Chapter 145

"Hmm..." Carnes muttered; his gaze fixed on the horizon.

"Captain, where are we going?" Tatsumaki inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Carnes, taking a moment to ponder the question, finally spoke up, his voice tinged with anticipation.

"I have no specific goal in mind. Let's all go shopping."

This opportunity was a rare one indeed.

Not everyone had the chance for an experience like this.

Whether it was One Piece or Naruto, both were animes that held a special place in Carnes' heart.

And now, with the chance to explore a new world, he was determined to make the most of it.

Carnes wanted to immerse himself in this unfamiliar world, to witness the unique charm of Konoha, and to relish the freedom of this new adventure.

He turned to his companions and offered some guidance.

"You don't have to stick with me; feel free to explore on your own," he assured his crew.

"Just make sure you stay safe."

"I understand, CAPTAIN!!!" Power exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Albedo, Tatsumaki, let's go for some shopping," Power suggested, brimming with excitement.

Carnes was fully aware of the excitement brewing among his comrades.

Albedo, however, had a different idea.

Wearing a gentle smile, she shook her head gently and said,

"You guys go ahead. In this calm moment, I simply want to be with Lord Carnes."

Power, puzzled by her choice, gazed at Albedo intently and questioned,

"What's so enjoyable about staying with the captain?"

Yuta chimed in, attempting to shed some light on the matter.

"Power, not everyone has the same view as you."

Power couldn't quite grasp their reasoning and turned to Tatsumaki for her opinion.

Power curled her lips and remarked, "Well, I really can't fathom your thoughts, Tatsumaki. What do you say?"

She responded in her typical nonchalant manner.

"I don't mind either way. Whether it's staying with Captain or going shopping with Power, it's all the same to me."

Power's excitement was undeterred. "Hey, then, let's all go shopping together!" she suggested eagerly.

Carnes, however, furrowed his brow and playfully remarked.

"Albedo, you better tag along with them. I'm a little concerned about these two being together and wreaking havoc."

"Alright! Lord Carnes" Albedo responded with a soft smile.

"Captain, you hurt me by saying that," Power protested.

"Yeah, we get along just fine," Tatsumaki chimed in.

"Alright, let's go and not disrupt Lord Carnes' peace."

With Albedo's intervention, Tatsumaki and Power strolled out of the alley.

Carnes then turned his attention to Yuta, Escanor, and the rest of the group, awaiting their decisions.

"What about you?" Carnes inquired.

Yuta replied calmly, "I think I'll explore the world on my own."

"Very well, sounds good," Carnes nodded in understanding. There was no need for further inquiry.

As they parted ways, Carnes was left with only Demiurge.

...

"Ichiraku Ramen?" Carnes mused, considering their next destination.

Carnes found himself standing on a bustling street in a world so different from the one he had known.

The signs, the people, and the atmosphere were all new and intriguing.

He gazed thoughtfully at a particular sign hanging above a small restaurant, his eyes filled with curiosity.

A sudden memory flashed through his mind, one that was associated with the very place he was staring at.

"The captain seems to know quite a bit about this place?" Demiurge remarked with a faint smile, raising an eyebrow.

Carnes couldn't help but smile, shaking his head as he continued, "Indeed..."

He turned to Demiurge, who stood beside him with an air of calm assurance.

"Do you want to go in and have a bowl? Feel the taste of this place?"

Demiurge met Carnes' gaze and replied evenly, "You can decide that captain."

Carnes' smile widened ever so slightly as he made up his mind.

With purpose, he strode forward and pulled aside the curtain that marked the entrance.

As the curtain fell back into place, the interior of the restaurant came into view, revealing a man and a woman dressed in pristine white attire.

The man's face bore the marks of life's trials, and showed the passage of time, his name was Teuchi.

The woman was his daughter, Ayame.

"Hello," Carnes greeted them warmly, his voice cutting through the chatter of the restaurant.

Teuchi and Ayame turned around at the sound of the newcomer's voice, their faces lighting up with welcoming smiles as they saw the guests approaching.

"Welcome!" Teuchi exclaimed, his enthusiasm palpable. "What can we get you two today?"

Carnes, his curiosity still piqued by the memories of this place, looked up at the sign hanging above the counter and made his decision.

He wanted to experience the same ramen that Naruto had once so often enjoyed during his adventures.

But... he couldn't remember the name of that specific ramen.

"Could you just serve us your finest ramen?" Carnes asked.

"Um."

"Alright, please bear with us for just a moment, both of you," came a lady's voice, its tone hinting at the busy but welcoming atmosphere of the ramen shop.

The voice gently faded into the background, and Ayame swiftly sprang into action, bustling around to prepare the orders.

Teuchi, the boss of the establishment, couldn't help but sneak a sly smile in Carnes' direction.

"You both seem a bit out of place, don't you? You're not typical Konoha visitors."

Carnes paused for a moment, then let out a hearty chuckle.

"You surely have a keen eye."

Teuchi chuckled heartily. "Hahahahaha."

In fact, he had simply spoken his thoughts aloud. To his surprise, he'd guessed it correctly.

"So, where might you two be from?"

Teuchi inquired, striking up a conversation since there were no other customers in the shop at the moment.

"A place far, far, far away from here," Carnes replied cryptically.

"Travelers, eh? That's fascinating. I've spent most of my life right here in Konoha...hahahaha," Teuchi shared, revealing a hint of longing in his voice.

Ayame, too, found herself intrigued by the newcomers as she continued to work. Despite her busy work, she chimed in.

"The outside world must be stunning. Living a life like this must be incredible."

Carnes nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it is."

"But you know," he continued with a sigh.

"As beautiful as the world may be, the hardest part is not being able to enjoy your favorite food whenever and wherever you want."

Ayame empathized, her expression mirroring his sentiments.

"You're absolutely right."

Teuchi flashed a warm smile.

"Well, considering the journey you've made to get here, this meal is on the house. Consider it my treat."

"Thank!" Carnes responded with genuine surprise, appreciating the unexpected gesture.

However, he didn't want to impose and mentioned, "I must admit, I hadn't checked my wallet when we came here..."

Teuchi waved away his concerns with a kind smile.

"No need to worry about that. Good company is all the payment we need."

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