Chapter 67
Clael and Reina returned to the hotel.
After taking turns showering and changing, the two headed to the hotel restaurant for dinner.
"Wow, what a feast! Master Clael!"
"Yes, it's splendid."
The meal at the hotel was served buffet-style.
Inside the spacious restaurant, several tables were set up, and countless dishes were laid out.
"Welcome. May I see your tickets?"
"Yes, here they are."
They handed over two tickets to the attendant standing at the entrance.
"Master Clael and Lady Reina, correct? We've been expecting you. Please follow me to your table."
They were led to a table by the window.
Outside the window, the cityscape bathed in orange light stretched out before them.
"If it were daytime, we probably could've seen more of the sea."
"I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning... By the way, I don't see any menus here. What should we do?"
"Ah, this is a buffet."
"Buffet?"
Clael pointed toward the table where the food was arranged, as Reina tilted her head in confusion.
"You can take whatever dishes you like from over there and eat as much as you want."
"Huh...?"
Reina looked stunned, glancing back and forth between the food and the table.
"As much as I want...? This has to be a lie, right? There's no such convenient thing, right?"
"No, that's really how this restaurant works."
"A-Are you sure you're not being tricked? Master Clael, let's run away together...!"
Reina grabbed Clael's hand and spoke with a desperate expression.
(Yeah... I get how she feels.)
He remembered how, in his previous life, he felt the same way the first time he entered an all-you-can-eat buffet.
(I was worried it was a trap where you'd turn into a pig if you ate too much... Totally influenced by movies.)
"There's really nothing to worry about. The cost of the meal is included in the higher lodging fee."
"I see... So that means we have to eat a lot to make it worth it, right?"
"Well, yeah... basically."
"Got it... Then I'll eat a ton!"
Reina clenched her fists with a determined "Hmph!"... though she was a Saint and a duke's daughter.
Her serious attitude toward an all-you-can-eat meal was a little sad.
"...For now, shall we go get some food?"
"Yes!"
Now then... though it may not matter, let's go over some buffet and all-you-can-eat tips.
One thing to avoid at a buffet is loading up on dishes of the same type.
If you just grab what you like without thinking, you might end up with only carbs, or soup and curry overlapping.
To prevent that, you should first scout the entire buffet without a plate and plan your meal accordingly.
(Should I go with bread, rice, or noodles like pasta or udon? Based on that, I'll choose the side dishes...)
And don't forget to save room for dessert.
You must leave space for dessert after the meal.
(Of course, choosing drinks is also important. If you pick something strong like rich orange juice at the start, the acidity might make you feel full. Water or tea is recommended. Save black tea or coffee for after the meal...)
"...Let's start with a salad as an appetizer and just water. While eating the salad, we'll carefully plan our strategy..."
"Master Clael, is it really free even if I take this much?"
"Yes, the cost is included in the lodging... Wait, you took way too much!?"
While Clael was deep in thought, Reina had already returned to the table holding plates of food in both hands.
Behind her followed a plushie carrying three kinds of juice: apple, orange, and grape.
Reina's plates were piled high with food.
Japanese, Western, Chinese dishes, curry, and unfamiliar cuisine from some country... all jumbled together, and she had even grabbed dessert cake already.
"R-Reina? I did say you could eat as much as you want, but you have to finish everything you take or there's a penalty..."
"Ah, it's fine. I'll eat it all."
Reina smiled brightly and placed the plates on the table.
Then she readied herself with a knife and fork in both hands with a sharp stance.
"Master Clael, if there's anything you want to eat, feel free to take it from here. Well then, I'll start first!"
Reina began eating.
The mountain of food on her plates quickly diminished.
(I forgot... Reina actually eats a lot...)
Reina wasn't someone who usually overate.
However, she always finished what was served and never left food behind.
(I'd never pushed her to her limit before... but when she gets serious, she can eat this much...)
No matter how much Reina ate, she never gained weight.
The excess nutrients she absorbed were all returned to the earth and transformed into divine blessings that protected the people.
"...I'll go get some salad."
Feeling an inexplicable sense of defeat, Clael quietly went to get his own meal.