Rustle rustle.

‘White Ears’ sniffed around an old wooden pillar.

It barely found a small mushroom growing and bit it off with its front teeth.

“Nnng…”

But this little bit didn’t even register as food.

White Ears, who had been searching for mushrooms, berries, or any edible weeds, found a small deer caught in a trap.

Growl, its stomach made a hungry sound and its mouth automatically watered, but.

Crack!

Instead of biting the deer, it broke the trap with its front teeth. The freed deer stumbled away beyond the bushes.

Why? Why?

This strange feeling of wanting to eat but not wanting to eat wouldn’t leave White Ears.

This feeling was especially strong yesterday.

That hard ring that Sparkly took back again.

Somehow it had a familiar smell and energy. It made mouth water but at the same time absolutely didn’t want to eat it.

Would it understand if it saw Sparkly again?

Because Sparkly is amazing.

Made both hunger and leg pain better in an instant.

And even touched me for the first time. So nice.

“Grrrr.”

White Ears, who had unconsciously headed toward the cabin, hesitated and finally turned away.

Because Wobbly lives in that cabin, it would be terrible to meet.

Among all the strange feelings, the feeling when meeting Wobbly was the strangest.

Because it alternately felt like wanting to attack strongly, wanting to run away, and not wanting to do anything.

White Ears didn’t know why.

Though it didn’t even know that it didn’t know.

* * *

Upon arriving at the cabin, Lynen headed straight for the kitchen where Calliphe would be.

He planned to tell her right away not to hit others carelessly.

However, the moment he saw the state of the kitchen, that thought flew away completely, and he even dropped the shopping basket he was holding.

‘This… is a disaster.’

All sorts of ingredients were strewn about the counter and floor, brutally chopped up, and something unidentifiable was burning in the pot.

On the frying pan… thankfully there was a normal fried egg. This was the only thing that looked decent.

And Calliphe.

“Heheh. It’s complete.”

With her long blonde hair tied up tightly on top of her head, she was putting garnish on what looked like a burial mound of food.

“This will make them come running with their eyes rolled back.”

Their eyes might actually roll back after eating it.

Snapping back to his senses, Lynen strode over.

And mercilessly threw Calliphe’s just-completed dish into the trash.

“Ah! My food! What are you doing?”

“What are you doing right now?”

“Can’t you see? I was cooking. Though you just ruined it!”

“Even if your eyes were on your feet, it would be hard to mistake that. Did that look like cooking to you?”

“…!”

Such merciless criticism!

“Ugh, fine…”

Actually, Calliphe knew. That her cooking was like garbage.

But what could she do when she’d been spoiled by delivery and takeout food and could only make instant noodles and fried eggs?

Besides, she just didn’t really like cooking in general.

Lynen’s door-like frame pushed Calliphe aside.

“Huh? What are you doing?”

“From now on, I’m taking charge of this kitchen.”

“Hah. No, I don’t want that?”

Calliphe, who was about to protest, got distracted by Lynen’s chest right in front of her eyes.

His chest, filling out his open collar, filled her field of vision.

‘Bigger than mine.’

“…What are you looking at?”

“Nothing?!”

Flustered, Calliphe blurted out whatever came to mind.

“I-if you’re going to show off your skills, make something for me to eat too. I’m starving to death right now?”

“Weren’t you originally making food for yourself?”

“No, that’s not it. I was going to give it to someone.”

“Who?”

“…The landlord.”

She made that up for now.

“…”

One of Lynen’s eyebrows twitched.

Swish, the kitchen knife spun brilliantly in his hand then.

Tap tap tap tap!

He started chopping ingredients with surprisingly fast and uniform skill.

Calliphe’s eyes widened at his unexpected skill.

‘Amazing? Though it looks like he might chop through the cutting board too?’

Lynen didn’t use many ingredients in his cooking. Focusing on nutrition rather than taste, he skipped unnecessary cooking processes.

“That doesn’t mean you should put raw mushrooms on top! They’re not for decoration. At least make it taste better while you’re at it.”

“…”

Did she just hear him click his tongue softly?

Reluctantly, Lynen sautéed the mushrooms.

He scooped some sautéed mushrooms into a small ladle and held it out to Calliphe.

“Try it.”

Even without much seasoning, it smelled delicious. Calliphe, her mouth watering, put the mushrooms in her mouth at once.

“Mmph! Hot!”

“…Sigh.”

When Lynen shook his head in exasperation, Calliphe’s eyes grew fierce.

She immediately snatched the ladle and held the sautéed mushrooms in front of his mouth.

“You try it.”

“Are you blaming me?”

“You should have warned me it was hot!”

“I thought you’d know on your own, but I guess my expectations were too high.”

“Quickly say ah. Aah~!”

“Get away, this violent… mmph.”

“That’s right, that’s right. Don’t you dare spit it out, chew it well.”

Having successfully stuffed the mushrooms into Lynen’s mouth, Calliphe pressed his cheeks firmly to keep him from opening his mouth.

While giggling at this.

“…”

A strange gaze could be felt.

As the two slowly turned around, Noah was peeking around the corner of the wall, staring intently at them.

…Smile.

The child, wearing an inexplicably mysterious smile, silently withdrew his head.

‘That, that expression and behavior.’

It was just like that time when a neighborhood grandmother saw her bickering with a male friend.

‘This old lady will step aside so you two can continue what you were doing~’…

“…”

“…”

The two suddenly fell silent.

They simultaneously stepped far away from each other in opposite directions.

And then their pride was hurt by each other’s actions.

‘What? Did you just avoid me? Even if you hate it that much, aren’t you being too obvious? Unbelievable!’

‘She’s showing her displeasure too openly. Even if we’re just contractually engaged, shouldn’t we maintain some boundaries?’

Calliphe observed Lynen’s attitude as he plated the food with fierce eyes.

‘Wow, look how nonchalant he is. His whole body is saying he’s going to pretend nothing happened. How annoying.’

Lynen observed with cold, hardened eyes as Calliphe kicked at the trash on the floor.

‘She’s screaming with her whole body that she’s in a bad mood. Is she that disgusted about being misunderstood with me.’

The tone of both people, hurt and prideful, became curt.

“It’s done. It’s about four servings so eat it with Noah or whatever.”

“Hmph. Looks completely tasteless.”

Calliphe plated the mushroom omelet Lynen had made.

As she tried to leave with it, Lynen asked.

“Where are you going?”

“I told you I have someone to give this to.”

“Didn’t you say it was for the cleric?”

Calliphe thought for a moment.

Though he was annoying, having Lynen come along would make her feel more secure. Fortunately, he looked in better condition than yesterday.

‘Besides, I need to tell him about this anyway.’

Having decided, Calliphe jerked her chin in a gesture to come along.

“Follow me and you’ll see.”

She was going to bring Noah too, but the child insisted on staying behind after looking back and forth between the two of them.

Fortunately, they didn’t need to leave the child alone. Allen had returned just in time.

Calliphe took Lynen and hurried deep into the mountain.

* * *

“Here it is.”

I arrived at the place where I had encountered White Ears. Seeing the places gouged by holy power here and there, there was no doubt.

As I set down the still-warm mushroom omelet nearby, Lynen asked.

“Was the person you’re giving this to an animal?”

“More precisely, a monster. Or… a person.”

When Lynen looked at me in surprise, we heard the sound of a beast nearby.

“Grrrr!”

White Ears, who had discovered me, came running breathlessly.

Upon discovering the omelet, it naturally turned its steps away from me and began eating ravenously.

“Do you like the food more than me?”

“Grrrr!”

“Cheeky thing.”

It wagged its tail and rubbed its face against me before burying its nose in the plate again.

I started patting its back with appropriate strength.

A way to confirm White Ears’ identity. That would be.

‘Using the system.’

If I use the Villainess’s Parenting Method, the target’s name would be displayed.

Pat pat.

Finally, the system notified me that the ability had been activated.

Ding!