The Other World Dining Hall (WN) Chapter 30

TN: New chapter! Sorry to keep you guys waiting for so long, but not only this chapter is so long, it’s also really hard to translate. As a result, I procrastinated a lot. ;A;

BTW, owner means owner of the other world restaurant while master means master of the bar Leonhart

Roast Chicken

On the second floor of a certain cat restaurant was a bar.

The name of the bar was "Leonhart".

It was a social gathering place for adults; the master started it 20 years ago as an early hope for retirement after travelling around j.a.pan and overseas for business though he was opposed by his family.

It was a small bar with only one small bar counter that the master could manage by himself. As it was remodeled from a large restaurant, the rest of the premises were used to store the bar's liquor.

The bar had neither young waitresses nor a karaoke, but it was stocked with liquors that were collected utilizing the master's knowledge from when he was travelling. Not only there were j.a.panese liquors, there were also foreign ones. The price ranged from cheap to considerable so that people could drink delicious liquor at affordable price.

If the master did not experience bad business and refrained from having a luxurious lifestyle, he could live normally until he dies.

It was such a bar.

Well, this bar was not an ordinary one.

It had a "delivery" system.

Foods could be "delivered" from the restaurant downstairs, which could only be ordered from the bar's opening time of 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

It was more delicious than a normal izakaya's.

The foods that could be ordered had light flavours, but all had "professional taste" made by decent chefs and were compatible with liquor.

A wide variety of alcohol that occupied the majority of the shop premises and delicious food offered by delivery distinguished it from other shops.

As this combination was popular, salarymen from around the neighborhood often visited after work hours to cheerfully drink their favourite liquor along with delicious food.

And the master received a delivery order during Sat.u.r.day.

'Ding', the food elevator installed at the back of liquor storage stopped at the second floor.

Hearing that sound, he said some words to his customer and headed to the elevator that could not be seen from the customer's vantage point to receive the delivery order.

[Hey, I've been waiting… Oh, it’s you today?]

The master greeted the owner who came out of the elevator carrying a tray.

The master knew of the restaurant's secret as the otherworld dining hall since the previous owner who was the previous owner of the building told him about it.

Nearly 20 years ago, after he rented the second floor of the building as he was attracted to the conditions since the delivery service was one of the selling of his bar now, he was quite surprised when he was told of the secret by the previous owner.

However, the events on the bas.e.m.e.nt floor where the restaurant was located were different originally.

Sometimes when it wouldn't affect Leonhart, he was asked to sell liquor to the "customers from other world".

[I thought the usual waitress is the one bringing it… do you want to consult about liquor?]

For the past few months, the task of "delivery" during Sat.u.r.days was handed to the newly hired blond waitress with weird hair ornaments.

That's why when the owner handled it, it meant that there was something he wanted to consult about.

The master who had known the owner since he was underage sensed exactly what he wanted.

[Ee. There's something I want to consult about for a moment.]

While he lightly replied to the question, the owner handed the tray he was carrying to the master.

Brilliant green, still warm, freshly boiled edamame.

Fried potato chips seasoned with green laver and salt.

Sweet homemade rum raisin sandwiched between salty biscuits.

{TN: I can’t find that picture so I just put a normal rum raisin sandwich cookie.}

The cla.s.sic mix of egg and tuna sandwich with ham and cheese sandwich.

Three kinds of grilled rice b.a.l.l.s of b.u.t.ter miso, negi miso and salted kelp that were recently added to the restaurant's menu.

All of those dishes were orders of his regulars who immediately came when the bar opened after finis.h.i.+ng their weekend work and were particularly popular food items among his customers.

[Yaa, thanks. Let's start after we serve this.]

While saying that, the master put down the side dishes one after another in front of the respective customers.

[Sorry to keep you waiting. Delivery has arrived… would you like to order anything else?]

While putting down the side dishes, he received an order of sake.

He then processed the additional order calmly.

It was quite inside the bar. Most customers who came to Leonhart wanted to drink quietly, as such it was rare for the bar to have noisy customers.

[Take your time. I'll be at the back for a while.]

After saying that to his customers, he retreated to the storage.

[So, what kind of alcohol do you want?]

He asked the owner that was waiting in front of the elevator.

[Let's see… can you give me two bottles of sweet shochu1? It seems shochu is really popular today.]

The owner was familiar with this situation and said his "order" without pause.

[Shochu, huh. Oh right… are you okay with authentic shochu of sweet potato and barley that I ordered from Kyushu? Their alcohol content is a bit high.]

After pondering on the owner's orders, he immediately listed the alcohols that matched the condition.

[Thank you very much. I'm saved.]

The owner nodded.

The owner was not very familiar with liquor so he depended on the master who was an alcohol connoisseur.

When it came to alcohol, he trusted the master's choices.

[Well… this is it.]

The master quickly found the alcohol and handed them to the owner.

[Payment will be as usual. Deduct the amount from the rent at the end of the month.]

[Yes. Thank you very much.]

The owner bowed slightly while holding the bottles.

[By the way, what kind of customers ordered it?]

The master asked the owner who was about to return to the restaurant.

Previously when he asked who ordered the large bottle of whiskey, the owner answered that it was two male dwarves who carried an axe each on their back.

Who ordered alcohol today?

It was a form of his curiosity.

[Aa, the customer who ordered this is… an ogre.]

He described a little bit. It suited the new customer when he thought about it.

[O, ogre?]

[Ee. He's big and has horns.]

While smiling at the bewildered master, the owner further elaborated.

A shabby mountain hut prepared for travelers built near a mountain path at the Western Continent.

[I should grill it.] [Well, I should boil it.]

Inside, while discussing on how to cook the "ingredient" that was acquired, was an ogre named Tatsuji who resided there.

[I like this kind of food, it's delicious so I want to eat it as much as I can. I still feel like a kid. I want to prepare this and roast it with salt. Isn't it fine?]

Nearly twice the size of an average human was an ogre with red skin, black hair and two yellow horns.

Tatsuji who wore clothes made from tiger fur, wanted to eat quickly.

[No no, look carefully. The his legs were hairy, right? Surely it has a strong taste. It will not taste good if it's not cooked well.]

The one who said that was a female ogre named Otora who was three heads taller than average woman with white skin, black hair and two horns.

They would not yield to each other. Both of their opinions clashed because they thought each of their cooking methods would make the food delicious.

And that was why they continued to argue.

[The ogre wife. Why don't you just listen to me for a while?]

The two of them still discussed about the "ingredient".

[What?]

[For your information, you shouldn't be picky of your food just because it's not delicious. You can't cook properly even if you have proper ingredients.2]

[Yeah, yeah. Even I know that…]

Food that they created unfortunately was said to be… awful by a rat-like travelling "self-proclaimed" (awful) minstrel Halfling who spat the food out after eating it.

They glanced sideways at the mountain of bones that were tied with a rough rope made of mountain vines stacked at the corner of the room.

[Although you heard it from an uninvolved person, it seems that you don't have discerning tongues. That's why I thought… do you know about the food from another world?]

They could go there if they wanted to taste it.

To prevent the other parties from realizing it, he internally smiled.

[Otherworld?] [Cuisine?]

On the other hand, the two of them seemed confused.

[Exactly. It's a different world food. Actually, once in 7 days… just today, a door to the restaurant that served otherworld food will appear around here. The food there has a reputation of being very delicious in this world.]

He got them.

With that in his mind, the rat3 kept on speaking.

[Liar.] [I have never heard of it.]

[No problem. That's the truth. I saw it when I climbed the mountain. As I said, it appears once every 7 days.

…And the alcohol there is very delicious. Gee, it's a shame.

If you want, I can give you guidance. What do you think…]

He sighed seeing the suspicion on the two's faces.

Because he didn't want to seem to be acting, he recalled the food from that restaurant and actually expressed his feelings of sympathy from his heart.

[…If he says so, why don't we keep him alive until he guides us to this restaurant?]

[…All right? If you lie, I would eat your feet while you're still alive though.]

He guessed they sniffed the truth from the rat's words.

The ogre couple said such a thing.

[Oo! That's good! Well then, I'll show you the way…]

Without being freed from the ropes that he was tied with, he was lifted and placed on a shoulder.

[Oh, let me know which way to go. I'll lift you there.]

[It would all be naught if you escape. If you don't want to be eaten alive, you realize you have to guide us properly?]

[…Okay.]

The world was not so sweet.

The rat admitted with a sigh of relief that was half regretful.

Then after they ran for roughly an hour, they arrived.

[…This is it.] [No way it's true.]

While thinking that there was something strange, the two ogres murmured while putting down the Halfling.

At their destination was a black door with a picture of a cat.

The door to the otherworld dining hall.

[Come here… the husband, I'm sorry to tell you, but could you release me from the ropes?]

If you think normally, such a door would be out of place there.

In other words, he said the truth.

Judging that, he nodded to the rat's words and tore the rope.

It was sunny and the rat was freed.

[You're welcome…]

While rubbing at his rope burns, he said that to the couple.

[Well then, open the door immediately.]

[Why? Can’t you do it yourself?]

To the rat's words, Tatsuji was suspicious.

In response to those words, the rat said sadly.

[No, but I'm hated by this door… Let me show you.]

Rat proceeded to touch the handle of the door… and showed that his hand slipped without even touching it.

[Although it's an embarra.s.sing story, I was "denied to enter" the other world. As such, I can't open the door.]

As he said that, his words were tinged with heartfelt regret.

Once, he felt ravenous and ordered a lot of food even though he didn't have any money. The price to pay was a lot.

After that, he apologized to the owner and he was forgiven, but the door did not forgive him. Even now, he couldn't open the door.

That's why the rat tried to enter the restaurant with the samurai of the Mountain Country, the onmyouji of Sea Country and the naïve princess…

And that was why it was necessary to prepare "guests who could enter" like the horrible ogre couple.

[So, husband, please open it.]

[There's no helping it.]

Prompted by the rat, Tatsuji grasped the handle.

Unlike the rat, Tatsuji's hand could grasp the handle and he opened the door.

'Chirinchirin', the door opened.

[…Well then, let's go. Follow me.]

[Yes.] [Okay.]

As he said that to Otora and the rat, Tatsuji bended down and entered the door.

That was the moment they became customers of otherworld dining hall.

It was evening at that time, but the inside of the restaurant was bright.

Tatsuji and Otora glanced around… and noticed it.

[You…] [You…]

[No, no. It's not on purpose.]

They understood the situation and looked at the rat behind them who had a deceptive face.

Inside the store, the regulars were eating and drinking as usual.

A large samurai that seemed stronger than any warrior they had seen before.

A male elf that lowered his thin sword after sensing Tatsuji's sharp thirst of blood.

A lion headed man with scars all over his body.

A high-ranking samurai from Mountain Country and an onmyouji from Sea Country with powerful magical presence.

A young woman bearing a gold holy symbol that showed that she was a high priestess of Light G.o.d with a younger priestess.

A vampire couple who drank red wine and a lamia with the lower body of a red snake eating egg wrapped in meat.

And an old magician whose power was greater than Tatsuji could ever imagine.

…Tatsuji could barely compete with even one of them. The warriors, magicians and demons were watching them while eating their meal.

They were veterans who could beat the ogre couple and Tatsuji felt afraid to be in the vicinity.

That's what he understood.

The strength of the opponents… now, if they turned the people inside the restaurant into enemies, they would be desperate to survive, let alone win against them.

It showed that it was necessary to be quiet in that restaurant.

To rampage was absurd.

[I don't think any of the dishes were this world's food and alcohol. The people who want to eat here are of mixed races.]

For now, the crisis of life had escaped.

While thinking that, the rat called the demon waitress to say his order.

[Well then, although the order is presumptuous… young lady, I want to order alcohol. Your biggest bottle of "shochu", with three cups on the rocks.

Also, for food… six roast chickens please. Make sure the shochu comes out first.

Also, just the thigh meat for roast chicken.]

[Ye, yes!]

Looking at the ogre couple, the waitress nodded to the order that was told in rapid succession in the familiar way of a regular. She then retreated to the kitchen.

[Well…both of you, please go to appropriate seats.]

The rat laughed at them as they watched.

It was the thickness of the liver peculiar to the dwarves, and it was the wind blowing wherever it gets stared. {TN: Again, I don’t understand what the author means here.}

[…The same. Remember that for later. Otora, let's go.] [Aiyo.]

Tatsuji sighed while staring at the Halfling that only reached to his knee and sat down on the well-polished floor.

And while placing his elbow to the table to a good position, he asked the rat sitting on a chair to readjust the position of his legs that could not reach the floor.

[Then, what you were asking earlier was the difference between the alcohol that we know and the other world's alcohol.]

[Oh, that's right.]

After the nodding confirmation from Otora, he proceeded to describe the perfect dish for the two of them from his own experience.

[First of all, “shochu” is an alcohol of a different world, and it has a strong taste like the alcohol that the Dwarves make. Pour it into a gla.s.s with ice… it taste supreme.]

[Ano… I brought your shochu.]

The rat's face bloomed seeing the transparent bottle of shochu that was brought.

[Thank you so much… husband, wife, your first cup.]

He hurriedly received the liquor and the gla.s.s cups from the waitress.

He then poured the shochu into the gla.s.s that contained the large, clear ice.

[It's quite a strong liquor, so please be careful.]

He poured the shochu into his own cup while advising the couple

[E. This degree of liquor… Uo!?]

After sipping his liquor, he exclaimed in surprise.

The reason was because the strong liquor was so different than the muddy wine that Tatsuji usually drank.

Though it was strong liquor, it had a soft taste to the tongue and made his throat and belly warm.

[…I'm surprised. It has a strong flavor and a nice smell.]

Otora who rolled the alcohol in her mouth was surprised at the taste. It was delicious.

The peculiar flavor of the alcohol was not as strong as the Dwarves' liquor.

On the contrary, it had a slightly sweet smell and scent, spreading gently inside their mouth.

[I see. The alcohol of otherworld is really delicious.]

Tatsuji emptied his cup and refilled his and Otora's cups.

Otora was good at cooking and drinking alcohol, but this was strong and delicious.

…It was such a satisfying taste that there were Dwarven guests drinking it.

[Hee. Every dish here is delicious, but the alcohol is also exceptional.]

The rat said to Tatsuji somewhat proudly.

As a child born from a travelling Halfling, he had known of this place since a long time ago.

…His eyes observed, and all of the "guests" that he guided here were all satisfied by his dish suggestions.

[Then, what kind of food did you order? I heard you saying "Roast Chicken".]

After the first shochu was emptied, Otora asked the rat.

Honestly, this alcohol was really delicious, so if the accompanying dish was off, it would be really disappointing.

It was such a feeling.

[Hee. It's like baking the leg of a fat bird… Oops, here it comes.]

[Sorry to keep you waiting. I brought your Roast Chicken.]

When he tried to explain the dish, the owner came bringing a big plate with a new bottle of shochu.

On the plate was 6 pieces of large roasted bird thigh meat.

Poured on top of the chicken meat was plenty of gravy made of seasoned meat juice and black pepper.

[Enjoy your meal.]

After placing their order on the middle of the table, he retreated back to the kitchen.

[This is roast chicken…]

[I guess its roasted bird meat… It looks delicious.]

Smelling the fragrant scent, the couple swallowed their saliva.

[Now, let's eat it while it's still hot. It tastes best when it's piping hot.]

The rat advised the couple while taking a piece for himself.

The couple followed the advice, picked up a piece each and took a bite at the same time.

[[Delicious!?]]

At that moment, they exclaimed in surprise when the taste struck their tongue.

It was such a wonderful taste that they could not believe that it was simply roasted.

The easily peeled skin had such a fragrant scent.

The plump and soft meat with overflowing amount of meat juice.

And the harsh pepper used in the gravy which tightened the overall taste of the meat.

The combination of those three was really mouth-watering.

[How is it? Isn't it delicious?]

To the rat's question, Tatsuji and Otora nodded their heads.

It was their first time eating such a delicious roasted meat.

[And here's the next one!]

After saying so, the rat took another bite of his meat, swallowed it and then drank his newly poured shochu.

[A~! Delicious!]

He wiped his mouth and smiled satisfactorily.

The strong liquor spread in his mouth and washed away the meat's taste.

This combination was a particularly delicious way of eating the otherworld's cuisine.

[Kkaa~! What is this!?]

[I can't wait anymore! It's too little! There's not enough meat and alcohol! Give me more!]

The couple learned from the rat and tried eating the same way.

Even though it's just meat and liquor, it's his favourite.

If it's this delicious, it's inevitable to think that's this food was not of their world.

[Come on, let's eat more. Today, I'll pay the bill.

…Aa, with Roast Chicken you can have Teriyaki or Curry flavor. That's sweet or spicy.

First of all, I want squid to match this alcohol's strong flavour. And the side dish…]

Glancing at the couple engrossed on the food and alcohol, he quickly said his reorders.

And the two of them steadily ate the food and the alcohol that came one after another…

When he noticed it, it was daytime already.

[Uu…]

At the summit of the mountain where there was a door the day before, Tatsuji heavily sat up.

[Oh, my head…]

Due to drinking too yesterday, his head was throbbing painfully.

The alcohol named "shochu" was strong. It was too strong.

For Alcohol, Tatsuji and Otora had only known the muddy wine that they usually drank. As a result of drinking too much alcohol, the both of them became drunk.

[Oi… get up…]

Shaking his head, he told the sleeping Otora to wake up.

[Uu… I don't feel good…]

Otora seemed to suffer from a hangover too and her movements were sluggish.

[…Apparently, it seems that he has escaped…]

Unnoticed, the Halfling was not there anymore.

Even if they pursued him, they couldn't catch up to him anymore. They didn't know where to head to anyway.

[Whatever…]

He murmured absently.

Yesterday's memories were blurry, but he remembered it.

The door would appear once every 7 days.

It was strictly prohibited to go out of control there as it was impossible for ridiculous customers to ever return to the restaurant.

As long as the owner was paid by the money that the humans used, he would serve food and alcohol even to demons.

…And the food and alcohol there was very good.

[6 days later…]

[That's true…]

He murmured vaguely.

Let's go again next time. They'll use the money they stored that they had no use before.

While holding their throbbing head, they returned home while feeling determined.

Shochu – Shōchū() is a j.a.panese distilled beverage less than 45% alcohol by volume. It is typically distilled from rice (kome), barley (mugi), sweet potatoes (satsuma-imo), buckwheat (soba), or brown sugar (kokutō), though it is sometimes produced from other ingredients such as chestnut, sesame seeds, potatoes or even carrots.  アタイならちゃんと美味しく料理できんだからね - I don't understand what this means. The rat refers to the Halfling.