I Can’t Wait Any Longer
Since they were going to return using Joan’s teleportation, they headed on foot toward the city.
Being dusk, the city had a liveliness different from the daytime. Calls from street vendors and cheerful laughter could be heard everywhere. Also, the delicious smells from stalls and shops stirred their hunger.
“Smells so good, Joan.”
“Yeah. Why does street food always look so tasty? Just the smell alone could go with a bowl of rice… Hey~? Brother Gene~?”
“… Jo, you want to eat, right? But didn’t Grandfather tell you to get back quickly?”
“Then if we eat quickly, it’ll be fine! … Ouch.”
Gene flicked Joan on the forehead as she gave a thumbs-up and tried to argue.
“… Geez, just one flick, okay.”
“Thanks! Brother Gene!! Let’s go, Belle!”
“Ah, wait, Joan!”
Watching Joan and the others run off holding hands,
“Haah—why can’t I hold back?”
“Hahaha, that’s because she’s your little sister, isn’t it?”
“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Then, Gene, can you resist this amazing smell?”
“… Nope.”
“Right? … Me neither.”
““Ahahaha.””
Gene and Young Master Eric laughed as they ran after Joan and the others.
“Uncle, give me some~!”
“Sure thing! … Huh? Oh? Is that you, princess?”
“Yes, long time no see!”
“Wow, you’ve grown. Been about four years, hasn’t it?”
“Yes. I entered the academy this year. Ah, can I place an order? We’re in a bit of a hurry.”
“Ah, of course.”
“Umm, I’ll take a shrimp skewer. Belle?”
“Ah, I’ll take the same.”
“I’ll have the clams.”
“Ah, I’ll take clams too.”
“All right! Two shrimp, two clams. So, princess, why are you in a hurry?”
“We need to go buy supplies at Nel’s family fish shop, but we just couldn’t resist coming to eat your skewers first. Grandfather told us to get back quickly, though.”
“Hahaha, that’s great. Then, go ahead to the fish shop while it cooks.”
“Really? Thank you.”
Thanks to the street vendor’s generosity, the Fantasmo private soldiers headed toward Nel’s family fish shop.
“I hope they still have some fish or shellfish left~.”
“Hm, at this hour…”
After about ten minutes from the stall, they arrived at Nel’s family fish shop.
In front of the store, some housewives shopping for dinner and a few children sent on errands were looking around. Everyone was checking the fish tanks. Joan looked into the tanks too and saw lively fish swimming and baskets of shellfish — stock was plenty.
When it was Joan and the others’ turn:
“Um, what are today’s recommendations?”
“For fish, we have horse mackerel and shrimp. For shellfish, clams and shijimi—”
“All of them… wait, can we buy all of them?”
“All of them… huh? Oh? Isn’t this the young lady?”
“Yes, long time no see. Umm, ten horse mackerel, ten shrimp, two baskets of clams, three baskets of shijimi, please.”
“Sure thing. I’ll prepare them now.”
“I’ll handle the shellfish.”
“Hey, don’t overdo it.”
“I’m fine.”
The plump woman who came from the back and spoke to Nel’s father.
“Are you Nel’s mother?”
“No way! Nobody calls me ‘mother,’ but I’m Nel’s mom. And you are?”
“Nice to meet you. I’m always grateful to Nel. I’m Joan, eldest daughter of the Lampail family.”
“Oh, goodness, I’m terribly sorry. To be in service to the young lady of the lord’s family… I, I, I’m the one who should be thanking you… ouch, ouch, ouch.”
“Eh!? Are you okay?”
“I-I’m sorry. I slipped this morning, fell on my bottom, and hurt my back… Getting old isn’t fun.”
“That’s why you should just lie down. Here, can you stand?”
Nel’s father, having finished wrapping the fish, tried to help her stand, but she couldn’t put weight on her legs due to pain.
“Brother Gene, can I use First Aid?”
She asked quietly.
“Ah, she does look in pain. If it’s Nel’s parents, it should be fine. Be sure to report to Grandfather later.”
“Yes… Um, may I touch the hurt spot just a little?”
“Huh? Ah…”
“Excuse me… pain, pain, fly away~ (First Aid)... How’s that?”
“Huh? Wait? It doesn’t hurt. H-How? You can stand normally.”
“Ah, it’s just a little… a magic trick, I guess? But it’s just first aid, so if the pain comes back, have it checked at the temple.”
“Thank you so much, young lady. Please take this.”
“No, no, I’ll pay.”
“No, really, please accept it. It’s cheaper than a high offering at the temple…”
“Well, I’ll gladly take it… Ah, please keep this a secret, okay?”
““Of course.””
“Did I do something bad…? I didn’t do it for the fish, but…”
“Well, but as the shopkeeper said, it’s probably cheaper than a temple donation. Anyway, Joe did a good thing, so don’t worry.”
Saying this, Gene gently patted Joan’s head.
“Yeah…”
“Joan, look, the street vendor is waiting and watching.”
Belle told her, and Joan looked up to see the vendor waving in the distance.
“Really… Then, let’s eat! Loser buys, okay?”
Saying that, Joan ran off.
“““Ah!!”””
The three laughed at how quickly Joan switched from being down to remembering the stall. Since they didn’t want to buy the food for her, they also ran after her.
By the way, since it was crowded during dinner, the small Joan and Belle were faster, so Young Master Eric ended up being last and paying for everyone.
What do you think about this chapter?
