Chapter 37: This is a Fake, Right?! (Patreon)

"Pandora... miss, are you... enjoying it?"

Watching Pandora eat her rice at an unhurried pace, Tishua asked, her voice trembling.

"Mm, the food here is wonderful."

After swallowing a mouthful of fish-fragrant shredded pork over rice, Pandora nodded.

It was true — this was the first time she'd ever eaten to such satisfaction.

"Don't worry, I'll pay for it later."

Seeming to sense something, Pandora waved a hand.

"No..." Fribal shook his head at that. "Compared to that..."

He paused.

"Miss Pandora, are you... serious?"

Though Pandora's table manners weren't exactly elegant, paired with her face, watching her eat was absolutely a first-rate pleasure. But...

He looked at the empty plates stacked in front of Pandora — all that remained of the "enemies" she'd wiped out.

In an instant, shock rippled through all three of them!

"Oh, that? No need to worry."

Pandora said with an easy smile, entirely unconcerned.

"..."

Seeing that Pandora had nothing more to add, all three of them broke into a cold sweat.

"Miss Pandora..." By now, Tishua had set down her utensils. "Aren't you... worried you'll... grow out of your clothes?"

That was the more polite way of putting it. As for the blunter version...

"Mm... no need to worry about that either."

Was she afraid of getting fat? Well... if that day ever came, it would have to be the day she died (though, of course, she couldn't actually die...). After all, as long as she wasn't dead, her Authority would still be with her — and with her Authority...

"Then... never mind..."

Hearing that, Tishua covered her face.

Judging by Pandora's tone, the meaning was clear — no matter how much she ate, she'd never gain weight...

That was the kind of "buff" so many women dreamed of having!

...

Before long,

"That'll do. Thank you for the meal."

Seeing that all three had set down their utensils, Pandora felt it would be a bit awkward to keep unleashing her "bottomless pit" appetite.

"I know these few gold coins definitely won't be enough..." At this point, Pandora took a napkin and wiped her mouth. "So, since my money's back at the inn, would it be alright if you covered it for now? I'll pay you back once I return to the inn."

She couldn't help it — that big pouch, even if it wasn't very heavy (in her own opinion), who wanted to lug it around all the time?

"Of course." Seeing Pandora finally stop, the three of them quietly let out a breath of relief.

They all had the same feeling — if Pandora were allowed to eat without restraint, she could clean out every scrap of food in the restaurant, storeroom included.

That was the perfectly "reasonable and well-founded" conclusion they'd reached after glancing at Pandora's perfectly flat stomach.

"Well, thank you very much for that." Hearing this, Pandora smiled too. "In that case, I'll just..."

She trailed off, stopping suddenly.

"Miss Pandora, what's wrong?"

"I... I wanted to ask..."

"Yes...?"

"If I wanted to go back the way we came... which way would that be?"

"..."

That left the three of them stunned for a full five seconds.

Good grief, they'd actually forgotten this was Pandora's first time in the royal capital...

"It's fine, we'll just take you back."

"Okay, thanks."

Then, after a brief round of tidying up, just as everyone was about to head out...

Knock knock knock.

"Come in."

"My lords and lady, I'm terribly sorry to disturb you..." The waiter stepped in. "The situation's grown a bit complicated. Would you be willing to lower yourselves to leave through the back door?"

Tishua asked, puzzled, "Did something happen?"

"Well... it might be because of Lord Sword Saint, or it might be because of that young lady — the mood out in the main hall has gotten a bit off..."

This was information he'd only managed to deliver by steeling himself and walking straight through a barrage of razor-sharp stares.

"See, I told you..." Fribal sighed. "Wasn't I right?"

Out on the street earlier, causing a scene probably wouldn't have looked good, so passersby had kept their reactions to themselves — but inside the restaurant...

"No... it could still be for Mister Sword Saint..."

Even as she said it, she didn't quite believe herself — because on their way to the private room, those stares had clearly all been aimed at her!

For the first time, it occurred to her that this "Divine Protection" of being the "world's most beautiful" wasn't just useless — it was downright troublesome!

"A-alright..." Tishua's expression turned complicated. "I'll just leave the money here, then."

She pulled five Holy Gold Coins from her coat.

Five Holy Gold Coins for a meal this small...

Pandora thought to herself, watching this.

Her earlier plan to keep dining here in the future got "erased" before it could even take root.

The waiter looked troubled. "I'm sorry, but as you all know, the manager has said your meals are never to be charged, so..."

That was something the manager had told him a year ago, back when he'd first started working here...

"Now then, this isn't a small sum, and fair value for fair price is a merchant's principle..." Veltol cut in, right on cue. "We never intended to break that principle from the start."

"But..."

"Right, let's go."

Though the restaurant was large and its corridors a maze, Veltol and Tishua had been here dozens of times and knew the place well.

"Safe travels..."

The waiter could only bow to the four departing backs as he said it.

...

"This way."

Looking at the staircase marked "Staff Passage" ahead, Veltol turned back to Pandora, her white robes fluttering, and said—

"Mm."

Was this some kind of game? It felt rather thrilling...

Of course, going down the staff passage, they naturally ran into other staff members — but these clearly recognized Veltol and the others, so they merely offered a slight bow of greeting.

Fortunately, with Veltol and the other two leading the way in front, the staff never got a clear look at Pandora's face. Otherwise... well, actually, nothing much would've happened anyway...

After a stretch of "arduous trekking," the four of them finally made it out through the back door.

A full moon already hanging in the sky announced that night had long since fallen.

[Author's Note: Please give flowers! Please share! Please add to your collection!]