Chapter 231 - The Lodging (Part 2)
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When they guided me to the dining hall, it had an atmosphere somewhat similar to the bedroom. A long, thick table stood in the center, and the walls and pillars bore luxurious decorations. Several small chandeliers hung from the ceiling, though the brightness appeared to be adjusted.
The light from the lamps attached to the surrounding pillars and the light from above created a slightly dim atmosphere, yet the ambiance was quite pleasant.
The chairs had rounded backrests and stood as tall as a person's height. I wondered why a dining hall needed chairs this large. They looked heavy and seemed difficult to use.
As I was thinking that, two maids silently pulled out the chairs and looked at me.
"Thank you."
I hesitated for a moment, but it was clear they were making it easier for me to sit, so I obediently thanked them and took my seat. Across the table, Glenn similarly took his place. Then, as if they had been waiting for that moment, dishes appeared on the table all at once.
The maids took turns bringing in dishes and arranging them on the table, and in no time, the table was filled with what appeared to be a full-course French meal.
A large whole fish wrapped in herbs, a vibrant salad of fruits and vegetables. There was also a dish of chicken steamed with vegetables, a pasta-like noodle dish, and even a warm orange-colored soup. Of course, there was also the mountain of the soft bread Glenn had requested.
"Oh, I never expected them to prepare such a magnificent dinner."
Glenn looked thoroughly pleased. The butler nodded in satisfaction at that, placed a hand on his chest, and spoke.
"This facility was built to welcome individuals in important positions from other nations. In other words, this facility, like the royal castle, is a place where we display our nation's highest level of hospitality to our guests. We will make every effort to accommodate any request from our guests. If we receive words of praise from our guests as a result, it would be the greatest honor for us."
When the butler said that, Glenn nodded back.
"Yes, yes. When I return to Fiddiq Academy, I will tell everyone that the Karvan Kingdom gave us a wonderful welcome. Now then, let us dig in."
"Indeed. The food looks delicious, so I would like to eat it before it gets cold."
Glenn cut the conversation with the butler short and turned his attention to the array of dishes. I was hungry as well, so I followed suit. Seeing that, the butler gave a wry smile and bowed.
"My apologies. Then, please do call us if you have any further requests. We will leave only the minimum number of staff so as not to disturb the two of you."
With that, the butler left the dining hall along with the maids. Only two maids remained — likely one assigned to Glenn and the other to me.
"Oh, this is delicious! The bread is wonderfully flavorful too."
Before I knew it, Glenn had already started eating. It must have been quite to his liking, as he enjoyed his meal with a beaming smile.
"I am glad to hear that. However, were you not worried earlier about them pulling something?"
I asked that as I used my knife and fork to cut into the dishes. I pressed the knife into the steamed chicken out of curiosity, and it was surprisingly tender. The sauce had a whitish hue and carried a faint hint of spice.
Glenn chewed his bread, laughed, and waved one hand left and right.
"No, I did have those worries at first, but with this level of hospitality, I am sure it is fine. Everyone seems like good people, and the food is very delicious too."
Glenn spoke cheerfully. It seemed that everyone's kind treatment had brought out Glenn's naturally trusting nature. While lacking in caution, it was very much like him.
"Then, I will remain on guard at least on my own."
I muttered that with a smile and subtly applied magic to the food. Using one of Maple Leaf's healing magics—a detoxification spell—I cast it discreetly. The small piece of meat I had cut glowed faintly, though it would likely go unnoticed.
"...This magic is strange, is it not? Poisons come in many varieties, yet the fact that it can remove all physical toxins is hard to believe. Even within the single category of poison, each has different components..."
"Heeey, Aoi-kun? Heeeey."
"Yes?"
Called by name, I looked up. Glenn tilted his head with a puzzled expression.
"What is the matter? You were muttering something."
"Ah, my apologies. I was just thinking about something that caught my attention..."
I answered that and finally brought the cut piece of meat to my mouth. The moment I tasted it, I sensed the sweetness of the sauce and a tingling spice, and as I bit into the meat, savory juices spread through my mouth. The flavor was surprisingly close to Chinese cuisine. Though the dish was clearly elaborate, the seasoning was not heavy, and I felt I could eat it endlessly.
"This is delicious."
"Yes, yes, it has a very delicate flavor. Perfect for a refined elderly gentleman like myself."
"You are in high spirits, Headmaster Glenn."
Glenn seemed to have taken a liking to the food, as he kept bringing dish after dish to his mouth.
The meal at the dwarf-owned restaurant the other day had also been delicious, but that had felt more like a delightful personal tavern. This, on the other hand, was a high-end restaurant.
With its elegant and abundant selection, it could surely satisfy any guest.
Most people would surely appreciate a high-end restaurant. Yet somehow, I preferred that dwarf's establishment.
After finishing the meal, Glenn gave a satisfied goodnight.
"Hmm, that was delicious. Well then, I will retire to my bedroom first."
"Yes, I will take a bath before going to bed. Goodnight."
I bowed as I said that, and Glenn left with a maid.
"Lady Aoi. I will prepare your bath now."
"Yes, please."
I agreed to the maid's words, and she bowed and left the dining hall. As a result, for the first time since arriving at this building, I found myself alone outside the bedroom.
Considering this situation, it seemed they had no intention of harming us. If they were planning anything beyond surveillance, they would never take their eyes off us.
I felt slightly relieved at that thought, but soon the maid returned to the dining hall.
"Everything is ready."
"Thank you."
When had they prepared it? Or had it already been prepared, and the maid simply performed a final check? Given how quickly she returned, it was certainly the latter.
Following the maid out of the dining hall, she guided me to the back of the corridor.
"This is the ladies' bath."
She said that and led me into a spacious room. It appeared to be a changing room. Even so, I had not expected separate baths for men and women, even for guests. Fiddiq Academy was a special environment, and senior staff had baths attached to their quarters. However, normally, only noble estates and royal castles had facilities that could truly be called baths.
If capable magicians were stationed here, the hurdle would be lower, but perhaps the butler and maids were magicians themselves.
Thinking about that, I undressed in the changing room and entered the bath. Pushing open the single-leaf door, my eyes first fell upon the stone floor, polished like a mirror. Then, the large round tub at the center surprised me.
"...This is a first for me."
I muttered as I approached the tub. It was large enough for five people to stretch their legs comfortably. If packed tightly, over ten people could likely fit. Steam rose as if the water had just been heated.
This was genuinely delightful.
Eager to stretch my limbs and soak in the bath, I looked around the room again. However, I could not find a place to wash myself. I hesitated to get in without washing first, so I considered using water magic to take a quick makeshift shower.
As I thought that, the door unexpectedly opened from the outside. Not expecting anyone to come in, I tensed up and spun around.
"...We have come to wash your body."
"Please, this way."
Saying that, three maids entered the room. All three wore thin, translucent cloth wrapped around their bodies. Caught completely off guard, I felt a genuine sense of danger.