WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS
Translator: Abood
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Saviour Embarks on a Nameless Journey
Chapter 20: Wandering Whims
I woke with the sunrise, only to find Pya sleeping on my stomach. Should I just leave it here? Marius would probably come collect it…
The moment I thought that, Pya jolted awake with a start, scrambling onto my back with a series of indignant cries.
"Pyaa~"
"Wouldn’t you be better off with Marius? He’d pamper you more,"
I asked the protesting fluffball.
Not to brag, but I’ve never once found pet-like creatures ‘cute,’ nor have I bothered caring for one. At best, I acknowledge that most people would consider it adorable.
"Fine, whatever."
I sighed as Pya clung tighter to my back. What am I supposed to do with this thing? Until yesterday, Marius had been the one occasionally talking to it, though never excessively doting.
Eh. As long as I feed it, that’s enough.
I drew water from the well and prepared breakfast—leftover vegetable stew from last night, the same menu as before.
"Here."
I held out a piece of cheese-topped bread behind me without looking, while toasting my own portion over the fire with my free hand.
"Here."
Dried apples this time.
It should manage this on its own. Once I’d handed over the apples, I ate quickly and got ready to leave.
"Let’s go."
I gave the demon horse a dried apple too, patting its neck lightly to keep it cooperative.
The path from the abandoned village to town was overgrown with grass and young trees stretching their spindly branches skyward. Still, compared to yesterday’s mountain trail, it was smooth going. The demon horse pushed through the vegetation with ease.
◇ ◆ ◇
"Hey, two plates over here."
After a day's ride on the demon horse along the main road, I stopped to eat at Palun Village. The difference between a town and a village? Walls around the settlement, and whether a lord lives there. Palun was large for a village, but had no walls, just a bailiff managing things.
This was a new village, built by refugees from that destroyed town after the Demon King's defeat. Technically under a count's domain, but Palun seemed livelier than the count's own town. Guess people thrive better without some troublesome noble breathing down their necks.
At the tavern, I asked what they had today. Flat noodles tossed with minced beef and mushroom sauce, they said.
"Hey now, even I can't just hand food to my back here, we'll look suspicious. Want to eat? Then get up front."
"Pyaa~"
After my whispered warning, it wriggled around to my lap, then stretched up to plant its front paws on the table.
Most likely, only I could see Pya's form and hear its voice right now. Probably. At least, I didn't sense any unusual stares from the other customers.
I'd changed my hairstyle before entering the village too, just braided the long hair I normally tied back and brought it forward. The circulated portraits showed me with black hair, and most of my statues depicted my hair dramatically arcing behind me like frozen waves.
This simple change seemed to significantly alter my appearance enough that no whispers or suspicious glances came my way as I waited for my food in the crowded tavern.
Bits of gossip drifted to my ears. Bountiful wheat harvests in some town, trending accessories, roads blocked by monsters, and a certain lord raising taxes.
If rumors had spread this far, troops might have already been dispatched to deal with the monsters. Should I head toward those infested roads? Not like I had any fixed itinerary anyway.
"Here you go!"
I exchanged coins for the steaming dish.
Before me lay slightly yellow flat noodles tangled in a crumbly brown sauce, topped with a single red chili pepper right at the center. A closer look revealed the sauce contained minced meat, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and plenty of chili slices, though slightly blackened.
"Pya, you sure you can handle spicy food?"
There was no way this wasn't fiery.
When Pya gave no clear response, I offered a tentative bite. The creature immediately flattened itself against my knees under the table, clearly defeated.
"Sorry, got anything less spicy?"
I asked a passing server.
"Only non-spicy option today's braised shank stew,"
they answered without breaking stride.
"Bring that too,"
I called after their busy figure.
In this village, only this tavern and the inn served meals, and ours was the sole establishment open since noon. Packed with travelers like me and villagers who didn’t cook at home, the place buzzed with activity.
Once I confirmed my extra order with the server, I turned to the dish before me, Palun’s specialty. While braised shank stew could be found anywhere, this was the dish I’d wanted to try here.
I twirled the noodles around my fork and took a bite. Damn, spicy, but good. The heat carried subtle tomato tartness and onion sweetness, while the flat noodles which are often bland, mildly tempered the fire.
Pya stared up from my lap with betrayed eyes, but delicious was delicious. The problem was Pya’s childlike palate, not the food.
Halfway through the noodles, the shank stew arrived. Expecting tomatoes or wine broth, I instead found beef shank, daikon radish, and boiled egg, an odd variation. Hmph. The name misled me.
I took a bite to test the flavor, an unexpectedly refreshing stew with ginger that bloomed after swallowing. Interesting.
"Here, try this."
Should’ve ordered this from the start, I thought while offering Pyaa some shank meat.
This time, it sniffed cautiously before nibbling. Better not tell me it hates ginger too.
"Pya—"
Approval. It liked this one.
Then came its obsession with the boiled egg. No!! one egg per bowl! Settle for the daikon you little glutton, it’s tasty too!
Footnotes:
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