NOVEL WEB Chapter 79 - Shou-chan’s Report
Shou-chan’s Report
“You’re a sharp one, aren’t you. That’s right!”
The roots of Japanese cuisine ave finally been uncovered! As I’d expected, it was the otherworlder, Mikolasch-san’s client, who’d brought the recipes for Washoku to this world. So that means it was Dad who’d introduced Washoku to this world!
Now that I thought about it, the miso soup tasted like the kombu dashi we always had back home, and the nimono was on the sweeter side. Flavors I was far too familiar with. I was struck by the realization that it was Dad’s taste. No wonder it was so delicious!
“There’s also wafuku, clothes with a unique design, and things like stoves and flush toilets, all knowledge from another world. That world is full of amazing ideas. I’d love to go there someday.”
“Wafuku… are they wike the clothes Maille-shan was wearing?”
“Exactly! Though it seems like Maille added his own arrangements… I also wear them sometimes. They have this… obi, this thick sash you tie around your waist. I heard that you can have someone pull on it and spin you around while taking it off, so I would like to give it a try one day…”
“Miko.”
“Ah, my bad. I get carried away sometimes.”
Is-Is that… that “thing”? D-Dad, what kind of things are you teaching people!? I’d probably do it too! It’s like teaching foreigners about strange Japanese customs, I can understand the feeling!
But I’d heard that it doesn’t really spin well. Once Miko-san tries it, I’d love to hear the details.
“Well, I’ve gotten to know this lovely young lady, so I’ll be going now.”
“…Don’t go overboard.”
“…Then will you keep me company, Gil?”
Her seductive look as she left was devastating. But Gil-san seemed used to it, he just sighed heavily. I bet she asks him that every time they meet.
“See ya. Let’s talk again.”
“Goodbye, Miko-shan!”
And so, Miko-san left for the night, leaving Gil-san with some mental scars. …I wonder if her companion tonight will be a man, or a woman, I thought. I’m not a pure little girl for thinking such things. But it can’t be helped, I’m a gorwn-up on the inside!
“Shall we head back?”
Gil-san said this as we finished our meal, but I shook my head.
“There’s something… I want to tell Kei-shan and Nika-shan!”
“Tell them…?”
As if they’d heard our conversation, Kei-san and Nika-san appeared from the back of the guild. Wait! This wasn’t the right time! I didn’t have the information yet…
『Master, I’m back! 』
She’s back! Just in time! I’d been waiting! I called out to welcome Shou-chan back.
“Welcome back. Was it tough?”
『Not at all! It was nothing! It’s my pleasure to be of help!』
As expected of Shou-chan! So dependable! As we were excitedly celebrating our reunion…
“Meg-chan, you said there was something you wanted to tell us?”
Kei-san, who’d approached us unnoticed, said this. Just in time. Phew.
I nodded and then said,
“Shou-chan bwought me some infowmation about what happened to Juma-nii-cha…”
Kei-san, Nika-san, and Gil-san all stared at me with wide eyes.
“Um, Shou-chan can hear voices, so… It asked the twees and animals… that were nearby… if they’d sheen Juma-kun, I thought it might be… helpful…?”
I explained this timidly, but the three of them just froze. I was getting uneasy, when Nika-san finally spoke.
“…You… you did something amazing, Meg.”
“I’m really surprised…”
“…This is… not a good place to talk about this. Let’s call Saura too. You can tell us before we leave, okay? Meg.”
I nodded repeatedly in response to Gil-san’s words. I then checked with Shou-chan telepathically to make sure it was okay.
『I just have to tell them about the red-haired oni, right? It’s okay!』
I let out a sigh of relief. I then felt a warm hand stroking my head.
“You’re incredible, Meg. This is what it means to be a member of Ortus.”
Gil-san said this with a gentle smile. His words made me so happy that I couldn’t stop smiling. Ehehe, a member of Ortus!
“Shou-chan, please let everyone hear it!”
『Okay!』
We went to the guest room, called for Saura-san, and then had Shou-chan reveal the information. I was feeling a bit drained after giving Shou-chan magic power for the earlier task and for this, but I endured. It was fine, I wasn’t pushing myself, so I wouldn’t faint.
Shou-chan floated to the center of the room and then started playing back the voices it’d gathered.
『Red-haired oni? Yeah, I saw him! He was chasing after that Kangaro! He was fast, like the wind! 』
『He went west!』
『He hasn’t entered Centrei! I’d know if he had! 』
『I saw him in the forest on the Sainsley border! I ran away because he was scary!』
“Sainsley… It seems like he’s headed for Nemo’s home base.”
“But that’s amazing. All these voices of trees, animals, even monsters, right? Never thought those creatures could talk like this. I’m going to feel bad when I have to hunt them next time! Gahahaha!”
I understood what Nika-san meant. I’d never imagined that I’d be able to hear the voices of trees and monsters. Of course, I knew they were alive, but hearing them speaking so clearly… It might make me hesitate when it’s time to hunt them. Apparently, Shou-chan was translating their voices into a language we could understand. I mean, I wouldn’t understand if it was just growls and chirps. Shou-chan is so versatile!
『They were talking, the red oni, the Kangaro… and a really, really scary person!! 』
“A scary person?”
I tilted my head, muttering this. Everyone else seemed to be thinking the same thing, their eyes serious.
“It seems like they noticed Juma tailing them. Well, that can’t be helped. It’s actually amazing he was able to get that close without being noticed.”
“Maybe they deliberately let him tail them. Sauradite?”
Deliberately? So maybe he was lured there? Special-grade guilds are scary! And I’m a member of one! Ehehe.
“Let’s put that aside for now. This “scary person” is concerning. They’re most likely from Nemo, but…”
The moment Nika-san said this, Shou-chan’s next piece of information left us speechless.
『That’s the boss of Nemo! I know! 』
『The red oni, he was blown away by that person’s attack! 』
『He flew so far! 』
『He flew towards the mountains in the north! 』
The boss of Nemo.
Those words alone convinced us that it was true. That Juma-kun, who was one of the strongest members in the guild, had been blown away.