297 - - Rest

Bathrooms were located separately in each guest room.

Maybe we should build an open-air bath for everyone on the island. There are plans to add a bath in the general store, and I've already asked Trinh to renovate the liquor store. Maybe it will be ready when I get back, but I haven't bought a bathtub or more furniture yet.

"Well, I guess I'm going to have to give up now."

We each went to our hastily assigned private bath rooms, but Cal and I were not wet, so there was no need to take a bath. I don't feel comfortable taking a bath in someone's house, let alone in an inn, so I plan to take a bath after I return home.

Cal is supposed to be having some sort of debriefing with the Prime Minister, the boy king, and Yuni and the others. I'm skipping it because it's too much trouble.

--That's why there's no one in the room right now.

Now, give up and leave me to it.

"......!"

"You look like a villain."

White gives me a half-awed look, but I don't care. He is now approaching Aldvaan with a brush.

"I can finally do something about the hairball in my ass."

"That's your first order of business!　Isn't that funny!"

Aldvaan, who is wayward on his knees.

"Give up on the fact that he's crazy. "Be willing, or your participation in the battle is doubtful. --Well, I'm going home."

When White says he is leaving, I put my cheek against his to check the moistness and smoothness of his skin.

"See you later, White."

"Hmm."

White sniffles and disappears.

"Come on, get ready."

It's brushing time.

Enough!　...... tsk."

"Okay, okay, be quiet!"

"I'm proud of my ......, even if it's rotten."

I think it would ruin your pride if you had a hairball on your butt.

"Finally, he's as good as a normal Myspiff."

A few minutes later, Aldvaan is slumped in my lap. It's like déjà vu. I miss the time when I met White.

After petting him for a while, he wakes up and comes into my lap.

"Black?"

"......"

Silent in the bosom. Definitely the black one!

He ends the fluff time by lightly patting Black on his clothes as he enters his pocket, and takes out <>. The dark-colored cover opens to reveal a series of blank pages. He puts the bell-like incense burner which Ishvaan gave him on the blank paper. The incense burner dives into the pages of the picture book like water swallowing a drop of water.

I was a little confused about how to use it, but it seems to be the right thing to do. A pattern decorating the edge of the white page appears, and the whole page becomes dark, and the picture of the black figure stretching vaguely and the incense burner appears. ...... Could this darkness be inside my clothes?　I spread the collar of my jacket and peeked in. Yes, the picture became brighter and the black moved, so it's definitely inside my clothes.

--What about when he is close to me without calling me through the picture book?　It's a mystery.

I'll add the white tiger, Liddell, and Kuzunoha later. Speaking of which, what should we do about the "dependents"?　Bahamut and White please ......, or no more Mistiffs. There may be more on the island, but I can't and won't take them into battle.

Maybe the best kind to place more of them in dungeons of my own making, but I can't think of anything but dragons. My ambition is to place as many dragons as possible. And if you can end it with Bahamut ......, no one will be able to conquer it no matter what happens on the way!　I can't do it either.

"Oh!　Is the old man still at the meeting?"

Galahad came into the room with a towel around his neck. He always does the raven's swim, but this time it had been longer, so he must have gotten cold.

"He's not back yet."

"Piggy!"

I just finished polishing Bahamut and served him the loin meat dropped from the Minotaur. I stopped and heard a cry of urging.

"Don't eat like that!

"Seeing Bahamut eat makes me want to eat meat."

Bahamut looks happy though I can't read his expression as he bites into a big piece of meat, watching him makes me hungry.

"Pigyah!"

"Yes, yes, have a good postprandial workout. I'll see you at the grocery store on the way home."

"Piggya!"

"...... still letting them off the leash?"

I have no intention of locking you up.

"Shall I lock the door?"

The next to return was Eagle, who saw me cuddling the tiles that had been evoked as promised, and locked the door as he entered.

"Oh, a key?　Can you open it?"

Eagle opened the door, but Camilla also locked it as soon as she entered.

Tile's fur is short and soft and smooth, but his cheeks are fluffy.

"Oh. Clear out, clear out."

When all three had arrived, Galahad had the tiles removed.

We've done our business. Let's go home as soon as Cal arrives.

"Homura, thank you. Thanks for the towel. I'll wash it and give it back to you.

After taking a bath, Camilla smelled differently from usual and kissed me on the hairline of my forehead. Her face is at zero distance from mine, and her breasts are close too!　What a perk for just handing over the towel.

"Here you go."

There was a knock at the door and Cal's voice.

Galahad invites Kalu, who has returned with the prime minister.

Galahad invites him in. "I am sorry for the trouble you have caused in my country, and I am sorry for your displeasure. Thank you for appeasing the guardian beast.

I didn't see him, but the boy king seemed to be behind him. He looked mysterious and began to speak.

"Release all the transients in Sadiras. Hadil, King of Sadiras, salutes the Lord Lenguard."

No, I don't like it when you bow to me with that nervous look on your face.

"I accept."

Camilla, standing next to me on the sofa, pokes me and whispers to me.

The boy king lifts his head with a relieved face. How scared am I?　

"I'm home."

"Welcome home!"

I come back to the general store, Lapidus and Noel hug me as usual. They are about the same age as the boy king, but they are not afraid of me, and I pet them more than usual.

"Welcome home!"

Reno also stood up to greet me.

"Welcome home."

"Don't mix with the others!"

Curtesy sinks deeper with a steady motion. Ur-Lolo, who never moves a muscle, though what is going on inside her skirt is a mystery to her. At least it would be acceptable if it were a child's greeting to the ballet.

"Well, it's a little early for dinner.

"Yes."

Lapidus groped his forehead happily and Noel's bouncy voice replied.

The royal palace of Sadiras was elegant and beautifully furnished, not too glamorous, but still, home felt right.

Now, I could have done everything with my skills, but the first time I make a dish, I want to adjust the taste to my liking and register it. So I use my skills to save time, but I cook in the kitchen every time. I like the smell and the appearance of the food when I am making it, because they stimulate my appetite.

First, heat the back fat of the pork to remove the oil. The white fat shrinks rapidly and is replaced by a flood of fat that bubbles up in little bubbles.

I move the fat, which has shrunk and turned a little golden brown, away from Galahad, who peeks at me, and hand it to him with a little salt.

"Oh, man, I want a drink!" he says.

"Yeah, I'll give you a beer."

Not now, though, because dinner will not be served. Besides, if you eat too much of this, the fat will give you heartburn, and it's only good in small quantities.

A block of pork is rubbed with salt and sansho (Japanese pepper) and then deep-fried in the fat. The heat is reduced and accelerated, and by the time the fat cools down, the big chunks of meat are moist and the fat is juicy.

Cut into 5mm slices and fry with garlic and chili peppers, leeks and bell peppers, seasoned with a sweet miso sauce. Plenty of meat.

"Here you go, sir."

Ur-Lolo quickly prepares the dish and brings it to the table.

...... d*mn!　I'm afraid I'm going to be claimed as a resident, what should I do? Stop slipping in and out of sight without a care in the world!

Cut carrots and daikon radish into half-moon slices, burdock root into thin diagonal slices, lotus root, taro, shiitake and maitake mushrooms, drained tofu, torn konnyaku, chicken ...... fry in a thick pan with sake and soup stock, soy sauce to taste. You don't have to add broth, but if you add a lot of mushrooms, the flavor will deepen by itself. And for some reason, it tastes better when made in large quantities.

The main dish is Kenchen Udon noodles with fried rice cake. The inclusion of chicken is a departure from the vegetarian Kenchin Jiru, but that's okay. Dessert is not served yet, but it is ice cream mixed with berries.

I was going to make a steak, seeing the way Bahamut eats, but he is going to play with Shin and his friends tomorrow. I changed my mind because I am sure they will ask for meat.

"This fat is so soft and translucent, it's not sticky at all.

Camilla eats it elegantly even though it is a large ingredient.

"The meat is delicious!"

Galahad grabs a large amount of food with chopsticks and stuffs it into his mouth, then drinks a beer with gusto. It's a wonder he doesn't look vulgar, but rather appetizing as he eats.

"Sorry it's not steak. I'm sorry it's not a steak. Help me with the minotaur later."

It would be nice if they serve not only mino, tongue, and loin, but also sirloin. We are also looking for shanks for curries and soups.

"Oh, I'll do it this time. "Oh, now I'm going to... I don't mean to be rude, but can I have some of this meat for Mr. Partin?"

"Oh, you can have the whole fat in a jar. You can steam the fat to remove the hardened, white, stuck-on fat. ...... doesn't sound like something I would do. Take it with you and wrap it up."

Leno offered to help. We'll have to start over again, but we'll need vegetables along the way, so it's perfect.

Thank you."

Can we try the pet call <?　

"Thank you Lapidus and Noel for always looking after the store, is there anything you are missing or want?"

"Lapidus is good with the Lord."

"It is bliss to be desired by the Lord for what He wants me to do."

He's cute, but I'm a little worried about his future!

"Camilla, I'm sorry. Can you take them shopping?"

"Hmm, you asked for it."

"These udon noodles are also good for warming up. It was a little cold in Sadiras.

Cal and I haven't taken a bath, so udon noodles are just right.

Cal is eating a carrot unusually. I think it's because the carrots themselves have lost their taste, as the flavors have blended together and their overall taste has returned. I feel like I've succeeded in getting my kid to eat a vegetable he hates.

Most of the ingredients are ranked lower than the meat and vegetable stir-fry, but the <> is ranked so much higher that the result is about the same. The key to the flavor is the delicious and aromatic soy sauce made from the same <>.

"Now that you've eaten and got hot, ice cream would be nice.

It's delicious. I'll brag about it to my sister."

Ur-Lolo chimes in with Eagle's thoughts.

"Stop!　I can only see a future where he will come to this safe haven too!"

"I agree, but stop treating my sleeve like a safe haven."

Krulkan's face comes out of his cuff and he makes a fuss.

"Piggy!"

A voice called out to me, and when I opened the window, Bahamut jumped in.

--You're covered in blood again, what are you doing here?