Published: September 9, 2025
Correction made on 5/19.
This is Satou. Living in the city, I feel like I rarely see plants other than street trees and houseplants.
Sometimes, when I take a walk in the park, it’s refreshing, but after an all-nighter, I almost get stopped for questioning, which is a bit of a flaw.
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"Alright, let's depart!"
"Aye~"
"Roger that! Indeed!!!"
At Miss Karina’s call, Tama responded leisurely as usual, but Pochi replied with an even louder voice than usual.
It sounded a bit desperate—probably stress from abstaining from meat.
From now on, when punishing them by cutting out meat, I’ll limit it to two days.
"Tomorrow, we’ll have a full-course meat festival from morning, so do your best today."
"Gah! I’ll do my best!"
Pochi’s eyes regained their sparkle as she clenched her fists and renewed her determination.
"Full course?"
"Yes. Starting with appetizers and three kinds of roast beef, then shabu-shabu, fried chicken, teriyaki chicken, beef stew, and don’t forget a thick steak at the end. Of course, there are seven flavors of hamburg steak, ranging from traditional Japanese style to Western style. We’ll have shrimp and crab dishes as palate cleansers and finish off with sukiyaki."
Every time I described the dishes, Pochi’s tail wagged faster.
"Ah… I’m so excited I feel like I might burst!"
"Excited~"
"That sounds wonderful. To work up an appetite, I’ll join you for today’s labyrinth exploration."
Along with Pochi, who started pacing around with Tama because she couldn’t express her happiness properly, Liza also started thumping her tail on the floor energetically, probably excited about the meat festival.
You really like meat that much?
Waving them off, I told the beast girls to do their best.
Elina and the others being dragged along by Miss Karina looked a bit pitiful, but I encouraged them as well saying they were invited to the meat festival, so hang in there.
◇
"Mr. Satou, the weather is nice today."
"Yes, it’s a rare cloudy day with a comfortable sunshine."
I came to pick up Ms. Zena and the labyrinth selection team at the mansion they were staying in, but Zena seemed unusually tense waiting at the gate.
Hmm?
Why is she nervous all of a sudden?
Getting off the carriage we borrowed for today’s date, I escorted Zena.
Ririo and the other selection members, whom I didn’t know, were peeking curiously from beyond the gate, so maybe she was embarrassed.
An old coachman placed a stepping stool on the ground to help Zena, wearing a skirt, get into the carriage.
He was dispatched from the cabmen’s guild; though quiet and unfriendly, his skillful handling and unexpected attentiveness always made me choose him when using a carriage.
"Ms. Zena, did you have breakfast?"
"Y-yes."
Even when I spoke, her response was a little slow.
Perhaps she was still not feeling well?
"If you’re not fully recovered, shall we postpone going out?"
"No, I’m fine."
She didn’t look very okay, so I decided to have her refresh herself in a scenic spot.
I instructed the old coachman to head to the park in front of Ivy Manor.
◇
"I never knew this city had such abundant nature."
"Nearby is a facility created by a person called the Elf sage that pumps water up to the surface. The nature here thrives as a byproduct of that."
Telling Zena, who narrowed her eyes admiring the trees and lawn in the park, what I had heard from Leliril.
Actually, they draw not only water but also mana from the ley lines.
Anyway, since Zena seemed to regain her vitality, let’s take a little walk here.
I told the coachman to stop near the entrance grassland of the park.
"Shall we take a short walk?"
"Yes, gladly."
"This walking path is cool; I’m sure you’ll feel better."
I told the coachman to wait and took Zena’s hand, strolling slowly along the shady path.
"Mr. Satou..."
"Yes?"
Zena called my name hesitantly, and I didn’t rush her but just nodded, waiting for her words to form.
Thanks to the morning dew’s evaporative cooling, it was pleasantly cool.
Also, the birds chirping through the trees’ gaps were gentle on the ears.