The Other World Dining Hall

Chili Chicken

—If you happen to be nearby during Satur’s Day, you should try going to the largest tree of the area. The food there is superb.

Alsace, a travelling minstrel, remembered the words of a fellow travelling bard that he had met in a largish city a long time ago and travelled together with for a while afterwards.

The minstrel who said that to him was a young female Halfling who travelled alone; she sang songs with her immature voice, accompanying Alsace’s musical performance of his small harp.

Their musical performance was received by the audience pa.s.sing through the plaza and they made a lot of money, so they travelled together on the condition of splitting the money they made.

After travelling together for half a year, when Alsace chose to stay in a town until spring citing that winter travel was dangerous, she said she would continue her journey and left the city after telling Alsace about the otherworld dining hall that appeared once in 7 days during Satur’s Days as a thank you for accompanying her.

(Such an idle gossip, there’s no way it’s true.)

While pulling at his throbbing leg, he bitterly smiled… to survive, he had no choice but to laugh at his own bad circ.u.mstances.

For a bard that travelled alone, the danger of death always lingered during their journey.

If adventurers travelled together as a group or merchants with their carriages were escorted then there would be no problem, but a little injury or a demon would lead to death as it was.

Luckily, a caravan of merchants or adventurers often left the city, so there’s that.

A bard’s song was like a perishable good, and when their songs were no longer a novelty, their income would sharply decrease. Of course, an experienced bard like Alsace would know a variety of songs, but if one stayed for long, the lack of profit would make it hard to even live day by day.

And when Alsace went on a journey… fallen rocks caused his injury.

It was fortunate that he was not crushed on the spot and die, but it was close to worst scenario when the fragments of the fallen rocks injured his leg.

Although it hurt every step, but it’s not like he could barely walk, and it was a wound of the degree that it could be treated in a town or village and would heal in a month, but with the state of his injured leg, food and water would run out first before he could reach human habitation.

Then he would die a dog’s death.

Suddenly, when he was driven to the wall, he remembered the words of his former travelling companion.

Unfortunately, it was not “Satur’s Day” when he pa.s.sed this place before, so he just continued his journey.

And fortunately, the biggest tree in the area was close enough to the extent he could reach it even with his injured leg.

(I’m not able to move

much until the pain somewhat dissipates anyway. So I’ll just rest there.)

Slowly, Alsace advanced step by step while carrying his favourite music instrument on his shoulder.

When he arrived at the big tree, there was indeed a hole big enough to fit in a single adult.

In addition, due to the visitors who “used” this place (it’s probably Halflings that frequently visited this place), the floor was paved with soft gra.s.s and there was a small furnace made of stone, it was well-equipped enough to the extent that it could be called a simple camp ground.

(Okay, let’s rest here for a while.)

He was somewhat sheltered from rain and wind inside the tree hole. He could also do simple treatment on his wound.

Alsace who considered such as he entered the hole widened his eyes when he saw the inside.

[What’s this? …Maybe that’s the door to the restaurant that Airi mentioned?]

Inside the tree hole, there was a black wooden door.

On the surface of the well-polished door was a picture of a cat, an out-of-place door.

It was definitely a door that would lead to the otherworld dining hall he heard from the Halfling poet he had travelled with a long time ago.

[…Okay.]

After thinking a little, he resolved to open the door.

He was lucky enough to reach this place during Satur’s Day.

Then he had to go.

That’s why, he opened it.

‘Chirinchirin’, Alsace stepped into the otherworld dining hall while listening to the light sound of bell.

It was a bright room where one wouldn’t know whether it was daytime or night, a room without any window.

There was a strange room spreading past the door.

There were foreigners wearing clothes that Alsace who had roamed around the continent had never seen before, there were also lamias, ogres and monsters.

They were seated and ate their own dishes and alcohol, Alsace, who only gnawed on dried piece of meat while he was injured, felt his mouth watering.

[Ano… are you okay? I see that you’re injured.]

While he looked around the mysterious room, it was like visiting a city for the first time after coming from a rural town where there was nothing, a voice called out to him.

It was a female with black hair and foreign features, wearing tailored clothes.

While considering whether she was a waitress of this place or not, Alsace replied.

[Ee. My leg is actually injured. If it’s fine, I would like to rest for a while here… and if possible, I would appreciate a cup of water and the cheapest dish in this restaurant.]

Although he was afraid that there was no choice as this was an emergency, Alsace thought that it was better to save money even a little.

[…I understand. Please follow me.]

In response to his answer, the waitress guided him to the nearest seat to the entrance.

[Wait a moment then… a, that’s right. Customer-san, are you alright with spicy food?]

After confirming that Alsace had sat down on the seat, the

the waitress inquired.

[Yes? Ee, I don’t dislike it…]

He nodded while thinking what kind of dish would come out.

Spicy food… he had eaten a bit of high-cla.s.s dishes that used spice at port towns.

From that experience, Alsace nodded.

[I understand. Please wait a moment then.]

Nodding to Alsace’s words, the waitress returned to the back.

[Ouch… I’m beat. I don’t think it’s broken since I can walk.]

Sitting the chair, he was relieved from the pain.

Alsace lifted the cuff of his trousers to check on the wound.

[…This is terrible. It’s very blue.]

He sighed when he saw that purple bruise was on the place where the stone impacted him. No wonder it hurt every time he walked.

[I don’t have medicine with me…]

From his experience, it would be swollen for a while and it would be difficult to walk.

If he went back in this condition, he would die.

He thought so, wondering whether he could ask to stay here or not.

[That’s a terrible injury. It’s all right now.]

Alsace raised his eyes when someone said so to him, he reflexively exclaimed in surprise.

[G.o.ddess of Light’s… high priestess!?]

A young lady with beautiful blonde hair. The holy seal of G.o.ddess of Light resting on her breast was made of gold.

Made by craftsmen of the temple, the holy symbol made of gold, silver or copper was the proof of those who had the ability to formally obtain the position of priests and priestess in the temple, to wear one even if one did not have the position was a serious crime that could result in death by hanging.

The woman in front of him was definitely a high priest.

If he looked closely, about three girls sitting on a table and looking towards his direction in surprise had silver holy symbols that denoted that they were official priestesses.

Perhaps this woman was their superior.

[Yes… excuse me for a bit.]

Without paying attention to the gazes, the woman quickly kneeled down and placed her cool hand on Alsace’s discoloured shin.

[O light that governs the heaven and illuminates us. Please bestow mercy on this person. Heal his wound and give him the power to live tomorrow.]

To those words, pale light flowed into Alsace and his pain disappeared.

[You’re okay now.]

He was affected by the light only for a while, but Alsace’s wound was perfectly healed.

[Thank, thank you very much…]

Alsace reflexively murmured his grat.i.tude.

When Alsace stopped by a city in his travel, he had been healed by an official priest and a junior priest living in the city after giving them alms, then there was the medicine prescribed by a village’s pharmacist that only worked on light injuries, this was the first time he was healed so quickly and by a high priestess too.

[Yes. Please be careful.]

Although he had heard that one could receive high-grade healing from a high priest, he had heard that one had to donate with gold coins to do so, but the high priestess did not ask for

ask for anything and merely smiled before returning to her seat.

[Thank you for waiting. Here’s your water… also, I brought the first-aid kit… eh?]

After the previous waitress brought a gla.s.s of water and a box with green cross on it, she tilted her head after seeing that Alsace’s previously pained face was now calm.

[Etto, that… a kind high priestess healed me.]

He told her what happened.

[Na, heal is it… I, I see… the otherworld sure is fantasy.]

As her smiling face twitched after hearing his words, she placed down a pitcher of ice water and a transparent gla.s.s cup before pouring the water into the cup.

[Your food is still being made, so please wait for a while longer. Well then, please enjoy.]

That’s what she said.

[Fuu…]

Alsace, who was saved from the brink of death due to an unexpected development, sighed and then looked at the water poured into the gla.s.s cup.

(I told her that I only need one gla.s.s of water…)

Perhaps he would be given an outrageous bill. He felt anxious when he saw that the jug of water had large amounts of ice floating in it.

(No, it should be fine. If it’s such a restaurant, Marina1 wouldn’t recommend it.)

He grabbed the gla.s.s while shaking off his anxiety, brought it to his mouth and drank.

The cold water that contained refreshing aroma penetrated into his body.

He sweated a lot since he was tired and in pain, so he felt that the water was very tasty.

(This is good…)

He actually felt thankful that a jug of water was brought when he drank.

Every time the cup was empty, he poured more water into it.

When his thirst was finally quenched, the jug was now half empty.

[…I’m hungry.]

When his pain had disappeared and his thirst quenched, he felt hungry now.

Alsace gently rubbed his belly.

[Thank you for waiting. Here’s your order of daily special.]

The one who brought his food was not the previous waitress; she was a female demon with blonde hair.

[The bread and the soup, as well as the water are free of charge and refillable, so please don’t hesitate to ask for more.]

She said such words while placing down the hot dish.

[Today’s daily special is chili chicken… it’s bird meat deep fried in oil and then seasoned with spicy sauce.]

The waitress smiled while explaining to the drooling Alsace.

[Please enjoy.]

As soon as the waitress went away, Alsace reached for the food.

He grabbed a fork and stared at the dish.

(This… certainly looks spicy. Do they use Togaran?)

The bite-sized pale brown deep-fried food was coated with plenty of bright red sauce.

The fragrance that drifted with the aroma of meat reminded him of Togaran.

Alsace was reminded of the soup he had eaten at a port town.

It was a soup with chopped Togaran which was imported from the Western Continent; the soup had plenty of chopped vegetables and fish caught at the harbor.

It was very spicy, he remembered that he couldn’t sing verycouldn’t sing very well the day he ate it.

(That is…)

However, it would be rude to leave without trying it.

He cleverly cut it with a well-polished knife and brought it to his mouth.

[Oo… this is.]

The voice leaked out unintentionally.

The sauce was certainly spicy, but it was not too spicy.

It also contained a bit of sourness and sweetness, as well as umami.

The sauce complimented the bird meat, it was an appetizing taste.

And also, the bird meat was delicious too.

For a moment, the bird meat concealed beneath the fragrant coating was revealed when he chewed, it was very soft.

A lot of meat juice was contained in the chewy meat; it overflowed each time he chewed.

The meat juice then combined with the spicy sauce and created wonderful combination.

(Now I know why Marina raved about this place.)

After he ate the chili chicken one after another, he felt that it was regrettable to eat everything at once as he ate the fresh crunchy leafy vegetable; he then reached for the bread and soup instead.

He wiped his hands with the hot towel and then grabbed the bread with his bare hands.

The heat of the still warm bread transferred to his hands, the slightly warm bread tasted sweet and was soft.

(This… it doesn’t fill my belly that much, but it’s delicious.)

When he finished eating the soft bread, he then tried the soup.

Brown coloured, the seasoning of the soup reminded him of fish sauce and there were a crisp thinly cut white vegetable and a soft yellow ingredient in it.

(Is this egg…?)

Alsace, who ate the crisp vegetable and then tried the yellow ingredient that he couldn’t recognize, he then understood its ident.i.ty due to its soft flavor.

Perhaps the egg was scrambled in the hot soup.

This was soft and easily pa.s.sed through his throat.

(Well, next is the chili chicken… un?)

Alsace noticed that when he ate the slightly colder chili chicken, the taste was different from the previous one.

The coating was no longer crispy as the sauce had been soaked in, the sauce blended with the coating that was as soft as the meat now instead.

As he chewed, the oil and meat juice contained in the coating mixed with the spicy sauce, giving the sauce a different flavor.

(I see, this too… is delicious.)

While contemplating whether crispy coating or soft coating tasted better, Alsace gently placed down his fork.

It was satisfying. This one plate of cuisine.

(Indeed, just like what Marina had said, the food of this restaurant is delicious.)

While thinking such, Alsace pondered about the strangeness of life.

He was thinking that he would die before visiting this restaurant, but now death was far away and he was deeply satisfied.

(Unexpectedly, this experience can turn out to be an interesting song.)

While thinking such, Alsace relaxedly rested for a while.