093: I want to go to Kagura

December 28, 2020 - 7 minutes read - 1450 words

No way, rice isn’t even grown on the continent I live on?

Kagura, a country on another continent across the sea. Apparently the country eats rice as its staple food, and the country eats a lot of fish from the large fishing industry. Since it’s facing the sea, the fish is very fresh and the dishes are delicious and varied. Isn’t that alone worth the trip?

“There are apparently many people with black hair and eyes that have their own distinct culture.” Triela

“Oh!” Al

Triela’s words are exciting. Sounds like it has a different culture including clothing, food, and houses from the Misfilt Kingdom I’m used to. It seems like it has things like roof tiles, kimonos, and Kagura-specific dishes. Could there be a country with Japanese-inspired culture in this Western fantasy world?

I want to visit that country, I hoped that a place named Kagura would be Japanese-inspired, and it seems that it’s true.

“Mr. Alfred, you seem to have been on edge since I talked about Kagura, it reminds me of when you heard about rice…” Triela

Triela is giving me a weird look, but I don’t care. It’s hard to explain my joy.

“So, how do you get there from here?” Al

When I asked, Triela puts his hand on his chin and ruminates.

“That’s right, Koriat Village is next to the mountains, so you’d go west, then north.” Triela

Triela drew up a simple map, we’d go west from the village to the city of Kicca, then north to enter the Argonia Kingdom. We would travel to the port town of Esprit, then take a boat to Kagura.

“So it would be three days by carriage to Kicca, then four days to Esprit. Next it would be a week on a boat. That’s normal travel times, of course.” Triela

So it would be two weeks one way, and a whole month of travel for a round trip. That’s twice as long as the royal capital trip. We’re currently in the middle of June, so most of summer would be spent on a trip to Kagura, assuming at least a week spent in Kagura. Two months after I got back would be the harvest festival. That would be a year since I met Thor, I don’t feel like it’s been that long.

It’s not like I met the story’s heroine that day, I just met a friend similar in age. It feels weird. It’s also been a year since I met the sisterly figure of Emma. Oh, a year since I met Emma, it feels almost romantic. Triela calls out to bring me back to reality.

“It would be two weeks one way, but do you really think you’re coming with me? It’s fine with me if you want to come along to Kagura, but wouldn’t Nord oppose it?” Triela

After hearing all of that, I must find a way to go to Kagura. I’ll have to setup a route to Transfer there. Perhaps they have soy sauce or miso? That would open up my food repertoire and enrich my daily life.

Miso soup, yakitori, soba noodles, dumplings…

Just thinking about them makes my mouth water.

“I’ll find a way to go. I’ll talk to Nord and Elna, just wait a minute.” Al

I jump up from the sofa and ran to call Nord and Elna so I could persuade them.

I found my mother splayed out on a sofa in the living room, asked her if I could have a discussion with her and Nord in the guest room. I then found Nord in the office working on paperwork, and asked him to visit the guest room for the same purpose.

“So what happened?” Elna

When everyone was sitting on the sofa, Elna asked why I asked to talk. Of course, Elna wasn’t laying down on the sofa anymore, and she wasn’t snacking on the twice-baked bread sticks. Both of them seem a little confused with how serious I’m acting. Or it seems like I have some terrible news.

What are they thinking? Are they worried I’m going to do or say something weird? Maybe I’ve gone crazy? This is intended to be a serious discussion, so I look into my parents eyes to convey the seriousness.

“I’m interested in visiting Kagura, so can I go along with Triela?” Al

Elna and Nord exchange a strange look with each other.

“Kagura? Never heard of it.” Nord

“I’ve been told it is a country on the Eastern continent. Triela told me that it’s the country tha grows rice.” Al

“Oh, that’s right” Nord

It seems I’ve jogged Nord’s memory, Elna looked a bit surprised he forgot. Triela came into the room and explained a bit more about the country.

“So, that’s why I want to journey to Kagura!” Al

“You suddenly called for me, so I wondered what you were going to say” Elna

“Isn’t it fine to just have Triela buy some? I’ve enjoyed the rice, so I’d be willing to replenish the supply…” Nord

“You have to cross the sea to visit Kagura? It’s that far away?” Eleanora

Elna is acting calm while she sips her tea, but she’s aggressively interrogating me on my desire to visit the other continent. Even though I’d be traveling with a reputable company like Triela’s, they’re still against a seven-year-old visiting a foreign land.

“I still want to go…” Al

While I look at my parents with a serious expression, Elna puts her left hand on my cheek. Oh, is she going to give me permission?

I opened my eyes in anticipation of Elna’s ok, but she just squeezed my cheek.

“Ow, that hurts!” Al

“This is a fake Al. Al doesn’t have lively eyes. The Al I know has dead eyes and a sleepy face.” Elna

“Indeed, it’s a fake” Nord

My mother is being so rude. It’s shocking that Nord has grabbed my right cheek and is pulling also.

“But it feel like the real thing.” Elna

“Yeah” Nord

The two of them let go finally, maybe they were convinced when I started to tear up.

“Triela’s company has a B-rank adventurer for a guard, so they should be safe to travel. That’s fine, right?” Al

I tried bringing out a reasonable argument, but their faces don’t look happy.

“No…” Elna

“Eh? Fried bread! Twice-baked bread with honey! Castella!” Al

Elna perked up at the word castella, she probably assumes it’s a new sweet.

“No, this time won’t be as easy as a magic stove. The destination is far and there may be monsters on the sea.” Nord

“Ice cream! Pudding! Deep-fried skewers!” Al

“Well, that’s not helping, right?” Nord

I’m trying. I’m throwing out the names of new sweets in the hopes they’ll trigger some interest. I had held back various recipes in the event I needed to get concessions, a situation like today.

Elna sips her tea to disguise her feelings.

“Mr. Alfred, what are castella, ice cream, and pudding?” Mina whispers in my ear.

“I’m curious too” Elna whispers as well.

Father Nord opened his mouth to separate me from the two nosy people.

“Well, even B-rank adventurers have things they worry about. For many, it’s the sea.” Nord

Well, most adventurers couldn’t dream of being a Dragon Slayer…

“Silver Wind is an adventurer party that specializes in escort duties, and has plenty of experience with ocean combat.” Triela

Triela attempts to join in with me, but Nord’s expression is still bad. I’m sure he’s worried as a father.

“Hmm, I’d like to accompany you, but I can’t leave the territory for a month.” Nord

Damn! If Silvio had been quicker at learning how to rule the territory, I could have had a super-powerful Dragon Slayer escort. Well, perhaps Elna will come instead?

“I couldn’t leave the mansion for a whole month, I’m still drained after visiting the royal capital.” Elna

I can tell Elna doesn’t like traveling based on her eyes, she really hates traveling. She doesn’t travel to the royal capital without a very good reason. Truthfully, I wouldn’t want to go if I didn’t need to visit before I could Transfer there.

This is going to be a rough journey since the distance is doubled compared to the royal capital trip. Koriat Village is a nice place to live and a difficult place to leave.

Nord and Elna are making indecipherable faces and I feel a bad aura around them.

“Oh, Al was here after all.” Eleanora

“Oh! There’s also Nord, Elna, and Triela. They’re all together.” Rumba

Eleanora arrived in the guest room along with Rumba, who must have come to play. It’s gotten complicated again. What to do?