The evening turned into night as Ludwig kept talking with Rimuru, Akane, and Jade. Even though the restaurant had become emptier due to Kashi and Kira leaving for their another great adventure, the atmosphere was still bustling.
Of course, there's someone who couldn't really enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant. Judging by the fact that the old man had placed 2 additional orders of sake, his mind should be in a chaotic limbo right now. He's probably cursing Danzo too at the same time.
As one hour passed after the sun dipped into the horizon to give its light to another part of the world, the restaurant's door creaked for the fifth time today. Claire walked in while still talking with a little blonde girl that was holding her hand.
"Welcome to Checkpoint." Ludwig and his employees welcomed them. Raising her head up, Claire looked at Valerie first. After nodding her head to the young demon, he stepped closer and closer to where Rimuru sat.
In the meantime, Cless had let go of her hold to Claire's hand. However, rather than following Claire, she just ran straight to one of his employees who stood in front of the door. "Valerie!"
Claire sighed as she sat on an empty chair beside Rimuru. "Sorry again for Cless' action."
Ludwig waved his hand. "Told you already that it's fine. It's not like we are really busy. The usual?"
"Thanks. And yeah, give me the usual." Claire smiled and answered.
With a wave of his hand, the whiskey bottle flew towards his hand. Moments later, a glass with round ice appeared in front of him from his side. "Thanks, Vilera." Ludwig said before pouring the liquid the bottle contained into the glass.
As he put the glass in front of Claire, Ludwig opened his mouth again. "What food do you want? Just snacks or real food?"
Claire looked at Ludwig after he asked so. "That's unusual. You rarely asked for an order this soon after someone walked in."
"That guy is dying to talk with you." Ludwig pointed at Rimuru with his chin. "If I don't ask you now, God only knows when you will order."
Claire looked at Rimuru and shook her head while smiling. Probably knew that Rimuru was up to no good from how his eyes were shining and the smirk on his face. But before she opened her mouth, Rimuru's voice echoed.
"You should order Pork Kakuni, Claire. You will be surprised."
"Oh?" Claire looked at Rimuru again. "It's that good?"
"The one I ate before is good. But judging by how good Ludwig's food is, it should be even better." He answered.
"Fine." Claire gaze went to Ludwig. "I'll order what he recommends."
"Sure. Please wait a bit." Ludwig left the two and went to the kitchen. Just as he expected, Rimuru started to whisper to her as soon as he left them alone. After giving the man of the topic a glance with her eyes, Claire nodded. He chuckled at the display. It seemed like everyone who knew Kushina well wasn't happy with the man.
As he worked on the food, Rimuru and Claire talked about their city. Truly, the Great Sage is such a cheat. Flexing about their city in front of another leader of a nation. Well, even if it's called a nation, the population of Konoha was lower than Tempest. Even against Ravenhall, a city of a mercenary, they didn't lead the number too far.
The Hokage's face paled as he heard the number of Rimuru's subjects. A valid reaction as even Ludwig was quite surprised at the sheer absurdity of the number. But when he heard about Ravenhall, his reaction was more severe. She might be thinking that if Claire wanted, he could invade Konoha through the door of the restaurant or something. Not like he would allow Claire to do it if she had the thought. Of course, as long as they were not being a pain in his ass.
Just as Ludwig plated the pork belly chunks into the plate, another order came. It was for Cless. However, the menu she chose was a fish dish. Since such a young girl wouldn't be able to eat raw tuna, what he would make for her was tuna steak covered with sesame seeds to make it crispy on the outside, flaky on the inside.
Once he was done with Cless' food, Valerie took it to the empty table behind Claire where Cless sat together with Valerie. In the meantime, Ludwig returned to his seat, across two people who were talking about something that should be whispered around in a loud voice. Of course, because of how serious they looked, even Akane and Jade couldn't help but to join.
"Well, just like I told you guys when I first visited this restaurant. The kingdom needs the power of my little sister. She was summoned to purify the miasma that gushed out all over the world in one hundred years cycle. They said they'll send us back once my sister is finished with her duty, though."
Ludwig was quite surprised at her explanation. Not because her sister was someone with purifying ability, but because of the promise that the kingdom that summoned them made. It seemed like the ritual they used to summon Akane and her sister also had some kind anchoring spell. Else, it would be almost impossible to send them back. Ludwig made a mental note to visit that kingdom later.
"Oh? So your sister will be like Ludwig? Hero of the world?" Rimuru asked, tone half teasing half amused.
"Cut it out, slime." Ludwig shot.
"Of course." Rimuru smirked. "If the hero orders this mere slime to shut up, I will do so."
Claire sighed, then she opened her mouth. "If you or your sister need any help, just come to us, okay?"
"Thank you." Akane whispered.
"By the way, Akane, can I ask you something?" Ludwig decided to ask what he's most curious about Akane until this moment.
"Feel free." She answered.
"When you first order food here, you went with pasta rather than Japanese cuisine. Does your world have Japanese cuisine?"
Akane tilted her head to the side, her short hair dangled in the air. "No, no. There's no Japanese cuisine in my world. I made it myself."
"Oh?" Rimuru and Claire sounded their interest at the same time. Ludwig was also the same, except, she just let his face show it.
"Did you cook with local ingredients?"
"Mhm." Akane nodded. "Just the vegetables, meat, and fruits though. For the seasoning and the instant stuff, I still have some in my house."
"Your house?" Rimuru asked. Voicing Ludwig and Claire's question too judging from how her face looked.
"Ah, I forgot I haven't told you yet. I was summoned along with my house."
"WHAAAAT?" Rimuru stood on his feet. Not on the floor, but on top of the chair. "Even in my world that has so many otherworlders, no one got summoned along with their house. So how?"
"I don't know. The prince just said it's a miscalculation." Akane said.
As her explanation fell, both Claire and Rimuru looked at Ludwig. Feeling what they wanted to ask through their eyes, Ludwig opened his mouth. "She and her sister are lucky then. Miscalculation in space magic is fatal. Even a small mistake could just erase the subject of the spell. Best case scenario, they are sent to some unknown realm."
Akane's lips parted, colour started to leave her face at the same time. It seemed like the thought never crossed her mind. Not only her, Jade had also become pale. He didn't even try to calm Akane down like when she first entered this restaurant.
"Since you are alive, you shouldn't think about it too much." Ludwig shrugged. "On a lighter note, you can cook huh, Akane?"
Unfortunately, Ludwig's question hung on the air a little bit longer than he liked. The silence blanketed them all, making the restaurant completely quiet if not for Cless and Valerie's chatter.
"W-well… Cooking is just my hobby. I can't compare to you." Akane answered after she regained her bearings.
"Nonsense." Rimuru quickly butted in. "This guy is not that good. He doesn't have any dessert here. And even if there's it's one gold coin. Expensive as heck."
"I didn't sell it, okay? Ludwig mocked feeling hurt by Rimuru's words. Hoping it would lighten the mood. "You are the one who wanted it."
"Whatever." Rimuru scoffed. "How about you Akane, can you make a dessert?"
"I can. Well at least the simple one." Akane said, making Rimuru and Ludwig look at her.
"Really?" Rimuru asked, eyes twinkling like kids in front of a ticket booth of an amusement park.
"Yeah. I mean, I have an oven in my house, so yes, I can make some dessert." She answered.
"I won't ask how the oven in your house is still working." Rimuru muttered before looking at Ludwig. But from his eyes, rather than asking how the oven was still in a working condition even after the house was transported to another world, he was more telling him to at least learn how to make dessert from her.
But Ludwig just smiled, after all, he had a better idea. "Say Akane. Do you want to be a dessert supplier for this restaurant?"
"Huh? Are you sure?" Akane said, hands closing to each other before he fiddled with her own finger. "I-I can't make anything fancy."
Ludwig chuckled. "Even a cookie is better than nothing. I'll source any ingredients you don't have. I'll pay you to make it."
"Are you sure?" Akane asked again.
"Just take it Akane." Rimuru butted in. "You don't have anything better to do, do you?"
"Y-yeah. I just stay at home everyday."
"Then please make dessert for this restaurant. I'm sick of paying 1 gold coin for a simple ice cream."
But before Akane could give them her answer, the door to the restaurant opened again with no buzzing in Ludwig's head. Realizing what happened, Ludwig couldn't help but to chuckle. It was like the system had felt her anger and disdain towards the Hokage and decided to make them experience the restaurant's power fully.
After the bell jingled, a young man stepped inside with careful steps. His posture was polite, shoulders slightly slouched as though apologizing for taking up space. His brown hair bounced around as he walked, but that's not the only thing that bounced. Trailing behind her boots was a familiar glob. However, rather than cyan blob, it had many different colours. Shades of clear, blue, and green.
"Welcome to Checkpoint." Ludwig suppressed the laughter that was about to shoot from his mouth and said so, his employees following suit.
The boy bowed politely, voice quite yet steady. "Excuse me… This is a restaurant, right?"
"I-It is, Sir." Finka answered.
But when the young boy looked at Finka's extremely pale skin, his eyes shook. "W-what are you?"
Finka's face went rigid, probably at a loss about what to do. But then, a flash of determination could be seen in her eyes. "I-I am a demon sir. Before you ask anything else, mind if I explain about this restaurant?"
In front of Finka's polite and determined words, the young man nodded.
"Thank you, Sir." Finka said before starting to explain about this restaurant.
A smile bloomed on his face. That girl was shy, only second to Bilo. Yet, she was still able to gather the courage to explain the power of the restaurant to someone she met for the first time.
However, his thoughts were soon interrupted by a chortle from his side. When he looked to the source of the sound, he could see Claire keeling over to the bar face down, shoulders trembling like it was a huge earthquake. In the meantime, Rimuru just sat there, frozen. But his eyes were looking at the glob that walked together with the man.
At that moment, Ludwig recalled a scene from either a manga or the anime where Rimuru's subordinates ran at him who was resting around other slimes and shouted, 'Rimuru sama, don't go back to your family!'
With a smirk that could make Joker feel inferior, he opened his mouth, "Wow Rimuru, I don't think you have a family of different colour."