63. There are people inside
We immediately gathered our clothes and weapons and went out into the streets. Workers were busy carrying construction materials here and there, probably because of the battle with Galan, who blew up the entire market floor yesterday.
By the way…
Glitter—.
“…?”
Wack!
Maya and Robin, seated on either side of me, were engaged in an invisible battle of nerves, glancing at each other with me in between.
“…Did you guys fight?”
“No? I do fight I’d rather get to know Maya. How is Maya?”
“……”
What should I do with this awkward atmosphere? I don’t know if rice will go down my throat in this state.
Ignoring Robin’s words, I took the lead and followed Maya as she trotted along, opening my mouth to evoke the awkward atmosphere.
“So, what kind of restaurant is this?”
“Uh, huh…? What?”
Maya, who didn’t respond to Robin’s words, turned her head toward me, turning bright at my words.
“Well, it’s a good restaurant. What kind of restaurant is this?”
“Ah, that’s… It’s a restaurant run by someone Master knows… I’ve been there a few times with Master…”
“Maya, if your teacher… Kelp? That ancient wizard?”
“Yes. That’s right. Master especially… Liked that restaurant.”
As she said that, Maya gazed at her from afar, and seemed to be longing for something.
By the way, this is a restaurant that ancient sorcerer frequented. This this…
“I can’t wait to see how delicious it will be.”
“…! Huh! You can look forward to it…! It’s a place I like quite a bit too…!”
“Senior…! I’m already starting to feel my heart pounding…!”
Robin, who was listening to the conversation between me and Maya, also seemed to be looking forward to it since it was said to be a restaurant that ancient wizards used to go to.
“So, what is the name of that restaurant?”
“That, ‘Gourmet Garden’…”
“Kyaa… It’s art right from the name.”
The name of the restaurant is ‘Gourmet Garden’. If you put the word gourmet on a signboard, do you think you have that much confidence in your taste? Honestly, at this point, I started to think that I was good at following Miya.
“By the way. It’s not the first time I’ve been to Harman, but I’ve never heard of a restaurant called Gourmet’s Garden. Shouldn’t a place that is so delicious already be famous?”
As I inadvertently brushed off the dust on the brim of Maya’s hat and asked a question, Maya clung to my arm with a melting face.
“hehehe… That’s right… The restaurant is located in a remote area, so only regular customers visit. It’s a restaurant that both I and Master found out about by chance.”
“Really…?”
“There is a point, senior! Surprisingly, that kind of place is a hidden restaurant, isn’t it?”
Is that so? When Robin, a glutton known at our party, says that, it seems like he is right again.
“hehehe… It’s so delicious.”
…I shouldn’t be like this, but I keep looking forward to it. I shook my head once and let go of Maya’s arm that was naturally wrapped around mine.
“Well, I don’t know if it’s worthy of that grandiose name… But more important than that is the story you’re going to tell. Honestly, am I still uncomfortable with you?”
I hope you don’t misunderstand that I’ve forgiven you simply because I’ve been a little friendly.
As I ruthlessly shook off my arm, Maya, who had been staring blankly at the arm that fell into my hand, nodded heavily.
“…I know. Yeah… I’m sorry…”
“…Ehh.”
I sighed as I looked at Maya’s cat ears drooping like they were wet. Because I’m so sullen, it’s like I’m the bad guy.
“Anyway, let’s go quickly.”
“Yeah… I’m almost there…”
I hugged my swollen heart and followed Maya, who led the way, and moved into the dark alley.
* * *
The restaurant we arrived at following the map given by Maya was definitely a luxurious and elegant restaurant. It was also true that they ate in separate soundproof rooms rather than gathering in one place, and that the basic price started from silver coins.
Although I didn’t have a long conversation with the owner of this restaurant, I was able to get a room with her without difficulty because she remembered Maya.
“What a wonderful place. At a restaurant this luxurious, you can expect delicious food.”
“You are right, Gracie.”
A shop where wealthy aristocrats would come. Certainly, the taste of the food can be expected. If you eat delicious food, your mindset will change, and maybe your mood will be relieved a little.
Isabelle clutched at the skirt of her nun’s robe, trying to calm her restless mind.
Maya said that she would definitely see something and she would join. Isabel was not stupid enough to not know the meaning of the words.
‘I don’t think others noticed…’
The seat of her saintess was not a seat occupied by taking her land, and Isabel, who sat in the seat of the saintess, was quicker than her peers. I noticed from a long time ago that the ‘important thing’ that Maya said was probably related to Austin.
Maya will probably bring Austin along. At the prospect of seeing Austin’s face for the first time in a long time, Isabelle felt her face heat up involuntarily.
‘I don’t know what to say when we meet… First of all, I have to apologize. After that, if you explain the circumstances related to the mana core…’
If the conversation goes well, maybe you’ll be forgiven. Isabelle thought she was on the good side.
“Isabel. Can’t we just eat first? I told you to eat Maya first.”
As if she knew Isabel’s feelings, she grabbed the stomach of the hero who had said she had no appetite just a moment ago and glistened her eyes.
Well, everyone in the party, including the hero and Isabel, was salivating at the delicious smell that had been wafting in from earlier.
However, when Maya brings Austin, it is not polite for her to eat first. Isabelle thought so.
“We just wait until Maya comes. She will probably be back soon.”
“Yeah… Yes…”
“Adriendo, please be patient.”
“……”
Adrien was still silent. It was the first time that Adrien, who had been lively until he fought Huntly, had been attacked so far.
‘I’m glad you didn’t bring up the story about Austin…’
I didn’t bother to tell them that Austin might come. If she first informs them that her mental state is unstable, and then acts out of control out of excitement for no reason, there is no turning back. In the first place, she couldn’t say whether Austin would come or not.
After waiting for another five minutes, I finally felt the presence of people approaching from the hallway outside the door. Isabel focused all her attention on the outside of the door.
– The shop… It’s really luxurious… Senior…
– Real… Living…
– Yes… I bought…
It was a soundproofed room, so I couldn’t hear it in detail, but I could still hear a little of their conversation as they came closer.
Drrr!
“… Huh?”
* * *
Following Maya was the right answer no matter how you think about it. When she stood in front of the restaurant guided by Maya, I could see why I hadn’t known this restaurant existed. It’s on a street with only such expensive and luxurious buildings, so how can I know?
The size of the restaurant wasn’t very large, but the exterior looked classy and sophisticated, as if only regulars would receive it. Perhaps because it was a sliding door from the entrance, exuding an exotic atmosphere seemed to play a part in creating a sophisticated atmosphere.
“Wow… That looks really classy. It is expected.”
“Gulp…”
Robin had been drooling and blowing her nose. The more I approached the door, the more delicious the smell wafted in, driving me crazy too. My stomach was screaming.
“Well then… let’s go in.”
“Yes. Let’s go in quickly.”
Maya knocked on the door with a familiar gesture—! When I opened it, the driving smell of food hit my nose relentlessly.
While Robin and I were frantically sniffing food, a well-dressed man approached Maya.
“Welcome. It’s been a while since you came, Maya-sama.”
“…Yes. I have a room reserved for me.”
“This is Room 3. I will see you.”
“No. We’ll go by ourselves.”
The Maya when dealing with people other than myself was definitely the cold and blunt Maya during the hero’s party. They say it’s time to search when people change, but she hasn’t completely changed.
“Let’s go, Austin. I will guide you.”
“…Uh, yes.”
Today, Maya looks more mature. She usually looked like a child because of her small physique.
As I walked down the narrow hallway following Maya, I noticed that there were not too many sliding doors on either side that were firmly closed.
“The store is really classy, senior…! I’m so excited that I’m going crazy…!”
“Because you live to eat. Well, I’m looking forward to it too.”
As we agreed with Robin’s fuss, Maya, who had been walking in front of her, smiled and turned to us.
“Ehehehe… Right? You can look forward to it.”
“The price doesn’t seem too high… but you are really buying it, right?”
“Yes. Because I live…”
I quietly closed my eyes and nodded.
Yes. My choice today was not wrong. If not today, when will I ever eat at a fancy restaurant like this? Even the meal is free. Eating lunch with Maya was a crazy decision no matter how you thought about it.
“I’m here. It’s here.”
“Let’s go in quickly. I am so hungry.”
“Ah…! Come on, let’s go to sleep…!”
Drrr!
“……”
“… Huh?”
When I opened the door, a familiar woman sitting in the room saw my face and gave a bewildered noise.
hahahaha. I didn’t know there were passengers.
I was so embarrassed, I and the warrior party, who had been reunited after a long time, stared blankly at each other for a while.
Then, the hero who stared at my face jumped up and threw himself at me…
“…Oh, Austin!!!”
Druck—! Bang!
– Kyaaah…! My, my nose…!
As soon as I slammed the door, I heard something hit the door from the inside.
“…Maya. I think you came to the wrong room?”
“Hey, you’re right… you’ve come to the right place.”
“No, no kidding. There are already passengers.”
f*ck. When do you talk like you’re going to eat together, and you catch people like this?
“That… Austin, sorry…”
“… Hey. Are you kidding me right now?”
“But, I never said that we eat together…”
“This f*cking thing…”
I was tricked. I was tricked. Certainly, Maya never uttered the word that the two of them ate together, and she brought out the word ‘we’ and subtly revealed the facts about the group of warriors. Like an idiot, I didn’t even notice that.
Druck—!
Gasp!
At that moment, four hands came out of the door that suddenly opened, grabbed my clothes and pulled me into the room.
“Oh, Austin… Austin…!”
“Oh, f*ck…!”
This is a human, a zombie…! The moment I met their empty eyes as they grabbed my body and pulled me in, I was truly terrified.
“Gyaaa!!!!!! “
In an instant, the door to room 3, which absorbed my body, closed, and there was no one in the hallway.
That last part reminds me of Dawn of the Dead.