The Chaotic Women's Club And Fried Chicken

Hello, it’s Arius.

Having somehow caught wind of the information that Gungrave and the guys were holding a men’s club, I decided to host a women’s club as well.

After dinner ended, we decided to rent out one of the guest rooms and hold it there.

“I was raised as a male, so maybe going over to that side is fine?”

“No. Biologically you are female, so you belong over here.”

Brushing aside Ecres’s grumbling, I put a snack into my mouth.

Holding a women’s club is fine and all, but I also dislike being swallowed by alcohol, so we’re doing it with sweet sake.

Currently gathered here are three of us: me, Rir, and Ecres.

The three of us lit candles in the dead of night and drank sweet sake… It’s quite a lonely sight. If there were one or two more people, it would be a different story, though…

“Still, Shuri-kun is cold, isn’t he? Going to a musty place like a men’s club.”

“No, since Shuri is male, it would be strange if he were over here.”

“I think over here is more fun than over there, though.”

Ecres complains while drinking her sweet sake.

Well, I understand what she wants to say.

For most men, being surrounded by women, pleasantly drinking alcohol, and showing off with boastful stories is enough to satisfy them.

However, Shuri is, how should I put it… If normal men are carnivores, Shuri gives off the impression of an herbivore, so to speak.

Rather than being surrounded by women, he seems to prefer making a racket among men or with female friends he’s on good terms with.

“Shuri is, munch munch. Cooking is, chomp, like a lover to him.”

The words of Rir, who is single-mindedly devouring edamame, certainly describe Shuri well. For Rir, who single-mindedly immerses herself in cooking, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that cooking is her spouse at this point. It is a sight devoid of any elegance or dignity as a female. Pay a little more attention…

However… calling cooking a lover, that’s really a bit too…

“That’s true, Rir-chan, but that’s a no-go, you know.”

“Munch?”

“For someone as skilled as Shuri-kun, not taking on disciples or passing down techniques to his children is a problem. There must be secret techniques that can only be passed down to talented disciples or children. Considering technical inheritance and lineage preservation, it’s better to take a wife.”

Ecres’s way of thinking stems from engaging in domestic affairs as an assistant to the feudal lord, functioning like an administrator, so to speak. However, that is also an opinion that quite hits the mark.

Shuri’s techniques and cooking skills are two or three heads above those of ordinary people.

I would certainly like to have those techniques, knowledge, and experience passed down to the next generation.

“In short, if you don’t increase the number of people who can make hamburgers, Rir-chan’s share will run out, you know?”

“That cannot be allowed.”

Given that she accepts it on that basis, Rir is completely consumed by hamburgers… I saw a light akin to madness in Rir’s eyes.

“Be that as it may, indeed. Over there, they are probably getting excited over nonsense talk. Shall we talk about something over here as well?”

“Speaking of men’s nonsense talk… maybe their preference in women? Then for us, it’s our preference in men, right?”

“Starting from Arius, then.”

Rir…

“Listen here. Do you think I’m going to name a man other than Gungrave in a place like this? What would happen if a woman with a wedding ahead of her brought up the name of a man other than her fiancé, and it resulted in a broken engagement?”

“Oh, you said it, Arius. Head over heels for your husband?”

Ecres teases me, but it’s a fact.

“I have been single-mindedly devoted to Gungrave since I was small. We’re married now, and while we don’t have children yet, I’m happy.”

“Ooh, being told that so clearly makes me feel embarrassed instead…”

Fufu, but I’m happy. Because I was able to be together with Gungrave.

“Then, how about Ecres? Who is your preference?”

“I’m already all for Shuri-kun. I won’t even glance at anyone else.”

Ecres also puffed out her chest and said it clearly, didn’t she?

“Then, why is it Shuri? Saying it like this might be improper, but I don’t think many days have passed since you met.”

“That’s because, you see, Shuri-kun overturned my fate.”

Fate?

“As you know, I was fated to live as a male. As the next feudal lord, staying on bad terms with Gings, and keeping my relationship with Brother Garn hidden. I might have had to spend my time inside a tense and awkward castle.

Taking a wife was impossible, yet on the flip side, romance with a man was a dream within a dream. I was in despair, thinking it would be a lonely single life.”

“You don’t look like it.”

“Rir-chan, a feudal lord is someone who sometimes has to put on a tough front while deceiving those around them as well as themselves. However, the storm Shuri-kun raised blew away all my fetters. I don’t have to put on a tough front anymore, and I can engage in romance with a man. I don’t have to stubbornly push myself as a feudal lord, either.”

“Although it took the form of Gungrave seizing real power, do you hold any resentment there?”

“None. Me, Gings, Brother Garn—I think no one holds resentment. Gings, through this chaos, realized he lacks aptitude as a feudal lord, so he’s grateful to be allowed to do work he can handle. Brother Garn didn’t have succession rights in the first place, nor did he intend to become feudal lord. I didn’t want to act as a feudal lord, either. That’s why we’re grateful that Gungrave took on the unnecessary fetters for us. And my gratitude to Shuri-kun, who gave us that opportunity, knows no bounds. Besides, he has the face and personality of my type, too.”

Giggling and drinking her sweet sake, Ecres looks remarkably bright and clear.

Gungrave sought to obtain a nation and fulfill his ideal.

However, even while holding a nation, Ecres did not wish for that.

That is surely because the nature of their aspirations differs.

Those who possessed from the start, and those who lacked.

Perhaps, if the process had been different, Ecres could have become a heroine devoting her efforts for the sake of the nation. She is a person with that much capability.

The ones who made a mistake were surely the parents.

If her parents, the former feudal lord and the Empress, had been proper, Ecres would likely be different from how she is now.

Well, saying anything at this late stage can’t be helped.

It’s already a finished matter. Even if we say this or that would have been good now, it’s not something that can be changed.

“Is that so…”

However, hearing Ecres’s story, anxiety is welling up inside me.

To put it directly, it’s the issue regarding Shuri.

That Shuri, who is a complete blockhead regarding relationships with women, hasn’t had a single rumor about him up until this very moment.

Considering his desperation in struggling to survive on the battlefield over the past year and a bit, I understand he had no leeway to make a lover.

However, we can’t just keep saying that, either.

If Shuri marries someone outside of the mercenary band, he might end up leaving the mercenary band.

Alternatively, if he unites with someone from another country, there is even the danger of being headhunted over there.

For my part, if possible, I hope he unites with Rir.

She is a child like this, after all, and I can’t imagine an understanding person other than Shuri appearing for her.

Above all, if Rir, whose stomach has already been mastered, separates from Shuri, there is even the danger of her going berserk like that one time.

I have spoken with Gungrave as well, but according to Gungrave’s personal opinion, uniting with Ecres doesn’t sit well with him.

Supposedly, it’s because if he unites with Ecres, it’s entirely unknown whether he’s being utilized politically or being protected out of affection.

And having someone suddenly appear and snatch away his friend grates on his nerves, apparently.

However, Ecres is head over heels for Shuri. There is no mistake about it anymore.

With this, I cannot support Gungrave’s view.

The current Ecres would likely try to protect Shuri, after all.

However, then Rir becomes pitiable…

“By the way, who does Rir-chan like?”

Setting my thoughts aside, Ecres asked Rir the core main question.

The thing I wanted to hear most was dropped into the conversation without any care for timing or flow.

“I’m curious, you see. Rir-chan, far from having romantic rumors, I’ve never heard of you getting along with any specific person. Truly, outside of Shuri, you don’t feel close with any men. How you treat Teg-san or Kuuga-san doesn’t depart from that of childhood friends.”

“Hmm.”

Rir, swallowing her edamame, pondered for a moment.

Oh, surprising.

Honestly, I didn’t think Rir held any interest regarding this topic.

This girl, who holds interest in nothing but hamburgers and magi-engineering, constantly maintaining an expressionless face, devouring a mountain of hamburgers without changing her posture or expression at all, is worrying about romance.

This might mean a slight change is occurring.

“Rir doesn’t understand that kind of thing.”

After worrying endlessly, the words that finally came out were that…?

“But, I wonder what it is. When Ecres said she liked Shuri, I felt a gloomy haze inside.”

Eh?

“Rir thought that no matter who Shuri married, he would make hamburgers for Rir, so she hadn’t thought about it. However, I suddenly think about it. Shuri unites with another person. If so, how will Shuri interact with Rir? I think he would make hamburgers for me with that usual smile. However, his finest smile surely won’t be directed at Rir. When I think about that, I feel a gloomy haze inside somehow.”

Th-This is… There’s a chance?

“Rir-chan, isn’t that surely just you getting anxious that he’ll make a specially amazing hamburger for his marriage partner and won’t give it to you?”

“I see.”

Ehhhhhh!?

At Ecres’s words, Rir actually accepted it!?

Huh!? Ecres’s eyes are laughing…!

Saying, 『Romantic feelings? It’d be troublesome if she realized. A rival would increase』…!!

This won’t do. At this rate, Rir will misinterpret romantic love as appetite!

“Rir. Shuri is kind, so I don’t think he would make special dishes just for someone. However, Shuri is one person. Even if there are many of Shuri’s dishes, there is only one person named Shuri. Are you fine with having Shuri taken away?”

“That is…”

Hmm, Rir began to think once again.

A faint anger is lit in Ecres’s eyes.

Saying, 『Don’t do unnecessary things』.

Hmm, Ecres is quite the tactician as well.

If Rir herself realizes that the emotion faintly dwelling inside her is 『affection』, that emotion will surely burst into flames all at once. That is a sight both I and Gungrave wished for.

However, if that emotion bursts into flames, the one most troubled will be Ecres.

At present, Ecres is desperately trying to secure the position of Shuri’s closest female friend. She is surely in the middle of building the royal road from friend to lover, and from lover to spouse.

However, that is currently possible because the number of rivals targeting Shuri is small.

The royal road of romance, while being the royal road, is sometimes forced to take a longer detour than the crooked road.

Because while the royal road makes the fewest enemies, it requires immense labor to reach the final destination.

However, if a rival named Rir appears here, she will have to use the tactic of the crooked road.

And when Shuri notices that the crooked road tactic was used against him, what kind of thoughts will he hold, I wonder?

Since Shuri is quite thick-skinned, in the end, the possibility of him forgiving is highest, after all.

Except for the point of pulling a fast one on a comrade, though.

Therefore, Ecres fears the appearance of a rival close at hand.

Since I too must have Rir become happy, I plan to give full support to Rir.

However, since I’ve also grown close with Ecres, this sandwich position carries quite a heavy mental burden.

“Rir. Please think. For Rir, who is the person it’s most fun to be together with?”

“Hm? Hmmm…”

“By ‘fun person,’ are we talking about a best friend?”

Gnk, Ecres’s leading questions are too skillful for me to refute.

Just as I was thinking that, the door opened.

“I heard that conversation!”

Surprisingly, it’s Princess Tebis. Princess Tebis suddenly appeared.

Eh? Why?

“Rir’s heart, Ecres’s romantic feelings, and Arius’s meddling—I have grasped it all! Upon that, I declare!”

Sitting down beside us, Princess Tebis picked up a single edamame and spoke.

“Shuri belongs to me. Staying in the mercenary band or making a lover, I shall permit. I am tolerant of such matters. I am royalty, after all. However! No matter how much his body or position is disguised in the mercenary band, his heart alone shall be mine! Fuahahahaha!”

“Gnk, you heart thief!”

What is this? Princess Tebis suddenly appeared and what on earth did she start saying?

And Ecres’s mood is also incomprehensible. What is a heart thief?

Above all, why was today’s gathering exposed to Princess Tebis?

“Fuahaha! Ecres, your skill in filling in the outer moats starting from the friend position is magnificent, but that is after all an ancient battle without magic. Now is an era with both magic and magi-engineering! One merely needs to prepare wings to leap over the wall of Shuri’s heart!”

Pardon?

To me, the true meaning of Princess Tebis’s words is incomprehensible.

Or rather, I don’t understand what this little girl is saying.

Hurriedly tapping my ears, it doesn’t seem like dust has accumulated or my hearing has suffered an abnormality, though.

Above all, since she’s devouring edamame rapidly in the confusion, the number is decreasing swiftly.

“Gnk, Princess Tebis…”

It seems comprehensible to Ecres, as she wears a frustrated face.

I rub my eyes, but it’s not blurry, nor am I seeing hallucinations.

It seems something invisible to my eyes is visible to these two, doesn’t it?

“Munch munch.”

And Rir single-mindedly devours edamame and keeps washing them down with sweet sake.

What is this? All at once, the flow of this room has begun to go off course.

“…These edamame are delicious, aren’t they?”

I don’t mind if it’s called escaping reality.

If I can escape from this flow, I wouldn’t hesitate no matter what sacrifice I had to pay.

“Good evening… Huh, Your Highness? Why are you here?”

As if cutting through all of that flow, the door opened.

The one who appeared was Shuri, the source of the storm.

Eh? Why is he here?

“Ah, just in time. I brought the additional snacks you requested, but… I wondered if I made too much. I prepared Japanese Fried Chicken. This time, I prepared two types: one finished with a crispy batter, and one with a soft batter. Please, everyone, enjoy.”

Saying that, Shuri placed the large platter he brought in front of us.

What sits there is a meat dish clad in a golden-brown skin.

Arranged in bite-sized pieces, they are making tiny crackling sounds of sputtering oil.

The aroma is also wonderful. The savory scent of meat and the aroma of oil fill the room completely, striking directly at the stomach that should have been filled with edamame.

However, there are two types, and their appearances are different.

One is Japanese Fried Chicken with a pale golden-brown color, looking like a crunchy batter. This looks like it has a good chew to it, whetting the appetite.

The other is a deeper golden-brown Japanese Fried Chicken clad in a soft batter. It had an ease that seemed easy to bite through.

Both are fresh from cooking. Rising steam tumbles around plenty on top of the plate.

“Shuri. Is this fried chicken, then?”

Chicken. Hearing that, I grimaced slightly.

Speaking of chicken, it refers to hens that no longer lay eggs or roosters that do not lay eggs, slaughtered and served. Normally it’s tough, stringy, and low in popularity.

The beef Shuri serves is also originally unpopular. Normally it would be cattle that stopped producing milk, slaughtered and distributed, but when Shuri cooks it, it becomes surprisingly soft and delicious, so I didn’t mind it.

In the old days, if handled poorly, one would end up eating meat that smelled of milk.

However, it’s chicken. Chicken is a red flag.

If this were duck or pigeon, I would still feel like eating it. Those wild birds are meat that is delicious while carrying a wild flavor, after all.

Chicken… thinking of that, my appetite…

“Yes. However, I tried finishing it soft and delicious. This hard batter over here was put into a pot filled with oil and deep-fried, while this soft batter over here was made using a machine called a microwave that I asked Rir-san to make as a prototype. When you apply batter, put it in the microwave, and apply heat, it turns out like this.”

“You were creating such a new machine?”

“…Because Rir-san said melted cheese is justice… I had her make something easy to construct…”

…Rir.

Well, since Shuri says so with confidence, I pick up one piece while feeling doubtful.

The one I tried was the Japanese Fried Chicken with crunchy batter. This one has thin batter firmly forming a shape, and it feels hard when picked up.

This is… a strange sensation.

How should I describe it? Even though I should be touching a hard batter, I can tell it’s soft.

When touching a spot where the batter is very thin together, it responds with a squishy texture.

“Hmm, indeed it is soft. Items served to royalty are originally slaughtered birds raised for food, but… Shuri. Is this that sort of item?”

“No, it’s normal stuff.”

“Is there a trick to it, perhaps?”

“Yes. Soaking it in water.”

…Huh?

Following the daytime, the existence of water once again. Princess Tebis also grimaced at this.

“Water? You say soaking it in water finishes it this soft and plump?”

“Yes. The target duration is about ten minutes, I suppose. Soaking it in water before dusting the surface with flour to form the batter leads to this. Also, I think chicken breast meat often has dry parts, but soaking that in water makes it moist, and the texture after cooking is different.”

What an astounding method. Such a method existed.

Princess Tebis also went from a scowl to looking at the Japanese Fried Chicken with a smile as if impressed.

However, water, is it?

Culinary technique must possess broad and deep knowledge akin to that of magi-engineering, doesn’t it?

Testing things close at hand left and right, finding slight new techniques within them.

That drawer of new techniques, in Shuri’s case, is tremendously vast.

Really, just who is Shuri?

“Well then, I’ll be off here.”

“Wait a moment, Shuri.”

Princess Tebis called out to stop Shuri as he tried to leave the room.

Shuri, who was just now putting his hand on the door handle, turned around with a blank face.

“What is it, Your Highness?”

“Since you’re here, why don’t you eat here as well?”

“Eh? But Gungrave-san and the guys…”

“There should be no need for worry. What are those gentlemen doing right now?”

“Gambling cards.”

“Right, leave them be.”

That was Princess Tebis’s decisive opinion.

Shuri also had no choice but to obey this, sitting down next to Princess Tebis. Incidentally, next to her is me.

Ecres looks over here with a fiercely intense smile, but let’s ignore her.

Facing a smile clad in such a dark aura, the dark aura would infect me as well.

A woman before marriage must be clad in a pure white aura of happiness. Ufufu.

“Is it really fine…? Right about now I can’t help feeling Gings-san is being made a sucker by Teg-san’s inch… trick.”

Shuri, that worry is spot on. Teg, despite how he looks, is good at cheat… tricks, after all.

“Leave them be. The excitement of men seems to be nothing but poison to Shuri.”

“Um, I am a man, though.”

“Shuri-kun is a man, but compared to Gungrave and the guys, he somehow lacks manliness. Staying here and talking pleasantly suits you better!”

“…Is that so?”

A faint dark aura over Shuri…!

“Then let us partake. Before we notice, Rir is already eating, after all.”

Eh?

Looking at Rir, she is putting Japanese Fried Chicken into her mouth one after another.

Ehhh? Isn’t it hot?

“Soft, juicy. Delicious.”

At Rir’s muttering, my throat made a sound.

That Rir called it delicious. Rir, who wouldn’t glance at anything other than hamburgers, says it’s delicious.

I put Japanese Fried Chicken into my mouth as well.

This is incredible.

First, what I feel is the sensation of the crispy batter. This creates a subtlety of texture, feeling almost as if eating a light snack.

However, to call this a light snack, the savory flavor of the oil is far too impressive.

Probably because it was cooked using oil. The batter absorbed oil, restrained to an extent where it isn’t heavy.

And as I continue chewing, next comes soft, juicy chicken meat.

Indeed, it has a softness unthinkable for a discarded chicken. And a sense of satisfaction filling the mouth.

Above all, this meat seems to have been pre-seasoned, so the more I chew, the more the savory flavor of meat and the savory flavor of seasonings mix together in the mouth.

Chewing soft meat and hard batter together creates a crispy, soft chewiness that makes the jaw rejoice.

Ah, this is delicious.

Swallowing the Japanese Fried Chicken, I drank just a single sip of sweet sake while basking in the lingering aftertaste.

The remaining oil in my mouth was washed clean with a swoosh, completing preparations for the next piece of Japanese Fried Chicken.

Next to savor is the Japanese Fried Chicken with a deeper golden-brown color.

This is completely different from the crunchy batter from earlier; just touching it makes my finger sink into the batter, and oil drips from there.

Putting it into my mouth, this too has a difference in texture.

First, from the dripping oil, I thought an immense amount of oil was used, but there is no such feeling.

This one has no crunchy texture. However, it’s extremely soft, and even without much jaw strength, it can be bitten through easily.

And what I realized was that the dripping oil wasn’t oil used in cooking, but fat within the meat itself.

Therefore, the oil is extremely light and easy to eat.

This one too was probably pre-seasoned before cooking; the meat itself is very tasty.

A soft Japanese Fried Chicken with a gentle bite that cuts through smoothly.

This too is extremely delicious.

For my part, if I had to choose, I prefer the softer one.

The crunchy one is delicious too, but the crunchy one is suitable for when wanting to chew thoroughly and fill the stomach during lunch, while the soft one feels right for eating as a light snack.

It’s merely a feeling, though.

“Yum yum.”

Whether knowing such a feeling or not, Rir is eating so as to mix them inside her mouth.

She is surely the faction that wants to eat a lot as long as it’s delicious.

I feel like I understand, but I also feel I want her to enjoy the texture…

“Hmm, soft and crunchy are both good. If anything, crunchy might be good for mealtime, and soft for a light snack. However, this is my preference, though. There are probably those whose preferences are the reverse, and those who love one side to pieces, no doubt.”

Oh my, Princess Tebis puts them into her mouth one by one carefully, chewing to verify the taste and enjoying the bite.

As expected of a princess of a nation of gastronomy. She understands the way to enjoy meals.

The taste, the texture, the scent. Enjoying everything.

That sight is somehow divine… Masterful, to the point I felt beauty.

“…”

“Huh? Ecres?”

Noticing suddenly, I felt neither words nor actions from Ecres.

Looking over…

Surprisingly, she is secretly putting both types of Japanese Fried Chicken in a balanced manner into a covered jar she held hidden, trying to carry them back?

“Ecres? What are you…”

“…Heh.”

? Suddenly this person laughed…?

“I feel… fate, don’t you think?”

“Pardon?”

“Was I born… to encounter this dish, I wonder?”

Seeing that expression trailing sorrow, I realized.

This is bad, an addict—a junkie—has increased, hasn’t one?

“Ecres…”

“Don’t say anything, Arius. I know. I know. My current self is strange. But it won’t stop. It won’t stop!!”

Putting a whole batch into the jar, she held it as if it was precious and shed tears.

…

“Wouldn’t it be fine if you just ate it?”

“Next, when can I eat it?”

“Wouldn’t it be fine if you asked him to make it for you?”

“Really, Shuri-kun?”

Ecres’s wet, captivating gaze pierced Shuri.

It’s a destructive power that would probably make an ordinary man fall in love in a single blow.

“Yes, if requested, I’ll add it to the menu.”

“Yay!”

However, the effect on Shuri seems poor.

As expected of a blockhead. Unswerving.

“Shuri, I want that over there as well, though…”

Why she decided to compete is a mystery, but leaning against Shuri while exuding charm, Princess Tebis spoke.

To a person with inclinations in that direction, it is a youthful yet voluptuous charm that would immediately fall down an improper path.

“Mapo Tofu, is it…? I’ll prepare it tomorrow. As a set with Japanese Fried Chicken.”

“Hell yeah!”

Raising a victory cry and thrusting up a fist, there is not a shred of the charm from earlier left. There is no such thing as neatness as a female.

A tomboy warrior. Yes, there is a tomboy warrior present.

Princess Tebis… is that fine with you?

“Shall we make boiled tofu the day after tomorrow, Arius-san?”

“E-Eh, w-well, if that’s the case, it’s not like I won’t eat it for you, okay!”

I stammered a bit, but boiled tofu the day after tomorrow, is it? Anticipation has increased.

“…”

And Rir’s silent pressure!

“…”

“Well, I’ll be stepping out soon.”

However, against the blockhead Shuri, there is no effect!

“Shuri, what will you do about hamburgers?”

“Eh? We’re short on beef, so there won’t be any for a while…”

It seems to be super effective against Rir!

Rir’s body collapsed with that refreshing smile still intact…

She’s near death, a critical injury near death.

“However, while it might be favoritism, I’ve secured a portion just for Rir-san.”

“As expected of Shuri—!!”

That was truly like lightning.

Rir swiftly stood up and thrust both hands in the air.

Is that fine with you, Rir?

“Fried chicken… fried chicken…”

Ecres’s eyes are captivated by Japanese Fried Chicken.

Is that fine with you, Ecres?

“I won’t let you; tomorrow’s Mapo Tofu will be secured by me!”

“Even if you don’t worry, I’ll make it properly.”

Ah, before I noticed, Shuri-kun looks like a mother.

That sight of capturing the stomachs of high-maintenance, gluttonous daughters…

Huh? Am I mixed in among them too?

Th-That can’t be…

“Now then, I shall take my leave around here.”

Princess Tebis stood up with a somewhat relieved face.

“Tomorrow is ahead, after all. There’s a wedding too, right? I shall attend as a guest. I must make preparations for that as well.”

“Eh!? W-Wait, that’s—”

“That sounds lively and nice, doesn’t it? Please, by all means.”

“Sh-Shuri!”

Before I could stop him, Shuri accepted with a smile.

In what world is there a wedding that welcomes a person likely to stand out more than the groom and bride!?

“I heard those words clearly. I shall have the servants following me cooperate as well. Farewell then.”

Upon leaving, Princess Tebis smirked.

Raising the corners of her mouth like a crescent moon…!

Looking at the door through which she left, I let out a sigh in my heart.

Haa… I hope Princess Tebis doesn’t do anything strange starting tomorrow…