A mid-level (middle-aged) office worker's laid-back industrial revolution in another world - Chapter 162

Translator: Jasper Kadowaki | Editor: NovelMultiverse

Takeo and the rest of the group arrived at the Elvis house. 

When they got to the entrance, Frederick happened to be there. 

“Welcome back, everyone,” said Frederick. 

“Thank you, Frederick,” said Takeo.

“Frederick-san, thank you. We have returned,” said Layla. 

“Thank you for welcoming us back,” said King Azupal. 

“We’re back, Frederick,” said Alice. 

“The evening bell is about the ring, and so we are currently preparing for dinner. Please wait just a little while longer,” said Frederick.

“All right. Takeo-sama, what shall we do?” asked Alice. 

“I’ll go to the kitchen, and then head to the dining room, after that,” said Takeo. 

“All right. We’ll be expecting you. Why don’t we go to the parlor?” said Alice. 

“Yes,” said Layla, “Are you okay with that, William? Father?”

“That’s fine,” said King Azupal. 

“Well then, I will see you all in the dining room,” said Takeo, taking his leave and heading to the kitchen. 

..

.

“Welcome back, Your Highness,” said Frederick, humbly bowing. 

“Hmm, yes. It was fun,” said King Azupal. 

“That is wonderful to hear,” said Frederick. “The count awaits you in the parlor.”

“All right,” said King Azupal. 

“Let’s go, then,” said Layla, taking the lead and heading to the parlor. 

Frederick knocked on the door to the parlor. After hearing someone giving permission to enter, saying, “Come in,” Alice and the guests all entered. 

Grandpa Elvis and Smith sat in the parlor. 

“Count Elvis, we’ve returned,” said King Azupal. 

“I’m relieved that you’ve returned safely,” said Grandpa Elvis. 

“We’re back,” said William. 

“Grandfather – we’re back,” said Layla. 

“Your Highness. Layla. Welcome back,” said Grandpa Elvis. 

“Grandfather, I’m back,” said Alice. 

“Alice, it’s good to see you back,” said Grandpa Elvis. 

The four newcomers took their seats.

Frederick poured their tea, and after placing their cups before them, he politely retreated. 

“Your Highness, how was your trip?” asked Grandpa Elvis.

“Hmm, yes. It was fun. I felt like it has been years since I’ve talked to the residents of a town,” said the king. 

“That sounds wonderful. By the way, where did you visit?” asked Grandpa Elvis. 

“Grandfather, we went to the grocer, the liquor store, the tailor, and the magical goods store,” said Layla. 

“Every one of them knew who I was,” said King Azupal.

“Was the secret not revealed to Takeo?” asked Grandpa Elvis. 

“I think… He didn’t realize. He seemed like he was wondering why everyone was acting so nervous. He must have thought that people were acting nervous because they were dealing with nobles,” said Alice, stating her opinion. 

“I see… He didn’t figure it out… That’s worrying…” said Grandpa Elvis, dejectedly. “And where has Takeo gone?”

“Takeo-sama has gone to the kitchen,” said Alice. 

“Ah, he must have gone to prepare dinner,” said Grandpa Elvis. 

“Hm? Count Elvis, does Takeo prepare dinner, too?” asked the king. 

“Yes. We’ve arranged for Takeo to plan today’s dinner. Takeo has also come up with the snacks that will be served after dinner at tea time,” said Grandpa Elvis. 

“Oh, ho. I am looking forward to that,” said the king. 

“Yes, me too. I wonder what kind of delicious dish he’ll serve us, next,” said Layla. 

“You’re expecting too much of him, Layla,” said William, smiling but warning her. 

Then, a butler came from another room and made an announcement. He informed everyone that the preparations for dinner were complete. 

Everyone stood up and headed for the dining room. 

———————-

Everyone took their seats at the dining room table. 

Then, dinner was brought in. 

..

.

“All right, then, the table has been set,” said Takeo. “I will now quickly explain the dishes.”

“Hmm, yes,” said the king. 

“Today’s dinner has ‘cream’ as its theme, and the main dish and the soup both have been made with cream. It’s a simple dinner of pasta carbonara, cream and vegetable soup, and cucumber salad, but I think you’ll find that the dishes all differ in taste. I don’t want to talk for too long. Please begin eating while the food is still warm,” said Takeo. 

“Hmm, yes. Then, I suppose we shall start eating, now,” said the king. 

Everyone began to eat at once. [Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

…

..

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After dinner, everyone relocated to the parlor. 

Frederick poured the tea, set a cup before each person, and retreated. 

“Today’s dinner was excellent, once again, wasn’t it?” said Grandpa Elvis, and everyone but Takeo nodded in agreement. 

“That was my first trying that spaghetti dish. It was so flavorful and delicious,” said the king, grinning.

“Yes, and the soup had more flavor than the usual soups, as well,” said William, grinning as well.

“I’m in a state of bliss, right now, after that meal,” said Layla. 

“I agree, Sister Layla,” said Alice. 

“Yes, yes,” said Layla. 

Layla, Alice, and Smith all had happy, dazed looks on their faces. 

“What’s most important to me is that you all seem so happy with the dinner,” said Takeo, who was also grinning and watching all of their reactions.

“Alice, does everyone here always get to eat meals like this?” asked Layla. 

“Not always. Whenever Takeo-sama feels like it, he makes one new dish,” said Alice. 

“Oh, he can’t cook every day?” asked Layla. 

“Yes, well – if something triggers his memory and the ingredients are available… That’s when he cooks,” said Alice. 

“Oh… Are the recipes complicated?” asked Layla. 

“No. These are all dishes that I had been making in an average person’s home, so they’re not very complicated,” said Takeo. 

“What?! Where you come from, Takeo, you can eat meals like this every day?!” asked the king. 

“My mother cooked these dishes for me,” said Takeo. 

“Was your parent a chef, Takeo?” asked the king.

  “No, a housewife,” he answered. 

“…My god…” said the king, unable to hide his shock. 

“Takeo-san, your mother must have been good at cooking,” said Layla. 

“She cooked quite casually. She would just look what ingredients she had and whip something up,” said Takeo. 

“A true genius…” said the king. 

“I wouldn’t call her a genius. I think the mothers here can prepare dinner quickly and casually, too,” said Takeo. 

“But they can’t make dishes with flavor like this,” said William. 

“That must be because they just don’t know how to, yet. The spices might be expensive, too, and… Hm?…” Takeo stopped to think. 

“Takeo, what is it?” asked Grandpa Elvis. 

“No, it’s just that, ever since I got here, I’ve been staying at the Elvis manor, and since you’ve treated me so kindly, I’ve had a kitchen at my disposal, but… Could it be that most households don’t have a kitchen?” asked Takeo. 

“Ah,” said Frederick, nodding in admiration of Takeo’s insight. 

“If Frederick has responded this way, does it mean I’m correct?” asked Takeo. 

“Yes, it’s just as you’ve guessed, Takeo-sama. I would say about half of the households in this town are equipped with kitchens,” said Frederick. 

Grandpa Elvis nodded in agreement. 

“I believe it’s about half of the households in the royal capital, too. How did you know that, Takeo?” asked the king. 

“Well, cooking creates fires, so… I wondered to myself whether a single man would even cook for himself. I’m sure firewood is quite expensive, too, and if so, it could be unnecessary to have a kitchen if one usually just buys food elsewhere…” said Takeo. 

“Yes, you’re right. Usually, a single man’s residence doesn’t have a kitchen. So, wherever there are many one-person swellings, there is usually a cafeteria nearby,” said Layla. 

“I see. So that’s how, naturally, the neighborhoods with single people and family neighborhoods get split up. It also makes shops necessary in certain neighborhoods… I’ve started to understand why towns form the way that they do,” said Takeo. 

Then, a butler came in from another room, bringing teatime snacks with him. 

“Ah, here’s today’s main subject,” said Takeo, laughing softly. 

“What? Takeo-san, what do you mean by main subject?” asked Layla. 

“The cream I used for today’s meal was something I had originally bought to make this snack. That’s why, for me, whether you like this snack or not… stirs my interest,” said Takeo. 

“What?! Today’s dinner was basically an appetizer, then…” said the king. 

“You could say that,” said Takeo. 

King Azupal nodded to Takeo, and asked no further questions. [Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]