Nidoume no Jinsei wo Isekai de Chapter 56

“So, I’ve been told that your reason for this visit is to go on a pleasure jaunt.” (Kurowaal)

Kurowaal who guided Renya’s party to a place similar to a lounge for the time being prepares a number of chairs, fitting the number of people, around the circular table in the room and sits down on one of them.

Rona has a plainly repulsive expression due to the liquid giving off the feeling of being slightly thick.
As Renya sits down on a stool while pondering What is she scheming?, Kurowaal offers those drinks.

“It’s a drink called Yolto (T/N: >> Youruto <<) and you mix it with a bit of honey. Since it’s good for the body, please, go ahead.” (Kurowaal)

Having it offered like this, Renya picks up his glass from the table and brings it close to his mouth.

Without minding that, Renya pours the content down his throat.
Certainly, the liquid’s substance is a bit thick was his impression, but it’s not to degree that it’s difficult to drink. It carried a little bit of sourness and sweetness, which is likely originating from the honey.

“That’s a bit unexpected.” (Kurowaal)

Kurowaal says while picking up her own glass and taking a sip from it.

“Only if it’s someone who has more alertness.”

“The elves won’t be as rude as feeding strange stuff to visitors all of a sudden, will they?” (Renya)

Renya puts his glass back on the table while harbouring the impression “It has a refreshing taste, however it’s very unlikely that it will go well together with cooking.”
Watching him and after he finally told them his impression, Shion’s group stretched out their hands towards their cups as well.

“So, I shall return to our first conversation.” (Kurowaal)

“Yea?” (Renya)

“What kind of things do you actually want to see? Though it’s something said by me who’s an elf, but there isn’t anything interesting for humans here?” (Kurowaal)

“Let’s see.” (Renya)

After thinking for a short while, Renya continues his words,

“From the start I came here out of curiosity, but if there’s unusually delicious food or if there’s stuff that can’t be seen in a human city, I’d like you to show us to those.” (Renya)

Renya didn’t ask for a guide, however since the situation is like this already, it seems we will wrap up things with little difficulty, if I ask Kurowaal to guide us around, Renya judges.

The situation doesn’t seem to rectify for her to go home by herself, Renya believed as if being almost certain.

“I don’t think that you should have too much expectations about the scenery.” (Kurowaal)

Neatly crossing her legs on top of the stool, Kurowaal answers while pondering with her look roaming through the empty air as she is holding her knees.

“As for food… since we don’t really like meat, shall I introduce you to dishes like seasoning made out of elven soya beans, I wonder?” (Kurowaal)

“It’s not like we are vegetarians, but elves basically don’t eat much meat”, Kurowaal explains.
As replacement they developed dishes and seasoning which use plants.

“I don’t think that humans are accustomed to them, but things like fermented seasoning, consisting of crushed elven soya beans and salt, or seasoning, made by wringing out elven soya beans, are delicious and I can recommend those. I believe that green elven soya beans boiled in salty water and eaten just like that are quite appetizing. Even changing it into a flour by crushing ripe beans has an ideal flavour to be used in sweets.” (Kurowaal)

“… Somehow all that you are talking about are beans though…” (Renya)

Aren’t the latter half of Kurowaal’s remarks about edamame* or roasted soybean flour? Renya wonders. (T/N: green soybeans)

If I’m able to gather miso and soy sauce here, the basic 「sashisuseso」 of cooking will become completely available and it will increase my cooking repertoire in one go.

Due to Renya sticking to her with sparkling eyes all of a sudden, Kurowaal showed a wry smile as if saying that it can’t be helped.

“It seems there are some good things around here. Can you guide us around the city while heading towards the market?” (Renya)

It was the first time for Renya to see the townscape, led around by Kurowaal, along the way to the market.

In case of humans handling trees, they either cut them, shave them or bend them in order to make them properly usable, but elves, making use of their long life spans, treat the trees as part of the whole by correcting things like the places, where they can grow, and the direction, in which they can extend, in order to have them slowly, slowly function as part of the city.

As it’s the first time for Shion to see a townscape in the elven country as well, she walks while following behind Renya with an absent-minded expression. Frau hasn’t much interest in that? She walks in a state of somehow clinging to a sleeve of Renya’s attire.

The passing-by inhabitants of the city aren’t facing Rona with such gazes.
Since that’s the case, it’s a safe bet to say that the criminals are elves which are hiding somewhere, however even with Renya using his eyes, he can’t conclude a full analysis of their numbers and location though he somehow knows that they are there.

“Hey…” (Renya)

“What is it?” (Kurowaal)

Did she somewhat guess what he wants to say? Kurowaal’s voice is stiff.
I should state it nevertheless, Renya continues,

“As far as I know, such leering is called an extremely sleazy act by humans…” (Renya)

“Did you believe that they will say “How informative”?” (Kurowaal)

While clenching her fist to the degree of it apparently making conspicuous sounds, Kurowaal says as she strives to remain calm,

“I will repeatedly apologize in regards to this matter.” (Kurowaal)

“No, well, I’m fine, but she is … can’t we do something for her?” (Renya)

“Although I’m an elf, the opponents are elves as well. Moreover, it’s very likely that their side is older.” (Kurowaal)

Frustration is mixed into Kurowaal’s voice.

“It will be difficult to find them within the forest.” (Kurowaal)

“Muu.” (Renya)

Renya groans lowly.

Moreover, as those are like gazes haunting their target stickily, Rona is definitely feeling chills and discomfort, but you can also say that it stops at only that on the other hand.

They are troublesome opponents, Renya sighs.

A market in the elven country had quite a different atmosphere than that in human country after all.

There was an array of exquisite fishes, but there wasn’t a big variety of meat.
In places where people gather it’s correct to say that there will always be stalls. If it’s a human market, the smell of roasted meat will waft through it, but the elven stalls have mostly soups and boiled dishes while roasted dishes are missing pretty much.

“This way is a store dealing in the seasoning you showed interest in, Renya-san.” (Kurowaal)

The store pointed at by Kurowaal certainly was a shop overflowing with buckets, which were filled with a light brown paste, and jars, which had a likewise light brown liquid in them.

Going by the smell and appearance there was almost no mistake, but those were soy sauce and miso Renya knew of.

As it is a different world, I can’t definitely say that something outrageous like it having a chocolate taste although it has the appearance of miso can’t happen at all.

“I’d like to sample it a bit, but is that allowed?” (Renya)

Hearing the word “sampling”, the shop clerk’s expression turns sour.

However, being the one who wants to taste it, Renya can’t strongly demand it either.

The longer it gets in contact with air, the more it deteriorates and looses its flavour. Renya understands that it’s difficult to offer it for sampling.

“Isn’t it possible to at least sample the light-brown paste over there?” (Renya)

It’s fine to say that soy sauce will have most likely the correct taste if there’s nothing wrong with the taste of the miso.

Due to the clerk showing disapproval even then, Kurowaal whispered a few words to him.

Renya, who took it, noticed that the pure white stick was something made out of some cut ends of vegetables.

Because the consistency of the food while being chewed was crisp, the juices of the vegetables spread within his mouth and blend there with the saltiness and the good taste of soy beans.

Going by the the taste, there’s mostly no mistake that this is miso.
Renya unintentionally was about to collapse due to the the dearly missed taste from his previous life, but as it’s a public place, he endures with an effort and gives his thanks to the clerk.

“Thank you. I want to buy this, but what is this seasoning called?” (Renya)

“This is miso. It’s a seasoning taught to the elves by a Lost.” (Clerk)

Renya, who was surprised that miso (in katakana) is miso (in kanji) even in a different world, gets even more astonished by the following words.

“Originally the elven beans were boiled and eaten in their green state, but the Lost, who fell on the elven continent, spread and taught us various processing methods to use the beans and the seasoning have been loved by the elves for a long time now”, the clerk explains to Renya.

“That ojou-san over there said that you are a Lost.” (Clerk)

“That’s why I allowed you to sample the seasoning”, the clerk smiled.
While being grateful for the great achievement of the pioneer, Renya begins to count how much money he has on him right now. Seeing the appearance of such Renya, Frau butts into the conversation.

“How much can you buy for one gold coin ~no?” (Frau)

“You are outsiders, right? There’s also the share of the regular customers. I’m not able to sell you too much since since they also take time to prepare, but… if it’s 3 casks of miso and 2 casks of soy sauce, I will sell them for 1 gold coin to you.” (Clerk)

A single casked had a size looking like around 10 liters would fit in, going by Renya’s estimation.

While Renya is hesitating and pondering However, an expense of 1 gold coin is a lot, Frau promptly took out one gold coin from within the pocket of her apron dress and handed it to the clerk.

“I will buy it with this ~no.” (Frau)

“Oy, Frau…” (Renya)

“Master wants to eat this ~no. Thus I will buy it without hesitation ~no.” (Frau)

“There won’t be any problems, if I increase the sale of magic gems”, Frau brags.

While storing away the casks, which were laboriously moved from the stores’ shelves, into his inventory in exchange for the gold coin, the ears of Renya, who earnestly believes Man, I’m no match, suddenly picked up the sounds of tumults occurring among the people of the city.

As it seems that the elves, who have good ears, immediately noticed it as well, everyone turns their looks uneasily in that direction and Shion and Rona, who don’t understand the situation, draw close to Renya.

“Renya, what the heck is going on?” (Shion)

“Somehow… it seems there’s an uproar over there.” (Renya)

“Those are the sounds of horse’s hooves…” (Kurowaal)

Almost at the same time as Kurowaal mutters that, Renya starts running.

Once he starts running, he immediately sees the figure of the horse who’s the culprit of the uproar.

Both of the elf’s hands, which should grasp the reins, are dangling loosely at the sides. He isn’t moving even a twitch while their body has a posture similar to hanging onto the horseback.
As if that body couldn’t stand the horse’s swaying, it slides down little by little and in the end fell off the horseback without the elf readjusting their posture.

“Renya! The elf fell!” (Shion)

Even faster than Shion’s shout, Renya steps in strongly.

The horse, which lost its rider, rushed ahead without control and in the direction of its heading stood Shion.

“Shion!?” (Renya)

You don’t say that she intends to take on the charge as it is, Renya wondered, but as expected, there’s no realistic method to do so if you consider the horse’s weight.
Shion dodges the approaching horse slightly and grabs the reins, which are swaying due to the force of the horse’s running, with her left hand. Using those, she nimbly straddled on the horseback.

“Renya, this horse is quite difficult to handle.” (Shion)

Shion, who displayed that she was easily able to hold and manipulate the reins during the rampaging state of the horse, calls out to Renya who approached her while holding the fallen elf.

“It’s covered all over in wounds. I don’t know where they have come from, but those are quite serious injuries.” (Shion)

The horse, which is able to move although having serious injuries all over, continues to shed streams of blood alongside its violent movements. Shion’s clothes have been soaked in that blood here and there, but she doesn’t look like she cares about that.

“Yea, I have a similar feeling here as well.” (Renya)

Renya, who replied, looks down on the unconscious elf in his hands.

Having a leather armour with a green jouge on top equipped, his appearance of having a quiver hanging at his waist and carrying a bow on his back made him out as archer.

The string of the bow he carried has snapped and it has lost its use.

“Oy, pull yourself together. What happened?” (Renya)

Shaking the body of the unconscious elf a bit, the elf opens his eyes, albeit dimly, once Renya calls out to him and looks up to Renya.
Moving the cracked lips just a bit, he leaked a hoarse voice.

“To the government… contact…”

Is his consciousness in disorder or hasn’t his field of vision settled?
The elf, who is carried by Renya, doesn’t seem to realize that the other party is a human.

“Wait, don’t talk after all. It will shorten your life. Since there’s a priest who can cast healing magic, first comes the treatment…” (Renya)

“Please… the eastern defence fortress has fallen…”

Doesn’t he hear Renya’s words anymore? The elf didn’t stop talking.
Clinging to him as if he wants to pierce his nails partly into the arms of Renya, who is holding his body, he musters his strength and continues to speak words.

“The Forest Labyrinth… has… overflown!”

Stating that, the eyes of the elf become empty.
Losing strength from the arms which clung onto Renya, he feebly hangs his head. Renya had no other choice but simply watch it happen.

Chapter end