After a while, Elju calmed down, so I retrieved Aslin and Filia from her grasp.
It seemed Elju saw the two as angels.
"I will raise these children myself!! I will transform them into perfect, refined ladies!! And I shall never let them marry!! These girls have such pure hearts; I cannot allow them to see the filth of the adult world!!"
She had been wailing and clinging to them in a fit of maternal frenzy, so I had to physically pry her off.
...Yeah, she wasn't "calm" at all.
"Alright, let's head to the kitchen and make lunch for everyone."
"Understood!!"
"I'll do my best!!"
"...Let's go."
And so, I transported the three children.
To be honest, carrying two in my arms is getting pretty taxing. Labyris is fine since she's on my shoulders, but supporting two with just my arms is quite tough.... Hmm?
...Wait. My strength stat should've gone up a lot from leveling. Is this mental fatigue?
They all look so happy, though, so I'll just endure it.
"Okay, now we're going to cook the rice. I want you three to help me shape it."
The first step for any beginner in the kitchen is the Onigiri (rice ball). If you can't manage this, you're probably not cut out for cooking. Actually, I've never seen anyone fail at making one.
...Well, back in my student days, there was that one guy who tried to wash the rice with dish soap. I stopped him, of course... That was a joke, right? Please tell me that was a joke, old schoolmate of mine!!
"Um, is this that white, small, sticky stuff we had for breakfast?"
Aslin tilted her head, her cute chestnut-colored bob swaying.
Man, as expected of someone picked by Mobu—her childlike gestures are like a doll's. Adorable.
"That's right. This is 'rice'. And this turns into 'cooked rice'."
I showed them the inside of the electronic rice cooker.
"Ahh~, so this becomes that warm, fluffy rice."
Filia peeked in alongside Aslin.
Filia is also a classic dwarf-loli type. Her ponytail bounced as she moved. A classic, really. I kind of want her to stay like this forever. Not because I'm into that—just because it's a fantasy staple, alright?
"So, Yuki-san, what kind of help do you need from us!?"
Aslin looked at me with sparkling eyes.
Ah, right—Aslin is actually good at housework. She hasn't had a chance to be useful yet, so she's firing on all cylinders. I can't exactly tell her I don't need help now.
"Well, there are a lot of tools you've never seen, so be careful. Listen to my instructions closely."
"Yes!!"
"I'll help too!!"
Though, for now, it's really just washing the rice and pressing a button.
"...Do your best. I'm counting on you."
"By the way, Labyris. Are you ever planning to get down?"
"...If I'm in the way... I'll get down..."
Her voice sounded heartbreakingly sad, and I felt her feet shift on my back. As she slid down to the floor, I looked at her face.
"...Tell me when it's okay to ride again... I'll endure until then..."
She was looking up at me with those upturned eyes.
...This is not anything weird. It's a guardian's duty. Nothing more.
"...Mnh, thank you."
Labyris snuggled into my face, then rotated herself counter-clockwise back to her "special seat." During the process, the two "melons" caused a brief moment of respiratory distress for me.
"Alright, everyone ready!?"
"Yes!!"
"We'll do our best!!"
"...OK."
Together, we cooked the rice, made miso soup, and shaped the onigiri.
Aslin seemed a bit unsatisfied with the simplicity, but it couldn't be helped. Starting tomorrow, I'll teach them how to use the appliances properly and let them make all sorts of things.
* * *
Then, we delivered the food to the various rooms.
Mobu's group was normal... well, Mobu had a stupid grin on his face. Out.
I had to physically restrain Elju from kidnapping Aslin and Filia again.
In the ladies' room, Milly seemed to have cooled down a bit. When she saw me enter, she bowed her head.
"Don't force yourself to be okay with it. We can't afford to let grudges ruin what we're about to build. Even if you don't cooperate, Milly, no one will blame you."
"...Yes."
"For now, just eat."
Aslin placed the food in front of Milly.
"Um, Milly-san! I helped make this with Yuki-san! It's called an Onigiri. If you put this seasoning on it, it's really good!! It's even tasty with just salt! ...So um, please, cheer up!"
Aslin did her best to explain the dish, and as she added those last words, Milly looked genuinely startled.
"Kids notice more than you think. They're especially sensitive to emotions."
I said, patting Aslin on the head.
"It... seems so. Aslin, thank you. I'll enjoy the meal."
"Yes!!"
Milly seems like she'll be alright. The beast-kin trio was also eating heartily... Wait.
"Eris, where's Ratz?"
"Oh, she said she was going to the open-air bath a while ago."
"I see. Tell her I left her portion here and to eat it later."
"Understood."
I'd told them to bring the empty dishes back to the kitchen. Now, what to do?
"...Let's go to the open-air bath too."
"Yes, I want to go."
"Yeah."
When my "cargo" makes a request, I have no choice but to comply. We arrived at the baths.
"Alright, you can probably go in by yourselves now, right?"
"...I refuse. Straight to the men's bath."
"I want to go together."
"Un."
...Well, I suppose one day they'll grow up and say, "I don't want to bathe with you!!" So, I'll treat this as making memories before that inevitable day comes.
We ended up going in together.
"Make sure you wash your bodies and hair properly!"
I warned the kids as they ran around the bathroom.
When I finally soaked in the tub, I saw...
"Oya? Onii-san. Did you want to bathe with me that badly?"
Ratz was gazing absentmindedly at the sky.
"No, this is the men's bath."
"...Uh, I guess I was more shaken than I thought."
Ratz looked around and realized her mistake.
It didn't seem intentional. Given her personality, I would've thought she'd snuck in on purpose, but she seemed genuinely off her game.
"Shaken? ...Is it about Elju?"
"Yeah, well. I guess even I have a maiden's heart somewhere~"
She was fiddling with something in her hands. Looking closer, it was a wooden carving of some sort.
"Is that a rabbit?"
Aslin had hopped into the tub and showed interest in the figurine.
"Whoa, you're really skilled, Ratz-san! As a dwarf, I can't lose, but I respect that!"
"Heh, I guess I can't hide my handiwork from Filia-chan?"
"Yes, I can just tell. It feels like you."
Hoh, so Filia can recognize the "soul" of the creator. Ratz's handiwork is quite impressive. Ratz stared at the rabbit for a moment before handing it to Aslin.
"Here, Aslin-chan. It was a prototype for a child's toy. It floats in water like this. The rabbit would be happier with you than with me."
"Eh, really!?"
"Yes, please play with it."
Beaming, Aslin took the rabbit and "swam" (splashed) over to Labyris and Filia.
"Look, Labyris-chan! A rabbit!"
"Ara? How cute. Did you get it as a present?"
"Yeah!"
"That's nice. Maybe I should ask for a matching one."
They sounded just like sisters.
While watching them, Ratz cupped some hot water and splashed it onto her face repeatedly.
"...Does that bunny have something to do with it?"
"...Being too sharp isn't a good trait, you know. I do like you, Onii-san, but that doesn't mean I want you to know everything about me..."
"...Sorry."
Only the voices of the children echoed in the bath.
"...It's embarrassing to admit, but I hate the idea of Elju-sama joining us too..."
"..."
"...I understand, you know? You made a deal with the King and are using Elju-sama as insurance by hiding her here, right?"
"Yeah."
Ratz washed her face with the water again.
"...I made that bunny, but it had a previous owner... Though only for three short days."
And so, Ratz began to talk. The story of that bunny.
* * *
Side: Ratz
It's not like telling the story will bring her back... but since this kind Dungeon Master is now the guardian of Aslin-chan, I felt like it was okay to tell him.
"Where should I start? Let's see...
As I told you, I was a merchant before I became a slave.
I had a decent amount of skill as an individual adventurer, too. My adventurer friends used to travel with me and help me out.
I had gotten quite used to the traveling trade. During a stay in a certain village, I decided to try making a new product in my spare time.
As I sat there, carving away at the wood, a cute little girl started peeking at me.
She was about Aslin's age, I think? I never did find out exactly.
When I called out to her, she leaned in to look at what I was making. She gave me the most beautiful smile. 'It's a rabbit!' she said.
Man, I made a rookie mistake as a merchant. Charmed by that smile, I gave her the bunny for free.
After that, she took a liking to me. we did business together, talked, played in the river.
...Then, the tremors of this current conflict reached that village.
Honestly, I wish they'd stop attacking in the middle of the night. If it were daytime, we could have done something.
It was a small village, so it was overrun in no time.
My adventurer friends scattered, everyone trying to escape on their own. I planned to use the chaos to slip away too.
Whether it was good luck or bad, I ran into that girl I gave the bunny to.
If it were just me, I could have escaped easily. But I couldn't help it—I reached out my hand to her.
Just a little more... We were so close to getting out of the village.
That's when the girl dropped her bunny. She ran back to get it.
I never thought she'd shake off my hand and run back for a piece of wood like that.
...The moment she picked up the bunny, several arrows pierced her.
...It wasn't the kind of wound you survive. She was so small; a few arrows were a death sentence.
I ran to her immediately, but it was too late...
Because I made that rabbit... it's my greatest, greatest regret.
...After that, I think I just sat there holding her body, wailing.
The next thing I knew, I was a slave, still clutching that blood-stained rabbit.
Then, I was chosen by Kurse-san and met you, Onii-san."
Once more, I splash water on my face.
I don't want a good man to see these kinds of tears.
"Who knows? Go ask her yourself someday."
"...You're harsh. This is where you're supposed to offer gentle comfort, you know?"
"Don't be stupid. Why would I give you an answer when it's right in front of you?"
Onii-san looked over at Aslin and the others playing with the bunny.
"...So, the bunny that made her smile wasn't a mistake?"
"So far, four out of four people have enjoyed that bunny. Whether you increase that number, decrease it, or end it here—that's up to you, Ratz."
"...I want to increase it."
"Then work hard here. I won't get in your way. I want some local specialties for this dungeon anyway."
"As sharp as ever... But, I feel a lot lighter now. I think I'll have my head on straight by tomorrow. Well, I'll head out first—"
As I tried to stand, my vision wobbled.
Ah, so this is that "bath-drunk" thing...
"Whoops. Well, if you talk that much after being in here longer than me, of course this happens."
"S-Sorry."
Onii-san caught me, just as he predicted. To be honest, I'm not embarrassed about him seeing me naked, but being held in his arms like this... that actually makes me blush.
"Alright, everyone, out! Ratz is a bit dizzy, so help me out."
"Okay!"
"Understood!"
"...Tch. I'm gonna get dizzy next time too."
"Labyris, don't joke about that. It can be dangerous."
Onii-san talked with the kids as he effortlessly carried me out of the dressing room in a princess carry.
"O-Onii-san!? U-Um, this way of carrying me is...!"
"Yeah, it's a romantic way of holding someone. I don't know if women actually like it, but I've always wanted to try it. Just blame yourself for getting dizzy."
What a strangely romantic man.
"...Tch!!"
Labyris-chan, you can be the legal wife, just please stop clicking your tongue like that. You're getting scary...
