Chapter 147: The Moon's Favorite Daughter (2)
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Of course, shopping trips with Yae tended to condense into eating trips anyway.
After the shop, we retired to an inn and dined in a private room. It had a quite Eastern flair, though I supposed it had more to do with most of Berge's buildings made out of wood rather than stone. The private room had cushions and a low table rather than chairs. I suppose that was to make it easier for all manners of tails and legs between the different types of beastkin. Everyone can sit on their butt, not everyone could fit into a chair. It equalized heights for taking food from the table, a problem when there were many full-grown beastkin only as big as human children and many others larger that would barely fit into a room.
I lounged on the floor, lying down on my side, lightly sipping fruit wine from a small glass. Yae was unhesitatingly partaking of dinner – which had traditionally been an afternoon meal, supper was the evening meal.
Being around Yae was relaxing. She was being that exerted no pressure. A perfect vassal imposes no burden on their lord, after all. There was no date-like feeling here, but it didn't feel like a business trip either. It was just a… something.
For example, while being around Elze was comfy, she would get bored eventually and want to do something. Linze was fine with sitting down with a good book, but it was better if she could snuggle. Yumina was just amusing to troll.
Briefly I wondered about how I could keep them entertained if we lived in the modern world. Elze was such a bro, we would probably play Counter-Strike or ARMA or something and she'd trash-talk about how she was carrying my weaksauce ass through the rankings. Linze would still be comfortable with a book, but perhaps she'd find it good to try writing one. Linze likes to be romanced, so I suppose giving her a variety of experiences and new places to visit would be important material for her novel research.
Yumina would somehow be some rich corporate giant's kid – and she'd still love to appreciate talent and creativity in others. She'd be hiding an addiction to manga and comic books and at night would shitpost on the internet about boardroom interference and corporate shills. I would be totally enabling those shameful habits.
Charlotte and Leene would have this odd bdsm-like relationship that I would not tolerate, get out of my house you perverted old woman!
Wait, why did this imply that Charlotte would be living with me? Ugh. Charlotte was this perfect combination of terrifying and vulnerable that if I didn't have Monika I'd be totally all about that.
Yae would remain the same, I thought. A kendoka no matter what world. Buy her food and she's your friend. I grinned.
"W-what is wrong, Playa-dono?"
"Nothing. I was going to say that I like seeing you eat… but that's not so accurate." I rested my chin on an open palm. "I like seeing you *happy*."
She hid her face behind her hand holding a pair of chopsticks. "… I do not how how to respond to that, I do not."
"Mmm. Zen only seeks to live in the moment, happiness is *not* required. Duty does not require happiness either. Even if some say enlightenment is a state of absolute bliss… isn't seeking enlightenment all about not being chained down by emotions? Contentment, yes. Happiness, no." I reached out to snag some crispy roasted pork. "Eating well, being happy… is it a tradition in your family to fight hard, eat hard, enjoy life and never fear death?"
"That is indeed so, Playa-dono. But one should not lose their edge in their vices, they should not."
I glanced towards the pair of swords resting on the corner of the room. Yae was a killer, not a murderer. Murderers were stupid amateurs. Hmm.
"Is foodlust a better way to temper your resolve than bloodlust? Is that the reason?"
"Because food is delicious!" Yae slammed her fists on the table. "EATING IS GREAT! TRAIN HARD SO YOU WILL NEVER GET FAT! WAKE UP SO YOU GET TO EAT! IF YOU ARE NOT HUNGRY, YOU DID NOT TRAIN HARD ENOUGH! THE VOID INSIDE IS HUNGER, FILL IT! THE BEST TRAINING METHOD, IT IS!"
"…"
"…"
We stared at each other, daring the other to show the first sign of embarrassment.
"That sounds reasonable," I said evenly.
Yae's smile was like the full moon. Not as bright and warm like the sun like Sue, or dark and full of promise like Monika, but wide and confident yet lacking all arrogance.
Like some sort of lonely moon.
"I am happy you understand, Playa-dono!"
To journey so far across a continent, a young woman alone in search of strength on a mere hint from her father, that sort of obsessiveness was not something you could call normal either.
I chuckled again, and yawned. "It's fine to indulge," I said. "We won't always have the time for this."
She nodded somberly. "Soon enough there will be war. We only have one rule – eat what is in front of you. The more, the better. But no one can afford to be picky. In times of war, eating and resting become luxuries, that is so."
My smile lacked all humor. "Killing is easy. Living in peace is not. Learn to cherish your peace while you still can."
Yae looked down at the food the table. Eating alone was not enjoyable. Just like drinking alone was harming oneself. "Making enemies is easy. Finding worthy opponents is not. Cherish your comrades while you still can…" she whispered.
Right. Unlike Linze and Elze and Monika, Yae was someone who would have to go home at some point. Belfast was not her home, there was no reason for her to stick around for the long term. Yumina certainly wouldn't be going away, she had Princessly duties. As long as I was emotionally attached to Belfast, this was probably going to be where I would grow old and die.
Yae after this adventure would have to go home, probably at some point get married to some lord to secure her clan's future, and lay down her sword.
"Yeah…" I whispered in return. "Finding pleasure is easy. Achieving happiness is hard. Cherish your springtime while you're still in bloom."
Yae closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Then she smiled impishly. "Spending money is easy. Earning money is hard. Cherish what you have while you still have funds."
Hoooh? "Eating meat is easy. Digesting it is hard. Practice your sword while you're not on the can."
"Hiding your face is easy. Being born handsome is hard. Cherish your looks while you do not know, you should."
Hahaha, nice. Just because Yae was a sword fanatic, doesn't mean she's dumb. Wordplay was a great hobby for samurai too. Just because she is passive most of the time, doesn't mean she's going to allow herself to be pushed around. She's not above teasing back people she considered friends.
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That was totally not a date. But it would be very nice to go on another one, sure.
So comfy.
Can't do that too often, falling into a food coma was disastrous for mah workflow.
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On our return Elze punched me in the face again.
But this time I blocked it within my glove. I would only allow myself to be hit if I deserved it or if it would be funny, I had no time for any tsundere bullshit. What the hell, Elze?
"You total degeneraaaate!" she hissed as she pulled her arm back. "I won't have it! Linze may be fine with it, but I will protect… my sister! From you for as long as I can!"
"Sis, don't make me fight you," Linze muttered.
"THAT IS EXACTLY PROVING MY POINT! I should take you away and run away from here...!"
I see. Apparently Elze is Bowser now, huh. Fascinating.
"Ugggh. Why am I always surrounded by perverts and freaks? Everyone I know is a depraved lunatic!"
By this point, Yumina and Leene had arrived. The princess raised her hand. "Um, Miss Elze, what are you-"
"Even you. Specially you. Normal things don't excite the nobility anymore, I heard! The higher up the ranks you go, the more freakiness you get up to!"
Yumina whimpered at the accusation. She looked genuinely hurt. Leene just looked even more smug.
Linze approached with a gentle smile. She hugged me from the front and whispered "My heart is not prepared for something like that, Mister Zah. I'm not yet ready for that sort of responsibility, but please know that's also kind of the life I want to have." Her hug tightened. "I'll work to convince sis - if we leave her alone she's just going to run away by herself, thinking she's not worth being loved. Please be patient for a while longer."
Then she disengaged and went over to pacify her sister for the moment.
What.
I have no idea what even is happening here.
What did you do, Monika?
What did you dooooooooo?!!!
Yae munched on buttered corn on the cob. She looked very satisfied at this mid-meal entertainment.
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And then we received news that Castle Zenovi had fallen, and that was almost a relief.
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