AIWON Mall Isekai Store, Grand Opening Today! - Chapter 65
Episode 7-5
“Barbera, that dish requires some preparation, so today we’re having beef stew.”
“…Understood. I’ll wait.”
“Oh, this is ‘biif sutiw’! It has a deep flavor and a melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness! I just heard it from Barbera that it makes you feel energetic!”
“Hehe, it has a wonderful aroma. Oh, thank you, Anna.”
Barbera’s parents were asked to go to Barbera’s living space on the rooftop.
As they passed through the interior of the Aion Mall isekai store, they were surprised by its unfamiliar construction, shining everywhere.
I handed a deep dish of beef stew to Barbera’s father. After Anna-san handed beef stew to Barbera’s mother, she bowed deeply.
“I apologize for the delay in expressing my gratitude. With Barbera’s help, the cure for the Red Death Disease was completed. Recently, we were able to cure someone who had contracted the Red Death Disease.”
Anna-san seemed to have wanted to say that and had come up to the rooftop together.
“Thank you so much for allowing Barbera-chan to live here.”
“Well! Congratulations, Anna, you’ve achieved your long-cherished dream! Amazing, Barbera!”
“Oh, well done, Barbera! Our daughter is truly something!”
“…Anna. Impressive.”
Barbera probably wanted to say that Anna-san did her best. Still, she proudly puffed out her chest. With her parents close by, she was being affectionately patted on the head, and her cheeks were loosening into a smile.
“That’s why I told you, right? ‘Send your cute daughter on a journey.’ Barbera-chan is doing splendidly on her own.”
“Mmm, but Barbera, if it ever gets tough, you can always come back to us, okay? You can come see me, okay?”
“…Work is enjoyable.”
In any world and with any species, it seems fathers are sweet to their daughters. But when quitting, it’s preferred to give at least two weeks’ notice, preferably a month. It would be tough if another one left now. Well, not that it matters much. For now, Barbera seems fine, saying that she’s enjoying it.
“…My beef stew?”
“Oh, Barbera, can you come down for a moment? I’d like you to help with the preparation of that particular dish.”
“I’m sorry, may I borrow Barbera for a moment?”
“Mhmm.”
“Well, you see, Anna, Barbera is working. Please bear with it.”
“…I’ll be back.”
Barbera stood up. It might be disrupting the family gathering, but we couldn’t prepare dragon steak and dragon tail soup where they could see. Barbera’s parents might not mind, but who knows.
I walked behind Barbera, holding hands with Anna-san, as we left the rooftop parking lot.
“What is this?! This ‘biif stiw’ thing! It looks like muddy water, but it’s so good, unbelievably good!”
“Oh, really. Barbera-chan wasn’t just boasting. I’ve lived for over a thousand years, and this is the most delicious dish I’ve ever had. Humans are amazing.”
I heard such voices from behind. It seems that Barbera’s parents also enjoyed the beef stew.
By the way, living for over a thousand years despite looking in their late twenties. The sense of time is messed up. Otherworlds are something else.
There are many places not visible from the rooftop of the Aion Mall isekai store. Barbera, transformed into a dragon on the first floor, let out a subdued roar.
Barbera’s tail, which hadn’t fully healed yet, was healed by Anna’s ‘healing’ magic. Chloe, who stayed behind and didn’t return to the city, had her tail cut off by a spirit sword. Meat secured.
By the way, to avoid being noticed by the traveling merchant family staying at the Aion Lounge today, the entrance was guarded by an apron-clad skeleton. They know about the presence of undead, but I hadn’t told them that Barbera is a dragon.
With the meat prepared, Anna-san used [Heal]to heal Barbera, and she went back to her parents.
They’re probably having a family gathering on the rooftop right now.
“Naoya-san, the preparations are finished.”
“Thank you, Anna-san. And Chloe too.”
The next ‘Dragon Sale’ is scheduled for the 20th. The dragon meat for steaks is cut into blocks, and most of the meat for the tail soup is frozen.
“For now, it’s enough for Barbera and her parents, and the rest is for improving the tail soup recipe.”
“What! Naoya, that means I won’t get to eat it!”
“Chloe… Hey, Chloe, can you eat dragon steak and dragon tail soup in front of Barbera’s parents?”
“Ugh! Eating might put my life at risk! It’s the ultimate choice!”
“The ‘ultimate’ isn’t cheap……. Seriously, you might get killed. Well, you might get killed even if you don’t eat it.”
Chloe was in distress, holding her head. But at this point, it seemed too late to worry.
“We’ll just make enough for everyone and face the consequences. Besides, there’s a possibility that Barbera’s parents aren’t that strong.”
“That’s impossible, Naoya! Both of those dragons have a tremendous amount of magical power, surpassing the village elders. They’re monstrous!”
“Chloe, I don’t have a reference for comparison, so it’s hard to understand. Also, don’t call someone else’s parents ‘monstrous.’ They may be dragons, but still. Huh? Dragons are considered mythical creatures, so are they not monsters?”
I seem to be bothered by trivial matters, maybe I’m not that calm either.
“Naoya-san, indeed, dragons are kind of monsters, but… it might not be appropriate to say that about those two.”
“Anna-san? Oh, right, they were your acquaintances.”
“Yes. Barbera’s father is an Ancient Dragon called [Red Ancient Dragon].”
“Red AncientDragon!? Isn’t that a legendary dragon? I’ve heard from the elders that it’s the highest-ranking among the Red Dragon lineage!”
“Her mother is a mature Blue Dragon. A pair known as the ‘Fire King Dragon and Water Princess Dragon,’ they are even sung about in stories together…”
“Hehe, I’ve heard about that from the elders too. They warned not to anger them, as the village might be destroyed.”
Chloe sheds tears with a distant look. Hearing about the strength of Barbera’s parents made her feel that death might be closer than she thought.
“Well, from my perspective, whether it’s an ordinary dragon or a legendary dragon, I’ll just die if I antagonize them. And I might be doing something to upset them.”
“True, there’s no use panicking now… Alright! Women need courage! Elves need determination!”
“Elves like you needing determination sounds like a bad match, Chloe. It’s been a while since I heard that phrase.”
“Hah! Don’t tell me Naoya is saying things like ‘I might die tomorrow, so tonight I’ll sneak into your bed and indulge in your body!’ Kuh, kill me!”
“Let’s stop, Chloe. It’s not a joking matter right now. Come on, help out. Let’s start by cutting the dragon meat.”
With Chloe returning to her usual self, I give instructions. Anyway, Chloe, Anna-san, the apron-clad skeleton, and I continue cooking.
We’re cooking the meat of the dragon’s offspring to serve it to a legendary dragon.
Tomorrow morning, Barbera’s parents are scheduled to eat dragon steak and dragon tail soup.
For now, it seems we’ll be able to see tomorrow’s sunrise. Hopefully, there won’t be any problems afterward! Since coming to this different world, ‘death’ has been so prevalent!
What’s going on, Aion Corporation!