Well, well . It was currently two in the afternoon . Daniela was sleeping at the inn . This was a rare moment I had to myself . I was sure that she would eat whatever she could without me, so I might as well do the same . And so I was now exploring the large street .

Every building that was visible here seemed to be an inn, which wasn’t too surprising . I had never done any traveling back in j.a.pan, so this kind of townscape really filled me with excitement .

And as this was a town by a forest, most of the buildings were made of wood . I could only imagine what kind of disaster it would be if there was a fire, but then I noticed that there were small fountains installed all over the place .

“What is this?”

It reminded me of the drinking fountains you see in parks . They looked quite clean too…

“Ah, you right there . Are you a traveler?”

As I stood with crossed arms and deep in thought, an older woman approached me .

“Uhh, yeah . I was just wandering around . ”

“I see, I see . But is this not a beautiful town?”

Ah, ha… Was this the beginning of a ‘boast about your town’ contest? I hope she wouldn’t take too long .

“Yes . The wooden buildings are splendid . ”

“This is the forest post town after all! Almost all of the buildings here use wood . ”

“But, wouldn’t that be a fire hazard?”

“Hehe . That is what these magic contraptions are here for . ”

So saying, the old women pointed at the drinking fountains . Oh, that’s what they were .

“So these put out the fires?”

“Aye . If ever there is a fire, water will spray up high from the hole on the top, and shower the entire town . ”

“Ahhh…interesting…”

Very interesting . Educational . She then explained that these contraptions sucked up water magic from underground veins to use to put out the fires . A type of sprinkler .

“Hmm . That is good to know . Thank you . ”

“Oh, it is nothing . Enjoy your stay here!”

“Yes, I will . ”

The old woman’s Town Boasting Contest had come to a close . I saw her trod away with a satisfying expression, only to catch another unsuspecting traveler and begin all over again .

Now that that distraction was gone, my hunger returned with a vengeance . Oh, it was bad . I would pa.s.s out if I didn’t eat . But this town didn’t seem to have street stalls, perhaps they were considered a fire hazard, I think irritably . Like, they only allow fires near places with fire extinguishers . In that case, I would have to rely on my sense of smell . Sniff . Sniff . Where are the good food places? Ah…Daniela would have been able to find one in seconds… I grumbled at my girlfriend’s absence as I walked . Walked . And walked . Past several streets, and so many corners . I repeated this many times before my nose finally reacted to something . It was rather good .

“Ah, could this be the one?”

The window was open, which allowed the steam and a pleasant aroma to escape . Peeking through the window, I could see rows of tables and customers eating . Yes, it was a restaurant .

“Are you a customer?”

“Are you a customer?”

“Woah!”

A face jumped out at me from the bottom of the window frame . d.a.m.ned b.a.s.t.a.r.d .

“Be off with you, if you are not . ”

“Uh, sorry . I am . I am . ”

It seemed like he worked here, so I quickly apologized and went inside . I wasn’t about to be kicked out of here . I needed to eat something now .

“Uh, I’m alone here . That alright?”

“Sit over there . ”

He pointed over to a table seat . Looking at the guy again, he was actually pretty good-looking . A quick glance at the building’s interior showed that it was mostly wood as well . It must be hard for different stores to be unique when they are restricted to using wood .

And there were so many female customers here . Like eighty percent . They were probably just here to ogle… I was beginning to feel very uncomfortable . Like I had accidentally entered a pancake house . Still, I had no choice now . I needed to refill my hunger gauge or I would faint in some random corner of this town .

“So, what will you have?”

“Any recommendations?”

“Today we have a chicken soup and freshly baked bread as a set . ”

“I’ll take that then . ”

“Aye . ”

Quite brusque isn’t he…well, some women liked guys like that . And they were his main customer base . I didn’t really care .

Quite brusque isn’t he…well, some women liked guys like that . And they were his main customer base . I didn’t really care .

I ignored the awkward looks from the other customers as I waited . The smell of the freshly baked bread started to waft over to the tables . Yes, so far so good . I loved the smell of freshly baked bread .

“Kept you waiting, huh?”

There is only one person who is allowed to say that . But then again, I’m pretty sure I said it at one point… More importantly, the food was here .

On the table was now a bowl of steaming, golden soup and freshly baked bread . And a salad . The drink was fruit water . A lemon slice and some kind of leaf floated in it . Fancy looking stuff .

“Thank you . ”

“Enjoy . ”

He suddenly offered a kind smile . Imagine if that worked . Anyway, on to the food .

First, I tear off a piece of bread . The crust is still hot . It almost burns my fingertips as it opens and reveals its soft innards . The rich smell bursts through my nostrils . I put the torn piece into my mouth and chew, and with every bite, the natural flavor of the bread seems to increase and spread . Freshly baked bread really was the best .

Next, I brandish the spoon and face the bowl of soup . Its golden hue makes me think that it was filtered, but on closer inspection, chunks of meat lay at the bottom of the bowl . It was the kind of soup that tasted different once you stirred it . How fancy… First, I take a spoonful of the top layer and drink it without making any noise . I’m not sure why, but coming to places like this made me more aware of my manners . Was it the atmosphere or the food? Well, as for the taste of the soup . It was very good . The rich smell of the chicken broth spread in your mouth and reached your nose in a way that only chicken could do . If this was a cooking manga, my clothes would be bursting at the seams . I drank a few more times from the upper layer and savored it . I would stir it up later . It was time to use the salad as a palate cleanser .

Salad . It was just some vegetables thrown onto a plate . But sometimes there was depth in simplicity . The freshness of the vegetables, the combination with the dressing . The compatibility of the vegetables . Yes, very deep stuff . What is a salad? It was something with the power to make you consider it in philosophical terms . Well, I would leave such questions to food critics, I was just here to eat some tasty food . I grab my fork and stab it into the plate . There was a satisfying crunch, which was the proof of its freshness . It must be freshly washed as well because beautiful droplets could still be seen . Then I carry it to my mouth, careful to not spill the dressing . With every bite, the texture and fresh, green smell spreads, and the slightly sour dressing combines with the sweetness of the vegetables . There was a real danger of me eating the whole thing in seconds, so I quickly push the plate away .

Back to the soup . Drinking so much of the upper layer now left the lower layer quite visible . I thrust the spoon into it and stirred . Then the chunks of meat began to rise to the surface . Other little specks, like ground seeds, also danced and rose . Using ‘Jack of all Trades, Master of None’ to find the exact timing, I scoop up a spoonful . The soup with the chicken and seeds flows into my mouth . Ah, it did taste different now . What was once a clear, refined flavor had transformed into something robust and meaty . Well, women liked their meat too . I could see this being very popular . The well-cooked meat almost melted in your mouth, the seeds popped with every chew . Ahh, it was good . My clothes felt like they really would burst if I wasn’t careful .

Back to the soup . Drinking so much of the upper layer now left the lower layer quite visible . I thrust the spoon into it and stirred . Then the chunks of meat began to rise to the surface . Other little specks, like ground seeds, also danced and rose . Using ‘Jack of all Trades, Master of None’ to find the exact timing, I scoop up a spoonful . The soup with the chicken and seeds flows into my mouth . Ah, it did taste different now . What was once a clear, refined flavor had transformed into something robust and meaty . Well, women liked their meat too . I could see this being very popular . The well-cooked meat almost melted in your mouth, the seeds popped with every chew . Ahh, it was good . My clothes felt like they really would burst if I wasn’t careful .

“How is it?”

The good-looking guy rudely interrupted my reverie . I looked up irritability before realizing that it was him .

“It’s incredible . ”

“That is good . ”

He said with a smile . d.a.m.n…he was cool… A guy who was dedicated to cooking . He seemed overly blunt at first, but clearly had a delicate touch when it came to his craft . I could learn a thing or two from that .

Ahh, I finished it in no time . The bread, soup and salad were all good . Even the fruit water had a refres.h.i.+ng taste that matched the taste of the dishes . Everything supported the others . The best kind of menu .

“How much do I owe you?”

“Aye . Three silvers . ”

“Right, here . ”

“Thank you . Do come again . ”

There was something childishly smug about the way he laughed . I couldn’t blame others for falling for him now . A good-looking guy who could cook . Great personality . What more could you want? I’d marry him .

I leave the restaurant and turn around . The sign reads Tree Stump Arbour . A good place . A hole in the wall that you might only find through wandering about . I swore that I would bring Daniela here next time, as I recommenced my stroll with a satisfied stomach .

Well, well . It was currently two in the afternoon . Daniela was sleeping at the inn . This was a rare moment I had to myself . I was sure that she would eat whatever she could without me, so I might as well do the same . And so I was now exploring the large street

Every building that was visible here seemed to be an inn, which wasn’t too surprising . I had never done any traveling back in j.a.pan, so this kind of townscape really filled me with excitement

And as this was a town by a forest, most of the buildings were made of wood . I could only imagine what kind of disaster it would be if there was a fire, but then I noticed that there were small fountains installed all over the place

 .

“What is this?”.

 .

It reminded me of the drinking fountains you see in parks . They looked quite clean too….

 .

“Ah, you right there . Are you a traveler?”.

 .

As I stood with crossed arms and deep in thought, an older woman approached me

 .

“Uhh, yeah . I was just wandering around . ”.

“I see, I see . But is this not a beautiful town?”.

 .

Ah, ha… Was this the beginning of a ‘boast about your town’ contest? I hope she wouldn’t take too long

 .

“Yes . The wooden buildings are splendid . ”.

“This is the forest post town after all! Almost all of the buildings here use wood . ”.

“But, wouldn’t that be a fire hazard?”.

“Hehe . That is what these magic contraptions are here for . ”.

 .

So saying, the old women pointed at the drinking fountains . Oh, that’s what they were

 .

“So these put out the fires?”.

“Aye . If ever there is a fire, water will spray up high from the hole on the top, and shower the entire town . ”.

“Ahhh…interesting…”.

 .

Very interesting . Educational . She then explained that these contraptions sucked up water magic from underground veins to use to put out the fires . A type of sprinkler

 .

“Hmm . That is good to know . Thank you . ”.

“Oh, it is nothing . Enjoy your stay here!”.

“Yes, I will . ”.

 .

The old woman’s Town Boasting Contest had come to a close . I saw her trod away with a satisfying expression, only to catch another unsuspecting traveler and begin all over again

 .

Now that that distraction was gone, my hunger returned with a vengeance . Oh, it was bad . I would pa.s.s out if I didn’t eat . But this town didn’t seem to have street stalls, perhaps they were considered a fire hazard, I think irritably . Like, they only allow fires near places with fire extinguishers . In that case, I would have to rely on my sense of smell . Sniff . Sniff . Where are the good food places? Ah…Daniela would have been able to find one in seconds… I grumbled at my girlfriend’s absence as I walked . Walked . And walked . Past several streets, and so many corners . I repeated this many times before my nose finally reacted to something . It was rather good

 .

“Ah, could this be the one?”.

 .

The window was open, which allowed the steam and a pleasant aroma to escape . Peeking through the window, I could see rows of tables and customers eating . Yes, it was a restaurant

 .

“Are you a customer?”.

“Woah!”.

 .

A face jumped out at me from the bottom of the window frame . d.a.m.ned b.a.s.t.a.r.d

 .

“Be off with you, if you are not . ”.

“Uh, sorry . I am . I am . ”.

 .

It seemed like he worked here, so I quickly apologized and went inside . I wasn’t about to be kicked out of here . I needed to eat something now

 .

“Uh, I’m alone here . That alright?”.

“Sit over there . ”.

 .

He pointed over to a table seat . Looking at the guy again, he was actually pretty good-looking . A quick glance at the building’s interior showed that it was mostly wood as well . It must be hard for different stores to be unique when they are restricted to using wood

And there were so many female customers here . Like eighty percent . They were probably just here to ogle… I was beginning to feel very uncomfortable . Like I had accidentally entered a pancake house . Still, I had no choice now . I needed to refill my hunger gauge or I would faint in some random corner of this town

 .

“So, what will you have?”.

“Any recommendations?”.

“Today we have a chicken soup and freshly baked bread as a set . ”.

“I’ll take that then . ”.

“Aye . ”.

Quite brusque isn’t he…well, some women liked guys like that . And they were his main customer base . I didn’t really care

 .

I ignored the awkward looks from the other customers as I waited . The smell of the freshly baked bread started to waft over to the tables . Yes, so far so good . I loved the smell of freshly baked bread

 .

“Kept you waiting, huh?”.

 .

There is only one person who is allowed to say that . But then again, I’m pretty sure I said it at one point… More importantly, the food was here

 .

On the table was now a bowl of steaming, golden soup and freshly baked bread . And a salad . The drink was fruit water . A lemon slice and some kind of leaf floated in it . Fancy looking stuff

 .

“Thank you . ”.

“Enjoy . ”.

 .

He suddenly offered a kind smile . Imagine if that worked . Anyway, on to the food

 .

First, I tear off a piece of bread . The crust is still hot . It almost burns my fingertips as it opens and reveals its soft innards . The rich smell bursts through my nostrils . I put the torn piece into my mouth and chew, and with every bite, the natural flavor of the bread seems to increase and spread . Freshly baked bread really was the best

 .

Next, I brandish the spoon and face the bowl of soup . Its golden hue makes me think that it was filtered, but on closer inspection, chunks of meat lay at the bottom of the bowl . It was the kind of soup that tasted different once you stirred it . How fancy… First, I take a spoonful of the top layer and drink it without making any noise . I’m not sure why, but coming to places like this made me more aware of my manners . Was it the atmosphere or the food? Well, as for the taste of the soup . It was very good . The rich smell of the chicken broth spread in your mouth and reached your nose in a way that only chicken could do . If this was a cooking manga, my clothes would be bursting at the seams . I drank a few more times from the upper layer and savored it . I would stir it up later . It was time to use the salad as a palate cleanser

 .

Salad . It was just some vegetables thrown onto a plate . But sometimes there was depth in simplicity . The freshness of the vegetables, the combination with the dressing . The compatibility of the vegetables . Yes, very deep stuff . What is a salad? It was something with the power to make you consider it in philosophical terms . Well, I would leave such questions to food critics, I was just here to eat some tasty food . I grab my fork and stab it into the plate . There was a satisfying crunch, which was the proof of its freshness . It must be freshly washed as well because beautiful droplets could still be seen . Then I carry it to my mouth, careful to not spill the dressing . With every bite, the texture and fresh, green smell spreads, and the slightly sour dressing combines with the sweetness of the vegetables . There was a real danger of me eating the whole thing in seconds, so I quickly push the plate away

 .

Back to the soup . Drinking so much of the upper layer now left the lower layer quite visible . I thrust the spoon into it and stirred . Then the chunks of meat began to rise to the surface . Other little specks, like ground seeds, also danced and rose . Using ‘Jack of all Trades, Master of None’ to find the exact timing, I scoop up a spoonful . The soup with the chicken and seeds flows into my mouth . Ah, it did taste different now . What was once a clear, refined flavor had transformed into something robust and meaty . Well, women liked their meat too . I could see this being very popular . The well-cooked meat almost melted in your mouth, the seeds popped with every chew . Ahh, it was good . My clothes felt like they really would burst if I wasn’t careful

 .

“How is it?”.

 .

The good-looking guy rudely interrupted my reverie . I looked up irritability before realizing that it was him

 .

“It’s incredible . ”.

“That is good . ”.

 .

He said with a smile . d.a.m.n…he was cool… A guy who was dedicated to cooking . He seemed overly blunt at first, but clearly had a delicate touch when it came to his craft . I could learn a thing or two from that

 .

□　　　□　　　□　　　□.

 .

Ahh, I finished it in no time . The bread, soup and salad were all good . Even the fruit water had a refres.h.i.+ng taste that matched the taste of the dishes . Everything supported the others . The best kind of menu

 .

“How much do I owe you?”.

“Aye . Three silvers . ”.

“Right, here . ”.

“Thank you . Do come again . ”.

 .

There was something childishly smug about the way he laughed . I couldn’t blame others for falling for him now . A good-looking guy who could cook . Great personality . What more could you want? I’d marry him

 .

I leave the restaurant and turn around . The sign reads Tree Stump Arbour . A good place . A hole in the wall that you might only find through wandering about . I swore that I would bring Daniela here next time, as I recommenced my stroll with a satisfied stomach