Chapter 257

　　What he found .

　　“Vector, what are you so panicked for?”

　　(T, there’s a problem!)

　　Vector, who is nonchalant even when running, was unusually out of breath .

　　“I understand that there’s a problem, alright . What is the problem, though?”

　　(You see! There’s a place you can’t enter over there!)

　　“A place you can’t enter?”

　　(Yea! I could saw the scenery inside, but when I tried to enter——bam! There seems to be an invisible wall!)

　　If Vector is right, although it is certainly strange, I cannot say for sure that it is a problem .

　　“How curious~ But, now’s not the time . ”

　　(Why!?)

　　(Right~ The sun will be setting down soon, after all~)

　　I would love to go check it out right away, but I don’t want to enter this mysterious place when it’s dark outside .

　　“Vector, did you feel something harmful or malicious there?”

　　(N? Erm… no, I did not feel anything malicious whatsoever?)

　　“Then we don’t need to be in a hurry . If that’s so, let’s go there when it gets brighter . ”

　　“”Not going~?””

　　“We will . Let’s save it for tomorrow, though . ”

　　“”Got it~””

　　We could also leave the forest, but I think we should go check it out . I’m quite curious about it .

　　“That being the case, I will go prepare dinner . What would you like to eat, everyone?”

　　“”Meat~””

　　Oh, it’s not the usual bread or sweets request today .

　　“A meat dish, huh . Then, sukiyaki… you wouldn’t understand what I mean . How about a sweet and salty Armored Buffalo meat with vegetables?”

　　“”Wanna eat!””

　　(((((Want to eat that!)))))

　　Everyone agreed, so I started right away .

　　The ingredients are thin slices of Armored Buffalo meat, a vegetable resembling a white-stalked green onion, and a Chinese cabbage-like green called whitebagge . Next is rook mushrooms, and s.h.i.+ mushrooms . It’s unfortunate that I don’t have any s.h.i.+rataki and tofu, but there’s nothing I can do about it .

　　After cooking the green onions and meat, I put in the sukiyaki stock I made with sugar and soy sauce, then I added the cabbage, mushrooms and cooked everything well together .

　　Which reminds me, the only beef-like meat I have gotten my hands on so far is the Armored Buffalo . I wonder if I should try looking for another cow-monster?

　　“”Smells nice!””

　　(Yeah, yeah . )

　　(Quickly, quickly . )

　　Allen, Elena, Joule and Vector were fidgety when I started cooking .

　　“Just a little bit longer . All that’s left is…”

　　I cleaned the eggs using light magic’s Purification spell . Even though I keep freshly picked eggs on me, I’m a little worried about eating raw eggs as they are .

　　I cracked the eggs into the pot and lightly broke them up, then I divided the meat and vegetables into the bowls .

　　“Alright, it’s done~”

　　“”(((((Yay~)))))””

　　As soon as I handed it out to the kids, they all started eating at once .

　　“”Nn~~~””

　　(Oniichan, this is yummy!)

　　(The meat and veggies soaked in a sweet and salty sauce are delicious~)

　　(Aniue, I love this . )

　　(Me too! This is delis.h.!.+)

　　(It’s very tasty!)

　　Oh, it’s very popular . When it came to Allen and Elena, they were eating in silence, seemingly eating too busy to speak out their impressions .

　　N~ but I would definitely want udon noodles . Come to think of it, I never made them . Erm… udon is just wheat flour, salt, and water, right? I’m not going to make it now, but let’s do it next time .

　　◇ ◇ ◇

　　When the meal was over and we were preparing to go to sleep, I felt a presence approaching us from the front .

　　“… It’s not a monster, is it?”

　　(Yeah, that’s a person, I think?)

　　——Hearing the sound of footsteps approaching, we were a little cautious .

　　“Good evening . ”

　　“… Good evening?”

　　It was an elderly gentleman . He looked suspicious in his gray-hooded robe, but for some reason, I couldn’t feel wary of him . Moreover, he greeted us so refres.h.i.+ngly .

　　“It looks like you are getting ready to sleep, but won’t you come over to my house? I can’t say it will be more comfortable as it’s not that s.p.a.cious, but at least you can sleep under a roof?”

　　“House?”

　　“It’s right there by the barrier . That red child was there during the day . ”

　　It seems that the invisible barrier Vector found was created by this person . And this person seems to have a house inside .

　　“Err… why did you come to invite us?”

　　“I observed you guys for a little, and you seem like an interesting bunch . Plus, I’ve got a few questions to ask you . ”

　　“……”

　　It appears that we were being observed .

　　However, what is interesting about us? The kids and I were only picking berries and we ate dinner, nothing else, no?

　　“… Guru . ”

　　“What? You came out too, Claudia?”

　　While hesitant to reply, a black panther slowly walked out from the direction the eldery man came from . It snuggled up to the old man .

　　“Is that child your familiar?”

　　“Yeah, that’s right . Which reminds me, I have not introduced myself yet . I’m Oswald . A retired old man who lives in this forest . And this child is called Claudia . ”

　　When the senior introduced himself, he took off his hood, revealing white hair and long ears .

　　… Oswald-san? Erm………… ah, I thought it sounded familiar, but there’s a person among the Guardia Knights with the same name~

　　“”Oh, ears are so long~!””

　　When I appraised the senior, I realized that he was an Elf . Moreover, he had no Dark magic in his skills, so that black panther wasn’t a contracted beast, but a normal familiar . The senior is probably a tamer .

　　Moreover, he’s 421 years old! He’s the oldest person I have met so far! Ah, aside from Kaiser!

　　“Is this your first time seeing an Elf?”

　　“That would be so . ”

　　I’ve met Andy-san and Kana-san who are humans with Elven appearances because of their mixed blood, but this is my first time seeing a pure-blood Elf . Uhh… if I’m not mistaken, then the average lifespan of humans over here is 80 years, while the average lifespan of Elves is around 500 years .

　　“So, how about it? Will you accept my invitation? Ah, of course, your familiars are most welcome as well . It’s just the red child won’t fit unless he gets smaller like he was during the day . ”

　　“What do you want to do, guys?”

　　The senior——Oswald-san, was very calm and gentlemanly, and neither Allen, Elena or the rest of the kids showed vigilance against him .

　　“”Nniyu?””

　　I asked everyone what they thought, but Allen and Elena didn’t seem to understand the situation .

　　(Isn’t it fine?)

　　(Right . If we can let Allen-chan and Elena-chan sleep under a roof, that would be for the better, I think . )

　　(Indeed . I also think we should go . )

　　(Ehh~ I want to sleep together~)

　　(You just have to turn small, Vector! I agree, too!)

　　Joule and others gave their opinions in turn .

　　As a result, four were in favor . One opposed .

　　“Then, we will be in your care . Ah, I’m adventurer Tak.u.mi . ”

　　Going by the majority vote, I decided to accept Oswald-san’s invitation to his house, and introduced myself and the kids .

　　“I see, thank you for accepting my invitation . Then, Tak.u.mi-san, please follow me . It’s this way . ”

　　“Yes . ”