Chapter 158: Has It Changed?
I grilled the sausage and nestled it in a hot dog bun. A little overflow is the way to go!
It was a bit late for lunch.
“Anyone who can’t handle spicy food?”
“Me!” En raised his hand.
“Alright, just a moment.”
I added a little mustard and generously spooned on ketchup. I really wish I had a dedicated container for this.
I had chopped onions, pickled cucumbers, and pickled beets prepared at home. Along with that, there was sauerkraut, melt-in-your-mouth cheese, and chili beans.
“Now, go ahead and add whatever toppings you like. It’s best to melt the cheese over the campfire. Adults can help themselves, but be careful with the spicy stuff over here.”
It looked similar to the chopped pickled cucumbers, but this one had jalapeños, so I had to warn them.
I wanted to go for cola, but I settled for coffee. The surface of the bun was lightly crispy while the inside was fluffy, and I piled on the grilled sausage, ketchup, mustard, onions, and pickles until it was about to topple over before taking a big bite.
Pure bliss.
“This is great, so much fun!”
I watched as the kids, being careful, spilled toppings while excitedly assembling their hot dogs, and Dinoss chimed in.
“Easy to eat is nice too.”
“Above all, it’s delicious!”
Chris, back in action, gestured dramatically as always.
“Wow, it’s the first time I’ve seen a spirit eat solid food.”
“Indeed.”
Dean and Ash were fixated on the Ex-Staff.
It seemed that hot dogs had safely entered the junk food category that the Ex-Staff liked. But seriously, what’s up with that mouth? Isn’t it sticking out from the jaw? Is it like a whale shark?
Maybe it’s just my imagination, but seeing it open its mouth wide and take a bite out of a hot dog that was about the size of its own body made me question things.
“Thinking about it calmly, I guess it’s a pretty strong spirit since I can see it and it can’t be cut with a sword.”
But what do you mean by that, Dean?
“The spirit that Jean has, whether it’s that dog or this staff, is quite perplexing.”
“Isn’t it fine?”
“Well, I guess it’s not that different.”
Dean glanced at the butler.
Why is the butler pressing his eyes?
After eating, we planned to explore the area a bit to look for demon beasts, but I was on horse duty for the first half. I brushed Ruta, lightly brushed the other horses, brushed Ruta again, and so on.
“You’re quite diligent, Jean.”
Ash said while brushing his own horse beside me.
Once I finished with one horse, Ruta came up to me with a look that said it was my turn.
“I thought you were a strange one when we first met, but I never expected you to be this attentive. You were so standoffish—well, I get now that it was because of me and my sister.”
Dean, also brushing a horse, seemed to really like animals, just like with Rishu.
The only ones left were Chris and Retze. Meanwhile, the butler cheerfully said, “I’m off to take my frustrations out on some demon beasts,” and joined the advance party.
“I had no intention of holding back right after being freed. Sorry about that; I’m glad we met again in the forest.”
Thanks to my sister, I generally found it hard to trust people.
“You… Even while being munched on by Ruta, you say that? And are you holding back now?”
Dean averted his gaze and ruffled his own hair.
“Nope? I’m just living freely.”
I was currently being playfully nibbled on by Ruta.
“I’m also glad to have reunited with Jean in the forest.”
“Thanks.”
Ash’s straightforward words always made me a bit shy. He had such a serious, intimidating face that it sometimes left me momentarily speechless.
“I’m glad too, even without considering the spirit.”
I muttered, glancing at the brush in my hand.
“Is this… youth, perhaps!?”
“No way, youth is something you get caught up in with age.”
Chris’s voice was louder than Dean’s, as if he was trying to keep it down.
The two of them gathered some herbs that were growing nearby and started sorting them.
“I was just apologizing for being dazed back then. The advance party is back.”
Before Dean could finish, Dinoss and the others appeared.
“We’re back~!”
“Welcome back!”
“Back again!”
The kids rushed over, followed by Shiva and a somewhat tired-looking Dinoss.
“Welcome back, Ash-sama.”
Finally, the butler smiled.
“Feeling refreshed?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good to hear.”
The exchange between master and servant was rather bland, but Dinoss looked at them with a disapproving gaze.
Did something happen, or did the butler do something?
“You’re such a worrywart, Dinoss.”
“Most of it is your fault, you know!?”
“And I didn’t even participate!?”
How unreasonable!