Chapter 473: Yakumo Ran's Favorite, and a Crashing Guest
Yakumo Ran was in a splendid mood, a grin stretched so wide it seemed to reach from one fox ear to the other. She had secretly decided to make this day an anniversary, a rare and precious occasion she wouldn't have dared to dream of before.
After a few bites of the savory Dong'an Chicken and a sip of the fragrant peach blossom wine, her spirits soared. The entire fox was practically humming with delight as she ate. Across the table, Yuuka Kazami watched her with a favorable expression; then again, her impression of almost everyone was better than her impression of Yakumo Yukari.
Seeing Ran eat with such unadulterated joy, Yuuka offered a small, knowing smile but said nothing. Yakumo Yukari, catching her glance, knew exactly what the flower youkai was thinking. Even she had to admit that Ran sometimes worked herself far too hard.
But Ran herself wasn't burdened by such thoughts. Overthinking things while eating was simply unnatural. The purpose of a meal was to eat.
Still, to prove she was a devoted shikigami, after sampling a bit of everything, Ran turned her full attention to her absolute favorite: fried tofu. As much as she enjoyed meat, nothing could compare to the simple perfection of fried tofu.
It was a humble snack, nothing more than tofu cut into pieces and fried. But tofu itself was a delicacy. Eaten plain, it possessed a unique, subtle aroma; frying it only elevated that quality. The word 'oil'often brought to mind'greasy'and'fragrant', while 'tofu'suggested'tender'and'fresh'. It was the fresh, delicate essence of the tofu that masterfully cut through any potential greasiness, leaving behind only a crisp golden skin and the rich scent of the oil.
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and suffused with a pleasant aroma. The first bite produced a soft crackle, a sound audible only to oneself, followed by the rush of that fresh, silken interior. This was the charm of fried tofu.
Of course, its popularity as a snack wasn't solely due to its texture. Tofu was a canvas. While undeniably delicious on its own, its flavor was mild, almost bland, allowing any other taste to easily take center stage.
And that was the entire point of dipping sauces.
Yakumo Ran picked up a glistening piece of fried tofu, her gaze sweeping over the small dishes of sauce arranged before her. After a moment of hesitation, she dipped it into a mound of reddish-brown barbecue powder. The moment it touched her tongue, she was reminded exactly why she loved this dish more than any other.
"Mmm! So delicious! Alright, next up is... hmm... what is this transparent sauce? And what are these little specks floating inside?"
Though her curiosity was piqued, she didn't hesitate. She picked up another piece of tofu, dipped it into the clear liquid, and brought it close to her nose for a sniff. Her eyes lit up. It was an incredibly fragrant aroma, but one she couldn't identify.
"So... so fragrant! What kind of dipping sauce is this!"
The nine fluffy tails behind her back began to wag back and forth in a hypnotic rhythm. She felt like she had just discovered a hidden treasure.
Ran turned her head toward Ren, who was quietly reading a book nearby. "Shopkeeper Ren!" she called out politely.
"Hm? Is something wrong?" he asked, looking up.
"Um... I was just wondering what this transparent sauce is. It smells amazing, and it tastes sweet and sour!"
"That's an herb salad dressing," Ren explained. "It's made with a lot of different spices. There should be a bit of a spicy kick to it as well."
"Eh? Oh! I didn't notice it at first, but you're right! It is a little spicy!"
Ren smiled. "That's a way of eating it that very few people know about. Some of those other sauces are quite interesting to try, too."
"Ooh? I can't wait!"
Her eyes sparkling with anticipation, Ran looked back at the array of dipping sauces. She made a new resolution: before Lady Yukari noticed and started her teasing, she would try every single strange sauce she had never seen before.
"Mmm... this one is a meat sauce! So savory!"
"Hmm? Sweet, but this sensation is... Shopkeeper Ren!"
"Oh... that's yellow mustard... Mmm! This one has rosemary and... some other spices I don't know!"
"Mmm... and this is... roasted salt!"
Just as Yakumo Ran, the intrepid adventurer, was deep in her exploration of fried tofu flavors, Yakumo Yukari finally took notice of the anomaly. A mischievous smile spread across her face. Ran felt a sudden chill, her gaze shifting nervously to the side. The next moment, her heart sank.
'Oh no...'
Just as Yukari was about to reach out with one of her sinful little hands to snatch a piece, Ran froze. Yukari froze. Even Yuuka Kazami froze.
With a loud bang, the shop's door burst open on its own. A brilliant white light flooded the entrance, but no one stepped through.
Ren let out a weary sigh. "Just as I thought. Another ridiculous day. Lucifer, how many times has the door lit up now?"
"I've lost count," the voice from the ceiling replied. "It's been flashing all evening, but this is the first time it's actually opened for someone besides Lady Yuuka's group. I wonder who it could be? This night is certainly shaping up to be a strange one."
Meanwhile, in the world of pirates, Nami was on the verge of passing out. She had been flying for what felt like an eternity. Thanks to the lingering effects of some protective magic, she had only sustained minor injuries, but the sheer exhaustion was overwhelming. She had been floating for so long that hunger and fatigue were blurring her senses, pulling her toward sleep.
Just as her eyes were about to close, she saw it—a pinprick of light in the distance. The sight shocked her back to full alertness. She realized it was nighttime wherever she was headed, which filled her with a surge of relief and excitement.
She had already made up her mind. The moment she landed, she would find a door and get to the shop. She was so tired, so hungry... but at the shop, she knew there would be a way to fix things. She had also figured out that the giant bear-man hadn't intended to kill them.
'Great! This way, I can get to the shop!''Good! Getting closer and closer! It's a house! I'm finally there! Excellent!''Eh? Wait... wait! No... no! I'm going to crash! I'm going to crash!'
"Hey, the old man up ahead! Don't close that door! Please, don't close the door!"
An old man walking out of a tower saw the orange-haired girl hurtling toward him like a meteor and scrambled out of the way in a panic. Nami breathed a sigh of relief. As she shot past him and neared the doorway, she focused all her will and shouted, "I want to go to the shop!"
She had been thinking about nothing but the shop for the entire journey. As if in response, the doorframe before her began to glow with a familiar white light. Nami's heart leaped. The next moment, she flew straight through the portal, leaving behind a bewildered old man staring at where she had vanished. He cautiously approached to check, but the door had already returned to its normal, mundane state.
The old man stared into the empty room, his voice trembling with disbelief. "What was that?! A miracle! It was a miracle!"
Back in the shop, Ren paused for a fraction of a second before standing up and walking toward the glowing entrance. Then, to everyone's astonishment, a girl came flying through. With practiced ease, Ren caught her firmly, not taking a single step back from the force of her momentum.
Nami's eyes fluttered open. She glanced up at Ren, and a wave of deep relief washed over her. "Shopkeeper Ren..." she whispered, her voice raspy. "I... I made it..."
Having delivered her message, she finally succumbed to her exhaustion and fainted.
Ren, holding the unconscious girl, looked down with a thoroughly confused expression. "What in the world? Weren't you just sleeping a moment ago? And what's with the last-words routine? You've got a flair for the dramatic, kid."
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