Living as a Recluse Deep in the Forest - Episode 1: The Usual Routine

 The summer forest is noisy.

Between the rustle of the trees and the chirping of insects, the distant roars of beasts and the sound of something massive toppling a tree echoed through the air. Any ordinary person would be moved to tears, wanting to go home after only three steps; an atmosphere of combined unpleasantness and danger filled every corner.

—And yet.

"Hurry up! We’ll be late!"

"Hee... hee...! P-P-Princess... please, a moment's rest...!"

A single white cloak cut straight through that hellish forest.

Leading the way was a woman with golden hair that sparkled as it reflected the sunlight, tied up in a high ponytail. A slender longsword hung at her hip, and light plate armor sat upon her shoulders. With every movement, the dull sound of metal and leather rang out.

Aurora Will Mira Australis.

The second princess of the great southern nation of Australis, a young swordswoman, and one of the continent's preeminent magic users.

Behind her, the escort knights were drenched in sweat, practically being dragged along as they ran. These were elites who had achieved famed military feats, but in this forest, they were nothing more than "humans who hadn't died yet."

"Your Highness! They're coming from the right!"

"I know!"

Tearing through the underbrush, a black wolf lunged. Its eyes glowed red, its fangs bared and glistening. Its gaze ignored the escorts entirely, aiming straight for the princess.

In an instant.

Aurora’s cloak fluttered. Before the sound of her sword being drawn could even register, she had already stepped forward. A swung silver arc traced the wolf’s neck.

A spray of blood. A groan. A shadow collapsing to the ground.

"...Phew. Once you get this far in, you get used to the monsters."

"No one... 'gets used' to this, Your Highness... pant, pant..."

One of the escorts, breathing heavily, protested with tearful eyes.

However, Aurora didn't seem to care. She scanned the surroundings and let her lips curl into a smile.

"I see it. Look—"

Beyond the trees, a "hole" had opened up in the canopy.

It was a space where the Great Trees ended, allowing the sunlight to pour directly onto the ground. Here alone, the heavy atmosphere of the forest grew thin; a well-tilled field and a house built of logs stood quietly.

A log-house style home. Beside it, a small field. Neatly arranged rows of vegetables. At the back of the field, a well built of stacked stones. Depending on how you looked at it, it was just a small house you could find anywhere in the countryside.

—Provided, of course, that this wasn't the middle of a magical wilderness where no human had ever trodden.

"Hah... we made it..."

"I’m alive... I actually made it here alive..."

"I think this every time, but are we not heroes for being able to reach this place?"

"I don't need the honor of being a hero. I just want a cool room and a cold drink."

As the escorts muttered their own various complaints, Aurora breathed in the air, which felt entirely different from the forest's.

The smell of well-dried wood. The scent of wheat, soil, and water. A fragrance that was somehow savory and nostalgic.

With a beaming smile, she ran toward the house and began banging loudly on the front door.

"Hey! Yuu! It’s me! The Princess is here! Open up!"

Her voice was loud enough to echo through the entire forest.

Seeing this, the escorts didn't even try to stop her, thinking, Ah, here we go again. They knew that even if they tried, she wouldn't listen.

After a moment, the door opened with a creak.

A black-haired young man appeared from within.

He looked to be about twenty-two. His features were strangely "refined"—different from the local commoners or the nobles of the capital—and he was dressed casually. His messy black hair was tied back at his shoulders, and he wore a short-sleeved shirt with pants that looked easy to move in.

Only his eyes looked incredibly sleepy and... somewhat judgmental.

"What... you're back again? It hasn't even been a month."

Yuu Yowatari.

An extraordinary mage living all alone in this great forest.

An eccentric recluse hiding away in this vast, monster-infested sea of trees.

Aurora puffed out her cheeks.

"It’s been nearly a month! What kind of attitude is that to show a guest who has traveled all this way!?"

"I mean, it's not like I asked you to come... Seriously, every single time, don't you ever get bored of this?"

"Hmph. I never get bored! You know exactly why I'm here, don't you?"

Yuu let out a heavy sigh, ignoring the princess as she puffed out her chest with pride.

"Good grief... ah, everyone in the escort. You can leave your luggage in 'the usual spot.' I’ll bring out some barley tea."

The escorts’ faces lit up simultaneously.

"The usual spot, understood!"

"Oh, God... Oh, Master Yuu..."

"I wonder what flavor the barley tea is today..."

"The flavor is barley. Because it’s barley tea."

Muttering the retort under his breath, Yuu disappeared into the back of the house.

The escorts, thoroughly accustomed to the routine, began carrying their luggage to a shack built beside the house. Though simple, it had a roof and a floor to shield them from the elements. It was a guest hut rumored to be more comfortable than the inns in the royal capital.

Once they finished dropping off their things, they sat down under the eaves of the house.

Several chairs and tables were placed there—furniture the escorts knew well.

"Ah... I’m coming back to life..."

"This place really is a different world."

"The difficulty level of this forest is definitely a balancing error..."

Tired voices rose from all over, but Yuu and Aurora had seen this too many times and simply let the words pass them by.

"Well then, excuse me!"

Aurora, leading her maids, stomped into the house.

Immediately, her face softened.

"Mmm, the 'Air Conditioner' is so cool after all this time!"

Inside the room, a cold breeze flowed at a steady strength.

Despite the windows being closed, the air wasn't stagnant; it was crisp and fresh. A box-shaped magical tool installed near the ceiling was breathing out the cool wind.

The maids were hesitant at first, but having visited two or three times, they had grown used to it. Now, they quietly but surely pulled their chairs within the range of the breeze.

"Your Highness, if you sit that far forward, the others won't be able to..."

"It’s fine, isn't it? I got here first. First come, first served."

"...The Princess’s logic is occasionally very commoner-like, isn't it?"

Ignoring the whispering maids, Yuu was clinking around with some tools in front of a mysterious workbench that could only be called a kitchen.

After a while, a pitcher of water with ice, several cups, and some baked sweets were lined up on a tray.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Today is barley tea and 'pseudo-cookies'."

"Pseudo?"

"I don't have baking powder or anything, so I did my best with substitutes. Don't complain, okay?"

Even as he said it, Yuu poured the barley tea into the cups.

The ice clinked, and the amber liquid rippled. The temperature difference caused a light mist of condensation to form on the surface of the cups.

Aurora’s eyes sparkled at that alone.

"I’ll dig in!"

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

She drained half of it in one go and let out a long breath.

"...This brings me back to life."

"The escorts said the exact same thing."

"Coming back to life has nothing to do with being a noble or a commoner. Before a cold drink, everyone is equal."

"Was that famous quote in a history textbook somewhere?"

Giving a half-hearted response, Yuu lined up the baked sweets on a plate.

The maids each took a cup as well, bringing it to their lips with gratitude. Seeing their expressions soften in an instant, Yuu glanced at them—and then turned his gaze toward the princess.

"So? What’s the business today? Coming all this way in this heat, is there something going on?"

Aurora put down her cup and straightened her back.

Finally, she wore the face of a "princess."

"Ah, listen to this! Actually, a foreign ship has arrived at the port, and the country is in an uproar—"

"...Huh?"

Yuu blinked, still holding the plate in one hand.

"A foreign ship? From the southern sea? Not from one of the trading nations?"

"It seems they have a sail emblem no one has ever seen, and a ship shape no one has ever seen. The hull is painted black, and there's a strange statue of a beast on the bow. Their language is different from ours, too. I hear the translators are struggling."

Aurora’s eyes took on a slightly serious tone.

At that change, Yuu finally understood: Ah, this is actually a pretty big deal.

"Heh... that kind of event is usually a 'national crisis' flag in games."

"Flag?"

"Never mind, just talking to myself."

He set the plate on the table and took a sip of his own barley tea. As the coldness slid down his throat, he lined up several possibilities in his head.

"So, did these foreigners do something?"

"Apparently, they haven't done anything yet. However..."

Aurora paused and laced her fingers together on the table.

"They possessed sea charts and routes entirely different from our own. The scholars who saw those records all say the same thing—"

A beat.

"—that there is a high possibility a 'much larger world' stretches out beyond this continent."

The air in the room felt slightly heavier.

The ice in the barley tea clinked.

"Well, if the planet is round, there’s bound to be other continents across the sea..."

Yuu shrugged.

It had been eight years since he was transported to this "world." The starry sky looked similar yet different to what he knew, and the maps only marked the areas outside this continent as "unrecorded." Just like the great forest where no human had trodden, he understood in his head that it wasn't that they didn't "exist," but that people simply "didn't know."

However, hearing the princess's story, a small stir of excitement felt deep in his chest.

"And then?"

"His Majesty the King is watching the situation cautiously. But the nobles are all stirred up. 'It’s a new trading partner,' 'We should form a friendship,' 'No, they might actually attack us'—the meetings are in chaos every day."

"Yeah, well... humans are like that."

Yuu laughed with somewhat detached eyes.

He suddenly remembered that the news in his previous world was much the same.

"And so, I thought."

Aurora leaned forward slightly from her chair and looked straight at Yuu.

"In times like these, the ones we should rely on are not the court mages or the scholars—"

"No, rely on them first. Isn't your order of operations a bit off?"

"—but the world's greatest mage, who is silently continuing his training deep in this forest!"

"It was off."

Yuu retorted immediately.

However, Aurora didn't seem to mind and puffed out her chest.

"With your mana and wisdom, you could surely see through what those foreigners are thinking. You might even be able to tell what lies across the sea."

"Don't talk about me like I’m some kind of all-purpose appraisal machine..."

That said, he understood what she was trying to say.

In these eight years, Yuu had analyzed everything he saw and heard with magic, organizing the laws of this world in his own way. Every time he created a magical tool that the researchers in the capital wouldn't even dream of, he had somehow come to be called "the world's greatest" by Aurora.

Though he personally just wanted to live in peace.

"So, you're here to scout me again?"

"Of course!"

Aurora leaned in further without missing a beat.

"Now is the time to come to the royal capital, Yuu. Use your power for the sake of the country—"

"No."

"Don't refuse without even considering it!"

An immediate answer.

And it was a voice that didn't feel like it had a shred of doubt.

"Because the capital is hot. There are too many people. There are too many troublesome things."

"The capital would cry if it heard that..."

"It’s cool here, it's quiet, and while there’s no internet, I can research magic to my heart's content."

"In-ter-net?"

"Just talking to myself."

Yuu leaned his elbow on the table and rested his cheek on his hand.

"A foreign ship came? Hmm, well, I guess that's amazing. But I don't really care about the size of the world. As long as I don't leave the forest, it doesn't matter how much the world expands."

"...Even so."

Aurora’s voice grew slightly softer.

"This forest will eventually reach its limit. The monsters might become too strong, or the miasma might grow thick. Something might come from across the sea, and the continent itself might be shaken."

"You're exaggerating again."

"I might be. But I am a princess. I must act assuming the worst."

A serious tone.

In these two years, Yuu had grown quite used to it—but still, when she wore her "royal face" like this, it made him feel a little uncomfortable.

"...And?"

"So, I want you to at least listen to the story."

Aurora gave a small bow of her head.

A princess bowing her head to a single shut-in mage in the depths of the forest. The escorts and maids surely knew how extraordinary an act it was, but no one intervened.

They had all seen this scene many times before.

"I brought copies of the route records and the foreign script. You might be able to figure something out from them. I won't tell you to come to the capital right now."

"You just said it though?"

"Don't sweat the small stuff. Anyway—"

Aurora gave a grin.

"For today at least, let’s drink barley tea and talk about the world."

Yuu was silent for a while, poking the ice in his barley tea with his finger.

Clink. The ice swayed.

The world outside the forest.

The world outside the continent.

Another "unknown," different from the world he originally came from.

It certainly tickled his curiosity, just a little.

"...Well, if it's just listening, I guess it’s fine."

He muttered softly.

"Alright, it’s a deal!"

Aurora clapped her hands.

The escorts peeked in from outside with faces that said, It’s started, and the maids quietly took out their writing materials.

At the same time, a new bundle of papers was placed on the table.

Rows of strange characters written with strong curves and dots.

Beside them was a copy of a costume diagram drawn with colorful cloth. A turban-like headcloth, a long tunic, and loose pants. A thin belt at the waist, and metal decorations on the ears and neck.

Yuu sat back deeply in his chair and flipped through the papers with one hand while holding his cup.

"Hooo..."

His gaze alone ran quickly over the paper.

"...This looks a lot like Hindi."

At those words, the maids all blinked in unison.

"Hin...?"

"Di...?"

None of it made any sense to them.

But the fact that unknown words were coming out of his mouth so fluently was terrifying enough.

Yuu didn't seem to notice and moved his gaze to the next page.

"So, the foreigners' clothes are... hmm, I see. So the country across the sea is a desert."

He picked up the costume diagram and tilted it slightly as he continued.

"The way the cloth is layered, and the lack of skin exposure. And this wrapping around the head. To keep out sand and sun. And there was pepper and such in the cargo, right?"

The maid’s shoulder twitched.

"P-Pepper... there was."

"Besides that, the smell of spices was so strong that the port warehouse was in trouble for a while..."

The sound of collective gasps echoed around the table.

With just a few copies of the script and information on the clothing—Yuu had deduced the climate of the foreign land and even the contents of their cargo.

Aurora whistled with a face that was half-impressed and half-exasperated.

"As expected. Hearing one and knowing ten. You truly are a sage. I want you for my country more and more."

"Complimenting me won't get you anything."

Yuu looked at Aurora with judgmental eyes while taking a sip of barley tea.

"I’m not going, okay? I’m here because I hate things like the nobility and their systems."

"You're a stingy man as always."

This time, it was Aurora who turned a narrow-eyed gaze toward him.

"Even though the second princess herself is guaranteeing you honor and status."

"I’m here because I have no interest in honor or status."

Yuu replied flatly while flipping through the foreign materials.

"Even so, this script... it’s quite similar to India's. If the religious aspects are the same too, this could be pretty bad."

"India?"

At the unfamiliar word, Aurora raised an eyebrow.

"Is the foreign country across the sea a place you know, Yuu?"

"It’s not the same. But it’s very similar."

Yuu took his eyes off the paper and cast a brief glance out the window.

Under the eaves, the escorts were sitting in their chairs with cups in hand, looking happy as they said, "So cold..." and "So good..."

"...It’s just that the country I know is one where religion is deeply rooted in daily life."

The words spilled out quietly.

"There are also quite a few 'taboos' regarding food. If you were to serve one of their 'taboos' at the dinner table without knowing, it’s the kind of thing that could start a bloodbath."

The maids all swallowed at once.

The air grew tense in an instant, making the sound of their swallowing feel strangely loud.

While her expression didn't change much, Aurora narrowed her eyes seriously.

"The capital's diplomats are handling things cautiously... That said, a bloodbath level, huh? Beyond just likes and dislikes. As expected, even we hadn't considered that."

"The Princess’s country is very relaxed when it comes to food culture, after all."

Yuu shrugged.

"Be it beast or fish, alcohol or milk, it’s all 'if it tastes good, it's fine!' Well, thanks to that—or maybe because of it—you guys eat the food I make like there's no tomorrow."

"Of course we do!"

Aurora’s face lit up instantly.

"Because the food you make is delicious! And here, we don't have to worry about stiff manners! The temperature is comfortable in both summer and winter..."

She leaned in close and gave a silly grin.

"Mmm, I wonder if you’ll come after all? Hmm? Please? Come to the capital and make an air conditioner for my room too!"

"No."

Yuu refused flatly without a moment's hesitation.

"I like my freedom. I hate the stiff life of living in a palace."

"I’ll guarantee your freedom—"

Aurora pushed even further.

"I’ll give you special privileges! Come on, how about 'free entry anywhere in the capital,' or 'exemption from troublesome greetings,' or 'priority adoption of Yuu’s recipes in the cafeteria'—"

"No."

He cut her off again.

"Besides, you shouldn't be saying things like that as a princess."

Yuu set the bundle of papers on the table and tapped them neatly with his finger.

"What are you going to do if you create the risk of collapsing the nobility system itself? A royal must not create exceptions. You of all people should keep that in line."

His tone was flat.

However, the content of his words was so sound that even an old noble in the capital would have nodded in agreement.

"If you use royal privilege to give a young guy like me special treatment, it will definitely cause resentment. Rumors like 'he's the princess's favorite so he can do whatever he wants' will increase like crazy."

"..."

In contrast, Aurora looked at him with an exasperated gaze.

"Yuu... you really are solid about these things. That way of thinking is actually quite noble-like."

The maids standing nearby also nodded repeatedly.

"Indeed..."

"In terms of drawing a line between ranks, or roles... you might care about those things more than Her Highness."

"Her Highness steps over the line quite often, after all..."

"Hey, I can hear you!"

Aurora glared at them lightly, but the maids were used to it and immediately composed their expressions.

They all thought the same thing.

Yuu never wanted status or power.

However, he understood the weight of status and power very well.

What the nobility exists for.

When royal privileges should be exercised.

There were moments when he seemed to understand those things even more than someone born and raised in this world.

(...Is he actually a high-born person from some far-off land?)

Such suspicions were shared not only by the maids but also secretly among the escorts outside.

This level of knowledge.

His outstanding skill in magic.

And the "strength" to live carefree in the middle of a forest infested with ferocious monsters.

No matter how you thought about it, he wasn't just an ordinary person from a village.

That was exactly why Aurora continued her persistent scouting.

—Because she didn't want to lose him to people from another country.

"Well, the reason I won't go to the capital isn't so much about the nobility system as it is—"

Yuu drained his barley tea and added new ice as he continued softly.

"—it's just a pain."

"You ruined it with your true feelings at the very end!?"

Aurora retorted immediately.

Chuckles leaked from the maids.

Outside, an escort held up an empty cup.

"Excuse me, if there's any more...!"

"Since a while ago, 'I want to live here' is the only thought I've had..."

The air conditioner's breeze was cool, the barley tea quenched their thirst, and only the rustling of the forest sounded in the distance.

No one would have ever thought that this young man was a "Japanese person who had been transported from another world."

That was, as expected, something far outside their imagination.

The only thing that could be said was—

The foreign ships from across the sea.

The chaotic meetings in the capital.

The deserts and taboo religions.

For this moment alone, all of them were nothing more than slightly ominous, slightly exciting topics for a summer afternoon chat between "the world's greatest shut-in mage," "the second princess," and "the maids."

Once they had finished talking, the air around the table settled down a bit.

Each of the maids placed a board on her lap and began scribbling with a pen.

What they were writing down were the various points of caution regarding the foreign land.

"Let's see... 'Their god is one. There is a possibility they worship a single deity.'"

"'The act of enshrining multiple gods may be perceived as m-i-s-t-a-k-e-n,' I see..."

"'Depending on the country, there are livestock that must absolutely not be eaten'... hmmm..."

Meat that can be eaten, and meat that is absolutely forbidden.

Animals that must not be touched.

How to keep a distance between men and women.

The days of festivals and their meanings. What they celebrate, and what they mourn.

Those were the areas Yuu emphasized strongly.

"Just so you know,"

Yuu said, spinning his cup with his fingertips.

"What's 'normal' in your country is not normal at all in someone else's. In fact—"

He lowered his voice slightly.

"—the most sacred and 'good' act here might be a 'forbidden' act over there. And vice-versa."

"Vice-versa, huh."

Aurora repeated softly.

One of the maids looked up involuntarily.

"That much?"

"Yeah. There are patterns where a dish you serve to say 'let's celebrate!' would be a taboo on the level of 'is this an act of murder?' to them."

The maids' hands stopped.

"...An act of murder?"

"At the dinner table?"

"Scary..."

"But it’s possible."

Yuu nodded firmly.

"Because taboos involving religion are directly linked to emotions. It’s better to think of them as being a step above 'likes and dislikes.' If you step on them without knowing, they'll flare up all at once like a bundle of straw on fire."

The air in the room grew a bit heavy.

Aurora, resting her chin on her hand, said quietly.

"Our country's common sense won't necessarily pass across the sea, then."

"In fact, it's safer to assume it almost won't pass at all."

Yuu shrugged.

"There's a possibility you won't be able to get along, too. What you believe in and what you want to protect are different, after all. But if you approach them cautiously with the 'assumption of being different' from the start—at least, you can avoid a lot of wars caused by strange misunderstandings."

At those words, one of the maids gripped her pen tightly.

"...We can reduce the amount of blood spilled."

"Yeah. That’s enough, isn't it?"

Yuu said plainly.

His voice was strangely light, yet strangely heavy.

(Despite being shut in this forest... no, perhaps because of it.)

Aurora let her lips curl into a smile.

(Those are the words of someone who has seen the battlefield.)

Eventually, once the maids had gathered the bundles of parchment they had finished writing on and moved them to the edge of the table.

Yuu clapped his hands.

"Alright, that’s one stage done. Well, shall we start getting lunch ready soon?"

The atmosphere lightened instantly.

The first to react were, as expected, the maids.

"Since it’s hot today... hmm, maybe I'll make some 'Zaru Udon' and 'Vegetable Kakiage'?"

Their eyes sparkled immediately.

"Master Yuu’s udon!"

"I love that! It’s soft, yet it’s properly chewy and goes down so smoothly!"

"Yes, yes! We were taught how to make it and it’s even becoming popular in the capital... but we haven't found any udon as good as Master Yuu’s yet! The capital's chefs still have a long way to go!"

They began making a fuss with voices typical of young girls.

As for Aurora, while she nodded at the word "Zaru Udon," she was caught up on something else.

"...Kakiage, you say."

Her eyes glowed.

"That's the one, right? The 'crispy' fried dish where you chop up vegetables and fry them all together! One of the 'Tempura' family!!"

The memory of when she had previously tasted Yuu’s tempura came back vividly.

Light on the outside, fluffy on the inside. When bitten, the heat, aroma, and flavor would spread with a sizzle—that mysterious dish.

(The first time I ate that, I seriously considered kidnapping this man and taking him back to the capital...)

Remembering the day she had scouted him in a way that was almost like a plea, Aurora cleared her throat softly.

Outside the house, the ears of the sensitive individuals twitched.

"...Did I just hear 'Kakiage'?"

"I heard it. Tempura’s relative."

"Today, I am absolutely going to get some of the leftovers...!"

The escorts' stomachs began to growl at the mere thought.

Feeling that presence behind him, Yuu chuckled as he rolled up his sleeves and headed to the kitchen.

The space that was the kitchen—or rather, a "mysterious workshop" in the eyes of the people of this world—housed two extraordinary existences.

One was a box made of wood and metal.

When the door opened, a cool breeze flowed out. It was what Yuu called a "Magical Refrigerator."

The other was a flat stand that made pots hot even without a fire. A "Magical Stove."

No matter how many times she saw it, Aurora furrowed her brow.

(I have no idea how it maintains a constant temperature...)

If it were just freezing things, she could manage somehow with ice magic.

But a feat as delicate as "keeping food cold without freezing it" was not easy. In the first place, she had no idea what it used as a standard to manage the temperature.

(The way the mana flows is also clearly different from our country's magical tools... In fact, the very 'structure of the concept' of mana is alien.)

Even she, one of the best magic users in the kingdom, couldn't grasp the principles at all.

While she was worrying, Yuu habitually opened the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator.

It was packed with colorful vegetables.

"...As always, it’s an amazing sight."

One of the maids muttered softly.

Despite it being summer, the leafy greens weren't wilted at all; they were fresh and vibrant.

The root vegetables and fruits also had a firmness as if they had just been harvested.

"Even if we chose our days at the market in the capital, we couldn't gather this many varieties..."

"It’s strange that he keeps them in stock in the middle of the forest..."

They could only look at the scene, which would surely be a book on the agricultural revolution if recorded in history, and think it was "amazing."

"Well then."

Yuu took out a basketful of vegetables and piled them on the cutting board.

Onions, carrots, leafy greens, mushrooms. A wide variety of vegetables were mixed together.

"Right, let's get this done quickly."

He took a small breath and whispered.

"Accel."

With that single word, the air grew tense.

In the next moment, Yuu’s figure blurred.

No, to be precise, afterimages remained every time he moved.

The knife ran.

On the cutting board, the vegetables were being sliced thinly and with a consistent thickness.

The onions, carrots, greens, and mushrooms were transformed into thin strips for the Kakiage in an instant.

"There it is, 'the usual High-Speed Master Yuu'..."

"He’s fast... he’s always so fast..."

"It’s really amazing that he doesn't cut his hand at that speed..."

The maids had already passed the stage of being surprised and accepted it as "par for the course."

Aurora was also used to this scene.

Used to it—but just because she was used to it didn't mean it stopped being scary.

(As always, those aren't the movements of a human.)

She watched him closely from a step back.

(How many warriors in our country would survive if they were attacked at that speed?)

In her head, the faces of the knights appeared one after another, only to be scattered.

(...No, probably none of them.)

Aurora herself was included in that.

If Yuu were to use this acceleration for combat with murderous intent—

In less than a minute, the escorts under the eaves, the maids, and even she herself.

Every single one of them would be cut down without exception.

(I can't handle magic like that.)

She tightened her lips, which were about to curl into a bitter smile.

(I don't even know how to structure it, and even if I did, I don't know if I'd have the guts to try it... If I messed up the control, I can clearly see my body being torn apart, let alone being split in two.)

He whispered "Accel" in a light tone, but in reality, this was a magic that could wipe out an army on the battlefield.

Yuu didn't seem to care about the tension around him as he put the chopped vegetables into a large bowl and mixed in flour and water.

On the magical stove, the water in a stockpot began to make a bubbling sound. It was the water for the udon.

The bundles of dried noodles were untied and skillfully placed into the pot.

Pressed vegetable oil was poured into another pot, and the moment it touched the stove's magic circle, it quietly began to rise in temperature.

"The oil temperature, too, is constant..."

Aurora felt another headache coming on.

(I don't really understand this temperature management either, just like the refrigerator from before...)

During all this, Yuu’s hands didn't rest.

While still accelerated, he gathered the flour-coated vegetables in a ladle and gently dropped them into the oil.

A sizzling sound popped.

A savory aroma spread throughout the kitchen at once.

"...!"

The maids' faces all lit up at the same time.

"It’s here! This smell!"

"It’s already delicious! It’s delicious even though I haven't eaten it yet!"

"I bet the escorts outside are writhing right about now..."

Indeed, she felt like she heard a small groan of "Uooooh..." from outside.

The udon also finished boiling and was rinsed with water.

The cold, firm noodles shone white on the sieve. Their glossy surface made anyone who saw them swallow their saliva.

The Kakiage were being fried one after another and had their oil drained on a rack.

The surface was crispy, while the inside was perfectly fluffy. The colors of the layered vegetables peeked through the gaps in the batter.

He did everything in an accelerated state, almost without any waste.

(...As I thought, if he were used on a battlefield, he’d be a weapon.)

Aurora leaned against the wall in a natural movement.

(There's no way I can leave someone who can use magic like this alone... is there, Yuu?)

She didn't say it out loud.

Even if she did, Yuu would just refuse her again.

(I want to tell him to at least hide his power a little if he doesn't want to be scouted.)

But the idea of hiding it never occurred to him.

He used magic that could also be used for slaughter as if it were perfectly normal because it was convenient for making food.

(Now that I’ve seen it, as a royal, there is no future where I give up on scouting you.)

Even if it never bears fruit in her lifetime.

This power must never be turned into an enemy.

While complaining like that in her heart, Aurora looked down at the plate with the freshly fried Kakiage.

"...Actually, it’s more like my stomach is being wooed, though."

She whispered in a small voice that no one could hear.

At that moment.

"Hey, the udon and fried food are done. The Princess and the others can eat inside, but I’ll be handing out the escorts' portions outside, so someone help me carry them."

Yuu’s carefree voice rang out, and the heat and aroma of the kitchen instantly gave the summer afternoon in the forest the color of "feast time."

And skillfully, the food was served in front of each person.

Freshly fried, beautifully colored Kakiage gave off a slight steam that whetted their appetite.

The pure white udon noodles sparkled, making those who saw them swallow their saliva.

It was unbearable. Everyone except Yuu started eating the food like children who couldn't wait.

A pleasant crispy sound rang out.

The Kakiage, split by the tips of their chopsticks, absorbed a little bit of the dipping sauce, and steam and aroma rose from inside the batter. With one mouthful, the outside was still light, while the vegetables inside were sweet.

"I hate vegetables, but this Kakiage is different..."

"I know. It’s the best... so good."

One of the escorts whispered under the eaves as if savoring it.

In the bowl placed on the table, the translucent white udon shone. When dipped in the sauce and slurped, the feeling as it slid down the throat was irresistible.

"It’s so cold and delicious..."

Similar voices were leaking from all over, both outside and inside the house.

When they first met Yuu, everyone had struggled with handling chopsticks.

The noodles would slip off, the ingredients would fly, and they were on the verge of knocking over their bowls, with screams and laughter mixed together.

But now—everyone was handling the chopsticks beautifully.

"Look, you're putting too much strength into it. Support it around here with your finger..."

"Like this?"

"Yeah, that’s it. If you don't focus too much on trying to pinch it, you'll end up being able to pinch it."

Thanks to the results of Yuu’s practical guidance, the maids and escorts were now using chopsticks naturally. Because they could perform fine movements different from spoons or forks, they were even beginning to think, Are they actually all-purpose?

Recently, "chopsticks" have been gradually spreading in the capital as well.

They haven't made an appearance at formal dinner parties yet, but the number of nobles who try using "chopsticks" at their daily tables is said to be increasing.

When she reported that, Yuu shrugged and said:

"You can spread them however you like. I didn't come up with them."

He said it just like that, lightheartedly.

Aurora held her head many times at his casualness in handing over the rights to his inventions.

(If only he were a little more greedy for rights...)

She truly thought so.

(Just 'chopsticks' alone make things this convenient. If he had the mind to hold the rights to the magical refrigerator, air conditioner, or even the technology for dried noodles... I could find any number of excuses to call him to the capital.)

Even as she thought about those things, her mouth didn't stop.

Slurp, slurp, she ate the udon.

The cold noodles passed through her mouth along with the aroma of the sauce.

What remained on her tongue was a deep savoriness, a modest saltiness, and the aroma of "soy sauce," which he said was made from beans.

(...After all, the 'sauce' in particular is amazing.)

Aurora thought without stopping her chopsticks.

The base was a mysterious liquid called "soy sauce."

It was something she gave up on understanding the moment she heard it was made by fermenting beans.

On top of that, a savory base called "dashi" was added.

Apparently, it was made by combining dried fish, seaweed, and mushrooms—she had heard the explanation several times, but even Aurora, who prided herself on having a royal palate, couldn't grasp the logic at all.

(The common sense of food is fundamentally different in Yuu’s cooking.)

In reality, the ingredients themselves weren't anything special.

The udon dough was also just wheat flour, water, and salt that could be found in the capital. That’s why it could be imitated in the capital immediately.

But—this texture had not been reproduced by anyone yet.

(In the first place, these 'dried noodles' are just too well-made.)

Mixing process, rolling process, aging process, pressing process.

The processes Yuu had happily talked about were all full of unfamiliar words, and her head began to scream halfway through.

To top it off, he had said this:

"Immediately after being cut, the moisture content is about 35%, but eventually I bring it down to 14.5%—"

Why did he know the moisture content of the noodles so accurately?

How did he adjust it so finely?

(I completely gave up on understanding at that point...)

He was putting an extraordinary amount of delicacy and obsession into that single process of drying the noodles.

Yuu was naturally accomplishing that meticulous work with magic.

(A man who builds ultra-high-difficulty magical formulas just to make food...)

If the court mages knew this fact, they would all faint.

The crystallization of extraordinary, top-tier magical formulas was being used conveniently for "making dried noodles."

How many mages in this country could withstand that reality—?

(Probably none.)

When she first heard that story, Aurora herself felt her consciousness fading.

She remembered being unable to do anything but laugh at how far outside of common sense it was.

But.

But, this udon was delicious.

There were many things to think about—but what’s delicious is delicious.

The Kakiage was also delicious. Crispy, slurpy. She couldn't stop.

"...Phew. I ate to my limit..."

"I can't fit anymore... but I feel like I could go for one more bowl..."

"When faced with delicious noodles, the capacity of a human stomach expands..."

The escorts outside also finished their bowls and were slumped against their backrests.

"Thank you for the meal, Master Yuu..."

"I’m glad I’m alive..."

The situation inside the house was the same, with the maids clutching their chests with enchanted faces.

"Even though I ate this much, the fact that I can still think 'I want to eat this again tomorrow' is a sin..."

"I want him to open an udon shop in the capital as well..."

"It might be possible if there were ten of Master Yuu’s clones..."

"That’s the scariest idea yet."

Yuu muttered as he sipped his post-meal barley tea.

Eventually, once everyone's bowls were completely empty, Yuu stood up.

"It was nothing much."

His usual phrase.

At those words, everyone bowed their heads almost at the same time and said, "Thank you for the meal!"

Since they felt bad about leaving all the cleaning to him, the maids stood up immediately.

"Well then, we’ll handle the cleaning."

"Leave the washing up to us."

They divided the work, gathering the dishes and carrying them to the sink.

They drew water from a jar, adjusted the temperature at the corner of the magical stove, and dropped a few drops of "dish soap" into the hot water.

White bubbles spread softly.

(...I’ve reached the point where I’m no longer surprised by this level of thing.)

Aurora watched the scene with a half-resigned face.

This "soap" was also a special product created by Yuu.

A liquid that made oily dirt slide off easily; if a capital alchemist heard of it, they would collapse from excitement.

But inside this house, it was just another "usual thing."

(A house where everything you see surpasses the technology of the capital, huh...)

She was no longer surprised by even the soap.

It might be more accurate to say she was tired of being surprised.

The feeling of fullness gradually made her body feel heavy.

The cool breeze of the air conditioner.

A satisfied stomach.

The sound of birds chirping in the distance and the sound of dishes clinking together.

Her consciousness was slowly being pulled toward sleep.

"...Yawn..."

Aurora stifled a small yawn.

The maids also had dreamy eyes while they were washing the dishes.

Seeing that, Yuu raised an exasperated voice.

"Hey. Don't sleep here."

With his hands on his hips, he glared at his guests.

"Go to the guest room outside, the guest room... I went to the trouble of making it for you, Princess."

He pointed out the window.

In a corner of the clearing, a small log house had been built.

It was a size smaller than the main house, but it was still well-built, with the roof and walls neatly maintained.

Aurora’s private guest room.

Initially, Yuu had ignored the princesses who came to scout him again and again, letting them camp out, but he had finally given in and built that building.

They had come on rainy days and windy days.

In the beginning, Yuu had truly ignored them.

But—one winter day. Seeing Aurora and her group shivering in the middle of a thick snowfall, yet still smiling and shouting, "The Princess is here!" he had built the house in an instant.

At that time, even if only slightly, Yuu had "given in."

So, he built it. Although simple, it was a guest room equipped with a fireplace and bedding.

In a way, you could say it was a victory for Aurora’s perseverance.

...Even so.

The crucial scouting had still not borne fruit.

There was no sign of Yuu coming to the capital at all.

Aurora rubbed her sleepy eyes and stood up from her chair.

"Yawn..."

She wavered for a moment and then straightened her posture.

Her face was incredibly serious.

"Yuu."

"Hmm?"

Yuu, who was putting away the cups, turned around.

Aurora furrowed her brow and said in a serious voice:

"I want meat for dinner."

A beat.

"You really are shameless, aren't you!?"

Yuu’s shout echoed through the kitchen and living room.

The maids burst out laughing.

The escorts were also clutching their stomachs and laughing outside.

"Your Highness, isn't that a bit too brazen...?"

"But it was a help that you said it. I want to eat meat."

"Me too. I like Your Highness for saying it clearly today."

"You guys too!?"

Yuu’s protest was drowned out by the laughter.

Aurora curled her lips into a grin.

"We’ve been pushing through the forest since morning. Udon for lunch, meat for dinner. It wouldn't hurt to have this much of a reward, would it?"

"No, before we talk about rewards, is there any necessity for me to prepare dinner...?"

"I am a guest! Yuu is the host! Therefore, treat me!!"

"What kind of logic is that!?"

As usual, a conversation that didn't mesh.

As usual, retorts and requests that were hard to tell if they were serious or a joke.

Here, that was the usual scene.

The world's greatest shut-in mage.

The world's most fearless second princess.

And the usual summer afternoon scene of their followers.

In the forest outside, the roars of monsters continued to echo.

But only around this small log house and the guest room next to it—

It was peaceful, calm, and a little bit lively again today.

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