Chapter 257
What he found .
“Vector, what are you so panicked for?”
(T, there’s a problem!)
Vector, who is nonchalant even when running, was unusually out of breath .
“I understand that there’s a problem, alright . What is the problem, though?”
(You see! There’s a place you can’t enter over there!)
“A place you can’t enter?”
(Yea! I could saw the scenery inside, but when I tried to enter——bam! There seems to be an invisible wall!)
If Vector is right, although it is certainly strange, I cannot say for sure that it is a problem .
“How curious~ But, now’s not the time . ”
(Why!?)
(Right~ The sun will be setting down soon, after all~)
I would love to go check it out right away, but I don’t want to enter this mysterious place when it’s dark outside .
“Vector, did you feel something harmful or malicious there?”
(N? Erm… no, I did not feel anything malicious whatsoever?)
“Then we don’t need to be in a hurry . If that’s so, let’s go there when it gets brighter . ”
“”Not going~?””
“We will . Let’s save it for tomorrow, though . ”
“”Got it~””
We could also leave the forest, but I think we should go check it out . I’m quite curious about it .
“That being the case, I will go prepare dinner . What would you like to eat, everyone?”
“”Meat~””
Oh, it’s not the usual bread or sweets request today .
“A meat dish, huh . Then, sukiyaki… you wouldn’t understand what I mean . How about a sweet and salty Armored Buffalo meat with vegetables?”
“”Wanna eat!””
(((((Want to eat that!)))))
Everyone agreed, so I started right away .
The ingredients are thin slices of Armored Buffalo meat, a vegetable resembling a white-stalked green onion, and a Chinese cabbage-like green called whitebagge . Next is rook mushrooms, and shii mushrooms . It’s unfortunate that I don’t have any shirataki and tofu, but there’s nothing I can do about it .
After cooking the green onions and meat, I put in the sukiyaki stock I made with sugar and soy sauce, then I added the cabbage, mushrooms and cooked everything well together .
Which reminds me, the only beef-like meat I have gotten my hands on so far is the Armored Buffalo . I wonder if I should try looking for another cow-monster?
“”Smells nice!””
(Yeah, yeah . )
(Quickly, quickly . )
Allen, Elena, Joule and Vector were fidgety when I started cooking .
“Just a little bit longer . All that’s left is…”
I cleaned the eggs using light magic’s Purification spell . Even though I keep freshly picked eggs on me, I’m a little worried about eating raw eggs as they are .
I cracked the eggs into the pot and lightly broke them up, then I divided the meat and vegetables into the bowls .
“Alright, it’s done~”
“”(((((Yay~)))))””
As soon as I handed it out to the kids, they all started eating at once .
“”Nn~~~””
(Oniichan, this is yummy!)
(The meat and veggies soaked in a sweet and salty sauce are delicious~)
(Aniue, I love this . )
(Me too! This is delish!)
(It’s very tasty!)
Oh, it’s very popular . When it came to Allen and Elena, they were eating in silence, seemingly eating too busy to speak out their impressions .
N~ but I would definitely want udon noodles . Come to think of it, I never made them . Erm… udon is just wheat flour, salt, and water, right? I’m not going to make it now, but let’s do it next time .
◇ ◇ ◇
When the meal was over and we were preparing to go to sleep, I felt a presence approaching us from the front .
“… It’s not a monster, is it?”
(Yeah, that’s a person, I think?)
——Hearing the sound of footsteps approaching, we were a little cautious .
“Good evening . ”
“… Good evening?”
It was an elderly gentleman . He looked suspicious in his gray-hooded robe, but for some reason, I couldn’t feel wary of him . Moreover, he greeted us so refreshingly .
“It looks like you are getting ready to sleep, but won’t you come over to my house? I can’t say it will be more comfortable as it’s not that s.p.a.cious, but at least you can sleep under a roof?”
“House?”
“It’s right there by the barrier . That red child was there during the day . ”
It seems that the invisible barrier Vector found was created by this person . And this person seems to have a house inside .
“Err… why did you come to invite us?”
“I observed you guys for a little, and you seem like an interesting bunch . Plus, I’ve got a few questions to ask you . ”
“……”
It appears that we were being observed .
However, what is interesting about us? The kids and I were only picking berries and we ate dinner, nothing else, no?
“… Guru . ”
“What? You came out too, Claudia?”
While hesitant to reply, a black panther slowly walked out from the direction the eldery man came from . It snuggled up to the old man .
“Is that child your familiar?”
“Yeah, that’s right . Which reminds me, I have not introduced myself yet . I’m Oswald . A retired old man who lives in this forest . And this child is called Claudia . ”
When the senior introduced himself, he took off his hood, revealing white hair and long ears .
… Oswald-san? Erm………… ah, I thought it sounded familiar, but there’s a person among the Guardia Knights with the same name~
“”Oh, ears are so long~!””
When I appraised the senior, I realized that he was an Elf . Moreover, he had no Dark magic in his skills, so that black panther wasn’t a contracted beast, but a normal familiar . The senior is probably a tamer .
Moreover, he’s 421 years old! He’s the oldest person I have met so far! Ah, aside from Kaiser!
“Is this your first time seeing an Elf?”
“That would be so . ”
I’ve met Andy-san and Kana-san who are humans with Elven appearances because of their mixed blood, but this is my first time seeing a pure-blood Elf . Uhh… if I’m not mistaken, then the average lifespan of humans over here is 80 years, while the average lifespan of Elves is around 500 years .
“So, how about it? Will you accept my invitation? Ah, of course, your familiars are most welcome as well . It’s just the red child won’t fit unless he gets smaller like he was during the day . ”
“What do you want to do, guys?”
The senior——Oswald-san, was very calm and gentlemanly, and neither Allen, Elena or the rest of the kids showed vigilance against him .
“”Nniyu?””
I asked everyone what they thought, but Allen and Elena didn’t seem to understand the situation .
(Isn’t it fine?)
(Right . If we can let Allen-chan and Elena-chan sleep under a roof, that would be for the better, I think . )
(Indeed . I also think we should go . )
(Ehh~ I want to sleep together~)
(You just have to turn small, Vector! I agree, too!)
Joule and others gave their opinions in turn .
As a result, four were in favor . One opposed .
“Then, we will be in your care . Ah, I’m adventurer Tak.u.mi . ”
Going by the majority vote, I decided to accept Oswald-san’s invitation to his house, and introduced myself and the kids .
“I see, thank you for accepting my invitation . Then, Tak.u.mi-san, please follow me . It’s this way . ”
“Yes . ”