Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 336: Those Two Are Crazy…
　Tauro and his companions reported the discarded food they had found – and their conclusion that it was causing the Flaming Crab outbreak – to the Adventurers’ Guild.
“What!?” Armine exclaimed.
　Her voice drew the attention of the other adventurers, and she immediately lowered it.
“I’m sorry… Is that really true?”
“Yes. We noticed someone behaving suspiciously the previous evening. When we examined the place today, we found a feeding site. It appears somebody intentionally caused the Flaming Crabs to multiply.”
“I understand. I need to report this to my superiors at once…”
　Before Armine could leave, a black-haired man with a mustache approached. Judging from his demeanor, he was one of the branch’s senior officials.
“What’s the matter, Armine?”
“Deputy Branch Manager! I was just coming to report this.”
　Armine repeated everything Tauro had told her.
“What!? And this happens while the branch manager is away… Very well. I’ll inform the mayor directly. Once he learns that someone is deliberately sustaining the outbreak, he’ll have no excuse not to deploy the territorial soldiers.”
　The deputy branch manager prepared to leave and hurried from the guild.
“I hope that finally leads to a solution,” Tauro said. “Until it does, we’ll return tomorrow and keep reducing the Flaming Crabs.”
“After fighting the same monsters every day, I’m beginning to crave almost any other quest,” Ankh grumbled.
“I knew you’d eventually complain, so I prepared something special.”
“Something special?” Ankh and Ragune asked together.
“Here it is.”
　Tauro reached into [Magic Storage] and produced the carcass of a Flaming Crab.
“Leader, don’t show me something I’m already sick of seeing,” Ankh protested. “I noticed you collecting them, but I assumed you only wanted the magic stones and proof of subjugation. Why did you keep the whole bodies?”
“Ankh is right. What are you planning to do with so many of them?” Ragune asked, prodding the child-sized crab with her spear.
“Heh heh heh… I’m going to silence both of you complainers.”
　Tauro spoke with ominous satisfaction, returned the carcass to [Magic Storage], and led them back to the inn.
　That evening, he disappeared into the inn’s kitchen with the cook.
“Tauro, what are you doing in there?” Ragune called.
“Just wait a little longer. It’ll be ready soon!”
“Could he really be…?” Ankh and Ragune whispered together.
　They reached the same unwelcome conclusion.
　Tauro was cooking the Flaming Crabs.
　After days of fighting the creatures until they were sick of the sight of them, neither Ragune nor Ankh could imagine that the meat would be appetizing. They exchanged looks of profound disgust.
“What do we do, Ragune?” Ankh asked.
“What can we do now…?”
　As they resigned themselves to their fate, the inn’s cook emerged from the kitchen, smiling broadly and praising Tauro’s ideas. Tauro followed with an equally delighted expression.
　A female employee came behind them carrying a large tray laden with food.
“Those two are smiling after discussing what Flaming Crabs taste like…” Ragune whispered, her face paling. “Those two are crazy…”
“Kill me now,” Ankh muttered, his expression twitching in perfect agreement.
“Please enjoy the crab dishes I prepared for you!”
　Tauro confidently arranged the plates before them.
“Crab sashimi, grilled crab, crab rice, crab tempura, and crab soup.”
　Faced with an entire table of crab, Ragune and Ankh imagined the end of their lives.
“L-Leader, this definitely won’t make us ill, will it?” Ankh asked.
“Of course not. Wait… Do both of you think I’m trying to feed you something dangerous?”
“Yes,” they answered immediately.
“It’s perfectly safe! Crab dishes are expensive delicacies. It’s been a very long time since I last ate them, so I became excited.”
　Tauro’s cheerful smile somehow made them even more afraid. Nevertheless, neither he nor the cook would be satisfied until they tasted the food.
　The crab sashimi sat closest to them, but both avoided it. Raw monster meat seemed certain to upset their stomachs.
　Instead, they each selected a piece of grilled crab, steeled themselves, and ate it in one bite.
　…
　……
“Delicious!” they exclaimed together.
　After exchanging one stunned look, the two fell silent and began eating with complete concentration.
“Yes, yes. People always become quiet when they eat crab,” Tauro said, pleased by their reaction.
　Before long, they even tried the sashimi they had feared most. Plate after plate was refilled, and the three companions enjoyed every crab dish until they could eat no more.
　It had been a long time since Tauro last enjoyed crab, and sharing the meal with his companions made it taste even better.
　He wished Aeris could have joined them, but they’d certainly meet again. When that day came, they could share another meal together.
　Tauro chose not to dwell on her absence and enjoyed the evening before him.