Chapter 224 (2/2)

「No, but still……wouldn’t making it clear be for the sake of things hereafter?」

「Nnー, that isn’t really the case. Besides, rather than something like that, all of the stores here want their own place to be called number one at this point in time after all. So stuff like historical information, just the parts that I had told you all just now is good enough.」

Hearing Moka’s words, the Sylphid closed their mouth.

Certainly, titles like the 『originator』 and the 『founder』, they nothing more than things about the 「past」. Unless it was something that guaranteed the quality of the goods, it wouldn’t be proof that they were currently the best.

「Now then, here is an important point for this place. Since it’s full of nothing but stores like that, I ask that you never ask about which store is number one or any similar conversation! Today in particular, since every store had made preparations since yesterday and throughout the night due to guests from the outside coming to visit, a careless remark could bring about an unnecessary disturbance. Please understand thatー.」

「Unnecessary disturbance……? We aren’t foolish enough to disparage something after expressly coming to another nation though.」

In response to the one Sylphid who said that sounding displeased from thinking that she was looking down on them, Moka waved her index finger while saying “tsk tsk”.

「That’s not it, that’s not it. Things like number one and the best, it’s those kinds of words that are dangerous. It’s because everyone here thinks highly of themselves and that they themselves are worthy of those words. And so, when talking about your impressions, normal impressions are fine. Since they’re nothing but a bunch who want to be told “this is seriously the best” that they can’t help themselves, please don’t give them any unnecessary bait, okayー.」

In response to the guide who said “it’s a promise, okay”, the Sylphids looked at each other.

After hearing just that story, it seemed to the Sylphids that the shopping district was like a group of young, up-and-coming craftsmen. However, it looked like there were some normal restaurants in the shopping district in front of them as well. Surely it wasn’t like all of the stores were like that.

Watching the Sylphids, who thought her words were strange, with a smile, Moka suddenly erased her smile.

「……I said that in all seriousness, okay? Each and every one of them is like that, okay? Please be careful in what you say, okay?」

「……Y, yeah. Understood.」

The Sylphid at the head of the group unconsciously nodded from her intensity.

And then, the Sylphid saw it.

Further beyond their guide, a store lined up in the shopping district. From within there, there was the face of someone peeking out and pulling back in.

「Ehー, well then, I’ll start my explanation. Basically, there aren’t any street stall style stores in the Zadark Kingdom. Due to that, every place has a store set-up no matter what kind of shop it is. They’re typically in a face-to-face meeting style, where only stores with a bit of confidence have customer seating prepared……」

Even while listening to Moka’s explanation, the Sylphid couldn’t help but be bothered by the gaze of someone who seemed to be a shopkeeper.

That wasn’t a curious or queer gaze towards mankind. It was clearly, a gaze of expectation.

As for what it was expecting, they understood all too well what it was after listening to Moka’s explanation.

「……And so, that is why the craftsman’s efforts could be said to be the foundations of the development of the grilled skewer in the Zadark Kingdom. Currently, grilling with salt is in the minority and grilling with sauce has become the basics, but how the flow of returning to the origin of making the best of the flavor of the ingredients is born is also quite the interesting phenomenon and……」

They were being watched.

The Sylphid couldn’t help but feel creeped out by that gaze. Indeed, like this, they certainly couldn’t say anything carelessly.

「Now then, although there are still plenty of places I should introduce you all to. Since I’m pretty sure that just having it all explained is just boring, why don’t we actually visit a couple of shops! Which place would you like to go to……」

「Ah, no. Please wait a second!」

Don’t joke with us, there’s no way we could which store we’re fine with in this sort of situation──Receiving the Sylphid’s desperate stop that had that sort of feeling packed into it, the guide raised her voice and laughed.

「Ahaha, no no. I was just wondering if you’d like to go to either a food-type store or a souvenir-type store. Whoops, please hang on for the weapon and armor-type stores, ‘kay!」

At the same time that they felt that the gazes of a portion of the stores had vanished, the Sylphid felt that the gazes from the other stores became even stronger.

「Come on, let’s go. It’s fine, it isn’t scary at allー!」

You liar──The Sylphids gulped down those words.