Side: Yuki
Well, the roasted sweet potatoes we had for lunch the other day were pretty well received.
In fact, Kaya has taken the lead in setting up a whole operation specifically for cultivating sweet potatoes.
Considering that both Eris and Ratz have gone out of their way to allocate a budget for it, it must have been really well received.
It looks like Kaya's agricultural union is even gathering people specifically specialized in sweet potatoes.
Yep, food really is the most important thing in the world.
"Hm. It's cold again today."
It's so cold that I honestly want to change the temperature using my Dungeon Master authority.
To be specific, it's 5 degrees Celsius during a weekday afternoon. Depending on the nighttime temperature, it's pretty common to find snow piled up in the morning.
Apparently, this region where Weed is located is a place where snow accumulating is totally normal... Well, it looks like we'll easily be able to enjoy some winter snow sports later.
With those thoughts in mind, I continue clearing through paperwork for military affairs.
That being said, because we have a clear division of labor—Seraria handles the people and I handle the monsters—I'm not actually that busy. I've delegated most of the tasks to Steve and Slakichi-san, so I'm basically running things on an autopilot setup.
Seraria, on the other hand, has her duties as the Queen of Weed, so she's reasonably busy.
"Which means I need to work extra hard at home to make up for it."
I don't mean at night, but rather regarding things like food and entertainment.
I want my hard-working wives to at least be able to take it completely easy when they're at home.
"Boss, I brought the documents-ssu... Wait, I was wondering what you were doing, but are you seriously brainstorming ideas for dinner?"
"Yeah. My wives are pushing themselves hard, after all."
"Man, I wish you'd share some of that food with us too-ssu."
"You guys can just go out and eat normally. You have a massive household anyway."
"Yeah, yeah.... Once you have a family of your own, you really get cold to the rest of us, huh?"
"You're basically a family man yourself."
"We're all guys though!!"
What's he getting worked up about?
Well, setting that aside, what's for dinner tonight... We already did hot pot, the ultimate winter classic, back in autumn. So what's left is...
"Ah, there's always that dish."
"Ah, geez, so that's all I'm worth to you. Fine, fine, I'll just go hit up a tavern-ssu."
Since I can't find a girlfriend for Steve no matter what I do, I have no choice but to ignore him.
I completely forgot about the female Goblins. We've been so busy with the new continent and everything, and making one just for Steve feels wrong.
In a sense, I can't just spawn monsters purely on my own whim. Creating monsters involves various agreements with the Adventurer's Guild and the neighboring countries.
If I were to give a retroactive report saying "I made a little something new just for Steve," it would cause political issues. I could keep it hidden, but if it ever got leaked, it would give people plenty of reasons to poke their noses into our business.
Still, I really think it's about time spring arrived for Steve too... If I can just get the people around us to recognize that Goblins can form families just like humans do, a lot of things should start changing.
"I'll need to do some adjusting for this too. I'll find some time later to lay the groundwork."
"What's wrong, Boss? More dinner talk?"
"No, just a little bit of troublesome business."
"Sigh, you've got it rough with so many different things to manage-ssu. So, have you decided on dinner yet?"
"Not yet. I'm looking for something that screams winter."
"Ah, come to think of it, you basically run the kitchen almost every single day, don't you, Boss?"
"Yeah."
"No wonder you're running out of ideas. Even though the number of restaurants around here has finally increased, I've basically been on a continuous rotation lately too."
"That's just because you're the one choosing to eat the same things. Make sure you eat a properly balanced diet. I don't know how a biased diet affects monsters, but John and the other Orcs look like they're about to sprout plates on top of their heads at any moment-ssu."
"Ah, John... that guy really loves the cucumbers we grow in the fields. Just like you said, Boss, he's practically turning into a Kappa."
"Don't be stupid. If a Japanese Youkai were actually born into this world, it would be a total nightmare. Way too many of them have ridiculously troublesome abilities."
"Ah, like dying if your shadow gets licked? Isn't that basically the same as a Basilisk?"
"Some of them can kill you just by making eye contact, you know."
"Ugh, wow, no way. Definitely count me out on that-ssu."
Even long before Sadako, those kinds of overly troublesome types existed among Youkai.
If one were to accidentally be born into this world, let alone a single nation, an entire continent would probably be wiped out.
Rather than this world, thinking about Earth—the place that came up with those concepts—is what's truly terrifying.
"Ah, we got completely off track. This might be a bit different from a standard dinner, but didn't you mention before that food stalls are great during the winter?"
"Food stalls? ...I see, food stalls, huh. Thanks, Steve, I think I've pretty much decided on tonight's dinner."
"Glad I could help-ssu. Well then, if you could just look over these documents—"
—Steve tries to hand the papers over to me, but if I'm going to prepare that dish, I have to start right now or it won't be ready in time for dinner.
Well, technically, letting it simmer for two or three days is the standard golden rule, but I guess it can't be helped. I'll just make a massive batch so everyone can enjoy how the flavor changes tomorrow and the day after.
This way, I won't have to worry about dinner ideas for the next three days.
"Sorry, something urgent came up. Therefore, final approval on those documents falls to you, Steve. Good luck adjusting everything so Seraria, Eris, and Ratz don't chew you out."
Leaving him with those words, I walk out of the office and head out to do some grocery shopping for tonight's dinner.
"Whaaa!? Again!?"
Do your best, Steve. I believe in your growth.
* * *
I am currently doing some standard grocery shopping out in Weed.
"Now then, let's just grab the regular ingredients today."
There are no exotic or special ingredients required for tonight's dinner. Everything can be easily found right here at Super Latz in Weed.
"Oh, if it isn't Onii-san."
"Oh, Ratz, what are you doing here?"
Since she is currently pregnant, Ratz is supposed to be taking a break from work on maternity leave. Carrying heavy items, which is standard for supermarket work, is completely out of the question.
"Whoa, please don't look at me with such a scary face. I'm definitely not carrying anything heavy. It's just some simple document organization."
"In that case, let's head home together. I was just shopping for dinner, and it won't look unnatural for me to walk back with my wife."
"Sure thing. I just finished up with the papers anyway, and I was just wondering what to do next."
Ratz readily agrees to come along.
Whew. I know it's just my own selfishness to want her to stay quietly at home since she's carrying a baby, but I can't help but worry.
"...Sorry. I got a bit too worked up. It must be boring staying inside the house all day long."
"Nahaha, it's fine. None of us would ever look miserable from being treated like this by you, Onii-san. If anything, it makes us swoon."
"Well, if it's fine, then great, but if it ever becomes a burden, make sure you tell me straight up. There's absolutely no reason to hide it."
"I know, I know. Putting that aside, you mentioned this was for tonight's dinner, right?"
"Yeah."
"Potatoes, daikon radish, konjac, beef skewers, eggs, chikuwa... Uh, what kind of dish is this going to be? A stew?"
"Ah, calling it a stew isn't exactly wrong."
It does simmer. Nice and bubbling.
"It's a classic winter food. It goes incredibly well with alcohol too."
"Oh, that sounds wonderful—Wait, I can't really drink much right now, can I?"
"Well, a tiny sip should be fine. I'm the one forcing you to stay cooped up inside the house, so you should at least have that much."
"I'm looking forward to it~"
"Leave it to me."
Alright, once we get back home, I'll put my all into making it.
* * *
And now, dinner time.
"Ah! Tori, you're taking way too much of the beef tendon?!"
"You ate a ton of it too, Riel?!"
"...The fried tofu evolves. Ganmodoki and Kinchaku are truly magnificent." (Kaya)
Oh, the flavor has soaked beautifully into the eggs too~"
"Ah, mou, Ratz! Ugh, and here I am with my daikon radish still left."
"Now, now, Milly-san, let's just take our time drinking and snacking on the leftovers."
"...Narjia-san, please don't drink too much, okay? Oh, this potato is really good too."
"Is it delicious? Are there any potatoes left?"
"Rurua, there's some right over here. Here you go."
"Derieu-san, the broth is going to drip, so use this plate."
"No matter how many times I see it, a Hero and a Demon King peacefully sharing a dinner table is just bizarre. Setting that aside, Elju, hand that chikuwa over to me. Consider it a small wish from a pregnant woman."
"Ah, that's terrible! I grabbed it first! You're using your pregnancy as a weapon!?"
The adults were busy as usual.
Meanwhile, the little ones...
"Huff huff... The egg is hot."
"Blow on it properly first."
"Hot! Water!! Water!!"
"Yes, yes. Here, Filia."
"Sheila-sama, this daikon is delicious too."
With Killue there, nothing serious was likely to happen.
Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time.
By the way, this dish is called 'Oden'.
"Now then, I'll have some too..."
Taking a piece of the flavor-soaked daikon radish with a bit of mustard—
"Crap... I used too much!"
But this is exactly the feeling I wanted.
Such is one page of our winter days.
Even while conquering the New Continent, this kind of peaceful life continues.
Well, let's keep doing our best.
