Chapter 68 - Shrimp Thermidor and Talk about Family

“It is juice, but cheers!” (Hikaru)

“It is a shame it is not alcohol, but cheers!” (Rifreya)

“I can’t drink anything alcoholic, so I am happy with juice-nyan. Cheers~!” (Grapefull)

The celebration after finishing the exploration.

We can’t go close to a church, so we entered a diner that’s in a safe location.

Recently, we have been purposely trying out a variety of eateries.

Maybe because I am originally japanese, I don’t really have that many things I can’t eat. There’s a lot of things that can be eaten in this world, and Rifreya likes eating. It seems like Grapefull normally doesn’t eat anything decent, so she gets happy every time we treat her, so it in turns makes me happy too.

And I think there’s a lot of viewers who like this sort of situation after an adventure.

I don’t think there’s anyone happy seeing me eat, but I don’t think that’s the case for Rifreya and Grapefull.

If you hate the boss, you hate the company; there’s the chance the 2 are also hated though… Even so, I feel like having only adventuring scenes would take out the excitement of it. There’s the need for tension and calm.

“Going to a new establishment really makes you nervous, right?” (Rifreya)

“Yeah. It was recommended by the guild?” (Hikaru)

“The guild does about everything…” (Rifreya)

Well, the guild must want to keep the explorers as close to their hands as possible. It is solely a business move, since they wouldn’t be able to do anything without explorers.

“Even so, this smells really nice. Cheese and shrimp, was it?” (Hikaru)

“It is. I have never eaten shrimp before… Is it something that can be caught in the sea?” (Rifreya)

“If it is the small ones that can be caught in the rivers, I have eaten them often-nya. They have a peculiar taste. These ones are big, so they must be from the sea-nya.” (Grapefull)

Judging from the ones that are being brought to other tables, it is more like lobster or spiny lobster. They are pretty big shrimps.

I have eaten them…a pretty decent amount before being transferred. My youngest sister likes crustaceans, and would buy an astounding amount from the money she earned in her mysterious internet part-time job.

The food was brought to us after a while.

Looks like the middle part is opened up with sauce poured in it, cheese on top, and baked in an oven.

It was written at the entrance that the name of the dish is shrimp thermidor, but it didn’t click with me.

Shrimps (this is normal in this world) are twice as big as the ones from Earth.

If this had been spiny lobster, it would have gone for an incredible price.

“What an extravagant meal. It is piping hot and looks tasty.” (Hikaru)

“Isn’t this expensive? Is it okay to have this much-nya?” (Grapefull)

“It is okay. Food tastes better when eaten with everyone.” (Hikaru)

She says expensive, but it is around 1 silver coin.

I still have the Spirit Stones I got when I dove alone yesterday.

There’s no point in leaving money in the middle of the Viewer Count Race, so I want to use as much as possible in order to increase the viewers. Using money to buy food might unexpectedly gain some returns.

I do remember watching somewhere that cooking and animal programs are pretty popular.

I use a fork that has pretty big spaces in between, and eat the shrimp.

The sticky melted cheese and the somewhat strong flavored tar mixed and created a dense tastiness. The tar here must be using the broth of shrimp.

“This is pretty tasty. It goes well with bread too.” (Hikaru)

It is a taste that makes me want to have rice to accompany. That I end up thinking in that way whenever I eat food with strong flavor might come from being japanese.

“Yum~, I am melting-nya. It is totally different from the river shrimp-nyan.” (Grapefull)

“I-It is that tasty? Uuh…alright…I am eating it too…” (Rifreya)

Rifreya made a serious expression in front of the giant shrimp as if she had resolved herself.

Well, it is true that a shrimp has the appearance of something that would require courage to eat the first time you see it.

I knew quite a lot of people in Japan who couldn’t handle shrimp, but I wonder what will be the case with Rifreya. I hope she doesn’t end up hating it without eating it.

“Ei!” (Rifreya)

Rifreya places the shrimp flesh in her mouth.

Well, eating something for the first time requires courage.

“De…” (Rifreya)

“De…?” (Hikaru)

“De…Delicious!!” (Rifreya)

Rifreya’s face shines in an instant.

I am glad to see it suits her taste.

“I am currently moved. To think I lived without knowing such a tasty thing existed… *Munch munch*.” (Rifreya)

“There are people who really do like their crustaceans after all. My little sister likes it a whole lot too.” (Hikaru)

“Oh! You have a little sister, Hikaru?!” (Rifreya)

“Yeah. Unlike me, she is a really capable little sister.” (Hikaru)

Wonder if Celica and Karen are watching me talk about this.

I think those two believe that I wasn’t the one who killed Nanami.

But that’s exactly why I feel like they would suffer more from the pressure of others. It would be easier for them if they just said: “I can’t believe there was a killer in our family! We are victims too!” -but the two of them wouldn’t take that choice.

I don’t want them to fight society and get hurt in the process…

“I see~. But you are strong in battle, can give proper instructions, and can even utilize abilities precisely; I think you are incredibly competent yourself, you know?” (Rifreya)

“I am happy you say that, but the competency of my little sisters is not in that realm. I don’t know how to explain it though.” (Hikaru)

My two sisters were already fluent in english by kindergarten. How to say it, their desire to challenge new things and their brains capable of absorbing everything in their way was second to none. Even before elementary school, they were already famous as prodigies.

They have appeared on television a number of times, and they were the pride and joy of my parents.

“Is that so. Your parents must be proud too.” (Rifreya)

My heart jumped by the casual remark of Rifreya.

“Right.” (Hikaru)

I answered shortly and thought about my parents for a bit.

My parents are…strong people, so even if society were to slander them because I am labelled as the killer of Nanami, they wouldn’t be bothered that much.

In the first place, I don’t know if my father and mother are watching me in worry. I couldn’t really picture that in my mind.

I was in an outrageous situation where I was suddenly thrown into a forest the moment I was transferred, so I honestly think that my family was at least worried about me at that time.

But now…

“Hikaru? Are you okay? You are…making a real pained expression there.” (Rifreya)

“Hm? Aah, sorry. I was thinking about my family for a bit there.” (Hikaru)

“…So you have your circumstances. Well, most explorers do.” (Rifreya)

I thought she would pry into it, but not touching those things might be a rule.

Well, my circumstances are way too special. There’s a high chance she wouldn’t understand me even if I told her.

Once the Viewer Count Race is over, I am thinking about telling Rifreya and Grapefull anyways, but right now is not the time for it.

“I also have a little sister. She is a really proper girl… Fufu. Same as you, right, Hikaru?” (Rifreya)

“Me too, me too! We are a family of 5 sisters-nyan!” (Grapefull)

As expected of a catfolk. The amount that is born at one time is high, maybe?

I ended up thinking this with no ill-intent, but their names might be stuff like Orangefull, or Lemonfull… No way, huh.

The shrimp thermidor was a delicacy, and with the fact that we were hungry, we ended up eating it all. We even ordered extra.

Your appetite apparently increases as your Tier goes up and the monstrosification advances. So this is how it looks like, huh. The better we can fight, the higher our food expenses might be.