We arrived at the entrance to the city.
"Now that I think about it, will we be able to enter the city?" (Now)
"Isn’t it okay if we the money?" (Yuna)
I was worried about whether Noa and Misa would be able to enter the city.
It was different from the typical Land of Harmoni attire, and if there were two children, it would be suspicious. I was sure we would be asked a lot of questions about where we're from and whether we had parents.
It might not be a question of whether you could enter the city normally.
"That's right. If it were just the two of you, you might get suspicious, but this time we're here, so it's okay." (Sakura)
Noa and Misa were relieved by Sakura's words.
Well, Noa and Misa aren't the only ones who are suspicious. Same goes for me. After all, it looks like a bear. So the King of the Land of Harmoni gave me a special card. With that card, you can enter the city even if you are suspicious.
Sakura and Shinobu lead the way towards the entrance of the city.
"Sakura-sama, and Shinobu-dono, are you back?"
The gatekeeper, who knew the two, welcomed them respectfully.
As expected, their face seemed familiar.
He would probably pass by Shinobu many times.
"Yes, they will pass too, but it won't be a problem." (Sakura)
Sakura showed the card to the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper looked at the card Sakura was holding, then looked at us.
"Please come through."
Without asking anything, the gatekeeper moved his body to the side so we could pass.
"Okay, everyone, let's go." (Sakura)
Sakura passes through the gate, followed by Shinobu, and we followed suit.
"We were able to pass just as Sakura said." (Noa)
"The gatekeeper's face changed when he saw the card Sakura-san showed to him, but why?" (Misa)
"Yes. I was a little surprised." (Noa)
Noa and Misa didn't seem to miss the gatekeeper's expression.
"The card I showed the gatekeeper earlier is a special card." (Sakura)
"What is a special card?" (Noa)
"Sakura-sama's face may be known, but if you show him the card from earlier, the gatekeeper will ask nothing." (Shinobu)
"Nothing……"
"It's such an amazing card."
"By the way, I have one too." (Shinobu)
Shinobu said, trying to brag a little.
"Shinobu sometimes moves under my uncle's instructions, so it's necessary." (Sakura)
Sakura explained why Shinobu had the card.
"Sakura's uncle...the King"
"I'm just a chore worker." (Shinobu)
I wondered what. I knew an amazing person who was said to be in charge of chores even in the royal capital. In this world, the word chore clerk might be the name of a great person.
Once inside the city, Noa and Misa began to look around. The same went for Fina and Shuri, who came here for the first time in a while.
"They're all wearing unfamiliar clothes." (Noa)
"I've never seen it before." (Misa)
"Hehe, they look just like Fina and Shuri when they came last time. I'm surprised that they're wearing different clothes."
"It's a familiar sight to us." (Shinobu)
"Even the buildings are different."
"I thought the house we stayed at last night was different too."
Sakura smiled at the two's impressions.
"Then how about we get around? I can arrange a horse-drawn carriage." (Sakura)
"I want to walk and see the city slowly." (Noa)
"Me too" (Misa)
"Is Kagari-sama okay?" (Noa)
"I would love to ride the Kumayuru, but I have no choice." (Kagari)
Kumayuru and Kumakyu had been returned.
As expected, I couldn't take Kumayuru and Kumakyu into the city.
"Then let's walk. But it would be a problem if we got lost, so you shouldn't leave." (Yuna)
"I know" (Noa)
"Yes" (Misa)
Noa and Misa replied, but it looked like they're about to start running.
There were many things that were unusual for Noa and Misa.
"Shuri too." (Yuna)
"I won't leave on my own." (Shuri)
She puffed out her cheeks a little.
"Yuna-sama don't tell Fina?" (Sakura)
"Fina doesn't act selfishly." (Yuna)
Fina looked happy at my words.
"How long have you been talking, ladies? Let's go quickly." (Kagari)
The smallest one, Kagari-san, started walking.
We followed behind her.
"I see that big black building, what is that?" (Noa)
"I could see it when I came." (Misa)
Ahead of Noa and Misa's line of sight, they saw a particularly large building.
"It's a castle." (Shuri)
Before I could answer, Shuri answered.
"Does Shuri know?" (Noa)
"Yeah, because Yuna-nee-chan taught me about it. And I went to that castle." (Shuri)
"Did you go?" (Noa)
"Yeah. It was expensive and amazing." (Shuri)
"Shuri went, so does Fina go too?" (Noa)
"……yes" (Fina)
"Ugh, that's sneaky."
"It's enviable"
The two stared at the castle.
"Then, shall we ask my uncle for a favor?" (Sakura)
"Is it okay?" (Noa)
"They don't know where we came from. There's a person like that in the castle..."
"It's okay. After all, you are all guests brought by Yuna-sama. Also, Kagari-sama and I are also here." (Sakura)
Sakura looked at Kagari-san.
"I'll at least give you a favor." (Kagari)
"Oh, thank you very much" (Noa)
"Thank you" (Misa)
Noa and Misa thanked Sakura and Kagari-san.
"Look, I think we should eat before that. Let's go quickly." (Kagari)
Kagari-san, perhaps hiding her embarrassment, turns away and starts walking.
We began walking as if chasing Kagari-san.
"That's right. First, let's eat." (Noa)
"It's Shinobu's treat." (Yuna)
I won at hide and seek yesterday.
Please keep your promise.
"Will it be due to expenses?" (Shinobu)
"Hehe, if you don't have enough, I'll give it to you too." (Sakura)
"I'm just kidding. I can't ask Sakura-sama to come out." (Shinobu)
Then, we came to the restaurant where I had eaten natto last time. I came here at Noa's request.
"Hehe, there's a strange food called natto here." (Noa)
"It's nothing strange. Everyone eats it normally." (Shinobu)
Would Noa's curiosity be a blessing or a curse?
With Shinobu in the lead, we entered the store.
"Shinobu-chan, welcome. Also, the girls who came before."
"You remember it well." (Shinobu)
"Even if I only came once, I'll never forget the girl dressed as a bear."
I had a strong impact and she remembered me.
I mean, if I wasn't dressed as a bear, she wouldn't notice.
"Also, the sisters from back then."
It seemed like she also remembered Fina and Shuri.
"And there are two new girls. They're wearing unusual clothes. I wonder if they're from another country."
"Yes." (Shinobu)
"Also, Sakura-sama."
"Long time no see" (Sakura)
Sakura seemed to have been to this store before as well.
"You... have I seen you somewhere?"
A woman said while looking at Kagari-san.
"It's probably just your imagination. Come on, why don't you show me to my seat?" (Kagari)
"Yeah……"
The woman tilted her head as she guided us to our seats. Perhaps Kagari-san had come before when she was an adult.
"So, what's your order?"
"I'd like to say it's the usual, but let's check with everyone. Are you sure you want to eat natto?" (Shinobu)
"Of course" (Noa)
"It’s a little scary though." (Misa)
"This time..." (Fina)
"I'm with sister too." (Shuri)
Noa and Misa challenge, Fina and Shuri refused.
"I'll take it." (Sakura)
"Of course, the concubines will eat too." (Kagari)
"Then I'd like four without natto, please." (Shinobu)
"Four?"
"Yuna and I don't have any either. If Noa and Misa can't eat, we'll eat them instead." (Shinobu)
It seemed like the assumption was that Noa and Misa couldn't eat.
"If both of you want to eat, you can just order more later." (Shinobu)
Although I couldn't eat two natto. I was sure there were many.
After a while, the food was brought out.
Land of Harmoni breakfast dishes were on the table.
"It's grilled fish, seaweed, miso soup, and rice." (Noa)
Noa also knew this area, as it was also available at Anzu's shop.
But there's one thing she was not used to seeing.
"Are these brown-colored beans natto?" (Noa)
Noa was staring at natto.
"Yes. Pour some soy sauce on it and stir until it becomes sticky." (Sakura)
As if to show an example, Sakura added soy sauce to the natto and began stirring it slowly.
Natto became sticky and stringy.
Noa and Misa looked at the scene in surprise.
"Then, we put it on top of rice and eat it." (Sakura)
Sakura put the natto on top of the rice and ate it. Kagari-san was already stirring up natto.
Noa and Misa looked at each other and nodded slightly as they watched Sakura and Kagari-san eat.
Noa and Misa added soy sauce to the natto and stirred it slowly, just like Sakura did.
"It's really sticky."
"First, just take a bite and put it on your rice." (Yuna)
Noa and Misa put a little bit of natto on top of the rice.
Then I put the rice and natto in my mouth.
"Please don't push yourself too hard."
"If you can't, I'll eat it for you."
Noa and Misa moved their mouths silently.
"It might be more delicious than I expected."
"It's true that the sensation in my mouth was indescribable, but it wasn't so bad that I couldn't eat it."
So, is it more popular than you expected?
"Don't push yourself too hard, it's fine." (Yuna)
They might be paying attention to Shinobu and Sakura and trying to flatter them.
"No, it's okay."
With that said, the two begin eating.
Apparently, my fears were unfounded.
Shinobu and I ordered extra natto and had a delicious breakfast.
Author's Note
Thank you to everyone who watched the anime.
...
*Thank you to everyone who reports typos.
Please note that some kanji have been revised to match the book, so some may not have been revised.