Chapter 102: A Long-Awaited Dinner Table
There’s not much time, so let’s keep it simple.
First, I prepare a few small pies. The pie crust is pre-made. I cut the dough into squares and just throw on some pre-prepared fillings, rolling or folding them as needed. Once that’s done, I shove them into the oven.
Next, I guess I’ll whip up some pinchos using the leftovers. No one here will know if I insist on calling skewered food pinchos.
I alternate threading tomatoes and mozzarella onto skewers, drizzling them with salt and olive oil. I pull out some marinated items from jars—octopus and bell pepper, and oysters.
As I’m busy skewering, Dinoss and the others return.
“Hey, something’s up next door,” he says.
“Is that so?”
“I was surprised to see how much better the house and furniture got while I was holed up in the countryside.”
Shiva beams with a smile.
“Well, compared to the inn…”
“The room is so cute!”
“Two stacked beds!”
“I want the top one!”
Dinoss starts to say something, but is drowned out by Tina and the twins.
Tina’s room just has a pink patchwork cover on the bed, but it seems to be a hit. I thought the twins might feel lonely in a separate room, so I set up a bunk bed. The beds can be separated, so it’s fine if they want their own space.
“Alright, it’s done. You can take the bed and bedding even if you don’t live next door.”
I carry the plate of pinchos into the room with the oven and table.
“Yay! Gene’s cooking!”
“It looks as delicious as ever!”
“Dinoss, if you come down from there, the storage room is right below, so grab any drink you like.”
“Got it!”
Dinoss, who seemed a bit dissatisfied, perks up at the mention of alcohol.
The round hatch on the floor near the stacked firewood opens up to reveal a staircase. I can prop the hatch open with a latch to keep the firewood from collapsing.
“Here, candles. You four can pick out cups from there.”
Dinoss cheerfully descends the stairs.
Shiva keeps taking cups down from the shelf, showing them to the kids, then putting them back.
I grab a random plate from the shelf and place the pies on it. This room is right off the entrance, and the upper shelf along the wall displays the dishes. The lower shelf is just tools and such.
Since the fireplace and oven are here, it’s half kitchen. While everyone is happily picking out cups, I finish preparing the tea.
“Alright, tea people, bring your cups!”
“I’ll take this one!”
“I want this one!”
“Hmm! Pink!”
“Hehe. Thank you for preparing this for us too, right?”
En picks a light blue cup, Baku chooses a blue one. Their cups match their hair colors. Tina picks a pink cup with the same shape and pattern as the twins’, while Shiva holds a cup of the same shape and pattern but in a different size.
Maybe they were being considerate, but they chose the cups just as I hoped.
“Is Dinoss’s cup too big? I can’t let him drink alcohol from this.”
Shiva brings over a cup for Dinoss but tilts her head slightly.
“You can pick a separate one for alcohol.”
I say while pouring the tea. With Dinoss’s drinking habits, he definitely won’t go against his wife!
“It smells so good~”
“It smells sweet too!”
“Dad’s not here yet!”
The kids keep glancing at the freshly baked pies.
“Hey, sorry to keep you waiting.”
Dinoss returns, cradling a jug of red wine.
“Alright, let’s dig in.”
After a short prayer to the Spirits, the family begins to eat at Dinoss’s signal.
“So sweet!”
Tina bites into a small open tart topped with apple compote, her face lighting up with joy.
“Hot! It’s spilling! This is delicious!”
Baku exclaims as he eats the shrimp gratin pie, just as the white sauce oozes out from the pastry.
“Delicious. It stretches!”
En enjoys a sausage and cheese wrap. Looks like the kids went for the warm dishes first.
Dinoss and Shiva are happily sipping wine while snacking on the pinchos.
“It’s stylish and easy to eat.”
“It’s tasty! Really tasty, but hide it, for real!”
Ah, yeah. Tomatoes, mozzarella, eggplant, and all that.
“Since your wife’s cooking is so good, I have no choice but to compete with rare ingredients and sweets.”
“Oh, thank you. I love Gene’s cooking too.”
No, really, Shiva’s cooking is mysteriously delicious. It has a gentle and warm flavor.
“By the way, is the condition for that thing in the attic?”
“Yeah. You caught on quickly.”
“Hehe. The dungeons I used to explore in abandoned castles were just like that.”
Dinoss winks proudly.
“The one who found it was Mom.”
Tina spills the beans.
…It seems there’s a suspicion that Mom is stronger as an Adventurer.