Chapter 85: Let's Prepare for Battle (Two)

Original: Chapter 85: Let’s Prepare for Battle 2

“Alright then, Miss Rilril. We’ll be off now.”

“Have a safe trip! Oh, and just to be extra careful, I think eating some Dungeonfolk Cuisine before you go would give you even more peace of mind.”

I see. So that’s an option.

Come to think of it, we ate some when we fought that Recommended Conquest Level 80 Raging Orc before. I remember our Status going up quite a bit. When facing a powerful enemy, it’s probably best to eat some. Plus, I’m feeling a bit peckish, so I’d be happy to put something in my stomach.

“Um, Miss Himeka, would it be okay if we ate some Dungeonfolk Cuisine?”

“Yeah, sure. But won’t it make you feel sluggish?”

“It might, but the benefits outweigh that.”

Miss Himeka doesn’t seem to have tried it before. As we walked, I explained the advantages of Dungeonfolk Cuisine to her.

The benefits are that it’s delicious, good for filling your stomach, and it boosts your Status.

While I was explaining, we arrived at the area lined with Dungeonfolk Cuisine shops.

It felt more like a street stall or food stall area. There was also a space with lots of tables and chairs set up, which seemed like a resting area.

Huh? Miss Himeka is looking somewhere…? Maybe she saw someone she knows.

“Oh, it’s the Student Council.”

There were some Student Council members. I followed Miss Himeka’s gaze.

There was a group of upperclassmen gathered around a food stall in the distance. I’m sure that’s it.

“Little Sayuki, let’s not get too close to them.”

“Eh, you don’t like them?”

“Hmm, it’s not exactly that… How should I put it? They’re just… incredibly serious. Those people.”

“Well, they are the Student Council…”

A Student Council that wasn’t serious would be kinda off-putting…

“You know, I heard there’s talk about them trying to regulate students going into the Dungeon or starting patrols or something. Don’t you think that’s the worst?”

“I do think it’s rather stuffy.”

But—. I took one more look at the people called the Student Council. We were far away, so I might be mistaken, but… they all seemed like really strong people. I got the feeling they were probably quite accustomed to frequenting the Dungeon.

Especially one person…

“There’s someone who’s clearly on a completely different level of strength.”

“The one with short hair, right? That’s the Student Council President. She’s probably the strongest in our school.”

“She’s the Student Council President and an excellent Adventurer?”

“Normally you’d think so, right? …It’s a mystery when that person even finds time to adventure.”

…Hm? Did my nose just twitch? Oh, the scent of grilled meat wafted over to us. It’s a delicious smell that feels like a critical hit to the stomach.

My appetite surged all at once. My stomach is about to growl.

Miss Himeka’s eyes sparkled as she started looking at the food stalls.

“It smells sooo good. Once you catch a whiff of a smell this delicious, your appetite just gets stimulated. Little Sayuki, any recommendations?”

“Actually, I’ve only been here once myself.”

“Then let’s go there. That one. There are a lot of girl customers, and the stall is cute.”

“Sounds good to me,” I agreed.

“Welcome!”

A cute Dungeonfolk girl was cooking something that looked like yakisoba. She seemed pretty young.

This shop seemed to handle sweets and light meals. They have drinks too.

But I wasn’t sure what to order for what effects. So I thought I’d ask the shopkeeper.

“Um, we’re about to fight a higher-ranked Monster. Do you have any recommended dishes?”

“Higher-ranked, hmm? From today’s menu, the chicken skewers give a 15% Attack boost.”

Miss Himeka reacted immediately.

“Whoa, that sounds good, doesn’t it? What do you think, Little Sayuki?”

“Wouldn’t our durability or Agility go up?”

“In that case—, if you get the spicy hot dog with a fruit juice, your Stamina, Attack, Defense, and Agility values will each increase by 10%!”

Grrroowl— My stomach let out a pretty loud growl.

Both Miss Himeka and the shopkeeper heard it, and they both smiled at me.

“Little Sayuki looks like she wants to eat it, so let’s go with that!”

“Ugh… This stomach that reads the room too well is so embarrassing…”

“You’re a growing girl, it can’t be helped! So, Miss—, two orders of the hot dog and fruit juice, please. I’ll take care of the bill.”

“Ah, Miss Himeka, I’ll pay.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Consider it one of my apologies for being late today.”

Miss Himeka generously treated me.

We received the hot dogs and fruit juices and ate them together at a nearby table.

“Sooo good!”

I was quite impressed. I could feel vitality welling up from deep within my body. I think I could really come to like this thick-sausage hot dog.

It smells amazing, and when you eat it, the meat juices spread in your mouth—it’s irresistibly delicious.

And the texture is just the best. You put the plump, juicy sausage in your mouth and give it a little bite. Then, when you apply a bit more pressure, it makes a satisfying pok sound. That sound doubles the deliciousness.

Ahh~, with every chew in my mouth, waves of happy flavor rush in~. The sweetness of the ketchup and the sharp, tangy kick of the mustard team up to delight my tongue. The fresh vegetables and the bread alone would be tasty enough on their own.

“Ahh… This is so good…”

I found myself saying dreamily. Ah, I’m happy.

Miss Himeka was also taking big, delicious bites of her hot dog. A good pok sound came from inside Miss Himeka’s mouth.

“Hyah! This is really dee-licious!”

Seeing Miss Himeka so satisfied made me think we made a good choice with this shop.

While watching the happy-looking Miss Himeka, I tried the fruit juice.

Whoa—, this is incredibly delicious and just to my taste. The gentle sweetness and refreshing tartness of the fruit are in perfect balance. Drinking it is so enjoyable it’s putting me in a great mood. I feel kinda light and floaty.

I checked my Status on a whim, and sure enough, the numbers had gone up properly. With this, I think I can hold my own against a Monster with a Recommended Conquest Level of 85.

I ate my hot dog, making it go pok. Somehow, I felt it would be a waste to finish it.