Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 14
“We’re going out to eat.”
“Alrighty! The door’ll still be unlocked even late at night, so don’t worry if you come back late. Just know I’ll be asleep, so it’ll be my grumpy husband greeting you.”
“Haha, got it.”
We let the innkeeper know, and headed out into the city—into the “Adventurers’ Den,” now tinged with the glow of sunset.
It seemed like adventurers returning from quests outside the city were back, because the streets were noticeably more crowded than before.
Streetlamps were already lit, and it felt like this road would stay lively even after dark.
…Well, maybe it quiets down in the dead of night. Still, it was good to know this was a world and city where we didn’t have to worry about light after sunset.
“What do you feel like eating, Melt?”
“Ugh, don’t put me on the spot like that!”
“Ah, right… Then just tell me what kind of food sounds good. Meat? Fish? Veggies?”
Not that I had any idea where what was, of course.
But maybe I could guess based on a place’s appearance or vibe?
…I really need to learn how to read.
“Hmm… maybe fish?”
“Got it. If we smell something grilling, we’ll know.”
If the city were near the sea, I bet there’d be a lot of seafood restaurants—but unfortunately, it didn’t seem coastal.
Still, if they had decent refrigeration and supply chains, maybe they could manage?
…Though if horse-drawn carts were the main transport, I probably shouldn’t get my hopes up.
Can’t magic do something about that?
“Hmm… I smell grilled fish from this direction!”
I followed Melt, who looked surprisingly at home sniffing the air like a puppy, down the street.
Adorable.
“Is it around here? Ahh, it smells so good! I wonder if it’s seafood?”
“Oh, you’ve never had sea fish before?”
“Nope. I only saw the ocean once when I was a kid, back when I could still go outside freely. I wanna visit the sea someday.”
“Yeah, I’d love to visit a coastal town.”
Looking around, I realized we’d stumbled into a cluster of restaurants. So many different smells mingled in the air that it was hard to tell which one had what.
Same for Melt. So we started checking storefronts directly.
“This one… looks like a tavern.”
“Alcohol, huh… I’ve never had any before.”
“Pretty sure you’re not allowed to drink yet, Melt.”
“Oh? Are there rules about that?”
“Well, a tavern might still have fish dishes. Oh, I see some!”
I peeked inside the tavern and saw what looked like smoked fish being served.
It looked delicious—probably not just my own instinct, but a culmination of all my characters’ knowledge and experiences chiming in.
My brain was practically analyzing: “There’s no way that beautifully smoked fish isn’t tasty. With sliced veggies on the side, it’s probably meant to balance the rich flavor.”
…I was drooling.
“Melt, let’s go here.”
“Yes! Smoked fish, yay! It’s such a pain to make, too. Alright, let’s eat!”
Let’s go! To the fantasy world tavern! A man’s dream!
“Hey, Melt, can I leave the ordering to you?”
“I can read the menu, but I don’t know what most of the dishes are… Oh! But I can read ‘Smoked Bulltrout’! It comes with veggies!”
“Perfect. Let’s get two of those… Do they have bread or anything?”
“Let’s see… Yes! Okay, I’ll order for both of us.”
There weren’t any booth seats, of course. Just rows of tables. Melt and I sat down and placed our order.
I had worried they’d give us a hard time for not ordering alcohol, but thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
“Everyone looks like they’re having fun. And they’re definitely drinking.”
“Yeah. I wonder what kind of drinks are common here? Probably ale or something.”
It probably wasn’t chilled ale, right? Japan’s the one with the whole “cold beer” culture.
…But wait. I could clearly see condensation on those frosty glass mugs across the room.
Golden liquid inside.
What the heck? Do they have refrigerators? Is that… beer?
“I am clearly over twenty. So there’s no problem here.”
“…What was that all of a sudden? Are you okay, Same?”
“I was just making an excuse to myself. Excuse me, can we get two of whatever they’re drinking over there?”
“Sure thing! Two iced ales, coming up!”
Oh wow, they didn’t even hesitate to serve Melt. I guess it’s okay to drink at this age in this world?
Or maybe she just looked mature…?
…When she’s not talking, she does seem like an older woman.
But once she opens her mouth—definitely still a kid.
“Looks like I’m allowed to drink too, huh?”
“Seems like it. Well then, let’s wait a bit for the food.”
Man, I had all these ideas about classic fantasy tavern events, but I guess I didn’t need to worry.
Still, hypothetically…
Event No. 1: “Hey, what’re you doing with a cute girl like that?” — Classic drunken thug causes trouble.
Event No. 2: “Some unrelated brawl breaks out and you get caught up in it.”
If either happens, I’m bolting out of there, no hesitation.
“What are you mumbling to yourself about?”
“Just thinking about something dumb.”
“Oh? I’m thinking about something super important—whether I should eat the fish from the belly or the back.”
“Go with the back. Trust me.”
You know, there’s apparently a saying about the tastiest parts of fish: “Umi-hara kawa-se” (Sea-belly, river-back).
Or was it different? Based on the knowledge engraved in me… was that about the cooking method!?
Sea fish are grilled from the back… river fish from the belly…? And for plating, the sea fish belly faces forward…? River fish with the back facing forward…?
Who knows! As long as it tastes good, that’s all that matters!!!!
“Forget what I just said. Eat however you like.”
“Okay, I’ll do that. You can’t really make smoked stuff in a day, and it’s mostly for preservation, so I haven’t eaten it much before.”
“Me neither.”
Still, the memories and experiences of eating it have accumulated.
Maybe these “memories of a character’s past” I keep thinking about are really based on the ideas and experiences of the game’s creators?
When I dig deeper, it almost feels like fragments of modern Earth knowledge are surfacing.
Memories of drinking with someone in a bar full of exotic atmosphere, things like that.
Come to think of it, gaining someone else’s life experience and knowledge all at once is kind of a ridiculous cheat, isn’t it?
“Thanks for waiting. Two plates of smoked blue trout with vegetables, two servings of baguette, and two iced ales.”
“It’s here! Wow! The smoked fish has such a beautiful golden color!”
“Ooh! And it’s got a generous side of vegetables too.”
The fish they brought looked like a trout, opened up flat.
It must have been smoked in that butterflied state.
“They really went all out—look, they removed the belly bones.”
“Huh, looks like you stuff the fish with vegetables or cheese and then close it up and eat it.”
“I’m already doing that. Looks so good…”
Melt had already stuffed the fish belly full with onions and cheese and was taking a big bite with her hands.
Apparently, that’s the correct way to eat it. I could see a few others around eating it the same way.
I quickly followed her lead and took a big bite.
“Mmm!? Mgh… So good…”
The smoky aroma and the raw onion flavor filled my mouth.
It seemed like a lean river fish, but the flavor of the meat was strong! It held up to the smokiness!
The bold saltiness really brought out the sweetness of the vegetables…! The salt in the cheese mixed in, making the whole thing rich and flavorful, but—
“Mgh… mgh… Puhah!”
“I’m gonna try the drink too.”
The iced ale didn’t have much carbonation or foam.
But it was nicely chilled, and the subtle grain and fruity peel-like aroma flowed through the mouth and down the throat.
I never knew how good a drink could taste with the right food…!
I’m really glad I ended up in this body…!
“So good!!! Seriously delicious! Two fish isn’t nearly enough!”
“Right!? It’s so good… Honestly, I’d say just coming to this town for this is totally worth it.”
“For real! Ahh… I’m so happy.”
Watching Melt look so genuinely happy made me feel happy too.
Now I know that the food scene here is really high quality, I’m looking forward to life here even more.
While we were savoring our time—ordering more fish, extra vegetables, cheese, baguettes, and drinks—it happened.
I sensed someone approaching our table, and a twinge of “Wait, could this really be one of those cliché events!?” stirred within me. A mix of danger awareness… and excitement?
Alright, I’ll protect Melt. She clearly stands out as a young girl in this tavern… maybe that drew attention.
Without even looking, I spoke to the person approaching us.
“Do you need something?”
My tone carried an unspoken warning: “I know you’re there.” “I’m not just some amateur.”
Let’s see how they respond…!
“Sorry, man. We’re about to close up, so I’m going around asking if anyone has a last order.”
“Oh… right. Got it. We’ll leave once we finish this.”
“Cool! Thanks for eating with such gusto!”
Ah.
That was a misunderstanding.
I’m embarrassed.
“Ahh, that was so good…! We really feasted here too. I’ve gotta earn some money now.”
“I’ll do my best too. I’ve hardly done any adventuring work before.”
“Really? Then tomorrow, should we look for jobs at the guild? Or go explore the town?”
“Hmm… I think I’ll start by looking for the Pigeon Trading Company?”
“Ah, the merchant place? Then I guess I’ll head to the guild alone and look for work?”
Splitting up, huh. Well, that might be fine too. It’s not like she’s so weak that we have to stick together 24/7, and she probably has at least some danger sense.
“You should try to take on jobs that can be done inside the city—at least until you get used to things.”
“Yeah, that makes sense. I’d feel more comfortable going outside the city with you if possible. I’ll do that. But since we’ll be visiting the merchant anyway, I’d like to do a bit of sightseeing too.”
With that settled, we began our walk back to the inn.
But apparently, my habit of attracting “troublesome thoughts” kicks in just outside the shop.
Ah… yeah, we’re definitely being followed. This time, it really feels like trouble.
“Hmm… Melt, can you run ahead and get back to the inn?”
“Yeah, someone’s coming, huh? Will you be alright?”
“Totally. Just sprint back to the inn. Watch out for alleys and side roads.”
“Got it. Good luck, Same.”
We whispered our plan, and as if it were all prearranged—
“Ah! I forgot something!”
I shouted loudly on purpose and spun around suddenly.
There they were—three figures, clearly caught off guard.
…Wait, they’re all women?
“Oh? What did you forget, mister?”
“Phew… You’ve got a cute face, just like we thought.”
“And look at that, your little friend went home. That works out just fine for us.”
…Um, wait a second. Could it be that the target wasn’t Melt… but me?
“Uh… so, you ladies wouldn’t happen to be looking for me, would you?”
“Smart boy. We had our eye on you back at the tavern. Come on, have another drink with us? That place closes too early.”
“C’mon, say yes. It’s rare to find a hottie like you around here. We’ll show you a real good time.”
So the ones following us weren’t just any drunkards—they were a group of three pretty nasty drunk women.
And apparently… I was the target.
“Sorry, but I’m going to have to decline. I’m heading back to my inn now, so if you’ll excuse me.”
I gave a firm, polite rejection. This has nothing to do with whether I find them attractive or not—these people clearly have bad intentions, and I want no part of it.
And of course—
“You don’t get to decline, sweetheart.”
They pulled out a sword and a spear. One of them slipped behind me and wrapped an arm around my waist to keep me from escaping.
See? This is the kind of people they are. In that case, I’m not holding back either.
I believe in true gender equality.
“…I’ll make sure your body learns never to try something like this again.”
I grabbed the arm around my waist, flipped her over my shoulder, and slammed her into the ground.
“Gah!”
“He can fight?!”
“Damn it, we let our guard down!”
I followed up with a stomp to the one on the ground, confirming she wasn’t getting up.
Kicking a woman? So what? I’ve got my reasons—if a woman tries something this messed up, I don’t show mercy.
“I’m going to beat all three of you within an inch of your lives. You ruined my perfectly good evening—I’ll make sure you never want to walk the streets at night again.”
There were still people around, but no one was stepping in.
Guess this kind of thing is pretty common. If so, then stick with the bystander role to the very end.
Ignore the pleas, the cries—all of it.
They’re the ones in the wrong. And whether they’re women or not, I’ll make sure they understand that—clearly.