Published at 20th of January 2021 08:55:11 PM
Chapter 324
Arkaroid was not that large, yet somehow we were having trouble deciding on a place to eat . Whenever we looked through the windows of any restaurants, we saw that people were mostly eating noodles . Maybe that’s what this place was known for .
“We are quite close to Usk, after all . And there are many merchants who go to the capital . Since they would have no lack of ingredients, it is no surprise that they can make such things . Besides, there is a lot of water here . Have you noticed the wells?”
Daniela rattled on . Right… Yes, it did make sense . I didn’t know much about noodles, but there had been a great variety of it in the trading city .
“The fish here must be great as well . But perhaps not so much during this season . ”
“Hmm… Fish . That would have been quite nice . ”
“The beauty of eating is how you enjoy what happens to be in season . ”
“Beauty of eating?”
Usually, whatever happened to be in front of her was what she ate without much consideration . However, she glared at me before I could reply . I gulped . In any case, there would be no fish today .
Still, there were a lot of places to choose form . Of course, most of them seemed to serve noodles . But there was no doubt a great variety of styles .
So, perhaps the first thing to consider was if we wanted them in soup or not .
“There is one place that intrigues me . We should go there . ”
“I don’t really care . You can choose . ”
“Alright . It is this way . ”
Daniela nodded happily as she took the lead .
She glided gracefully through the throngs, and I had trouble keeping up . It almost felt like some kind of training . Every time she would move, someone would pop up out of nowhere and I’d frantically have to dodge them . And every time that happened, we’d separate and I would have to catch up . Hmm . Challenging .
“Daniela . Could you slow down?”
“Mm? …Ah, sorry . My hunger makes me want to rush . ”
“Let’s go together . ”
“Aye . ”
I came up beside her and held her hand . She was stronger and tougher than me . Daniela was a true veteran Adventurer . But her hand was thin and soft . I guess she really was just a lady .
The place that Daniela wanted to go to was one of the first places we had passed by . And it also offered noodles . Well, it was pasta .
“Welcome!”
We kicked off the snow from our shoes and took our capes off before opening the door and stepping inside . An elderly man with a white beard greeted us cheerfully .
“Excuse me, do you have seats for two?”
“Sit anywhere you like!”
We nodded and looked around . It was practically full . But on the other hand, many of the plates on the tables were empty, and a lot of the customers were just enjoying their after-meal conversations .
I found a table in the far back that was unoccupied and had two seats .
“Daniela . ”
“Hm? Ah, I see . Thank goodness . ”
I elbowed here as she had also been looking around . She was visibly relieved, as this had been her idea . All over some food… I couldn’t help but chuckle .
We made our way passed the other tables and arrived at our seats . Perhaps it was because we had been walking for so long, I suddenly felt very tired when I sank into my chair . I also felt famished .
There was a menu on top of the table with a bunch of names for the dishes . I suppose this was what was in season . There actually were some fish items, but I was in full pasta mode by this time .
“So…”
We both looked at the menu together . Hmm . There was a lot on there, but most of the ingredients were unfamiliar to me . Of course, there were a few that I did recognize, and those looked like a safe bet .
“Alright, I’ve decided .
“Hmm… Which did you choose, Asagi?”
“This . ”
I pointed at the tomato pasta . Safety first .
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“Not bad…”
“Which are you considering?”
“It must be either the ‘Winter Vegetables and Pepper Pasta’ and the ‘Alexia Mushroom and Olive Pasta . ’”
Well…those did sound pretty good . I’ve never had Alexia mushrooms before .
“Do they grow in the mountains then?”
“Aye . They are hard as rocks . And so you must crush them with hammers and boil them until they soften . They are delicious . ”
“Interesting…”
A rock-like mushroom that grows in rocky mountains . They would probably be difficult to find . Perhaps they were a rare delicacy then .
“Indeed, they are quite rare . …Alight, I will choose it . Since we are here . ”
“Good . It’s settled . Waiter!”
I waved my hand and shouted until the waiter came out . Perhaps they were on break . Two cups were gently placed on the table . ”
“Can I take your order?”
“I’ll have the Tomato and Dana Cream Pasta . And she’ll have the Alexia Mushroom and Olive Pasta . ”
“Certainly . ”
Phew . I said it without stuttering . The waiting jotted everything down and then retreated to the kitchen . I suddenly felt quite thirsty, and so I drank the water that was on the table .
“Dana milk…the livestock in that village must be doing well . ”
“Aye, how nostalgic . ”
Dana milk was from a place called Dana Village, that we had visited once . Their primary income came from their livestock . But they had been plagued by a lesser wyvern that attacked them . We just happened to be passing through . And the unlucky wyvern was killed by Daniela and me and also an Adventurer who lived there who went by the name Yis .
“I hope Mido and Marco are doing well . ”
“I’m sure they are . Since there is no wyvern anymore . ”
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“And Marco is strong . Yeah, they must fine . ”
As we talked about those old times, the waiter appeared in the corner of my vision . He was carrying plates in both hands as he threaded his way through the tables .
“Here it comes . ”
“Mm…”
Daniela’s eyes lit up and she sat straight .
“Here it is . Your Alexia Mushroom and Olive Pasta . ”
“Mine . ”
“Enjoy . ”
The pasta that was placed in front of Daniela had large, brown mushrooms inside . But there was also a variety of other kinds inside as well .
“And here is the Tomato and Dana Cream Pasta . ”
“Thank you . ”
“Enjoy your meal . ”
I looked down at the plate . It was a pale red . More of a pastel color than meat sauce or Neapolitan . It was because of the Dana milk that was mixed into it . There were shredded vegetables on top that looked quite nice .
“Let’s eat . ”
“Yes . ”
I picked up my fork and rotated it, careful to get plenty of vegetables and sauce in the process . Then I brought it to my mouth . There was a mild tartness that went well with the firm texture of the pasta . And then the vegetables added a fresh crunch and sweetness .
“It’s delicious…”
“So is mine . Clearly I was right in choosing this place . ”
“Let me have a bite . ”
“Then you must give me two bites, Asagi . ”
“That’s not exactly a fair exchange . One bite . ”
“Hmph…very well . ”
Daniela pushed her plate across the table and so I did the same .
So, this huge chunk was an Alexia mushroom, eh? Yes, it did look kind of hard . I tried stabbing it with the fork and was surprised . It wasn’t hard at all . It was was just spongy . Well, it was a delicacy, after all .
The rich mushrooms were a very good match for the mild and refreshing olive oil sauce . I wrapped some of the pasta around my fork and stabbed a piece of mushroom before bringing it to my mouth . My teeth tore through the spongy texture of the mushrooms and my mouth filled with the sweet juices . The taste was quite strong, but it was a good combination with the olive oil sauce . And it was really enjoyable to eat . An interesting dish, to say the least .
“It’s great…”
“Your pasta is not bad either…”
“He-hey . That’s clearly a second bite . I’ve been watching you . ”
“Tsk…”
You couldn’t let your guard down with her . I was about to be pastless .
We traded plates again and I was finally able to eat my safely recovered pasta . We both became so concentrated on our food that we didn’t talk anymore .
Before I knew it, the plate was empty . Daniela had also finished and was drinking her water .
“That was great… I underestimated Arkaroid . ”
“I guess being close to Usk is a huge advantage . ”
It was a trading city after all… They had everything you could want . Well, hopefully, that meant we would be able to get a boat to take us downriver .
It would have been nice to end the meal with drink and some idle talk, but we had wasted enough time trying to find the place . Ah… I had so wanted to order some coffee and relax there with Daniela .
“…Phew . Well, let’s go then . ”
“We were able to eat, so I have no regrets . ”
Yes, I was reenergized . And with that, we went through the Arkaroid west gate and headed to Usk . Our next destination was not so far away .