The Sia Familys Dining Table

And then, Momotaro, having tamed the dog, monkey, and pheasant, overthrew Ogre Village and took all of the stored treasures and magic stones it had.

Hooh that was the first time Ive heard about Urashimas underwater dungeon too, but this one about Momotaro is more exciting.

Urashimas was a bad ending with him getting eaten by the treasure mimic in the end after all.

Momotaros feels more like a battle scene. By the way, Meat was listening off to the side as well. I also got a bit into it and wound up starting to gesture as I spoke ever more magnificently.

After a while, I heard the sound of a bell ringing.

Oh, its time for dinner. Kehma-sama, lets go to the dining room.

Its already that late?

I didnt feel too hungry since I ate those meat skewers before I came here, but, well, I still feel a little hungry.

Why dont I treat my self to this Lord-samas meal? I wonder what sort of things therell be? Ill use it as reference for the inn.

I saw a long table when I entered the dining room. It looks like it could feed everyone all at the same time.

Von ODoll was already seated along with three others.

A young man, a mature woman, and an adolescent boy his family, I take it.

Oh, Kehma-dono, allow me to introduce everyone. Starting from the closest to me, youll see my eldest son, Raund, my wife, Waltz, and my second son, Gierb.

Pleased to meet you all. I am Kehma, I serve as Golen Villages village chief.

I bowed Yep, gotta keep on the face of a fiance candidate. Its time for the stress test.

A butler pulled out chairs for us when we went to sit. Mai ODoll and Meat sat obediently. I was a bit surprised, but I sat down as well.

And so the meal began.

*

The meal was more shabby than I thought itd be. The bread was white, but the vegetable soup was just salty. There was also rabbit meat that had been carefully drained of blood. And the salad was, well, a salad.

The lords meal was a lot more simple than I thought itd be.

Just, is it that the ingredients were good, or the cooking? Or maybe both? It was a simple, yet powerful taste that made full use of the ingredients.

It isnt as grand a meal as what gets served at your inn, right? Are you disappointed?

No, its a good meal that had much care go into its preparation. The flavor of the ingredients is good.

As far as Im concerned, thats the best compliment you could give it. Todays ingredients were practically all produced in Sia, after all.

When I responded honestly, Von ODolls smile deepened.

At that point, the eldest son, Raund, spoke to me.

Kehma-dono, you dont look that muscular for an adventurer. Are you a mage?

Yeah. Well, more of a rear guard. I can use a sword well enough in case anything slips by.

Oh? Is that so Id heard that you were rather brave, so I was wanting to have a bout with you.

You had probably heard something about Kuro here, not me. She may look like this, but shes the strongest of partys front line.

She really doesnt look like it. If so, thats amazing.

Raund seemed to have an interest in one on one combat. I dont know how much daily DP hed be worth, but hes probably trained himself a lot. He definitely does look to be confident in himself on that.

Once Raunds interest turned to Meat, the second son, Gierb, talked to me.

Hey, Kehma-san. How do you hunt Iron Golems? Swords cant cut through them since theyre made of iron, right?

You can aim at their exposed magic stones or attack them with magic You can even just bash them with a hammer. Well, one of my C-Rank acquaintances uses a hammer.

Magic, huh Kehma-san, what kind of magic can you use?

I can use a few kinds of magic to help from the rear. Any more than that is my secret as an adventurer. Exposing my hand recklessly would bring me closer to death, so forgive me on that.

Uuu, now I want to know

I take it that the second son is interested in magic? Feels like he has a chuuni atmosphere. No, magic is commonplace in this world, so I guess its not really like that? Probably closer to how programmers are considered in Japan, then? In the brain power meaning, that is.

When I said that it would bring me closer to death, it made it so that Gierb wouldnt be able to ask me about it any further. Next was the lords wifes, Waltzs, turn.

Kehma-san, I hear that you are skilled in trade and village management? I would like to hear about how youve been developing that village.

No, not at all, I am a complete amateur. There are talented merchants gathered in the village, so I left all of the business to them. Its the same with the villages development, Iron Golems just happened to start appearing in the dungeon. None of that was due to me.

How modest of you.

Its the truth.

Finished in dealing with the lords wife, next was Mai ODoll.

Kehma-sama, you found lots of rare things in the dungeon, right?

Yeah, I was lucky.

Whats the most unusual thing youve found?

Hmm right, the most unusual thing Ive found recently came from a treasure chest. Theyre Golems I think?

From a treasure chest? Are they like a mimic?

Theyre more like submonsters. If you give them magical power, they follows you around like a pet. Theyre even pretty smart. I have them working at the inn nowadays.

Working Golems!? Thats amazing!

Our conversation continued like that for a while until we finally finished eating I wanted to hurry up and return to my room with Meat.

Then, when we were drinking tea after the dinner.

Oh right, I heard that Kehma-san received words of compliment from the White Goddess?

Waltz spoke to me. Huh? Oh Miss Wife, could you run that by me again?

The White Goddess?

Ahem! Right, Im told that Kehma-donos inn has an onsen? The White Goddess seems to like it a lot.

Yeah, she does. It sounds like Kehma-dono has a wonderful inn.

Von ODoll very artificially cleared his throat. Yeah, so thats it? He wants to make a connection with Haku-san?

Now that I re-think it all, he was being very coercive against a mere village chief. Id chalked it up to what a noble would do when facing a commoner, but if thats the reason, I get it now.

He offered information on the Godly Pillow not for the betrothal, but for gaining a connection to Haku-san?

More importantly, Kehma-dono, you talked to Mai, right? Shes a good child, isnt she?

Yeah, shes more than someone like me would deserve. Dont you think that the engagement between her and someone like me would damage your reputation?

Oh? Being engaged with Kehma-sama wouldnt be a bad thing at all. We want to know about Kehma-sama, too. Right, Otou-sama?

Right. Its a good thing, even.

Eh, is it better for this worlds nobles to have more engagements then? Or maybe it helps build up their resistance? Or maybe theres like an engagement point card? Like get 1 point when you break up?

So Kehma-dono, you dont dislike Mai right? In that case, how about staying two or three more days to get to know each other some more?

I have work to do, so I need to return tomorrow.

In that case, could Mai go to Golen Village with you?

Dont kid around. Wouldnt I have to come back, then?

I caved, reluctantly.

Alright, Ill stay for one day but Ill have to issue some orders for work, theyll need be delivered quickly.

Well send a messenger, you can even give us a letter to send.

Ill get to writing it now, then. Excuse me.

Mm.

I took Meat, who was starting to doze off, and left my seat.

Now then, what should I write?