I Was Caught up in a Hero Summoning, but That World Is at Peace (WN)

Chapter 2400: Spreading Aftermath ①

The day after I went to the trade city with Cornelia to order exclusive brushes, I received a message from Akane-san saying "There’s something I want to ask, and I want to meet as soon as possible, so please make some time", and I waited for her at the place she specified.

[……And why choose my shop as the meeting place then? Well, I mean, during hours when the shop isn’t open, I’m just doing prep work, so I have plenty of free time anyway.]

[Kaori-san, sorry for the sudden visit.]

[No, it’s fine. Akane-san also asked if she could use the shop, so it’s not a problem.]

Yes, the place Akane-san had specified was Kaori-san’s restaurant, Suiren, and it seemed Kaori-san had been informed in advance. As soon as we arrived, she let us inside.

[Kaori-san, are you prepping right now?]

[Ah, no, I’m just making a simple dish with leftover ingredients…… Kaito-kun, do you want some? It’s just chicken skin grilled so it doesn’t get too tough, sliced thinly and tossed with sliced onions and ponzu, really simple.]

[That sounds delicious, thank you.]

[Chicken skin tends to be leftover quite often~~]

I ate the dish that Kaori-san had placed into a small container and served to me, smiling. The tang of the ponzu matched the flavor of the chicken skin, and the texture of the sliced onions was nice, it was delicious.

[Simple, but really tasty. Maybe you could even add it to the menu?]

[This is totally a drinking snack kind of dish, so it doesn’t really fit with a set meal place. It’s easy and tasty for personal eating though…… hmm, maybe a sprinkle of shichimi would improve it.]

While Kaori-san was thinking about improvements after taking a bite of her own portion, someone knocked at the back door.

[Oh, that must be Akane-san. Heeeeeey~~ Welcome, Akane-san.]

[Sorry for intruding and borrowing your place all of a sudden. Ah, and here, a little souvenir as a token for your trouble.]

[Oh, a fancy-looking manju that seems delicious. Thanks~~]

I received the souvenir from Akane-san, who entered through the back door, and guided her to the seat next to me.

[Sorry for calling you out suddenly, Kaito.]

[Hello, Akane-san. I didn’t have any particular plans, so it’s fine…… Is Frau-san not with you today?]

[Ah, Frau was here until just now, but she said since she doesn’t need to guard me at Kaori’s restaurant, she’s going sightseeing and told me to contact her when we’re done, so she went off to tour.]

I realized why I couldn’t see Frau-san, who’s usually around, she had gone sightseeing for such a reason very typical of Frau-san.

Thereupon, Kaori-san then placed a teacup in front of Akane-san with tea and asked with a curious expression.

[Why is it that when it’s my restaurant, no guard is needed……? Here, Akane-san, tea.]

[Thanks…… Why? Well, it’s probably because of that last mock battle, right? Kaori totally beat up Frau, so I guess you feel there’s no problem since Kaori’s stronger than me.]

[I think that’s just a matter of matchup. Frau-san is a close-range type, and I have the advantage of shooting magic from mid-range.]

It seems Kaori-san is genuinely very strong. From what I saw during the Maid Olympia, Frau should also be pretty strong, but judging from Akane-san and Kaori-san’s conversation, Kaori-san must have completely dominated in the mock battle. Kuro said she was by far the strongest among the immigrants, so her strength might even be on the level of Luna-san or Sieg-san.

After some light, trivial chatter, I took the opportunity to ask Akane-san.

[……So, Akane-san, what’s up today? You said there was something you wanted to ask……]

[Ah, right, let’s get to the main point……]

After hearing my words, Akane-san took a sip of tea, then looked at me with a serious…… well, slightly angry expression.

[Lately, the merchant activity in Archlesia Empire has been unusually hectic. I even heard rumors that the Lord Trading Company, one of the five major trading companies, has started moving.]

[E- Errr……]

[It's you, right? It has to be you, there’s no one else it could be. Seriously, you need to get your act together. You keep causing strange things here and there, are you some kind of walking bomb or what?!]

What on earth…… I hadn’t even responded yet, and I was already being scolded as the culprit. But, hmmm…… well, honestly, I do have a few ideas about what she’s referring to, so it’s hard to call it completely unreasonable……

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<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [What we should pay attention to here is, for some reason, Stomachache Warrior Kaori is also present for this talk, and the recent matter of Magnawell taking an interest in Kaori’s restaurant, which involves a stomachache factor.]