Chapter 4

Just to be safe, I asked the slime.

"Um, until we find your master, can you stay at my place, okay?"

'It’s fine.'

It seems to be fine. So, for the first time in my life, I’m going home with a slime companion.

When I opened the gate to my house, a duck flew over.

"Uwah!"

It was a high flight, enough to clear the gate. I thought ducks couldn’t fly...

Moreover, if it can fly this well, it could escape anytime.

Probably it can but chooses not to.

I’m glad it likes it here and has decided to settle down, considering the neighborhood.

I gently pet the duck that was cawing and following me around. When I gave it some thinned-out carrots from the field, it happily ate them.

I’ll make cheese gratin for lunch.

First, I need to decide where to put the slime.

"Hey, you—oh. I haven’t even asked your name."

Slime is a species name, like calling a human "human."

Since we can communicate, it’s better to know your name.

I peered into the basket where the slime was. When I poked it, it opened its eyes with a snap.

"Can I ask your name?"

'My name is Purrurun.'

"Purrurun... It’s quite a straightforward name."

It’s not good to let it introduce itself one-sidedly. I should introduce myself too.

"I’m Fransette."

'Fran.'

"Fransette!"

'Fru!'

It seems it can’t remember long names. Well, that’s fine.

Now that I know your name, I’ll ask a question.

"Purrurun, do you have a place where you can relax or feel at ease?"

'Bath!'

"Oh, I see, the bath."

I immediately led Purrurun to the bathroom and turned on the magic stone faucet to fill the bathtub with water.

Purrurun happily jumped into the water.

'Ah, so comfortable, so comfortable.'

"What does 'comfortable' mean?"

'I don’t know.'

"Oh, I see."

For now, I’ll leave Purrurun here.

I’ll make cheese gratin using the potatoes I harvested in the morning.

This is a standard menu I used to make at the orphanage.

First, I thinly sliced the potatoes and sautéed them in butter. Next, I added butter and flour to a pot, gradually adding milk and simmering it. When it thickened, the white sauce was ready.

I arranged the potatoes in a gratin dish, sprinkled black pepper, covered them with the white sauce, and generously sprinkled cheese on top before baking it in the oven.

When the surface turned a nice golden brown, the cheese gratin was complete.

The cheese gratin I used to eat at home had truffles, but this is simple and delicious in its own way.

I added a salad made from thinned-out carrots from the garden and white bread from Sorin, making a proper feast.

I ate the gratin while it was hot. When I scooped up a potato with a fork, the cheese stretched out. The potatoes coated in the white sauce had a creamy flavor. It was undeniably delicious. I cooled it in my mouth and kept eating.

Halfway through, I started eating the white sauce on top of the bread. It’s a combination of flour and flour, but it’s incredibly delicious.

After eating until I was full, I took a short break.

Before that, I needed to check on Purrurun. I heard a 'kyaa' and was startled.

When I peeked into the bathroom, Purrurun was floating and sinking in the bathtub with a big smile. It looked so happy, so I left it alone.

After a short break, I started making sweets to take to the orphanage in the afternoon.

The children’s favorite, "Sighs of the Nuns."

To put it simply, they are bite-sized fried doughnuts.

The name comes from the fact that the nuns had to make so many that they sighed—apparently, this is a later addition.

The real name is "Farts of the Nuns."

I don’t know the details, but it’s a snack that was created because of a nun’s fart.

I heated milk, water, melted butter, salt, and sugar in a pot. When it boiled, I turned off the heat and added strong and weak flour, mixing them.

When the dough came together, I added beaten eggs and kneaded it with a wooden spoon.

When the dough became sticky and slime-like, I transferred it to a piping bag.

I squeezed the dough into the heated oil. When I’m in a hurry, I cut it off with a knife.

The dough sizzled as it fried.

When it turned a golden brown and floated in the oil, I scooped it out.

After draining the oil and sprinkling sugar, the "Sighs of the Nuns" were complete.

I tried one.

The outside was crispy, and the inside was fluffy. It’s a simple and delicious treat.

I was planning to give it to the children tomorrow, but freshly fried is definitely better.

I decided to take it to the orphanage now.

I called out to Purrurun.

"Purrurun, I’m going out. What do you want to do?"

'Hmm, I’ll stay and guard the house.'

"Okay, thanks."

'Okay.'

A slime that can guard the house—how competent.

I went out the back door and headed to the orphanage. I handed the sweets to the sister at the gate.

"Oh! 'Farts of the Nuns'! They look delicious."

"Sister, they’re 'Sighs of the Nuns.'"

"Oh, right. I tend to use the name the children use."

I wanted to see the children’s faces, but the sister stopped me.

"It’s better if you go home quickly. Some bad men are looking for someone."

"Oh, that’s scary."

"They say a rogue touched a merchant’s wife."

"Oh, that’s terrible. Divine punishment."

"Indeed."

I’ll play with the children another time. In situations like this, it’s better to go home quickly, take a bath, and go to bed early.

"Sister, see you later, have a good day."

"Yes, have a good day."

I hurried home.

Purrurun seemed to have been a good guard.

"Hey, Purrurun, can I use the bath? I’ll fill it with water for you later."

'Can I take a bath?'

"Yes."

'Warm, splash, scrub?'

"Yes."

'I can do it.'

"Can you?"

Purrurun’s color changed from transparent to red. A magic circle appeared on the surface of the water, and it instantly turned into hot water.

'How’s the water?'

"It’s good."

'Yay!'

A slime that can heat water—what a genius idea.

Did Purrurun’s master teach it this?

'Water is heated and cleaned.'

"Oh, right. Thank you."

I was about to get into the bath without any hesitation, even though the slime had been in it.

Monsters are a breeding ground for bacteria. I had forgotten about it.

I believed the slime when it said it cleaned the water and got in.

I placed a bucket of water in the changing room, but Purrurun was still in the bathtub.

"Um, Purrurun, can I get in with you?"

'It’s fine.'

"Then, I’ll join you."

I took off my clothes and entered the bathroom. First, I washed my body.

The moment I reached for the soap, it disappeared.

"Eh!"

'Bubbles!'

I looked in the direction of the voice and saw Purrurun vigorously making bubbles with the soap.

'I’ll wash you!'

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, 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