Chapter 304: Kanum’s House
The journey back to Kanum was peaceful, with only a light flurry of snow along the way. As I left, I couldn’t help but ruffle Ruta’s smug face, a result of establishing his dominance among the herd, while I paid the stable owner the compensation fee, sweating a bit from the effort.
In the bustling streets of the Fortress City, I was careful to keep my distance, but the zabuton that had been left behind outside joined me again, making for a comfortable trip.
Though it was just a temporary home, arriving at Kanum’s House filled me with a sense of nostalgia.
“I’ll drop by tomorrow, so enjoy your time alone today,” I called out to Dinoss as he passed through my house, sending him off through the back door.
Just before I closed the door, I heard cheerful voices filled with joy. He really loves his dad, doesn’t he?
After shutting the door, I noticed a slight dampness in the air, likely because I had left it closed for a while. I opened the windows for some fresh air and made my way to the game room on the third floor. Scanning the bed and shelves, I spotted a box containing daifuku! I had seen Rishu this morning, but it had been a while since I had enjoyed Kanum’s daifuku.
“I’m back!” I declared, eager to indulge. Curling up inside the box, it reminded me of mochi being kneaded in a machine.
As I plunged my hand into the box, the zabuton followed suit, diving right in. Zabuton in the box, daifuku in the box, daifuku on zabuton. …Is it okay to pile them up like this? I remember Haralfa being on top before.
But isn’t it a bit cramped in there? Is it better to be snug?
After giving the daifuku some gentle pats and squeezes, I prepared some water for it. I wondered what daifuku’s favorite food might be. Maybe I should bring out some anko later.
While the daifuku drank its water, the zabuton settled by the window, basking in the sunlight. Is that what a Light Spirit does…?
It seemed that both the daifuku and the zabuton were not particularly keen on staying inside. The house might be quiet, but outside, the Spirits were quite lively, and some Spirits preferred being near people.
I began unpacking the items I had tossed onto the table on the first floor. I shoved the dirty dishes into a laundry bag and washed the cookware and fire stand at the well. Any leftover ingredients that hadn’t been touched went into [Storage], while the others were tossed into the soup pot to be eaten today.
I checked the bags of treats I had for Shiva and Tina to ensure they weren’t damaged. I planned to take them tomorrow, so I set them aside on the shelf.
I lit a fire in the fireplace and did a quick clean-up of the house. Speaking of which, the ash was piling up. I lifted the floor near the firewood and hooked the metal ring of the handle onto the fence.
Using Light Magic to illuminate the way, I descended into the basement. The basement served as the pantry, but it also had an ash outlet where the ash from the fireplace would fall. There was a hole at the edge of the fireplace, and when I dropped the ash, it would gather here.
Normally, I would have to scoop the ash into a hemp sack, making a mess, but thanks to [Storage], I could do it without leaving a single handful behind. I checked for any repairs needed and wrapped up. I planned to spread the ash in the field later.
I also took a moment to check the beans and flour to ensure they hadn’t spoiled. I had set them aside for when people came over, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to keep some alcohol as well. Just like Dean and Chris would do.
With that thought, I sent those items to [Storage]. Since I bought them in Kanum, I had no plans to use them. Maybe I should sell them later? No, Chris’s brother might come by again, so I should keep them for disguising purposes.
After finishing my rather unfair cleaning, I was preparing tea when I heard a knock at the back door.
“Gene, welcome back!”
When I opened the door, Tina burst in and hugged me tightly.
“Welcome back, Gene!”
“Welcome back, Gene!”
Baku and En chimed in from either side.
“Mom said to bring these for everyone!”
As Tina said, the kids were each carrying a basket covered with cloth.
“Kidney Pie! And an apple!”
“Meat Pie! And cheese!”
It seemed they had brought over things that only needed to be warmed up. I made sure to adjust anything that might spoil before I left, so I should be fine.
“Thank you!”
“I’ll deliver these! I’ll pass by again on my way back!”
As I took the basket from Tina, she cheerfully dashed off to complete her errand. I opened the door to see her off.
Now then. I transferred the pies to a deep dish with a lid, placed the apples in my own basket, and set the cheese on a plate. I filled the now-empty basket with souvenirs from the Fortress City.
Two wild birds that had been transformed into demon beasts, wrapped in paper. Since Dinoss had carried the wild boar, I opted for the birds. The Dinoss Family would likely have meat for a while.
When the kids returned, they were all smiles, each holding small souvenirs. Ah, I see, the Fortress City has more stylish items like hair ornaments and belts compared to Kanum! I had been completely focused on food.
“This one’s for Tina, and this one’s for En and Baku. I’ll keep this one in the basket for Shiva.”
I handed over maple syrup, walnut syrup, and nuts soaked in maple syrup.
“Thank you, Gene! But the best part is that you came back safe!”
“Thank you, Gene! I missed you!”
“Thank you, Gene! I wanted to see you!”
Another round of hugs followed.
It was a bit ticklish and made me happy.