Chapter 27: The Mackerel Set Meal and the Assassin
Morning.
I woke up with the sunrise, did radio calisthenics together with the village chief and the other elderly men of the village, then immediately began preparing breakfast.
There was something strangely peaceful about it—an ordinary routine in an extraordinary world.
“Alright. Today’s breakfast is a mackerel set meal.”
I sprinkled salt over the mackerel fillets I had ordered through the online shop and waited about ten minutes. Once the moisture had drawn out, I carefully wiped it off with paper towels.
This step tightens the flesh, preventing it from falling apart while cooking.
Next, I made shallow diagonal cuts at even intervals and placed the fillets skin-side up on the preheated grill.
Ah, right.
“Can’t forget the grated daikon.”
I grated the radish, squeezed it lightly in my hands to remove excess water, and placed it over the freshly grilled mackerel.
Done.
A simple, perfect Japanese breakfast.
Just then—
From the rooms came the sound of sleepy footsteps.
Raphiel, rubbing her eyes, and Mikaela with her hair all messed up, wandered into the living room.
“Good morning, Raphiel. Mikaela.”
“Good morning… Eight…”
“Morning! Slept great!”
“Breakfast is ready, so please wash your faces first.”
““Okay~””
A little later, the Holy Knights began emerging one by one.
The moment they saw the mackerel set meal, their eyes lit up.
“The flesh is so fluffy… and the skin is perfectly crisp.”
“The fat content is just right.”
“This ‘grated daikon’ thing makes it refreshingly delicious!”
It seemed to be a great success.
Meanwhile—
“Ugh… Rafi-chan, how are you using those two thin sticks so well…”
“I am simply highly skilled. I mastered chopsticks in three days. I can now be considered an honorary Japanese citizen.”
Raphiel nodded proudly while holding her chopsticks with perfect precision.
Her expression didn’t change, but somehow her smugness was clearly visible.
After breakfast ended—
“We’re heading back to the royal capital for now. See you, Rafi-chan.”
“Would you not stay a little longer?”
“Eight, that was supposed to be my line…”
“Well… it’s really comfortable here, but if we stay too long, I feel like we’ll never leave.”
Mikaela shrugged, glancing at her escort knights.
The Holy Knights all looked completely drained.
“The hot springs… were amazing…”
“The fluffy beds…”
“The warm food…”
Their eyes were hollow, as if their souls had already begun settling into village life.
It was understandable. The distance between Papel Village and the royal capital was considerable.
Before leaving, Mikaela turned back to us.
“Oh, right. I have something to tell you two.”
“What is it?”
“Yeah, it might be a bit bad… but there’s a pretty dangerous organization that might be targeting Rafi-chan.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. This is supposed to be confidential since Rafi-chan hasn’t completed the First Trial yet… but lean in closer.”
She whispered into our ears.
Her warm breath brushed against my skin, making me flinch slightly.
It was strangely ticklish.
“There’s apparently a cult trying to resurrect something sealed deep beneath the royal capital. And they’re planning to assassinate Saintesses.”
“I see. So assassination attempts, huh. Very well. I shall accept the challenge.”
“Rafi-chan seems like she can handle herself, but you should be careful too, Eight.”
“Well… even if you tell me that…”
Right now, we had Hinoka at home. So we should be fine.
Probably. Hopefully. Most likely.
“Alright, bye!! Rafi-chan!!”
And just like that, Mikaela departed from Papel Village.
Raphiel watched her go with a slightly lonely expression… before turning back to me.
“Eight, what is lunch?”
“That’s my Raphiel.”
Just then—
“Hey, Eight-niichan!!”
“Hmm? Luka, what’s up?”
“A merchant came to the village right after that pink-haired saint lady left!!”
A traveling merchant in Papel Village was rare.
I let Luka pull me along toward the village square.
Something was going on.
Meanwhile
The man’s name was Zald.
He was one of the top five elite assassins in a long-established guild within the Kingdom of Elde.
“Senior Zald, the intel was correct. The Saintess Raphiel is living in this village.”
“I see. So the information checks out.”
“Shall we strike?”
“Idiot!!”
Zald swung at his junior, who easily dodged.
“We’ll operate as a traveling merchant for now. Gather information. Then carefully plan the assassination.”
“Do we really need to be that careful? Why not just wipe out the villagers first—”
“Idiot!!”
This time, Zald actually landed a slap.
“Listen. I only kill targets I personally dislike. Everything else stays alive. That’s what a professional is.”
“Isn’t that kind of wrong? Shouldn’t professionals kill whoever the target is, even women and children?”
“Young people these days… unbelievable. A true assassin must have pride in their craft.”
“And that’s why you’re the top assassin with no jobs coming in…”
At that moment, an elderly man approached them.
The village chief of Papel Village.
“Welcome, traveler!! I am this village’s chief!!”
“Ah, a pleasure. I am Zald, a traveling merchant. Let us have a fruitful trade today.”
“Indeed!!”
They shook hands firmly.
For a brief moment, Zald’s expression stiffened.
“…Something wrong?”
“No, nothing at all. More importantly—do you need farming tools? We have steel sickles and hoes.”
“That would be wonderful! However, I must say…”
“We accept crops as trade goods. That will be sufficient.”
“Wonderful!!”
The negotiation proceeded smoothly.
While villagers carried the purchased tools to the storage shed, the junior assassin sneered.
“Hah… they all look weak.”
“You still don’t see it?”
“Huh? See what?”
“…No, never mind. I only noticed after shaking hands.”
Zald was a veteran assassin.
An elite among elites.
A man who had killed over a thousand people.
And that was precisely why he noticed it.
A cold realization crawled down his spine.
(…Danger. Danger. Danger. Danger. Danger. Danger. Danger. Danger. Danger.)
That village chief—
Was absurdly stronger than him.
Beyond comparison.
A gap so vast it defied logic.
“…We’re aborting this job.”
“Huh? But we already took the advance payment.”
“We’ll refund everything. I can’t handle that monster.”
Just then, the village chief returned—with a young man.
“Traveler!! Please, join us for lunch at Eight’s house!!”
“““Eh?”””
Zald, his junior, and Eight’s voice overlapped perfectly.