342 - - a thing called {'340.'}

"Welcome back, Lord."

"Welcome home, Lord."

Lapidus and Noel are in the room at a quick pace.

"Good night."

They came up to me with smiles on their faces and patted me on the head.

LAPIS sticks his head out as if he wants me to pet him, so I fluff him up without hesitation. Noel also tilts his head to an angle that is more comfortable for petting. Noel's head is more moist than fluffy. I wonder if I should take the time to fluff the base of his ears and behind his ears in the midst of the noise.

"Oh, it's done, it's done. --Geez."

Galahad, who has been following leisurely behind me, looks around the room and gives me a disapproving look.

"?"

I wonder what it is and follow his gaze.

Cal and Merlin, who have not moved an inch, face each other with smiles on their faces. I can almost hear gogo-gogo in the background.

Cal and Red Plum are in a subtle tension.　I wonder if the life of a knight, or perhaps the life in a castle, is so long that it is hard to feel at ease unless the top and bottom are decided. I let it go because it was too much trouble, and it had been quite some time since I was thinking about what effect to put on the <>. Had they been glaring at each other for a long time?

"I don't know if they get along or not."

Merlin's grandiose attitude toward me is not out of any particular respect for me. It may be that he prefers theatrical and exaggerated gestures, but more than half of the time he seems to enjoy watching Cal's reactions.

"You should pay a little more attention!"

Galahad protests to me in a whisper.

"No, you two have known each other longer than I have."

It seems impertinent for me to intrude between old friends.　

"I have a baked cheesecake for you.

"I'll eat."

Galahad answers shortly, and Lapidus and Noel look as if they are about to send flowers flying. Galahad seems to have given up on them too soon and decides to leave them alone.

Another hole is opened. Is one quarter too much?　For the time being, I cut it into sixths and added whipped cream and berry sauce.

"Would you like another cup of tea, sir?"

Cal smiles as if nothing happened.

"Yes, please."　

I thought they were staring at each other, but they switch so quickly.

I put the extra cheesecake on Cal's plate, trusting that he would definitely have a second helping, though I wondered if I should have chosen a different cake if he had joined us.

Merlin is looking at Cal with a strange look in his eyes. He didn't know, or rather, was hiding it, that he likes sweets, but it's a common sight in the grocery store, so you'd better get used to it.

"Do you have any skills that require good luck ......?"

Marlin looks thoughtful with a wrinkled brow. The wrinkles between his eyebrows are a habit he had when he was an old man, or perhaps it is because he has deep vertical wrinkles even in his current child form. He could be a little more lively.

Meat is for strength (STR), grain is for endurance (VIT), and tea is for intelligence ( INT), vegetables are for spirit (MID), eggs are for dexterity ( DEX), fish is speed (AGI), and sweetness is luck ( LUK). Does Cal use any skill that can be used with high luck?　--Are there skills that can be used by not eating carrots?

I think of a strange thing from a fragment of Merlin's story and watch them eat. Merlin's brow is still wrinkled, and his eyes are narrowed as he looks at Cal, as if searching.

"Lord, it's delicious!"

Lapidus swallows the baked cheesecake and says happily.

"You're wearing it again!"

He wipes the cream from Lapidus' cheek.

It's cute to see him munching with cream on the edge of his mouth, but what about his family's discipline?　I don't know about that. Lappis are full of cream and low in sauce. The sauce on his cheeks is probably because he hasn't quite worked out how much to put on his cheeks yet.

It's delicious. It's lemon, right?"

Noel likes less cream and less sauce, or does he like the flavor of lemon?

"Tasty, every time."

Galahad has a sweet tooth.

I drink the tea he brews me. It is a beautifully colored tea with a strong red color and a pleasant aroma without any peculiarities. I am thankful that when I drink it with white, I tend to go for berries.

The comfortable sofa, the inextinguishable tableware chosen by Foss, the orange light of dusk streaming in through the patio window. It would be perfect if Camilla and Eagle came back here.

"Foster son of the Knight of the Lake, you're a sturdy fellow to snuggle beside me. Aside from the two toddlers, you know what I'm like.

Merlin says, turning his attention only to Galahad.

Lapidus and Noel move their ears. And then Galahad opens his mouth in a troublesome manner, as if to say, ah .......

"A great mage, a great sage, a sage of the forest ......, though I admit I was scared for nothing when he hardly showed himself and I didn't know who he was."

Not the Wise Man of the Forest, Galahad!　You remind me of a gorilla!　Galahad replies by putting his fork down on his plate.

"You're the Beast of Homura now, aren't you?"

Galahad tells Merlin with an indescribable look on his face.

"Well, let me tell you something good about the adopted son of an old friend. <, it does not necessarily mean that you will continue to serve him. Especially the mythical creature that has become my nature is synonymous with treachery, along with the serpent of the end, Krulkan.

Merlin with a wicked grin on his face. Kulkan peeking out of my cuff.

"I didn't call for you. You want some?"

Did you call me?　I whisper to him and serve him a small cookie.

No?　He looks around with a look like "I don't know you...", then his eyes meet Marlin's, and he rushes back into the sleeve. He quickly reappears, retrieves the cookie, and goes back inside.

"I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from eating them in your clothes."

is there, but I'm in the mood for .......

Then black came out from the chest and stopped.

"......"

Ah, yes, cookies, right?　When I bring it to my mouth, it sucks it into its mouth and goes back into my clothes.

"I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from eating in your clothes."

Second time.

Have I spoiled him too much? Oh, I'll have to call Bahamut to polish it up.

What was that?

Merlin's face turned suspiciously bad from earlier.

"The Krulkan you named and the Aldovan from the temple of Sadiras are fused together, Mistiff. You know about Aldovarn anyway, don't you?"

Galahad with a grin.

"I don't understand."

Merlin looks at my cuff and mutters without changing his expression.

"Don't play dumb with me. I'm just a sadistic ......."

"Not you, I made that up. You should know that. --Kulkarukan?

Merlin interrupts Galahad.

I think there was a brief confession of past misdeeds. I wonder if it would be my responsibility as the current owner to pursue the matter: .......

"Did you not take the form of Kulkán yourself when you were playing against him?"

I should have seen it, I think, but I ask.

"It is not possible to see in oneself the illusion of another.

Marlin answers shortly, keeping his gaze fixed on the cuff. Is it a specification that the person who uses it cannot see it?

Also, he only gazes at her and doesn't move his body much, either because he is an old man or because he is a warehouseman.

"He has defeated Krulkan and is in control. The end serpent in search of knowledge, the essence of magic, wisdom ....... Bah, you idiot ......."

Merlin mutters with a surprised look on his face.

The second half of the muttering surprises me too!　What is your perception of Nyoro?　And Krulkan, stop showing your face and puffing your feathers!　That tickles my wrist!

"<><>>>>>, and now >. It has been confirmed that <> is in the forest where the elves live, and we are almost there, Lord."

Cal tells me smilingly.

"What?

Merlin breaks the coagulation and looks at Cal.

"Stop folding him in, old man!"

Galahad says.

"Wait, what's a little more?

"My immediate goal is to complete the <>."

I offered my direction to Merlin, who seemed to be in something of a panic.

"What ......?"

"Oh, Marlin can just stay in the general store (here)."

It's a warehouse.

I can summon people outside, but I have [storage], so I don't need it. However, if they stay at the general store, they won't be sold out right after the store opens, and more importantly, the general store's warehouse will be almost unnecessary, which will make the room more spacious.

It is becoming less common for the general store to be sold out right after opening, but it sometimes happens when a new dungeon is discovered or during an event. During the war of the empire, the sellouts were especially bad.

I am not able to replenish the stock because of my wanderings, but I'll give up on that. If I can produce and fill my Merlin with them, I can do better than I am doing now. Kal and Galahad have been very helpful in keeping the warehouse stocked with materials. Noel has improved a lot in the production of medicines.

It seems that the materials in the warehouse are frozen until I check them, and even those who have permission to use the warehouse are not allowed to move them in and out. If we can directly sell the medicines Noel made for us-oh, the contents of the warehouse linked to 鵺 can be viewed from the menu!

"Wait, you don't want me to go out there?　You are denying half of the functionality of the "Naira"."

"No, it's a tremendous help."

You can replenish it from the outside.

"You can call it out there!　You may be short of what you need, but you will not be short of what you need if you are short of the items you need.

"I have [storage], you know."

It is useful because it can hold as much as I want. The contents are chaotic.

"Hey, ......!"

Marlin is giggling.

"Oh--. Spider betrays ......, unconditionally evokes, I don't think I can use it. Does my likelihood with you fade each time you evoke me?"

Having experienced the escape of the genie, I have learned that once you have it, you can never be sure of its safety.

The watering festival has calmed down, and I just came to apologize to the spirits with a gift the other day. I was a little sorry to think that the little genie was doing his best to give genie to the gentiles, but I was relieved to see that he seemed to be enjoying himself quite a bit.

"......."

"You're absolutely lost. I know I may look a little pensive, but Homra is very perceptive and smart."

Galahad says.

I squirm a little at the hint of praise.

"I understand the conditions under which a bond can be broken, but what is the opposite?"

"The other way around?"

If there are things that can break, there are things that can make them stronger, right?　If it makes Merlin feel more comfortable, I'll do my best to make that happen."

If there are actions that decrease sensitivity, there will be actions that increase it.

N.C.'s likability basically decreases when they are taken out to battle, except for those who have a belligerent character. However, it is well known that winning a battle increases the likability more than that. Also, you can give them items that are individually set for each character.

"Hmm. All I want is pure water of high value, followed by a branch."

Marlin looks away as if unfaithful and says, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

"<>?"

Galahad says with half-lidded eyes.

"Galahad, your handwriting is terrible."

"Whose fault is it, whose!"

It's my fault, isn't it!