Living as a Recluse Deep in the Forest - Episode 3: Dinner and Mahjong

When Aurora was fast asleep in the guest room outside and the dusk began to stain the forest a pale violet, Yuu was alone, opening a door located beneath the floorboards of the log house.

Creak, the wooden stairs groaned as he descended, a chilly draft stroking his cheeks. The basement was lined with several small rooms: a room for dried goods, a room for pickles, a room for magical tool materials—and the one he stepped into now was...

"The meat room, right."

As he opened the thick door, a puff of cold air leaked out. The interior was kept at a constant temperature by magic. Silver magic circles were engraved along the walls, emitting a faint, dim glow. Several hunks of meat were suspended from the ceiling—some were massive carcasses still on the bone, while others were blocks pre-cut into manageable sizes.

"...Looking good."

Yuu approached one of them. A magnificent hunk of meat whose surface had dried, the fat turning slightly translucent.

It was the meat of a "Destroy Horn" he had taken down about a week ago.

A ferocious bovine monster that inhabits the depths of the Demonic Great Forest. It is a creature capable of shattering a knight’s sturdy armor with a single charge and easily skewering a human on its horns—a high-ranking monster said to require multiple elites around Level 30 to defeat.

...Or so it was supposed to be.

"Last week, about three of those guys showed up. It was a total beef festival."

Yuu muttered nonchalantly as he untied the rope. He was the kind of man who took down a Destroy Horn with the same excitement one might feel upon finding a good deal on steak. As usual, his internal scale for common sense was broken. Once defeated, the meat was quickly butchered with magic and sorted by preservation method—some smoked, some turned into beef jerky, and some, like this, put through low-temperature aging.

It was far more than one person could ever eat. However, Yuu had "various uses" for it.

Experiments for preservation magic. Researching the properties of monster meat. And then, for the guests who occasionally dropped by—guests? ...Well, to fill the stomachs of Aurora and her group.

"Now, which one should I put out..."

Yuu crossed his arms, comparing the hanging meats.

"Chateaubriand... Kalbi... Loin... Sirloin..."

Muttering to himself, he touched each one to check its condition.

"Hmm. I feel like if I spoil them too much, the scouting attempts will just get more intense."

Even as he said that, his hand was firmly reaching for the "premium cuts." Yuu himself was vaguely aware of his own "softness." When he first met Aurora, she was in a terrible state—her heart worn out, desperate, her "royalty aura" cranked to the max. Her entire being screamed, "I am a Princess!" To Yuu, who had been a shut-in in the deep forest, she was honestly the "type I don't want to get involved with."

...And yet, here they were now.

(One way or another, it's already been two years.)

Yuu gave a self-deprecating chuckle as he loaded the meat onto a cart. For the first month, he had been desperate to drive her away. Halfway through, he reached a state of enlightened resignation. And then, on a winter day when the snow began to fall—he found himself building a guest room. He had mixed feelings about it.

But—.

"...Well, whatever. If they're going to eat, they might as well eat something delicious."

Telling himself that, he cut pieces starting from the premium sections: Chateaubriand, sirloin, loin, and kalbi. He had no intention of accepting their recruitment—not then, and certainly not now. He didn't have even a hair's breadth of desire to leave the forest or live in the Royal Capital.

And yet—the feeling of coldly pushing them away was nowhere to be found.

As the twilight deepened and a star or two flickered in the sky, a large iron plate was set up in front of the log house.

The iron plate, processed without a single warp, exuded a heavy weight and presence. It was something Yuu had refined with magic from high-quality iron ore gathered in the forest. In truth, it wasn't just ordinary iron.

"Divine Iron."

A Special Grade material considered the pinnacle of ores. It is said that only the legendary "Orichalcum" is superior to it. Aurora, the maids, and the guards—they all knew this plate was made of Divine Iron. When they were first told, everyone nearly fainted in earnest.

(Don't make a yakiniku grill out of materials meant for legendary-class weaponry...!)

If a blacksmith from the capital heard of this, they would undoubtedly foam at the mouth. But humans are creatures of habit. Now, when they see this plate—

"Oh! Is it yakiniku today!?"

"Yessssss!"

They simply exploded with excitement. Gluttony triumphs over all.

White smoke began to rise from the plate. Heated evenly by a magic stove, the Divine Iron plate maintained a constant temperature like the grill of a high-end teppanyaki restaurant. Yuu began to line up the thinly sliced meat. A sizzle rang out as the fat melted and danced on the iron.

Instantly, a savory aroma enveloped the area.

"Oooooh..."

"I'm already happy..."

The guards were already frozen in place, chopsticks at the ready. Aurora was struggling desperately just to swallow her saliva.

"Three types of sauce. A soy-based one, a salt-sauce, and a spicy one."

Yuu lined up small bowls on the table. The first was a sweet sauce with a soy base. Apparently made by simmering fruits and herbs, the steam alone carried an appetite-whetting scent.

The second was a refreshing salt-sauce mixed with citrus and herbs, adjusted to cut through the meat's fat and enhance its umami.

The third was a red spicy sauce—a masterpiece with a lingering heat, combining spicy herbs gathered in the forest with various spices.

"Alright, then—just take whatever's cooked."

"I've been waiting for this!"

Aurora reached out her chopsticks faster than anyone. she picked up the best-looking piece of meat that had been pushed to the edge of the grill.

"Wait, Your Highness, isn't that the best cut—"

"Finders keepers!"

She dipped it into the soy-based sauce and took a bite.

The moment she chewed, her vision went slightly white. It was tender. It was so soft she wondered if she even needed teeth, yet it had a firm elasticity when bitten; the meat fibers unraveled as a rich umami flooded her tongue.

The sauce was never too assertive. It didn't interfere with the meat's flavor; if anything, it added a layer of depth.

"...Haaah."

Aurora exhaled involuntarily.

"So... so good..."

She couldn't find the words. She could only say it was delicious. The others followed suit, bringing meat to their mouths one after another.

"This is..."

"Even though it's loin, it isn't heavy..."

"The kalbi... the fat is sweet..."

The rare Chateaubriand was particularly exceptional. Naturally, since the quantity was limited, one slice per person was the limit. If distributed fairly among the guards and maids, no more could be served. Everyone brought their single slice to their mouths as if it were a precious treasure and closed their eyes.

"Happiness is probably what you call moments like this..."

"Your Highness, I intend to risk my life to protect you for at least another ten years..."

"Master Yuu, I won't tell you to come to the Capital. I'll just visit once a month...!"

"And I keep telling you not to visit, don't I?"

Yuu spoke with an exasperated air but continued to place meat on the grill. After a while, as if suddenly remembering something, he retreated into the kitchen. He returned shortly, carrying a bottle of amber liquid and small glasses.

"Oh right. I have something I want to try out."

"...Want to try?"

"Wine. A prototype made from fruits gathered in the forest."

Aurora’s eyes lit up again.

"Wine...!"

"I tried it yesterday, and it was pretty good. Well, I don't know if it'll suit the palate of a Princess used to living in the Capital."

Giving a light shrug, he poured the wine into the glasses. No one uttered the word "poison testing." Between the guards and the maids, they had known him for two years now.

If Yuu had any ill intent—they would have become part of the forest soil a long time ago. That was a fact understood by everyone present. Therefore, no one hesitated.

"Well then—"

Aurora took a glass and brought it to her nose. The scent of fruit, a hint of acidity, and an aroma promising sweetness wafted up. She took a sip.

"............"

Everyone watched with bated breath. Eventually...

"...What is this?"

Aurora’s face melted.

"It’s too delicious...!"

Every time she rolled it over her tongue, the umami of the fruit spread, leaving a faint heat and a lingering aftertaste as it went down her throat.

"The compatibility with the meat is also..."

As a test, she put a freshly grilled piece of meat in her mouth and then washed it down with the wine. The sweetness of the fat and the acidity of the wine blended, causing the aroma and umami to expand many times over.

"The ultimate... pairing..."

Words unbefitting of royalty spilled out. The maids and guards likewise tilted their glasses and squinted their eyes in bliss.

"This is just a prototype...?"

"The wineries in the Royal Capital have my permission to cry."

"Your Highness, we must make this a national monopoly—"

"No."

Aurora cut them off immediately.

"This is Yuu's wine. We can't just claim it for the state."

"Your Highness..."

The guards laughed with unreadable expressions.

The yakiniku continued for a while longer. Meat sizzled, smoke rose into the night sky, and wine swayed in the glasses. As the stars multiplied and the forest's darkness deepened, the laughter and conversation grew increasingly lively. Just a short distance away was the dangerous Demonic Great Forest, where monsters still prowled and a single wrong step could cost a life.

But in this small clearing alone—

Filled with the Divine Iron plate, aged meat, homemade wine, and the laughter of the world's greatest shut-in mage and his friends.

It was the happiest and most peaceful place in the world.

The night forest possessed a different kind of silence than the day.

Above, a sky full of stars peeked through the gaps in the branches, and from the depths of the forest, a distant roar could occasionally be heard. However, the area around Yuu's log house was as calm as a separate world.

An invisible wall separated them from the outside.

The barrier Yuu had erected regulated the airflow and kept the temperature constant. Within this barrier, no one could set foot unless permitted by Yuu. An ultra-superior barrier magic that even the High Priest of the Capital couldn't cast. A "規格外" (out-of-spec) defense that could potentially tip the power balance of nations. The guards knew the sense of security that barrier provided all too well. Moreover, a cabin had been prepared for the guards. Aside from the guest room where the women—Aurora and the others—stayed, it served as the sleeping quarters for the men. Yet, despite that, the guards chose to pitch tents outside.

"It's a good chance to practice camping."

"We don't want our combat instincts to grow dull."

As they spoke and prepared their beds, the barrier quietly covered them. Under the starlit sky, the air was cool and the breeze was pleasant. This alone was enough.

Meanwhile, inside the log house...

"Ron." "Riichi." "Pon." "The Dora hit... fufu."

In a different sense, a life-and-death exchange was unfolding.

In the center of the table was a wooden board. On all four sides, smooth white tiles were lined up in an orderly fashion. Both the Mahjong tiles and the table were items Yuu had created with magic. He claimed the hardness and weight were almost identical to his previous world—but a craftsman of this world would undoubtedly weep at the precision. And surrounding that table were...

"...Why are the two maids in the lead?"

North seat, Yuu. He was staring down at his hand with narrowed eyes.

East and West were the maids. South was Aurora.

The game was in the South 2nd Round. The two maids were currently fighting for the top spot.

Aurora and her party had completely mastered the rules of Mahjong over the last two years. At first, they had clutched their heads over terms like "Naki," "Tenpai," and "Furiten," but now they were respectable players. Aurora was seriously agonizing over whether to introduce this game to the Royal Capital. Because it was too interesting, it seemed likely to be used for gambling and cause problems—there were more than a few nights where she fell asleep while drafting potential legal regulations. Regardless, the hanchan in front of her was what mattered now.

(This is bad. Very bad.)

Yuu almost let his eyes bulge but held it in.

(I can't believe the Princess and I are fighting for last place... But this hand is just too terrible...!)

In his hand were scattered number tiles and isolated honor tiles. The shape was bad, and there were no Dora. No matter how he looked at it, he couldn't see a future where he made a comeback. Meanwhile, Aurora in the South seat also had deep wrinkles etched between her brows.

(Argh, what is this hand? Literally a 'trash hand'! What am I supposed to do with this...!?)

Her hand was equally abysmal. A total garbage hand. It would have been better if more terminal tiles had gathered so she could aim for Kokushi Musou. However, even if she tried to advance the hand, she was only ending up with tiles that would become dangerous in the future.

In contrast, the two maids were the picture of calm. The maid in the East seat spoke in a quiet voice.

"Pon."

She grabbed a white tile from the table and lined it up at the corner of her board. A quick move. An offensive aimed at securing her lead and ending the round early.

(She called it...! Even with that lead, she’s still pushing forward...)

Yuu groaned inwardly. After that, the East maid continued with "Chi" and "Pon," making three calls in total. In an instant, the atmosphere of a Tenpai (ready hand) drifted from her. Immediately, the maid in the West seat shuffled her hand into order.

"Riichi."

She slammed a tile onto the table with a clack. Points moved, and a betting stick was placed on the board.

With that one word, the atmosphere changed.

A strong pressure. The sharp eyes of a pursuer who wouldn't let the leader escape.

(With such a shortened hand, can you actually pull it off...?)

The East maid’s expression didn't crumble even against the Riichi. Her movement stopped for only a second. Immediately, she grabbed a tile from her hand and discarded it. There was no flinching or fear. Deep in her eyes, a light shone as if to say, "Don't think you can stop me with just that."

And then, the two in the battle for last: Yuu and Aurora. Both were still three steps away from Tenpai. It wasn't even worth discussing. Furthermore, they had no obvious safe tiles. Every tile visible on the board was half-baked. No "suji" were clear, and the "walls" were thin.

(What the hell am I supposed to do...)

Yuu desperately suppressed the urge to clutch his head as he stared at his hand.

(Even if I try to fold, I can't fold completely... If I push recklessly here, I'll definitely be someone's prey. But if I stay like this, last place is guaranteed...)

Aurora was plagued by a similar conflict.

(This point difference, this turn... If I avoid the fight here, last place is basically set. In that case—)

A bead of sweat traced down her temple.

(I have no choice but to go for it here...!)

Aurora gripped her tiles tightly. Then, she looked up just a little bit.

"...Argh, for the sake of victory, I shall venture into the jaws of death! The way out lies only forward!"

"Stop it, don't set a flag!"

Yuu’s retort flew, but Aurora’s fingers didn't stop. After a moment's thought, she picked up a "pinzu" tile that hadn't been discarded once. Completely "musuji" (untested/dangerous).

(Please pass...!)

With a prayer-like feeling, she threw the tile onto the table. Clack.

"Ron."

A quiet voice. The East maid narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Ron."

Another voice overlapped. The West maid gave a smirk.

"............"

Time at the table stopped for a moment.

"A double Ron, isn't it?"

The West maid said smoothly. The East maid also calmly revealed her hand.

Both had decent scores. East was a steady win mixed with called tiles. West was a high score with Riichi, Dora, and Sanshoku.

Calculating the total payment...

"...Princess, you've 'flown'."

Yuu announced softly.

"In South Round 2, the game is over."

"It ends with that one tile!?"

Aurora nearly slid off her chair.

The point sticks had been cleanly blown away, and Aurora’s points had entered the negative region. Ending in the middle of the South Rounds—it was what they called "Tobu" (flying/bankrupt).

The result: the East maid secured the win and kept her lead. The West maid, while looking frustrated, was in second place with a score nearly tied.

"Darn it... that last win, if even one 'Ura-Dora' had hit, it would have been a comeback!"

"That was dangerous. A victory by a hair's breadth is exactly what this was."

The two maids had been in a heated battle for the top spot. If a single tile had been different, the outcome would have changed... it was a battle of that caliber.

But the two fighting for last place were different. Yuu barely managed to avoid last place. His points were a pathetic sight. Aurora was a tragic, "flown" last. It wasn't even worth looking at.

The contrast between the winners and losers was far too vivid.

"..."

Yuu and Aurora stared at the tiles in a daze for a while. The silence was broken by the West maid.

"Still, Your Highness, wasn't that tile of yours a dangerous one no matter how you looked at it?"

"I knew! I knew that! But there are times when a person must go!"

"Could you stop trying to pass dangerous tiles using those kinds of noble excuses...?"

Yuu let his shoulders slump in defeat.

"Well, I was in a similar situation, so it's not like I'm completely uninvolved... If I had made one mistake, I would have been the one flying."

"Fufu..."

The winning maid gave a small laugh.

"Today's results: East victory, West a close second. North barely survived, and South..."

"Stop phrasing it like that."

"In terms of a battlefield, would it be 'one dead, one seriously injured'?"

"I said stop it!"

Aurora began to gather the tiles frantically in her frustration.

"One more time! We're doing another hanchan! This time, I will take the top spot!"

"Your Highness, we have to depart early tomorrow morning, you know?"

"Your Highness, staying up too late is a bit..."

"Quiet! How can I sleep while I'm still losing!?"

The maids exchanged glances and, while letting out sighs, began to restack the tiles. Yuu also picked up the dice with a wry smile.

"Fine, fine. Then this is the last one. If we do any more than this, I'm skipping breakfast tomorrow."

"That is a life-or-death issue... Very well, let us settle it in this final match!"

"The Princess really is the most honest when it comes to food..."

The banter continued.

Whether or not to introduce Mahjong to the Royal Capital.

How to handle the legal regulations against gambling.

Even Aurora, who usually agonized over such things, was now—for this moment only—simply a player, staring only at the wall of tiles before her.

Prev            TOC            Next