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Last Embryo Volume 1 Chapter 6 Part 1

Translator: DarkHeartedAlchemist

Editor: Weasalopes

On the morning of his second day of being back in his own world, Sakamaki Izayoi and Tokuteru Mikado made their way to 「Don Bruno」 a restaurant serving mainly French quisine situated near the Canaria Family Home orphanage, not because they had something business-related to do there, but just because Tokuteru was struck with a strong need to 「stuff himself silly」. When they arrived at their destination, Izayoi stared at the entrance with a difficult expression.

「So, we are really doing this, huh? We’re really going to get inside? Moreover, can we get inside? Because from where I am standing, it doesn’t even look like it’s opened yet.」

「Do not worry about that, the owners, Don and Madam are quite generous when it comes to the regulars such as myself, so we’re going to get served without any issues. And the food they are serving here is absolutely terrific. I daresay they are one of the best ones I have eaten in my entire life.」

「You don’t have to tell me that, because I know about that better than anyone. Before coming to Little Garden, I was eating here ever since I was a little brat, you know?」

「Well look at that, isn’t that convenient? Such coincidences are rare, so why don’t we use that chance given to us by fate to go inside and have you eat a meal filled with childhood nostalgia?」

Without saying anything else or even waiting for Izayoi to reply, Tokuteru went through the curtain serving as the restaurant’s door, dragging the still-reluctant Izayoi along with him.

From the outside the restaurant looked quite old-fashioned, so until one came inside, one would never have guessed that the inside will be decorated and furnished with every example of the modern art style. Such a stark contrast could be viewed in both positive and negative way. Looking at it positively, it was a very stylish establishment filled with unique characteristics that firmly set it apart from all the rest, while the negative outlook would make one frown in disgust at such a decorational abomination where the only guideline for the furnishings must have been the owners let’s say… peculiar sense of esthetics. But it definitely was radiating a strong 「My home is my castle」 feeling. Too strong, perhaps. And in the middle of this castle of strange tastes, at the counter near the entrance, there sat a grim-looking white haired old man with a cigarette in his mouth and the newspaper in hand. When the two guests entered through the door, all he did was passing them an intensely displeased look. After all, it was still one hour left before the opening hours, and yet the two of them just waltzed right in as if they owned the damn place. But when he looked at them more closely and realized who the guests actually were, his displeasure grew even bigger and he clicked his tongue in annoyance.

「Way to start my day with a kick to the balls. Just when I thought that I finally get visited by some of my old aquaintances whom I have not seen for ages, it turns out that it’s jut the two of my least favorite customers, the biggest problem children in the neighborhood. Ugh, seriously, what the hell is wrong with today? What, you’re still here? Scram, this is not a place for the ungrateful brats who don’t even know etiquette or table manners.」

「Izayoi, I think the owner is telling you to make yourself scarce.」

「Shut up old geezer, I could have sworn he was talking to you, because unlike you, I don’t have to be reminded that I am ungrateful because I am perfectly aware of it, and I do not intend to do anything about it. Anyway, long time no see, Don Bruno. I see you’re still smoking that crap? Shouldn’t you have quit ages ago?」

「Hmpf, well look at you, thinking you’re all smart and running that rotten mouth of yours again. Nobody is going to force me to quit my favorite hobby, and if hey do, it will be over my dead body.」

Don Bruno’s wrinkled old face distorted itself in a grimace that made it all the more unpleasant to look at. If you looked at him from the front, you could easily spot that he was not of Japanese, but rather Western European descent. However, since his face was also marked with the obvious marks of hard labor and he wore the same, never-changing expression, hew could easily pass for the so-called Stubborn Japanese Father archetype. He slowly stood up from his seat and headed towards the kitchen, turning over his shoulder and asking them what their order was going to be, all the while looking like he was half-bored to death.

「So, what do you want to eat? Unless you’re fine with the usual pumpkin quiche?」

「Yes, it would be great if you could do that for us. After all, I would never miss a chance to eat the best pumpkin quiche in the entire France.」

「Hmpf, suit yourselves then.」

Don Bruno snorted, and made his way to the kitchen. Taking their sweet time, Izayoi and Tokuteru sat at one of the tables, after which Tokuteru asked Izayoi with a smug smile:

「Well well well, looks like you’re quite close with the owner, huh? What’s up with that? Is there some kind of story behind you two?」

「Hmm… I guess you can put it that way. I first met the guy in Western Europe when I was still travelling with Canaria around 5 … no, wait, with this world’s flow of time it will actually be 7 years ago.」

The bitterness on Izayoi’s face vanished like it was never there to begin with as he stared at the entrance to the kitchen, which was now filled with the founds of their food being prepared. Even though Tokuteru wasn’t someone close to Izayoi at all, he was clearly able to understand that it was an incredibly rare occurrence for someone like him to be behaving in such a way.

「So, what do you say? Looks like coming here was a good idea after all?」

「Don’t get all smug with me, jackass. It’s not like I didn’t want to come here at all. I just didn’t want you to go out of the way of that creed of self-rightousness of yours.」

「Is that so? Well, whatever. Let me get straight to the point then. Just be honest with me and answer truthfully, okay? Even though it was supposed to be top secret… how much do you know about the Gift Game that is now being held in Little Garden?」

Tokuteru stopped smiling and asked him in a whisper. That is probably why he chose to come to this place well before its opening hours, in order to avoid having people listening in on their conversation. Leaning against the back of his chair, Izayoi crossed his arms on his chest and answered:

「How much, you ask? Well, even if you ask me that, it’s only been like, what, 3 days since I got summoned back here, and all that I managed to pick up that apparently one of the Celestial Beasts got yeeted here as well. If there is anyone who should have heard more juicy details about it, it should have been you, right?」

「But alas, I have literally heard nothing. I believe I said it like a million times already, but our visit here today is not related to that in the slightest, so do me a favor and think of it as just that, something totally unrelated to the 2^nd War for the Sun’s Authority.」

Tokuteru summed up their situation shortly. But if he didn’t get any information on the matter from Little Garden, then doing anything about it would be even more difficult then he initially thought it would be.

「You are such a useless God that its not even funny anymore. No, like, seriously, its gotten to the point where I don’t even want to laugh at you out of pity.」

「Heh, tell me something I don’t know.」