Published: September 9, 2025
Satou here. These aren’t beast girls, but I do like meat. Actually, aside from vegetarians, I guess there aren’t many people who dislike meat.
Unrelated, but I once saw an illustration in a light novel I read long ago where the heroine’s silhouette was labeled simply as “meat.”
Meat is just... great.
◇
“Phew, I feel so refreshed.”
“Please wait, Miss Karina, your waist sash isn’t tied yet.”
“Miss Karina, don’t move until your hair is dry~”
In the bathhouse of the main building, Miss Karina and Elina, who had been soaking away the weariness of travel, entered the room.
We usually wear bathrobes after bathing, but I certainly didn’t expect her to come into the living room wearing just that.
Miss Karina wore a knee-length robe, so her waist was covered, but her chest was a different matter.
It looked like you’d get sucked into a deep cleavage.
Ah, the demon whispered in my ear. It was like Adam’s state of mind when tempted by the serpent to reach for the “fruit of knowledge”—
“Guilty. ■■■■ Darkness.”
—The happy scene was cut off by Mia’s spirit magic, creating a curtain of darkness.
I won’t forget that image anytime soon.
Absolutely not!
“What? Magic?”
“Shameless.”
“Right? Using such a cheat weapon to seduce someone is no good.”
“Miss Karina, that outfit is a bit too stimulating. I’m sorry, but please change into this one-piece dress.”
Mia and Arisa complained, and Lulu chimed in with some support, leaving Miss Karina confused.
Since this conversation took place behind the curtain of darkness created by Mia’s magic, we couldn’t see what was happening.
Of course, if I used clairvoyance, I could see through, but that would be peeping, so I held back.
◇
After Mia’s magic was lifted, Miss Karina returned to the room, now securely guarded at the chest.
They apparently didn’t bring any clothes other than their travel attire, and the only spare was the dress Miss Karina had worn earlier.
Since it felt pitiful to make her put back on the dirty travel clothes after bathing, I gave Nana’s and Lulu’s spare clothes to her for the day.
I won’t say where exactly, but those clothes looked a little tight. The fabric was screaming in protest.
“I’ll have the tailor come by tomorrow morning to make you a new one, so please bear with that outfit for today.”
“I have a dress I received before, so there’s no need for a new one.”
Miss Karina bluntly rejected my offer.
Maybe it was because she’d just come out of the bath or because of her earlier appearance in the bathrobe, but her cheeks were tinged with a faint cherry blossom pink, and she looked a bit alluring.
“The prefect’s wife sent an invitation to a dinner and tea party, so I can’t attend wearing the same dress, can I?”
“I won’t be attending. Please send my regrets.”
Since that wasn’t really an option, after some back and forth, I convinced her to agree to have new equipment and weapons made for the labyrinth expedition.
There was one more thing.
“In five days, we depart for the Royal Capital for the kingdom council. I’ve received instructions jointly from Baron Muno and Regent Nina that Miss Karina should accompany us.”
“I don’t want to!”
“It’s decided.”
“N-no.”
Miss Karina threw a childish tantrum.
“Karina, you’re being selfish~?”
“If I don’t fulfill my duty properly, Kenri will get mad!”
Pochi and Tama came to her defense, but their persuasion was a bit strange.
“After the kingdom council, you can just come back to Labyrinth City.”
“But won’t they tell us to return to the Barony right away?”
I wouldn’t mind that, but after such a long journey, arriving only to turn around in five days would be tough.
“I’ll support you then.”
“Absolutely!”
I’ll provide support.
Though I can’t promise she’ll definitely make it back to Labyrinth City.
◇
“Meat, why are you meat?”
Pochi gazed at a picture book’s illustration of meat, lost in thought.
Was the meatless meal earlier that shocking?