276 - - 二百七十四话 エールと枝豆

He decided to make soy sauce, and after talking to Dolly, he found out that he could easily get soybeans. It's a good thing we didn't stumble at the beginning. Deanne asks about edamame, and we decide to have beer and edamame tonight, but I'm looking forward to it, so I guess it won't be a problem.

"Well, I'm going to plant some seeds, Dory, can you get me some soybeans?"

I ask Dolly to do it in front of the field. If we want to make it easy, we can ask Dolly to do everything for us, but we should at least sow and harvest together. It will taste better when we eat it that way.

"Okay. I'll get them over here."

As Dolly pointed her right hand at the ground, light gathered on the ground and produced a large heap of soybeans. Every time I see this scene, I feel like processing it into food. Well, I don't do it because I heard it's not so good.

"They're ready!"

"Thank you, Dolly. Well, I'm sure you've done this enough times that you know the process, but if you have any questions, just ask Dolly or Tamamo. Now let's start planting!"

At my command, the Belles and Fukuchans all flocked to the seeds at once, and each of them flew to the field with as many seeds as they could carry. The spirits are indeed very quick at times like this. Gina and the others, who were late to arrive at the seeds, run to the field with soybeans.

Kikka's wind shoes are amazing. It may seem exaggerated because there are spirits flying around the field, but they are running on the ground as if they were flying. I want to collect wind shoes for all of them. However, Gina and the others will surely refrain from buying all of them. I guess we'll just have to hope that we can find them in the treasure chests in the labyrinth.

Everyone seems to be burying the seeds in the ground without any problems, so I guess it's time for me to join in the sowing. By the way, the Great Spirits, Sylphy, Dine, and Dolly are sitting at the table, sipping tea and watching us gracefully.

**

With this many people, sowing will be quick. But working in the field is hard work, so it's more fun to get it done in such a short time.

"Dolly, let the soybeans grow. A row would be helpful if you would stop when the beans are green."

"Are the beans green, or should I stop when the beans are the biggest in the pod?"

I don't know what the best condition for edamame is, but as long as the beans are at their largest, they should be fine.

"Yes, please do that.

"Okay. Okay, let's get started."

As we watch, Dolly walks over to the side of the field and points her right hand toward the field. This is always a thrilling moment. As I look at the field, I see sprouts popping out of the soil, stalks growing, leaves and pods forming in the blink of an eye. As usual, the growth rate is so fast that even the fastest turn of a cultivation record is astonished.

Not only me but also Gina and the others are amazed at this scene every time. Belle and Fukuchan seem to be enjoying themselves by jumping around, but they are not surprised.

One of the rows stops being green, and the rest of the rows continue to grow, gradually becoming dry and cream-colored. It looks so strange when compared to the row of shiny green leaves.

"Yuta-san, you can harvest them now.

Dolly says with a smile. She must be doing something very great, but she makes it look so easy that it doesn't seem like she's doing much.

"Thank you, Dolly. "Thanks, Dolly. I'd like to harvest the green ones by the stalks. ...... Tul, can you soften the soil in the field so it's easier to get them out by the roots?　All the cream-colored ones anyway."

It's not a radish, so it's impossible to pull out the whole root at once for the belles.

"Yes, we can."

Tulu accepted the job with a nod of his head. It was cool to see him take on the job so quietly, despite his small size. When Tulu put his hands on the field, the soil started to move and the roots of the edamame became a little exposed. The roots of the edamame are now much easier to pull out. He thanked Tulu and patted him on the head.

"Okay, now that Tulu has softened the soil, it should be easier to pull them out. Pull out the green ones first and bring them to me. Let's start harvesting!"

Belle and her friends, Gina and her friends, and Fuchu and her friends cheerfully reply and run to harvest. Harvesting is just a matter of pulling them out, and it will be quicker than sowing seeds.

"Yuta, I got it!

Bell came back as fast as he could, carrying edamame beans. Her smile is dazzlingly bright, as if she is happy about the harvest.

"Oh, thank you, Belle. You're the first one!"

"Whew, Belle is the best!"

I receive and store the edamame in a hurry from Bell, who is overjoyed with all his might. Don't swing the edamame around, Belle. She pats Belle's head, but Rain and his friends are already waiting behind her. They take edamame in turn and pat her head.

"...... Do you want me to pat it just in case?"

"What?　...... then, just in case."

I patted the heads of everyone, including Sarah and the others, and asked Gina, who had brought the edamame, if she wanted to know, and she said yes. I remember the last time something similar happened to me, she turned me down. I guess that's how much she trusts me.

I hear that I can pet her head, so I don't hesitate to stroke her head. I don't know if it's the cleaning effect, but her hair is quite silky. I don't know if it's the effect of washing or not, but it's quite silky. I can understand why Belle and the others' hair is so silky because they are spirits.

"Can't you just let it go?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I was just stroking you so hard. Well, keep up the good work."

"Yeah, I'm off then."

Gina ran away and I looked behind her. Her face was slightly red, but I wondered if it was because my nadepo powers had awakened, or because she was embarrassed that I treated her like a child.

"Koo koo koo."

"Oh, Tamamo, I'm sorry. Thank you."

He receives edamame from Tamamo and checks its status while stroking it. ...... Unfortunately, Nadeepo's skills had not grown back. I guess it doesn't work that well. A little disappointed, I continue to receive edamame and soybeans from everyone. At this rate, it looks like I won't have time to go harvesting.

As expected, I receive and store the soybeans that come in one after another, and the harvest is over after a lot of praising and patting.

"Yuta, let's eat edamame! My sister will cool down the ale!"

It's not even noon yet, and they're already drinking. But I won't allow it. We are in an environment where we can be as corrupt as we want to be, and it's dangerous if we don't at least keep ourselves in check. Well, I guess I'll indulge myself even if I do. .......

"Deanne, the ale and edamame won't be served until tonight. Thanks for your help, guys. We'll serve the edamame harvest at night, so you're free until then."

"What?　Yuta, it's not free time, my sister wants to drink ale with edamame, okay?"

Deanne is quite stubborn. But ale at noon is the most enjoyable thing to do, and it's not something I'm willing to do. So what do we do now?　I'd like to thresh out the soybeans and make my way to soy sauce, but Deanne's not going to give up, so I might as well play with Belle and the boys.

"Deanne, we'll do that at night. Then we have free time. Belle, Rain, Tulu, Tamamo, Flair, Moon, let's play together.

"play", "cue", "fun", "coo-coo", "play!" ............"

"Okay, let's go to the park."

I equipped the belles, who happily followed me, and we headed for the park. I'm sorry I didn't hear Dine's voice coming from behind me, but I'll pretend I didn't hear it.

**

"Whew, that was fun."

"That was fun!" "Coo-coo!" "Darumasan ga kororonada, fun!" "Coo-coo!" "I got it!" ............"

After lunch, I just played with the belles today. Gina and Fukuchan joined us on the way, so we were a big group, but it was a lot of fun. However, even if the level of the children's physical strength is improved, it's no match for them.

And I've never seen a genie get tired ....... No, Sylphy was tired when she accompanied Belle and Rain on their errands. Well, aside from that, Gina and I ran out of energy pretty early on, and we had to have a big group Daruma-san tumbled down tournament.

This was easy because it didn't use much energy, but I miscalculated a little that Moon and Puru-chan needed an interpreter because of my and Gina's participation.

But it was too difficult for us to understand the language of Moon and Puru-chan, who were trembling and shaking, though we could somehow understand the other children who were making noises. Well, we had a good time, so it doesn't matter. When we all returned to the house, Dine was standing in front of the front door.

"Yuta! My sister got tired of waiting for me..."

Deanne's puffy cheeks are a bit adorable. It's kind of funny to see Sylphy and Dolly giggling next to her. But they cared about ale and edamame so much. Spirits are supposed to live quite a long time. ...... Well, it's a little early, but we'd better get ready.

Okay, I'll get ready now, just give me a minute. Wait for me inside the house while I prepare dinner.

"Master, I'll help you."

"I'll help you, too."

It's not a difficult task, but it would be nice to have some help. With Gina and Sara's help, I decide to boil the edamame. We just boil the whole stalks in a big pot of salted water, though. Actually, I don't even know if this is the right way. If it's not right, I'll boil them normally next time.

"Master, is this all there is?

Sara asks me, annoyed. Behind her, Gina was also looking puzzled. I offered to help her, but it was too easy, and she seemed to be out of it.

"Yeah, it's just this one thing. It's easy, isn't it?

"Um, yes."

Now that you are satisfied, let's quickly boil the rest. I'm worried about Dine, who is staring at me. But are the pods of edamame this hairy?　I'm a little nervous that it's not going to be very palatable.

"It's done. Let's go inside and put the food on the table for dinner.

Deanne enters the house with excited steps. It's not quite what you'd expect. As soon as I entered the house, Deanne asked me for an ale. A quick ice the keg and we're all set. Let's put the food on the table quickly.

"Let's eat. This is the food we picked today, edamame. We eat them like this, but be careful not to eat the outer pods.

I will demonstrate how to eat edamame in front of everyone. If I don't warn them, the little ones will eat even the pods. ...... Oh, and the animal-shaped ones won't be able to eat them themselves. I'll get the beans out and sprinkle some salt on them.

"Aren't they bitter?

That's a standard question from Bell after harvesting a crop. But it doesn't matter, because edamame is not bitter.

"Come here, Belle. Come here."

I call a wary Belle to me, put an edamame in her mouth, and push the bean out into her mouth. She looked surprised to see the edamame popping into her mouth, then giggled and swallowed it with a big mouthful.

"That's funny!"

After jumping up and wriggling her arms and legs, Belle started on the next edamame. She liked the edamame that popped out of the pod more than it tasted good. Tulu and Freya also start to eat, and they seem to be quite happy with their food, so I guess it's not a problem for them.

I take edamame out of the pods for Rain, Tamamo, and Moon, and watch them drinking ale and eating edamame.

"This is so addictive!

Deane puts an edamame in her mouth, munches on it, and then swallows it down with a big gulp of ale.

"Mmm, it's not bad. The taste of the beans and a hint of saltiness makes the ale go down well.

"I like the texture, too."

"Yes, it is. I am ashamed to say that I did not know soybeans could taste so good.

"Indeed. I like these beans, too. In some ways, they go better with ale than meat.

"Why do humans feed such delicious beans?"

After Deene, Nomos, Sylphy, Dolly, If, Vita give me good feedback ...... I mean, Vita, are soybeans treated as feed?　......Well, don't think too much. We all liked it, that's all that matters. I'll enjoy the ale and edamame too.