Chapter 47 Team Battles (1) (2/2)

Even while knowing that, we still consider this world to be at peace. Still, we laugh like this. Not crying and getting depressed over the people who died for this cause was not in any way an insult to those men and women. After all, they put their lives on the line solely for this.

“So Yamada-san, are you taking part in today’s team matches?”(toudou)

“No, not in this one. But one of my comrade in my current party is taking part so I thought I’d go cheer them on.”(renji)

“I see.”

When I said that, Toudou sounded happy for some reason.

While giving him a sidelong glance, I bought two skewered Orc meat and gave one to Toudou.

“Thanks. Speaking of comrades, where had you been travelling till now?”(toudou)

[Just roaming around this continent. He spent almost half the year lazing around in just a village though.]

“You’re not supposed to talk about that.”(renji)

“………..what the hell, Yamada-san?”

I saw astonishment mixed in with his sigh at me. Well, I do understand what you mean.

“Half a year is an exaggeration. It was more like, yeah, 3 months of lazing around.”(renji)

“That’s still quite a lot you know……….”

[Not to mention, if he had not met Francesca, he had no intention to start travelling again as well.]

“Going by the name, it was a woman, eh?”(toudou)

[Yes, it was a woman.]

There, for some reason, both of them seemed to have some mutual understanding. These two get along pretty well as usual.

“What the hell, you guys, do you enjoy teasing me that much?”(renji)

“How is this teasing? We aren’t doing anything like that are we, Eru-san?”(toudou)

[Yeah. I’m just giving a report on you, Renji.]

“Stop that, will you?”(renji)

Saying that, I lightly hit her once more.

“Wait, did you tell the same things to Utano-san as well?”(renji)

[If I had, you would be confined inside the castle for sure by now.]

“uwaahh.”

“Stop with the ‘uwaahh’, I’m not laughing, goddamnit.”(renji)

“No, it just sounded so realistic that I…”

“No, no it’s not!”

What the hell is with this ‘confinement’ talk. Even Utano-san wouldn’t go that far. Probably.

“Speaking of yuuko-san, I just recalled something.”(toudou)

“If this is something ridiculous again, I’ll punch you in the face okay?”

“No, no. I wanted to ask if your relationship progressed any more from then.”

The moment he said that, I threw punch at his face. I had only swung it without any proper swing or anything but still he dodged it without even getting grazed by my fist.

“That was close!”(toudou)

“Seriously. You are curious about the weirdest of things.”(renji)

“That doesn’t mean you can punch me, you know?”

“But you dodged didn’t you?”

“Well, obviously.”

“Don’t dodge.”

“No way.”

[…….You guys sure are enjoying this.]

Well, somewhat I guess. After all, I don’t have many people with whom I can fool around like this. Not because he gets my jokes or anything but more because we usually take our jokes way too far. Though those usually end with me getting my life in danger.

Even from sudden attack Toudou wasn’t perturbed at all. Even his walking speed was the same.

My fist must have seemed like coming in slow motion to him. Even though it was a surprise attack. It’s sad how even the non-combatant member of us 13 still possesses that level of physical ability. If I had to fight Masaki-chan who was a fighter to the core, just how much gap in power will be there? I felt gloopy already. Well, to fight her, I have to first win against O’brien-san though.

“By the way, why go for maid clothes for your employees?”(renji)

“It’s nice isn’t it? That said, they aren’t as in demand in this world as they were in ours.”(toudou)

“Really?”

“Maids are a common thing here after all. Unlike back on earth, it’s not a job filled with hopes and dreams of men.”

“Yeah.”

[Dreams, hopes, in maids??]

“Don’t think too much about it.”(renji)

[??]

Certainly, like Toudou said, maids were common here. Normal people probably won’t hire one but maids working for nobles doing stuff like shopping etc is a common sight. Their job is to serve their master like it was in our world but the maids here are far more polished and refined than the ones in our world in my opinion. Not that I have gone to maid cafes or anything so I wouldn’t really know.

Probably Toudou should be much more knowledgeable in that sense. He has hired maids for his restaurant after all. Well, there’s something about the maid uniform that fascinates you, I agree with that. As a man, I can’t deny it. I could continue complimenting it without restraint if I got a chance. Yup, beinga maid is a proper job.

“Where did you get those uniforms from though?”(renji)

“They had spare ones in the castle so I took those.”

I see, that made sense.

Having your employees in uniforms must look better from another person’s point of view, not that I have any experience as a shop manager or owner though. That said, it might not be true in this world as well.

Uniforms, as a concept, doesn’t really exist in this world. It’s more like designing the clothes that are as easy to move in as possible and don’t get in the way of your work. He must have thought of properly implementing the uniforms as one of the means to make it interesting for customers.

It’s a pretty good approach in my opinion. I guess that also comes from the knowledge of another world? Though he still ended with maid clothes. No matter how seriously you think about it, in the end, he ended with maid clothes. As a man it’s not like I don’t understand him but maybe he should try changing his focus point a bit.

Or rather, shouldn’t he focus more on his own cooking rather than maid clothes? Especially dishes and preparations that don’t exist in this world.

I asked him to tell me more about his cooking rather than continue rambling on about maid clothes.

“Well, I have thought of various things.”(toudou)

[Wow. I’m surprised.]

“………could you two not sound that surprised?”

As both of us looked at him surprised that he had actually thought about it, Toudou made a sad face. He must be thinking that I was almost sure that he had thought of absolutely nothing before opening his restaurant.

Well, his reaction was amusing so I let it as is. Even though like this, I do respect the guy.

Even while not possessing a fighting ability, he stuck along with us till the very end of our journey.I can still remember him desperately cooking for people crying in burnt villages, with people dying all around.

With his cooking, something we couldn’t do, he saved many. I doubt anyone else could do what he did.

No matter how much you think about it, talk about it, till you take action your feelings don’t reflect anything. No matter how high the ideals you hold, it’s useless if it cannot be seen in your actions.

That’s what it’s like to truly save people.

That’s why, from the bottom of my heart, I respect him. Though he never talks about it.

Having eaten the meat, he twirled and played with the skewer in his hand.

“Well then, I should go to the arena now. What are you going to do Toudou?”(renji)

“It’s already time, eh?”

Saying that, he looked at the sky. It’s because the tournament was set to start when the sun reached its peak. I think only an hour or two remains for that. I need to return, make an appearance and wear that damn heavy armour once more. I felt sluggish just thinking about it. It’s really heavy; that damn armour. Though only because I’m not used to wearing it.

“I’ll come as well. Might as well meet this, Francesca-san was it? Introduce me to her, kay?”(toudou)

“Yeah, sure. Wait, I haven’t already?”(renji)

“No, you haven’t………”

“We even ate at your restaurant though.”

“She came to my restaurant!?! Why didn’t you introduce me then……..”

“No, well, I thought you’d be busy so I would feel bad to distract you.”

“I think it’d be fine to at least talk for a bit!?”

[Hiiragi, Renji’s only enjoying your reactions you know?]

Hearing Ermenhilde’s suggestion, Toudou slumped his shoulders. Umu, his reactions definitely are too amusing.