Chapter 776 – At the End of Winter
Afternoon.
The days are getting warmer but it’s not spring yet.
The nyunyudapnes say it’s still winter which means it’s still winter.
Thus, I thought of making a nabe tonight.
It’s getting warmer but the nights are still cold.
There shouldn’t be any problem.
What shall I cook then?
Hahaha, actually, I’m not sure.
How about crab nabe?
The crab that Miyo sent me from Shashaato City via Vige Five arrived a few days ago.
Of course, it was not those giant crabs but normal size crabs that are easy to eat.
Thank goodness.
I had already eaten all the crabs we ordered from the seakins.
I thought I would have to wait until next winter to eat crabs but I was sent with crabs.
Fufufufu.
I’m looking forward to tonight’s dinner.
-0-
Now, it is still winter but it’s almost spring.
Because of that, the vigers are already preparing various things.
Their main priority is the preparation for the spring parade.
The civil servant girls and the high elves are already discussing the route of the parade over a map.
……
I think as the year goes by, the distance that the parade travels seems to increase.
No, it’s not just what I think, that’s definitely what’s happening.
Well, there are a good number of residents who look forward to the parade so I don’t really want to reduce the scale of the parade.
However, if it gets too big to handle, I will stop it.
-0-
The mountain elves are holed up in their workshop, making parts for something.
They said they were also preparing for the parade.
What about those who were lying down in the corner of the workshop?
Ah, result of an all nighter.
They said they were having fun so I let them be.
I guess it’s the same fun you’ll feel when you’re preparing for a cultural festival.
I know how you feel but don’t overdo it.
-0-
In the kitchen, Flora and the oni maids were surrounding several small barrels.
The barrels were filled with miso, which are Flora’s handmade. She was presenting the result of her research to the oni maids.
「I tried changing the manufacturing process and even the ces they take ce when I feel like they’re going to give me a good result.」
I see.
She never stopped researching for the perfect miso.
That’s wonderful.
「It’s because vige chief’s demand’s standard is too high.」
Is that so?
「That is so.」
I see.
However, there’s nothing wrong with miso tasting good.
The oni maids alsomented……
「Given how much the vor change, it is already a different dish so I think we shouldn’t call it miso.」
「I’m afraid that my taste will be different.」
「Right. I prefer this whitish miso.」
「I think this ck miso seems to be easier to use.」
「Isn’t it more red than ck?」
「I think the normal miso is good enough for me. I’m already used to its taste.」
The oni maids tasted some of the miso Flora brought and they seem to be using it in cooking dishes to try them out.
「Should we ask Ann-sama and Ramurias-sama for their opinions?」
「Not a good idea. I’ve heard that your sense of taste changes during pregnancy.」
「Ah, that’s true. However, it’s impossible not to consult them….」
「The kitchen is in our hands until Ann-sama and Ramurias-sama return. We must decide upon ourselves and serve it with pride.」
「I agree.」
Reliable.
Everything’s going to be okay even if Ann and Ramurias are not here.
「Fufu, leave it to us.」
Yeah, I’ll leave it to you.
By the way, about the miso….
「What about it?」
You canbine different kinds of miso to get even more vor. It is called bined miso”.
「………………….ehto,bine?」
Yeah, you are free tobine them as you wish.
「Free, are we?」
Taste and preferences differ for everyone.
There is no right answer.
Well, I think you should try 1:1 first.
When I said that, Flora made an indescribable expression.
「Fufufu. Even if Ann and Ramurias aren’t here, we can still leave them to you, right? Thebined miso you’ll made, I’m looking forward to them.」
Hey hey, don’t pressure them that much.
It’s okay. Just do what you can.
Don’t force yourselves.
「Vige chief, thank you for thinking of us. However, please leave it to us. We’lle up with the form ourselves and server you a dish that matches the miso.」
Oohhh, the “Leave it to us” aura is too dazzling.
Okay, I’ll leave it to you.
Do your best.
However, don’t overdo it because it will definitely take time.
There’s nno such thing as taste that everyone can agree on.
Don’t forget that.
The oni maids responded to me in unison and took the barrels of miso.
While seeing them off, I looked at Flora.
「Since Ann and Ramurias aren’t here, they seemed to be a little distracted. This will stimte them.」
……I see.
「I’ll continue my miso research but for the time being, I’ll focus on soy sauce. We should be able to start selling miso we have on disy there in summer.」
Summer?
That fast?
「I have prepared the miso this winter. We’ll have to wait for a few years before we can start selling them on arge scale given the production volume issues. The miso’s vor changes slightly depending on the time of the year it is made which makes it very interesting.」
I see.
Also, isn’t there a miso factory in Vige Five?
Not only in Vige Five but in Shashaato City too.
It should be Mio that prepared the manufacturing nt in Shashaato City, right?
Ah, she leaked some information and Michael-san prepared it?
I see.
No, I’m not going to scold Miyo.
I’m sure she just foresaw the result of what we’ve been doing and made preparations ahead of time.
I’m grateful for that.
Of course, Flora awoke at the time she usually sleeps stimted the oni maids.
「Loo-oneesama will scold me if I just directly talk to them.」
I guess you wouldn’t want that.
-0-
Flora went back to herboratory to go back to sleep.
You change clothes and have your own bed in it but that doesn’t mean that ce is your room.
I hope she’s resting well enough.
Don’t push yourself too hard.
Well, I guess that’s how a person that loves what she does acts.
As I looked away from Flora, I saw a group of suspicious looking people.
It was a group of civil servant girls and angels who were doing something strange in the hall.
What are you doing?
………
You’re digesting the fat that you’ve umted over the winter?
You are afraid of being marked by Fracia(who likes plump bellies)?
I see.
It’s not a good idea to stay here too long.
I’ll pretend I didn’t see them.
-0-
I heard a voiceing from one of the rooms.
It was Youko’s voice, who had hurriedly finished her work in Vige Five and returned to Big Tree Vige.
They look like…….
It seems like Youko is having an intense meeting with the spiderlings.
Ah, they are deciding on lines and locations?
Are they nning to have a y?
Can I watch?
「Vige chief? You don’t have to be sneaky. Watch if you want. This is a matter of life or death.」
The spiderlings nodded at Youko’s serious words.
……
Ah, you’re practicing greeting Zabuton.
This was because I was targeted by the silver foxes that were invited by Youko for me to meet.
I wasn’t harmed but the spiderlings got angry at her for putting me in danger.
They said they would report it to Zabuton as soon as she wakes up.
No, I heard that even if she’s hibernating, she can still receive messages.
I don’t really know the details.
Maa, it was agreed that when Zabuton woke up, Youko would greet her in a cute outfit.
「It can’t be helped. I need to apologize properly.」
Really?
「A mistake is a mistake. Also, I don’t want the silver foxes to take the brunt of it.」
I see.
Is there anything I can do to help?
「I already thought of having vige chief to cover for me but….even if I was forgiven at that moment, I’m afraid something will happenter. There’s a possibility of that making her angrier. I appreciate the sentiment but I’ll refrain from doing so.」
I see.
Sorry to hear that.
「Whoah, don’t be hasty! I’m not refusing you toe along with us and soothe Zabuton when the timees!」
I guess the reason you didn’t say it clearly is because you don’t want me to be offended when I found out that I’m already included in that.
「That is….I’m grateful if vige chief moves at the right moment.」
L-let’s think about it.
Also….aren’t the spiderlings angry at Youko?
Why are they practicing greeting and apologizing with you?
「Hahahaha, these little guys did something that will anger Zabuton.」
?
Ah, you mean that time one of them was seen by a Vige Five resident?
「Yeah. Because of that, we had to deal with it with a reasonable expense.」
I don’t think that’s not enough expense though.
I think they were only cloths of the spiderlings, button I made, and Youko’s autograph, right?
They received those items and epted the apology.
「They went out so I had to apologize for them. Now, there is nothing wrong with them apologizing with me.」
Theughing Youko aside, the spiderlings made a pose of remorse.
They were so excited and let their guard down because they wanted to speak with others about clothes.
Well, it doesn’t really matter since they were already satisfied with our apology.
Even so, I guess it’s true that they scared those people a lot.
「Alright, break is over. Let’s resume.」
Youko turns on her cute appearance and practices greetings.
Well, she’s cute.
But isn’t that a bit too cute?
「That’s a problem….I shouldn’t be. That’s a problem kon! I have to be naturally cute….」
Youko continued practicing diligently.
I quietly left the room, not wanting to disturb her.
-0-
Yeah, Youko is practicing seriously.
The way she practices makes others feel like they should work hard too.
I got to work hard too.
Ah, Hitoe.
Youko is busy.
Yeah, don’t watch her.
Why don’t youe with me and take care of the farming equipment?
Okay, I’m going to polish my AFT until dinner.
It will be a little while before I can use the hoe again but I’m sure it won’t be a bad idea to maintain it.
-0-
Dinner.
As per my request, crab nabe was served.
However, the broth was miso vored.
It was not the taste I was looking for but it was good enough.