Published: September 10, 2025
“This, this is how it is!”
“Time for a punishment, huh~?”
Tama and Pochi were kicking the corpse of the frenzied Mad Trent they had defeated.
“Hmm?”
Mia looked puzzled at their uncharacteristic behavior.
“You two, kicking a corpse isn’t very nice.”
“Ai~”
“Yes, it’s not good.”
Reprimanded by Ms. Liza, the two lowered their shoulders dejectedly.
“Pochi-chan, Tama-chan, what happened?”
“That guy was awful~!”
“He kept dropping all these prickly things during the fight, and they really hurt!”
When Lulu gently asked, they rubbed their heads against her chest and complained.
“Prickly things?”
“Oh, that’s nothing. They’re chestnut burrs!”
Mia tilted her head, and Arisa smiled broadly after spotting the source of the prickliness.
“Not chestnuts?”
“Yes! Chestnuts aren’t this mean!”
“That’s why they’re called chestnut burrs. The ‘burr’ on the outside is like this—”
Arisa skillfully stepped on a burr with both her shoes to peel it open.
“Ah! So it’s a chestnut person!”
“Unbelievable~”
Pochi and Tama’s eyes sparkled as they saw this.
They’d only ever seen the chestnuts without the burrs since they hadn’t encountered them in Seryu City.
“You two should give it a try.”
“Ai!”
“Yes, indeed! Pochi’s going to be a chestnut-peeling pro!”
Though, wouldn’t it be more accurate to say burr-peeling?
While I thought this to myself, Tama and Pochi were peeling the burrs with their armored feet.
Sometimes they misjudged and crushed the chestnuts inside, letting out shrieks.
“I’ll do it too.”
“Yes, Mia. We shall join as well.”
“Lulu, let’s all do it together.”
“Yes, Ms. Liza.”
The others joined in, enjoying the chestnut harvest.
Half of the collected chestnuts would be used for chestnut rice, and the rest boiled in hot water for snacks.
“Let’s eat right away!”
“Ai!”
“Yes, indeed!”
They split the boiled chestnuts in half and provided spoons.
“Try scooping out the chestnut meat with a spoon.”
“Scooping~”
“Delicious! It’s dangerously good!”
The children smiled after their first bite.
They should have eaten chestnuts before, but freshly boiled chestnuts tasted especially wonderful.
Everyone focused intently, scooping and eating.
Boiled chestnuts make you as silent as crab meat, don’t they?
I took one myself and ate it.
Warm and sweet. Though the labyrinth city is tropical year-round, this spot felt like autumn had arrived.
◇
“Souvenirs~”
“A gift from Master and Pochi and friends!”
A few days later, they delivered the plentiful chestnuts as souvenirs to the orphanage.
“Big acorns.”
“I’d rather have meat than nuts.”
The kids weren’t quite pleased.
“Wait~”
“That’s right! Pochi loves meat and is very happy—”
“Pochi, the main point please~”
“That’s right. Pochi got carried away and forgot to mention the important part.”
“No worries~”
Pochi had gotten caught up in carnal love for meat but was quickly corrected by Tama, averting trouble.
“So, the chestnuts are really delicious too!”
While Pochi passionately praised the chestnuts, Lulu and I boiled more chestnuts in the kitchen and brought them back.
When distributed, the children quickly became addicted to their deliciousness.
“They were tasty.”
“I want more.”
“Yes, indeed! Next time we go to the labyrinth, we’ll bring some souvenirs.”
Pochi readily agreed to the children’s requests.
Well, even if there aren’t any at the next hunting spot, it’s close to the labyrinth villa, so stopping by for souvenirs is fine.
“Ah!”
“Boys, be quiet!”
“What’s up~?”
“No fighting!”
“We’re not fighting, and besides, look! I’ve seen this before!”
One of the orphans stood up and asserted.
The Mad Trent wasn’t that strong, and chestnuts were probably sold at the labyrinth city’s market?
“The market?”
“No! It’s the forest near the Noble District!”
That must be the forest near Ivy Manor.
Since you’re allowed to pick nuts there, maybe everyone can go chestnut gathering together sometime.