Rei continued to take care of the Air while he was still in her lap until I, Hiiro, the Air boy, somehow managed to stand up.
As soon as I stood up, the forest started getting foggy again. At first, I thought it was the same fog as before, but I soon realized that the fog was too smoky this time.
Just as I was wondering what was going on this time, a barbecue stove and a smug face of a 420-year-old girl entered my field of vision. Master was covered in billowing white smoke while playing with tongs.
“It’s time for– Cough, cough– It’s a good time for– Cough– For lunch– Cough, cough, cough!”
“Are you planning to commit suicide on the barbecue stove?”
A few minutes later.
Master, who wore a white smoke face mask after burning raw wood, was sitting alone in a corner while grasping her knees.
“Hiiro, is it done yet?”
“I won’t give anything to a girl who can’t wait quietly!”
“… (Take a glance)”
“O-Onii-sama, she looks pitiful…”
“Don’t spoil her. She is always like that, you know? Pleading with eyes like an abandoned dog. Rei, too, should have a firm attitude so as not to become her victim. All you have to give to a 420-year-old elf who was trying to flatter you is a pity. Show her the pride of humans.”
After I threw in the charcoal, the fire somehow stabilized.
As soon as I started grilling the meat, three Alf suddenly appeared with paper plates and disposable chopsticks in their hands.
“””…”””
“I have no food to give to stray elves! Get lost!”
“””…”””
“Please don’t try to pick my cheeks with that disposable chopsticks. Don’t pull them too. And don’t try to grill it. I’m just kidding, okay? What should I do if my cheeks cannot return to normal…?”
By the way, they don’t seem to want to take off their masks even when they’re eating.
“””…”””
“Scary… A smiling pretty cure is eating meat…”
Meanwhile, Master poured BBQ sauce (golden taste)1 on the meat and ate it with white rice cooked in a rice bowl with a smile on her face. And every time the meat on the top of the rice was gone, she would look at me with upturned eyes, so I couldn’t help but continue grilling the meat to feed her.
“Onii-sama, weren’t you the one who said I can’t spoil her…?”
“Eh? Was it considered spoiling her? Are you kidding me?!”
While Rei secures my portion and starts grilling it, I continue to grill the meat for Rei, Master, and the three stray elves.
“””…”””
“Don’t just stand there, be active! Do you think of me as an automatic yakiniku machine?”
Eventually, the three stray elves, who seem to be a little afraid of smoke, started a new game of throwing meat onto nets (the grill) from afar. Of course, I banned that competition in seconds and issued a non-competitive notice to them, before continuing to grill meat diligently with Rei while filling our bellies in between.
“You inferior species!”
“””…”””
“Don’t say that, Onii-sama. You have to be patient! Although they are still holding their plates with the intention of eating, please be patient!”
After a lively lunch, I swing my legs on top of the Torii gate and think about the real identity of the fog.
Fog, fog, fog… The fog that helps me control my magic power… But why didn’t it help me control my magic just now…? Maybe it was in a bad mood…? No, there is no way a fog has thoughts, so it is impossible… In that case, there must be some conditions…
Before I knew it, there was a girl sitting next to me swinging her legs at the same time.
“Looks like you are troubled by something, boy.”
"
"
Arshariya, who wears a trench coat, whispered in a raspy voice.
Knowing it was her, I let out a sigh and– looked into the distance.
“Hmm? What are you looking– Waaaaaaaaaa….!”
I pushed the back of the lured Arshariya and pushed her down from the Torii gate. After confirming that she has landed head first, I shot Nil Arrows from above. When I saw that she had become like a hedgehog with arrows all over her body, peace finally come to my heart.
Well then, what should I do about this fog problem–
“Oi,”
Suddenly, Arshariya appeared again next to me.
“Can you just say hello instead of killing me all the time?”
“Then, please don’t casually talk to me.”
“What a big mouth, oh Your Majesty. Even though I am a savior, your savior. I even showed my beautiful face to save you, you know?”
Standing on top of the Torii gate, Arshariya spreads her arms and laughs.
“I’ll give you a hint to solve the mystery of the fog–”
“No need.”
With her hands still spread out, Arshariya’s expression stiffened.
She slowly puts her hands down and walks around before looking at me.
“Hint:–”
“Get lost.”
“…”
Hearing that, Arshariya gave up and sat next to me.
“When will you stop hating me? You and I are one. Aren’t we the same people who like to destroy Yuri– I’m just kidding, stop it! Don’t try to push me with your feet! Don’t push me down while gradually giving me fear!”
After I reluctantly forgave her, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Then, I will be approaching from another direction.”
Arshariya stretches out her index finger.
“I will give you power.”
“Power…?”
“Magic eyes.”
I opened my eyes widely.
“Can you open it?”
“I know everything about the inside of your body, after all. In other words, opening your magic eyes is an easy thing for me. However, of course, the current you may not be able to handle it, but… It could be a trump card in case of emergency.”
As the devil smiled as if inviting me, I laughed and shook my head.
“No, as expected, I don’t need it. The only emergency I could imagine is if I’d have to fight against Chris Esse Eisbert… But I don’t think I’m going to end up fighting her. So, she will remain just my imaginary opponent.”
“I wonder,”
Emerald. Her emerald eyes peered into me from the bottom of the abyss.
“If you are still the Hiiro that I know, I feel like you will end up going to kill each other with Chris.”
“No way. Come on, get lost already. You are disturbing my training.”
“Well, let me know when you feel like opening it. Because I am your wonderful partner, your one and only absolute ally.”
After driving Arshariya away, I turned my thoughts back to the fog.
“…”
As I was lost in thought, darkness already enveloped the surroundings before I knew it.
I guess this is it for today. In the end, unable to solve the mystery of the fog, I smiled wryly and returned to where Master is– And that night.
“O-Onii-sama… I-I am very sorry…”
For some reason, I was–
“… (Put my face in hot water and try to harm myself)”
–sitting back to back in the hot spring with a naked Rei.