Chapter 90

Waking up from a nap on the living room sofa, I found that Reen had served a jelly filled with fruits as a snack. I sat in the child-sized chair set up at the dining table.

It was a jelly made with Mikarin, a seasonal fruit that Vincent had bought at the morning market, a cross between a tangerine and an orange. The surrounding jelly had a subtle sweetness and a delicate, wobbly softness. When I put it in my mouth, the jelly melted smoothly, and the abundant fruit flesh of the Mikarin appeared, offering a concentrated, refreshing sweetness. It was a masterpiece.

...I was so engrossed in the jelly that I hadn't noticed Vincent was nowhere to be seen.

"Mom, where's Vincent-taicho?"

"That person is in the study right now."

Hearing Reen's answer, I returned my attention to the jelly. If it was work-related, I shouldn't disturb him.

Reen is sitting in front of me now, but it seems she has started preparing dinner, so I should help out after I finish eating.

"Mom, it's delicious."

"Really? I'm glad."

"Can I help after I eat this?"

"Sure, that would be a big help."

Reen and I smiled at each other as I savored and finished the jelly. Thank you for the meal!

"What's for dinner tonight?"

"Since we bought fresh fish and mushrooms at the morning market, I thought we could have a vegetable-packed carpaccio and a mushroom potage."

"Wow."

I confirmed the menu for tonight's dinner with Reen as I carried the jelly dish to the sink. Just hearing it made my mouth water. Given how delicious Reen's cooking is, it's a natural reaction.

"Since the preparation for the potage is already done, why don't you help me with the carpaccio, Yuriko?"

"Sure, I'd be happy to!"

I answered enthusiastically, as if I were at some izakaya. I even raised both hands, which made Reen smile.

...I guess I was more starved for female company than I thought in my male-dominated workplace. I'm really being healed by Reen right now...

While occasionally tasting the dishes as a reward, I helped with the simple tasks when Vincent came out of his room.

"Reen, it seems Ru is coming back just for dinner. He's working nearby and should arrive in about an hour."

"Oh dear."

"His master is coming along, so we need to add two more servings."

Vincent handed Reen a crumpled letter.

"Yuriko must have really wanted to see you."

"His master must have agreed readily."

Reen chuckled at the content, and Vincent shrugged slightly.

"In that case, we need to add a main dish. Since tonight's menu is light, it won't be enough for Ru."

"Got it."

Reen immediately checked the ingredients. Before the additional menu was decided, I asked Vincent a question.

"Vincent-taicho, is that a letter?"

"Yes, it's a letter."

"How does it arrive?"

I hadn't seen any mailboxes when we walked around the town. I was curious about how the mail system works in the Magic Continent.

"We use magic birds."

"Magic birds...?"

"They are a type of magic beast, small and cute, about the size of a palm. If you tell them the coordinates of a location or the magic power of a person using magic, they can reach their target accurately. They are used to deliver letters and conduct remote investigations by attaching exploration magic to them.

Most towns have magic bird shops that lend out magic birds, and they are also raised in the Northern Demon King's Castle by the riding beast unit."

"Wow."

So, there are very capable messenger birds. The Magic Continent is impressive, being both analog and cutting-edge.

"Let's add meat to the menu. I bought Holobird meat today, so if we grill it with a special sauce, it should be enough to fill Ru's stomach."

Reen came back after checking the ingredients. Just hearing the additional menu made my mouth water again.

...I had just learned about magic birds, but I was already excited about the chicken dish, which made me realize how much my appetite dominates me.

Reen, who seemed to have finished her work, served coffee to Vincent, who had sat on the sofa. While Vincent started reading a book, I followed Reen and helped her.

The fish for the carpaccio was a white fish similar to sea bream, called Tai. It was a bit lacking in creativity.

I helped by slicing vegetables and mixing the carpaccio sauce while Reen thinly sliced the fish.

...I really need to be taller. It's a real issue.

I know what to do next, but my small body won't let me. It's frustrating to always be in a duckling following a mother duck scenario. Grrr.

Next time, I'll get a Pomuru box. Yes, I will.

While thinking about this, I watched Reen finish preparing dinner.

The special sauce for the Holobird grill was a tomato-based sauce with aromatic vegetables and a hint of demi-glace, giving it a sweet and spicy flavor with a touch of acidity. It's a bit like a pork chop sauce, isn't it?

The meat was marinated in the sauce, then seared in a frying pan to create a beautiful sear. After adding the marinating sauce and bringing it to a boil, the flavor was adjusted with salt and pepper, and then it was removed from the heat to finish in the oven.

This sauce was amazing. It seemed versatile, and I made sure to get the recipe.

Once the preparation for the Holobird grill was done, it was time to prepare the mashed potatoes.

They were sprinkled with parsley-like leaves, making them look like puffed potatoes.

Oh, this is definitely going to be delicious with the sauce.

I spread the potatoes on the plates that were set on the table, sitting in a chair to divide them. One of the five plates was smaller for me, and the other four were about twice the size of the others, giving me a sense of déjà vu.

"Ru is still in his growing phase, so he can easily finish this much. In fact, he'll probably need seconds."

"...Like my brother."

"Your brother?"

"The youngest member of the cooking unit. He's about fifty years younger than Ru."

"Ah, so he's one of Yuriko's older brothers. Given how delicious the food at the Northern Demon King's Castle is, it makes sense that a boy his age would eat a lot."

Reen tilted her head when I said this, but she understood when Vincent joined the conversation with a laugh.

I finished serving the potatoes.

The leftover portion is for seconds. I get it.

"Once Ru is almost back, we'll do the final touches. Thank you for your help, Yuriko."

"I'll help again."

"You're so reliable. How about I ask you again?"

"Sure!"

After clearing the dishes in the sink, Reen announced that the preparations were complete. Then, Vincent, who had been reading, beckoned me with a finger. When I approached, I was placed on his lap.

"Since it's a rare day off, let's spend time together until dinner."

Vincent moved aside the book he was reading and brought out three picture books.

"Is there any story you know?"

Vincent asked, but all the titles were unfamiliar. I shook my head, but the keywords like "princess" and "adventure" in the titles suggested they were classic fairy tales of the Magic Continent.

"Let's find a fairy tale that Yuriko likes."

And so began the enchanting storytime.

...Vincent's voice was amazing even here.