Magic Gems Gourmet Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Chapter 43.1: A Lot of Things

Translated by Tods

Edited by Phantom0408

Special thanks to the translation supporter: Asekhan

The trading city of Birdland, a neutral city surrounded by Hyme, Euro, and Rockdam.

Every three years, a major event was held there. It was a tournament where fierce fighters from all over the continent competed to prove their strength.

As a trading city, it was also the time for the people to earn money because the tournaments attracted a lot of partic.i.p.ants. It was also a big event with many stalls and merchants competing with each other.

And this year’s tournament had finally begun its final stage. Excitement and cheers have surrounded the venue.

There was a reason why this year’s finals were awaited so much. It was because, for the third time in a row, the finalists were the same. The two of them, with their well-built physiques, were able to pull off several moves that caught the attention of many people from all over the continent.

「Tsk!… You haven’t given up huh!?」

「You look much stronger than three years ago. I almost mistook you for someone else」

「That only sounds like sarcasm for me! Zeryaaah!」

On the one side was Hyme’s General Logas, who represented Hyme in the tournament. This was his third consecutive appearance in the finals of this tournament.

And his opponent was Ed, an elderly man who was a representative from Euro. He was the head of Amur Dukedom in Euro, and also his childhood friend and former confidant.

It was the same for them that this is the third time in a row they met at the finals, but Ed was not a finalist for three finals in a row.

It was about eighteen years ago that he had started to partic.i.p.ate in this tournament. Since then, he had been to the finals for six consecutive tournaments, and in terms of personal prowess, he was a spearman like no other on the continent.

There is no doubt that Hyme had the advantage in terms of national power, but if they had gathered the same number of troops and equipment, Euro could have won the supremacy of the continent. Ed was the man who said so.

Of course, Hyme and Rockdam have spent a great deal of money trying to recruit him. But his answer was always the same 「I am a citizen of Euro」.

「It seems like a heavy blow to take head on」

「…As usual, your spear handling is not something a normal human can replicate, huh?!」

Logas launched a series of attacks, but not a single one of them managed to get a clean hit.

Ed sometimes retreated to dodge an unstoppable attack, but he was doing so without taking any damage by distributing the force well.

「Your sword handling is much heavier than the last time we met, huh? It feels so heavy on my old body」

「Then what about taking my blow head on」

「I might get a serious injury if I were to get hit by your attacks. I’ll refrain from doing that for now… That’s why we should settle this quickly」

Ed moved near Logas’ bosom with a slow and steady movement. The audience then raised their voices, thinking that he wouldn’t be able to take advantage as a spear user.

However, that thought was soon shattered into pieces. He used his spear as the main axis and moved his body neatly while dodging and guiding Logas’ interceptions. And then, by using the handle of his spear, he managed to knock down Logas. Ed then took a step back and thrust the spear at Logas’ neck.

「The match is over! The winner is Ed from the Dukedom of Euro!」

Logas has been undefeated in a duel since he became a general. But that all changed when this old man Ed started to partic.i.p.ate in the tournament.

This old man Ed was the only one in this continent who could put his foot down on Logas.

There might be other adventurers who could do the same. However, adventurers rarely show their strength in public. Nevertheless, Logas was undoubtedly one of the strongest people on this continent.

「We had another good fight this time as well. Here you go」

Ed reached his hand towards Logas who had fallen on the ground, and then Logas grabbed his hand and got up.

He felt great frustration. However, being able to compete with such a strong man was a valuable experience for Logas, and that’s why he didn’t forget to thank Ed.

「…I’m always wondering when I’ll be able to defeat you」

「Sooner or later, you will. You are strong and still young. That’s why you still have a future」

「Well, I’m grateful to hear you say that」

After winning an unprecedented six consecutive tournaments, Ed would no longer be competing in the open after this tournament. He was no longer a young man, which was why he felt it was finally the time to move on.

「Father!」

His son, Grint, was also there to watch the fight. He was a little confused by the fact that his father had lost, which was unthinkable to Grint, but he managed to keep his spirits up.

「…Mother! Even though father had lost, but he was able to show such great prowess, and I’m so proud of you, Father!」

「Yes, Grint. My husband… Logas has truly, admirably shown his strength」

Grint and Alma were sitting in the VIP seats and have been watching Logas’ fight from the beginning.

It was the first time they had seen Ed in person, but they were simply amazed to see the absolute presence of Logas being overwhelmed by him.

However, they were never disillusioned with Logas, and his fight against the strong never ceased to fascinate them.

「Mother, I heard that that Ed guy has won six consecutive tournaments. I’ll be the one to set a new record to surpa.s.s him」

「That would be great! I’m sure your father will be waiting for that, but… what will happen if your father and Grint must fight against each other. I wonder which side your mother should support」

「Eh, Ummm…」

He might face Logas, his father here. At first, he hesitated when he heard that, but then, he smiled.

When he thought of competing against his father who is his idol in this kind of tournament it made his fighting spirits overflow from within him.

But Alma also thought that Grint might win.

Grint was born as a Holy Knight with great potential. Even without much effort, he surpa.s.sed everyone around him and continued to grow at a tremendous rate. And one more thing, he was also engaged to Shanon.

She was a lovely red-haired girl who became Grint’s fiancé after Minister Aid brought her to him. She believed that her blessing skills might help Grint to become stronger so that one day Grint could become a Heavenly Knight.

Alma can’t wait to see what the future would hold for him.

***

The room had changed into a room in a high-cla.s.s inn in the trading city. There was a Royal Family member who was restlessly waiting for a report. There was a reason why he was waiting in this room instead of going to watch the finals even though his country’s representative was partic.i.p.ating in it.

「…He still can’t find her yet!?」

「Y-Your Highness, please wait a little longer… I’m sure he’ll be here soon」

Tigre von Hyme. He was the third prince of the Hyme Kingdom and was third in line to the throne. He was currently looking for a woman, a woman that had captured her heart. That very woman was last seen in this trade city and has never been seen again.

「Why! Why!… Where did you go, Claune!」

The third prince, Tigre, was born with Holy Magic and had become a Cleric. And the woman who had captured his heart was Claune. She was the only woman he had ever wanted to marry. She had a beautiful and dainty figure, and her hair glistened in the light. She was very knowledgeable, and it was fun to talk to her. For Tigre, Claune was a woman who did not have any flaws at all.

Graff too had also disappeared after his retirement. And for that reason, he had hired many adventurers out of the government’s fund to gather information and search for them. However, the result was not very good, and there were no clues to be found. Because of that, he ended up meeting with Harley, the current head of the Augusto Family, who was currently waiting in the room with him.

「Harley! How can you be so calm!?」

「With all due respect, Your Highness. My wife, Elena, and I have been bearing our grief for a long time when we received the news that my father had disappeared, I even had considered taking my own life. It’s not that I’m giving up on all of this. However, seeing Your Highness Tigre’s strong concern for me, I feel that as a parent and a va.s.sal of Your Highness, I have to be strong and do my best to search for him」

「…Sorry. I know it was you who felt the most grief」

「I am grateful for your kind consideration」

However, Harley actually knew everything about Graff’s disappearance and has been able to trick him with his acting skills that have been cultivated in the n.o.ble’s society for many years.

But he hasn’t received any direct contact from Ishtalica yet. The only message he received from Euro in the past only stated that Graff and Claune have been allowed to stay there and are living happily.

There was no need for a country like Ishtalica to lie to him. As for Euro, this story seemed credible, because if they told a lie, their relations.h.i.+p with Ishtalica would deteriorate.

「Excuse me, Your Highness」

A knight approached Tigre who had been eagerly waiting for the report.

「You finally came! Tell me the report immediately!」

「Yes. We’ve tracked down some lodgings they used. There’s also a carriage that they may have used. We’ve finally gathered some clues!」

「That’s great to hear! Continue your search!… Finally. We finally have some clues on their whereabouts!」

It took a lot of money and time for him to be able to get to this point.

However, the fakes that Graff created were hard to crack, even for Royalty, especially here in the trading city.

「Harley. About your father and daughter… It won’t be that long before I can see Claune again!」

Tigre stubbornly believes that the two are safe. Even though there was a widespread opinion among Hyme’s n.o.bles that they have already been killed or sold as slaves.

「I’m grateful for your efforts, Your Highness. I’m sure my wife would be grateful as well… When you find them, I’m sure not only my father would be grateful to you, but Claune too」

「…If so, I’d take Claune as my wife」

「Claune too must be willing to give her heart to Your Highness, who had given her something irreplaceable」

「Hahaha! You’re right, that’s why we need to expand this search even further!」

However, something was a little off about the conversation. Even if he did find Claune, Tigre didn’t give Claune something irreplaceable at all. And while his word of ‘Your Highness’ was not a mistake, no one else knows which ‘Your Highness’ is it and where ‘Your Highness” is it.

Words can have very different meanings depending on the recipients after all.

＊＊＊

Chapter 43.2: A Lot of Things

Translated by Tods

Edited by Phantom0408

Special thanks to the translation supporter: Asekhan

＊＊＊

「So that’s why you’re here」

「Yeah, they kicked me out」

Claune was relaxing in her room in the Royal Castle of Ishtalica while Prince Tigre was looking for her on the other side.

「Haah… Of course, they’ll do that. What did you expect when you suddenly asked to keep them? It’s not like picking up a dog or a cat and asking if you can keep it, you know?」

A certain person came to Ainz’s mind when she mentioned the metaphor of picking up a dog or cat. When he simulated a cat in his mind, the image of the cat that came up was Kadyma, but there was no way he was going to tell this to anyone.

「Well, you might be right. But it’s not because they were cute, it’s just that they made me feel the need to protect them」

Ainz had brought back the Sea Dragon twins and said that he wanted to keep them. However, Sylvird replied with “You’ll be under house arrest for the time being” and then kicked him out of the room.

Ainz, who wanted someone to hear this story then asked for permission to visit Claune’s room.

「I can’t understand what are you talking about, maybe it’s because I’m not well educated enough to understand it」

「…U-umm, it’s my bad」

「Fuuh. Good grief, I wonder how you can cause so much trouble in such a short time… Well, it’s fine, why don’t you come here for the time being」

Ainz was sitting on the couch opposite her. When Claune called him over, he went straight to her side. He didn’t say it out loud, but he had made up his mind to listen to her since he had caused her so much worry.

「Oh my, you are quite straightforward, aren’t you? Ainz」

「I’m always like this though」

「Is that so? If you were always like that, I think you would have come to my room yesterday. Well, I’ll forgive you if keep it in your mind like it’s some kind of atonement」

He broke out in a cold sweat. But there’s nothing he could do about it, so he decided to do as he was told.

「Yes, come here, just like that」

「Eh? Eeeh…?」

Claune put her arms around him and put his head on her lap just like that.

「I wonder what’s this all about?」

「Doesn’t the Crown Prince know about a lap pillow?」

「Yeah I know, but I was surprised because it was so sudden」

「…W-well. I just wanted to do this, or do you hate me doing something like this」

He doesn’t hate it when Claune does something like this to him. That’s why he decided to shut up while the nice flowery scent that Claune gave off went through his nose.

「How is your arm?」

「A little better than yesterday, though I’m still not at full strength, so I’m sure I’ll have to trouble you for a while」

The light coming through the window was dazzling, but perhaps sensing this, Claune s.h.i.+fted her head a little, giving Ainz some shade. The breeze that blew through the room through the open window was pleasant and reminded him of the day that he had met Claune in the port town of Magna.

The chirping of birds flying outside reached Claune’s room, making her feel immersed in a little musical mood.

「Have you gotten some rest?」

「Yeah. I’ve got a pretty good place too」

「That’s good to know」

Claune was also very worried about Ainz. Even though she had given Olivia the night off last night, it was still fortunate for Claune that she was still able to have time to talk with Ainz.

「Hey, How did you feel when you fought the Sea Dragons?」

「…Interested?」

In response to his mischievous reply, Claune gently slapped Ainz’s cheek.

「Sorry. But in the end, the only attack I could do was as I had explained before. Well, I was desperately doing my best back then」

「Weren’t you scared?」

「It was only after I came back that I finally realized how scared I was. Even when I was dragged into the sea, the only thing on my mind was its delicious magic stone and the fact that I couldn’t breathe, but strangely I didn’t think it was scary back then」

「Ainz, you’ve become a hero by defeating the Sea Dragon. But I knew from the beginning that you had the potential to be a hero」

「I’m embarra.s.sed to hear you saying something like that」

Ainz looked embarra.s.sed by the straightforward praise.

「But even in the midst of such a battle, you can still be thinking about food. So, it must be the birth of a gluttonous hero」

「Th-that’s fine isn’t it… That’s how delicious it was」

「That’s good for you then. When I was worried about you, you were tasting the delicious Sea Dragon, weren’t you?」

「I feel guilty when you say it like that」

「But I’m sure Ainz has saved a lot of lives, and I’m proud of you because of that. But I want you to know that I was also worried about you, that’s all」

And then Claune s.h.i.+fted her head a little. It was her way of revenge, as the s.h.i.+ft let the sunlight s.h.i.+ne on Ainz’s face, making him feel a little dazzled.

「Well, about that, I’m really sorry because I went out without listening to everyone’s warnings」

「Hmm… Is that so?」

「It’s natural, I should have to think about that too」

The wind swayed the curtains and the breeze slowly reached them and s.h.i.+fted Claune’s hair. Because of it, Ainz could smell her hair’s scent.

From outside, he could hear the noise of some knights training.

He guessed that the afternoon training may have started.

「I think, you need to hold off on your training until you’ve healed」

「I’m under house arrest for two months, so it’s actually just right」

「Yes, His Majesty is really kind」

「I’m always grateful. Even for this」

While Claune looked out the window, and Ainz looked at her from where he lay.

His eyes were drawn to Claune’s well-shaped, glossy and attractive lips. And as if lured by it, Ainz moved his head a little closer.

「…Hey, be a good boy」

「…Yes yes」

Then Ainz got up and reached for his tea. His arm wasn’t fully healed yet, but he could at least manage to reach out and take his tea.

「It’s a good tea. Really, the people at the castle are doing a perfect job as usual」

As always, tea at the castle is delicious. Ainz used to not enjoy tea very much, but his taste has changed since he came to Ishtalica.

「Oh my, thank you, I’m happy to hear that」

「Eh? Why is Claune thanking me?」

「I made it myself. I learned it at the academy, they said it was for my education. I also make my own snacks when I study」

「…I’m sorry for not noticing it」

Even Ainz, who was accustomed to the tea prepared by Marche and the others, felt that the tea she made was first cla.s.s.

When Ainz said that, Claune got up and went to the window.

「The weather is good today. I can imagine the hards.h.i.+ps of His Majesty’s people to bring us such good weather」

「I-isn’t it enough already! I’m sorry it’s my bad…」

「Fufu, well then, I’ll stop for now」

Claune spoke in a good mood while looking out the window.

「Hey, Claune. Did you really mean what you said yesterday?」

「…I wonder which one is it?」

「You remember, right?」

『What if I told you that from now on you could have all of me at all times?』 (1) That was Claune’s words to him. Although she had said it to stop Ainz, he couldn’t help but wonder how serious she was about it.

「Hey… Let me tell you something good, Ainz」

「I wonder what’s that something good is」

Claune continued her words without looking back from the window as Ainz watched her back.

「Do you know, that I like you, Ainz?」

「…That’s so sudden」

Claune said that she liked Ainz so suddenly. It was all she could say with her mouth. Still, Claune stubbornly did not look back at Ainz, and then interrupted Ainz’s words and continued to speak.

「My feelings haven’t changed ever since I came to Ishtalica」

Without replying to Ainz’s words, Claune continued to speak. She never looked back, Ainz could only see the back of her head. He wondered what kind of expression she had on her face.

「Claune, let me see your face. Tell me, how serious you are」

「…Well, I wonder, but you can imagine it as you pleased」

When he was told to imagine as he pleased, he couldn’t help but think about it. As for Ainz, he knew that Claune thought well of him in her own way. Even so, the fact that she wasn’t a.s.sured made him feel a little uneasy.

After that, Claune finally showed his face. She only looked at him by showing the side of her face and did not completely turn her head towards Ainz. But even like this, Ainz could see that Claune’s cheeks had turned red.

「But you know what? I’m always worried about you when you’re being so reckless. That’s why I want you to rely on someone when you can」

Then Claune looked back. Both of her cheeks were red, but he couldn’t tell if it was from the heat of the sun, or if she was a little embarra.s.sed to tell her feelings.

「You’re making me so worried that makes me wonder what might happen to me and Olivia-sama back then. And if that happens…」

Then, with a little pause, Claune looked back.

『Onee-san won’t know』

Claune lowered her posture slightly. Turning towards Ainz, she put her index finger to her mouth and uttered it. She then smiled gently at him. The gesture is more than enough to completely steal Ainz’s heart.

After that, Ainz walked closer to Claune, trying to say what he thought. Claune just watched Ainz and just waited in silence. She also wondered if it was her imagination or that her room seemed smaller than usual?

But as if the timing had been perfectly timed, there was a knock at the door. They also heard a voice that said “It’s Marche” from outside.

「…Oh my, I guess that’s it for today, Ainz」

「Claune… I know you’re trying to stay strong. But if you’re blus.h.i.+ng like that, you don’t look that strong」

「You too, your face is blus.h.i.+ng just as much as mine」

He thought that his body temperature had gotten much hotter, but Ainz’s face seemed to be turning red, just like Claune’s.

The fact that she pointed that out made him a little hot again.

「Off you go then, Ainz. I hope you get to keep your new pet」

「…Yeah, I’m expecting it」

After Ainz was seen off. He decided to head to the place where Sylvird and the others were waiting as the results seemed to be decided. It was clear that they would have to start all over again since Claune also said that was all for today. So, he obediently withdrew for today.

「Hey, Ainz?」

「Hmm? What is it?」

「Thank you, I had a great time with you today」

Claune still had a blush on her face. But she stopped Ainz and thanked him for coming to her today.

「I also had a great time with you too, and the tea was great. I was just thinking that it would be nice if Claune would also make the tea for me next time」

「…Jeez, come on, just go. His Majesty and the others must be waiting for you」

「I know I know, well then, I will come again」

Ainz then opened the door and went to Sylvird and the others. It seemed that the matter of the Sea Dragon twins had been settled, so he had to go and hear the results. In his heart, Ainz prayed that they would not say that they had already been taken care of.

「…Haah. Jeez…I’m so thrilled, I thought my heart was going to burst…」

She looked fl.u.s.tered, which was unthinkable for the usual Claune. Her heart continued to beat loudly for a while even after Ainz had left.

__TLN___

(1) Reference to chapter 36