Dos: Dragon King. Draim: Dos’s son. Gate Guardian Dragon. Bron: A beastman boy. Prada: A Devil Race maid working in Village Five. Erme: A Devil Race maid working under Versa. Beton: A member of the Devil Race who once had a falling out with Gucci.
We stood in a meadow in the dead of night.
The magic light Dos had released illuminated a landscape where the earth had been violently churned up in every direction. There were even massive craters in some spots. A fierce battle must have taken place here. It was a wonder Count Pugyal had managed to survive in such a chaotic environment. Was he actually incredibly powerful? No, his butler had assured me that the Count’s self-preservation instincts were beyond reproach. Perhaps he had navigated the danger through sheer negotiation.
Still, it was an impressive feat.
Now, I had brought along food and cooking utensils—in fact, that was the entirety of my luggage. To be honest, while I had set out to find the missing Count Pugyal, I never expected to be of any personal use in a search-and-rescue operation. I had zero experience tracking people, after all. On top of that, it was the middle of the night. I figured the best I could do was follow instructions and act as an extra pair of hands so I wouldn't get in the way.
That was why I had carried my own supplies on my back; I intended to at least take care of my own meals. But since Count Pugyal had been found safe and sound, I hadn't actually had a chance to contribute.
It was a bit of a shame. No, not being needed was a good thing. I wasn't sad about it. I really wasn't.
And yet... Prada’s stomach let out a loud growl. Apparently, she hadn’t eaten a single thing since morning.
That wasn't good. Not good at all. Even if it was midnight, one had to eat properly. Besides, there was something pleasant about a meal in the great outdoors. There was no desperate need to rush back to the city immediately. Fortunately, I had both the ingredients and the tools right here.
Yes, truly fortunate.
"Let’s eat," I declared.
I spread out my gear and began my preparations. Oh, right—I needed a fire first. Heh. Unlike in the old days, I could start a fire in no time now. I could really feel my own growth.
Wait, it seemed Dos and Draim intended to cook as well. I knew Draim dabbled in the kitchen from time to time, but I wondered if Dos actually knew his way around a stove. He was the Dragon King, after all.
"Beton-san, please, stay seated," I said.
Bron, Erme, and Prada offered to help the three of us, but the dishes weren't so complex that they required a team of assistants.
"No, well, it’s not that... um, aren't you going to interrogate us?" Beton asked worriedly.
Since they clearly had no intention of running away, I didn't see the harm in a small delay. We could listen to their story while we ate.
I continued with the cooking. Eventually, it was finished.
"Sorry it’s just a simple soup," I said, turning to the others. "How are things on your end, Dos?"
"Finished here as well. Village Head, don't give me that look of disbelief. I did my own cooking back when I was young. I can handle at least this much. Draim, how about you?"
"I think it would be better to let the flavor soak into the daikon for a bit longer. I’ll stay here and watch the pot, so please, go ahead and start without me."
"Fair enough. In that case, let’s get the bowls and plates ready."
I looked over at Beton. "Beton-san, sorry to trouble you, but could you grab the bowls and plates from that box over there? Yes, those. Thank you. Now, how many pieces of mochi would you like? Mochi is this white stuff here. Two? You can have three if you want. Hahaha, three it is, then."
I went around the group. "Bron, Dos, Draim—how about you?"
They asked for two, three, and three, respectively.
"Prada? Erme?"
"Three!" "Four!"
"Don’t worry about the quantity. I brought extra in case the whole search party ended up eating together. Besides, we’re going to be pounding fresh mochi soon, so we need to use this up. There’s no need to hold back."
Dos and Draim decided to add one more piece each. Prada asked for three more.
"That’s six in total, you know? Can you really eat that many? Oh, right—you haven't eaten since morning. Six it is, then."
Bron and Erme said they would decide on seconds after finishing their first serving. That worked for me.
"And you, Beton-san? Still sticking with three? Alright. Let me know if you want more."
With that, we began our meal. Since we were outdoors, we had no proper tables or chairs, so everyone found a reasonably sized rock to sit on. I expected Beton to take the best spot for herself, but instead, she called Dos over and insisted he sit there. She seemed to have a deep respect for her elders. She really didn't seem like a bad person.
While I was admiring her manners, I noticed Dos trying to offer the seat to me. He then suggested manipulating the ground with magic to create a table and chairs. He argued it would be better to be sitting close together if we were going to discuss their circumstances. He had a point.
I left it to him, and in moments, a luxurious table and chairs—totally out of place in the wilderness—were completed. They were sturdy enough, but since they were made of earth, I was a bit hesitant to put the dishes directly on the surface. I spread out a cloth I had brought to serve as a tablecloth. I set out bowls of my soup and plates of the stir-fry Dos had made.
Draim’s dish was going to take a bit longer, so the rest of us started. Draim was making simmered daikon. He had to stay by the fire to make sure the low flame didn't go out, so he enjoyed his meal a short distance away.
"Let’s eat."
I tried Dos’s stir-fry. It was delicious. The seasoning was spot on. Honestly, it was a shock. Since the dragons always seemed so overjoyed by the food in the village, I had assumed their culinary skills were roughly on par with the High Ogres' level before they joined us. But this stir-fry was easily as good as what the High Ogres made now. I wondered if they ate high-quality meals back in the dragon settlement.
"No, that’s not quite it," Dos replied.
"Oh?"
"In the dragon settlement—or rather, according to the Laws of the Age of Gods Dragons—civilization and culture must be maintained at the world’s average level."
"What does that mean, exactly?"
"Simply put, the law dictates that we must live a lifestyle common to the rest of the world. If we want a better life, we have to help develop the world itself."
"I see."
"However, if civilization or culture advances too far, it can become dangerous. The Age of Gods Dragons are also in the position of regulating excessive progress. It’s a delicate balance."
I remembered Lu and Dos having a cryptic conversation about that when I built the Universal Ship. But if that was the case, how did Dos learn to cook?
"Well... it’s common for youths to do dangerous things out of curiosity before they officially take up their duties, isn't it? Back then, I thought the laws were nothing but a nuisance."
So, even Dos had a rebellious phase.
"Exactly. Though, given my position now, I rarely get an opportunity like this to cook."
"That sounds rough."
"It is. Especially in the Village of the Great Tree, where the High Ogre maids are always keeping an eye on things."
I laughed. "I don't think they’re watching you, specifically. It’s just that the kitchen is their domain. If you ask properly, I’m sure they’d let you use it. The children would be thrilled to eat something you made."
"They likely would. However, Raimeiren’s mood would sour twice as much in response."
"Is she... not a fan of cooking?"
"Let’s just say she’s good at whole roasts. And how much food you get depends entirely on her mood that day."
I-I see. I made a mental note to ask Ann and the others to discreetly offer Raimeiren some cooking lessons. If she became reasonably proficient, Dos would be able to cook for the children without fear. It would be a win-win.
"Hm? Beton-san, is something wrong?" I asked, noticing her expression. "If you want seconds, I can dish them up right now. Draim’s daikon should be ready soon, too."
"No, that’s not it... um... what happened to the interrogation? Wasn't that why you had the table made?"
I went still.
I... I hadn't forgotten. Really. I was just about to get to that. Hahaha.
...I’m sorry. I forgot.
My apologies for the delay.