Due to the nature of Snow Castle with its heavy snowfall, the Gardener’s garden just outside Rondan Castle’s walls is quite a chilly place, much like Bandre Village.
In that sense, the Cook’s pork cutlet soup was an absolutely excellent menu choice.
To prove it, the moment I dipped the spoon full of rice from the bowl into the soup and then into my mouth, the rice grains moved as if they had found their rightful place, dancing beautifully over the broth full of savory flavors, warmly enveloping my mouth.
The act of moving my jaw to swallow the food was like fulfilling a dopamine rush, compelling me to chew without stopping, and the moment the food went down completely.
“…Ahhh.”
I felt a warm sensation starting from my stomach and spreading swiftly to the back of my head.
“…It was delicious before, but your Cooking skills have really improved.”
“Of course.”
The Cook tilted her head with a satisfied smile.
“I practiced hard to see this moment.”
…As I watched the Cook clasp her hands behind her back and smile brightly, I felt something inexplicable and cleared my throat to change the mood.
Remembering how embarrassed I felt when I was suddenly held by both cheeks and made eye contact with her at a close distance is a secret.
“I thought it might be a humble dish, but it’s not bad.”
“…Not bad? You’ve already finished a bowl.”
“Uh, th-this is just…! It’s at least a courtesy to the Cook who served us the food….”
If it’s delicious, just say it’s delicious.
Seeing the Dragon Slayer stuttering excuses due to my one remark made me think she was truly not being honest.
Look, how nice it is to quietly focus on eating like Bell.
Although I did think it wasn’t easy to eat soup with rice as if you were devouring some dog food mixed with water.
“Hum?”
Realizing that she was being thought of, Bell tilted her head looking at me.
Geez, dogs are too sensitive to humans’ emotions.
…Wait, why am I naturally treating her like a dog?
“Bell, is it tasty?”
“Woof!”
…Use words, you little one.
I’m afraid my minimal ethical standards are going to crumble.
“Anyone wanting more?”
At the Cook’s words, holding a ladle,
“Me! Me!”
Bell cheerfully shouted while extending her bowl.
“….”
The Dragon Slayer quietly held up her bowl while turning her head to the side.
“Hehe, then come over here to get it.”
As the Cook said that, the two slowly stood and walked to another place.
Since I hadn’t finished eating yet, I reached for my spoon again.
“….”
Quietly eating soup with rice while glancing at the Gardener’s gaze felt burdensome, and I couldn’t ignore it any longer.
Just when she looked at me, I quickly turned my head to make eye contact.
…Surprised, she quickly turned her gaze in the opposite direction.
“…What, what is it?”
The sudden reaction prompted me to ask.
It undeniably felt like she had something to say but wasn’t saying it!
Leaving her like that would only make it pent up and explode later.
“Uh, um.”
The Gardener hesitated, then checked on the Dragon Slayer and Bell still receiving food from the Cook, and suddenly approached me.
Then, with a series of incomprehensible actions—scratching her head, rubbing a deer mask with her hand, tapping her index fingers together—she finally said,
“…I’m sorry about last time.”
I was left speechless by her sudden apology.
What did I just witness?
Moreover, she seemed quite embarrassed, with her face turning red and fidgeting with her toes.
Everything about it was downright absurd!
“I guess I didn’t consider what you must have been thinking. I forgot that every individual has their own reasons for their actions.”
However, unlike her earlier awkwardness, once she started speaking, her words poured out, reviewing her behavior energetically.
It’s as if the beginning was hard, but the rest wasn’t as difficult.
…Honestly, I was somewhat upset back then too.
But hearing this sincere apology makes me feel like a petty human, and an unexplainable embarrassment washes over me.
“…Including those aspects of you, back then I—”
“Th- that’s enough! I-I get it!”
Not knowing what else she was about to say, I interrupted her because I felt my fingers would start curling like tentacles of a squid if I listened any longer.
But maybe this was where it mattered the most for the Gardener.
She looked considerably troubled, her brow furrowed.
Every living being must vent their frustrations somewhere.
So, the Gardener—
“W-well! That’s that! But I wish you’d listened to me more often instead of ignoring….”
Expressed her thoughts in a loud voice.
“Well, I’m not ignoring you now, am I?”
“Stop joking! You were ignoring me just now, too.”
“What? When?”
But then, the Gardener’s words trailed off as she just mumbled.
Was I ignoring the Gardener?
That wasn’t true at all.
I was closely observing, waiting to see where the voice would come from, so there was no way I was ignoring what the Gardener was saying.
While pondering possible reasons, I finally realized.
Maybe she’s referring to not having a conversation with her while talking to the Dragon Slayer and Bell.
Considering that there were times when I initiated conversations with the Dragon Slayer or Bell first, ‘you didn’t speak first’ would be invalid.
Hmm.
This was certainly due to my slight lack of sensitivity.
However, calling it ‘ignoring’ for something as trivial as this.
Given the Gardener’s usual demeanor, this kind of thing shouldn’t have bothered her.
So I couldn’t resist being a bit playful.
“Oh dear, does our dear Gardener really want to have a conversation with me that much?”
“What’s with that tone!”
“I’m so sorry I didn’t realize! How about a sweet kiss as an apology? Would that make you feel better?”
Caught by the Gardener’s amusing reaction, I teasingly spoke in a slightly mocking tone.
After all, teasing people behaving differently than usual is always a blast.
Naturally, I was bracing for the Gardener’s fiery outburst, anticipating some rapid-fire retort.
“…Hmm.”
…?
“…You said it.”
Approaching me with a serious look wasn’t expected.
Wait, what?
Responding so earnestly to a joke here makes even me feel embarrassed for bringing it up.
Her eyes are getting moist, mysteriously.
Overlapping memories of the Dragon Slayer from earlier, I froze in place.
Caught in the moment, I found myself locked in a silent gaze with the Gardener.
Her brow slightly furrowed as if she had made a significant decision, appearing sincere.
No way, why’s she acting like this?
She wasn’t this type of character before.
What should I do in this situation?
Teasing others like this often only earned glares, leaving me at a loss for response.
Was I really about to fulfill what I jokingly proposed earlier?
“…Since it’s already prepared, it’d be wasteful not to eat it. Wouldn’t it spoil if I didn’t eat?”
“Yes, that’s right. Thank you for enjoying it.”
“Woof!”
As sudden chatter arose, I turned my back to the Gardener, and she leapt towards her utensils.
Whoa, that was close.
The timing was impeccable.
“Human, you haven’t eaten much yet.”
“You don’t have much appetite. Are you alright?”
“…Haha, just savoring the taste.”
I hurriedly shoveled the soup into my mouth at Bell and the Dragon Slayer’s remarks.
However, the Cook’s food gives a boost effect on the body.
If you eat it suddenly and quickly….
“Uh-oh, my head….”
Crash.
“What’s going on!? Snap out of it!”
“Falling unconscious from eating?! Are you alright?”
“Oh my, what to do!”
My vision gradually darkened as a dizzy sensation washed over my head.
Still, what can I say?
Being surrounded by distinctly charming beauties and fainting isn’t a bad experience at all.
#
When I regained consciousness, I found myself waking up on a pile of soft leaves, perhaps placed by the Gardener.
I wondered if it had taken a toll on my body, but as I slowly got up and moved, I felt somewhat lighter.
Still, could there be a limit to gaining strength from the Cook’s food?
It didn’t feel as dramatically empowering as the last time.
“Maybe they returned after I fainted.”
The rapid consumption of the Cook’s food might have been a factor, but summoning them for too long might also have strained my body.
Hmm.
Having summoned the Cook and the Dragon Slayer once, I focused on the oddly noisy sounds filling my mind.
「Wow, there’s a place like this? Fascinating.」
「C-could it really be that you got cozy with this guy here? Such audacity!」
「What are you saying? Cosy, you say… You should be ashamed for even thinking that!」
「Noisy! Fun, woof!」
Seeing the Gardener having fun after such an incident makes me naturally find her incredible.
…If she’s that carefree about it, I should probably brush it off as a passing event too.
Meanwhile.
When Bell and the Gardener squabble verbally, it often makes my head ring slightly.
I should start not minding it so much from now on.
Anyway.
I’ve now enhanced my physical abilities somewhat with the Cook’s food.
It’s time to go.
To the library.
To gather information on the warden.
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