Chapter 293: Diner Worry
———Fiss———
<1: 57 pm>
…It feels kinda awkward to join these two. They’re clearly close friends and I’m kind of a stranger, but I guess at least it’s not a bigger group? Anything I could say would’ve probably gotten drowned out during the conversation.
“So how is your arm doing?” Lynda spoke up first as we waited for the food to arrive.
“Like I said, it was only a graze, otherwise it would’ve been mangled by now.” The rabbitgirl said before showing the bruise on her left arm. It looks kinda bad, should she really be showing that out in the open?
“Haaah… I told you that going into the dungeon with no rest day is a bad idea…” Lynda complained. “Make sure to get that checked out at some point.”
“I know what I’m doing.” The other girl said in response. “At least we got pretty deep into the dungeon. We got some potions, right?”
“...Yeah, but you also said you don’t wanna use it.” Lynda pointed out. “Did you ever use that… high-frequency cutter or whatever? It’s hard to tell at a glance.”
“I didn’t. We never got to the point where risking my weapon breaking would’ve been worth it.” She answered. “...So, what about this girl?”
“Nothing. She’s not a local here so I’m bringing her along… Why were you strolling around, actually? You usually holed up in your room, didn't you?” Lynda began explaining before asking me a question.
“It’s been a long while since I got out to get some fresh air. My parents were doing the same. Staying indoors even in that weird corridor was just not it.” I answered. Even with that fancy thing it still doesn’t quite match being outdoors. “...So you two were in the dungeon before this?”
“Yeah, just doing a casual run, at least that was the plan…” Lynda explained, sounding quite annoyed. “Hundred floors is just not casual.”
“For someone like Karra or Emmie, perhaps it is.” The rabbitgirl remarked.
“Luik, don’t bring them up.” Lynda said, clearly frustrated. I guess those are some of the outliers. “Anyway, we were caught up in that and now we’re hella tired and beaten up. We need a lot of calories to fill back up to full.”
“I see…” Hundred is a big number and the last time I went to the local dungeon I don’t think I even broke thirty. I think the average was fifty or something? That’s what I heard just from school rumors. “How much did you even buy? The cheesesteaks, I mean.”
“A lot. Obviously since you didn’t exert yourself you shouldn’t eat more than two, but I ain’t gonna stop you in case you’re peckish.” Lynda said. “...Don’t eat the mystery meat stuff though. Or maybe limit yourself to just one full sandwich.”
“Mystery meat?” What the heck does she mean by that?
“A recent menu using some… exotic leftover meats they have. They’re very hard to eat through but it’s significantly cheaper than the normal menu, so it’s basically almost free. Adventurers love coming to get those to fill their stomachs after their hard work.” Lynda explained. So a cheap alternative of what I think is the local’s favorite…
“...Is that even legal?” It sounds kinda fishy to serve something without disclosing what kind of meat it is. Why does she try to dodge around naming the meat, if she even knows it?
“Who cares. I like that there is a cheap option. Us fighters need to eat a whole lot. When you output much more strength and speed than a normal human, you also end up needing a lot of nutrients as well.” Lynda doesn’t seem to care about how shady it sounds.
“Indeed. Otherwise the adventurers would’ve starved and bankrupted themselves from the increased food intake. You probably don't feel it because the school lets everyone eat as much as they want with no impunity, and from the sound of it you don’t go to the dungeon often anyway.” The rabbitgirl chimed in. I have heard something about that hidden cost, but I never take it to heart because I barely exert myself to that level. Yesterday’s incident doesn’t even really count, right? It’s supposedly a simulation so nothing is quite real or consequential. I didn’t feel like I was starving back then.
“...Oh look, the first batch is coming in. Bunch of mystery meats.” Lynda remarked as a waiter placed down six sandwiches filled with ground meat and cheese. “I think you should at least try one before the normal batch comes in.”
“Okay?” I said in confusion before taking one long sandwich for myself. I have no idea how they’re supposed to eat up everything. “Mh… Umh…”
“Need some water?” Lynda asked once I got a few bites of it.
“...I’m fine. Quite gamey I guess.” Why does it feel suffocating to eat? I was taking it slow and yet it felt like it was gonna choke me. Aside from that I’m not really feeling too bad? I guess?
“That’s good.” The one called Luik said. What the heck is that supposed to convey!? “Despite how you might feel, it is still a nutritious meal. You should eat up and get used to it.”
“...Alright then.” The school does provide generous welfare for everyone that had to move to this town due to the underlying danger, but I guess I shouldn’t say that out loud.
…Ignoring the weird feeling I get from eating it that is akin to being threatened, it is very gamey with only the seasoning and cheese making it feel palatable. It tastes kinda like those cheap but healthy cuts most people don’t like to eat. I’m not gonna complain about those if I had to eat it, but I prefer something that tastes a bit cleaner.
“Where did you get the money to spend on all this food anyway?” Lynda asked the other girl.
“One good run with a bunch of potions, selling it at that place.” She answered with vague wordings. Am I supposed to know where she is talking about or not?
“Hope it’s only just that.” Lynda said before she continued eating, clearly quite skeptical of her companion’s statement. They don’t look bothered by the taste of the sandwiches despite what they were saying earlier. I guess they were used to it at this point.
“This place is as lively as the last time.” I remarked after finishing this weird sandwich I’ve been given. There’s a lot of people and it feels like the diner is close to being completely crowded.
“It’s always lively. Being a local favorite with affordable and tasty food will do that. It helps that this diner is decently sized.” Lynda chimed in. “...When did this place come to be again? It felt like it had been busy for decades straight.”
“I think it was over fifty years? It’s been a really long time.” Luik said with uncertainty. “It had always been a reliable place to get fed even in the olden days. I think I have heard some older folks saying that the place had been well-maintained with very little changes since its inception.”
“That long? More you know, I guess.” Lynda replied. This place is that ancient…
“A nice constant to have for the current world climate. From my understanding its cheap price had barely fluctuated as well.” Luik added some details. “A place with a lot of merit that it’s actually quite a miracle that they aren’t completely cooked all day every day.”
“Hey now, even something this delicious gets stale after a while. It’s also a bit of a one-trick pony as well, not a lot of diversity in the menu.” Lynda chimed in. “Also some day the place is completely packed, let’s not forget that.”
Luik doesn’t seem to care about that remark as she finishes her second sandwich. How many are they actually gonna eat?
“So… Uhh…” I feel like I should at least ask them something, since I’m here. Start some conversation of my own. “Why do you two seem to fight a lot?”
“It’s just thrilling.” Lynda replied first. “I was always someone who tends to push myself physically, so this is the next step in that. Maybe an ulterior motive or two, considering how much there is to gain by mastering combat and magic.”
“Same on my end, though I wouldn’t confess to perhaps having such a motive in mind.” Luik replied next.
“...Is it really that simple? Aren’t there a lot of risks?” Things done in the P.E. class was mostly for self-defense, right? We really don’t need to do more than that, and yet…
“So what? The reward is great. There is an exhilarating feeling that comes with getting stronger. Kinda like body builders getting more jacked and caring more about that than their life expectancy being cut in half.” Lynda explained. Is there any difference there? Like, actually? “...Did you pay attention during P.E. class at all?”
“I did as asked?” I know there are lectures on some days but they just want us to exercise at the end of the day, right?
“...Nevermind. Missing a few lessons is fine. Mostly trivias anyway.” Lynda said while looking quite annoyed. What the heck did I even do? “Just do whatever you want. You’re not alone in not paying that much attention to the few key points they’re saying anyway, otherwise we might’ve actually had a slim chance against Emmie.”
“In fairness, most people aren’t looking to even be able to survive against her, their goal is probably much more humble than that if they had anything.” Luik chimed in. “I do think the lack of drive is concerning with all the opportunities they provide us, but if that’s their choice, then we can do nothing but sit back and watch.”
“It’s what happened when there wasn’t a need to get stronger for survival. Our little town is so safe that no one is really incentivised to do that.” Lynda said. She’s talking like she wants this place to not be safe, which is kinda weird. “...I just kinda hope they don’t stop extending their protection for… I don’t know, ten years?”
“I think it would probably go on for longer than that, so that’s plenty of time for people to realize.” Realize… what? I can’t follow their conversation at all.
“Yeah, hopefully.” …No answer on that? “I guess we could just chill and not think too much about it. Fiss, do you think you’ll be fine once you return home?”
“Huh?” What does that question even mean?
“Do you think by the time you returned to your hometown, would it be safe enough to live in? Not afraid of anything happening there?” Lynda asked and I…
“I really don’t want to think about that.” Hopefully by the time we return it would’ve already sorted itself out. That kind of talk is a pretty heavy topic ain’t it?
“...I see. I ain’t gonna press you on that, honestly not my problem.” She ominously said. “Kinda been a while now, where is the normal batch?”
“Don’t be hasty, this place is very busy at the moment.” The rabbitgirl replied. “As for that comment, perhaps a bit too heavy for someone who isn’t looking for a fight.”
“Eh? Is it that bad?” Lynda said while scratching her head. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s nothing. I never bother to really think about it.” I said, not really caring all that much. I get what she’s saying, but I don’t have the energy to think that far ahead.
“Trying to not worry about too many things? Can’t blame you on that front.” Lynda said. “At least it’s better than people trying to search for trouble. Those can be quite a headache.”
Before the conversation could continue, the next batch of sandwiches finally came in.
“Here we go.” Lynda said before grabbing one for herself. I’m honestly feeling a bit full from the last one already. My stomach still feels kinda funny. “Let’s dig in and ignore any worries for a while. Like I said, try to not think about troubles if it bothers you that much.”