I started exploring in the afternoon during
midnight snack time, but when I returned, it was around lunch time.
Even though I was up all night, I was moving all day.
In the dungeon, I couldn’t feel the fatigue properly because I was nervous, but when I returned, my whole body felt heavy at once.
“Today is a break… Everyone suffered… … .”
When the dispersal order was issued, all party members fluttered and scattered. Just like jellyfish.
Lucas and Evangeline are staying in this mansion. Damian is in the temple and Jupiter is in the mercenary guild.
I called a coachman and instructed him to drive Damian and Jupiter to their lodgings.
“Whoah, should I get some rest too… .”
Staggering, I headed for my room in the mansion.
I have to sleep until evening, eat, and do some work… … .
***
However.
“… .”
When I woke up from bed, the whole world was already dark.
Checking the clock, it’s 3:00 in the morning. It’s already midnight.
“Sleeping until evening is an asshole.”
I passed out in ancient times.
I wanted to sleep well until morning because it happened like this, but I couldn’t sleep because I was hungry.
‘Let’s organize the items I got yesterday.’
I put my hand in my inventory.
No need to look at other items. You only need to look at the additional items you get as bonuses.
First of all, the ‘Blue Flame Torch’ received as a reward for clearing all zone 2.
Flickering –
A blue torch that ignites itself as soon as it is taken out of the inventory.
It’s not a big deal, it’s a torch ‘that doesn’t go out no matter what’.
No matter how strong the wind blows, even if it is hit by spray, this fire will not be extinguished.
The dungeon exploration in this game is not a bad item because you always have to fight the darkness.
‘It doesn’t mean much more than that… … .’
would be better than nothing I yanked the blue flame torch back into my inventory.
It’s not like burning something else inside, right?
Then unexpectedly really good income. This is an item obtained by completely destroying parts of a boss monster.
I took out a glowing blue magic scroll from my inventory.
[Summoning Scroll: Giant Steam Golem < Player Skill >]
“I thought this would float… .”
Summoning magic, a player skill. Among them, it is an item that makes it possible to summon a boss monster.
It’s disposable, but it’s really, really useful.
That I can make the big golem boss I met on free exploration as my subordinate.
I didn’t have to save it, so I started registering my skills right away.
[Do you want to use ‘Summon Scroll: Giant Steam Golem’?]
– Yes/No
Yes!
Roaring!
When I chose Yes, the scroll burned with blue flames, and blue particles flowed out of the remaining flames and permeated my body.
[Ash (EX) acquires player skill!]
> Summoning Magic: Giant Steam Golem (1 time only)
“Good.”
Stock up well and use it as a trump card.
‘If this is the case, whether it’s a stage or a free exploration, I’ll just skip the crisis.’
Feeling reassured for no reason, I patted my stomach.
growl!
“I’m so hungry… .”
Your heart may be full, but your stomach is still empty.
Toss and turn for a while. I got up from my seat. I wanted to be able to eat, sleep, or work.
“Whoaaaaaa~”
I yawned and walked to the kitchen.
“… .”
“… .”
ran into
With the duo of Lucas and Evangeline knights who rummaged through the kitchen like petty thieves.
Lucas mumbles with a piece of meat bone in his mouth (dog?), and Evangeline has a small cheek full of cracked chestnuts (squirrel?) and her big green eyes are rolling.
“… Cool cool.”
“… Hiccup.”
hold on for a while Soon Lucas giggles and Evangeline begins to hiccup weakly.
“… What are you guys doing?”
I asked awkwardly, and Lucas and Evangeline shyly pointed at each other.
“I came to the kitchen because I was hungry… .”
“Because of this man… .”
You must have found an accomplice. Were you robbing the kitchen together?
I looked into the kitchen while laughing at my embarrassment.
“I’m hungry too. Do you have anything to eat?”
“It is clean and organized… .”
“There are ingredients for tomorrow, but no cooked dishes… .”
The two knights were visibly sullen.
“… Are you very hungry?”
When I asked, they both nodded fiercely.
Laughing, I rolled up my sleeves and entered the kitchen.
“Then sit down at the table over there. I’ll make anything simple.”
Then both Lucas and Evangeline’s eyes widened.
“Do you know how to cook, Master?”
“What roughly?”
“You are from the royal family, so you cook yourself?”
“why? Is there a law saying you can’t do that? No, even if there is a law, what are you going to do? Am I from the royal family?”
After living on Earth for a long time, I was able to cook simple dishes.
I’m hungry too, so let’s make something.
‘What is… … .’
Although I crave kimchi for ramen with sliced green onion and egg. That would be unreasonable in this town.
I started searching the cupboards.
Still, it’s a manor house, so it’s pretty rich. Butter, milk, eggs, spices, smoked ham… … .
“… .”
“… .”
Lucas and Evangeline, who are sitting at the table, are looking at me with worried eyes.
hey don’t be scared Do you think I will give you something to eat?
Finding a large loaf of bread in the corner of the cupboard, I nodded.
‘I guess I’ll have to bake some street toast.’
But the fire in the stove was off.
Come to think of it, it’s a town without a gas stove. Why don’t you raise a fire spirit? It’s a fantasy world, what’s there?
‘Still, I have this.’
I took out the blue flame torch I got this time from my inventory and put it into the furnace.
Soon the frying pan on the stove was heating up.
I smirked and tossed a generous amount of butter onto the frying pan.
Chiiik- Soon,
the sweet smell spread all over the place.
The sound of dry saliva gulp down Lucas and Evangeline’s throats was heard. Are these little pigs’ bodies honest?
***
Roughly cooked smoked ham and vegetable salad sandwiched between baked bread with milk, eggs and honey.
“Let’s eat quickly and go to bed~ It’s the prince’s style toast.”
Ketchup, Mustard, Mayonnaise, 3 kinds, but nothing new. Well, that’s good enough.
A toast sandwich that was browned and tasted good was cut and served.
Lucas and Evangeline have two each. i have 1
I went in first and took a big bite.
“hmm. It’s fine.”
The taste is subtly different from Earth, but it is worth eating.
Lucas and Evangeline followed suit and took a bite, then looked surprised.
Lucas, in particular, was very moved.
“It is delicious, my lord! It’s a skill you can take on as a court chef! I will consider it an honor for the third generation to be served the master’s cuisine!”
“Don’t overdo it… Just eat… … .”
I know how loyal you are, so don’t push me too hard… … .
Evangeline nodded at me next to Lucas, who was choking on food.
“But it is really delicious. It tastes like the one sold at street stalls during festivals.”
“Oh, that’s an accurate impression.”
It’s a street toast recipe, so it’s exactly that feeling.
“… It makes me think of the old days.”
Evangeline, who had been messing around with toast for a while, muttered.
“When I was young, I woke up to a rustling sound in the kitchen here at dawn, and when I come down… Dad was hurriedly making something.”
It was the story of the Marquis. I slowly stopped my jaw from chewing on the toast.
“Because the monsters invaded regardless of the time. After defeating the monsters, he came back at dawn and was hungry, so he ate a simple meal.”
Evangeline’s eyes, reminiscing about her childhood, suddenly became vague.
“I used to put all the leftover ingredients in the kitchen in a pan and cook them while covered in blood and dust… Then, when our eyes met, he looked at me blankly and asked me. Do you want to eat too? Called.”
I chuckled.
“So did you eat?”
“I ate what they gave me then, and my cheeks are still round like this… .”
Evangeline grabbed the remaining breast meat from her cheek and shook it. It’s childish and cute, but what?
“When the two of us were eating like that, the mother who woke up late would come running and ask her what to feed her at night.”
A small smile slowly disappeared from Evangeline’s lips.
“just… Since I’m doing this late at night, I suddenly think of it.”
Evangeline slowly looked around the kitchen of the manor house, where traces of time remained.
This is where the father and mother who were together at that time all disappeared.
“I think of those dawns.”
“… The Marquis’ funeral is tomorrow.”
At my words, Evangeline held her breath.
Time flew by as I went back and forth to the dungeon. The Marquis’ funeral is now a day later.
“Crossroad is a town where there is almost no funeral culture, so I arbitrarily supervise everything. But if you wish, you can take on the role of resident.”
“… no. Senior, please take care of it.”
Evangeline spat out dryly and put the remaining toast into her mouth.
“I respect my father. I think he is a great person who has protected people here all his life. but.”
jump. jump.
Evangeline, who swallowed the contents of her mouth along with the milk, roughly wiped the corners of her mouth.
“I can’t forgive you yet.”
“… .”
“Senior, have you heard? How my mother died.”
How shall I answer?
After hesitating, I nodded slowly. Evangeline lowered her eyes.
“Daddy let Mommy die instead of defending the city.”
“… .”
“I am… I can’t accept my father’s choice with my heart. I understood it in my head. Protecting the city is the lord’s first responsibility, and Dad was just faithful.”
Evangeline’s prominent fangs dug into her lower lip.
“But on the day I buried my mother’s coffin in the orchard, my dad didn’t come to the orchard. Instead, I left for the maintenance of the southern outpost.”
“… .”
“Because I had to prepare for the next attack. Because that’s the job of the Lord of Crossroads. Because it is more important.”
Evangeline’s little fingers squeezed the collar of her lap.
“As I dug out the side of the stone wall of the ruined orchard with my own hands and buried the empty coffin in the ground instead of my mother. That’s when I realized The head of the Ah Cross family must be this kind of person.”
With a bitter smile, Evangeline shook her head.
“And I am the kind of person who cannot do that.”
I nodded slowly.
“So you left here.”
“… yes.”
Evangeline raised her pointed green gaze and looked straight at me.
“Thank you, senior, for preparing my father’s funeral. But I think Marquis Charles Cross is a respectable person.”
Evangeline sighed heavily.
“As my father, I cannot forgive you.”
“… .”
“I had a good night snack. It is truly an honor to be personally treated by the prince.”
After standing up from her chair and bowing, Evangeline walked out of the kitchen.
Watching the back of me go away, I let out a small sigh.
“It’s difficult. Family… … .”
“… .”
Lucas sat next to me in silence. I slowly stuffed the rest of my toast into my mouth.
This kind of personal life is not a matter for others to say this way or that way. It is something that Evangeline herself will choose and accept.
After finishing the remaining toast, I shook my hands and stood up.
“late. Shall we go to bed soon?”
“Yes sir.”
Lucas started to help clean up.
It’s a lot of fun to see the big, distracted guy clearing the dishes and tidying up the kitchen. I covered my mouth and laughed.
After tidying up, they went back to their respective bedrooms.
“… Are you okay, lord?”
Lucas, who was walking ahead, suddenly opened his mouth. I widened my eyes.
“huh? what?”
“Doesn’t your lord have complicated family affairs too? That’s why you help Miss Evangeline.”
… uh?
okay? am i complicated? No, Ash, is family affairs complicated? Aren’t you just a playboy?
I was puzzled. Of course, there was no way I knew anything about Ash’s family life.
“Miss Evangeline is looking at the master’s past. I’m stupid, but I can understand that much.”
Lucas turned around and smiled.
“Isn’t it?”
“… .”
Are you asking because you really care about me?
Or are you trying to figure out if I’m the ‘real’ Ash?
I couldn’t figure it out, so my whole body stiffened for a moment.
