Chapter 107:
Foil-Roasted Salmon
SATURDAY WAS WHEN Western Cuisine Nekoya transformed into the Restaurant to Another World. This Saturday was also Meat Day.
“Now, what should I do today?” The master was lost in thought, as he always was on this day. As the delicious scent of boiling soup wafted past his nose, he pondered an extremely important issue—what daily special would he serve for Meat Day?
He had to pick a dish that was cheaper than usual and paired well with pork soup. Meat on top of meat might be a little too much. But the guests usually enjoy Western dishes, so… All right, how about a foil roast?
Salmon was delicious this time of year. Thinking it over a bit, the master hit upon the day’s dish. That settled, he prepared to open the restaurant.
✦ ✦ ✦
Ellen, a woodcutter’s wife, lived in the countryside of a small nation in the Eastern Continent’s northern region. In the evening, around sunset, she got an unexpected—perhaps unwelcome—visitor.
Ellen and her husband Herman looked at their “guest” as they sat by their furnace. In this small cottage, cold air came in even with the windows closed.
“So, then, what’s yer plan?” Ellen demanded.
Herman was also displeased. “Aye. What’s the deal?”
“Is this really somewhere humans live?” the guest asked. “Not a storage closet?”
The boy sitting by the fire looked closed to Kai’s age. He wore expensive clothes and had a stunning short sword at his waist. Kai and Bona, knowing very little about differences in status at their age, were picking childish fights with the visitor.
“O-of course! Our house is totally normal!”
“Yeah! Stop being so mean and stupid!”
It was terrible for Ellen’s heart. “Seriously, what do we do?” she asked her husband.
Around noon, Herman had found the boy resting against a tree in the woods where Herman was cutting wood; he’d introduced himself as Klaus. He was probably the son of some wealthy family from the town where Herman sold firewood. In other words, Klaus’s home was likely about as far removed from this little cottage as humanly possible.
Leaving the child in the woods would’ve been unthinkable, so Herman had brought him home.
“Beats me,” he told his wife. “He’s probably got aides looking for him. If we just keep him here, it’ll be fine.”
In the meantime, Klaus—who’d been dealing with Bona and Kai—suddenly seemed to remember his hunger. “Hey, Herman. I’m famished. Prepare something to eat!”
Herman and Ellen exchanged looks, whispering back and forth.
“What’re we gonna do?!” Ellen hissed. “Who knows what the lad’ll say if he’s served what we usually eat?!”
“Th-that’s true. But it’s not as though I can just head to town and grab something right now!”
Although they didn’t know where Klaus was from, he undoubtedly lived a more aristocratic life than Herman’s family. Of course, that meant he must eat incredible meals, not eggs every day. There was no way hard bread or saltwater soup with stewed meat would satisfy the boy.
“Something to eat? It’s almost winter. We probably ain’t got anythin’ good,” Kai said, not noticing his parents’ struggle.
“Really?”
“Yup. Dad’s axe is all beat up, so he said we gotta be egonomical!” Bona explained the family’s financial situation proudly to the surprised Klaus.
Ellen reddened at her children’s innocent words. Hey! Don’t spill the beans! She’d scold them properly later. Fortunately for the despairing housewife, the next words spoken by her children offered a light at the end of the tunnel.
“We ain’t been to Nekoya in ages!” exclaimed Kai.
“Right!” Bona agreed. “The door’s out today, and we can’t even go!”
The unfamiliar name puzzled Klaus. “Nekoya? What’s that?” he asked. Ellen and her husband again turned to each other.
“Nekoya’s a restaurant that serves food from far, far away, Lord Klaus,” the woman said.
“And, um, for some reason, a door in our barn leads there,” the woodcutter added. “I know! Since you’re here and all, why don’t we eat at Nekoya?” He turned to Ellen. “You’re fine with that, aren’t you?”
“Yes, absolutely!”
They exchanged words awkwardly, preparing to spend an arm and a leg as they decided to eat a late lunch at the Restaurant to Another World. Still, lots of Nekoya’s guests were aristocrats, and the master often served dishes with gourmet ingredients. If nothing else, Klaus would feel more satisfied eating at Nekoya than eating Ellen’s cooking.
“All right. Lead the way!” Klaus exclaimed.
“Of course!” Herman replied. “Um…I’m sorry, but it’s not the kind of place we can wear work clothes. Could you wait a moment?”
“Fine. Be quick.”
The couple nodded, changing rapidly into their best clothes before helping their children dress up, too. Kai and Bona cooperated gladly, delighted with their parents’ decision.
“Huh?! We’re having lunch at Nekoya?!”
“Really?! Awesome!”
“Listen, you two, you’ve got to keep it down today, got it?” Ellen said desperately. She got her children changed quickly, and they led Klaus to the barn.