward the door just as the shopkeeper entered.
"Here we are. For the customer who ordered the five-item fried rice and gyoza..."
"Yes, yes!! First, we must fuel up!!"
For the time being, we were forced to eat.
Didn't I know? There is no escaping a useless goddess.