"The usual please"
"Coming right up!!!" the sound of an old human lady, enthusiastic as ever, right. Even after gaining all that fame. All that title, he always chooses to return here, no matter what.
"Hey Vireth" And out of no where, the youngest member started a conversation
"Yeah?"
"Well, I heard from Frieren and the others you always went to this specific ramen shop, I was just wonder—"
"Wondering why I always go here even after gaining fame?"
Nod Nod
"Well—it holds a special place, you wanna know?"
"Mhm Mhm!!!" Her golden eyes seemed to sparkle slightly as she looked like an enthusiastic puppy that was going to play fetch with it's owner.
"Well, it all started a very very long time ago…"
—The Past
Finally we brought the kid out of the forest, her parents came looking for her as she ran to their arms and cried, like a little baby one could say, the kid and the parent's sobbing was very loud, but the boy named Vireth urged me to leave
"Why?"
"It's disrespectful to intrude on such an intimate moment, it's a culture here."
"Is that so."
Nod
"Let's go"
"Where?"
"Food"
Step Step Step
A small street, one could say everything looked old, rusty, dilapidated. Those words were what entered Frieren's thought as Aurelion dragged her to the place
"Where are we going?"
"Convenience store" The words that came out of Aurelion's mouth surprisingly was something Frieren could hear, yet she did not understand the meaning behind those words
"And a 'Convenience store' is?"
"You'll see, it's a small place where you can—"
GROWLLLLLLLL
"Ahahahaha—I guess I really am hungry"
"Then why not try that stall over there?"
Points
The sign of the stall was old, really old, just a wooden plank with the words, Granny's Homemade Ramen could be seen. In Frieren's mind, the word Ramen was as foreign as it gets.
"Ohoho, you younglings over there, why not give it a try,"
Step Step Step
"Frieren? Hey—" And without noticing the 2 of them had stayed seated
"Welcomeee, the sound of an Old Man, the face of an Old Man as well, and before we could even order.
"Honeyy, 2 Tonkotsu Ramen for these 2 young ones." at the same time the words 'cominggg' could be heard, then unexpectedly the Old Man asked a question
"Oho? You—You look like one of those Elves that the government broadcasted, are you an Elf missy?"
"Yes."
"I see."
A few minutes later—
Clack
Two bowls landed in front of them. Steam rose from the broth. Slices of pork floated on the surface. The smell alone was enough to make Aurelion's stomach growl again. Frieren only stared at it with a confused face
"A magical tool?"
"No."
"A potion?"
"No."
"A potion disguised as food?"
"No."
"Then?"
"Food."
"Ah." Frieren only nodded. As if that explained everything. Aurelion grabbed the chopsticks which Frieren copied him—Well tried to. and after several awkward attempts. It was obvious our Elf isn't accustomed to modern human things.
Plop
The noodles fell back into the bowl.
Plop
Again.
Plop
Again.
The old woman laughed so hard she almost dropped a ladle.
"First time?"
"Yes."
"She's using chopsticks backwards."
"What?"
"What?" Frieren looked genuinely confused. Eventually the old woman walked over and showed her how to hold them properly.
A few moments later—
Slurp
Silence.
Frieren froze. The old couple watched—Aurelion watched. Curiosity? perhaps Then—
"...Good."
That single word escaped her mouth.
The old woman burst into laughter.
"Oh no."
"Hm?"
"That face."
"What face?"
"The face people make when they're about to become regular customers."
"I don't understand."
"You will."
Meanwhile—
Slurp
Aurelion practically inhaled his bowl. His body had apparently decided survival was more important than dignity. The old man laughed.
"Been a while since you've eaten?"
Slurp slurp slurp
"That bad huh?"
Aurelion didn't answer. The silence itself was enough. The old couple exchanged glances. Neither pressed further. Some questions didn't need answers. A few minutes later both bowls were empty. Frieren looked at the bowl.
Then at the kitchen.
Then back at the bowl.
"...Can food become addictive?"
The old woman laughed again.
"Only the good ones."
Then—Aurelion suddenly froze, obviously now it didn't go unnotice by both Frieren and the couple.
"...Young man?"
The old woman tilted her head. Aurelion slowly reached into his pocket. His phone came out. Then another pocket. Then another. Then back to the phone. His expression gradually became paler.
"Vireth?"
Frieren looked at him.
"...I may have encountered a slight issue."
"What issue?"
"..."
"..."
"I forgot to check my bank account before eating."
Silence.
The old man blinked.
The old woman blinked.
Frieren blinked.
Then Aurelion slowly opened his banking application.
Tap.
Balance:
¥217
"..."
"..."
"..."
The old woman stared.
The old man stared.
Frieren stared, Of course for somebody like Frieren, in her eyes, she had no clue how much ¥217"s actually worth, but seeing Aurelion expression that looked like he wished the ground would swallow him.
"The ramen costs more than that doesn't it?"
"...Mhm."
The old man scratched his head.
"By quite a bit actually."
"..."
"..."
"...I can wash dishes."
The words escaped almost immediately, like it was the most natural thing to say when you realize you can't pay. The old couple looked at each other. Then burst into laughter.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"OHOHOHOHOHO!"
Aurelion looked even more embarrassed.
"I'm serious."
"We know."
"I'm genuinely serious."
"We know." The old woman wiped a tear from her eye.
"Kid, you really offered dishwashing immediately?"
"What else am I supposed to do?"
The old man laughed again.
"You could've run."
"I don't steal." That answer came instantly. Without hesitation. Without even thinking. The stall became quiet. The old couple exchanged another glance, yet it was a different one this time.
The old woman smiled. A small gentle smile. The kind only old people seemed capable of making.
"Then pay us next time."
"...What?"
"Next time."
"I don't know if there'll be a next time."
"There will."
"You sound very confident."
"I've lived long enough to know."
The old man nodded.
"You've got the face of someone who'll come back."
"...What kind of face is that?"
"The face of a good kid."
For a moment—
Aurelion didn't know what to say. Because it had been a very long time since anyone called him that.
A good kid. Not a burden. Not a failure. Not a problem. Just—
A good kid.
Beside him, Frieren quietly watched everything.
The old couple.
The tiny stall.
The embarrassed boy.
And the small smile that slowly appeared on his face.
Though at the time she didn't know, this scene was going to a be a memory she would remember for a very long time.
—The Present
—Frieren
Click
"You're 5 bowls of Tonkotsu Ramen's ready boss" The Old human lady said with a smirk as she placed down the bowls with crazy accuracy, like she's been doing this for countless decades
"Here's your pay—"
"No no, this one's on the house hahahaha" The Old human lady said with a smile as she gave a V sign, like a gentle grandmother
"Wait why?"
"The shops closing soon."
…
Glance
Vireth's chopstick stopped right as it was about to enter his mouth.
"I'm getting old, I'm gonna be 100 this year. Moving to a foster care, probably."
Munch Munch
"My son's got a wife now, I can't always bother him, he's got his own life now. Oh don't get me wrong now, if I told him he'd come to help me without a second thought I'm a lucky mother. My son cares deeply for me." With a gentle smile.
Munch Munch
"My time is almost up in this world child. I'm a relic of the past, I don't understand anything about this new Ttube, Remnant, or whatever. My husband passed away a few years back, overworked. Cancer."
"And these old bones will finally join him—Wherever he's at."
Slurpppppp
"When's the shop closing?" Nicole asked the question, quite unusual considering she usually keeps a distance with everyone but our party.
"Ohoho, in a week."
Slurppppp
"I see."
Slurpppppp
And in the end, until next week, we had her Ramen for breakfast, lunch and dinner until she finally closes her stall, with a bright smile on her face.
"See you~~" She said as the stall finally closed, for the last time. And right on cue, a portal appeared infront of our faces, without any hesitation we passed through, and returned to our lodging.
…
"Me and Vireth are gonna have so man talk, see you later." As Gaby dragged the guy out, man to man talk while being a vampire girl. Something that would confuse many if they didn't know her.
"Si-Hyun no." Nicole's words were sharp as she looked at Si-Hyun with a dedicated expression.
"But—"
"it's fine. After all—He's human too." with a smile she rarely shows, as she dragged Si-Hyun to the balcony to talk, and me? left alone I could only sigh every so slightly.
Sob. Sob.
The quiet sobbing could be heard, perhaps that was why Nicole had brought Si-Hyun out of the room, did she knew before it happened? Or did Gaby told her in a way only the 2 of them would know, I didn't know, or rather I didn't need to know.
Everyone here had a past, a painful past in their own way. One had lost hope. One had lost Certainty, One had lost trust. And then there are the outliers. One Elf who had outlived her companions again and again. And a human who was satisfied with her life reborn a third time.
A question they all had at some point of their life was simple. Why? Why for everything they went through, why for the suffering they had, whether it be out of misunderstanding, trauma or even being too late.
A question that has plagued many, no matter what you are, at least at one point of your life, you must've asked this question, maybe for a while—or maybe your still asking, even till now.
Then again—No matter how many era's to come. Humans are always so fascinating.
"Isn't that right?—Himmel?" Even if He himself is no longer here, his spirit remains in many other beings.