Who Is the World’s Strongest Appraiser? ~Living in Another World With Satisfying Meals~

Apparently, Even In Another World, The Girly Guy Was Still Odd

That day, Yuuri was walking through the streets of the royal capital, Drahelun, as usual. The only difference was that today he was accompanied by Kuresh, not Yak. There was no special reason for this. Since they were of the same age, they simply ended up walking together as they both had free time. They wandered towards the shops instead of the market, buying various items.

Not just food, but various daily supplies too. Though Kuresh was the one mainly tasked with the shopping, bringing Yuuri along was to inform him of these things. They were purchasing magic stones for using magic tools and replenishing broken supplies. Of course, they also carried a magic bag for shopping today.

It was an open secret that Yuuri’s school bag was far superior, essentially a magic bag of a different caliber.

Yuuri’s school bag looked unusual in this world due to its design. So, while he always had it with him on shopping trips, he chose not to use it. If its infinite capacity were known, it would be troublesome. That said, he still carried it as Ali had told him to.

Kuresh carried the luggage and the wallet, while Yuuri just accompanied him. Even so, it was genuinely enjoyable for Yuuri to visit shops he normally wouldn’t go to, and he was in a good mood the whole time.

“Hey, Kuresh, can we drop by that general store?”

“Sure, Yuuri, you like that kind of stuff, huh?”

“Yeah, I enjoy looking at them, but I also like making things. If I had the materials, I’d like to make something.”

“You like making things too…? That’s impressive.”

Yuuri tilted his head curiously at Kuresh’s mixed tone of admiration and exasperation. But when Kuresh urged him to go inside quickly, he obediently stepped into the store. It was indeed a general store, but it didn’t carry the cute trinkets favored by women and children. It was more about making practical items stylish.

Indeed, this store was slightly outside of Yuuri’s tastes, but he liked cute things, pretty things, and cool things all equally. If anything, he just wasn’t fond of the rugged stuff men liked. Also, he wasn’t into heavy metal or punk rock. Gothic stuff was neither particularly liked nor disliked, but he didn’t care for excessive skull motifs.

The appearance of two teenage boys, not typical customers for this store, made the young man behind the counter look puzzled. But since Yuuri was seriously and carefully examining the items, and Kuresh was quietly offering his opinions beside him, the shopkeeper decided not to mind them. Occasionally, he glanced at the two while looking out the window.

“Yuuri, are you looking for something?”

“No, not really looking for anything specific, but it’s fun to look at various things.”

“Is that so?… Oh, this looks nice.”

“What is it?”

Kuresh, who had shrugged, happily picked up a leather pouch for fixing a knife to a belt. It had few decorations, but it was very neatly finished. The metal part for fixing it to the belt was also simply made, with no unnecessary ornamentation, making it inconspicuous at a glance.

“Kuresh, did you want a knife case?”

“No? It’s not like I particularly wanted one, but I thought it might be time to get a new one. Well, I can’t afford this with my earnings though.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, since I don’t earn much. Besides, my current one isn’t broken yet, so it’s fine.”

“Hmm.”

As someone who wasn’t an adventurer, Yuuri needed help understanding the quality and price standards of equipment. However, the prices in this store reflected the careful workmanship. Kuresh, needing nothing immediately essential, was naturally avoiding unnecessary expenses. Instead, he looked at the items with a keen interest, as if saying he’d like to buy one someday.

Yuuri also earnestly examined the leather pouch with Kuresh. While Yuuri had never worked with leather, he had watched craftsmen at work during a school trip. He remembered enjoying it since he liked making things. He thought it would be nice to be able to make things like that, such as the pass cases with holes punched in the leather with patterns.

The two spent their time leisurely and headed back to their hideout as dinner preparation time approached. Yuuri and Yak were in charge of cooking tonight. Lately, some of the trainees would join in when they had free time. It seemed they were starting to enjoy learning from Yuuri.

“What’s for dinner tonight?”

“We’re splurging today with bison meat. It’s been marinating in sauce since the morning, so we just need to grill it.”

“Awesome! Bison meat is incredibly delicious! And if Yuuri cooks it, it’ll be even better, right?”

“Kuresh, you really love meat. Personally, I prefer lighter meats, so I like viper more than bison.”

“Viper is good too, but isn’t it a bit lacking?”

“Isn’t that just a matter of preference?”

The two, engaged in a carefree conversation, suddenly stopped in their tracks. A shadow had fallen across their path. Kuresh shifted his position to shield Yuuri. Stepping half a step ahead of Yuuri, Kuresh held him back from moving forward. Yuuri looked puzzled, but Kuresh was glaring at the source of the shadow.

Or rather, it might be more accurate to say he was glaring.

“We want to go this way, you know?”

“Hey, it’s been a while, Kuresh.”

“Yeah. You’re not a child, so stop blocking our way and let us through.”

“Is that the newcomer? Bringing in a weakling who looks like a failed girl, the Scarlet Lynx sure has fallen.”

“…What did you say?”

Kuresh growled in a low voice at the mocking man, looking up at someone taller than himself. No, he was glaring. Kuresh was still just 18 years old, barely an adult. But now, standing protectively in front of Yuuri, he emanated unmistakable killing intent. It was the intimidating presence of someone who had survived deadly encounters as a treasure hunter.

However, the man didn’t seem to care, laughing through his nose. Also, Yuuri, who was being protected by Kuresh, tilted his head curiously. …Yuuri only had a question mark above his head due to Kuresh’s unusually low voice, not noticing the intimidation or killing intent. Truly, he was an unfazed, feminine guy.

“Could you refrain from judging our comrades on your own?”

“You’re still as cheeky as ever, Kuresh.”

“This is just how I am. …But with that attitude, no wonder nobody cares about you.”

“…You little…!”

Before the man’s hand could reach Kuresh in anger, a calm voice interrupted, “Excuse me.” It was such a carefree voice that both men stopped in their tracks. Of course, the voice belonged to Yuuri.

“It’s true that I can’t fight and that I’m a burden, so please don’t quarrel.”

“Yuuri, what are you saying…!”

“Oh? So, you admit you’re a burden?”

“Yes. All I do is cook, clean, do the laundry, and wait for everyone to come back.”

Yuuri smiled brightly. Kuresh ground his teeth in frustration, while the man smirked mockingly, further irritating Kuresh. But Yuuri didn’t seem to mind. No, he didn’t even notice.

“If that’s all you had to say, could you let us pass? I need to prepare dinner.”

“Ha, what a wimp. Go on, get out of here.”

“Thank you. Kuresh, let’s go home.”

Yuuri took Kuresh’s hand, still glaring at the man, and began walking away. Yuuri’s face showed he wasn’t bothered at all. The man laughed heartily, an irritatingly malicious laugh, but Yuuri didn’t look back. Holding Kuresh’s hand tightly, Yuuri smiled.

“Kuresh, it’s true, so there’s no point in getting angry.”

“Why not? You’re not a burden or a hindrance! We’re incredibly grateful to you…!”

“But if you think about it normally, I’m just a freeloader. Besides, if we don’t get back soon, we can’t make dinner.”

Yuuri smiled cheerfully, saying, “Everyone’s waiting.” Seeing that relaxed and somehow transparent smile, Kuresh felt his strength drain. He started to scold Yuuri but realized it was pointless. Kuresh knew this was just Yuuri’s personality. He had long since understood that this seemingly young friend lived far from the emotion of anger.

Yuuri’s face, promising to cook a delicious dinner, reminded Kuresh of his mother’s expression. The face she had when she made his favorite dish after scolding him. For some reason, that thought crossed his mind, and he muttered, “I’m not sulking,” though it was hard to believe.

However, the matter did not end there.

After dinner, when Yuuri had finished cleaning up and retreated to his room, Kuresh gathered all the members in the dining room. Responding to Kuresh’s call, the members, except for the trainees, gathered and listened to what happened on the way back, changing the atmosphere drastically.

All but Ali, who maintained a calm demeanor, exuded a murderous aura that seemed to pour from their bodies. It was the kind of aura that could make any unlucky passerby burst into tears and flee.

“…Kuresh, did you just leave that guy alone after he said that?”

“It’s not like I wanted to let him go. It’s just that Yuuri…”

“What about Yuuri?”

Lelei, looking fierce, stared at Kuresh with sharp eyes. After a sigh, Kuresh spoke up.

“He said, ‘Everyone’s waiting, so let’s go home and make dinner.'”

“”……!!””

Everyone slumped to the ground. Someone muttered, “That kid, really…” Another complained, “Why does it have to be like this?” To them, Yuuri was a precious, irreplaceable comrade in many ways, yet also the world’s most oblivious person.

Suddenly, Frau stood up. The killing intent radiating from her entire body was palpable and unapologetic.

“Frau?”

“Sorry for the trouble, Kuresh. I’ll take care of that fool myself.”

“No, that’s my job, Frau.”

“Tifana?”

Tifana, with her usual radiant smile, interrupted the usually quick-to-anger Frau, though her aura was intimidating enough to make monsters flee. Holding her favorite dagger, she smiled serenely yet menacingly.

“If I heard correctly, he was the one I turned down a few days ago. In that case, I must settle this.”

“Wait, Tifana, you can’t do it alone! That’s not fair!”

“Would you like to join me, Lelei?”

“Of course!”

“In that case, as the person he insulted, I’m coming too!”

Raising his hand, Kuresh declared. Tifana smiled and nodded. “Alright, let’s go,” she said, starting to walk. Following her were Lelei and Kuresh. Eventually, everyone except Ali followed them, all armed and making no attempt to hide their killing intent.

“Just make sure not to kill him.”

Ali called out indifferently, receiving no response. Instead, everyone raised their dominant hand and waved it slightly, as if signaling their agreement. Ali sighed in resignation, but his single eye also burned with molten rage.

In the end, the feminine guy was truly loved by his comrades.