Chapter 64

Due to the characteristic heavy snowfall of Snow Castle, even with the furnace, the Gardener's Garden just outside the Rondan castle walls is quite a cold place, similar to Vandre Village.

In that sense, the Chef's pork rice soup was an excellent menu choice.

As if to prove this, the moment I put a spoonful of rice soaked in the soup into my mouth:

The rice grains, as if finding where they belonged, beautifully danced in the broth full of meat flavor, warmly enveloping my mouth.

Until the moment of swallowing, the act of moving my jaw became like a dopamine fulfillment, making me chew continuously. And when the food finally went down:

"...Khaa."

I felt a warm sensation spreading from my stomach up to the back of my head.

"...It was delicious before, but your cooking skills have improved tremendously."

"Of course."

The Chef tilted her head with a warm smile.

"I practiced hard because I wanted to see this reaction."

...Seeing the Chef smiling brightly with her hands behind her back made me feel something indescribable, so I cleared my throat to change the atmosphere.

It's a secret that I felt embarrassed, remembering the moment when we were looking at each other closely with her holding my cheeks.

"Well, I thought it might be too common a dish, but it's not bad."

"...For something 'not bad', you've already emptied one bowl?"

"Ugh, th-this is... It's the minimum courtesy towards the Chef who prepared the meal..."

Just say it's delicious if it is.

Watching the Dragon Slayer fumble for excuses after my one jab made me think she's really not honest.

Look, how nice it would be to eat quietly and diligently like Bell.

Of course, I thought it might not be easy to eat rice soup like it was dog food dissolved in water.

"Hiung?"

As if realizing I was thinking about her, Bell looked at me and tilted her head.

Anyway, dogs are too sensitive to human emotions.

...Wait, why am I naturally treating her like a dog?

"Bell, is it delicious?"

"Woong!"

...Use words, you.

I feel like the minimal ethics in my mind are about to break.

"Anyone want more?"

At that moment, the Chef spoke while holding a ladle.

"Me! Me!"

Bell excitedly shouted while holding out her bowl.

"..."

The Dragon Slayer quietly held out her bowl while turning her head to the side.

"Fufu, then come over here to get some."

At the Chef's words, the two slowly got up and walked to another place.

Meanwhile, I was about to pick up my spoon again as I hadn't finished eating yet.

"..."

...I couldn't ignore the Gardener's glancing gaze as she quietly ate her rice soup; it was too burdensome.

When she looked at me, I quickly turned my head to meet her eyes.

...She showed a surprised expression and quickly turned her head in the opposite direction.

"...What is it?"

I couldn't help but question her sudden behavior.

It clearly looks like she has something to say but isn't saying it!

If left like this, it might become a habit and explode unpredictably later.

"Well, um."

The Gardener withdrew what she was about to say for a moment, then after checking on the Dragon Slayer and Bell still getting food from the Chef, she suddenly came close to me.

Then a series of incomprehensible actions followed—suddenly scratching her head, rubbing her deer mask with her hand, spreading both index fingers and tapping them together.

"...I'm sorry about that time."

Her sudden apology made my jaw drop.

What did I just witness?

Moreover, she was blushing as if it was quite embarrassing, and couldn't keep her toes still.

Every single action was a spectacle!

"I think I acted without considering what you might be thinking. I forgot that each individual has a reason for their actions."

But unlike her twisted body language just moments ago, once her mouth opened, words flowed out smoothly as if reviewing her own actions.

Is it just the start that's difficult, and the rest isn't?

...Of course, I was a bit upset at that time too.

But hearing a genuine apology like this made me feel like I was being petty, and I felt an indescribable embarrassment.

"...Including that side of you, at that time I..."

"S-stop! I, I get it!"

I don't know what she was going to say after that, but I cut her off because I felt like my fingers might bend in unnatural directions like octopus tentacles if I kept listening.

But maybe this part was important for the Gardener.

Her brow furrowed as if quite troubled.

All living beings need to release their frustrations somewhere.

So the Gardener:

"F-fine! Let's put that aside! But I wish you'd listen to me a bit. Stop ignoring me..."

She shouted her conviction loudly.

"But I'm not ignoring you now."

"That's ridiculous! You were still ignoring me just now."

"What? When did I?"

But after that, the Gardener just mumbled without being able to continue speaking.

I was ignoring the Gardener?

That definitely wasn't the case.

I couldn't have ignored the Gardener's words because I was constantly on the lookout for where her voice might come from.

As I kept thinking about the possible factors, I finally realized.

Could she be talking about how I only conversed with the Dragon Slayer and Bell, and not with her?

It wouldn't be right to say "You didn't speak first" because there were times when I initiated conversations with the Dragon Slayer or Bell.

Hmm.

This does seem like I lacked a bit of sensitivity.

But to call this "ignoring"...

Considering the Gardener's usual behavior, she didn't seem like the type to get hung up on something like this.

So I couldn't help but feel a bit mischievous.

"Oh my, our dear Gardener! Did you want to talk with me that badly?"

"What's with that tone!"

"I can't believe I didn't realize this! Or should I give you a sweet kiss as an apology? Would you like that?"

For some reason, the Gardener's reaction was funny, so I spoke in a slightly teasing tone.

It's always most enjoyable to tease someone acting differently from usual.

So naturally, I was imagining the Gardener getting furiously angry and giving me a good whack, but.

"...Hmm."

...?

"...Did you really say that?"

She looked up at me saying that?

No, what's this.

If you suddenly take it seriously like this, it makes me, who just said it casually, feel embarrassed too.

And those mysteriously moist eyes on top of that.

Reminded of the Dragon Slayer incident, I froze in place.

I could only stare back at the Gardener without saying anything.

She looked serious, with her eyebrows slightly furrowed as if she had made a big decision.

No, why is she acting like this?

This wasn't her original character.

What should I do in this situation?

I only had memories of getting beaten up when teasing people like this, so I had no idea how to react.

Just as I was swallowing dry saliva, wondering if I might have to follow through on what I just said:

"...I guess it can't be helped since I made so much. You wouldn't want it all to go to waste, would you?"

"Yes, that's right. Thank you for eating so much."

"Woof woof!"

Suddenly hearing the chatter, I turned my back on the Gardener, and she instantly leaped to where her dishes were.

Oh, wow.

That was perfect timing, really.

"Human, you still haven't eaten much."

"You're not eating well. Are you feeling unwell?"

"...Haha, I was just eating slowly."

At Bell and the Dragon Slayer's words, I hurriedly shoveled rice soup into my mouth.

But the Chef's food has the effect of giving buffs to the body.

If you eat it too quickly all of a sudden...

"Oh no, my head..."

Thud.

"Wh-what's wrong!? Get a hold of yourself!"

"Ugh, fainting while eating?! Are you alright?!"

"Oh my, what should we do!"

My head felt dizzy and my vision seemed to be gradually fading to black.

But still.

Fainting while surrounded by beautiful women, each with their distinct personalities, wasn't such a bad experience.

***

When I regained consciousness, I opened my eyes on a pile of leaves that felt as soft as a pillow, probably dropped by the 'Gardener'.

I was worried that my body might have been strained, but when I slowly got up and moved around, I felt even lighter.

But I wonder if there's a threshold to getting stronger from the Chef's food.

I didn't feel as dramatically stronger as last time.

"Did they... go back because I fainted?"

It could be because I ate the Chef's food too quickly, but it might also be because summoning them for too long caused problems for my body.

Hmm.

The fact that the Chef and Dragon Slayer manifested once at my call means...

I focused on the strangely noisy voices in my head that had been there for a while.

"I didn't know there was a place like this? How interesting."

"D-d-don't tell me you lot were here c-cuddling with this man? H-how outrageous!"

"What are you saying! C-cuddling... You're the shameless one for thinking that!"

"Noisy noisy! It's fun, woof!"

Seeing the Gardener playing well despite what happened earlier made me think she was really amazing.

...If she's so carefree about it, I guess I should consider it a passing incident too.

By the way.

Usually, the arguments between Bell and the Gardener would make my head ring once in a while.

From now on, I think I should try to pay less attention to it.

Anyway.

I've enhanced my physical abilities with the Chef's food.

Now let's go.

To the library.

To get information about the Torturer.