Chapter 332: At the End of the Day
After returning from the Forest, we held a lively banquet on the second floor. Before that, everyone’s favorite—Katsu Curry—was served, along with the carrot soup that Dean despises.
I called Dean and Chris over. The two froze when introduced to Haulon.
“Finally, even the Great Mage… If we could just call the Ice—” Dean almost slipped and said “noble lady,” but caught himself. He’s being considerate, huh?
Dean’s favorite adventure tales are from before Balmoa got married. But since he’s a huge fan of Balmoa, he avoids calling her the “Ice Noble Lady” in front of Dinoss. After all, once she’s married, she’s no longer a noble lady.
Shiva herself enjoys being called “wife” and seems to dislike her past as a noble.
“What an unusual aroma, isn’t it? I thought it might be similar to Es’s cooking from the smell, but it looks different,” Haulon remarked as he faced the spread of curry.
“Oh, Katsu Curry! Katsu Curry!”
“It’s an addictive flavor!”
The two, who had been tense, perked up at the sight of the curry. Don’t forget to eat the carrot soup too!
Dishes like paella and fried rice were well-received, but the two were not fans of plain rice. They complained about not understanding the purpose of tasteless rice, but after trying the Katsu Curry, they changed their minds. It seems they couldn’t quite appreciate the subtle sweetness of the rice.
“You’re accepting this strange meal, huh?” Haulon sighed, and I could almost hear the unspoken thought: “How simple-minded.”
“Mmm, delicious.”
Even so, he couldn’t help but express his thoughts after taking a bite.
He’s not picky about food, as long as he fills his stomach, but it’s a relief to see he can appreciate the taste.
“Seconds!”
“Wow, that was fast!”
Dean, who treats curry like a drink, had already finished.
“Me too.”
Dinoss was quick as well.
“…”
Karn silently lifted his plate.
Kanum’s House had restrictions on spirits, limiting them to the level of the small ones by the fireplace, but I decided to ease the rules a bit in the kitchen and the second floor here—just a little, to influence the cooking.
After the meal, we had a lively drinking party, and Haulon showcased his impressive skills with strong sake.
“How can you handle that!? Superpowers!?”
“No, I’m just normal. It’s Gene who’s out of sync.”
Right now, Retze was the one getting tangled up.
I got caught up too, but since I remained sober despite being forced to drink, it seemed less amusing to them, and the focus shifted. Dinoss, Dean, and Chris were already out for the count.
“I just based my perception of your actions on my normality.”
“Why aren’t you shaken by that!?”
“My shock has already happened.”
Every time Retze emptied his glass, Haulon filled it again, creating a never-ending cycle. By the way, if I stopped drinking, I’d be kissed, so I had no choice but to keep going.
Eventually, Haulon succumbed, and we wrapped things up early today. We had been drinking at quite a pace.
“What should we do with this?” I said, looking at the sprawled figures on the floor, faces pressed against the table.
“Is it alright to just leave them like this?”
“I’ll keep the fire going.”
The Butler and Karn both opted to let them stay as they were.
Well, the second floor has wooden flooring, and as long as I keep the fire going, it should be fine. I took out a down comforter from [Storage] and covered them up.
“Alright, I’ll leave it to you. Good night.”
I teleported back to the house where Rishu was waiting.
Rishu rushed over, sniffing the air. Sorry for the smell of alcohol. I let Rishu sniff until he was satisfied, then we played together.
Our nighttime indoor games usually involve me hiding things for Rishu to find or tug-of-war with a rope. The tugging game always ends with me making him let go.
The rope is a special one I made. Still, it tends to fray quickly. Rishu’s pulling strength has increased, and while I’m strong enough to handle it, the rope doesn’t fare as well.
I’ve made plenty of spares, but it’s frustrating when one breaks just as we’re getting into the fun. Currently, I’m searching for stronger materials for the rope. —I’m just glad Rishu is full of energy.
After that, I took a bath, drank some milk, did a bit of Spirit Naming, and then it was time for bed.
The bed was soft yet firm, and the sheets felt smooth against my skin. As the comforter warmed up with my body heat, sleepiness quickly washed over me.
Before drifting off, I glanced at Rishu, curled up in the basket beside me, and felt a wave of happiness. Today was another fun day.
I hope my friends, who spent the day with me, are also falling asleep in good spirits. —Well, considering they were knocked out by alcohol today, that might be asking too much.