Daily Part-Time Work
Lately, after training ended, Tyria often suggested we grab dinner before heading back to the quarters, and it became routine for us to stop by the Monastir restaurant on the way.
Ugh... Two Endurance Training Meals today, Chef.
Oh, and for one of them, could you add plenty of hot sauce?
Tyria glanced sharply in my direction.
...Wait, is the extra-spicy one mine?
Haha. You both trained hard today!
I'll have them ready right away.
And so, even on our days off when neither of us had anything planned...
We would often find ourselves naturally gathering at that restaurant again without needing to say anything and sharing a meal together.
You're early. I thought you'd still be asleep this morning as it's your day off.
Since today was another day off as always, we ended up meeting naturally in front of the restaurant again.
Ah, you two. Back again today, I see.
...Yes. Again...
Hmm?
Early that very morning, the owner was already closing the restaurant that he just opened.
...Chef, are you closing already?
...Well, you see.
...I run this restaurant here in NOA, but my entire family lives on the outskirts of Monastir.
My dream is to earn enough through this place to buy a house where all of us can live together someday. Haha!
But this morning, right after I opened the restaurant, I received an urgent message from them.
It turns out my son, serving in the Knights, was slightly injured while fighting a monster.
He says the injury isn't serious, but... he's my son. I can't help but worry.
Oh my... Even after preparing everything, you're leaving just like that?
...Yes. I've already prepared all of today's food, so it's unfortunate to leave it behind...
Still, I can't ignore my family's call just because of today's losses. Haha.
...Since it concerns your family, I understand, but...
Even so, it's such a waste for all of your cooking to go unused today.
Haha. Well, to be honest, the only things prepared in advance were the takeaway items.
He laughed as if it were nothing, but the loss clearly wouldn't be small.
The restaurant was already filled with the smell of food, and beyond the kitchen I could see stacks of neatly packaged meals.
For a small restaurant like this, closing for a full day would inevitably be a serious blow.
...And considering how much care he put into his cooking, it felt far too wasteful to simply leave it like this.
Wh-what?!
...What?
You really say the most ridiculous things without thinking it through...!
Y-you'd do that for me? You're both regulars I can trust, and I'd be very grateful, but...
...
T-Tyria... if you're okay with it... haha...
...Well... Now that I think about it, it's not a bad arrangement for either side.
If the restaurant takes a loss, you'll eventually have to cut ingredient costs, won't you?
And I'd rather not see the quality of the food at a place I finally found and enjoy begin to decline.
Tyria...!
Think of it as a small way to repay you for all the wonderful meals you've served us. Hehe.
Now then, please go take care of your family... Shall we start by dividing the work?
Once the chef left, the two of us began running the restaurant together. Fortunately, perhaps because it was a small place, it wasn't as busy as we had feared.
It's quieter than I expected.
From experience, I knew that saying something like that usually invited trouble.
And sure enough, before I could stop her...
*Ding*
Hello. One fatigue recovery soup, please.
Three Romarin herb puddings for me!
One bottle of mead and a steak to go.
The situation I'd feared had arrived.
As I hurriedly handled the growing stack of orders, the sudden silence behind me felt strange—so I turned around...
...
Wouldn't it be better if we just closed early today?
Tyria stood there smiling stiffly, the light gone from her eyes as though her spirit had taken a heavy blow.
...
Ugh... Serving, swerving...!
Even after that, customers kept coming without pause.
At first she made mistake after mistake, but before long Tyria adapted and began moving confidently through the work.
Here you go. Two Romarin herb puddings.
That was the last order, right? Everything's sold out anyway, so even if we wanted to sell more, we couldn't.
Yeah. Great work, Tyria.
*Sigh...* So once we finish tidying up, that's the end of today?
Just as we finished seeing off the last customer and were about to start cleaning up, when...
*Ding*
Hoho. I was hoping to dine in... Are you closed already?
Hmm? Has the owner changed? I don't think I've ever seen you two...
Ah, we're temporarily looking after the restaurant just for today.
The chef had something urgent come up and had to return to Monastir.
So we were only selling the limited takeaway items... but the last one just sold out.
I'm afraid we'll have to ask you to come back another day.
Hoho. I see. I was wondering where the owner had gone. So he went back to Monastir.
I miss it there too... I'm from Monastir myself.
Sometimes, when I feel terribly homesick... I come here and have a bowl of Condensed Survival Ration Soup to comfort myself.
I came for that soup again today... but it seems I arrived too late. I'll come back another time. Hoho...
The elderly woman slowly turned and began walking away.
Watching her back with a troubled expression, Tyria frowned slightly. Then, as if making up her mind, let out a long sigh.
*Sigh...* Would you wait just a moment?
The Condensed Survival Ration Soup is a different matter.
Mm...?
It's something that can be made quickly as long as you have Morvel, isn't it?
...
...Which means you're welcome to stay and have some before you go.
Not long after Tyria entered the kitchen, the gentle scent of herbs and the sound of simmering began drifting out.
Here you go. Your Condensed Survival Ration Soup.
Soon afterward, Tyria returned carrying the soup on a tray.
Hoho... thank you. For a young lady like you to prepare something like this for an old-timer who arrived so late...
Hehe. It wasn't anything difficult.
I simply wanted to do it. I'm from Monastir as well.
When I first arrived in NOA... I felt the same way once.
But someone gave me this soup back then... and it helped. Hehe.
Hoho. So this soup helped restore your spirits too, young lady.
Well, rather than that...
While choosing her words carefully, Tyria glanced briefly in my direction.
Hoho. Now that I think about it, it seems you had someone by your side to help you settle in.
...Unlike me. I came to NOA without any family at all.
And now... even if I returned, there would be no one left to welcome me.
So even after all this time, whenever I think of home... the tears still come first...
...
They say people from Monastir are resilient.
Tyria gently handed her a handkerchief.
Wherever you settle and make a life, attachment follows quickly.
Even if you left Monastir long ago...
The fact that you're a resilient Monastir native doesn't change.
...So you should live with pride. If you keep letting loneliness weigh you down, it only deepens the sadness.
...Hoho, that's true... It really is...
You're right, young lady... that's how we Monastir people live...
Dabbing the tears from her wrinkled face with the handkerchief Tyria had given her, the elderly woman finished the rest of her soup.
Despite her age, her spoon moved quickly, as if she was determined to find her resolve once more.
That was delicious. Thank you very much.
Not long after, the bowl was completely empty.
*Click*
Once everything was cleaned up, I locked the restaurant door, bringing the day's work to an end.
Good work today, Tyria.
Hm hmm ♪
Instead of answering, Tyria hummed softly and looked around the now-empty restaurant.
You seem to be in a good mood.
...Do I?
Even though we only helped out for a day, it wasn't so bad after all.
I could almost imagine doing something like this again someday.
What do you mean, "something like this"...?
Well, I mean... once I finish the Journey and return to Monastir...
...
I was thinking it might not be a bad idea to open a small shop like this somewhere near the city walls.
...Hmph. Of course, it is.
I know what's good when I see it.
On the way back to the quarters, Tyria remained quiet the entire time, as though lost in thought.