Chapter 14.4 (1/2)

Chapter 14.4

「So even if we swapped people around, that wouldn’t count as a preventive measure?」

Haruna pinpointed the most troublesome issue from what she could affirm from the report. If they had made it seem like he was doing work as usual, it had to be enough to quell suspicion, or else it was futile.

「That is essentially the idea. Well, thanks to Hiroshi, we were able to narrow things down to tea leaves and mealtime, so it’s probably way better than before. At worst, he could pretend to eat the food and have you people secretly make something.」

「You’re fine with that, despite being royalty…?」

「Yeah, even I think that’s going a bit too far…」

Makoto held her head at how roundabout Layotte was being. Meanwhile, Haruna just said what came to mind at those strange words. By this point, they no longer felt the sort of apprehension or prudence that was accompanied by royalty. Well, in the first place, they no longer had such things around Layotte in private situations like these anyway.

「Sure, but if that’s the case, don’t we have a more simple thang?」

「Simple?」

「Yeah, how ’bout this?」

Hiroshi said, and out of his belongings came…

「Instant ramen!?」

「It’s the freaking cup variety!」

「Hey, Hiroshi-kun. First a miso maker, now this? How exactly are you…?」

「You even have the package perfectly replicated. That’s Sensei for you…」

Indeed, it was a famous brand of instant ramen. Just as Mio had commented, he had carefully and perfectly replicated everything up to the package. As for the variety, there were only two types of cup ramen and two types of bag ramen, but it was true that these were perfect for secretly eating later.

「And when’d you even complete these?」

「Steadily while Haruna was workin’ at the stand. Like the egg pockets or the taste of the soup, it was purty difficult replicatin’ all that.」

「I know this always happens, but why are you always fine with expending your effort in these sorts of areas…」

By this point, Makoto could only feel powerless at just how screwed up Hiroshi’s priorities were. Still, despite making such a comment, she did not let go of the cup ramen in her hand.

「And what might this be?」

「Other than this miso ramen, the others are noodles that can usually be eaten within one to three minutes after pourin’ boiling water.」

「Oh? And they’re tasty?」

「They aren’t exactly the best examples of super tasty food, but they’re great for those who like them, I guess? Everything here, I personally like for the most part.」

「Haruna-san, I didn’t know ya ate instant ramen ’n the other things too. Figured yer family was super particular over the food they ate, bein’ super celebs ’n all, so I didn’t think ya’d even pay attention to these.」

Haruna wryly smiled at what Hiroshi had said. True, her mother was a world-renowned million-hit singer, and her father was a popular actor, so there was no denying that they were extreme celebrities. Also, even in relation to the daily meals, her great-grandfather from her father’s side of the family was someone who had worked as a head chef at a first-rate Tokyo traditional Japanese restaurant, so it was also true that her father was super obsessed with the kind of food they ate. Even for her mother, perhaps because she ate such good meals, she was super good at cooking to the point where even Haruna and her younger sister knew how to cook meals. However, it wasn’t like their parents would be dedicated to the point where they left food for both girls every time they were gone. Whenever it was just too much to cook, they would do things like put vegetables into bag ramen or even just eat cup ramen.

「Well, in terms of nutritional balance, it isn’t something too good for your body, so it’s also true that we never ate it all that frequently.」

「Hm. You say that it isn’t good for your body, but it seems like everyone else doesn’t pay it any mind. What’s that about?」

「I guess it just shows that the worse something is for you, the more enjoyable?」

Haruna wryly smiled as she answered Layotte’s query, gazing at the three people discussing this with such fervence. In actuality, it was difficult to recommend it to anyone in terms of nutritional balance, but neither was it so bad that it caused illness. In the first place, the person who invented instant ramen would always eat a meal of ramen per day until they died at a ripe age of 96, so no one could exactly say that it was fatal to one’s health.

「Okay, so we still haven’t eaten lunch. Wanna try it out?」

「We’re able to?」

「Well yeah. Ya just pour hot water into the cup ones, and all ya need for the non-miso ramen bags are a don ’n hot water.」

「A don, you say?」

「This is what it looks like.」

The king closely gazed at the donburi that Hiroshi pulled out of his belongings. There was nearly no food that was made in Farlane that was piled into bowls like these. Incidentally, Layotte had already eaten soba in a workshop, so he knew about donburi.

「So all we need to do is procure some hot water?」

「Heck, I can even get ya some right now.」

As always, their conversation had totally shifted to eating. While wryly smiling at that fact, Haruna, who was the most composed out of anyone, made a comment.

「It’s all well and good to test out food, but are we all done with the briefing?」

「Ah, right. Somethin’ I wanted to confirm with ya.」

「Confirm?」

「Before the luncheon and evenin’ party, would it be possible to bring in and drink potions?」

Layotte made a quizzical face at the word “potion”. Meanwhile, as if sensing what he was trying to say, the king was contemplating something for a bit.

「Could you be more specific as to what you mean?」

「A few panaceas as a precaution to poison. If we mix it in a bit, it’d clear away practically all poison within six hour’s time. And well, from the ingredients we got on hand, we can only go up to Level 4 in terms of healin’.」