Chapter 630: Affection
Well then, time to prepare lunch for eight people.
For now, I’ll make both Japanese and Western styles. Since we’re heading to a place that looks cold both in temperature and appearance, I’ll go for warm meals instead of cold bento.
The privilege of [Storage] comes in handy.
For the Japanese style, I’ll include meat-wrapped rice balls on skewers, inarizushi, tamagoyaki, tulip karaage, shrimp tempura, and fried chicken wrapped in spring roll skin with shiso and cheese. There’ll also be broccoli with salt koji mayonnaise, sweet vinegar pickled lotus root, and a salad of tuna and edamame. For the meat lovers, I’ll add some braised pork belly.
Hmm, the flavors of the staple and the braised pork belly might clash a bit?
I’ll switch the meat-wrapped rice balls to bamboo shoot mixed rice shaped into a ball and wrapped in nori. If it seems like there’s not enough meat-wrapped rice balls, I can always bring them out.
What about the Western style? Everyone drinks, right? I guess I can stick to the usual party menu for this.
I’ll prepare two types of bread: sliced baguette and dome-shaped rye bread. I’ll toast them and turn them into bruschetta and canapés. By the way, the difference between the two seems to be whether you spread olive oil and garlic on the surface.
I’ll prepare toppings separately so everyone can choose. Small omelets that fit on the bread, tomatoes and basil, sweet red bean paste with butter, avocado dip, liver paste, and jam.
I’ll make several types of pinchos: cream cheese with salmon, prosciutto with camembert, gizzards with grilled green onions, and zucchini with bacon. The last two will be served hot, along with a warm vegetable soup.
I should also prepare meat sandwiches for Dean and Dinoss, who will want something hearty. For Ash, I’ll make a fruit and banana omelet.
I have plenty in [Storage] so I don’t really need to make everything from scratch, but I can’t help myself. Even though I know what I pull out from [Storage] is freshly made, it still feels like time has passed since I made it. That’s just how my memories of cooking work.
Having a lot of food is a good thing; you never know when you might get thrown into survival mode again.
Oh, but if that happens, would both [Teleportation] and [Storage] be taken away? I doubt that these two, along with [Severance], [Liberation], [Hero Slayer], and the ‘Food Storage’ are protected by the Gods.
Since the Gods have become my retainers, I think anything derived from their attributes or abilities should be safe. I don’t think I’ll suddenly lose access to them.
As for the ‘House,’ I think it’s fine since I built it with materials from this world. The toilet should be okay too, with Ish, who governs water, and Rudil and Pal, who govern the earth, around. …I want to believe it’s fine.
—Should I memorize a few Fairy Paths in case I lose [Teleportation]?
I’m diligently moving crops from the ‘Food Storage’ to the field, so I think I can secure most things. I just need to go find land where soybeans can grow.
I still don’t fully understand, but I know they’re there. They definitely exist. There are beings involved in the rise and fall of many nations, possibly even swapping places with Namina. There’s a reason the mailmen whisper to each other.
I don’t intend to be hostile, but I can’t predict how they might view us.
Cooking while lost in thought. It’s fine; even if I make too much, I can just put it in [Storage]. [Storage] is too convenient, and I don’t want to lose it. I wonder what kind of Spirit’s Power [Storage] is?
Are there warehouse spirits? Maybe I should sneak into someone else’s warehouse. The mailman’s warehouse is probably special, and Karn’s treasure vault seemed to have a lot of security measures against intruders…
Did they exist? Warehouse spirits.
I feel like spirits related to buildings or items have more influence. Even my tower is managed by the blue lizard along with the warehouse.
For now, the bento is ready! I’ll put the bento in a box and use it as a table. The lid can double as a tray.
The picnic sheet made of lizard skin is good to go! This one is double-layered with cotton stuffed in between. The area of the ‘Land of Ruin’ I’ve been to has a lot of gray stones, giving it a gray stone impression.
Is the island itself mostly made of gray stone? How did they grow crops there? I’d like to know what kind of country it was before its ruin. Plus, those stones are damp.
So, I’ve prepared a waterproof cushion sheet.
The ghost-repelling lantern is also ready. I’m keeping a spare for Ash. I’ll also prepare several sheets of parchment with magic circles drawn on them—since Haulon in my head looks a bit sour, I’ll increase that number to several dozen.
“Gene, what are you doing?”
While I was drawing the magic circles, Mishto approached. She probably noticed I was channeling the Light Spirit’s power into the magic circle I was creating.
“Oh? Do you need the power of our retainers?”
As proof, Haralfa also came over.
Even though I say I’m channeling power, it’s just that I’m mixing the ink with my hand.
“I’m drawing magic circles for ghost prevention because I’m going to look for the Traveler’s Stone in the ‘Land of Ruin.’” I’m making a type that can be activated at any time by attaching a magic stone.
I don’t think there are many ordinary spirits willing to lend their power to humans in the ‘Land of Ruin.’ Besides, I’m not using it; it’s mainly for Retze.
“Ew. That black spirit over there is all slimy and gross~~” Mishto exaggeratedly recoiled.
“…That one doesn’t strongly resist, but it tends to wrap around you again before you know it, so be careful of your feet on the ground and the shadows on your body. Otherwise, it’ll become a hassle. Here, let me help you a bit.”
Saying that, Haralfa stuck her fingers into the ink pot she had been dipping her arms into.
“Then I’ll help too!”
Saying that, Mishto reached out with both hands toward the parchment I had prepared and sent her power with a cheerful “Hey!”
“Thank you.”
That’s a big help.
—Huh? Wait, could this be something I’ll get scolded for? —Well, they’re doing it out of goodwill, and it’s better to be safe than sorry, right? Yeah.