359 - - 357th episode. - Ready?

After a full day of fun with the Belles, it's been two days. I've seen a side of them that I didn't know before, and I feel like we've become even closer. Well, it was a good day, though I was exhausted from playing in the children's room, practicing hand bells, sliding down the slide of the spirit tree together, playing ball in the park, mazes, Daruma-san fell down, and even playing tag.

"Mr. Alvard, we didn't have a problem with 15 more kids. How was your day, Mr. Alvard?

"We had no problem here either, since we only added a few more groups. I would like to increase the number of people next time, but ...... the Spirit Kings will be with us next time. I'll be with them next time, too. Should I keep the same number of people as this time?"

Hmmm, what do you think?　The children who came this time played freely, but they were not too much trouble. Ruby and the others who are the main players agree with me.

I don't think it would be a problem if we had more people, but the presence of the spirit kings would be a bottleneck. If we are going to act with a little more time to spare, it would be better to have the same structure as this time, but ...... we are up against those spirit kings. In a sense, it's not so complicated, so I'm not sure if I don't mind increasing the number of them.

"I don't mean to be rude, but please don't be offended. Well, don't the kings of spirits need a guide, do they?　If all we have to do is to prepare drinks, food and desserts, why don't we just increase the number of people?　Or should we give them a grand welcome this time?"

"No, the spirit kings are here to relax, so a grand welcome is not necessary. If there are drinks, food, and desserts, they will be fine even if we leave them alone. In fact, they will be more than happy to be left alone."

...... indeed, I don't have the guts to leave the spirit kings alone. But I guess they don't want to be taken care of too much. I guess we should prepare a feast and let them do whatever they want to do.

I understand. I'll think of something so that the spirit kings can relax. As for the number of people, we'll have to wait until the next time we go to the labyrinth city. If we're going to let the Spirit Kings have free time, I think it's better to increase the number of people with us."

"Well, ...... it is delicate to increase the number of people when the Lord of Paradise is not around. Okay, I'm sorry to conflict with the Spirit Kings, but next time I'll increase the number of children and chaperones."

Then I'll be prepared to handle it.

"Yes, please."

"Yuta, we're done here. Can I borrow Alvard?

After confirming the number of people, Sylphy, who had been listening to the conversation next to me, started to move.

"I don't mind if we're done, but we don't have much time because the little ones are waiting for us to leave.

I was the one who was talking to them, but now Belle, Fuchu, Gina, Ruby, and Dine were saying goodbye to the spirits who had come to visit them. Among them, Dine is very popular and the little spirits are swarming around her. I think the reason for her popularity is that she is an adult but close to the age of the spirits.

They are saying goodbye to each other in a lively manner, but I hope they hurry up because it will be awkward for both of them if they don't leave after saying goodbye to each other.

"Don't worry. It's okay. I just want to make sure you're all right. Alvard, I asked you to give a message to the Spirit Kings. And, Ruby said to recruit spirits who can cook a little, and since that's not enough, we need spirits who are interested in cooking. Listen, be careful not to pick a spirit who is interested in drinking."

"I know. Since Yuta has been spreading the word about otherworldly cuisines and desserts, the spirits' eyes have turned to food as well. Don't worry, there will be enough of them to go around, so we will be very selective. Besides, I'm looking forward to a place where we can enjoy good sake and good food. I won't cut corners.

......It must be quite a rare sight to see a great spirit obsessing over food. I'd be interested in it too if you told me it was from another world. Dragon meat would be awesome.

"That's good. I'll order it."

"Okay. You got it. Well, I'd better get going. Yuta, you've been a big help.

"Ha-ha-ha, I know it sounds like a lot of work, but hang in there. Take care.

Mr. Alvard and his escorting spirits pack up the little ones and fly away. Whew, more spirit kings are coming next. We'd better get ready. But I want them to start appraising the treasures and dismantling the light and dark dragons.

Sylphie. We've got the plan for the sake island somewhat finalized, haven't we?　I need Nomos to appraise it for me, is that okay?"

I've hardly seen Nomos for the past two days. I'm supposed to be working with If to convince the spirits at the brewery, but I wonder if it's working.

"Hmmm, well, the plan has been worked out to some extent. Nomos has finished convincing the spirits of the brewery and is now preparing to make red wine, so he's a bit busy, isn't he?　But I think we can at least find time to appraise the treasure."

You had already persuaded him and started making red wine. I had an image of brewery spirits being stubborn, but maybe that's how attractive Sake Island was to them. I'll believe that they didn't threaten to ban me from the brewery.

...... I think I can find time for Nomos anyway, so I'll ask him to appraise the dragon and have Ruby and the others dismantle the dragon at the same time.

****

"I'm looking forward to dismantling the light dragons!"

"Dragons...wasn't the last time we dismantled an attribute dragon when we dismantled a water dragon in the ocean?"

Yes, I don't know what I was thinking, but the last time I got permission to take down an undersea volcano was when I messed around with it.

That was delicious. I'm looking forward to the light dragons."

I wonder what kind of drink goes with the meat of the light dragon?"

I asked Ruby and the others to dismantle the dragon before I asked Nomos to appraise it. Ruby and her friends readily agreed to my request and quickly got ready to talk with me. From what they told me, they had experience in dismantling dragons, so I felt I could trust them with the job with a certain degree of confidence.

This time I decided to have them dismantle only the light dragons since I was busy with other things and the spirit kings would be coming, but if they are so happy, I can easily ask them to dismantle the dark dragons as well. So I'm wondering about .......

"...... Hey, Ruby. What's with the ridiculously big knife?　Isn't it too big?"

"Woohoo, this is a big-ass dismantling knife that Citrine made for me!　It's an amazing knife made from a whole water dragon's tusk, and it's so sharp that it won't damage the meat without gilding it!"

You're using the fangs of an attribute dragon. If it's the same kind of sharpness as the fire dragon Mel made for me, then it must be very sharp indeed. Well, it looks more like a sword than a knife.

"If you killed the water dragon, there must have been other materials left, right?　What happened to that?"

Of course they don't have any meat left over, but don't they at least have some scales? I've never seen a water dragon, so I'd at least check the scales.

"Citrine gave me the other ingredients for my cooking tools!　It's made my food taste at least one level better!　Other than that, it's not convenient to carry around. ...... the bottom of the ocean?"

Except for the giant kitchen knife, the other cooking utensils were also made by Water Dragon. And not much of the ingredients were from the bottom of the sea. ...... Marie would go crazy if she heard the story.

But being a senior spirit doesn't mean that she can carry as much luggage as she likes, and since she was moving around a lot for the ingredients, I guess it can't be helped that her luggage is minimal. But now that they have a base, they can add more tools as they like.

"I can tell you where to find the ingredients for the water dragon. Since they are materials for water dragons, I don't think they have deteriorated even at the bottom of the sea.

As expected of a senior water spirit, he seems to know the location of the seabed where he dumped the materials. I guess we could ask the water dragon or the core of the ...... labyrinth to help us, but if we can get it elsewhere, there's no need to let it consume our power.

I'd like to try the meat too,...... but well, we have the meat of light and dark dragons of unknown taste, and the meat of fire dragons, green dragons, assault dragons, and wyverns are still available. I'll see if I can find a chance. I'll ask Ruby and the others to share only the ingredients.

By the way, I've got enough dragon meat to open a butcher shop specializing in dragon meat. Will I be able to eat all of it before I die?

"Saffy, I'm sorry, but when you have time, go and get the ingredients for the water dragons. If you call out to me when you go, I'll give you the magic bag."

There was a bag in the treasure chest in the last labyrinth, and it is most likely a magic bag, so there is room for a few magic bags. But it looks like we'll be able to get some materials for the water dragons, though I can't say for sure.

I don't have any particular use for the materials, but I'd like to get the materials if I can get them because they're cool, even if they're only named after dragons or something.

I understand. I'll go to ...... to get it on my next holiday, but not this holiday."

"Thank you. I'll give you the magic bag after I have Nomos appraise it.

"Hey, hey, Yuta's brother!　I can't wait to dismantle it!"

As I was discussing the materials for the water dragon with Saffy, Ruby came in numbly to talk. He's very sowwy. ...... It's inappropriate, but I think he looks like a dog being told to wait for his dinner.

Well, I guess you could say that for a chef, a dragon is a big treat. I can imagine the expression on their faces when they are excited to be asked to dismantle it, and then they are rushed with other stories. It's my fault for sure.

"I'm sorry, so is this the right place to put out ...... the light dragon?　It's not a problem in terms of size, but won't the dirt contaminate the meat?"

As expected, I am not comfortable with dismantling directly on the ground. What about the ground splattered with dragon blood?　I'm afraid that some very strange plants might grow.

"Well, then, we can dismantle them on the Gravity Stone Island!　It's an ore island there, so it's hard to get dirty!"

Ruby, not wanting to be kept waiting any longer, quickly comes up with an alternative. If we make her wait any longer, she's going to sulk, so we'd better hurry. Oh, and Gina and the others want to see the dragon .......