Chapter 458: Souvenirs for Rishu
After filling my belly, I returned to the House, only to have Rishu rush over, sniffing eagerly.
“Rishu, it’s Dragon Meat~!”
I offered a thin slice of meat, opening my mouth wide in a playful gesture.
Since coming here, I’ve learned that cutting meat into thin, even slices is no easy task. Shiva is incredibly skilled at it.
“Is this the tail part? Ah~n!”
Rishu, sitting obediently, had her rear end slightly lifted. With one front paw raised, she was fixated on the meat, mouth agape, looking utterly adorable.
“This one is the shoulder meat, cooked just right.”
I prepared a variety of cuts, following the Haulon and Retze method of serving.
“I see, you really like the meat around the neck and the ribs.”
I had plenty of meat, intending to share it with the meat-loving Earth Folk, but I planned to keep the part that made Rishu the happiest all to myself.
I divided the meat among the Dinoss Family and others, but there was still a lot left. Since only Haulon had [Storage], I could only give a little to the others.
—The Butler’s [Storage] is something else; it seems to have a time dilation effect inside, filled with handkerchiefs, forks, daggers, poisons, and other personal items. The latter examples didn’t quite feel like something a Butler would have, but I shouldn’t dwell on that.
Now, I changed clothes and headed for another bath. The aroma while cooking was delightful, but I was covered in the smell of grilled meat.
After washing my body and hair, I soaked in the bath. It had been quite a labor-intensive day, and my body felt a bit stiff from the unfamiliar work. I was tired, but it felt fulfilling!
“Rishu, look! A bone!”
I held up a massive Dragon Bone.
Before my bath, I had boiled it in a large pot for sterilization. It could be used for weapons, armor, or medicinal materials, but when it came to bones, Rishu was the one who would appreciate it most. I planned to give some to Wanwan later, but I remembered Wanwan preferred meat scraps, so I would dry it or process it somehow.
Rishu, who had been gnawing on a rope like it was her nemesis, approached me. She grabbed the middle of the bone, longer than herself, and carried it off to her favorite spot to chew on it.
She looked so happy, and that was what mattered most. The rope I got from the Earth Folk was something she chewed on whenever she had the chance, but it felt almost like training. The way she chewed on the bone made her look like she was smiling.
After playing with Rishu, I decided to go to bed early. The night was still chilly, and the sheets felt a bit cold when I crawled into bed, but they quickly warmed up with my body heat.
Snuggling in, I said goodnight to Rishu, and that was the end of my day!
Morning came in the blink of an eye. I hadn’t set an alarm, and I could have slept until noon, but Rishu seemed eager for a walk, so I got up.
I strolled through the mountains with Rishu. She would run off to find something, sniffing around, and sometimes scratching with her front paws. Then she would notice I was moving and dash back to me.
After our walk, I tended to the fields a bit and harvested some vegetables. I took more of the outer leaves and thick stems that were technically edible but not very desirable. These would go to the Livestock Shed, where they were popular and disappeared quickly.
The chickens usually peck at the grass in the fields, but they don’t touch the vegetables. However, when I brought them to the shed, they ate them, so they must not dislike them. The goats preferred to munch on the short grass near the waterway or paths, and the former Dinoss Family livestock were quite excellent.
I collected three or four eggs, and for breakfast, I made a bowl of freshly cooked rice topped with a raw egg and a drizzle of soy sauce. The aroma of freshly made soy sauce was simply wonderful.
Yeah, egg over rice is best with freshly cooked rice. The heat from the rice gently cooks the egg just right.
I enjoyed some pickles for crunch and went for a second helping. For the second bowl, I added another egg and an egg yolk. I sprinkled soy sauce and sesame on top, rolled it in seaweed, and took a bite. The added yolk made it rich and easy to wrap up. The crisp seaweed had a delightful fragrance.
I sipped some tea and felt satisfied. I planned to bake macarons or Langue de Chat with the leftover egg whites later. Simple meringue cookies would also be nice.
After indulging in fantasy meat, I felt like a true Japanese person. I was proud of myself for choosing the [Food Storage]. No matter how strong I became, there were still things I couldn’t obtain.
After breakfast, I returned to tending the fields. I was working on cultivating strawberries for the spring. I diligently removed the lower leaves that had withered from the cold and those that had turned red, as they could cause diseases in the strawberries.
For lunch, I grilled Dragon Meat and served it over rice with a drizzle of green onion sauce, creating a Dragon Meat Bowl. I also prepared a salad with pomelo, asparagus, broccoli, and prosciutto.
The combination of fat and green onion sauce mixed together was heavenly when wrapped in rice. The salad had a refreshing tang from the pomelo.
After playing with Rishu, I took a short nap before heading to the Earth Folk’s dwelling, the Black Iron Pit.
“Excuse me. Is Gamri around?”
I called out to a resident who peeked out from the corridor upon noticing me.
Since I often brought requests or materials, it seemed I was well-known among the Earth Folk. Hearing my voice, other residents also emerged into the corridor.
“Soleil of the Island of Water and Stone, Gamri is here.”
“Gamri is here.”
“Gamri is here.”
As I pushed through the crowd, Gamri appeared from deeper within.
The residents parted, repeating Gamri’s words as they stepped back to clear the way.
The residents of the Black Iron Pit all had black hair and beards, making it hard for me to distinguish anyone other than Gamri.
“I brought some rare meat as a treat. How’s the doghouse coming along? Also, did Wanwan enjoy the rope I gave?”
I had requested the Earth Folk to build a doghouse for Wanwan.
“Oh, it’s almost done! But I want to show it to you once it’s finished.”
“I want to show it to you once it’s finished.”
“I want to show it.”
Gamri’s beard made it hard to read his expression, but he seemed to be smiling. Was it a masterpiece he was proud of?