NOVEL NEXT Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: The Morning After
Chapter 61: The Morning After
By the time I woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.
There’s a pleasant smell of meat cooking.
“I’m starving…”
“Good morning.”
“Oh, good morning, Shiro. Were you with me until I woke up?”
“Yeah. Let’s eat.”
Shiro sits down and smiles at me.
From the kitchen area, I can hear Kuro’s voice and Gisella’s laughter.
It seems like everyone else is already awake.
As I step out from the rocky bed alongside Shiro, everyone is indeed gathered.
It looks like Kuro is preparing breakfast.
During our sleep, everyone’s clothes have dried, and they’ve already changed.
“Did everyone get enough rest?”
“Yes, it’s comfortable here.”
“Hey, Bonus. Did you gather chocolate and coffee here?”
“Well, I guess it’s no use hiding it now, so yes, Azir.”
“I knew it.”
“Please keep it a secret.”
“I understand. Well, even if someone finds out, it’s not easy to approach this place.”
Mil seems completely focused on cooking the meat with Kuro.
He doesn’t even seem to have noticed that I’ve woken up.
“Bonus! I love this place! Kuro showed me around, and besides chocolate, there’s a variety of food here.”
“Yeah, I’m glad we could finally come here. It’s really great.”
Gisella hugs me from behind.
I recall the moment when Gisella was in danger during yesterday’s battle.
I’m really glad we didn’t lose her.
As I turn around, Gisella is innocently sparkling.
Gisella usually doesn’t come too close, somewhat reserved compared to Shiro and Kuro.
So, I hug her tightly and tousle her hair.
“Huh? Hehehe.”
“I was worried, you know!”
“Yeah… But… I was too!”
Gisella hugs me back, playing around.
Her body is surprisingly soft, making me feel uneasy.
I quickly shift my focus to the meal and head towards the kitchen.
For some reason, Gisella follows along.
“Kuro, how’s the food?”
“Baaah!”
“It’s good, really good. I can tell. No doubt about it.”
While staring at the meat, Mil casually comments.
It’s certainly familiar grilled meat, but it looks incredibly delicious.
We haven’t had anything to eat for over a day.
Of course, everyone else here hasn’t eaten anything either.
The gazes towards the meat are quite intense.
But among them, Mil’s eyes are bloodshot, and she keeps licking her lips.
Certainly, we’ve been living on meager rations due to food shortages in the village, and meat never came our way.
Knowing Mil’s kind nature, hse probably prioritized others over herself even when it came to meals.
“Baaah!”
“Alright, now’s the time!”
Kuro and Mil quickly divide the meat.
Despite Mil’s attachment to meat, she prioritizes others, passing the plate to someone else first and only eating last.
She’s quite a difficult character.
“Mmm, delicious!”
“It’s so good.”
“What is this?! It’s amazing!”
“It’s delicious… Hey, Bonus… what kind of meat is this?”
“Mmm!”
Mil closes her eyes and flutters her arms and legs, making an incomprehensible sound.
Azir and Marie also look surprised.
Come to think of it, have these two never eaten Kidanakemo meat before?
“It’s Kidanakemo meat.”
“――Buh.”
“Just as I thought…”
“Baaah!”
Azir seems to be choking and almost spitting out his food, getting scolded by Kuro.
Marie probably anticipated this.
With a strangely understanding expression, she eats her meal steadily.
Like Kuro, I diligently grill additional meat.
I want Kuro to eat properly too.
It seems Mil doesn’t trust my grilling skills as she doesn’t move from in front of the meat.
Pink is nibbling on the meat on the grill as if it’s the most natural thing to do.
While I know Pink can handle the heat, it’s visually unsettling to see them wandering around amidst the barbecue. But well, Pink has worked hard as usual, so I guess it’s fine to let them be.
“However, don’t just stuff it into your pocket. And you look somewhat appetizing with all that meat juice and oil on you…”
Seeing Mil giving Pink a suspicious look, Pink hastily flees with the meat still in its mouth.
“Ouch, hot! The sweet potatoes are done!”
Gisella digs out the sweet potatoes from the embers with her bare hands and hands them out to everyone.
These sweet potatoes are slightly sweet and have a fluffy yet sticky texture.
Shiro loves them, but Gisella and Zamza seem to like them a lot too.
Even though they must still be quite hot, they eagerly bite into them and relax their faces.
It must be a taste they really love.
Well, I like them too.
After everyone finishes their late breakfast, Kuro brews some coffee for us.
She also hands out milk chocolates and we burn some incense after a long time.
Today, it seems a bit windy, with the trees rustling in the morning sun.
Marie, playing with her orange hair in the wind, gazes into the distance absentmindedly.
Normally, she exudes a unique kind of intensity.
But now, as if all of that has completely melted away, she innocently lets her gaze wander to the scenery in front of her.
Perhaps it’s because she’s removed all her weapons and armor, she looks like a lady who’s come to a vacation villa for leisure.
“It feels nice… Such a lovely place.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Meeeh~”
Elizabeth suddenly emerges from the woods, leisurely walking while looking around at everyone’s faces.
After sniffing the scent of incense, she quietly lies down between Kuro and me.
“Baaah~? Baah baah.”
Elizabeth rubs her nose against Kuro with an affectionate voice.
Kuro quickly takes out a brush and starts brushing her.
Even Gisella and Mil, who were chatting amicably, come over to Elizabeth.
“Wow! This fur is indeed quite unique.”
“Despite being so soft, it’s incredibly strong.”
The two of them are clearly excited, looking at Elizabeth’s fur like true artisans.
Seems like they’re completely engrossed in Elizabeth’s fur.
“Marie, are we leaving today?”
“Hmm… Well, we have to, don’t we?”
Azir somewhat hesitantly checks with Marie about their plans.
Marie sighs as if resigned, then changes her expression.