348 - - 三百四十六話 大宴会

I returned to paradise with Mel and Meral. The emotional meeting between Mel and Merah went well, if not without a hitch, and we hope that the two will be able to spend some time in paradise to get to know each other better.

After the meeting between Mel and Meral, we move to the front of the house, where Dine is making a big noise, telling Nomos and Ruby that there is going to be a big feast tonight. It seems that everyone had gathered in front of the house to greet us. Let's not worry about the fact that I'm calling it a big feast on my own.

"Hey guys, this is my apprentice Mel and his contracted spirit Meral. Please take good care of them. Mel, Meral, these are my contracted spirits. Oh, these are not contracted spirits but collaborators of the store in the village of spirits.

I think you know all of them from the pictures, except for Ruby and the others, but just in case you are meeting them for the first time, I have to introduce them to you.

"Ah, yes, Meme, I'm Mel. I'm Mel.

Mel is completely confused. Even though she's shy, she's in a group with Sylphy, Belle, Fukuchan, Ruby and the others. There are also other floating spirits and lower level spirits who have come to visit ......, so she must be under a lot of pressure. Oh, Meral has stepped out in front of Mel.

"I'm Meral. Pleased to meet you."

Oh, the way you're drawing all eyes at once on Mel's behalf, you're getting rid of the pathetic image of being scared of Dine. Meral intercedes, and Mel, Sylphy, Ruby and the others finish their greetings.

"Meru," "cue," "hello," "coo-coo," "flair!" ......"

After the adults greeted Mel, Belle and Fuchu and the others began to crowd around Mel to greet him. Mel was not so nervous with the little ones, or maybe he was tickled by the cheek kisses of those who couldn't talk to him. It's quite a funny scene.

"Well, we've done the brief introductions for now. Now feel free to talk to me at the banquet. So, Mel, Meral, this is my house... I only have one room available, can Mel and Meral room together?"

I don't think it's a problem since they usually live together, but I wonder how Mel sees the materialized Meraru. Well, she's a spirit. If not, let her melt in the fire.

"Oh, yes. "Oh, yes. I'm always with Meral."

It seems that with Meral, shyness is not triggered even if she materializes. As expected, her face turned red when she was hugged. ....... Also, Meral tried to convince her that she doesn't need to put on "sama" but she failed to convince her.

"Okay. Well, it's late today, so I'll give you a tour of paradise tomorrow. Marco and Kikka, please show Meraru and Meraru around the house."

Kikka was itching to play with Mel, so we had to let her play with him at least a little. We can take Mel's stuff to her room later.

"Yes, Kikka, that's it!　Meru-chan, Meral-sama, over here!"

Kikka grabs Mel's hand and runs inside the house with Marco and Meral. Belle and Fuchu and the others followed them, probably thinking they were having fun, and suddenly it became quiet.　Did you get the new ingredients?" No. Ruby and the others look at me expectantly.

"Yeah, we got the green dragon meat. I also got some vegetables and stuff."

We also have light dragons and dark dragons that we haven't dismantled yet. If we start dismantling them now, it might affect the banquet, so I will not say anything until after the banquet.

"Oh, I've never seen a green dragon before!　Yuta's brother!　I want you to share!"

"I'll get you the meat I cut up for now, and you can serve it at the banquet today. Can you make it in time?

"Well, it's hard to cook something that takes a long time, but steaks and fried foods are fine. Oh, and the aged meat is coming along nicely.

Aged meat...... completely forgot about it. But now that I remember, I suddenly feel like eating it.

"By all means. I'd like to compare it with regular meat anyway, so please prepare two kinds of simply grilled meat."

While serving Green Dragon meat, ask for an aged meat dish.

"Compare!　And that sounds like fun too!　You're going to go cook it right away!"

Ruby flies into the kitchen with Green Dragon meat. He's very motivated, and tonight's feast is going to be interesting.

"Did you get some new stuff?"

"You're getting a new bed at the inn, aren't you?　And did you get the paints and tools for the storytelling?"

"And more coppers?"

"Hmm, Yuta's brother, did you get a lot of alcohol?"

I had my doubts about Saffy and the others not going to help Ruby, but it seems these kids had a purpose too.

"Well, we got everything we wanted. Well, we don't have much time today, so can we do it tomorrow?"

"Okay. Okay. I'll see you tomorrow!　Then we'll go back to the store."

With that, Saffy and the others returned to the store. I didn't know they had a ...... store. Come to think of it, since the spirits are here to play, of course the store must be open. I'm not sure if I should be happy or cautious about it.

"Yuta, these girls want to join the party. They are going to pay for it.

"Hmm?"

While I was pondering over the delicate issue, Dineh came over to me in a relaxed manner. These girls?　

"Ugh!"

When I turned to Dine, I saw a cute baby with light blue hair raising his tiny right hand to greet me. By "these children," do you mean the baby floating spirit and the various spirits flying around it?　What?　Children at a banquet?

"Let's see, money aside, Nomos said that little children might let their power run wild if they drink alcohol, and I think children are not ready for a banquet where alcohol is served, don't you?"

Especially in paradise, the danger increases because of its materialization. When I try to refuse to participate, the little children's wary glances reproach me. Many of them are even smaller than Belle and the others, so I feel guilty.

They just want to enjoy the atmosphere of the party, so they don't drink alcohol. We'll have no problem if you leave the alcohol only at the adults' table.

That may be true, but I don't want the little ones to see adults drinking as much as possible. Especially if we let these kids join, Belle and Fuchu and Gina and the others will want to join too. .......

"Yuta is having a hard time. Everyone, if you want to join the banquet, you have to ask hard!"

"What?"

The little ones respond to Deane's voice and swarm the place. I hear lisping requests, squeals, and even a few requests from children who seem to be middle class spirits.

Behind them, a group of adults appear before I know it, saying something like, "We can drink, can't we? I guess they are the accompanying high spirits and the senior spirits. They don't stop us at all, probably because they want to join the party too.

"Uh, uh, okay. You can join the party. But we'll make sure to separate the drinkers and the non-drinkers. And if the number of people increases, the living room will be too small, so we'll have to have the party outside.

The spirits who had been listening to the conversation were overjoyed. I'm weak. I'll agree to be surrounded by beautiful ladies, but I can't resist the little ones' request.

"Since that's the case, I'm sorry, but can Gina and Sara help me prepare for the banquet?"

"Okay. Let's see, I can help you prepare for the banquet outside, right? I'll be fine."

I understand. I'll do my best. I'll help you.

"All right, let's have a big feast!　Nomos, I'm sure the brewery's got some brews ready to drink. Let's bring it in.

For some reason, If got all worked up.

"Yes. We have a good supply of ales. It's a good time for a drink. Yuta, I'll bring the guys from the brewery.

"What?　Why would you do that?"

Oh, he's gone. Well, does that mean the spirits from the brewery will be at the banquet too?　What?　If so, how many will be there?　It's supposed to be a welcome party for Mel and Meral, but it's turning into something more important.

"...... Sylphy"

"I'm kind of getting into it, and I can't stop."

I don't know about you, but I can't help it if it won't stop. I've barely interacted with the spirits of the brewery, so I'll take this as a good opportunity.

"Sylphy, tell Ruby to cook a big batch of food and we'll restock later."

If we're going to have a banquet, a fancy banquet is more fun than a dull one. It's been a while since we've had a big party.

**

The other spirits cooperated with us for the big feast. Spirits of the forest and spirits of the earth made tables and chairs, and light balls were floated in each space to arrange the food. The spirits of the brewery, led by Nomos and If, joined the party with a large number of sake barrels.

The preparations for the banquet proceed smoothly even with the addition of the spirits of the brewery, with whom they usually have little contact. The preparations were made in no time at all. I have a feeling that spirits are at their 120% when it comes to banquets.

We are going to hold a banquet to welcome Mel and Meraru. Marco, Kikka, and the little ones of the lower and floating spirits are not allowed to drink, so please stay away from the drinking area of the banquet hall. Let's have a toast!

Toasts were raised everywhere to my toast. There are nearly 90 people in total, so it's a pretty big crowd. Well, more than half of them are little kids. The middle class spirits were worried, but they were allowed to drink, since they are not supposed to run wild even if they drink.

A lot of people gathered outside for a party. There are a lot of light balls floating around, so it looks like a cherry blossom viewing or a fair. Unlike the entertainment district, the light balls have not turned into suspicious colors, so the atmosphere is somewhat healthy.

"Yuta, what are you doing here in a daze without drinking?"

"Ah, Sylphy. I was deeply moved by this scene. It's quite an amazing thing to hold such a big banquet in a place where nothing existed before the well was dug.

"Now that you put it that way, it is indeed amazing. No ordinary person would have thought of having a banquet in the land of the dead.

...... I don't know why, it doesn't sound like a compliment. Also, I was expecting a light drinking party, but I think the reason why it turned out to be such a big banquet is on the spirits' side.

"Is that a compliment?"　

"That's a compliment. Don't look at me funny. It's a banquet. Enjoy it.

It's a banquet ...... I guess so, it's a banquet and I'm not afraid of a hangover if Moon is there. I'm not afraid of a hangover with Moon here.