Tensei Shite Inaka de Slowlife wo Okuritai - Chapter 226

Karaage Clouds

Jolting in the rattling carriage, the Slowlett family is heading for the territory of the Sylford’.

Although, we left Koryatt village just now. We will reach their territory in four days’ time. It will still take some more time for us to reach Sylford’s territory. 

There is still a long way to go, so let’s spend our time in a relaxed manner.

I stare absent-mindedly at the passing scenery while sitting on my seat.

The weather is sunny today. With blue sky spreading endlessly and pure white clouds slowly floating in the sky, it’s a perfect day for a trip.

A vast meadow is spreading around us and a row of mountains that looks like they’re surrounding us.

There are no people at all, but you can see a flock of birds flying in the distance. A truly beautiful mother nature.

「It would feel good lying down on that grassland over there」

「I want to fully bask in the sun on that soft-looking grass」

As I absentmindedly mutter so, Mina – who is also staring at the scenery outside of the window – mutters in a quiet voice.

Specifically speaking, we want to get off the carriage and lie down there.

「Then, everyone let’s get off and take a nap on that grassland」

「That sounds nice!」

「What are you saying. We will not make any progress in our journey at all if we do that from the start. Please be patient until it’s time for a lunch break or when we rest the horse」

As Mina and I were talking and finding mutual understanding with each other, we got warned by Elna-kaasan. 

Chi……I thought that my suggestion will be accepted since they are all in good mood, but I guess it’s impossible, huh.

Oh well, I already knew it will turn out like this.

Hearing that, Mina and I reluctantly replied with 「「Okーaay」」 and return our gaze outside.

「Ah, Alfried-sama! That cloud, don’t you think it looks like a karaage somehow!?」

Mina said excitedly while tapping my shoulder *peshipeshi*.

I will understand it if it were a hat, soft cream, or animal-shaped clouds, but what do you mean with karaage.

「Which one?」

「There! That one!」

I wouldn’t know it even if you tell me it’s ’that one’.

As I keep looking for the clouds while asking Mina in detail, I finally found the clouds that look like a karaage.

「……indeed, that really looks like a karaage in a way」

「Right!」

‘What’s a karaage-shaped cloud anyway?’ So I thought, but I found a cloud that really looks like a karaage.

The shape itself is normal, with an uneven shape. However, the unevenness of the cloud truly stands out. 

I don’t know if it’s due to the amount of light or shade, but it looks interesting. If I have a camera or a smartphone like the one in my previous world, I would definitely take a picture of it.

「What is it? Is there an interesting cloud or something?」

Perhaps Sylvio-niisan – who was reading a book next to me – got interested in our conversation that he close the book he was reading *patari* and moved closer to the window.

Mina and I indirectly move aside so that Sylvio-niisan can also look at the scenery outside of the window.

「There was a cloud with a shape that looked like a karaage over there」

「Karaage? Which one?」

He asks just like me, and not long after Sylvio-niisan found the karaage-cloud.

「Aah! It’s true! Now that you mention it, it looks like a karaage! Rather, it doesn’t look like a karaage anymore」

He’s staring at the cloud in wonder, I guess he was surprised by the cloud. Then he laughs with a higher tension as usual 

「Aah, it’s making me want to eat karaage. Can you make karaage even while we’re taking a break later?」

「It’s not I can’t make it, but as expected, I can’t make them be as delicious as the one made in the mansion you know? We also have no magic stove, and I don’t think it will have a crispy texture」

「Karaage without that crispy texture is not karaage!」

Mina resolutely exclaims after hearing my answer.

Right, right. Karaage is tasty because we need to use a large amount of oil to make them and we need to fry them at a high temperature in one sitting.

And even if we forcibly make them, I think that we can only make a kaarage that doesn’t have that chewy and crunchy texture. Mina probably also knows about that fact.

「But, I really really want to eat karaage that it makes me want to twist them as I ate…..!」

「……didn’t you already eat a lot of them yesterday」

「But still!」

The Sylford’s territory has fresh seafood dishes. Of course, when we arrive there, they will serve us the territory’s specialties and meat dishes will be put off.

During these four days of travel, we won’t be able to eat those exquisite dishes we always eat since we will be eating ready-made and preserved foods.

I guess she had already taken that into consideration since she had eaten food vigorously since the day before yesterday. 

「I’ve eaten enough so I guess I’m fine」

「Me too」

We ate kushiage, karaage, tempura, hamburg steak, and all sorts of dishes every day.

It’s delicious, sure, but for me and Sylvio-niisan we had enough of continuously eating them.

If anything, I want to eat the seafood dishes of Sylford territory right now.

「Such a thing……..! The both of you are so cold! What about Eleonora-sama!?」

Maybe Mina wanted to receive the approval from those who are in the same strong taste faction that she ask Eleonora-neesan – who is sitting opposite of her.

Now that she mentions it, Eleonora-neesan has been so quiet, isn’t she? I wonder what was she doing?

So I thought and as I looked toward her, I saw Eleonora-neesan taking care of her sword. And it’s not the wooden sword, but the real one. The silver blade was carefully polished as it shines.

Eleonora-neesan stops moving her hand as she turns her gaze toward Mina.

Then she groans as if she’s considering the question.

「Hmー, I guess I want to eat something light after all. Something like a salted fish or a miso soup」

「Eeeehhhh? For Eleonora-sama who also prefers stronger taste in food like me to say something like that!?」

Mina is surprised to hear Eleonora-neesan’s answer.

「I certainly like stronger taste in food, but it’s not to the extent that I want to eat it every day, all right?」

Eleonora-neesan is someone who prefers strong taste in her food and meat over fish

However, she doesn’t eat that kind of food until it becomes an unbalanced diet like Mina.

「Rather than that, I’ve been wondering about it since some time ago, but why are you polishing your sword?」

「What are you saying now. We are no longer in Koryatt village you know? We have to take care of monsters immediately if they ever come out」

Eleonora-neesan answers in an amazed tone when I ask her.

Indeed, this is certainly no longer the peaceful Koryatt village. We are within monsters’ territory. It’s not a bad thing to be prepared for any troubles. 

Just as you’d expect from someone who aims to be a knight, she has an appropriate sense of danger.

Seeing me convinced by her explanation, Eleonora-neesan points the edge of her blade toward me and starts checking on her blade condition.

Hey, please stop that it’s really scary you know?

I say to Eleonora-neesan, while worried over being at the end of her sharp blade.

「There’s Nord-tousan and Elna-kaasan here, so I don’t think you have to prepare yourself to that extent, right?」

「It’s okay. It will be great for me to come out since I will be able to have some exercise if a monster comes out」

So Eleonora-neesan says, as though she’s about to go jogging or doing some sport.

I think that a monster raid is something more dangerous though……..

「If anything, I rather wish for monsters to come out. It’s boring having to sit inside the carriage all the time」

　It’ll be troubling to get attacked by monsters with you having the feeling like we’re killing time by fighting those monsters. However, I think that kind of escort is the most reliable one.

「……guess the safety of the trip this time was guaranteed then」

「It may be fine even if the opponent is something like a dragon if we have Nord-sama, Elna-sama, and Eleonora-sama!」

After hearing my mutter, Mina answers with an innocent smile on her face as if she had predicted our situation. 

But you know, it’s kinda frightening notion since it might be a fact, not a joke or an exaggeration.