Chapter 64

"……That wasn't… anything like that, okay? ……I'm a beastkin, so when I focus on battle, all sorts of unintended things happen… It's just that, okay?"

"Uh-huh, I understand."

"Besides, you're just a kid, a demon, and younger than me… I don't like that type at all… Make sure you don't misunderstand, okay? ……It would be a bother."

"…Uh-huh, I understand."

Sirene whispered this into my ear in a low voice. After training, Sirene and I were invited to Mianne's house and were led to sit at the table.

Usually, I have a quiet meal with Ines, but when I told her that Mianne had invited us to her house today, she said she would eat somewhere else and left.

Marielle also wanted to come, but… she had to work the night shift again, so she ran off crying.

"…Marielle looked so sad… I wish I could have taken her place."

"She's just being picky about food. It's work, so it can't be helped. Besides, you're the one who was invited today. If someone else had come instead, it wouldn't have made sense."

"…Is that so…?"

"–That's right, Roro. My husband asked me to bring you here. And Sirene, stop spreading weird rumors. Just because you're a beastkin doesn't mean anything comes out when you're in battle mode. It's probably just a lack of training on your part."

"…Pya!"

Sirene made a strange sound as Mianne, who had somehow appeared behind her, pinched her ear.

"Reflect on your behavior. And the food is ready."

With a thud, a large plate was placed on the table by Mianne. It was filled with colorful dishes that I had never seen before.

I couldn't help but let out a sound. ……They looked delicious.

"…C-Can we really eat this…?"

"…What are you saying? If you say you won't eat it, I'll kick you out of the house. Eat it while it's hot. My husband's cooking is the best… I won't forgive you if you leave any."

Sirene, still having her ear pinched, nodded with teary eyes. ……I wonder if she will eat it like that.

"First, let her go, Mianne. That's rude to the guest."

As I was wondering, a low voice came from the kitchen.

"Alright, darling."

"……Da… darling…??"

When Mianne let go of Sirene's ear, Sirene and I looked in the direction of the voice and saw a tall man in a white chef's uniform. He was carrying plates of food in both hands and greeted us with a smile.

"Welcome. You must be Roro and Sirene. I'm the head of this household and Mianne's husband, Lias. Thank you for coming on such short notice today. I wanted to treat you to my cooking as an apology for the inconvenience I caused. I asked Mianne to invite you."

"…Inconvenience?"

Not understanding the meaning of his words, I just looked back and forth between Mianne and Sirene. The man continued while neatly arranging the dishes on the table.

"She might not have told you, but that's the case. Mianne temporarily left your training, right? Actually, it was my fault. I received a call from a friend saying that some good ingredients were available, and I really wanted to go get them myself. So, I selfishly asked Mianne to take care of the children… Normally, that's my job, and I knew you were short on time, so I felt bad."

"It's not a bother at all. I actually found it easier to train without Mianne… Huh…!?"

When Mianne silently stood behind Sirene, her ears and tail stood up.

"Haha, you're honest, Sirene. I can see why my wife likes you. To be honest, the apology for Mianne leaving was just an excuse. I really just wanted you to try my cooking. Especially you, Roro."

"…Me?"

"Yes. So, don't hold back. Eat as much as you want. There's plenty for seconds."

Following his encouragement, I reached for the food on the table.

◇◇◇

The food looked delicious, but the taste was… beyond imagination. Once I started eating, I couldn't stop and finished everything in one go.

"……It was… delicious…!"

…Is it okay to just say it was delicious? But I don't know how else to express it. I think someone said something to me in the middle, but I was so focused that I didn't hear it at all.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I run a restaurant, and this place is also a restaurant. I take care of the children during the day and run the restaurant at night. That's my daily job. The restaurant is more of a hobby, though. There are very few seats, and only a few customers can fit. You probably wouldn't even know it's a restaurant if I didn't tell you."

Indeed, I wouldn't have known this was a restaurant if he hadn't said so. Looking around the room, there was only one table and four chairs.

"…It is a bit small, isn't it…?"

"…You really don't know anything, do you…? Mianne's husband is one of the top chefs in the capital. The restaurant is extremely famous, and people even travel from other countries to visit. Reservations are booked six months in advance, and the cost of a meal is equivalent to what a regular person earns in a year. If the captain of the Hunters is a living legend, then her husband is a legend in the culinary world."

Sirene, who had also eaten a lot and was rubbing her sore stomach, told me this.

"Haha, it's an honor to hear you say that… but it's not really true. My cooking is more of a hobby, and I basically tell people to pay what they feel like… Sometimes, people give me a lot of money, which is probably how the rumor spread. I'm just happy when people come to eat my food, and I'd even let them eat for free if they can't afford it."

At the word "free," Sirene's ears twitched. Mianne, seeing this, silently stood behind Sirene and pinched her ear.

"…I wasn't thinking of eating without paying…"

"Good. Since you earn a decent amount, contribute to our household if you come to eat."

"But, the captain earns several times more…!?"

"That's a different matter."

"Bu-but…!!?"

"Hey, Mianne. Stop it."

"……Alright."

Mianne, stopped by Lias, reluctantly let go of Sirene's ear… but then started touching it again.

"…C-Captain…? Can you let go of my ear…?"

"This is a separate issue. It feels surprisingly good to touch. Let me do this a bit longer."

"Bu-but…!!??"

Lias was smiling wryly at the two of them.

"…I'm sorry, Roro. My wife has had a bit too much to drink. She left the children with her parents to have dinner with just the two of you, so I think she's letting loose a bit. Please be lenient with her."

"…Okay."

Of course, I don't mind… but is it okay for Sirene to be the victim…?

"Well, for them, it's probably just a form of physical affection… I think. Ah, by the way, the reason I invited you here today… of course, I wanted you to try my cooking, but there's another reason. I wanted to talk to you."

"Me?"

"Yes… as a ‘demon.’ ……What do you think when you see them?"

"What…?"

Lias moved closer and looked at Mianne and Sirene, who were now in a tussle.

"…As you can see, they are ‘beastkin.’ They aren't pure-blooded, but in this kingdom of Creis, those with beastkin blood are treated almost the same as humans. But in many other countries, it's different. In such places, even walking around in public isn't well-received, and I've seen many terrible things happen to them. I've seen many unjust killings just because they were born with beastkin blood. Mianne usually wears a hat to hide her ears because of such experiences. We've traveled through many regions to get here, and I've seen and experienced a lot of such things."

"Experienced…?"

"I have some beastkin blood, though it's quite diluted. It gives me a sharper sense of taste and smell, which is great for a chef… but people have different reactions to it. Some are proud, and some are repulsed. I think you probably accept beastkin, but how do you feel about your own blood… the ‘demon blood’?"

–Demon blood. Being a ‘demon.’ I might not have gone a day without thinking about it.

"…To be honest… I don't really know."

"…You don't know?"

"…Yeah. I always thought it was bad, but now… I don't really know."

I always thought being born as a demon was a bad thing. I felt like I was born to be hated by others. I thought it was only right to be hit and kicked. I believed that from the moment I was born, my fate was sealed.

I thought that my existence was more harmful than helpful. I cursed myself along with everyone else.

Because of the blood that flows in me. Because I am a ‘demon.’ I always thought so.

But now… I can't say it's good or bad.

Because someone told me that even as a demon, I could be of help to others. And because Oaken told me about the time when demons were not demons.

"–Haha, I see, you don't know. That's fine."

"…Huh?"

"No, I think it's fine to not have a clear answer. I feel the same way. It's better to admit you don't know than to pretend you do."

Lias said this with a cheerful smile.

"Roro… I heard you're going to Misra. I know it's a tough place for demons. It's even tougher for beastkin… and for demons, it's even worse. When Mianne told me you were going there, I thought you might be giving up. But hearing your answer, I feel relieved."

"…Relieved?"

"Your appetite and the way you eat don't seem like you're giving up on life. It's a bit reckless, but you seem to know what you're getting into and are making efforts to prepare. You're not giving up or seeking revenge. You seem more rational than I thought. That's why I feel relieved."

"…Is that so…?"

"Yes. ……By the way, do you have someone you like?"

"…Huh…? …Someone I like…??"

Caught off guard by the sudden change in topic, I looked at Lias, confused. Sirene, who was being manhandled by Mianne, reacted for a moment.

"…No… I don't… Well, maybe. I don't know what they think, but I think I like them."

–Someone I like.

I don't think I've ever had someone like that in my life. But… for some reason, now I have many people I like. It's strange, but here, there are people who are kind to me. I think I like them.

Nohl and Leen, and Ines too. Of course, Mianne and the Six Saints. I've also grown to like Sirene and Marielle, who trained with me. They treat me without prejudice, knowing I'm a demon. That's why I like them a lot… but she's looking at me with a strange expression while Mianne is touching her ears and tail.

…Maybe I should clear up any misunderstandings later.

"Is it someone close to you?"

"…Yeah."

"Good, that's a good thing."

Lias nodded with a big smile.

"By the way, I love Mianne. I can say I love her the most in the world. Well, if you ask me between her and the children, I don't know… but that's a different story. I love my wife as a woman more than anyone in the world. Even though I'm fickle, I don't think this will ever change."

"…What are you saying all of a sudden?"

Mianne blushed, let go of Sirene's ear, and looked away.

"Having someone you like is a wonderful thing. Even if you don't realize it, it naturally makes you stronger. Not in the sense of being stronger in a fight… but in the sense of being more resilient in life. I think I can never die for the sake of someone important to me, and I want to work hard for the people I like. I think you feel the same way, right?"

–Not dying for the sake of someone you like.

–Working hard for the sake of someone you like.

I've never thought about it that way, but now that he mentions it, maybe that's all it is.

"…Yeah. I think so."

Yes, maybe… I am living for those people. I am no longer alone. I am supported by many people.

–I have to live.

"Haha, then you don't need to worry. You seem to have more than I thought. I thought you were in a very difficult situation… but it seems I was wrong. You are already blessed with many things."

"…Yeah. I think so too."

"Then, even more so… you must come back alive. I like you because you said my cooking was delicious, and I like you even more after talking to you. I want to serve you even better food in the future. Make sure to reserve a table before you go to Misra. I want to serve you the best meal I can."