Chapter 767: The Tale of the Mechanized God ⑨ (1/2)

The food stalls that lined the cobblestone streets gave off an atmosphere of the good old days, making it seem as if the time had rewound.

As the sunset and the lanterns lit up, Alicia and Makina walked along the street, illuminated by the faint glow of the lanterns.

[Well~~ We had quite the great timing. I didn't know there was a festival happening nearby……]

[There sure are lots of people…… Along with this yukata clothing, this place has quite the mysterious atmosphere to it.]

[Well, the atmosphere around here certainly is unique.]

After a few days on a boat, the two of them arrived in Japan and first went to a luxury onsen resort recommended by Alicia. When they heard that there was a festival going on nearby, they left their luggage and came to visit.

Dressed in the yukata that Alicia had prepared, Makina walked along, her eyes scurrying with curiosity. Although she was omniscient and had immediate access to knowledge, it must have been a different feeling to come to the place itself and walk around like this.

After watching Makina with a smile, Alicia bought some food at a nearby stall.

[Alicia, what's that?]

[Takoyaki. Do you want some too, Makina?]

[H- Hmmm, I'd like to but…… After having eaten lots of food brought by Alicia, I found out that I have a cat's tongue, so I think I'll wait until it's a little cooler.]

(T/N: If you have a cat's tongue, you can't handle hot food.)

[Fumu…… Makina, ahhn.]

[Eh?]

Makina refused to eat because she has a cat's tongue, but immediately afterwards, when Alicia said this with a teasing smile on her lips, Makina reflexively opened her mouth.

And there, with really brilliant control…… Alicia threw the piping hot takoyaki into her mouth.

[Ginyaaaahhhh!? Affuhhh, affuhhhhh!?]

Of course, Makina, whose mouth had hot food tossed in it, wasn't able to bear it. With a scream, she threw away her shame and outward appearance, and rolled on the ground. But even so, she put her hands over her mouth to keep the takoyaki from spilling out, which may have been her last resistance as a woman.

After a few moments of rolling around on the ground, Makina stood up and furiously came at Alicia.

[What are you doing!? That's so mean, Alicia!]

[Arehh? Makina, you have a cat's tongue? Well`~ Sorry, sorry, I didn't realize it.]

[I just told you! I just clearly told you that I have a cat's tongue!!!]

[Ahh, it's alright, so don't worry. I made sure to block their recognition, so no one will notice Makina's silliness!]

[……If you have cared placing that magic, you should have just cared more about something else…… When I learn to use my divine powers, the first thing I'll do is definitely to cure this cat's tongue.]

[Ahaha, that's quite the extravagant use of divine powers there.]

[Mnghhh~~]

Seeing Alicia happily laughing at her, Makina pouted. It's not that she's mad at her, but she felt that she mustn't let this go unanswered.

Quickly taking the container of takoyaki that Alicia was holding, Makina returned what Alicia did to her earlier.

[Alicia, ahhn.]

[Ahhn.]

[………………..]

[Hmmm, it's quite delicious.]

[Why do you look so composed!?]

[Well, I don't have a cat's tongue after all……]

[Muuuuu…… You! Take this!]

[Ahh, w- wait! I still have takoyaki in my mouth……]

Unfortunately, her counterattack didn't work on Alicia. However, the counterattack of pulling her cheeks apart, which she did with half-hearted desperation afterward, seemed to have some effect.

[……Ahaha, well, sorry, sorry. I've already healed your burnt tongue, so let's eat something else. They also have lots of stuff that isn't hot.]

[Hmph. Alicia…… you meanie.]

[I'm sorry already. Ah, look, Makina, they sell cotton candy over there! That should be fine since it's not hot!]

While apologizing to Makina, who looked like she's sulking rather than angry, Alicia bought some cotton candy from a nearby stall and handed it to Makina.

With a displeased look on her face, Makina took a bite of the cotton candy…… and her eyes lit up.

[This tastes good! It's amazing, Alicia! It's so fluffy!]

[……And you're in a good mood again. Rather than easy to deal with, you're more like cheap to please……]

[Unnn? What did you say?]

[No, nothing. Come on, let's go around!]

[Wawawa, wait, don't pull me…… This clothing is hard to move in, so I might fall over.]

After enjoying the festival, we went back to the onsen resort and had onsen together before dinner.

[Haahhh…… This is great~~]

[Fuahhh~~ Onsens are so nice…… Even so, they have quite a great room. They even have a small garden and an onsen in it.]

[It's a top-quality super-luxury inn after all. The dinner would also be top-notch, so you can look forward to it.]

[Fufufu, I see. I'm looking forward to it then.]

Seeing Alicia talking cheerfully as they soak side by side in the onsen, Makina naturally smiled too. The fact that they were sitting so close to each other that their shoulders naturally touched in the spacious onsen shows how close they were.

[I'd really like to have some sake here, but Makina is still too young to drink, and I can't be the only one drinking~~]

[Geez, that's not true. You see, thinking about it, Alicia. I'm a god now, and I'm not subject to human laws and regulations. That's why, it's perfectly fine for me to drink alcohol.]

[No, that's not the case……. What I meant is that I can definitely see you saying that it was bitter and not tasty.]

[……You wouldn't know until I try it.]

[Then, want to try it?]

Makina, who took Alicia's provocation without hesitation, received the sake cup Alicia handed her.

[Look here, okay? I'm an adult now, so something like sake is easy peasy!]

[That would be great~~ Well then, drink up.]

[Thanks. Then, without delay————!?]

Holding back a giggle, Alicia poured some sake into the sake cup, and after thanking her, Makina drank it down in one gulp. Before she drank the sake, Makina had a relaxed expression on her face, but after a little while, she bit her lip as if she was enduring something, before she started to tremble.

After a few seconds like that, Makina finally couldn't hold back anymore and looking like she had experienced something scandalous, she spoke.

[……B- Bitter…… The heck is this, i- is this really alcohol?]

[It's Japanese sake. Just so you know, this isn't actually a dry alcohol, okay?]

[……A- Alicia…… I- Is that bitter thing really delicious?]

[Sake, you see, is a drink that you enjoy mainly for its aroma. The trick to it is not to drink it all at once, but to enjoy both the aroma of the sake as it is poured into the sake cup, and the aroma as you slide it around your tongue, letting the air escape from your nose.]

[H- Heehhh……]

Seeing Alicia tipping her own sake cup and drinking the sake, looking like she's familiar with it, Makina imitated her movements and tried to practice what Alicia had told her.

Thereupon, she certainly could still feel the bitterness of the sake, but she could also faintly sense the two aromas that Alicia had mentioned.

[……Fuuu…… Hmmm. It's still bitter…… but I guess I understand how to enjoy the aroma a bit more?]

[Well, you'll get used to it. I think you ‘d be able to enjoy it after drinking a few times?]

[Why say it like a question?]

[It's still a matter of personal taste after all. Also, sake tends to give you a bad taste, so it's better to drink it alternately with the same amount of water. And so, here. Water.]

[Thanks…… Hmmm. Is it because I've become a god? I don't feel like I'd get drunk…… A- Also, I guess it's because I'm not used to it? Drinking that makes me think that water tastes better.]

[Ahaha, you're cheap to please as usual.]

The expressions on their faces as they laughed together were as if they were truly having fun.

After getting out of the onsen, it was time for dinner at the table in the luxurious Japanese-style room. It would have been natural if they were sitting facing each other, but they were sitting side by side. It's not that either of them said it, but they just naturally felt more comfortable sitting next to each other like this.

[……H- Hmmm.]

[Makina? Are you not going to eat?]

[N- No, I know that this sashimi is a proper dish and it really is edible…… But you see, I've never eaten raw fish before…… so I need some courage to eat this.]

[Ahh~~ I see.]

It needs not be said, but the most Makina has eaten in her life is jelly drinks, followed by military canned food. Since getting to know Alicia, she has eaten a variety of food, but she seemed a little hesitant eating the sashimi, as this was her first time eating raw fish.

After smiling at such a Makina, Alicia used her chopsticks to pick up a piece of sashimi and held it out to Makina.

[Here, Makina. Ahhn.]

[Uuu…… Unnn. A- Ahhn.]

[……What do you think?]

[……Delicious! I thought it would smell more fishy.]

[Well, I can't blame you for being hesitant since it's your first time eating sashimi. Well, it would still have a fishy smell, so if you don't like it, you can always just scald it.]