This is a corner of the castle. Gathered here are those who currently hold power (?) in Sounité.
“Did everyone make it here unnoticed?”
Asks Gungrave, the commander of the Gungrave Mercenary Group and currently the highest authority in Sounité, as he checks on everyone.
“Of course! I came here masking my presence and erasing my tracks.”
Says Tegue, the captain of the mercenary group’s archer unit and a master scout, as he keeps watch on the surroundings.
“Same here. I came under the pretense of training. My alibi is solid. I’ve made sure to drill it into my vice-captain.”
Says Kuuga, the infantry unit captain and the mercenary group’s strongest fighter, a master swordsman who’s not neglecting his alibi.
“…I’ve wrapped up my work for now.”
Says Gyngus Sounité, who on the surface is the lord of Sounité but behind the scenes is Gungrave’s military advisor. He’s finished his work without overtime to avoid any issues tomorrow.
“Well, I’ve secured the, uh, supplies.”
Says Garn, a former intelligence officer currently training as a cook, who was in charge of securing provisions.
“Well, me too, I guess?”
Adds Adra, currently a cook’s apprentice, following suit.
“Everyone, sorry for the wait. Here’s the item in question.”
Says Shuri, that’s me, who was in charge of preparing the requested item.
“Hey, I can’t keep up with this vibe, you know?” “Ah! Gyngus is backing out!” “Traitor!” “Please calm down.”
Everyone’s getting worked up, but Gyngus remains calm.
“Today is a men’s gathering, or rather, a guys’ night out.”
That’s right, today is a drinking party for men only. Hi there, it’s Shuri here. After bringing the daytime meeting to a draw, Gungrave secretly decided to gather just the men for a party. I wondered why, but… Well, I had no reason to refuse, so Garn and Adra were tasked with securing snacks and alcohol, and I was put in charge of cooking.
“But a guys’ night out, huh…” “We’re pretty pathetic, aren’t we…”
Ah, a dark cloud seems to be hanging over Tegue and Gyngus!
“That’s right, among us, the only one who’s married or has a woman is Gungrave. He even has a wedding coming up.” “Kuuga, aren’t you popular with the women in town and the castle, with that appearance of yours?” “Traitor!” “Punish the traitor!” “It’s a misunderstanding! It’s just a misunderstanding!”
Let’s leave them be. It seems impossible to dispel the gloom surrounding Tegue and Gyngus.
“Don’t make such a ruckus in this dimly lit, cramped room…”
Garn says with an exasperated look as he gulps down some alcohol. Wait a minute, you. You’re an alcoholic, aren’t you?
“Here, I’m confiscating this.” “What?! It’s been ages since I’ve had a drink, can’t you let it slide?!” “You’ve ruined your body with alcohol before, haven’t you?”
I remind him as I take away his drink. This guy really has no self-control. By the way, we’re in a corner of the castle. We’ve rented out a guest room and are having a men-only drinking party. This used to be a guest room… or rather, an empty room called a guest room that nobody was using, so Gungrave suggested we use it for our gathering.
“Garn can’t drink, but… the rest of you, tone down that gloomy aura. Come on, let’s chat about silly things to take your mind off it, okay?”
I say as I place the prepared snacks and drinks on the floor and sit down with a grunt. Sitting on the ground isn’t very common in this world, but we’ve laid out a carpet for this occasion. Sitting properly in chairs to drink wouldn’t suit us.
“You’re right. This time it’s just us guys having a silly chat.”
Adra says as he takes a drink.
“It’s an opportunity to deepen our bonds as men.” “That’s right, that’s right, Adra. Garn, Adra, and I know each other from being cooks together, but we haven’t had much chance to get to know the other captain-level guys. So, the idea is to get to know each other better while chatting about silly things.” “Well… I got thoroughly beaten by that swordsman over there, though…”
Adra says, a dark aura beginning to emanate from him as well. The atmosphere in this room seems to be turning into something quite gloomy. Tegue and Gyngus, who have no luck with women. Kuuga, who has too much luck with women and has made too many enemies. Garn, who can’t drink and is feeling irritable. Adra, who’s depressed about drinking with someone who beat him before.
Wait, is there no way to lighten this gloomy atmosphere? What should I do?
“Alright, that’s enough from all of you.”
A solemn voice suddenly echoes.
“Whether you have no luck with women, or you’re drinking with someone who beat you before, or you can’t drink, it doesn’t matter here.”
The voice continues, filling the room like a light illuminating the previously gloomy path.
“Right now, the important thing is to appreciate the comrades beside you. That’s what matters.”
Ah, what powerful words. They make all the previous squabbling seem foolish.
“Come on, let’s drink. Let’s enjoy this moment.”
He says, raising his cup.
“But Gungrave, you’ve got a wife, power, and a wedding coming up. You’re living a pretty fulfilling life, aren’t you?” “He’s our greatest enemy!” “This traitor!” “Damn it, I’m jealous of how fulfilling your life is!” “Who do you think you are to say that?!” “H-hey, stop it, you guys!”
Ah, how merciless. Everyone’s ganging up on Gungrave. I watch from the sidelines while eating the snacks and drinking. Hmm, it’s delicious. Well prepared. It seems everyone has calmed down after beating up Gungrave, and they’re now sitting on the floor drinking. By the way, I prepared fruit juice for Garn instead of alcohol. It’s not Nornelles, though.
“Shuri… I’ll remember this…”
I think I hear Gungrave’s resentful voice, but it must be my imagination.
“By the way, these snacks are pretty good.”
Tegue says as he eats the prepared snacks while drinking.
“These are edamame, right? I used to eat them a lot at taverns back in the day.” “That’s right. But these are even better.”
Tegue and Kuuga seem to be enjoying them. That’s good to hear. What I prepared is edamame. Boiled edamame. It’s a classic snack that goes well with alcohol.
“That’s right. I’m particular about everything from choosing the edamame to how I boil them.” “In a normal tavern, they’d just boil a bunch and serve them. Some even shell them and just boil the beans.” “I thought that was the normal way too.”
Garn and Adra are also popping the beans into their mouths.
“When choosing edamame, the key points are that the beans are firmly packed and have a fresh, juicy quality. Also, when boiling them, use 4% salt to water ratio… I’ll explain that later. Another trick is to slightly cut off the stem end of the edamame during preparation. This improves water circulation and helps the salt flavor penetrate better,” I explain. “I see… so that’s why they taste like this.”
Gungrave, who has recovered, says as he pops some beans into his mouth.
“The alcohol goes down smoothly with these, Gungrave.” “Yeah, absolutely. I didn’t realize edamame could change this much depending on the cook’s skill.” “And I can’t even drink to enjoy these perfect snacks…”
It looks like Garn’s dark aura is about to make a comeback, but let’s ignore that. If we get too involved, his negative energy might spread.
“Well, shall we get to the main topic while enjoying our snacks?” “Right. Let’s talk about women.” “Gungrave, are you trying to bring back the darkness? Do you want to get beaten up that badly?” “No, no, I mean like what type of women we prefer, or which women we think are attractive. That kind of silly talk.”
Ah, I see. So that’s what he meant.
“Then let’s start with you, Gungrave.” “Hey, do you think I’d talk about any woman other than Arius in this situation and risk damaging our marital bond? Do you think a man about to get married would mention any name other than his partner’s?” “Oh, so you’re saying Arius is the best no matter what?” “Whew, he’s bragging!” “As expected of a husband.” “Well, even from my perspective, Arius is a beauty. …Though her chest is another story.” “Did you say something?” “Nothing at all.”
Gyngus is averting his gaze and trying to brush it off, but I bet everyone except Gungrave is thinking the same thing. I mean, all the other men are slightly averting their gaze too. Absolu… no, never mind.
“Then how about you, Gyngus? What’s your type?” “M-me?” “Yeah, I’m curious about Gyngus’s preferences too.” “…Will you promise not to laugh when you hear it?”
Gyngus asks, his face turning red. Huh? What’s this? Is he being bashful?
“I… I prefer Princess Tevis.”
The air freezes. Time seems to stop.
“…I see.” “Gyngus, you know…” “It would be okay if it were in the form of an engagement to form an alliance, right?” “I see, I hadn’t thought of that.” “That’s okay?!”
Wait, doesn’t that make Gyngus a lolic…
“Shuri… political marriages or alliance marriages at around ten years old are normal here…”
…
“I’m more curious about what you were thinking.” “Your way of thinking is tainted… no, it’s rotten.” “Our cook is quite the pervert. A closet pervert.” “Ah, ah! I’m sorry, okay?!”
The modern Japanese way of thinking doesn’t apply here!
“Shuri… I’m not saying I prefer ten-year-old girls themselves. I like Princess Tevis for her intelligence and quick-wittedness.” “I’m sorry. I was the one with the tainted mind.”
Ah, now that he mentions it, Princess Tevis does have a sisterly presence combined with a wife-like quality, making her irresistible to those who like younger partners. I see… when considering preferences in women, it’s not just about age.
“Well then, how about you next, Tegue?” “Huh?! Why me all of a sudden?!” “Just because.”
Somehow, manipulating this flow of conversation is fun.
“Well, alright. My type, huh… I’d say I prefer Miss Aeclys.” “I see that as a direct challenge to me.” “Wait, Garn. This is just talk about preferences, not about reality…” “Are you saying my sister isn’t attractive?!” “Are you saying my older sister isn’t attractive?!” “Hey, can someone please do something about these out-of-control siscon brothers?!”
Ah, poor Tegue.
“Garn, Gyngus. Right now, we’re just talking about preferences in women. Aeclys is certainly attractive, but Tegue is saying he prefers women who are boyish, or rather, who combine a youthful, boyish energy with a delicate femininity.” “Th-that’s right! It’s just as Shuri says!”
Tegue agrees, looking relieved. I see, so Tegue prefers the boyish type. In modern Japan, you might say he likes the type of girl who’s in the track and field club, with short hair and healthily tanned skin. The kind of girl who would press a cold drink against the back of a junior who’s practicing high jump until sunset, cheerfully encouraging them with a “Keep it up, junior!” That’s probably the type he likes.
“Well, Tegue’s tastes are quite unique.” “Oh? So what about you, Kuuga?” “Me? Well… I’d say I prefer that Eutine girl, Princess Tevis’s attendant.” “Kuuga, you’ve got your pick of women!” “After stealing our chances, you’re now eyeing the dignified beauty right in front of you?!” “Um, I’ll say it again, but this is just about preferences in women. Adra, Garn, please don’t unleash your darkness…”
I need to nip this in the bud… or the darkness will spread.
“So, Kuuga, what exactly attracts you to Eutine?” “Well, you noticed it too, right? That woman, she’s some kind of intelligence officer.” “What?”
Gungrave reacts, suddenly serious. Despite the alcohol making his face red, he’s completely serious now.
“Are you sure about that, Kuuga?” “No doubt about it. Her bearing, the way Princess Tevis interacts with her, and when Shuri approached, she shifted her center of gravity ever so slightly, ready to attack if needed.” “What?! You mean I could have been killed?!” “You wouldn’t have been killed, but you might have been subdued. Nothing happened because Princess Tevis stopped her.” “Kuuga, even I couldn’t sense that.” “Tegue, yours is the eye of a scout observing others. Mine is more like… vaguely sensing ‘dangerous people’. But Eutine is extremely good at hiding her dangerous aura. It was only barely noticeable if you really concentrated, which is why I initially thought she might be an intelligence officer. What I just mentioned confirmed it.” “I see… Come to think of it, I’ve heard something similar.”
Garn says, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
“I was also active as an intelligence officer, so I’ve heard a bit about other countries’ intelligence officers. Among them, I didn’t get much information about the intelligence officer serving Princess Tevis. But I did know that a young girl was always by Princess Tevis’s side as a liaison. So Eutine is that person.” “I see… We need to be cautious about this.”
Everyone nods with serious expressions at Gungrave’s words. Yeah, I’m going to cut into this serious conversation, but… is that okay?
“So, why exactly is Eutine your type?” “Hm? Oh, right. Well, I could trust her to watch my back, you know?” “Hey, Kuuga. Stop talking like a warrior for a moment.” “Well, it’s not just that. Her slightly aloof face and dignified aura, if I managed to win her over, I bet she’d show her sweet side only to me. That’s what I find irresistible.”
Ah, I think I get it now. In terms of modern Japanese moe culture, it’s what they call a “kuudere,” right? Like a girl who’s usually expressionless and acts as the class representative, but when walking home together, she leans on you a bit. When you peek at her face, which she’s trying to hide, you see she’s blushing slightly. If she notices you looking, she gets embarrassed and goes back to being expressionless, but she doesn’t stop leaning on you. Why does it feel so frustrating that Kuuga could probably pull that off?
“I see, so Kuuga likes the kuudere type.” “Huh? Kuudere?” “Just think of it as someone who’s usually cool and calm, but acts like a sweet cat only in front of you, even if their expression doesn’t change much.” “Yeah, yeah, that’s it!”
You know, the more I hear about everyone’s preferences in women, the more I feel they’re quite… deep-rooted? Or maybe it’s just about moe?
“What about Adra and Garn?” “I don’t have the luxury to think about that right now. I’ve got a mountain of things to learn as a cook apprentice. Transferring from a soldier to a cook is tough, you know?” “Same here. Well, I’ll think about it after I see my younger brother and sister’s happy faces.”
These two are work-priority types, huh. There are women among the cooks too, so maybe I should try to subtly pair them up. Being single for life is probably one of the worst things in this world.
“Now, for the main topic.” “The main topic, huh.” “The main topic, indeed.” “The main topic.” “So it’s the main topic.” “It’s becoming the main topic.”
Hm? Why is everyone’s gaze focused on me?
“Well, up until now, Shuri has been guiding the flow of conversation, but…” “Yeah, it felt natural, so we just went along with it. So, Shuri, what type of woman do you like?” “Me?”
Me, huh… Now that I’m asked, it’s hard to answer. Everyone’s looking at me with keen interest, but…
“Well, for the past year and a half, I’ve been desperately cooking on the brink of life and death. I haven’t had the time or luxury to think about romance or find a partner.” “That’s true. But don’t you think it’s about time you found someone?”
Kuuga says with a concerned look on his face, while still drinking.
“You’re already over twenty, right?” “Yes. I had completely forgotten about that, but I’m twenty-one. In a few months, I’ll be twenty-two.” “What?! You mean you’re older than me?!” “You look remarkably young… I thought you were around fourteen.”
Gyngus and Garn are surprised, but… I don’t think I look that young. Come to think of it, I’ve heard that Japanese people who go abroad are often surprised by how old they are. Apparently, they tend to look younger, or rather, more childlike.
“Well, Shuri, you’re getting on in years. Don’t you think it’s time to get married and start a family?” “Hmm…” “That’s right. Even I can see that. You’re past the normal marrying age.” “Really?” “Usually, people get married between sixteen and eighteen.” “I see.”
Now that you mention it, that’s true, but… If I get married and start a family, I feel like I definitely won’t be able to return to my original world. I had made up my mind to continue as a cook in this mercenary group, but… when faced with this issue, I find myself hesitating. The possibility of not being able to return is greater, but… It’s just lingering attachment, I guess.
“Shuri, do you have family or a lover left behind in the continent outside the outer rim?”
Tegue asks with a worried expression.
“No, that’s…” “What do you mean, Tegue? What are you talking about?” “Gungrave, Shuri is an outsider. He comes from outside this continent.” “What?!”
“I see, so you’re an outsider. No wonder you have knowledge and recipes we don’t know. Shuri, is that why you haven’t thought about romance?”
Gungrave says, his face showing a mix of interest and concern.
“No, I don’t have a lover. My age is the same as how long I’ve been single.” “Then, family?” “Well… I don’t even know if my family is still alive.”
I was thinking about this about a year ago, but the flow of time in this world and the flow of time on Earth might not be the same. It might have been just a few minutes there, or hundreds of years might have passed. I don’t know. So, I’ve given up on the idea of returning. The only reason it still smolders in my mind is because of lingering attachment.
“Anyway, I’ve made up my mind to live here.” “I see… You’ve been through a lot too, huh.”
The toughest time was when you, Gungrave, made me cook cream stew with my life on the line. What’s with that “I’ll kill you if it’s not delicious” attitude?
“In that case, you should definitely find a lover. If you’ve decided to live here, you need someone to watch your back, someone you want to protect, a family. You need to leave some proof that you lived. Not like us who leave our mark on the battlefield.”
That’s heavy. Kuuga’s words are heavy. It’s true… what would happen if I disappeared now? The proof of life that Kuuga’s talking about. I… don’t have any. The recipes I’ve left behind, that’s culture, not me. I see…
“You’re right. I think I’ll try to make some proof that I lived, find a lover, and so on.” “That’s good.”
Kuuga says with a small smile as he pops some edamame into his mouth.
“So, just a thought, but what about Lill?”
Eh?
“Kuuga, Lill is-” “No, I mean more than just a lover or family. She can’t live without your hamburger steak, right?” “I can’t argue with that.”
Hmm, now that you mention it, Lill is quite a beauty too. On the outside, at least. The outside is…
“Shuri, your face is looking sour.” “Well, based on my impressions so far, she’s the cook’s arch-enemy when it comes to wasting beef.” “And?” “That’s it.”
Where did you learn that segue, Tegue?
“But… I do think Lill is cute.”
That’s just a fact.
“Miss Aeclys is beautiful too, but… she’s too beautiful and intimidating. With such a beauty near me, I feel like some scary older brother might come from somewhere and drag me into a back alley.” “I can’t tell if your imagination is robust or cowardly.” “Princess Tevis is… a beautiful young girl, but her age is…” “We’re not saying you have to fall in love right now. You could wait a few years, you know?” “Hmm, by then I’d be in my late twenties or early thirties, right?” “Yeah, that’s a no-go.”
The more they talk about it, the more confused I feel…
“Well, I’ll find someone eventually.” “That’s fine. Alright, time for silly talk round two. I’ve prepared some cards here. Let’s gamble!” ““““Yeahhh!!”“““ “Ah, sorry, I’ll pass.”
I say, standing up.
“Why?” “Actually, Arius asked me to prepare some late-night snacks.” “What?” “Apparently, they’re having a girls’ night. She asked me to bring some additional snacks when I have time.” “Seriously?”
Yes, actually, when Gungrave planned this guys’ night out, Arius was also planning a ladies’ night. At that time, I had already given the boiled edamame to Arius first.
“Well, I’ll be going then.”
I say as I leave the room and head towards the kitchen. As I walk, I think about what they said about finding a lover.
“A lover, huh… Well, the problem is finding someone.”
Now, what should I do…
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Chapter 41
This is a corner of the castle.
Gathered here are those who currently hold power (?) in Sounité.
“Did everyone make it here unnoticed?”
Asks Gungrave, the commander of the Gungrave Mercenary Group and currently the highest authority in Sounité, as he checks on everyone.
“Of course! I came here masking my presence and erasing my tracks.”
Says Tegue, the captain of the mercenary group’s archer unit and a master scout, as he keeps watch on the surroundings.
“Same here. I came under the pretense of training. My alibi is solid. I’ve made sure to drill it into my vice-captain.”
Says Kuuga, the infantry unit captain and the mercenary group’s strongest fighter, a master swordsman who’s not neglecting his alibi.
“…I’ve wrapped up my work for now.”
Says Gyngus Sounité, who on the surface is the lord of Sounité but behind the scenes is Gungrave’s military advisor. He’s finished his work without overtime to avoid any issues tomorrow.
“Well, I’ve secured the, uh, supplies.”
Says Garn, a former intelligence officer currently training as a cook, who was in charge of securing provisions.
“Well, me too, I guess?”
Adds Adra, currently a cook’s apprentice, following suit.
“Everyone, sorry for the wait. Here’s the item in question.”
Says Shuri, that’s me, who was in charge of preparing the requested item.
“Hey, I can’t keep up with this vibe, you know?”
“Ah! Gyngus is backing out!”
“Traitor!”
“Please calm down.”
Everyone’s getting worked up, but Gyngus remains calm.
“Today is a men’s gathering, or rather, a guys’ night out.”
That’s right, today is a drinking party for men only.
Hi there, it’s Shuri here.
After bringing the daytime meeting to a draw, Gungrave secretly decided to gather just the men for a party.
I wondered why, but…
Well, I had no reason to refuse, so Garn and Adra were tasked with securing snacks and alcohol, and I was put in charge of cooking.
“But a guys’ night out, huh…”
“We’re pretty pathetic, aren’t we…”
Ah, a dark cloud seems to be hanging over Tegue and Gyngus!
“That’s right, among us, the only one who’s married or has a woman is Gungrave. He even has a wedding coming up.”
“Kuuga, aren’t you popular with the women in town and the castle, with that appearance of yours?”
“Traitor!”
“Punish the traitor!”
“It’s a misunderstanding! It’s just a misunderstanding!”
Let’s leave them be. It seems impossible to dispel the gloom surrounding Tegue and Gyngus.
“Don’t make such a ruckus in this dimly lit, cramped room…”
Garn says with an exasperated look as he gulps down some alcohol.
Wait a minute, you. You’re an alcoholic, aren’t you?
“Here, I’m confiscating this.”
“What?! It’s been ages since I’ve had a drink, can’t you let it slide?!”
“You’ve ruined your body with alcohol before, haven’t you?”
I remind him as I take away his drink. This guy really has no self-control.
By the way, we’re in a corner of the castle. We’ve rented out a guest room and are having a men-only drinking party.
This used to be a guest room… or rather, an empty room called a guest room that nobody was using, so Gungrave suggested we use it for our gathering.
“Garn can’t drink, but… the rest of you, tone down that gloomy aura. Come on, let’s chat about silly things to take your mind off it, okay?”
I say as I place the prepared snacks and drinks on the floor and sit down with a grunt.
Sitting on the ground isn’t very common in this world, but we’ve laid out a carpet for this occasion.
Sitting properly in chairs to drink wouldn’t suit us.
“You’re right. This time it’s just us guys having a silly chat.”
Adra says as he takes a drink.
“It’s an opportunity to deepen our bonds as men.”
“That’s right, that’s right, Adra. Garn, Adra, and I know each other from being cooks together, but we haven’t had much chance to get to know the other captain-level guys.
So, the idea is to get to know each other better while chatting about silly things.”
“Well… I got thoroughly beaten by that swordsman over there, though…”
Adra says, a dark aura beginning to emanate from him as well.
The atmosphere in this room seems to be turning into something quite gloomy.
Tegue and Gyngus, who have no luck with women.
Kuuga, who has too much luck with women and has made too many enemies.
Garn, who can’t drink and is feeling irritable.
Adra, who’s depressed about drinking with someone who beat him before.
Wait, is there no way to lighten this gloomy atmosphere?
What should I do?
“Alright, that’s enough from all of you.”
A solemn voice suddenly echoes.
“Whether you have no luck with women, or you’re drinking with someone who beat you before, or you can’t drink, it doesn’t matter here.”
The voice continues, filling the room like a light illuminating the previously gloomy path.
“Right now, the important thing is to appreciate the comrades beside you. That’s what matters.”
Ah, what powerful words. They make all the previous squabbling seem foolish.
“Come on, let’s drink. Let’s enjoy this moment.”
He says, raising his cup.
“But Gungrave, you’ve got a wife, power, and a wedding coming up. You’re living a pretty fulfilling life, aren’t you?”
“He’s our greatest enemy!”
“This traitor!”
“Damn it, I’m jealous of how fulfilling your life is!”
“Who do you think you are to say that?!”
“H-hey, stop it, you guys!”
Ah, how merciless. Everyone’s ganging up on Gungrave.
I watch from the sidelines while eating the snacks and drinking. Hmm, it’s delicious. Well prepared.
It seems everyone has calmed down after beating up Gungrave, and they’re now sitting on the floor drinking. By the way, I prepared fruit juice for Garn instead of alcohol. It’s not Nornelles, though.
“Shuri… I’ll remember this…”
I think I hear Gungrave’s resentful voice, but it must be my imagination.
“By the way, these snacks are pretty good.”
Tegue says as he eats the prepared snacks while drinking.
“These are edamame, right? I used to eat them a lot at taverns back in the day.”
“That’s right. But these are even better.”
Tegue and Kuuga seem to be enjoying them. That’s good to hear.
What I prepared is edamame. Boiled edamame.
It’s a classic snack that goes well with alcohol.
“That’s right. I’m particular about everything from choosing the edamame to how I boil them.”
“In a normal tavern, they’d just boil a bunch and serve them. Some even shell them and just boil the beans.”
“I thought that was the normal way too.”
Garn and Adra are also popping the beans into their mouths.
“When choosing edamame, the key points are that the beans are firmly packed and have a fresh, juicy quality.
Also, when boiling them, use 4% salt to water ratio… I’ll explain that later.
Another trick is to slightly cut off the stem end of the edamame during preparation. This improves water circulation and helps the salt flavor penetrate better,” I explain.
“I see… so that’s why they taste like this.”
Gungrave, who has recovered, says as he pops some beans into his mouth.
“The alcohol goes down smoothly with these, Gungrave.”
“Yeah, absolutely. I didn’t realize edamame could change this much depending on the cook’s skill.”
“And I can’t even drink to enjoy these perfect snacks…”
It looks like Garn’s dark aura is about to make a comeback, but let’s ignore that. If we get too involved, his negative energy might spread.
“Well, shall we get to the main topic while enjoying our snacks?”
“Right. Let’s talk about women.”
“Gungrave, are you trying to bring back the darkness? Do you want to get beaten up that badly?”
“No, no, I mean like what type of women we prefer, or which women we think are attractive. That kind of silly talk.”
Ah, I see. So that’s what he meant.
“Then let’s start with you, Gungrave.”
“Hey, do you think I’d talk about any woman other than Arius in this situation and risk damaging our marital bond?
Do you think a man about to get married would mention any name other than his partner’s?”
“Oh, so you’re saying Arius is the best no matter what?”
“Whew, he’s bragging!”
“As expected of a husband.”
“Well, even from my perspective, Arius is a beauty. …Though her chest is another story.”
“Did you say something?”
“Nothing at all.”
Gyngus is averting his gaze and trying to brush it off, but I bet everyone except Gungrave is thinking the same thing.
I mean, all the other men are slightly averting their gaze too.
Absolu… no, never mind.
“Then how about you, Gyngus? What’s your type?”
“M-me?”
“Yeah, I’m curious about Gyngus’s preferences too.”
“…Will you promise not to laugh when you hear it?”
Gyngus asks, his face turning red.
Huh? What’s this? Is he being bashful?
“I… I prefer Princess Tevis.”
The air freezes.
Time seems to stop.
“…I see.”
“Gyngus, you know…”
“It would be okay if it were in the form of an engagement to form an alliance, right?”
“I see, I hadn’t thought of that.”
“That’s okay?!”
Wait, doesn’t that make Gyngus a lolic…
“Shuri… political marriages or alliance marriages at around ten years old are normal here…”
…
“I’m more curious about what you were thinking.”
“Your way of thinking is tainted… no, it’s rotten.”
“Our cook is quite the pervert. A closet pervert.”
“Ah, ah! I’m sorry, okay?!”
The modern Japanese way of thinking doesn’t apply here!
“Shuri… I’m not saying I prefer ten-year-old girls themselves.
I like Princess Tevis for her intelligence and quick-wittedness.”
“I’m sorry. I was the one with the tainted mind.”
Ah, now that he mentions it, Princess Tevis does have a sisterly presence combined with a wife-like quality, making her irresistible to those who like younger partners.
I see… when considering preferences in women, it’s not just about age.
“Well then, how about you next, Tegue?”
“Huh?! Why me all of a sudden?!”
“Just because.”
Somehow, manipulating this flow of conversation is fun.
“Well, alright. My type, huh…
I’d say I prefer Miss Aeclys.”
“I see that as a direct challenge to me.”
“Wait, Garn. This is just talk about preferences, not about reality…”
“Are you saying my sister isn’t attractive?!”
“Are you saying my older sister isn’t attractive?!”
“Hey, can someone please do something about these out-of-control siscon brothers?!”
Ah, poor Tegue.
“Garn, Gyngus. Right now, we’re just talking about preferences in women. Aeclys is certainly attractive, but Tegue is saying he prefers women who are boyish, or rather, who combine a youthful, boyish energy with a delicate femininity.”
“Th-that’s right! It’s just as Shuri says!”
Tegue agrees, looking relieved.
I see, so Tegue prefers the boyish type.
In modern Japan, you might say he likes the type of girl who’s in the track and field club, with short hair and healthily tanned skin. The kind of girl who would press a cold drink against the back of a junior who’s practicing high jump until sunset, cheerfully encouraging them with a “Keep it up, junior!” That’s probably the type he likes.
“Well, Tegue’s tastes are quite unique.”
“Oh? So what about you, Kuuga?”
“Me? Well… I’d say I prefer that Eutine girl, Princess Tevis’s attendant.”
“Kuuga, you’ve got your pick of women!”
“After stealing our chances, you’re now eyeing the dignified beauty right in front of you?!”
“Um, I’ll say it again, but this is just about preferences in women. Adra, Garn, please don’t unleash your darkness…”
I need to nip this in the bud…
or the darkness will spread.
“So, Kuuga, what exactly attracts you to Eutine?”
“Well, you noticed it too, right? That woman, she’s some kind of intelligence officer.”
“What?”
Gungrave reacts, suddenly serious.
Despite the alcohol making his face red, he’s completely serious now.
“Are you sure about that, Kuuga?”
“No doubt about it. Her bearing, the way Princess Tevis interacts with her, and when Shuri approached, she shifted her center of gravity ever so slightly, ready to attack if needed.”
“What?! You mean I could have been killed?!”
“You wouldn’t have been killed, but you might have been subdued. Nothing happened because Princess Tevis stopped her.”
“Kuuga, even I couldn’t sense that.”
“Tegue, yours is the eye of a scout observing others. Mine is more like… vaguely sensing ‘dangerous people’.
But Eutine is extremely good at hiding her dangerous aura. It was only barely noticeable if you really concentrated, which is why I initially thought she might be an intelligence officer. What I just mentioned confirmed it.”
“I see… Come to think of it, I’ve heard something similar.”
Garn says, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
“I was also active as an intelligence officer, so I’ve heard a bit about other countries’ intelligence officers.
Among them, I didn’t get much information about the intelligence officer serving Princess Tevis. But I did know that a young girl was always by Princess Tevis’s side as a liaison.
So Eutine is that person.”
“I see… We need to be cautious about this.”
Everyone nods with serious expressions at Gungrave’s words.
Yeah, I’m going to cut into this serious conversation, but… is that okay?
“So, why exactly is Eutine your type?”
“Hm? Oh, right. Well, I could trust her to watch my back, you know?”
“Hey, Kuuga. Stop talking like a warrior for a moment.”
“Well, it’s not just that. Her slightly aloof face and dignified aura, if I managed to win her over, I bet she’d show her sweet side only to me. That’s what I find irresistible.”
Ah, I think I get it now.
In terms of modern Japanese moe culture, it’s what they call a “kuudere,” right?
Like a girl who’s usually expressionless and acts as the class representative, but when walking home together, she leans on you a bit. When you peek at her face, which she’s trying to hide, you see she’s blushing slightly. If she notices you looking, she gets embarrassed and goes back to being expressionless, but she doesn’t stop leaning on you.
Why does it feel so frustrating that Kuuga could probably pull that off?
“I see, so Kuuga likes the kuudere type.”
“Huh? Kuudere?”
“Just think of it as someone who’s usually cool and calm, but acts like a sweet cat only in front of you, even if their expression doesn’t change much.”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s it!”
You know, the more I hear about everyone’s preferences in women, the more I feel they’re quite… deep-rooted?
Or maybe it’s just about moe?
“What about Adra and Garn?”
“I don’t have the luxury to think about that right now. I’ve got a mountain of things to learn as a cook apprentice. Transferring from a soldier to a cook is tough, you know?”
“Same here. Well, I’ll think about it after I see my younger brother and sister’s happy faces.”
These two are work-priority types, huh.
There are women among the cooks too, so maybe I should try to subtly pair them up. Being single for life is probably one of the worst things in this world.
“Now, for the main topic.”
“The main topic, huh.”
“The main topic, indeed.”
“The main topic.”
“So it’s the main topic.”
“It’s becoming the main topic.”
Hm? Why is everyone’s gaze focused on me?
“Well, up until now, Shuri has been guiding the flow of conversation, but…”
“Yeah, it felt natural, so we just went along with it.
So, Shuri, what type of woman do you like?”
“Me?”
Me, huh… Now that I’m asked, it’s hard to answer.
Everyone’s looking at me with keen interest, but…
“Well, for the past year and a half, I’ve been desperately cooking on the brink of life and death.
I haven’t had the time or luxury to think about romance or find a partner.”
“That’s true. But don’t you think it’s about time you found someone?”
Kuuga says with a concerned look on his face, while still drinking.
“You’re already over twenty, right?”
“Yes. I had completely forgotten about that, but I’m twenty-one. In a few months, I’ll be twenty-two.”
“What?! You mean you’re older than me?!”
“You look remarkably young… I thought you were around fourteen.”
Gyngus and Garn are surprised, but… I don’t think I look that young.
Come to think of it, I’ve heard that Japanese people who go abroad are often surprised by how old they are. Apparently, they tend to look younger, or rather, more childlike.
“Well, Shuri, you’re getting on in years. Don’t you think it’s time to get married and start a family?”
“Hmm…”
“That’s right. Even I can see that. You’re past the normal marrying age.”
“Really?”
“Usually, people get married between sixteen and eighteen.”
“I see.”
Now that you mention it, that’s true, but…
If I get married and start a family, I feel like I definitely won’t be able to return to my original world.
I had made up my mind to continue as a cook in this mercenary group, but… when faced with this issue, I find myself hesitating.
The possibility of not being able to return is greater, but…
It’s just lingering attachment, I guess.
“Shuri, do you have family or a lover left behind in the continent outside the outer rim?”
Tegue asks with a worried expression.
“No, that’s…”
“What do you mean, Tegue? What are you talking about?”
“Gungrave, Shuri is an outsider. He comes from outside this continent.”
“What?!”
Suddenly, everyone’s surprised. Huh? What’s going on?
“I see, so you’re an outsider. No wonder you have knowledge and recipes we don’t know.
Shuri, is that why you haven’t thought about romance?”
Gungrave says, his face showing a mix of interest and concern.
“No, I don’t have a lover. My age is the same as how long I’ve been single.”
“Then, family?”
“Well… I don’t even know if my family is still alive.”
I was thinking about this about a year ago, but the flow of time in this world and the flow of time on Earth might not be the same.
It might have been just a few minutes there, or hundreds of years might have passed. I don’t know.
So, I’ve given up on the idea of returning.
The only reason it still smolders in my mind is because of lingering attachment.
“Anyway, I’ve made up my mind to live here.”
“I see… You’ve been through a lot too, huh.”
The toughest time was when you, Gungrave, made me cook cream stew with my life on the line.
What’s with that “I’ll kill you if it’s not delicious” attitude?
“In that case, you should definitely find a lover.
If you’ve decided to live here, you need someone to watch your back, someone you want to protect, a family.
You need to leave some proof that you lived.
Not like us who leave our mark on the battlefield.”
That’s heavy. Kuuga’s words are heavy.
It’s true… what would happen if I disappeared now?
The proof of life that Kuuga’s talking about.
I… don’t have any.
The recipes I’ve left behind, that’s culture, not me.
I see…
“You’re right. I think I’ll try to make some proof that I lived, find a lover, and so on.”
“That’s good.”
Kuuga says with a small smile as he pops some edamame into his mouth.
“So, just a thought, but what about Lill?”
Eh?
“Kuuga, Lill is-”
“No, I mean more than just a lover or family.
She can’t live without your hamburger steak, right?”
“I can’t argue with that.”
Hmm, now that you mention it, Lill is quite a beauty too.
On the outside, at least.
The outside is…
“Shuri, your face is looking sour.”
“Well, based on my impressions so far, she’s the cook’s arch-enemy when it comes to wasting beef.”
“And?”
“That’s it.”
Where did you learn that segue, Tegue?
“But… I do think Lill is cute.”
That’s just a fact.
“Miss Aeclys is beautiful too, but… she’s too beautiful and intimidating.
With such a beauty near me, I feel like some scary older brother might come from somewhere and drag me into a back alley.”
“I can’t tell if your imagination is robust or cowardly.”
“Princess Tevis is… a beautiful young girl, but her age is…”
“We’re not saying you have to fall in love right now. You could wait a few years, you know?”
“Hmm, by then I’d be in my late twenties or early thirties, right?”
“Yeah, that’s a no-go.”
The more they talk about it, the more confused I feel…
“Well, I’ll find someone eventually.”
“That’s fine.
Alright, time for silly talk round two. I’ve prepared some cards here. Let’s gamble!”
““““Yeahhh!!”“““
“Ah, sorry, I’ll pass.”
I say, standing up.
“Why?”
“Actually, Arius asked me to prepare some late-night snacks.”
“What?”
“Apparently, they’re having a girls’ night. She asked me to bring some additional snacks when I have time.”
“Seriously?”
Yes, actually, when Gungrave planned this guys’ night out, Arius was also planning a ladies’ night.
At that time, I had already given the boiled edamame to Arius first.
“Well, I’ll be going then.”
I say as I leave the room and head towards the kitchen.
As I walk, I think about what they said about finding a lover.
“A lover, huh… Well, the problem is finding someone.”
Now, what should I do…
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