Breakthrough with the Forbidden Master

Chapter 257 – Choice

“Well, young man. You were about to choose some spices. You are going to cook with them, aren’t you? I know.”

“Ha, hah…”

“If you didn’t have to worry about money… what would you choose?”

The shopkeeper who suddenly appeared, did not seem to be an ordinary person, and seemed to be quite famous.

As if to test me, he pushed forward his expressionless face and asked me a question.

I don’t know what he means, and to be honest, I don’t want to get involved…

“Spices are a great source of energy in the Hunter business… at least more than potions. That’s what I think. But in today’s world, no one knows that, and no one tries to understand.”

“Huh…”

“That’s how it is with this knife, right?”

“…… ah…”

Saying that, the shopkeeper took something out of his pants pocket.

It was a well-used and slightly old Magical Survival Knife.

『This one … is a user…』

Tre’ainar nodded admiringly.

Yes, the man in front of me was using a Magical Survival Knife, which many Hunters did not want to buy despite its very cheap price, saying that it had a bad image.

In addition……

“Even this one is nutritious, isn’t it?”

Then, he took out a bag of Calorie Friend from the opposite pocket, peeled it off, and bit straight into it.

“Oh, ooh…”

I see. Is this what you mean?

A very useful knife and portable food if you buy them. This guy knows that, so he sells them as commodities.

But, knowing that they were once used by soldiers of the Demon King Army, Hunters don’t buy them because they are worried about their image.

In such a situation, did he become interested in me because I tried to buy them without worrying about such things?

But I wouldn’t have been interested if Tre’ainar hadn’t told me…

“I admit it. You are a man who knows me, even though you don’t know me. That’s why I want to know. Which spice would you choose? What would you buy? I want to know. I want to know. I want to know more about you.”

I wonder if he’s happy that I’m buying, he’s so excited that he’s closing the distance even more… no, no, scary scary close.

I mean, who is this guy? Tre’ainar?

『…… Hmm…』

「Hey, Tre’ainar. You, I get the feeling you know this guy?」

『Well… I am only familiar with the name… huh… that was over ten years ago, when I was alive.』

Ten years ago. Well, that’s right… when you said, wait a minute. How old is this guy?

He’s not that old, is he? Definitely not thirty or anything.

Late 20s? No, early 20s? Even if you say he’s a teenager, I’d believe it, but…

『In the past, there once was a young boy, not even ten years of age, who made a name for himself as a Hunter dedicated to Monster Slaying and Bounty Hunting…』

「…… Hunter…」

『Apparently the Union was scouting the boy to join their side, but the boy never wanted to join the Union, insisting on being a Hunter … despite all that, he claimed the heads of several Commanders of the Demon King Army… even Gouda grumbled.』

Tre’ainar crossed his arms as if remembering the old days and stared at the shopkeeper.

Judging by the flow of the story, then this guy is…

『Thereafter… I received a report that the boy challenged Norja to a fight, but was taken alive without issue…』

「Huh? Norja, of the Six Supremacy?」

『Uh huh. However, shortly after that… Espie, of the Seven Heroes, attacked Norja, and he eventually escaped his captors… after that, I know nothing more on the matter. At that time, Hakuki was also engaged in a battle with Hiro and his party, and the war situation reports took precedence over that…』

I see…… he seemed to have a complicated past, but anyway, this guy was a great Hunter who even Tre’ainar had heard of.

And such a man was now …

“Well, what’s wrong? If you don’t even know me, and yet you choose things that you ‘know’, what would you choose if you could have this wide variety of spices?”

He’s interested in me.

From the looks of the people around us, he must have been more famous as a Hunter than as a shopkeeper.

I don’t consider myself that famous. And yet, the tools he chooses and acquires are things that make him say “Oooh!”.

That’s why he’s interested in me and was talking to me… is that what you mean?

But……

“Still… I don’t have the money.”

Right. I don’t have the money to choose.

But, the shopkeeper’s eyebrows twitched in disapproval at my words.

“Annoying. Can you please not disappoint me with such trivial reasons like lack of money?”

“No, even if you say that…”

“Hah… fine…”

When I mentioned the money, the shopkeeper sighed…

“Then, I’ll give you free spice …… if your spice selection makes me gasp.”

“Eh?!”

“Actually, I would like to give you the other products for free as well, but… that’s enough for you who said you don’t know me, right?”

The guy has a blank expression on his face and he’s really worried about not knowing him?

No, no, it’s more like a freebie with a choice that makes him gasp?

“This is a challenge from me. What do you think?”

He’s testing me. At the shopkeeper’s words, Tre’ainar…

『Very well.』

I nodded silently. And he was very motivated. And……

『Coriander, cumin, turmeric, garam masala! Other odds and ends――――』

“Hey, come on… ah~, Koriander, Kumin, Tummeric…”

“Mmhmm, yes and then what?”

Tre’ainar, with one hand on his hip, thrusts his fingers forward, pointing in succession to the hundred or more bottles of spices on display.

I repeated the names as if to learn from them, and the shopkeeper nodded while crossing his arms.

“—and clobe, Karudamon, that’s all!”

“…… Hmm…”

I mentioned more than ten different spices.

The shopkeeper nodded after hearing all of them. But, he is not convinced?

“…… unfortunately… that’s not enough, is it?”

“Eh?”

『What!?』

It was no good……? Tre’ainar was also surprised.

What the hell?

“That combination makes it possible… a traditional cuisine of this continent… curry… I have tried it many times, but it wasn’t satisfying.”

“…… Huh? Curry?”

“That’s right. It’s also the strongest health food in the world in my opinion, and the strongest outdoor meal for Hunters and Adventurers… curry. I guess you wanted to make it too, but… not with that combination…”

I wondered what the reason was, but I hadn’t expected it to be curry… curry, which Tre’ainar mentioned earlier, was a dish that was native to this continent.

“I’ve had quite a bit of curry myself. I was hoping that you would be able… to make me gasp…”

When I thought that this guy was taking an interest in people on his own, he sighed as if he was disappointed on his own.

I don’t know much about Curry, but that just plain pisses me off!

「Hey, Tre’ainar! I don’t get it, but you’re being dissed!?」

『Hmph… is that how it is… I see……. this…… greenhorn!』

In any case, when I muttered in my heart that Tre’ainar’s choice was being mocked, Tre’ainar had a terrifying scary smile filled with the majesty of the Demon King.

『Child, coffee.』

「…… Huh?」

『I always add it in as a secret ingredient… I brewed Demon Realm coffee… well, adding coffee itself is a clichéd classic thing to do… but I was particular about the breed of coffee I used. The coffee I preferred to use in my curry was a coffee from the Demon Realm… Hell’s Coffee!』

That’s some kind of a dangerous secret ingredient, or rather, I feel like the name was too assertive…

“Ah~, do you have Hell’s Coffee from the Demon Realm?”

“Huh!?”

Tre’ainar was full of confidence, so when I asked anyway, and the shopkeeper seemed to be surprised.

“…… no….. we don’t carry that…”

『Tch… then, from the Surface… yes, the coffee from the Empire will do… tis not like a purveyance for royalty, tis manufactured in a small rural countryside, but tis the best match.’

“Ah~…… then, what about the Imperial product for the time being?』

“…………………… that’s also……no.”

Oh, I see you don’t have any.

Then the shopkeeper put his hand on his chin…

“Oh… I see… I didn’t care for the coffee itself either… I guess it’s from the Empire…”

“?”

The shopkeeper let out another deep sigh… was it no good?

But……

“Understood. I’ll order some for you.”

“Huh?”

“When you check out your wares, please give me the manufacturer’s details.”

“No, no, no, no?!”

“It’s my fault that I didn’t have the product you wanted. I’ll give you the spices for free.”

The shopkeeper’s eyes suddenly changed color. Was that good?

Or rather, you want to order it? How motivated are you?

What’s more, the spices are free? Was it good in the end?

“It’ll take a few days, but… you’ll still be in town, right?”

“N, more or less… I am, but…”

“Okay, then?”

For the time being, we still have a few days until the package from Paripi arrives, so it’s okay, but… I’ve caught the eye of some weird guy.

Author’s Note

That’s why I said food stuff won’t really start. When it starts, I’ll shave.