Chapter 60

"Ren-sama, I'll get ready right away."

"Ren-kun, please wait a moment."

They are both so kind to me. The two of them started preparing their own tasks after calling out to me. Samue-chan took out a chair from the carriage and helped me sit down. Meanwhile, Pio-chan started a fire and seemed to be making something. There was a small stream right next to where the carriage had stopped. Samue-chan prepared water for me to wash my face and helped me rinse my mouth, making sure I was ready for the day.

"Ren-kun, it's ready."

I turned to face Pio-chan, who called out to me. A pot was hanging over the fire, and Pio-chan was slowly stirring it.

"It smells good."

"Yeah. It's a simple breakfast soup, I'm afraid."

Pio-chan handed me a bowl of soup, which I carefully took with my cat hands and peered into. Inside was—

"It looks delicious!"

The soup was amber-colored, with cabbage, dried tomatoes, and dried meat. The dried meat had absorbed the soup and seemed easy to eat.

"Wow, Pio-chan, you're really good at cooking."

"Thank you, Ren-kun. But this is just a basic skill for a knight who goes camping."

"Actually, it would be best to go into town for a proper meal..."

Samue-chan, who said this, was holding a plate with bread.

"It might be difficult to eat without a table, but if you want bread, just let me know."

"Okay, thank you."

Samue-chan handed me a spoon, which I took with my cat hands. I had eaten stew in village homes before, and a spoon is something I can hold with my cat hands. I scooped up some soup with the dried meat and put it in my mouth—

"It's delicious!"

The warm soup had just the right amount of salt, and the dried meat melted in my mouth.

"Isn't the dried meat a bit tough?"

"The meat isn't tough. Plus, it has a good smell."

I reassured the worried Samue-chan. The soup was very delicious, thanks to the flavor of the dried meat. However, the meat wasn't mushy. It had a refreshing flavor, probably due to the herbs used. The dried meat itself was delicious, and its flavor was well utilized.

"Wow, Pio-chan, it's really delicious."

Pio-chan had said it was a basic skill for a knight, but to make such a delicious meal in a short time goes beyond that. As I looked at Pio-chan in admiration, something seemed off—

"Pio-chan...?"

"Haa... Ren-kun is eating... Haa... Ah..."

...Huh?

"Ah... Ren-kun is..."

Something was very wrong. The serious and composed Pio-chan was nowhere to be seen. Pio-chan was breathing heavily and looking at me with a flushed face. To be honest, I'm used to Samue-chan breathing heavily, but Pio-chan's was different. It was more like... moaning. Yes, moaning.

"Haa... Haa..."

Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyebrows were drawn together in a pained expression. Her face looked like she was about to drool. I stopped eating the soup and stared at the changed Pio-chan. Then, Samue-chan shook her head.

"Ren-sama, you shouldn't look."

She changed my body's orientation to hide my face from Pio-chan and said firmly,

"That's a pervert."

"Pervert..."

...I see?

After Samue-chan said that, I peeked at Pio-chan while hiding my face. Pio-chan's face was red, and she was trembling. She seemed to be in shock from Samue-chan's and my words, and she was holding her head.

"A, I... I...!!"

Her body was lightly sweating, and her eyes were moist. Pio-chan seemed to be trying to restrain herself, hugging her body tightly.

"Uuu... I'm not crazy... No, I am. I... Uu..."

She then looked at me intently and, right there, started taking off her armor—

"I never thought I was this kind of person...!!"

And she jumped into the nearby river...

"Pio-chan..."

Why...

"Ren-sama, that's a salmon in heat."

"Salmon..."

"It swam upstream."

...Salmon swim upstream to spawn and then die.

"Samue-chan, Samue-chan"

Surely, Pio-chan's strange behavior was my fault.

"Ren, did I do something strange?"

I was just eating normally, I think...

Feeling anxious, I tugged at Samue-chan's sleeve and looked up at her face. Then, Samue-chan's breath stopped—

"A, impossible, noble. Died from tugging."

—And she fainted.

"...Everyone"

...Rest.

We came here to rescue Caries. We were trying to catch our breath before infiltrating the capital. But now...

An elf fainting from lack of breath and a knight panting and swimming upstream.

It feels like they're using more energy. And I miss someone who would react normally to anything I do...

"Caries-chan..."

If I squint, I can see the large gate of the capital. I thought Leoriga City was bigger than before, but this is even bigger.

It's fitting for a capital. Beyond the high walls, I could see many houses and a white castle. Is Caries in that castle?

—I'm coming, right now!

The comic adaptation of "Heartwarming Otherworld Rebirth Days" has been updated!

This chapter highlights Samue's personality, so please check it out if you're interested.