Astral Online: Cursed by the Demon Lord to Become the Strongest Beautiful Girl, I Rapidly Grow and Dominate with Cheat Skills Despite Being the Weakest Profession - Chapter 229
Chapter 229: Rest is Important
“Hmm, as expected, we couldn’t meet Rasetsu after all…”
After arriving at the San Village, we split into two groups as usual to gather information for our quest.
But, as expected, Rasetsu had already departed. From the villagers, all we could learn was that she had been here and had headed toward the next village, Shi Village .
Setsuna looked like she wanted to leave immediately, but considering we’d already made two long-distance moves today, aiming for yet another village would be exhausting.
To lift everyone’s spirits, I suggested we stop at a teahouse to enjoy some *anko dango* (sweet red bean paste dumplings) and *mitarashi dango* (soy sauce-glazed dumplings). Everyone readily agreed, probably because they were tired.
We placed our orders at a wooden teahouse with a curtain draped over the entrance, just like you’d see in period dramas. Once our food was ready, we each received our dishes.
There was a Japanese-style open terrace outside, so we decided to settle down there.
While Shin and Rou started an argument about whether *anko* or *koshi-an* (smooth bean paste) was better, I quietly enjoyed my sweet dango.
Kuro and Inori quickly finished their own portions and began exploring other treats, like *kinako dango* (soybean flour dumplings) and *zunda mochi* (sweet soybean paste rice cakes).
However, when it came to the new *cucumber-flavored dango*, I could sense a madness that went beyond mere adventurousness.
As I smiled at how happy everyone seemed, my attention shifted to the corner where Setsuna sat. She hadn’t touched her cucumber-flavored dango at all.
The oni princess held a teacup in one hand, seemingly lost in thought, her gaze distant as if reminiscing about something.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out why. She was undoubtedly thinking about her younger sister, whom she still hadn’t been able to meet even once.
I thought about moving closer to comfort her with a few words, but before I could, she lowered her eyes to the teacup and murmured softly.
“This teahouse is famous. Rasetsu and I used to sneak out of the castle many times to come here, sharing our thoughts on the taste of new dango flavors.”
“…I see. So, you sisters have always been challengers, huh?”
“Fufu, yes, we have. Thinking about it now, it feels like it was just a month ago when the two of us tried dango made with bitter melon… It feels almost unreal.”
Wait, what? Bitter melon dango?
Sure, bitter melon meatballs are an actual thing, but using bitter melon in a Japanese sweet dango? That’s not just innovative—it’s borderline reckless!
“If the bitterness isn’t properly dealt with, it might as well be a bomb.”
As I pulled back slightly at the thought, Setsuna began recounting her memories with her sister, carefully recalling each moment.
“…On its own, the dango was far too bitter to be edible. But Rasetsu suggested that adding sweetness might balance it out, so we had the shopkeeper give it a try. However, it ended up being the opposite—the sweetness of the *anko* only highlighted the bitterness, turning it into a kind of spice.”
—So, in other words, it was terrible.
That thought almost slipped out of my mouth, but I barely managed to swallow it back. The serious mood of the conversation was completely overshadowed by the sheer absurdity of the story.
Yet, Setsuna’s profile remained utterly earnest. She took a sip of her tea and continued recounting the tale of the bitter melon dango with a bitter expression of her own.
“To be honest, it wasn’t good. The sweetness of the *anko* combined with the lingering bitterness that spread through your mouth with every bite. It didn’t cancel out, it clashed, creating a kind of disharmony. Rasetsu and I debated for nearly an hour whether this dango was a ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ and we eventually decided on ‘no.'”
“You two really got along well, huh?”
“Mm, I’ve never fought with Rasetsu, not once. Her skills are top-notch, but in reality, she’s a very timid child who always hid behind me…”
Suddenly, Setsuna picked up the skewer of dango beside her and took a small bite. Her brow furrowed slightly, it seemed the cucumber flavor wasn’t particularly appealing. She quickly drank her tea and let out a small sigh of relief.
“Haah… I wonder what she’s doing now. Thinking about that has been keeping me up at night lately.”
“Ah, so that’s why you kept nodding off in the carriage.”
During our travels by carriage, I’d often seen Setsuna gazing out the window, dozing off now and then.
Worrying about a loved one to the point of insomnia…
When we first met, her high-and-mighty demeanor made me unsure of how to interact with her. But hearing this story suddenly made her seem much more relatable.
As I smiled at her, Setsuna puffed out her small chest confidently and declared with determination.
“My precious little sister is suffering. How can her older sister sit idly by?”
“…I get how you feel, but at this rate, you’re going to mess up when it really matters.”
“Hmph, mind your own business. Even if I were to fight on no sleep, the Oni people are always ready for battle, weapons in hand.”
When I pointed this out, half-exasperated, Setsuna furrowed her brow and turned her face away with a huff.
It’s not just about being able to fight. With someone this stubbornly proud, how do you get them to actually listen?
As I pondered this, Shio, noticing the situation, excused herself from the group and came over. She quietly took a seat next to Setsuna, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and speaking to her in a soft, soothing voice.
“It’s perfectly understandable that you’re worried, Princess Setsuna. But if I were in Princess Rasetsu’s position, seeing my sister chasing after me, completely worn out and falling apart, would probably make me feel more pain than joy.”
“…W-why would you think that?”
“Because I know someone who’s exactly like that. A big fool who pushes themselves until they’re utterly exhausted, all for the sake of others, and then collapses in secret once everything’s resolved.”
Gee, I wonder who *that* could be…
Shio’s sharp gaze pierced through me like a knife. Caught off guard by the unexpected attack, I couldn’t muster a response and just pretended to play dumb in silence.
Shio, seeing my reaction, flashed a mischievous smile before turning back to Setsuna.
“Princess Setsuna, if the roles were reversed, and Princess Rasetsu came to save you while injured and struggling, would you truly feel happy about it?”
This time, Setsuna fell silent, her gaze dropping to the ground. Her lips pressed into a tight line, and the hand holding her tea cup trembled slightly.
Thinking about what it would feel like if their positions were reversed, she seemed to wrestle with her thoughts. After a few minutes of deep contemplation, with her brow furrowed tightly the entire time, she finally parted her lips and murmured:
“…I’d… feel happy. But… it would probably hurt a lot, too.”
“Exactly. That’s why I think showing her your strong and healthy self would be better for both you and Princess Rasetsu.”
“…Better for Rasetsu…”
Repeating Shio’s words, Setsuna looked straight at her, without averting her gaze, and said:
“…You’re right. That perspective is worth considering.”
She then finished the rest of her dango in one go, letting out a wry smile as the peculiar cucumber flavor hit her again.
That’s the boss of our party for you.
Having successfully persuaded Setsuna, Shio turned toward me with a triumphant expression. From my years of being her sibling, I could tell that look meant, “You owe me a reward for this later.” A chill ran down my spine.
With that, we wrapped up our little break and departed from San Village, deciding to return to the kingdom for the time being.
During the ride back in the carriage, Setsuna fell into a deep sleep and didn’t wake up until we reached our destination.