Chapter 127: The Delivery Race (2) She ran straight toward the Food Truck, then took a wide curve and came to a sudden stop. Her hooves scraped against the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
At the same time, Owl, perched on her left shoulder, deployed a curtain of wind, preventing the dust Angelica Crudian stirred up from sweeping over the customers.
"Ohhh…"
Exclamations rose from the diners, and Angelica Crudian made her way between the tables toward the counter seats.
"You must be thirsty."
"Thank you."
Gulp, gulp.
Angelica Crudian drank the bottled water Lee Jinseo handed her and wiped the sweat from her forehead with a towel.
At a glance, she looked as fresh as someone who had just finished a light morning jog, but in reality, she had just completed a grueling 100-kilometer round trip while carrying ten servings of tteok-twi-sun and assorted snacks at her waist.
Of course, for someone as exceptionally strong as she was even among Centaurs, it truly amounted to nothing more than a morning jog.
"Did the delivery go well?"
"As you can see."
Angelica Crudian reached behind her, opened the box strapped to her back, and showed its completely empty interior.
"Nothing spilled, right?"
"Not at all. Thanks to the magic the mages cast on the box, there were no problems whatsoever. If anything had gone wrong, I would have informed you through Owl in advance."
"That's a relief. But you already finished those as well?"
Lee Jinseo had placed chocolate bars and sports drinks in the delivery box so she could replenish calories during the trip. He had not expected even those to be gone.
"I did not eat them alone. I left a few for the return trip and gave the rest to the Marquis's children. I gave the sports drinks to the knights training near the estate. They asked where they could obtain them, so I told them to inquire at the Food Truck later."
"I should have packed more, then."
"No, what was ordered for delivery was more than sufficient. The bunsik, of course, was well received, but they especially liked the snack sets. I enjoyed them as well, though they still do not compare to curry."
Angelica Crudian took a 500-milliliter bottle of cider from the vending machine and stood at the far left end of the counter.
"Yes, this is it. I truly cannot resist this aroma that stirs one's appetite the moment I smell it."
When Lee Jinseo brought out a wide plate heaped with curry rice, Angelica Crudian gently closed her eyes, savored the scent through her nose, and began to eat.
Her face filled with a smile as she enjoyed the harmony in her mouth between curry packed with meat and vegetables raised in her homeland and white rice cooked from grain grown in Korea.
"I almost pity the humans and dwarves who cannot properly enjoy something this delicious."
"Tastes differ by race, so there's not much we can do about that."
"Still, if only Centaurs eat this, would it not be a loss to register it as an official menu item? It would not sell much…"
Since humans of the Francia Continent, as well as dwarves and Centaurs, were now all customers, three different scripts were used on the menu board.
Angelica Crudian glanced at the item written especially large and bold in Centaur script—'Curry Rice'—and voiced her concern.
"Not at all. If anything, we can barely keep up unless we cook it in this large pot every day."
There was no denying that transport work itself was heavy physical labor.
As a result, the Centaurs' meal portions were noticeably larger than those of the other two races, and the amount of curry they consumed alone rivaled the sales of the other bunsik items.
"Then I am relieved. Ah, bring me more pickled radish and kimchi."
"Fried kimchi, correct?"
"Indeed. Plain kimchi is still difficult for me."
Lee Jinseo placed pickled radish and fried kimchi on a small plate and set it before her.
By then, Angelica Crudian had already finished her third plate of curry rice and, with a spoon in her mouth, began reviewing her upcoming delivery schedule.
"Let me see… Tomorrow at lunch I must stop by the Viscount Merison Household, and the day after tomorrow the lord of Harnia Castle has requested a delivery."
Angelica Crudian primarily delivered bunsik and snacks to nobles and prominent local figures.
By visiting them personally, she built relationships, delivered bunsik and refreshments in the process, and shared meals with them.
As a result, it was not uncommon for her to eat all three daily meals from the very food she delivered.
Of course, that alone was not enough to satisfy a Centaur's hearty appetite, so she would return to the Food Truck and freely eat curry rice as she was doing now.
This is starting to feel like the Food Truck has become a highway rest stop. The Centaurs are the truck drivers. But…
Lee Jinseo could not help worrying that Angelica Crudian was spending her days in a direction far removed from her original purpose of studying abroad.
"Your Highness, may I ask you something?"
"Yes? What is it?"
"Did you not come here to study abroad?"
"I did. Simply setting hoof in places my feet have never touched allows me to see and learn much. Each day has been quite meaningful. If I could, I would even wish to bring more of my people here."
Angelica Crudian answered seriously, and Lee Jinseo found no grounds to refute her. He nodded in acceptance.
If she herself felt fine, any further interference would be nothing more than meddling.
With an awkward smile, Lee Jinseo set down her fifth plate of curry rice.
"Ah, now that I think of it, I must properly express my gratitude to the Doren royal family. Thanks to this, I do not need to reveal my status, which is truly convenient."
Angelica Crudian stroked the epaulet on her right shoulder that indicated she was a guest of the Doren royal family.
Even without confirming it, however, the humans who first encountered her treated her cautiously.
Her four legs alone, the unmistakable trait of a Centaur, created an extraordinary presence.
"On the Crudian Continent, there was no place I had not visited, so even running felt somewhat dull. But here on the Francia Continent, there are still many places I have yet to see, so it is enjoyable."
"You have traveled the entire Crudian Continent?"
"I completed a continental tour at the age of fourteen. It is the duty of one born into the royal family. Only then does one earn the qualification to undergo the coming-of-age ceremony. In any case, it is good to run upon new lands, though it is so peaceful here that it sometimes becomes dull. To be honest, I would also like to test myself against the strong of the Francia Continent."
"As a princess of a nation, people can only be cautious. If something were to go wrong, it could become a diplomatic issue. It would likely be difficult."
"There are moments when I even find myself wishing to encounter a monster during delivery."
As both a princess of the Crudian Kingdom and a warrior, she stroked the spear slung diagonally across her back.
"But it would not compare to the Emperor Mammoth I faced in my homeland."
Her spear was a special weapon forged by the dwarves with the full extent of their craftsmanship and magic in preparation for any emergency.
Made of adamantium and various rare metals, it could be used as a throwing spear, equipped with a wire for easy retrieval.
With simple adjustments, it could transform into a halberd for close combat or a lance for charge attacks.
Above all, her physical grade was A-.
Most monsters were no match for her.
"Still, with Owl accompanying me, I feel reassured throughout my runs."
No matter how much Angelica Crudian wished to make deliveries, she was still a princess of a nation. She could not be sent alone to distant places without an escort.
Since not a single Centaur could keep up with her speed, Owl accompanied her every time she went out for deliveries.
"If an urgent situation arises, I can also contact you through Owl."
After the battle with the Emperor Mammoth, Owl's grade had increased, granting him long-distance communication ability, allowing frequent contact with Lee Jinseo. It was because of that ability that Owl had been assigned to assist her.
Like a kind of two-way radio, Owl's ability to transmit conversations could only be used for a limited time each day, but that was sufficient.
"Another bowl?"
"No, that will do. Seeing that couple approaching, I suppose it is time to stand."
Angelica Crudian set her spoon down on her empty plate upon seeing Aston Hamilton and Stella walking side by side toward the Food Truck.
After exchanging greetings with Lee Jinseo and Jason inside the kitchen, the two respectfully greeted Angelica Crudian.
"Your Highness, did the delivery go safely?"
"It did. They were all very satisfied with Lee Jinseo's bunsik and reserved another delivery for the week after next."
"Your Highness, Professor Hamilton's Doren Kingdom History class begins in one hour."
"Already? I believe I have eaten enough. Let us take a stroll and look around before class."
Having finished six servings of curry rice, Angelica Crudian waved to Lee Jinseo and left her seat. Aston Hamilton and Stella walked on either side of her.
"Wait. You come to this side."
Angelica Crudian moved Stella from her right side to her left.
So that Stella could walk beside Aston Hamilton.
"I am more comfortable walking like this. Continue to follow me in this manner."
Angelica Crudian winked back at the Food Truck, and Lee Jinseo gave her a thumbs-up in appreciation for her thoughtfulness toward the two.
"Hm? What is this…?"
Under the cloudless sky, the sunlight suddenly vanished as a massive shadow fell over them. Angelica Crudian lifted her head.
And froze.
"W-What is that…?"
Seeing a dragon for the first time, Angelica Crudian began trembling at the overwhelming strength she could feel even from afar.
But the two who were accustomed to seeing Charlotte's true form merely looked up calmly at Charlotte hovering in the air.
"Your Highness, there is no need to fear. That is the exalted supreme being, Lady Charlotte."
"Lady Charlotte? The one who gifted me these horseshoes?"
"Little creatures! I have returned!"
Charlotte, transformed into a human woman, waved cheerfully at the humans and dwarves.
This time she appeared wearing ripped jeans and black high heels, drawing the Centaurs' gazes.
"That enormous dragon from before… is that human woman?"
"I cannot believe it…"
The Centaurs who saw the dragon descending slowly from the sky for the first time scattered in panic.
But when the humans and dwarves approached Charlotte as if nothing were amiss, they cautiously followed behind them.
"Hm? You are… new little creatures. Centaurs, correct? The four-legged race!"
Charlotte pointed at the Centaurs' legs as she recalled distant memories.
"There was a time I ran joyfully across the land with your kind. Well, I flew, of course. Was that about a thousand years ago? Or five hundred? In any case, so much time has passed."
As Charlotte sank into reminiscence, Angelica Crudian took a deep breath and slowly approached her.
Introducing herself as the princess of the Crudian Kingdom, she bowed respectfully.
"On behalf of my father, the current king of the Crudian Kingdom, I express my sincere gratitude."
"Oh, no need to be so grand about it. Just use them well. If they wear out, I will give you another identical pair. Just let me know."
"R-Really?"
"Yes. They will last about a hundred years, so speak up when the time comes."
"…."
Angelica Crudian could only close her mouth, unable to process Charlotte's detached sense of time.
"But you, come closer for a moment. Let me see your face."
Charlotte examined Angelica Crudian's face from different angles, then pointed at her eyes.
"You resemble that fellow's eyes exactly. Do you happen to know someone named Keyroad?"
"Pardon? Keyroad?"
"Yes, one of the Centaurs who once went on adventures with me. So much time has passed that he cannot be your father, but I wondered if he might be your distant ancestor."
"Keyroad I… is the founding king of our kingdom."
"The founder? Hahaha! That fellow truly did establish a nation? And that the kingdom he founded still maintains its bloodline? Then do you perhaps know someone named Ellis?"
"I have never heard that name."
"Oh? Did that fellow marry someone other than the one he had a crush on? Rainy? Marianne? Or Dolores?"
Charlotte began recounting the rather complicated romantic history of Keyroad I, and Angelica Crudian, quite unintentionally, learned every detail of her founding ancestor's love life.
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