Mid Boss Chapter 62: Fifth Companion

Support the translator on lazytranslations.com

“Next is my turn! When it comes to day-offs, it’s the moment for drinking and eating out!” (Kyuuketsu)

 

 

 The location has changed once again to the main street of Canal City—known as “Full Belly Street”.

 

 As soon as I saw the various food stalls lining the street, I gasped.

 

 It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a bustling scene.

 

 

“Is there a fair or something today?” (Sakura)

 

“Fair?”

 

 

 Kyuuketsu-san tilted her head in question.

 

 Looking at her reaction, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

 

 

“Oh no, nothing… is this all a food stall?” (Sakura)

 

“Yes, it is! It’s amazing! I can’t decide which one to eat first!” (Kyuuketsu)

 

“You really eat a lot, even though it hasn’t been that long since breakfast…” (Sakura)

 

 

 Just then, I heard what sounded like a small animal purring.

 

 I panicked and held my stomach.

 

 

 Al-san turned around with a surprised expression.

 

 

“…Eh? Sakura could you be…” (Alraune)

 

“Ogres are very huge eaters because have high physical capability, and maybe even Onis too.”

 

 

 Narugoa-san’s extremely calm analysis made me feel like my face is burning red.

 

 However, it can’t be helped!

 

 Even though my kind has poor fuel efficiency, I hadn’t eaten for nearly three days!

 

 Moreover, they even brought me to a place filled with delicious smells…!

 

 

“What! Sakura-chan is hungry too! Then, let’s eat up from end to end today!” (Kyuuketsu)

 

“Wa-waait, Kyuuketsu-san!?” (Sakura)

 

“Call me Kyuu-chan!” (Kyuuketsu)

 

 

 Kyuuketsu-san, rather Kyuu-chan-san grab my hand and forcefully pulled me.

 

 In the back, Narugoa-san muttered, “…please be gentle,” but it’s not like Kyuu-chan-san heard that.

 

 

“—We welcome you, beautiful ladies! Why don’t you eat a little here!?” (Stall Owner)

 

“Be-beautiful…!?” (Sakura)

 

“Okay! So what’s that food?” (Kyuuketsu)

 

 

 Aside from my reluctance at the word “beautiful ladies,” Kyuu-chan-san was not at all intimidated and peeked in the stall.

 

 There was something spectacularly red, simmering in a shallow pot—

 

 

“It’s so red…” (Kyuuketsu)

 

“Of course it’s red! It’s a kind of eastern dish called red spicy sticky mochi! It’s a little spicy, but it’s good for your stomach and your body!” (Stall Owner) [T/N: Mochi is a rice cake made from glutinous rice. There are various kinds in Asia. Japan has mochi, Korea has tteokbokki and the Philippines has similar kakanin.]

 

“Eastern food! I’m sure Sakura-chan was from that place! Have you seen this?” (Kyuuketsu)

 

“No, I’ve never seen such a red dish…” (Sakura)

 

“…Uncle, are you trying to deceive us?” (Kyuuketsu)

 

“Hahaha! You’re a terrible listener! The East is a huge place! And the issue should be the taste, right?” (Stall Owner)

 

“Got it! Then two!” (Kyuuketsu)

 

“Come again!” (Stall Owner)

 

 

 In exchange for the money, Kyuu-chan-san took the plate of food and handed it to me with a fork.

 

 I’m not familiar with the aroma that rises from it, but it’s strangely appetizing.

 

 But the color… looks blood red, and to be honest, it’s kind of creepy.

 

 

“I’m sorry to say, Kyuu-chan-san after receiving this, but this is…” (Sakura)

 

“It was delicious in its own way?” (Kyuuketsu)

 

“…Eh? You!? You’ve already finished yours!” (Sakura)

 

 

 The next thing I knew, her plate was completely clean, while her mouth was stained red.

 

 She looked just like a Kyuuketsu.

 

 When I look at her chewing the mochi that’s puffing up her cheeks, I can’t say “I don’t want it”…

 

 

“Here goes!” (Sakura)

 

 

 I finally made up my mind and swallowed a stick of mochi into my mouth.

 

 ――What is this?

 

 A sweet and spicy flavor that makes fills me with nostalgia, which I cannot imagine based on its appearance, as the taste spreads in my mouth.

 

 

“This is……!?”

 

 

 Without a second thought, I stuffed the rest of the mochis into my mouth.

 

 It’s not that it’s particularly delicious! But what is this nostalgic taste? What a strange sense of comfort!

 

 Could it be miso? Isn’t this made with miso? ……!

 

 

 It was finished in no time

 

 Along with Kyuu-chan-sam, my red-stained cheeks were plump as I chewed mochi. [T/N: BTW they ate tteokbokki. It’s a sweet spicy stewed-ish mochi in finger-ish shapes. The sauce is made from spiced miso called gochujang.]

 

 

“This is… so delicious…” (Sakura)

 

“That’s right, it’s delicious…” (Kyuuketsu)

 

“…I’ll take that as a compliment young ladies.” (Stall Owner)

 

 

 The man who owns the restaurant asks me with a subtle expression as he collects the empty plates, but I don’t answer.

 

 Because I remembered.

 

 

“Once upon a time… when my sister was still a middle boss, Yukime-san once served everyone a dish from her hometown.” (Sakura)

 

 

 It was a memory of the Inanaki Sacred Mountain of the past.

 

 a happy memory of those days when there was still peace—

 

 

“But Yukime-san can’t handle fire, so Nekomata-san and I made it according to her instructions, and it’s a dish called Kiritanpo? …It was similar to that.” (Sakura)

 

“Was it delicious?” (Kyuuketsu)

 

“…It was a good dish, but it was quite the comforting dish.” (Sakura)

 

 

 As I smiled wryly, Kyuu-chan-san gulped down the contents of her mouth and took my hand. [T/N: Kiritanpo according to Google-sensei is a dish made from mashed sticky rice, like mochi, that is common in the Akita Prefecture. It is served skewered and roasted with sweet miso or like a dumpling with meat, fish, and vegetables.]

 

 

“Then, let’s go to the next one!” (Kyuuketsu)

 

“Eh!? Already!?” (Sakura)

 

“Because I’m not full yet, let’s go Sakura-chan!” (Kyuuketsu)

 

“Well, that’s…” (Sakura)

 

 

 That’s probably a lie.

 

 The owner of the restaurant said it was a dish that would fill you up, but I wasn’t even close to being full.

 

 Kyuu-chan-san, perhaps anticipating my hunger, said this while smiling cheerfully.

 

 

“— You’ve only just begun your eating spree! You’ll never grow big if you don’t eat a lot!”

 

 

 I inadvertently pressed against my modest chest.

 

 

 

 

“Of course, there should be a picnic when it comes to days-off!” (Kyuuketsu)

 

 

 I continued to eat while being invited by Kyuu-chan-after that, Al-san stopped us from trying to conquer the food stalls and got angry.

 

 We were now sitting on a prairie with a great view outside the town of Canal.

 

 

 There is no one here but us.

 

 Therefore, everyone is undisguised, and even Poison Slime-san has jumped out of his cramped backpack and is stretching out comfortably.

 

 

“Hmm, I thought I’d suffocate! Please think about a better disguise next time, Narugoa-san!” (Sergeant)

 

“I’ll do my best.”

 

“It’s a beautiful day! It makes me want to run!” (Kyuuketsu)

 

“How can you say that after all that food…?” (Alraune)

 

 

 As the four of them frolic about, I let out an exclamation of admiration, “Wow…….”

 

 A soft breeze was caressing the prairie, making a pleasant sound.

 

 ――To tell the truth, I’ve hardly ever left the Inanaki Sacred Mountain before.

 

 So this was my first experience of looking around at the outside world.

 

 I lost track of time for a while, gazing at the endless grasslands.

 

 

“Sakura, did you enjoy yourself today?”

 

 

 When I noticed, there was Narugoa-san next to me.

 

 He was also looking at the same scenery as me, with a somewhat happy expression on his face.

 

 

“…It was a very refreshing day.” (Sakura)

 

 

 I replied slowly as if I was taking in the day.

 

 

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a long day off, walking into stores I’ve never seen before, eating food I’ve never eaten before.” (Sakura)

 

“Well, I’m glad to hear it.”

 

 

 I looked at the three of them frolicking in the meadow.

 

 I remembered something and asked Narugoa-san about it.

 

 

“Does Narugoa-san know of Sakura?” (Sakura)

 

“…You are talking about yourself?”

 

“No, not me, the real Sakura, cherry blossoms.” (Sakura)

 

 

 Narugoa-san tilts his head.

 

 Of course, he wouldn’t know.

 

 

“There is such a tree that blooms overhead with light pink flowers, and that’s where I got my name.” (Sakura)

 

“…I’ve never heard of it.”

 

The Inanaki Sacred Mountain is also planted with cherry blossom trees, and when the season comes, it’s amazing, the whole mountain turns pink.” (Sakura)

 

“…That sounds beautiful.”

 

“Yes, that’s right, everyone will have a banquet… under the cherry blossom trees in full bloom, Nekomata-san will sing and dance, Yukime-san will serve food, and my sister will…” (Sakura)

 

 

 Then I swallowed the words that had gone down my throat.

 

 Because there was no point in talking about this.

 

 

 Because Narugoa and his friends are going to crush the dying Inanaki Sacred Mountain for us.

 

 

“…I’m sorry, I just forgot to talk to someone a long time ago…” (Sakura)

 

“When does it bloom?”

 

“Huh?” (Sakura)

 

“When will the Sakura bloom?”

 

 

 The sudden question got me confused.

 

 Narugoa-san’s expression is serious.

 

 

“Well, they bloom in the early spring… and now it’s early summer, so the flowers have already fallen…” (Sakura)

 

“Then, it’s no problem.”

 

 

 With that said, Narugoa-san stands up.

 

 What does he mean “no problem”—then I saw it.

 

 The flames of determination that burns in his eyes—

 

 

“This is the idea of my former subordinates, I’m sure I wouldn’t have come up with it on my own, I’ve been blessed with good friends.”

 

“Narugoa… san…?” (Sakura)

 

“And to carry out this plan that the four of us came up with, we need a fifth person, which is Sakura.”

 

 

 Then, he reached out his hands to me.

 

 His eyes stared straight at me, and—

 

 

 

“–Please help me save the Inanaki Sacred Mountain without losing a single person.”

 


T/N: If you like the series, please rate, review and add to your reading list in Novel Updates. You can also give your support by donating through Paypal, Ko-fi or become a Patron on Patreon. Thanks.  

 

Support the translator on lazytranslations.com

error: Content is protected !!
Skip to content