Slime Reincarnation

Chapter 110: Let’s Take Some Delicious Cake and Go Say Hello

"Wh... what is this...?"

The six thugs were sputtering black smoke.

"Lady Krelia... it seems Lord Yabe truly is a mage of rare caliber. I thought those heroic tales might have been exaggerated... but now I can believe they’re the truth."

Elincia answered, her eyes drifting slightly into the distance.

"Lord Yabe, thank you for saving us. And thank you to the little chicks too."

Sister Anri smiled warmly and thanked us.

"Protecting the Sister is naturally our duty!"

"They say protecting the Sister is naturally their duty."

I translated for the saluting chicks.

"My, what dependable knights."

She smiled, then turned her gaze toward the six smoking men.

"I was thinking of using Heal..."

She glanced at me briefly, then looked back at the thugs again as she said it.

"I figured you’d say that, Sister. I’d rather they not get too energetic again, so please keep it moderate."

"Yes!"

Despite having fought to protect the Sister and the children, she still wanted to ease the suffering of the wounded, even if they were the very thugs who’d attacked them. I supposed that was admirable of her as a Sister. But I couldn’t help wondering if that kind of leniency might invite trouble down the line.

(Well, no use worrying about that. That’s just who she is, at her core. Truly kind people are kind through and through. All I can do is try my best to make sure a person like that never gets hurt.)

"Hands of the gods who dwell in light. Spread your merciful hands and heal these people. Wide Heal!"

Soft light poured from Sister Anri’s hands, spreading out thinly, healing the thugs’ wounds.

"Make sure they’re properly restrained before they wake up and cause trouble again."

"Understood. Thanks to you, Sir Yabe, everyone here at the church was spared any harm. Thank you."

Elincia bowed her head.

"They’ll probably be charged for breaking the church’s gate and walls, right?"

"That’s right. I imagine the Sister will need to cooperate with the statement as well."

"While you’re at it, might as well have her tell you about all the harassment they’ve faced up until now too."

"Yes!"

I said it with a playful wink, and Sister Anri agreed with a smile as well.

It was now past noon, a bit late for lunch. Well, with all the fighting at the church, the whole morning had been eaten up, but it couldn’t be helped. For lunch, we headed to Cafe Crystal Garden.

"Welcome!"

Luna, the fox person, greeted us again today. Her fox ears and fluffy tail looked lively as ever.

"Hey Luna chan, good afternoon! One recommended lunch for me please."

"Yes! Normally we have three lunch options, but the fried bamboo shoots with tree frog meat sold out already... My recommendation right now is the lemon sauteed earth bird. It’s very light and easy to eat!"

"Oh, sounds good, I’ll take that!"

"Coming right up!"

I stopped Luna as she was heading back to the kitchen energetically.

"Luna chan, I’ve got something I’d like to ask you..."

"Yes, what is it?"

"This place, Crystal Garden, is a cafe, so you’ve got delicious sweet cakes on the menu too, right?"

"Of course! Every single one is something we’re proud of!"

"Actually, a valued acquaintance of mine has a real sweet tooth... I’d like to get several packed into a box to take with me, if that’s possible?"

"Of course. We have a large box, a medium one, and a small one for two or three pieces, which would you like?"

"Let’s see, could you put five or six in a medium box? Oh, and since it’s such good cake, might as well bring some to the Coluna Frontier Count too, since he’s been kind enough to have me. Could you fit about twenty in the large box? That should be enough to go around to the butler and the household staff too, right?"

Oops, I should have asked how many people there were first.

"Sir, are you acquainted with Lord Coluna?"

"Ah, yeah, that’s right. I’m currently staying at his residence as a guest. I’m Yabe, nice to meet you."

"So you’re Mr. Yabe! Please continue to favor our shop!"

I savored my lunch while waiting for the cakes to be prepared.

"Good afternoon!"

I opened the door to the handmade bread shop Mamma Miya cheerfully.

"Welcome!"

Mami chan greeted me energetically from inside.

"Mami chan, doing well?"

"Ah, you’re the customer who bought up all our bread the other day! Well, doing well, I suppose..."

Despite saying she was doing well, Mami chan looked down with a lonely expression.

"The reason you’re not doing so well is because even though you bake delicious bread, customers just aren’t coming in, right?"

"H, how did you know that?"

Mami chan looked at me in surprise, but honestly, it was obvious just looking at the empty shop.

"Could you call your father out too?"

"Y, yes..."

"Now then, Mami chan, and your father. I understand your wife passed away suddenly, and that must be difficult, but you’ve been leaving all the dealings with the Commercial Guild and the neighborhood gatherings entirely to her, haven’t you?"

"Ah, I can only bake bread... anyway, who the hell are you?"

"Dad! He’s the customer who bought out all our bread the other day!"

"I’m grateful he liked our bread enough to buy it, but I don’t need him sticking his nose into other business."

"Dad!"

Mami chan raised her voice at her father.

"You can go on playing the stubborn craftsman all you like, but what happens to Mami chan if this shop goes under? What’s the point of a father who can’t even feed his own daughter? Your late wife won’t be able to rest easy in heaven either."

"What did you say!"

"Business is about connections, isn’t it? You’re part of the Commercial Guild here in the capital, aren’t you? Human relationships aren’t something you can get by on just paying your taxes, are they?"

"Ngh..."

"Actually, I picked up some information about this area over at the Commercial Guild headquarters. I’ve got this cake as a gift, and we’re going to go pay our respects right now, so both of you, come with me."

"Eh? Right now?" "But the shop’s still open?"

"No one’s coming in anyway, right?"

"Ugh..."

Both father and daughter fell silent at my sharp remark.

"Alright, let’s go. Our destination is the butcher John’s shop."

"To John’s place?"

"Old man, John is the one who oversees this whole area. I bet your wife properly attended the guild gatherings, and never failed to pay her respects to John either, as the one in charge. Of course I don’t think the current situation is right, but if you don’t keep your relationships running smoothly, things that could go well just won’t."

"Ugh, sorry..."

Seeing her father visibly deflate, Mami chan put a hand on his back and apologized too.

"Dad, I’m sorry too. I should have taken over everything Mom used to handle..."

Honestly, I’d heard she’d passed from a sudden illness, and losing someone that abruptly leaves a lot of things unhandled. John’s shop was one block over, so we reached it in just a few minutes on foot.

"Afternoon!"

"Welcome!"

He returned the greeting energetically, but narrowed his eyes slightly seeing Mami chan and her father behind me.

True to being known as the butcher John, he had quite a fine selection of meat.

"Oh! Is this the flame bird that’s supposedly got a bit of spice to its meat? Only three left in stock? I’ll take all of them!"

"Oh, wow! Thanks for the business! Flame bird’s rare so it’s pricey, but you sure about that?"

"Of course! I don’t want to skimp on good meat! That gravel pork looks nice too, let me get about five kilos of that."

"Whoa! Big spender. You live in the capital, sir? Don’t recognize your face."

John asked as he wrapped up the meat.

"Just arrived recently. I’ve been invited to stay as a guest of the Coluna Frontier Count. Taking this meat back to the residence too, thought I’d have the Count’s family enjoy it."

I said this while stacking gold coins on the counter for payment. John looked surprised at my explanation.

"The Coluna Frontier Count is going to eat this? That’s quite an honor! Good for my shop’s reputation too."

John continued preparing the meat in good spirits. Guess this was the right moment.

"Glad to hear it. Oh, by the way, the two from Mamma Miya here wanted to apologize for being late in coming to greet you. Brought a special treat as an apology gift."

"Eh!?"

At that, I stepped smoothly aside, and Mami chan stepped forward, offering the box of cake I’d given her earlier.

"I’m Mami, from Mamma Miya. I’m... terribly sorry for being so late in coming to greet you properly. Please, enjoy this if you’d like."

"John san, sorry for the delayed greeting. It’s not Mami’s fault. This is on me."

Her father said, bowing his head as well.

"I know it’s been hard since your wife passed so suddenly, but the guild gatherings matter a lot for running a shop here. Make sure you actually show up."

"Truly, I’m sorry." "I’ll be the one attending from now on! I’ve got a lot to learn, but I’ll do my best."

Both of them bowed their heads. John seemed to relax a bit too. As a fellow member of the gatherings, he’d probably reached out before, but when someone stops showing up entirely and just does their own thing, it makes you wonder whether you can still count on them as part of the group, and maybe that had been weighing on him.

"Next gathering’s in three days. I’ll let everyone else know, so make sure you come. And I think everyone will be glad they can enjoy your bread again without any worries."

"John san..." "Sorry about all this."

I gave the father a couple pats on the shoulder and stroked Mami chan’s head. For now, it looked like the crisis at the handmade bread shop Mamma Miya had been averted.