Volume 2, Chapter 24 – The Noisy Tavern

Time quickly passed until noon. Mary’s recovery was much faster than expected. Although she displayed the subservience typical of a slave in many ways, she had no trouble communicating with others.

Now, the three of them were sitting at a table on the first floor, enjoying lunch.

As usual, due to the lack of seasonings, the dishes were rather bland. Although Yisi had made some improvements to the cooking to suit the conditions of this world, and Camilla found it delicious, Yisi herself—who had tasted far better food—thought her own cooking was too ordinary.

Of course, both Camilla and Yisi were already accustomed to these meals. They often chatted about the past while eating. But for Mary, the new member, this scene was something she had only ever watched from afar.

Picking up her bowl and chopsticks, Yisi tilted her head.

“What’s wrong? Let me say this first—there’s no rule here that slaves aren’t allowed to eat at the table. Mary can think of me as her older sister, no problem.”

“Is that… okay?”

As she spoke, Mary glanced at Camilla, likely mistaking her for a servant since Camilla usually referred to Yisi as “elder sister.” Yisi set down her chopsticks and used a joking tone to ease Mary’s nervousness.

“Camilla is my sworn sister, not a slave. Even though she calls me ‘elder sister,’ age-wise, I should actually be calling her sister. Speaking of which, Mary is older than me—should I be calling you sister instead?”

“W-w-what?! How could I possibly let you call me sister? That’s far too inappropriate!”

Mary seemed extremely flustered, stumbling over her words as if she had bitten her tongue.

“Well, Mary can just sit at the table and eat like the rest of us. Think of this place as your home.”

Thanks to Yisi’s joke, Mary timidly picked up a piece of bread. Considering that Mary likely had never used a knife and fork, Yisi had prepared food cut into large chunks that could be easily eaten by hand.

First, Mary took a big bite of the bread as if afraid it might escape, then grabbed a golden-brown fried chicken wing with her other hand and stuffed it into her mouth. After chewing a few times, without warning, tears began streaming down her cheeks, dripping onto the white plate below.

Yisi, who had been watching Mary closely, quickly asked,

“Did you burn yourself? Or does it not taste good?”

Mary shook her head slightly in response to Yisi’s question, her sobs growing more noticeable.

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This is really confusing.

If Yisi were to make a list of things she was afraid of, a girl’s tears would definitely rank near the top.

Fortunately, Mary didn’t remain silent for long.

“I… I’ve never eaten such a lavish meal before…”

“Don’t cry over something like this.”

“Slaves rarely get proper food,” Camilla explained on Mary’s behalf. “Back in the vampire clans, I once saw two slaves fight over dinner.”

“Is that so… As long as Mary stays at this tavern, she’ll be able to eat like this every day. And if she wants, she can even cook whatever she likes in the future.”

Yisi took out a handkerchief from storage and reached across the table to wipe the tears from Mary’s face.

“By the way, before that noble named Wells abandoned you, what were you usually doing?”

Despite having been crying just moments ago, Mary now acted as if nothing had happened. The only thing that remained unchanged was the speed at which she ate.

“I did a little of everything—housework, cooking, taking care of pets, and fighting.”

“Hey, don’t talk with your mouth full. That’s basic manners.”

Camilla reminded her sharply.

“S-sorry…”

Mary apologized with an ingratiating smile. The reflexive nature of her reaction made even Camilla frown in displeasure—not because she disliked Mary, but because she despised the environment that had conditioned Mary to behave this way.

In a voice so quiet it was almost inaudible, Camilla muttered to herself,

“Such an unpleasant expression…”

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“Sorry…”

Another apology.

Yisi sighed.

“Mary, do you have anything to say besides apologies? I told you, you can treat this place like your home.”

“…I’ve never had the feeling of being ‘at home’ before… Sorr—”

Mary cut herself off mid-apology, replacing it with an awkward smile. The habit of constant apologies was already ingrained in her memory.

Yisi waved her hand and shot Camilla a look that said, Don’t push her too hard.

“Sigh… Let’s leave it at that for now. Also, starting from dinner, Mary won’t be allowed to eat with her hands anymore.” Seeing the look of “I knew it would come to this” on Mary’s face, Yisi added with a wry smile, “I’ll teach you how to use chopsticks.”

“Chopsticks?”

“These things.”

Yisi waved her utensils. As of now, she was the only person in this world who used chopsticks—Camilla still used a knife and fork. Since she finally had a chance to spread their usage, she wasn’t about to let it slip by.

◇

After the emotionally moving lunch, Yisi came up with a new idea for distilled liquor. First, she stored the distilled liquor from the kitchen in her inventory, then walked to the front hall. Leaning her upper body against the counter, she called out to Camilla, who was cleaning behind it.

“Camilla, I want to go out for a bit—to have people with experience taste the distilled liquor, Margaret. If we can get their approval, advertising won’t be a problem.”

“Let me accompany you, Onee-sama.”

“No need. I’d feel uneasy leaving Mary alone at home.”

“She’s already of age.”

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Camilla stated the fact expressionlessly.

Yisi hesitated. Though it was true, as Camilla said, that Mary had already reached this world’s age of adulthood (fifteen), her appearance was so undeniably childlike that Yisi couldn’t help but see her as someone who needed looking after.

Just then, Yisi noticed Mary coming down the stairs carrying a wooden bucket.

Perhaps unused to wearing a dress, Mary kept one hand firmly pressing down her skirt as she descended. According to her, the dress felt too light and airy, and even though she was wearing opaque white leggings underneath, it still felt awkward.

“In that case, Mary can come with me. I remember her saying she’s worked as a bodyguard before. And as a Fallen who can wield any weapon she picks up, her combat skills shouldn’t be weak.”

“Huh?”

Caught off guard by Yisi calling her name, Mary let out a cute sound of surprise—then promptly lost her footing and fell to the ground, spilling the water from the bucket everywhere. Fortunately, she had only been on the last step, so the fall was no worse than tripping on flat ground. Otherwise, she would’ve needed healing magic again.

“Oww…”

“Are you okay?”

Mary rubbed her head as she got up. Aside from some dust on her pink-and-white dress, she didn’t seem hurt. But more than her own injuries, Mary was clearly more interested in what Yisi had said earlier.

“I’m fine, Master. But suddenly asking me to be a bodyguard… Wouldn’t Camilla be more suitable? When Camilla stares at me, it feels like being a snake’s prey… I can’t move at all. Only really strong people have that kind of presence…”

Camilla turned her gaze to Yisi, her eyes saying, See? Even Mary agrees.

“If I take Camilla, Mary will have to stay home alone. Is that really okay?”

“Absolutely no problem! I’ll take over Camilla’s work too!”

Mary picked up the cloth and replied cheerfully, her face bright and unclouded.

She’s such an optimistic person.

But that was Mary’s perspective. Yisi couldn’t bring herself to leave what was essentially a child home alone—she’d just spend the whole time worrying.

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Yisi held out her hand.

“No. There might be people delivering furniture later, and it’d be bad if no one was here to handle it. So Mary will come with me, and Camilla will stay home. If there’s anything you want, Camilla, I can bring it back for you. No—next time, let’s go out together, just the two of us.”

Though saying it this way felt a bit like excluding Mary, if she didn’t show Camilla some extra attention, Yisi was afraid Mary might end up tied up and thrown into a river one night.

“I-if Onee-sama says so… fine.” Camilla blushed and agreed hesitantly, then turned to Mary, her tone turning stern. “Protect Onee-sama properly. If she gets hurt, I’ll strip you naked and throw you into the street.”

Mary shrank back in fear.

“A-as long as you don’t take away dinner…”

Her half-hearted resistance made Camilla rap her knuckles against the counter.

“Then you’ll have to watch us eat for an entire day.”

Yisi felt a headache coming on and quickly intervened.

“Camilla, Mary’s still a child.”

“She’s fifteen.”

“Sigh… Fine. Mary and I are heading out now. We’ll be back before sunset. If anyone comes to deliver furniture before then, Camilla, just give them my name. I’m counting on you.”

Waving at Camilla, Yisi left the tavern with Mary.

“Yes, Onee-sama.”

For some reason, Yisi felt like she saw a competitive fire burning in Camilla’s eyes. Though she understood the sentiment, directing it at someone as childlike as Mary felt excessively harsh.

Being liked isn’t always a good thing, huh?