Chapter 93

Absolutely unexpected. The place where rice is found is on a different continent from the one we live on.

The country of Kagura, located on a different continent across the sea.

It is said that because rice is the staple food in that country, there is a lot of rice there.

Since it is a country that faces the sea, fishing is very prosperous, and the fish dishes are said to be very delicious.

Already, this alone is worth the trip.

"There are many people with black hair and black eyes, and they have a unique culture."

"Wow!"

I let out an excited voice at Tori's words.

It is said that the culture, clothing, food, and housing are completely different from those of the Misfit Kingdom, and that there are roof tiles, kimonos, and Japanese-style dishes like Kagura cuisine.

I never thought that in this Western fantasy world, there would be a country with a Japanese-style culture. Alfred is deeply moved.

I want to go there by any means.

I had a feeling that there might be a Japanese-style culture in Kagura from its name, and it turned out to be true.

"Lord Alfred, you've been very excited ever since we started talking about Kagura. You were the same when we talked about rice..."

Tori looks at me, who is rejoicing alone, with a puzzled expression, but I don't mind. This joy is something only I can understand.

"So, how do we get there?"

When I ask hesitantly, Tori puts his hand to his chin and thinks.

"Right, Coirat Village is surrounded by mountains, so we need to go west first and then head north."

Hmm, that's hard to understand. So, I decide to have Tori write it down on paper with a quill pen.

Looking at the simple map Tori drew, we go west from Coirat Village, then head north from the city of Kika, and enter the Aldonia Kingdom.

From there, we head east to the port town of Espoir and take a boat to Kagura.

"It will take three days by carriage to Kika, four days from there to Espoir, and then a week by boat."

Tori adds that this is just a rough estimate.

One way will take two weeks. Round trip will take a month. It's far, even more than twice the time it takes to go to the capital. It's a different country, after all.

It's mid-June now. If I stay in Kagura for a week and come back, it will be summer.

Time flies. In about two months, it will be the Harvest Festival.

If you think about it, it will soon be a year since I met Thor. It doesn't feel like it at all.

No, why am I thinking about the day I met the heroine... I guess I just replaced Thor. That's creepy.

Let's count it as a year since I met the beautiful Emma. It's been about a year since I met Emma. Thinking about it that way is very romantic.

While I'm thinking about that, Tori's voice brings me back to reality.

"It's a two-week trip one way. Are you really coming with us? We're planning to go to Kagura, so it's fine if Lord Alfred comes along, but Lord Nord and the others might object to going to a foreign country."

After hearing that, I no longer have the option of not going to Kagura.

I will definitely go to Kagura and make sure I can transfer there whenever I want.

There might even be soy sauce and miso.

If that's the case, my food options will greatly expand, and my life will become even richer.

Miso soup, yakitori, soba, dango... Just thinking about it makes me want to go.

"I'm definitely going. I'll call Father Nord and Mother Elna, so wait a moment!"

I stand up from the sofa and run to call Father Nord and Mother Elna to persuade them.

◆

I caught Mother Elna, who was lying lazily on the sofa in the living room, and brought her to the guest room. I caught Father Nord, who was writing documents in his office, and brought him back to the guest room.

"So, what's the sudden rush, Al?"

Once everyone was seated on the sofa, Mother Elna spoke.

Of course, she's not sprawled out on the sofa or gnawing on a bread stick as she did earlier.

Both of them seem a bit puzzled by my unusually serious demeanor. They even seem to be on guard.

What is it? They must think I'm about to do something strange or say something weird. It's a bit hurtful. This is a serious matter.

To convey my resolve, I look firmly into the eyes of Mother Elna and Father Nord.

"I'm interested in Kagura. Can I go with the Triella Trading Company?"

Upon hearing my words, Mother Elna and Father Nord look at each other with serious expressions.

"Kagura? I've heard of it."

"I think it's a country to the east. Triella said it's where we get our rice."

"Oh, that's right."

Father Nord seems to have reminded Mother Elna, who was tilting her head in confusion.

That's not enough, so Tori briefly explains what kind of country Kagura is, as he did earlier.

After that, I say again.

"So, I want to go to Kagura!"

"I thought you were going to say something else when you called me 'Mother.'"

Mother Elna seems to have understood something and takes a sip of tea calmly.

"Can't Triella bring it back for us? I love rice too, so I'm in favor of getting it, but..."

"To go to Kagura, we have to cross the sea. It's very far."

Suddenly, I'm hit with a barrage of objections from both of them.

Even with the Triella Trading Company, it seems they are against a seven-year-old child going to a foreign land.

Suddenly, I'm faced with negative opinions.

However, even so... I still want to go.

"...I still want to go."

Looking at me with a serious gaze, Mother Elna places her left hand on my cheek and starts to stroke it.

Oh! This must mean my seriousness has convinced her, and she's going to give me permission!

With hopeful eyes, I look at the gentle Mother Elna, but she pinches my cheek.

"Ow!?"

"...You're a fake. Our Al never has such lively eyes. Our Al has dead eyes and a more sullen face."

"Pho, pho, I'm not!"

What a rude mother. To doubt the child she gave birth to.

It's also a shock that Father Nord is pulling my other cheek from the opposite side.

"...It seems to be the real one."

"Right."

As I try to explain with teary eyes, they seem to have finally believed me and let go of my cheeks.

"Tori's trading company has B-rank adventurers, so the journey will be safe. So, it's okay, right?"

I play my trump card to reassure them.

However, both of them still look worried.

"...No."

"Whaaat!? It's fine! Fried bread! Honey-soaked rusks! Castella!"

At the mention of an unknown sweet, castella, Mother Elna reacts for a moment.

"No. This isn't as simple as a magic stove. The journey is dangerous, and there are monsters in the sea—"

"Ice cream! Pudding! A platter of tempura!"

"S-so, even so, no?"

She's wavering. The continuous mention of unknown sweets and the tempura I reluctantly served the other day is having an effect. I knew Mother Elna liked the tempura, so I deliberately served only a small amount to save it for moments like this.

Mother Elna sips her tea to hide her confusion.

"Lord Alfred, what are castella, ice cream, and pudding?"

Mina, who had been standing nearby, whispers in my ear.

"I'm curious too."

And the person next to me is being noisy.

While I'm trying to separate the noisy two, Father Nord speaks.

"Hmm, even with B-rank adventurers, I'm still worried. It's the sea, after all."

Of course, compared to a Dragon Slayer, most adventurers are a cause for concern.

"The 'Silver Wind' is a party of adventurers who specialize in escorting, and they have a lot of combat experience at sea," Tori supports me, but Father Nord's expression is not good.

He must be worried as a father.

"Hmm, I'd like to go with you, but I can't leave the territory for a month."

Damn! If Silvio had taken over the territory sooner, a super-strong Dragon Slayer could have come as an escort.

Ah, right. Mother Elna could come.

"...I don't want to travel for a month. It's more tiring than going to the capital."

I look at Mother Elna with hopeful eyes, but it's no use. She's quite averse to traveling.

She even said she didn't want to go to the capital without a party.

I wouldn't want to go either if there was no transfer. With the travel distance being twice as long and involving a sea crossing, it would be even more unpleasant. Coirat Village is just too great.

While Father Nord and Mother Elna are looking worried and giving off a negative aura,

"Ah, Al, you're here."

"Wow! Triella, Nord, and Elna are all here. What a gathering."

Elinora and Rumba, who had come to play, appear in the guest room.

Here we go again. And Rumba, Silvio isn't here.

I'm looking forward to Kagura.

'I am a Dullahan. I am looking for my head.'

If you have time, please read it.

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