Inside the Dancing Doll Pavillion.

Two girls were chatting.

“This udon is delecious, Mai-dono.”

“I completely agree, Shikina.”

Shikina Kukkoro, an elf that has been completely reformed by Kehma and Niku’s fiancee, Maiodore Shia.

The two have become very close. One of the reasons is because the Shia family was in charge of Shikina while Kehma was going to Demon Kingdom.

By the way, Maiodore often secretly receives a gift from Niku. Although it’s not particularly useful, she is still happily accepted it.

“I wanted some individual souvenir too…”

“As for that… didn’t Kuro-sama personally teaches you the technique she learn at Demon Kingdom? Can’t you count that as one?”

“Ah, That’s true! I expect no less from Maiodore-dono.”

For the record, Rokuko souvenirs for village executives like Gozo are Demon Kingdom’s sake.

“it was a good thing that my Mentor won the third place at Demon Kingdom’s tournaments. I’m very proud to call myself his disciple.”

“That’s right, Kuro also participates in main tournament… ah… I want to see her manly figure.”

“In case of Kuro-sama I think she will show her happiness since she gets to fight a lot.”

Maiodore sighed.

She imagined Niku slaying her enemies in the arena, she looked great, as it should be as her future husband.

“I’m also curious about my Mentor’s new skill, I heard it’s a magic attack, can I defend against it?”

“Speaking of Kehma, I heard his majesty has bestowed him the right to manage our divine bedding, and we as the administrator must decide what we want as compensation, if you want you can use yours to let him show you his new skill.”

“I’m aware of that, Kukkoro family also had send me a letter concerning that matter. They said they left the decision in my hands.”

Well, of course, Maiodore nodded. This can be said a chance to get close to the famous dragon tamer and the holder of the third-place winner in the Demon Kingdon’s tournament. It’s a shame to waste this deal on something ordinary.

It may also worth mentioning if you lend it too easily, your prestige will drop.

“But you can also make the price low and use it as bargaining chip later.”

“Oh, I see, it’s like you owe me one situation?”

Then as the conversation heated up, a customer appeared. This is the inn’s restaurant, a guest come in and go was a natural thing, but this customer is —

“Hmm, this is better than I expected, a bit cramped though.”

“Price, please don’t compare it to school cafeteria. Even the village are smaller than the school size.”

“um, you’re right.”

–Men with a good upbringing. Three men with a strong presence that differs them from adventurers that usually go in and out in this place. You can say, they were emitting this prince-like aura.

“Oi, where should I submit my ticket?”

“Yes, I will accept it here, oh it’s a C set meal?”

A maid with light green hair takes their ticket and show them to their seat.

Since it’s not too crowded, it seems that their order will arrive shortly.

“Mai-dono, that was unusual.”

“Yes, that is the prince of Daido.”

As an aristocratic lady, Maiodore will be at least aware of the neighboring country prince face. As you might expect of nobles, his face is well known in her circle. Though the real figure of the princess of Empire is still hidden, it is probably as countermeasures from an assassination attempt.

But Shikina shook her heads.

“No, I don’t mean that. It’s just strange that they know how to use meal ticket.”

“…is that odd?”

“it is, people who come here for the first time are usually confused.”

“Really?”

Ordinary inn will never bother to use the ticket. High-class restaurants will avoid ticket usage as not to bother the customer.

You can search all you want in this vast Empire, but only here in Dancing Doll Pavillion, you will find a restaurant that uses the meal ticket system.

“Didn’t they teach you at the counter?”

“it’s more like a greeting than anything, they will only ask you to confirm if you familiar with meal ticket system or not. Also, they were saying I’ve never been here before, but I know what meal ticket are.”

“Shikina-sama can really see things more clearly than I do….”

“I’m still no match for my mentor though, didn’t you also used to read Kuro-chan expression?”

“Aside from face, Kuro-sama is quite expressive you know?”

As they talked about such matters, the Prince of Daido country had already received his meal and started eating.

“I see” Mai thought, they also didn’t get surprised with this, Maiodore also noticed this and started to feel uneasy.

The C-ranked set meal was a stew with beef chunks in it. It would usually be strange to see beef and other meats served up in such a rural village. It’s possible to serve minotaur meat if the dungeon can spawn one, but in that case, the dish will be named after minotaur.

Speaking of which dungeon can provide minotaur around here, there’s this Fire Cavern. But unless you hire high ranked adventurer like Kehma, you won’t be able to stock up the meat casually.

And he thought it was not strange that beef was served in this restaurant, even for the Prince of a foreign country who traveled to this village, he was too naive.

“…Should I tell Kehma-sama?”

“I think we should, can the receptionist relay this message though?”

“Current receptionist is Nerune, do you think she will?”

Nerune will give an impression that she’s an absent-minded girl, she probably won’t even care about the aristocratic related info, there’s also a high probability that she doesn’t even know the face of this Prince.

She even treated Hero Wataru just like an ordinary person, did she can even distinguish human face? She probably will forget someone who she just met several times. In fact, Mai is not confident if she can remember her and Shikina name.

Shikina also agreed that they need to report this carefully.

“… in that case, shall I tell my mentor personally?”

“I’ll also let Kuro know this matter as well, she will definitely praise me,”

“I hope my Master will also praise me.”

For now, that’s what Mai and Shikina decided to do.

TL note:

Sorry for the delay, but my cat got in heat, and the distraction that she provides to me is MASSIVE.

It’s like she’s continually playing bite and told me to pamper her.