350 - - Episode 348 Jewel Box

During the banquet, Mr. Alvard asked me for two favors. One is that the spirit kings will come to visit us, and the other is to raise the limit on the number of spirits who can visit our village. I don't know how far it will spread yet, but it looks like paradise will become more lively again.

After talking with Mr. Alvard, Dolly, and Vita, I go with Sylphy again to look around the banquet hall. I'm already in a good mood because of the strong ale. I wonder if I can make it all the way around.

"Our ale tastes good, doesn't it? You can drink more!"

"Look, don't try to get Yuta to get together and drink. Yuta is a human being and he can't melt into his attributes and sober up. Disperse. Or I will drink."

At any rate, what we do know is that we would have been sunk already if not for Sylphy, who is taking the ale from the spirit and chugging it down in one gulp. Also, the reason why Sylphy is following me is not to drink every ale that is offered to me, right?　You're worried about me, right?

Well, even if you sink, you can revive yourself by asking Moon or Vita, but you can't go that far to drink alcohol, can you? It's like the ancient Roman aristocrats who repeatedly threw up and ate.

While I was walking around the banquet hall thinking about some nonsense, I found Mel, Meral, and Gina. They were supposed to be in the place where drinking is not allowed at first, but they had moved here. They were drinking happily and seemed to have relaxed a bit with the alcohol.

But the sight of a little girl and a boy guzzling ale is ethically perplexing. Well, Mel and Meral would not be embarrassed by the sight of an adult. It's a difficult question.

"Mel, Meral, I'm sorry I left you alone after I came all this way. Are you okay?"

"Master, I'm fine. I'm so happy to be able to have a drink with Master Meral.

"I'm fine!　I'm happy to drink with Mel, too!"

What's with the flirting?　They have always been good friends of mine, but it seems that they have become even closer since we met in person.

"I'm glad you're happy. "I'm glad you're happy, Gina, and thank you for hanging out with Mel and her friends.

"Ha-ha-ha, I'm glad I have more people to drink with besides spirits. My pace gets a little crazy when I drink with Sylphy and the others.

Gina says happily. It is true that Sylphy and his friends drink a lot, so it must be hard for them to drink together. Gina usually drinks alone, but when she sometimes joins Sylphy and his friends' party, she often looks pale the next day.

Well, it's hard to choose between drinking alone or drinking hard. Maybe I should make time to have a drink with Gina. I'll have a drink with her and at least share her complaints.

I glance at Sylphy, who is emptying his mug with an air of indifference. He seems to pretend he didn't hear me.

"Can I have a drink with you?

I feel like I'm intruding a bit, but I'm also the host, so I have to talk to you a bit.

"Of course. Master, Mr. Sylphy, please join us.

I'll drink with you!"

Mel drinks at an unusually fast pace. It's like magic that he empties his mug so quickly and quickly in between conversations. I wonder if Mel likes to drink because he is a dwarf.　I have an image that dwarves like to drink, but I wonder if female dwarves like to drink too?

"You said you drink across from each other, do you usually have drinks with Mel and Meral?"

"Yes. Meral and I always have dinner together and drink together every evening."

"That's right. Mel's food is delicious and goes well with alcohol!"

I taught you that it's good to have dinner together even if you can't see me, but you drink alcohol every day. I don't know if all female dwarves like to drink, but it seems certain that Mel is quite a drinker. Gina will probably be hung over tomorrow.

"I've never had a home-cooked meal from Mel. You'll have to treat me next time."

No, I can't. I had my suspicions after seeing Toruku's cooking and the dinner in the labyrinth where I dived with Gina and the others, but this banquet has confirmed my suspicions. The food the masters usually eat is too delicious to let them eat my cooking!

Mel, who was supposed to be timid, turned me down with a very firm refusal. Also, Meral, who had been raving about Mel's cooking, is also in a state of shock.

"Mel, Mel, Mel's cooking is the best!"

Oh, Meral praises Mel's cooking without faltering. That's a contracted spirit, you have a lot of love.

"No, I know it myself. Master, you're the one who taught Toruku the recipe, aren't you? Will you teach me how to cook?　I want Master Meral to eat good food!"

How could you? Almost every girl I've apprenticed with has an interest in cooking. Kikka is also interested in cooking after helping Sarah. ...... However, it's hard to say no to Meral since she's so moved by what Mel told her.

"Oh, Mel. I only know a few recipes. If you're interested in cooking, ask Gina. But since some of the recipes have been modified by Mr. Torque, can you promise me that you won't share them with others and only make them at your house?"

"Yes, I can promise. Oh, I want not only Meral-sama but also Yunis-chan to eat it.

"I don't mind, as long as it's not for business."

If Yunis finds out that she can't have Mel's cooking because of me, she's going to fall into a coma, so please let her have it.

"Thank you very much. Gina-san, please take care of him."

"Yes, I'm in training too, so I may be unreliable, but I'll cook with you."

Mel and Gina shake hands passionately. This is what youth looks like. So dazzling.

"Oh, by the way, Mel. I know it's been a short time, but are you feeling any inconvenience?"

"So far, no inconvenience at all. I met Meral-sama, and there are many lovely spirits here, so it's very enjoyable.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that."

The little ones are adorable. Of course Belle and Fuchu are the cutest, but I can't help but feel protective of the floating spirits with whom I have no contract. Like human babies, animal babies are so cute that it's not fair.

Yes, if you know how cute they are, you'll have a good time in paradise...because there will be little ones playing and hopping all over the place for 3 days and 2 nights.... After talking about Mel and Meraru, cooking and spirit trees, I go back to patrolling the banquet. It's time to visit the little ones, too.

We eat some aged oak meat while talking, but in this kind of atmosphere, I was too distracted to take the time to taste it. Is the less fatty part of the meat suitable for aging?　There is no doubt that the aroma and taste of the meat was stronger, and it was delicious. Next time, when I'm not drunk and can eat calmly, I'll take my time to compare the flavors.

"Yuta, you don't need an escort if you're going that way. I'll stay here drinking wine, so call out to me when you come back here.

"Uh-huh, okay. Thank you."

Sylphy is so refreshingly unapologetic about her desires. She is indeed a great spirit of the wind. Well, she was protecting me. I should thank you.

We leave the drinking area and enter the drinking area. The little ones have finished their ...... dishes and are flocking to the dessert area. I guess they are stuffing themselves since it's supposed to be all-you-can-eat today.

"Oh, Yutta kita!" "Kyu!"

As we approached the dessert corner, Belle and Rain noticed us and came swooping in. Belle, why are you clutching a crepe in both hands?　Eating two pieces just because it's all-you-can-eat?　Rain looks like he just finished eating because his mouth is smooching.

"Belle, Rain, are you eating a lot of dessert?"

"I'm eating!" "Cue!"

They both respond cheerfully with big smiles on their faces. Belle, you don't have to show both of your crepes with a smug look on your face.

"Belle, are you eating two at once?"

"Yeah. This one's apple. This one has a lot of apples.

Belle excitedly tells me. Apparently, she can't get enough of the situation of having two crepes. I was also excited when I ate two cup noodles, so I know exactly how she feels.

There are whipped cream, custard cream and jam peeking out from the crepe with little tooth marks on it that Belle is holding. Double cream and apple jam...it looks luxurious and delicious. The other one has a lot of fruits in it. This one looks pretty good too.

I think I'll have one too. Which crepe does Belle and Rain recommend?"

...... I asked the question casually, but it seemed to be a more difficult question than I thought, and Belle and Rain started to worry about it.

"This is delicious!

"Hmm, this one tastes good, too.

I can't tell them that it's okay if they're not so particular about what they want.

"Yuta, lots of yuta!　This is the best.

After five minutes of deliberation, they concluded that the mixed fruit custard that Belle was holding in her hand was the best.

"Okay, I'll have that one then."

Following Bell's recommendation, I get in line behind the little ones at the dessert corner. What's that?　Something about Ruby taking orders from the little ones and making crepes.

It used to be a hand-rolled sushi style, but they've changed it to baking the dough in front of you and wrapping the ingredients you ordered. The little ones are happily choosing from the many kinds of fruits and jams.

"Yuta's brother, come here!

"Um, mixed fruit custard, please. You made it so that you could make the crepes right in front of me."

"Mixed fruit custard, you can count on me!　Yuta's brother once told me about a place that cooks food in front of you, so I gave it a try. We're too many people to try the meat, so we're just going to try the dessert!"

I see, we have talked about steakhouses before. And you applied it to crepes. The result is just like a crepe shop in town.

"The kids love it. It's a great way to do it."

"Yes, everyone seems to be having fun trying to come up with the right combinations, and the warm dough is delicious!"

Ruby is feeling the effects of this. Usually ice cream and pudding are more popular, but this style may turn the tables on them. Light-sama seems to be enjoying it even though he is concerned about his public image, and it might be a good idea to have Ruby do it in this style when the Spirit Kings come.

"It's done!"

Ruby rolls up the crepe dough dexterously baked in front of her, holding the custard and mixed fruits. It's a lot of fun.

"Thank you."

When I receive the crepe and try to eat it, I notice that I am the center of attention. What's that?　Why are they staring at me like this?

...... apparently bragged that Bell recommended the best one. So for some reason, even the other kids are paying attention to how I react to the crepes.

Not only Belle and Rain, but also Tulu and Fuchu and the other little kids who came to play with me. In this case, do I need to react like a gourmet reporter?

"............ as if!　A jewel box of fruit!

I took a bite and did my best to pay homage to the famous Japanese gourmet reporter, Pak....... I was embarrassed but happy because I got a great response.