"Long time no see." (Deiga)
This would be the reunion of father and daughter since she went on an employee trip to Mileela. Even so, is it been that long?
"Why is my father here?" (Anzu)
"That's to see how you're doing..." (Deiga)
"I can't believe you're coming without contacting me." (Anzu)
"Sorry." (Deiga)
It was like the positions had been reversed.
"For now, if you stand in the aisle with your big body, you will get in the way, so please sit down." (Seno)
"Oh"
"Anzu-chan, please go back to cooking for now. There are customers waiting." (Seno)
"Yeah" (Anzu)
At Seno-san's request, Deiga-san and I sat down in the empty seats, and Anzu returned to the kitchen.
"So why did you come all of a sudden?" (Forne)
Forne-san asked Deiga-san.
"That's because I want to know about my daughter's situation." (Deiga)
"Anzu-chan said she was sending a letter." (Seno)
Seno-san joined the conversation.
"But she might be lying, right?" (Deiga)
"Oh, you don't believe your daughter." (Seno)
"Oh, that's not true. Don't worry about me, this shop is full of customers, and everyone is so kind..." (Deiga)
"Does that mean you don’t believe in me either?" (Yuna)
This time I interrupted the conversation.
"I believe in you, Miss." (Deiga)
Deiga-san was cornered by three women.
"Yuna-onee-chan, Seno-onee-chan. Don't bully Uncle Deiga. Mom said, 'A father is always worried about his daughter no matter how old she is.'" (Fina)
"Ah, I understand that. You have a habit of being blunt, but you talk a lot."
"When I was a child, if a boy made me cry, I would get angry and try to go to his house."
Seno-san and Forne-san said with nostalgia.
I had been neglected since I was a child.
Well, I wasn't a cute kid.
I wondered if a girl like Fina would have been considered cute.
"Well, I understand that you came because you were worried about Anzu-chan. I don't think you'll just come quietly, though?"
"No, I'm worried that Anzu's cooking skills are slowing down." (Deiga)
"Hehe, then I'll take your order."
"Well then……" (Deiga)
Deiga-san ordered some dishes.
Although Fina was hesitant, Fina and I also ordered together.
"Then please wait a minute."
Seno-san and Forne-san also return to work.
"Still, there are a lot of people. And everyone seems to be eating deliciously." (Deiga)
"That's probably why Anzu's food is so delicious." (Yuna)
"That's right. If you look at the faces of the customers, you can tell that Anzu's cooking skills have not deteriorated. But you have to check it out with your own tongue." (Deiga)
He was a strict father.
However, seeing the customers eating deliciously, he seemed relieved.
"Miss, thank you for preparing such a fine shop for Anzu." (Deiga)
"It's a promise. I invited Anzu to Crimonia." (Yuna_
"But it cost a lot of money, right?" (Deiga)
"Yes. Uncle Deiga, listen to me." (Seno)
Seno-san, who was carrying the food, interrupted the conversation.
"What's more, they let me live on the second floor of this shop for free, and I get to use the ingredients for my meals, so it's practically free. However, my salary is the same as any other place." (Seno)
"More than that. I can't work anywhere else anymore." (Forne)
Even Forne-san, who was delivering the food, joined the conversation.
"It's an appropriate benefit." (Yuna)
I talked to Tilmina-san, did a final check, and gave permission, but since I didn't know the average salary at Crimonia, I left everything to Tilmina-san.
Personally, I was not thinking of making money by making Anzu and others work for cheap wages.
All I had to do was had them cook delicious food for me, come eat whenever I want, and the food would be served to me.
"It's truly a great place to work."
"Yeah, I'm grateful to Yuna-chan."
Everyone looked at me with warm eyes.
It was embarrassing and I want them to stop.
As if to break up the embarrassing atmosphere, Anzu and Bettle-san brought food to us.
"Thank you for waiting."
"Eat while it's warm."
"Ouh" (Deiga)
On the table there were seafood dishes from Mileela to dishes from Land of Harmoni.
Everything looked delicious.
Immediately, Deiga-san began eating the food laid out on the table.
Fina and I also ate together.
As always, it was delicious.
"It looks like your arm hasn't fallen off." (Deiga)
"Of course. Even after coming to town, I've been following my father's teachings and making food." (Anzu)
Deiga-san looked happy at those words.
Anzu wanted to continue the conversation, but a customer came in, so Anzu went back to work.
Deiga-san was watching the situation.
"Welcome"
A new customer has arrived.
It was really popular.
"Deiga-san?"
A man entered the shop and called out to Deiga-san.
"Tod (トット)?"
"Why is Deiga-san in Crimonia? Maybe he came to check on Anzu-chan?" (Tod)
"Oh, yeah."
"What, you didn't believe a word I was saying?"
"It’s not that I don’t believe in it."
Somehow, it seemed like the two of them know each other.
"Deiga-san, who is this person?" (Yuna)
"Oh, this one is..."
"I'm Tod. I'm a merchant. I sell things from Mileela and Crimonia. When I go to Mileela, I stay at Deiga-san's inn." (Tod)
Ah, the relationship between store staff and customers.
"So, Miss? Is that the bear we're talking about?" (Tod)
"Do you know me?" (Yuna)
"Hey, there's not a merchant in Crimonia who doesn't know about you." (Tod)
"Is Miss really that famous?" (Deiga)
"Well, she has subjugated various monsters. I especially defeated wolves with one blow, so their fur is beautiful. Above all, all dismantlings are polite and get a high price, the pelt of the wolf that missy defeated is almost up for grabs." (Tod)
When I looked at Fina, who was eating next to me, her face turned red and she looked embarrassed.
It was Fina who had dismantled Wolf.
Maybe she was embarrassed because her dismantling was said to be polite.
"Last time, when we defeated Black Viper, we had a hard time competing for materials." (Tod)
He said that he had made a considerable profit from Mylaine-san.
I was also benefiting from that.
What's more, its inventory was still sitting in the Commercial Guild's warehouse, and they said they would sell it if the value rose.
The skin and fangs of a black viper were hidden in my bear box.
I didn't have any money problems, so my materials were in hibernation.
"Miss. Did you even defeat such a monster?"
"It's a long time ago." (Yuna)
It was a nostalgic memory.
"Uncle Deiga, is Black Viper really that amazing of a monster?" (Seno)
Seno-san asked as she was listening to the story while delivering the food.
"I've heard it from adventurers as well, but it's a really big monster." (Deiga)
"It's not that big. This is probably the highest number of monsters subjugated in Crimonia in recent years." (Tod)
"So much?" (Yuna)
Everyone looked at me with respect.
"But if it's Yuna-chan, it wouldn't be strange to do that." (Seno)
"Surely"
"What? Did Miss do something in Mileela?"
"I haven't done anything, you know." (Yuna)
"Hehe, that's right."
"Yeah."
Everyone had a thoughtful smile on their face, and the merchant man had a question mark over his head.
When we finished eating, Deiga-san moved to a corner where he could see the cooking area so as not to get in the way.
Somehow, Fina and I ended up hanging out together.
"If you go into the kitchen," I said, but he said "I'll get in the way," and watched from a distance.
"So, what about Anzu? I think she's doing just fine."
Deiga-san turned to the kitchen where Anzu was.
"She's very careful with the heat, temperature, and knife handling. She doesn't skimp on the preparation either. She's also skillful with the ingredients she didn't use at Mileela. She's already a great chef."
And then, the lunch time ended without Deiga-san even once interfering with Anzu's cooking.
There would be a sign saying preparations were being made at the outside entrance.
Anzu and the others ate their lunch and started cleaning up. Anzu and Bettle-san clean up the kitchen. Seno-san and Forne-san cleaned the shop.
Deiga-san and I tried to help, but the four of them stopped us.
"It's our job, so Yuna-chan and the others please sit down."
If you said that, I couldn't help you.
After the shop was cleaned up, everyone sat down in their chairs.
"Anzu, you've grown so much." (Deiga)
"Dad……" (Anzu)
"I heard about you from people who came to Mileela. I knew you were doing well. But I was worried until I saw it with my own eyes. I'm sorry for coming without contacting you." (Deiga)
"Well, I'm glad you came even though the inn is busy. But is everything okay at the inn?" (Anzu)
Deiga-san explained to me that it was okay because he has his wife's and his brother's help.
"So, how long will dad stay?" (Anzu)
"If your arm had fallen off, I was going to stay for a while and hit it again. But it seems like that's unnecessary." (Deiga)
Anzu looked happy at those words.
"Well, if you don't need to go home right away, I'd like to show you around Crimonia." (Anzu)
"That's right. The day after tomorrow is our day off, so I guess it's okay." (Seno)
When Seno-san said that, everyone else nodded.
"So, it's a place for Deiga-san to stay, but there's an empty room, right? I'd like Deiga-san to stay here, is that okay?" (Yuna)
"Miss, if it were up to me, I’d find another place to stay." (Deiga)
"According to Mylaine-san of the Commercial Guild and Cliff the lord, it seems like it would be difficult to find a vacant inn." (Yuna)
I then explained that we would be renovating a mansion in town into an inn.
"I don't mind." (Anzu)
Anzu looked at Seno-san and the others.
"Uncle Deiga is fine."
"Yeah, me too."
"Of course. But wasn't that room used as a storage room?"
"I'd like to clean up, but I have to prepare dinner now."
"Then I'll take care of it."
"I'll help too." (Fina)
Fina also offered help.
"I am" (Deiga)
"If you're just getting ready, you can probably do it while we talk. It's been a while since we met, so Anzu and you should be together."
I asked Seno-san to tell us about an empty room, and Fina and I started cleaning up the room.
Author's Note
Deiga-san has arrived in Crimonia.