174: They say a feast makes the best lubricant

"Craft! Craft! This is delicious! Sooo good!"

Leifan's eyes sparkled as he excitedly pointed at the spread.

Before him lay a rainbow of sea and mountain delicacies.

Every dish brought out was delicious—no wonder Leifan was so thrilled.

We'd been invited to dine, led into a warmly lit room, all of us sitting cross-legged in a line.

Shingen and Hanbee sat the same way we did, cross-legged, but Nobuna was seated properly on his knees—surprising, since I thought it might be a punishment. But apparently, this is just how people here sit normally.

I worried for him, knowing how often Leifan yells at him and makes him kneel, but Nobuna just stayed calm.

Unlike the earlier audience, Raidock and the others were invited to the same table and eating together now.

Jitarou had been gorging himself since just a moment ago.

Maina was delicate in her movements, but her speed at bringing food to her mouth was insane. Seriously, she was eating like crazy.

“Gwahahaha! Kyle-sama really is clever, aren’t you!”

Kyle, now favored by Shingen, had grabbed onto him and was chatting nonstop, sitting right next to him. Being the one to entertain the top-ranking noble was honestly a relief.

“I was shown around the town. I think I could help out with salt refining too.”

“Oh? Better efficiency than the salt-pan method?”

Not just Shingen, but Hanbee had also slid over to sit beside Kyle, listening intently.

Here he was, sandwiched between Hanbee, who only spoke serious things, and Shingen, who only chatted nonsense, and yet Kyle was somehow keeping up with both of them.

Persia, the guard standing rigidly behind the three, stared at the row of dishes with a face on the verge of drooling.

Kyle noticed and turned to her.

"You're welcome to eat too, Persia."

"B-but…"

"None of the Mizoho Shrine Nation’s guards are standing here. It’d be rude if only ours were."

"U… uh…"

Kyle grinned, delivering the final blow.

"Besides, they’ve even prepared food for you. It’d be polite to eat it."

"O-okay! I-I’ll take the food, but I’ll pass on the drink, thank you!"

Shingen burst out laughing.

"Gwaha! The kingdom’s guards are serious types! In Mizoho, you drink and eat together, knees touching! Go ahead, enjoy yourself!"

"…W-what?!"

And so, Persia joined the feast.

Yeah. You were standing there like a ghost, so good job on that, Kyle.

"Anyway, Kyle, about that salt—"

"Yes, well, there's this alchemical potion that evaporates moisture all at once—"

"Hahaha! This fish is raw, but it's good for you! Let everyone outside Mizoho taste this wonderfulness—"

"The aftertaste is clean, really easy to eat—"

"Going forward, we should send envoys to each other’s lands—"

"Already got royal approval for that—"

"Then, how about some of our sushi, hm? You should try it!"

"This rice has a tang to it. Pairs well with the fish—"

Shingen pushes the food, Hanbee talks trade and economics, but Kyle handles both with ease.

Yeah. Damn impressive, Kyle.

On the other side, our opponent’s got Nobuna, plus her brother Kanetsugu. And one new cat-beast I’ve never seen before.

The cat-beast was a woman, and she had a face so cute it hurt.

I’m not staring, that’d be rude—but somehow, my gaze gets pulled to her anyway.

Damn it!

She’s short, looks like a kid, but damn, she’s big!

And she’s wearing that Mizuho outfit, front-buttoned tight, making her cleavage look like it’s trying to show off!

The more I try not to look, the more I end up staring!

Not as big as Marilyn, but still—being small, she looks even bigger!

Get lost!

She must’ve noticed my stare—Eva gave me this look like she was utterly disgusted.

Tch! No! This is a trap!

Someone help me!

Maybe my thoughts reached her—Nobuna steps in and introduces the cat-beast.

"This girl here is Chiyome. Chiyome Clemant. You might not tell from the gloves, but she’s a bearer of the ninjutsu crest."

A single sigh escaped her.

"Chiyome. You’re not to trouble our guest, now."

"Eye contact technique. Wanted to see if it works on men from the kingdom."

"I get it, but stop it."

"Understood."

Thanks to Chiyome straightening her collar, the view I’d been enjoying was now hidden.

...W-What the hell? I’m not even sad about it!? I’m happy it’s gone now, okay!?

I was screaming inside, but Eva just gave me a cold, dead-eyed stare. Doesn’t make sense…?

"By the way, you too—do you have the ninjutsu crest?"

Nobuna’s gaze shifted to Camille.

"Yeah. Matching."

"First time I’ve seen the crest outside myself. Never thought I’d see it again."

"Unusual?"

Camille tilted her head, her voice as flat as ever.

"Even in the Mizoho Shrine Nation, this kind of thing doesn’t show up often."

"Huh. Rare."

She ran her fingers over her left hand, a grin tugging at her lips.

"Anyway, that blue armor of yours…"

"Raidock."

"Right. Raidock’s an adventurer, isn’t he? Absolutely terrifying at what he does."

"Thank you. But all our strength? That’s entirely thanks to Craft."

"Huh? Alchemist? What’s that supposed to mean?"

Hey, Raidock! Don’t go spilling secrets!

"We were barely even mid-tier adventurers. But thanks to this guy turning out one useful thing after another with his alchemy, we’ve managed to reach a level you could *kind of* call top-tier."

"You’re definitely top-tier. So is that archer. So is that ninja. So is that mage."

"Thank you."

Raidock, aren’t you lot top-tier? Real high bar, huh?

Since we met again, I’ve thought you’ve been top-tier all along.

“But alchemy’s just for making little potions, right?”

“Usually, yes. But this one’s… off the charts. …Craft. Stamina potions, weren’t those in the tribute supply?”

“Yeah. Standard trade goods.”

Raidock turned back to me for a moment, then faced Nobuna again.

“Honestly, you’d have to drink it yourself to believe it. But given your strength, Nobuna-sama… say, with about eighty percent of your power, you could just… blast out techniques freely. Sword techniques, I mean.”

“Blow out techniques? I don’t believe it.”

“Yeah, I know. But it’s true.”

“Huh? Really?”

Nobuna leaned in, squinting at me—less suspicious, more curious.

"Hey, Raidock. You coming to our country? I’d welcome you as an outsider warlord."

Nobuna’s words made Shingen perk up and react.

"Indeed! If Nobuna praises a warrior, we welcome him with open arms!"

"Outsider warlord"—didn’t know what that title meant exactly, but the vibe was something like honorary baron or knight rank.

Raidock shrugged lightly.

"Kind offer, but I’ve made up my mind. I’m sticking with being a Goldendawn adventurer for life."

"Hmm. Well, that’s that. A warrior’s principles don’t bend easily. Just remember us when you feel like it."

"Yes. I appreciate your kindness."

But damn, Raidock’s smooth even in moments like this. Seriously handsome.

"Too bad. Can’t be helped. …Then, how about that cute one over there?"

There she was, facing Maina, who was hungrily devouring Mizuho cuisine with single-minded focus.

Occasionally exchanging remarks with Persia.

"Maina, right? How about making her my brother Kanetsugu’s wife?"

I nearly spit out my sushi.

Cat-eared lolita with huge breasts, that’s you.