NOVEL NEXT Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: The Masked Girl
Chapter 111: The Masked Girl
Today, it’s a rare shopping trip with Kuro.
Recently, among the regulars, there’s a trend to see how good the coffee they can brew is. For some reason, Kuro is being revered and called “sensei” or “master.”
However, it seems Kuro has a bit too much free time on her hands. This morning, she was trying to make new gadgets by putting pink on the birds and spent a long time braiding Zamza’s hair.
So, to change the pace, I decided to go shopping with Kuro.
At first, we bought practical items like sewing needles, cooking utensils, and various oils. But somehow, we ended up buying a unique and strikingly designed wooden mask from a suspicious folk art shop at the Dogor Underground Market.
Kuro seemed to really like the mask and immediately put it on, delighted.
“Gugya~! Gyaugyau~!”
“Wow, it suits you scarily well. But let’s take it off when we get back to the stall, okay? It looks like you eat people.”
Although her mouth is exposed, only Kuro’s jagged teeth are visible, which is frightening in its own way. Well, it’s easier to walk since people avoid us…
–It feels like I heard someone say that the Bonus Trading Company has added a new monster to their ranks.
It must be my imagination…
“Kuro, walking on all fours is too scary, so stop…”
“Gyau~! Gugyaugya!”
“Huh? What’s up? Did you find something interesting? Ah, it’s those guys.”
Kuro, seeming excited, pulled me by the hand. Looking ahead, I saw a relatively large stall where the mercenary Piri and the moneylender Marcelus were sitting.
“Hey, what are you two people eating with a grim looking face? And you know each other?”
“Huh!?”
“Are you picking a fight? Oh, it’s Bonus… what a hassle. You guys are the dangerous ones! What’s with that monster?”
“Gugya~!! Gyaugyaugyaugyaugyaugyaugyaugyau!”
“Whoa!”
“Eek!”
Kuro, shaking her head unnecessarily, approached them with a spider-like movement, still wearing the mask. Piri had a tense face but seemed to realize it was Kuro, but Marcellus slid off his chair. The shopkeeper, who also had a pretty tough-looking face, looked like he was about to faint.
“Kuro, if you do any more, Marcelus and the shopkeeper might die of shock… so stop. Wow, that’s a really bright color.”
“Damn it, we were just trying to have a peaceful lunch… By the way, Marcelus is my cousin.”
“Oh… Your faces don’t look much alike, but your bad attitudes are identical.”
“Shut up!”
In front of Piri was a bowl with bright red soup and what looked like flat noodles inside. It seemed incredibly spicy, but strangely appetizing.
“Hey, can I have just a bite of that?”
“You… want to eat this? I don’t know…”
“Is it bad?”
“No, it’s delicious. Really delicious… it’ll make you fly.”
With that, Piri pushed the bowl towards me. His oddly dramatic demeanor made me even more curious. Feeling a bit awkward using a fork and spoon, I cautiously tasted the soup.
Spicy. Extremely spicy… but after my tongue went numb, it started to taste really good.
“I see, this is indeed quite… good.”
“Hmph… You can’t taste this anywhere else in Savoia.”
“Sorry for the strange approach earlier. I’m glad to know such a good place. Kuro, do you want to eat lunch here?”
“Gyau~? Gugyaugya.”
“Seems like either way is fine. Okay, we’ll have two of the same, please.”
“S-sure…”
The shopkeeper, his face still strained, skillfully prepared the mysterious noodle dish. It’s been a while since I’ve eaten something this spicy. It feels nostalgic. I should bring Gisella, who loves chili peppers, here next time.
“Still, this sweat won’t stop… Piri, your face is all red and you look sick.”
“You’re the same! That imp seems fine… Take off the mask already.”
“The area around her mouth is all red… looks like she’s killed and eaten someone…”
“Come on, Kuro, let’s wipe your mouth.”
“Nkyau~”
“Hey, Bonus… something’s swimming in your bowl…”
“No way… Ah, it’s Pink…”
Apparently, Pink was intrigued and dove out of my pocket. It looks very amused, harmonizing strangely with the soup…
I need to wash it thoroughly later.
“–Hey, hey, this place seems really dangerous.”
“Shut up!”
“I’ll kill you!”
“What the hell?!”
“Gugyaugyau!”
Just as they finished eating the mysterious spicy dish, Azir came over with a strangely refreshing smile. The four of them spoke in unison, but as they looked at each other’s faces again, they felt a wave of disgust.
“So, Azir. Did you come here to eat too?”
“No, I have plans to meet a girl tonight! I can’t eat this stuff.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Well, it does taste good, but it almost definitely messes up your stomach… and pretty badly too.”
“No… way…? Hey! Piri… you tricked me, didn’t you?!”
“Well, I wonder about that. I don’t quite remember.”
“Hey! You know middle-aged bodies are delicate! You guys should know that too! You get it, right?!”
“I already came prepared! I’m sitting here with that kind of resolve!”
“Damn it… what have you done…”
“Gugyaa…”
“Well, I think Kuro will be fine.”
Honestly, I had a vague suspicion from the middle, but I couldn’t stop myself. I should have stopped after just a taste. Oh, how many times must I repeat this kind of regret to grow?
“Well then, see you guys. Don’t cause too much trouble.”
“Drop dead!”
“Get out of here already!”
“Kuro! Curse him!”
“Guggyagyaggyau.”
Azir, who was in tatters not long ago, seemed to have fully recovered. I’ll make sure to work him hard on the next expedition. But I messed up… Is there anything I can do now? I want Nietzsche to rub my stomach. Speaking of which, Gisella warned me not to eat anything from the black market before. I should head to the public office. The free toilets around here are usually terrible. Even from the perspective of someone living in hell’s cauldron, I can call them hellish. Among them, the public office’s toilet was probably the best. I should take refuge while I still can. Ah, what a stupid thing I’ve done… it was delicious, though.
“See you then…”
“Yeah, see you on the next expedition…”
“Gugyauu…”
Piri stood up with a determined look as if heading to the battlefield and left the shop. Marcelus hurriedly finished his remaining soup and followed Piri. Surprisingly, that guy seemed quite composed…
A little later, I ran into Piri at the public office’s toilet. The continuation of our previous battle almost unfolded, but Laura, who happened to be at the public office, stopped us, almost in tears. In the end, we were able to borrow the toilet at the lord’s mansion and regain peace and dignity. We narrowly avoided a hellish battle and the loss of something precious as humans. Thank you, Laura…