Marriage-Hunting Elf, Aiming for Polaris, Part 1: Contact with Various Humans, Episode 5: Rice Balls and Promises

1

　昭和通りの冷たい夕暮れから地下鉄に揺られ、辿り着いた最寄り駅の下町の路地裏。

　使い込まれた縄のれんをくぐると、外の世界の無機質な喧騒が嘘のように遠のいた。『酒処 灯』の店内には、出汁の香りと炭火の温かな匂いが満ちている。

　営業時間が終わり、最後の客だったドワーフが千鳥足で出て行った後、ノエルはカウンターのいつもの定位置、一番奥の席に座り直した。

　ふと見ると、いつもは酒瓶やグラスが整然と並んでいる厨房の棚の片隅に、見慣れないものが置かれていることに気づく。

　それは、小さな木製の弦楽器だった。異世界の王宮で広く使われていた「リュート」のようだ。

「今日もお疲れ様」

　アンナが、湯気の立つ熱いほうじ茶をノエルの前に置きながら、優しく微笑んだ。

　カウンターの中では、半袖Tシャツ姿のルミエールが、明日の仕込みのために大根の皮を剥いている。シュルシュルと規則正しい音を立てて剥がれていく白い皮を見つめながら、ノエルは先ほどの上村三和との面談を思い返していた。

『日本流のお見合いというのは、お互いの妥協と打算の作法なんです』

『年収やステータスは格段に落ちる、家事や労働を折半することになるかもしれない』

　対等であるなら泥を啜る、と三和の前では大見得を切った。

　だが、具体的に「人間と生活を折半する」という泥臭い日常のイメージが、狩人だったノエルにはどうしても浮かばない。

「……ルミエール、アンナ。少し、伺ってもいいかしら」

　ノエルは湯呑を両手で包み込み、その温かさに縋るように問いかけた。

「あなたたちは、どうして……かつての身分も、元の世界に置いてきてしまったはずの過去の記憶にも区切りをつけて、この国で夫婦になることを選べたの？」

　ルミエールの剥く包丁の手が、一瞬だけ止まった。だが、彼はなにも言わず、再び黙々と大根に向き合い始めた。

　代わりに、アンナがノエルの隣の席に静かに腰掛け、遠い目をして語り出した。

2

「私たちが初めて出会ったのはね、大召喚の直後。異世界人たちが一時的に集められた、冷たいコンクリートの収容所だったのよ」

—What I had been seeking was a selfish naturalization for the sake of survival.
It didn't matter what kind of person the other party was, as long as I could obtain citizenship.
It was precisely because I thought that way that I attracted a man like Shishikura and nearly ended up being dominated by a man like Hihara.

To wallow in the mud as equals does not mean weighing the other person's conditions. It means accepting their clumsiness, their gritty life, and everything else as a person on the same level as yourself, and walking together.

4

“...Let's leave the chatter at that. You'll catch a chill.”
Lumiere slid a small earthenware pot across the counter.
As prompted, I opened the lid, and the scent of dashi broth wafted up, mingled with the refreshing aroma of dried herbs from another world.

“It’s a soup that combines Japanese miso with silver-leaf grass from my hometown. Drinking this will help steady your nerves.”
“...Thank you, Lumiere.”
Noel picked up a spoon and brought a mouthful of soup to her lips.
Deep within the rich, savory depth of the miso, there was the nostalgic taste of the wind she once smelled in the forests of her homeland. The logic of two different worlds coexisted in this small earthenware pot in a mysterious harmony.

Ombre was also happily chewing on the piece of silver cod skin he had been given.
Watching his rounded back, Noel slowly drank the warm soup. The heat of the soup gradually warmed her silhouette, which had been chilled in the Sanwa interview room, from the inside out.

“Is it good?”
At Lumiere's question, Noel looked up and, instead of the perfectly pasted-on elf smile, she offered a heartfelt smile and nodded.
“Yes... it has a truly powerful flavor.”

...The battle to win citizenship has only just begun.
As Sanwa said, the road ahead might be even grittier, a series of calculations and compromises devoid of romance.
However, the image of the partner Noel should be seeking was gradually increasing in resolution, as if the fog were clearing.

—I am not looking for an owner.
While touching the soil of this world, I am looking for an equal soul with whom I can one day laugh together over a clumsy rice ball and say it tastes good.

Noel rolled up the sleeves of her suit slightly and drank the warm soup down to the very last drop.

Thank you for reading until the end.
If you enjoyed it, I would be encouraged if you could support me with a 'like', a tip, or a comment.
I look forward to seeing you in the next work.

#LongNovel #CreativeWriting #NoteNovel #FantasyNovel #ModernFantasy #MarriageHunting #IsekaiTransfer #Matchmaking #TokyoSurvival