Chapter 51: The Female Saint with the Long Sword
Ren watched Nakano Ichika leave, the doorbell chiming softly—a lingering, gentle sound that marked the transition from noise to silence. He stood there for a moment, shaking his head with a gentle, amused smile.
"She's surprisingly interesting," he murmured to himself, wiping down the spot on the counter where her glass had sat. "Not at all like the stereotypical actress one sees on TV. It seems they're not just twins—she mentioned 'younger sisters' in plural. Triplets? Quadruplets? Or maybe just a very lively household. She's quite a busy older sister."
He turned around and looked at the empty Restaurant. The silence returned, but it didn't feel lonely. It felt warmer now, filled with the lingering energy of the interactions he'd had. The air still held the faint, sweet scent of the fruit punch he had served Sylas and the floral perfume Ichika wore.
"It seems tonight's guests are all night owls. Sylas, then Ichika... I wonder if any other interesting guests will arrive before dawn."
Ren quietly returned to his room on the second floor to swap his finished book for another. He moved silently along the hallway, his footsteps absorbed by the polished wooden floorboards. The house was breathing slowly, settling into the deep night.
Before reaching the bottom of the stairs, he turned to glance at the closed doors of Lucifer and Cerberus's rooms.
He chuckled softly. They're sleeping like the dead. Or the undead, in their case.
However, Lucifer and Cerberus couldn't possibly know he was checking on them, because both of them went to sleep unusually early tonight. They were exhausted by the day's emotional rollercoaster—from the trauma of the haunted house (where the Queen of Hell was scared of fake ghosts) to the spicy tofu tears that followed. It had been a heavy day for their sensory processing.
After Ren came downstairs, the Restaurant was still as quiet as ever. Under the gentle, warm-toned halogen lighting, the interior looked hazy and inviting, a beacon of comfort in the dimensional void. It was as if the shop itself was a living entity, always waiting for a passing traveler who should appear, a lighthouse in the sea of dimensions.
Ren sat back down at his counter. Suddenly, he paused, his finger tapping against the cover of his new book—a treatise on ancient fishing techniques. He remembered something.
"Kirari... she said she would come to find me in the next two days."
The memory of the Momobami clan head and her cryptic offer surfaced. It seemed to be about hiring him as a Combatant for the Kengan matches. While Ren didn't mind a good fight—his muscles practically itched for one after so long in retirement—he still had a practical problem.
He had to keep the Restaurant open.
"I can't just close up shop every time there's a match. My regulars would riot. Especially Rindou; she might actually bite me."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I remember… Cerberus seemed to have mentioned some kind of door ability in the game lore... I wonder if it's the kind of door I'm imagining… Can she create a portable entrance?"
Ren could only place his hopes on his dog now, hoping she could give him a surprise with her Hellhound abilities. As for Lucifer, he always felt that Lucifer probably wouldn't do such a thing. She was more likely to demand he build a gold-plated palanquin for her than offer a convenient travel solution.
Ren smiled, dismissing the worry. He was the type to warmly entertain guests when there were any, and not mind when there weren't, quietly enjoying such moments of solitude. For him, both a lively Restaurant and a quiet life were things he loved equally. Balance was key.
"Ah… it's gotten cold…"
Ren looked at the cup of fragrant lavender tea in front of him. It no longer emitted any steam or aroma. The vibrant reddish hue had darkened slightly, the liquid settling into stillness.
He felt a bit helpless but also a faint joy at the passage of time. It was a reminder that the night was moving forward.
Ren returned to the kitchen, the sound of running water echoing briefly. When he came out again, he didn't have fresh hot water. Instead, he had a single, fresh bamboo leaf in his hand, plucked from the small decorative plant by the window.
Ren placed the bamboo leaf in the cold teacup.
Plop.
He watched the green leaf float gently on the surface, supported by the surface tension of the tea. It spun slowly, a splash of vibrant life against the dark, cold liquid.
"It's been a long time since I tried drinking it this way~. Wabi-sabi in a cup."
Just as Ren was about to lift the cup to taste the cold infusion, the main door suddenly lit up.
Hummm.
Ren froze, the cup hovering halfway to his lips. He looked at the door in confusion.
"This is the second… no… the third guest from Another World today, wasn't it?"
The door had lit up once before Sylas arrived, but no one entered. Then Sylas came. Now, the light was back. It pulsed with a sharp, disciplined energy, unlike the chaotic flicker of Sylas's arrival.
Ren put the cup down gently. "How strange… usually it's not this busy. Is there a dimensional traffic jam?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the door handle turned.
It wasn't pushed open violently like Sylas, nor timidly like some others. It was opened with precise, controlled force.
Click. Creak.
A figure stepped in.
It was a tall young woman, radiating an aura of immense, restrained power.
She had long, glossy black hair tied back in a high ponytail that reached all the way to her hips. Her features were strikingly beautiful, cool and composed, with sharp eyes that seemed to analyze everything in sight.
But her attire was... unique.
She wore a white short-sleeved T-shirt tied in a knot at her waist, revealing her navel and a glimpse of toned abs. Below that, she wore asymmetrical denim jeans—the right leg was full-length, but the left leg was cut off entirely, revealing a long, slender leg. The outfit was a strange mix of casual and provocative, yet she wore it with the seriousness of a priestess.
What truly drew Ren's attention, however, was the weapon she carried.
A massive Japanese sword—a Nodachi—over two meters long, slung across her back in a black scabbard. The hilt alone was longer than a forearm.
[Akarin's Note: This is Kanzaki Kaori from A Certain Magical Index. She is a Saint and a mage affiliated with Necessarius (The Church of Necessary Evil). Her weapon is the "Shichiten Shichitou" (Seven Heaven Seven Swords).]
Seeing Ren sitting calmly behind the counter, the woman paused. She didn't attack, but her hand instinctively drifted toward the hilt of her sword. She frowned, scanning the room for magical traps or bounded fields.
"Where is this?" she asked, her voice polite but guarded. It carried the formal tone of someone used to official duties. "I was in London just a moment ago..."
Ren stood up slowly, raising his empty hands to show he meant no harm. He smiled gently. "She seems like a very cautious guest. Relax, Miss. This is a Restaurant. A night Restaurant."
The woman—Kanzaki Kaori—looked around, her sharp eyes darting from the tables to the kitchen entrance. She felt the inherent warmth and faint aroma of food—dashi, rice, tea—that lingered in the air. It clashed with her defensive stance. There was no malice here. No mana signature of an enemy.
She lowered her hand slightly from her sword hilt.
"The layout here is... unexpected," she muttered. "I was patrolling near the cathedral... Did I trigger a teleportation spell?"
"Because this is Another World~," Ren supplied helpfully.
"Another World?" Her eyes narrowed. "Is this a new type of magical barrier? Or perhaps an Esper ability involving spatial manipulation?"
Ren shook his head, gesturing to the door. "That's right~ It's Another World, but not a weapon or a trap. You stepped through the door and came into the Restaurant. Whether you're here to dine or just rest, you're a guest, not a combatant."
Kanzaki frowned deeply. She looked back at the door behind her. "Can I still go back? I have... duties. The Church needs me."
Ren said with a smile, "Of course you can. Just open the door and walk back through it. I said this is just a Restaurant that can connect to other worlds. I don't kidnap people. You are free to leave whenever you wish."
Kanzaki stared at him for a second, assessing his truthfulness. Her instincts as a Saint told her he wasn't lying. Then, she tentatively reached back and pulled open the door.
Whoosh.
Instead of the street outside Ren's shop, she saw a flash of the familiar, foggy, cobblestone streets of London at night. The damp air of England briefly mixed with the warm air of the restaurant.
Only then did she relax. She let out a breath she had been holding. She closed the door and adjusted the strap of her sword with a click.
She bowed deeply—a perfect 90-degree Japanese bow.
"I apologize for my rudeness just now, Shopkeeper-dono. In my line of work, caution is necessary. I am Kanzaki Kaori. Please forgive my intrusion."
Ren shook his head and said, "It's fine. I prefer cautious guests to reckless ones. And if you're so polite, I actually feel a bit pressured. Please, have a seat."
He looked her up and down, noting the tension in her shoulders.
"But I have to say, Miss Kanzaki, you have good taste~."
"Hm?" Kanzaki looked confused, straightening up. "Good taste? My... clothes?"
She looked down at her asymmetrical jeans self-consciously. She had been told her fashion sense was questionable by her peers in England.
"No, not that," Ren smiled mysteriously. "I mean your culinary taste. I can smell the faint scent of sea bream on you. Not the fishy kind, but the savory kind."
Kanzaki blushed slightly. "Sea bream?"
"You were thinking about food just now, weren't you?" Ren leaned forward, his silver eyes twinkling. "Specifically, you were craving a taste of your homeland. Something simple, warm, and comforting to wash away the taste of English butter and bread. You want Tai Chazuke (Sea Bream Tea on Rice), don't you?"
Kanzaki's eyes widened in genuine shock. Her jaw dropped slightly.
"How did you...?" She stammered. "I... I was indeed thinking about how long it has been since I had proper Japanese rice... The food in the dormitories is..." She shuddered slightly.
"Because both snapper bones and snapper heads are excellent ingredients for making broth, and the chazuke made with them will have a unique aroma," Ren explained smoothly. "You have the look of someone who appreciates the simple elegance of such a dish. And your aura... it feels like a sword that needs to be sheathed and oiled. A warm bowl of chazuke is the perfect maintenance for a tired warrior. So, you're quite the connoisseur, customer~."
Kanzaki paused, then a hint of relief and excitement flashed in her eyes, replacing the cold vigilance. She chuckled, a soft, rare sound.
"Rather, it's your culinary intuition that's exceptional, Shopkeeper-dono. You read my mind perfectly. That is exactly what I was craving after a long night of patrol."
Ren smiled and tied his apron tighter. "Thank you for the compliment~. Please wait a moment then. I will prepare the best Tai Chazuke you've ever had."
With that, he turned and walked towards the kitchen.
Kanzaki Kaori looked around the Restaurant. She walked to a table and sat down, unhooking her massive sword and leaning it carefully against the wall beside her. The faint warmth of the shop gave her a sense of ease she hadn't felt in months. Living in England, surrounded by Western magic and culture, she often felt like an outsider. This place... it felt like a slice of home.
"A nice place... Hm?"
Kanzaki suddenly noticed the cup of cold fragrant tea on Ren's table.
She could smell a faint lavender aroma from where she sat, but she also felt that the tea had lost all its warmth. A single green bamboo leaf floated on top, spinning lazily.
Being a Japanese woman raised in a traditional environment, she naturally had an opinion on tea. Tea was meant to be drunk hot or iced intentionally. Stale, cold tea was sad. It represented neglect.
Why would he drink that? she wondered. Someone who can identify a craving by look alone shouldn't settle for cold tea. Is it a penance?
While she was pondering, Ren came over with a steaming glass cup. The liquid inside was a beautiful, translucent purple-red.
After placing the cup in front of her, he smiled and said, "Have some water to warm your stomach first~. The broth will take a few minutes. The sea bream needs to be seared perfectly."
Kanzaki looked at the cup in front of her, her brows relaxing as the steam hit her face. She sniffed it. "It smells very good. What is this?"
"Rose Tea," Ren explained. "I added a little blueberry to it. It can beautify and nourish, relieve fatigue from battle, and regulate the digestive system. Blueberries can also protect eyesight—important for a swordswoman—and enhance the taste. It should be quite suitable for you~."
Kanzaki nodded, touched by the thoughtfulness. She picked up the cup with both hands.
Just as Ren was about to leave to tend to the fish, she heard her own voice stop him.
"Shopkeeper-dono, there's a question I'd like to know the answer to."
"What?" Ren paused.
"I can feel that this tea is very fragrant and mellow," Kanzaki gestured to her cup. "And I can also smell the aroma from your cup over there. Someone who can brew such tea would surely not choose to drink a cup that has completely cooled, would they? It seems... wasteful. And improper for a host."
Ren smiled, looking at his own cup with the bamboo leaf. "Ah, that question. It's very simple. Because tea is like life. Drinking tea is savoring life."
Kanzaki tilted her head, her ponytail swaying. "Tea is life?"
"If your tea gets cold, and you choose to reheat it, it won't be the same taste and feeling as it was initially. The bitterness will increase. The delicate notes will be destroyed. If you pour it out, you'll just lose a cup of tea for nothing. That is waste."
Kanzaki asked in confusion, "Then what do you mean by putting a bamboo leaf on it? Is it for brewing tea? Does it change the flavor?"
Ren paused, then shook his head with a smile and said, "Of course not. Because with only one bamboo leaf added now, in cold water, it won't impart any flavor at all. It's just for aesthetics."
"Hm? Aesthetics?"
The female Saint became interested in this strange philosophy.
Ren said gently, leaning against the adjacent table, crossing his arms. "I said that drinking tea is savoring life, and tea water is life. Sometimes, life goes cold. Things happen that we didn't plan. Mistakes are made. Since life has already taken a bad turn, no matter how much you try to make it like before—reheating it—you will only get a different result. It won't be the same as it once was, and it won't have the development you desired."
Kanzaki's hand tightened slightly around her warm cup. She thought of her past. She thought of the Amakusa Church she had left behind to protect them. She thought of her "luck" that brought misfortune to others. She had spent so long trying to "fix" things, trying to reheat the cold tea of her past.
"Since that's the case," Ren continued softly, his voice like a gentle stream, "why not try to decorate it? Why not take the cold reality and add a bamboo leaf? Make the already bad tea water look better. Accept it for what it is, but find beauty in it. After all, the past cannot be controlled, but the present can influence the future~."
"Accept... the cold tea?" Kanzaki whispered. "What about brewing a fresh pot? Start over?"
Ren shook his head. "Wasting time to make a cup of tea that isn't exactly the same as the first will only make one feel depressed. You will always compare the new pot to the memory of the first. Sometimes, you just have to drink the cold tea and appreciate the leaf. That acceptance... is also a form of salvation."
Salvation.
The word struck Kanzaki hard.
After speaking, Ren bowed slightly and returned to the kitchen to slice the sea bream.
Kanzaki sat there in silence. She looked at the cup of cold tea on Ren's table with a complex expression. The bamboo leaf spun slowly, finding its balance in the stillness.
Accept it... Not fight it. Not run from it.
After a long while, she sighed, a sound that carried a heavy burden leaving her chest. Her shoulders dropped an inch.
She picked up her own cup of warm Rose Blueberry tea and took a small sip.
The sweetness of the fruit and the floral scent of the rose bloomed on her tongue, spreading warmth through her body.
"Ah... it really is fragrant...." she whispered, a small smile gracing her lips.
"I will enjoy this cup while it is warm."
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