﻿\setgamedatatitle("Rebecca_03")

\text
――The labyrinth tavern.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Here you go, two set meals as ordered.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Oh, I've been waiting. ...Well, maybe not that long.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
It was ready right after we ordered. For lunch, there are
only two set meals, and the more expensive one just has a
few extra items, so it's no wonder it's quick.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
But the contents change daily, so there's a lot of variety.
It makes you want to come every day... It's a clever system.

\endtext

\text
Inside the tavern, the previous gloom has vanished, replaced
by a lively and cheerful atmosphere.
\endtext

\text
Soldiers come in one after another, enjoying their meals and
conversations before leaving with smiles.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmm... They all look like they're having fun.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Yes. It's an unexpected benefit. Now that everyone eats
here, communication within the army has improved.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
There are fewer fights, and there's more interaction between
different units as well.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
So what were they doing for meals before this?

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
It seems they used to go out into town. Not every meal,
but...
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
They'd buy ingredients, gather in groups, and eat together
like that.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
So that's why there was trash and leftovers scattered all
over the labyrinth...
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Yes, thanks to this, the labyrinth's hygiene has improved a
lot too.
\endtext

\text
――For neat-freak Risbell, that must be a very welcome
result.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
And, this is something I was hoping for from the start,
but―the overall finances of our army have also improved
greatly.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Oh? Is that thanks to this tavern?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
That's right. According to the latest financial report
Rebecca-san submitted―
\endtext

\text
Risbell rummages through some documents.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
The tavern itself is no longer running a chronic deficit;
it's actually turning a profit. But even bigger is―

\endtext

\text("Caym")
The soldiers spend their pay here. ...So the money stays
within the army.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Exactly. The renovation costs have already been recovered.
...It was a bargain.

\endtext

\text
Risbell smiles brightly, truly happy from the bottom of her
heart.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(…Seriously, it's only at times like this that this bitch
shows that kind of expression.)
\endtext

\text
Anything related to money... or rather, anything that leads
to strengthening the Demon Lord's army.
\endtext

\text
Risbell's joy and passion are ultimately devoted to that
goal.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Anyway, let's eat before it gets cold. ...Let's dig in.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Let's eat.
\endtext

\text
Together, the two of them reach for their set meals at the
same time.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
This is... delicious. I can see why the soldiers are so
happy to come eat here.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmm... well, it's not bad.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
It's plenty tasty, really. Munch munch...
\endtext

\text
Risbell busily brings her fork to her mouth.
\endtext

\text
On the other hand, Caym doesn't seem all that interested,
poking at the food on his plate as if he has no choice.
\endtext

\text
Lunchtime has already passed. By the time the two finish
eating, the once-crowded tavern is almost empty.

\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
Sorry to keep you waiting, Caym. And you too, Liz-chan.
\endtext

\text
Rebecca comes over to their table, untying the cord that had
been holding up her hair.

\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
Sorry I'm late. I still can't leave the kitchen entirely to
those kids yet.

\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
...So, what did you think? About today's lunch?

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Ah... it was really delicious.
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
Really? I'm glad to hear that... But what about you, Caym?

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmm... it wasn't that bad. But if I had to say, it was a bit
lacking. I wouldn't come here just to eat.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
No way! That's rude, Caym-sama.
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
It's fine, Liz-chan. Hehe... Caym's always been picky about
food.

\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
Back then too... when Caym started renting a room at my
place, he always found something to complain about with the
food.
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
Some of the staff got mad and called him a fussy customer...
but honestly, he always pointed out the real issues.

\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
―I never imagined he was royalty, though. No wonder he has
such a refined palate.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
I've always been picky about food. No matter your
background, there are people who don't care about taste.

\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
Yeah, yeah. ...But thanks to you, my kitchen staff got a lot
better.
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
Now, whenever we have a new menu item, we naturally have
Caym taste-test it. We started getting more customers who
came just for the food...
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
I was able to grow my place so much thanks in part to having
Caym around.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hm? Is that so... Then you could've given me a discount on
the rent.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Caym-sama, that's so stingy...
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
Ufufu... Anyway, the reason I asked you here today, Caym...

\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
...Bring it out.
\endtext

\text
Saying that, Rebecca raises her hand and calls out to
someone behind her.
\endtext

\text
Following her instructions, four goblins each bring a deep
dish and line them up on the table.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Ah...! That's the stew!
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
That's right. Our special menu item. It's so special that we
only serve it occasionally―it's our secret specialty.

\endtext

\text
Once you've tasted it, you can't forget it―so by only
serving it occasionally, we get customers coming in hoping,
I wonder if they have it today?
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
But actually, there's another reason why we don't serve it
too often these days.
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
―So, are you two still hungry?

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Yes! If it's this stew, I could eat as many bowls as you
give me!
\endtext

\text("Caym")
So, you want us to compare these two bowls of stew, right?

\endtext

\text
Rebecca nods with a smile. In front of each of them are two
bowls of stew.

\endtext

\text
Cream stew with potatoes. They look and smell almost exactly
the same.
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
One bowl was made by me. The other―was made by them.

\endtext

\text
Behind Rebecca, the goblins who brought the dishes are lined
up, looking nervous.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...I see. So that's what this is about.
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
Yes, they want to serve this to customers...

\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
But I think it's still too soon for that. Rather than just
explaining why, I thought it'd be faster for you two to
actually try it yourselves.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Understood. Well then, let's eat! Nom...!

\endtext

\text
Unable to hold back any longer, Risbell grabs a spoon and
immediately brings the stew to her mouth.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Wow... It's just as delicious as ever. The potatoes are so
fluffy!
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Both bowls... the seasoning is perfect. This is really
delicious.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmm... Do you really think so, Risbell?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Huh...? Ah, yes. I think both bowls are really tasty.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Honestly... For someone who makes such a fuss about
everything else, I think I finally understand why you're so
careless when it comes to food.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Huh? Are you saying I have no sense of taste? Well, unlike
you, Caym-sama, I didn't grow up eating fancy food...

\endtext

\text
Rebecca watches over the two of them with a smile as they
eat and chat.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Alright, I've figured it out.
\endtext

\text
With a click, Caym sets his spoon on the plate. Only one of
the bowls in front of him is completely empty.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
This is what you meant, right, Rebecca?
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
Impressive. The one you just finished was the stew I made.
...Did you notice what was different?

\endtext

\text("Caym")
I don't cook, so I can't say for sure... but it's the
potatoes. And also, just a bit, the carrots.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Risbell, compare the potatoes in the bowls on your left and
right.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Huh? Oh, okay... Ah, wait!?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
You're right, they're different...! The potatoes in the
right bowl keep their shape perfectly... but they're fluffy
all the way through! So hot!
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
And this one... nom! The surface is melting away, but the
inside is still kind of raw... nom nom

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
And the stew's flavor gets muddied by the potatoes that have
melted into it. Yep, the one on the right is yours,
Rebecca-san!
\endtext

\text
That must have been the correct answer. At Risbell's
response, the goblins dressed as cooks all hang their heads
in unison.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmm, that's interesting. ...You used the same ingredients
for both, right? So why is there such a difference?

\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
I'd like to say it's love... but really, it's about care and
attention.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Like how you cut the potatoes and carrots?
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
That's part of it... but for my stew, I carefully skim off
the scum and slowly simmer it from cold water.

\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
Yours was boiled quickly over high heat, right? You did skim
off the scum, though.

\endtext

\text
The goblins nod vigorously at Rebecca's observation.

\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
That's really all there is to it. They brought it to a boil
all at once... The scum rises up all at once too, so it's
easy to skim.
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
But I simmered mine slowly... so naturally, the scum comes
up little by little.
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
That's why, even during the busy lunch rush, I kept an eye
on the stew and skimmed the scum whenever I had a moment.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Just from that... using the same ingredients and recipe, the
texture can end up so different.

\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
Yes. They're cooks too. They should know that vegetables are
less likely to fall apart if you simmer them slowly from
cold water.
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
...It's the same with other recipes. Little by little,
they've been changing what I taught them, making it quicker
and easier to prepare.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
So... that's why you weren't satisfied with the set meal
earlier, Caym-sama.
\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
Exactly. It's fine for now since I'm here. But at this rate,
I'll never be able to leave this place in their hands.

\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
...Huh? What? You'd rather stay half-trained forever than
have me leave? That's not going to cut it...

\endtext

\text
Surrounded by goblins with pitiful faces, Rebecca has her
sleeve tugged. Seeing this, Caym lets out a small chuckle.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Well, Rome wasn't built in a day when it comes to cooking.
Keep working at it, you guys.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
But all you did was eat, Caym-sama... Oh, thank you for the
meal.
\endtext

\text
Risbell follows after Caym and leaves the tavern.

\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
Alright, I'm not done whipping you all into shape yet, so be
ready!
\endtext

\text
With her hands on her hips, Rebecca flashes a sharp smile.
The goblins tremble, but look happy nonetheless.

\endtext

\text("Rebecca")
Still, I'm impressed, Caym. ...You're looking pretty cool
these days.
\endtext

\text
Narrowing her eyes, Rebecca watches Caym as he leaves.

\endtext