NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 115
“I’ve been expecting you, Allen-sama.”
After finishing the video conference with Minato, I headed to the luxurious room where I had been resting earlier in the closet. While I was in the meeting with Minato, Yuzu and the hotel staff had come in and prepared dinner.
According to Nias, most people living in Zerad subsisted on dry, solid nutrition blocks, and enjoying food was something experienced in the virtual world, a digital realm.
“…This is incredible.”
The long, pure white table was lined with an array of extravagant dishes that seemed to embody all the luxuries of the world.
Each dish was small, though, with only enough for a bite or two per serving. The meal was divided into categories such as meat, fish, and vegetables, each plate meticulously crafted to highlight its specific theme. It wasn’t meant to be a large meal, but rather a collection of various dishes designed for maximum enjoyment with minimal portions.
“If there’s anything you don’t like, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We’ll prepare a different dish for you.”
Yuzu, who had been waiting in the room, said this. However, looking at the dishes spread across the table, they were all foods I liked or very close to my preferences.
I wasn’t a picky eater to begin with, but the fact that the dishes were so well-suited to my tastes made me wonder if they had pulled information about me from my previous life or some kind of database to create this menu.
“This is delicious…”
“I’m glad it was worth the effort.”
Although I wasn’t entirely confident in my table manners yet, I decided not to rely on the assist function of the Access Gear, as doing so might raise suspicion. Instead, I naturally picked up the first dish and brought it to my mouth.
The first thing I ate was a meat dish, thinly sliced and red like roast beef. Alongside it was something similar to leafy greens like romaine lettuce, and two types of sauces were served in small dishes.
Not knowing how it was seasoned, I lightly poured some sauce over the lettuce and ate it with the meat. As expected, the taste was beyond what a typical home-cooked meal could achieve—a dish of remarkably high quality.
When I honestly voiced my admiration, Yuzu, who was overseeing the meal, and one of the chefs standing in a line near the corner of the room, visibly relaxed. The chef who had likely prepared the dish smiled broadly, relieved.
“What’s the meat from?”
“It’s from an animal called a Bourbon, a species closely related to cows. There’s a special ranch for the wealthy in Area 1, and we arranged for it to be brought from there.”
For a moment, I worried that it might be from some entirely unfamiliar creature, but Yuzu’s explanation reassured me.
The vegetables and meats I had eaten back in modern-day Japan had since diverged into various species. The original versions of these plants and animals no longer existed on Zerad or in the Rofiana Holy Kingdom. I was told that I’d have to wait until we reached the Sakura Empire to enjoy dishes made from original species.
“Well… I’ll be taking KAEDE with me now.”
“Understood. We’ll be expecting you again tomorrow.”
After savoring the luxurious meal, I briefly discussed the plans for tomorrow and then used my interdimensional travel ability to deploy the Moon Gate in another room of the hotel.
I couldn’t help but wonder what Eurua and Aria would think when I suddenly brought a new roommate into our place… While there was nothing shady about it, I still felt somewhat uneasy.
Only Yuzu and Eri were in the other room with me. They didn’t seem particularly surprised when I opened the Moon Gate from what looked like thin air.
(How should I explain KAEDE to Eurua and Aria? They already know about other worlds, but I’m not sure how to describe an android…)
I had already explained the limitations of interdimensional travel to Eurua and Aria, including that living beings couldn’t pass through the gate. And yet, KAEDE looked just like a human.
According to Minato, KAEDE’s skin and motor functions were designed to be as close to human as possible. On top of that, she had self-repair and maintenance functions, allowing her to maintain and update herself.
(Apparently, her materials are tough enough to survive a planet’s explosion… What kind of material is that?)
While Japan might be relatively safe, the world of Asphial is filled with dangerous monsters, fitting its fantasy setting. There are even beings like Kuro from Saionji, who possess powers beyond comprehension.
Even so, the development team from the Sakura Empire had spared no effort in equipping KAEDE with numerous systems to ensure her survival.
In fact, they had included so much cutting-edge technology that KAEDE’s development was delayed by several decades…
“Well, let’s go.”
Leaving thoughts about how KAEDE would fare in the world of Asphial for later, I entered the Moon Gate, still contemplating how to explain her to Eurua and Aria.