Chapter 139: Store Summoning 16

When I woke up in the morning, as expected, another mark had been added to Samonia-sama’s crest. So this makes sixteen stores.

At first, it was about the size of a 1-yen coin, but now it’s about the size of a 500-yen coin.

I wonder how big it’s going to get? It won’t spread to cover the entire back of my hand, will it…?

Feeling a subtle sense of unease, I had the maid, Arisa-san, help me change my clothes and reported the blessing to my parents as usual.

No longer surprised, they were actually rather happily discussing with each other what kind of store it would be next while eating breakfast.

That’s all well and good, but what about the fact that I held back on my breakfast because it would be a problem if it was a food store and I couldn’t eat?

It’s not guaranteed to be an eatery, you know? It might be a specialty umbrella shop or a stationery store, after all.

However, judging from the trends so far, the possibility of it being an eatery is high…

Of all the stores one visits in a lifetime, I think eateries rank at the top for most people. For people who don’t eat out much, maybe it would be supermarkets or convenience stores? Well, it’s probably different for people who work in retail, though.

While thinking about such trivial things, I decided to summon the new store at the mansion’s summoning grounds, once again, as usual.

“[Store Summoning]!”

The store that appeared alongside a torrent of light was a slightly larger old-fashioned building than a convenience store, adorned with a wooden signboard, a noren (shop curtain), and hanging red lanterns.

“Ah… This store, huh…”

Izakaya ‘Shunkashuutou’ (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter). It was a shop a senior of mine took me to once. An old, independently-owned Japanese pub.

“It somehow has a different atmosphere than usual.”

“Sakura-chan, what kind of store is this?”

“This is an izakaya… um, a tavern. It’s a shop that serves alcohol and dishes that pair well with it…”

“A tavern…!”

Ah, Father’s eyes sparkled.

Asking us to wait a moment, Father received some paper and a pen from the butler, Sebastian, at the gazebo table in the summoning grounds, scribbled something down quickly, and put it in an envelope.

“Sakuraile, could you transfer this for me?”

“…To His Majesty the Emperor, I presume?”

Looking at the addressee, it was exactly as I thought. I’ve somehow become able to read Father’s mind now.

“My brother seemed quite exhausted from the ‘New Year’s Banquet’, so I thought this would be just perfect for a breather. Plus, if he finds out about this store later, he’ll undoubtedly come storming over here demanding I have you summon it again anyway.”

“Understood. Let’s just get the troublesome matters out of the way all at once.”

“Young lady, treating His Majesty the Emperor as a ‘troublesome matter’ is a bit…”

Sebastian offered a word of complaint with an indescribable expression, but a hassle is a hassle.

I pressed the Transfer Sealing Stamp and sent the letter to His Majesty the Emperor.

He said he was going to rest a bit after the ‘New Year’s Banquet’, so he probably shouldn’t have any work right now. He’ll likely show up in less than thirty minutes. The castle is right over there, after all.

Let’s just go inside the store first for now.

Ducking under the noren and sliding open the door, the nostalgic interior jumped into my view.

I used to come to this store a lot, brought along by my seniors. The first time I ever drank alcohol after turning twenty was also at this shop.

There are L-shaped counter seats, table seats, and a zashiki (tatami mat seating area) in the back. The menus plastered all over the walls really bring out that old-school izakaya vibe.

For now, I placed a gold coin by the register and we decided to sit in the spacious zashiki area. Along with condiments and disposable chopsticks, a menu was placed on the table.

“How should I put it, this atmosphere is different from the stores up until now.”

“It’s a bit old, or rather… it has a rough-hewn feel to it.”

Mother knitted her brows slightly as she looked at the old, scratched-up table.

“It’s what you’d call a tavern favored by the common masses. It’s not a place someone like a noble would normally visit. In exchange, the alcohol is cheap, the food is delicious, and it’s a place where everyone can enjoy themselves boisterously.”

I was thinking it felt a bit lonely, and realized it was because the store was quiet. I activated [In-store BGM]. When it comes to izakayas, it has to be enka (traditional Japanese ballads). I’ll accept differing opinions.

Now then, with the atmosphere feeling right, what should I eat… I can’t drink alcohol, and I already ate breakfast.

Ah, there’s imo-mochi (potato rice cakes). They have a tomato and mozzarella Caprese too. Let’s just order these for now.

When I ordered, they both immediately appeared in front of me on white plates.

The Caprese’s tricolor—the red of the tomato, the white of the mozzarella, and the green of the basil—looks very striking.

“Thanks for the meal (Itadakimasu).”

I pinched both a tomato and some mozzarella with my chopsticks and ate them together.

The sourness and sweetness of the juicy tomato perfectly match the mild, soft, and smooth mozzarella. It’s been a while since I had this, but it really is delicious.

“Oh, this is delicious. I like this.”

It seems Mother liked it too. Or rather, I just noticed, but Mother and Father are using chopsticks normally…

I’ve summoned the ramen shop and the conveyor-belt sushi restaurant so many times already… I guess they finally learned how. Well, it’s more convenient if they can use them anyway.

“Sakuraile, what kind of alcohol do they have?”

“Let’s see, these are the beers, over here are the sours, this is sake, whiskey, cocktails…”

As I was explaining the types of alcohol to Father, the sliding door of the izakaya burst open with a loud Clatter!.

Standing there were His Majesty the Emperor, the Prime Minister, Grandmother, and even Her Majesty the Empress. You got here fast!? Wait, even Grandfather is here!?

“Father? Why are you with His Majesty the Emperor?”

Mother raised her voice in surprise at the sudden appearance of her own father.

“After I completed the procedures for my retirement, I was receiving words of appreciation from His Majesty. That’s when a letter from His Highness Cloud arrived. Since it’s Sakuraile’s new store, I thought I should take a look as well…”

Father definitely wrote clearly that it was a tavern. I’m sure Grandmother and the Empress also came out of pure curiosity.

After all, nobles normally never go to taverns. There might be some nobles like that out in the frontiers where Grandfather was, but you wouldn’t find any in this Royal Capital.

“So this is an otherworldly tavern. What a curious space.”

His Majesty the Emperor sat down in the zashiki seating area next to ours. The Prime Minister and Grandfather sat at the same table, while Grandmother and the Empress sat over at the table seats.

“Sakuraile, what kind of alcohol do they have?”

“You’re fully intent on drinking first thing in the morning, aren’t you…?”

“Of course I am! The annoying New Year’s events are finally over. Even a King wants to let his hair down!”

His true feelings leaked out… Is that really okay…? Sometimes I worry about the future of this country.

I ended up having to repeat the explanation I gave Father from the very beginning to all the men.

Since everyone has had most of the alcohol from the liquor store before, just saying the name was enough for them to immediately understand what kind of alcohol it was.

The hard part was the snacks and side dishes.

Because this store’s menu doesn’t have pictures, I have to explain what each dish is one by one. You’re all rich, so if you’re curious, just order everything!

Oops, no good, no good. It seems I’ve grown accustomed to luxury too. We shouldn’t place wasteful orders.

Still, you should be able to guess what something like “Chilled Tomatoes” is without me having to explain it… No, wait, maybe I have to call them “Chilled Pomodoros” for them to get it over here.

“Then, to celebrate the flawless completion of the New Year’s events! Cheers (Prost)!”

“””Cheers (Prost)!”””

Everyone raised their drinks at His Majesty the Emperor’s toast. Mine was grape juice, of course.

The women were drinking wine and cocktails, while the men drank beer and shochu.

It’s in complete banquet mode. Or rather, yesterday was practically a banquet too. Though maybe not the kind where you get loud and rowdy.

“There are some things here that I’ve eaten from the ‘conbini’, but for some reason, they taste better here.”

His Majesty the Emperor stated that while stuffing his cheeks with yakitori (grilled chicken skewers). Well, I suppose there’s a difference between something microwaved and something freshly cooked on the spot?

“This thing called ‘Jaga-Butter’ is delicious, isn’t it.”

“Mother-in-law, this ‘Cheese Ball’ over here is delicious too.”

Grandmother and the Empress seem to be enjoying themselves too. If this serves as a reward party for yesterday’s efforts, I guess it’s a good thing.

I thought about that while munching on the grilled unagi (eel) kabayaki I ordered. Delicious.

Freshly grilled kabayaki isn’t something you can get at a convenience store, after all… I want to scarf this down with some rice.

Kohaku-san next to me was also hungrily devouring an assorted tempura platter. That looks delicious too…

Just as I was thinking of ordering some tempura for myself, His Majesty the Emperor called out to me.

“Sakuraile, would it be alright if I rent out this store exclusively every now and then? I’ll reward you handsomely, of course.”

“Are you going to use it for faction meetings?”

“Umu. Now that the Traditionalist Faction is losing momentum, we need to solidify our unity once again. There are also some individuals making slightly suspicious moves…”

Suspicious moves? Is there another idiot aiming for a coup d’état like Marquis Ragtime was?

Well, as for me, since all I have to do is summon the store, it’s no real trouble, so it’s totally OK.

After that, perhaps the Prime Minister called them over, but nobles from their faction also started arriving, turning it into a full-blown drinking banquet.

Not wanting to get tangled up with a bunch of drunks, the female group, myself included, made a hasty retreat. Or rather, it’s still before noon, are they going to be okay…? Well, it’s New Year’s, so maybe this much is fine? If it were really unacceptable, Mother and Grandmother would have dropped lightning on them by now.

Everyone wants to rest and have fun during the first three days of the New Year, after all.

Well, they’re definitely going to have hangovers tomorrow, though.