Published: September 9, 2025
This is Satou.
Back in the days when games were sold on ROM cartridges or CDs, "master up" meant development was finished. Nowadays, with version updates and the like, the work never really ends. The worst part is getting requests when you've already forgotten the content.
◇
The tickling sensation of hair on my nose pulls me back from sleep.
This must be Mia.
Just let me sleep a little longer.
To stop Mia’s mischief, I reach out blindly and grab her, hugging her close.
Huh?
This isn’t right. This isn’t Mia. The one moaning "au au" must be the High Elf herself. That soft feeling isn’t something Mia can produce.
I probably should feel guilty about this, but I don’t have enough reason to let go just yet. Drifting in and out of sleep, my ears delight in the wonderful touch and cute voice as I fall back into blissful slumber.
◇
“Wake up~!”
“Mmm.”
“Master, it’s morning. Um, please get up.”
The feeling of my hair and cheeks being pulled gradually rouses me from deep sleep.
“We estimate a high level of fatigue. Please rest.”
“It’s true, Master rarely wakes up late in the morning, so you must be tired.”
I hear Liza and Nana’s worried voices. It’s okay, I’m just a bit sleepy. Five more minutes. No, ten minutes would be better.
“Tired, huh~?”
“Do you want me to call Zena?”
What would calling Zena achieve?
“Mmm, Aze.”
“That’s right, erof. Stop enjoying yourself and move aside already~”
“Ugh, but, but, I can’t move. It can’t be helped. I can’t move.”
Mia and Arisa are being scolded by Aarize for something. Maybe they emptied the snack container again?
Speaking of which, Aarize’s voice is close.
When I barely open my eyes, Aarize’s face, flushed bright red, is right in front of me. Isn’t that a bit too close?
“Good morning.”
“G-good morning.”
What’s going on here?
Even though I’m lying in bed, Aarize is on top of me. Arisa and Mia are also in sight, so this can’t be some ongoing attack.
“Stop hugging me all the time and let go~”
“Satou.”
Following Arisa and Mia’s movements as they grab my hand, I shift it. Wait? Did I capture Aarize while half-asleep?
“My apologies.”
“N-no, it can’t be helped if you’re half-asleep!”
I help Aarize, who can’t quite get up on her own, to sit properly on the bed after escaping my grasp.
While I recover enough to stand, Arisa and Mia hold a guilt festival. I hope they show leniency since I was half-asleep.
◇
“So, did you achieve your goal in the Duke’s Capital?”
“Yeah, perfectly.”
I got the fukujinzuke and adjusted the curry powder just right!
For some reason, Arisa’s gaze turns frosty.
Since mentioning fukujinzuke here might get me told to “sit properly,” I sneak a peek at the scroll I got from the scroll workshop.
I had already contacted them several times by “telephone” magic from the Duke’s Capital. This magic’s effective range depends on skill level, so Arisa’s “telephone” couldn’t reach because it was too far away.
For breakfast, I made a kind of French toast.
I didn’t have vanilla essence, but more importantly, the bread was too hard, so it didn’t turn out great. I’d been eating rice too much recently, so I wanted some bread.
“You want soft bread?”
“Why don’t you ask Kua? She mentioned something about natural yeast.”
Apparently, there is soft bread like that.
Come to think of it, I’ve only been cooking for them but haven’t tried the Elf Village’s local cuisine. Next time, I’ll go with Lulu to get recipes from Mia’s mother.
◇
After breakfast, Lady Lua came by and shared her observation results from the lookout. Since she didn’t want the jellyfish issue widely known, she was led to the reception room instead of the living room. Not only Lua but also Aarize, whose face still hasn’t cleared of redness, came along.
“So, the Ice Cage held the jellyfish for a day and a half, and the Stone Cage for two days. Both intermediate and advanced space magic cages by Aze-sama are still intact.”