Chapter 85

The Food Stalls in the Town
As we left the Jo Company—

"Hey, let's grab something to eat!"

Brother Gene suggested.

"I want to eat something too!!"

Vee added.

The air around us was filled with delicious aromas. Then, my stomach let out a loud growl.

Embarrassed, I lowered my head, but someone ruffled my hair.

"Alright, let's eat something. What do you want?"

Brother Aran asked.

"”Meat!!”"

Brother Gene and Vee exclaim in unison.

They really are alike.

Even though their ages and faces are completely different, they seem like twins.

We arrived at a street lined with many food stalls.

“”"Wow~~~~!!!””"

Brother Gene, Vee, and I all exclaim in amazement.

Brother Noel and Brother Aran chuckle wryly at our excitement.

There are skewered grilled meats, frankfurters, something like kebab sandwiches, something like candy apples, something like buttered potatoes… All sorts of foods are being sold.

"Let's get that!!"

Brother Gene rushed straight to a skewer stall, with Vince chasing after him.

I wanted to run after them too, but both my hands were being held, so I couldn’t.

"Brother Aran, Brother Noel, hurry, hurry!!"

I pulled them along as we walked.

"Alright, alright."

Brother Noel sighed in exasperation.

Brother Aran lowered his head, his shoulders shaking.

"Oh! But I don't have any money."

I realized an important fact.

"It's fine. We have money, so don't worry and eat whatever you like."

Brother Aran reassured me.

The skewers come in salt-and-pepper and sauce flavors. I'm torn between the two.

"Here, have a bite of my salt-and-pepper one. You can't eat too much, right? If you do, you won't be able to try other things. So just take small bites. Here, say 'ahhh.'"

Brother Gene offered me a skewer.

I take a bite. "Mmm! Yummy!"

"Then try my sauce one too. Here, say 'ahhh.'"

Vee offered me his.

I took another bite. "Mmm! This one is delicious too!!"

This sauce—does it have not just vegetables but also fruit? The sweetness isn't overwhelming, making it really nice.

As I was chewing and thinking about it—

"Ahhh, your mouth is a mess."

Brother Noel gently wiped my mouth.

"Mm… Hehe, thanks, Brother Noel."

I smiled at him.

“””Kyaaa~~~!”””

Startled, I looked around to see a group of women, from young girls to older ladies, all staring at us.

I had felt eyes on us for a while now, and this must be why.

Well, the four of them may be dressed in commoner clothes as disguises, but… they can't hide their good looks.

That 'kyaa' must be a fangirl scream. I get it.

If I met my favorite idol, I'd be just as captivated.

Ahhh, I want to hear Kazu's singing again, the one from that 16-member dance and vocal group…

"Hey, Jo. Could you stop looking at us with that oddly warm gaze?"

Brother Noel asked.

"Ehehe, I was just thinking how popular you all are."

When I say that—

"No, no, Joan, you're being looked at too."

Vee pointed out.

"Huh!?"

Looking carefully, I notice boys my age and others around Brother Gene and Vee's age sneaking glances at me. But when our eyes meet, they turn bright red and quickly looked away.

"Anyway, let's move on (I don't want anyone else looking at Jo)."

Brother Noel suggested, and we all moved along.

"So, what do we eat next? I want more meat!!"

Brother Gene declares.

"I want to try that!"

I pointed at a stall selling something like candied apples.

"Oh, Ripple Candy. Alright, I'll get some with Joan. Noel, take Gene and Vince to check out other stalls."

Brother Aran suggested.

"”Yay!! Let's go, Big Brother!!””

Brother Gene and Vee cheered as they follow Brother Noel to another stall.

Brother Aran led me to the Ripple Candy stall.

There, besides ripples, they also have other fruits coated in candy.

To get a better look, Brother Aran lifted me up.

"Wow, there are so many, Brother Aran!"

My eyes sparkle with excitement.

"Pick whatever you like. Even if you can't eat it all today, you can store it in your storage, right? But don't tell Vee and the others."

Brother Aran whispered.

"Ehehe. Then I'll get some for Sarah and Anny as souvenirs."

I picked out Ripple (apple), Apuricots (apricot), and Ichiberry (strawberry) candy.

Brother Aran told the vendor we want two of each.

"If others see Sarah and Anny eating these, they'll want some too, right?"

"Thank you, Brother Aran."

The vendor, overhearing our conversation, added three extra pieces of Plueberry candy.

"Wow, thank you, mister!"

"Haha, don't worry about it. I'm always selling around here, so come back anytime."

"Yes! I'll come again!"

What a nice vendor.

I should come back and buy more. If they're tasty, maybe I'll donate some to the orphanage next time.

As I happily wait with my newly bought candies, Brother Noel and the others returned, holding something like kebab sandwiches.

"Sorry to keep you waiting! Here, Aran Bro, yours—it's got a slightly spicy sauce."

Brother Gene handed one to Brother Aran.

"What's this?"

I asked.

"Oh, this? It's called a Jetbull Sandwich. Apparently, it's made from a black-haired cow magic beast. You should use Search to check it out."

Brother Gene leans in and whispers the last part.

"Oh, right! (Search!)"
—
[Jetbull Sandwich – Sweet Sauce]

A sandwich made by roasting a large cow-type magic beast like a kebab, shaving off thin slices, and stuffing them into bread with vegetables.

The sauce is a secret house specialty.

Material: Beef. Closest to Wagyu.

The bread is more like pita bread.

Edibility: Definitely edible.

How to eat: Don't worry about getting messy—just take a big bite!

Extra note: Gene already finished his spicy sauce one.

Look at Gene's mouth—there’s sauce on it, right?

—

"Brother Gene, is this your second one?"

"You can tell?"

"Uh… There's sauce on your mouth."

I say as I wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.

"Oh, oops. Thanks."

"””Kyaa~~~!”"

Ah, we were being watched again…

Fangirls have sharp eyes…

"I'll eat mine later. Joan, can you store it?"

Brother Aran asks.

"Sure."

Since openly using storage could cause problems, I have the four of them shield me as I quickly stashed the food away.

"Oh, right! Let's go see Martin! You want to check out the blacksmith as well, right, Jo?"

Brother Gene suggests.

"I do! I do!!"

"Alright, let's go!!"

"”Ohh~~!!””

Vee and I raised our hands in excitement.

With Brother Gene and Vee holding my hands, we headed toward the blacksmith.

What do you think about this chapter?