Restaurant Of In Between Chapter 8: Question and Answer

I stared at Serie’s reaction, it definitely wasn't something I expected, she was shivering as if she's trying to hold her pee or something.

But I'm pretty sure she's not, because I've seen similar reactions before and couldn't help but think. ‘Is the dish really that good? It's probably an exaggeration right..?’

Either way, Serie didn't stop moving until she ate the last of the dish. It was honestly quite fascinating to see a little girl eating a dish that was at least twice as large as her.

And she ate it all without pausing, where did it all go?

From her pocket dimension?

And, It looks like she's done, it didn't even take her more than a few minutes to finish it all!

I wasn't sure what to say to her at the moment, because I was truly baffled at the speed of how she ate the dish.

Serie then let out an adorable burp, making her pause for a bit, before looking away from my direction.

I stared at her ears and saw that it was slightly turning red, and it was clear that she became flustered from that particular action just a while ago.

‘How cute.’ I couldn't help but think, then I decided to spare her from her prior embarrassment.

“How was it? Is the food delicious?” I asked curiously, while I'm pretty sure it's delicious by just seeing her the entire pig.

Because there's no way anyone would eat that fast if the food they're eating doesn't taste good.

Shifting back her attention, Serie replied. “It was delicious, and I mean it. In my long life it's probably the most delicious meal I've had.”

If she says it like that, I can't help but be interested in trying the dish too.

“That's good, I suppose.” Although it wasn't me who personally cooked the dish, which honestly made my pride as a chef and the cook of this very establishment take a hit.

It wasn't like that I disliked this kind of thing or anything, it's just this is a restaurant, anything that wasn't cooked in this place is like ordering a meal from another establishment.

And more importantly, it makes my place more of a convenience store rather than a proper restaurant.

I would rather personally cook something than buy things conveniently from the system store, because it's more of a personal pride as a chef rather than anything logical.

If I just buy things from the store, it would make me nothing more than a merchant than a chef.

—

-Serie-

After Serie wiped her lips with a handkerchief, she spoke. “It was a good meal, now can we begin the questioning?”

Although she did like the food, it wasn't the reason why she's here, to her the food was nothing but an unexpected bonus.

She was here to investigate whether this establishment is a threat to the world, but that's unlikely to be the case considering what she experienced so far.

The man in front of her nodded in agreement. “Should I start first?”

Serie didn't mind and nodded. “Go on, I'll answer your question to the best of my knowledge.”

“Alright then, my first question is does your world have magic?” The man- no, Akihiko, for respect she shall call this man by his name.

Anymore less would be nothing but disrespectful.

Aside from that, what's with this ridiculously easy question. It was common sense but despite thinking why he's asking such basic questions, she decided to still answer him as per agreement. “Yes, my world does have magic, but are you asking such an obvious question? And what do you mean by ‘my world’ the way you mention it is like saying we lived in a different world.”

Akihiko scratched his left cheek and replied. “That's because we are, the world you live in is completely different from mine, in every sense of the word.”

Serie couldn't see any lie from the man in front of her, and immediately became interested by this particular knowledge. “Truly..?”

“Yeah, first of all. In my world magic doesn't exist, it's basically just a myth, instead we advanced in technology rapidly.”

“Fascinating...” Indeed it was, from all of things she predicted, the knowledge that this place is an entirely different world altogether wasn't part of it.

Although unexpected, it is a welcome one, as scholars and magicians of the past or more like, the mythical era, the generation she was born in.

Many debated about the existence of parallel, a place similar to their world but also completely different from theirs.

Despite the countless theories about its existence. It wasn't proven and merely regarded as theory, nothing more.

And that topic was forgotten as there wasn't anything that they could do to prove its existence. As amazing magic is, no one managed to make a magic that involves world travel.

While it wasn't impossible, no one would dedicate their lives to a theory that might not be true.

That's why that subject was long forgotten, even though she has no desire to take it upon herself as she's not going to waste time despite her seemingly endless lifespan.

She has better things to do rather than researching on a topic that isn't exactly useful for slaughtering demons.

And yet, here she is today. That theory about parallel worlds that caused countless debates in the past was now proven to be real and true.

It made her quite excited, for her to feel like this isn't easy nowadays, she had seen too much, done too many things for her to find excitement or happiness in simple things.

Thus, this occasion is very rare for her.

Akihiko let out a chuckle and responded. “Your world is also fascinating in my perspective, after all there's no magic in mine. So it is given that I'm quite- no, I'm very interested in your world.”

Which makes them the same, after all she is also interested in his world. “While I'm very fascinated by your world, you still haven't asked me questions aside from asking about my world having magic.”

“Right, right okay then. I will start asking questions about your world.”.

Serie nodded, thus he started talking.

—

His questions weren't what she initially expected, as Akihiko questions are rather basic really, nothing noteworthy at least for her.

He asked her questions like, are there demi-humans in her world, to which she answered yes. But there aren't many of them in her world.

Let's say, their situation is basically like the elves, demons caused the majority of them to extinction.

Sure there are still some that survived, but lately in the current era, there's hardly any demi-humans at all.

Unlike elves, most demi-humans don't enjoy long lasting lifespans like the elves.

Aside from that, he asked her if there's monsters in her world, this and that.

Very basic and simple question really, and anyone in her world could answer it quite easily.

After he finished his questioning, he said, “Well, I don't have anything to ask anymore. It's your turn.”

Finally, now that he finished filling his curiosity. It's time for her to fill hers.

“Then, what about…”

—-

Her questions were a bit complicated, but it wasn't something that I couldn't answer and I'm certainly having fun answering her questions because they are interesting.

Questions like, how technologically advanced my world is or how our society runs.

Things like that, from her questions it's safe to say that in her world was still at their monarchy.

Where the government is still controlled by royalty and nobles.

I answered her questions about the structure of our society and I told her about democracy and how the government works and her reply was.

“That’s a smart way to pick a leader, rather than selecting a leader through bloodline, instead the people could choose a person who has the capability of leading them.” Serie nodded as if she understood the appeal of democracy.

I really don't want to break it down to her…but personally democracy was a mistake, 99% of those who get their position are through money, rather than their capability, not to mention they're corrupted as hell.

Like the House Of Representatives in Japan, or DIET. Honestly I have no idea what they do except complaining for literally anything.

Give people too much power this happens, granted it's certainly better than monarchy, but democracy gives people too much freedom.

—

After talking with her for more than an hour, finally our conversation was finished as both parties were satisfied.

Serie promised to come back, and asked me to buy her books from my world and is willing to negotiate for the price of those books she will acquire from me.

It wasn't really a problem for me and accepted her request, she also said it doesn't matter which genre the book is, she is willing to pay for it.

Naturally at first I said to her that there was no need, because she literally tipped a billion.

However, she answered. “From my long life, I've learned one thing. Knowledge is power, do not expect for me to accept it for free.”

So yeah, I have a feeling that insisting it to be free would only irritate her.

Serie left after and meeting her was definitely exciting, and proved that the restaurant isn't just limited to parallel worlds.

But also another world entirely.

—

A/N: It's been a while, I've been really, really busy these past few weeks that I couldn't find time to write.

Anyway, it's pretty fun to write their conversation, although it lacks some things but it could be covered in later chapters.