Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 196: The Various Festival Stalls
Keeping an eye on the three of them, I led the group toward the takoyaki stall.
The one making the takoyaki was Jacob, a dragonkin chef.
To help him get used to the equipment, I’d bought and given him a takoyaki grill some time ago.
Thanks to that, he’d mastered it quickly and was now skillfully flipping the takoyaki balls one after another.
“Sato-san! …Oh, and Yato-sama! Did you come to buy some takoyaki?”
“That’s right! It smells delicious, and it’s such a funny-looking food—I had to try it!”
“Jacob, can we get three packs, please?”
“Of course! You can take some from those already done, or I can make fresh ones right now!”
“I want freshly made ones!”
“Got it! What flavor would you like?”
He wasn’t just serving the regular kind—there were also green onion sauce, ponzu with onions, and teriyaki.
A bit unusual for a festival stall, but I had taught Jacob a variety of flavors so everyone could taste all the ways takoyaki could be enjoyed.
“I’ll have the regular one!”
“Me too. It’s my first time trying this, so I’d like the basic flavor. What about you, Rose-sama?”
“…I’ll have the regular one too.”
“Then three regulars, please.”
“Three regulars! Coming right up!”
It felt a little bad asking for only the plain version after setting up all those options, but the first try should always be the classic.
I’d love to eat some too, but if I started now, I wouldn’t be able to pace myself for the rest of the stalls.
As I thought about that, I watched Jacob’s hands move.
One of the charms of takoyaki is that watching it being made is entertaining in itself.
The batter was twirled around and flipped in a rhythm that was almost hypnotic—and before we knew it, they were done.
“Alright! Here you go!”
We received three boxes and immediately started tasting them.
I’d already confirmed the recipe myself, so I was confident they’d be delicious.
“It’s delicious! And I like whatever this stuff on top is!”
“I can’t believe such a simple dish tastes this good…! The sauce is incredible.”
“…Crispy outside, soft and melty inside… delicious.”
Rose seemed to love it too—she ate with surprising enthusiasm, which made both Isabella and me smile softly.
“Hehehe, see? Aren’t you glad you came, Rose?”
“…Yeah. Thanks for inviting me.”
“No need for thanks! I’m just enjoying myself too!”
“…Heh. True.”
The atmosphere between them was warm and comfortable.
Seeing how she’d been lightly smacking Yato earlier, I realized they were probably much closer friends than I’d assumed.
Smiling at their exchange, I decided to lead them to the next stall—something sweet or maybe a game.
Since the takoyaki was Yato’s pick, this time I’d let Rose decide.
“Rose-san, would you prefer a sweet treat or a game stall next?”
“Something sweet! I’m curious about that black stick thing!”
“Yato chose last time, so it’s Rose’s turn. Rose, which stall do you want to visit?”
“…That white, fluffy one. I want to try it… maybe.”
She pointed toward the shaved ice stall, run by Helena and Moji.
The two of them were using magic in perfect sync—creating and shaving ice—and even from a distance, the bright, snow-white piles of ice stood out, naturally drawing attention.
“Then let’s go to the shaved ice stall. Is that alright with you, Yato?”
“Of course! As long as it’s sweet, I have no complaints!”
And so, our next stop was the shaved ice stand—a festival classic.
Anyone who’s ever been to a fair has probably had it at least once.
Personally, I’m not great with how it makes your head freeze, but this one was special: made with magic ice that doesn’t cause that sharp chill.
They even used wind magic to shave it finely, so it melted the instant it touched your tongue.
“Oh! Master! You came to eat some!”
“Yes. Could we get four servings, please?”
“Understood! Moji, let’s make them all at once!”
“Naah!”
Helena froze the water with magic, and Moji used wind magic to shave it into soft flakes.
Their coordination was so elegant it made you want to applaud.
“All done! Please add your favorite syrup.”
“Thank you, Helena, Moji.”
After thanking them, we moved to the syrup table.
We had strawberry, melon, lemon, blue Hawaii, and Calpis flavors prepared—
plus optional condensed milk for an extra fee.
I wanted to go with strawberry + condensed milk, but maybe lemon + Calpis this time.
“I’ll take the blue one!”
“I’ll have the green.”
“I’d like yellow and white, please.”
“You can mix two? Then I’ll add white to mine too.”
“…I’ll have red.”
Since Rose picked strawberry, I secretly added some condensed milk to hers.
Maybe I was meddling, but strawberry and condensed milk are a perfect match.
“…I got white too?”
“That white one’s a special topping. Try it—you’ll like it.”
Cautiously, Rose scooped a bit of the pink-and-white part and put it into her mouth.
The moment she tasted it, her expression—until now so neutral—brightened instantly.
“It’s sweet, cold, fluffy—amazing!”
“It really is delicious… How do you even make things taste this good here?”
“I told you Sato was amazing! —Ahaha! The blue one’s tasty too!”
As Yato exclaimed, her tongue had turned completely blue.
Rose laughed at the sight—her first visible smile today.
That little “shaved ice moment” alone made Rose’s choice an absolute success.