8-10 minutes 24.07.2022

I dont quite get him, so I left the crying boy to his own devices and washed the charge cows.

Yes, this! This is the very reason why I bought a brush! And I also splurged on the soap!

After covering their whole bodies with bubbles, I carefully and thoroughly rubbed them clean with the brush, just to wash down the soapy foam with hot water and dry them with warm air.

When I loudly exclaimed, Yaaaaaay! You guys became so amazingly pretty!, while throwing my hands in the air, I got rebuked with, Stop bein so noisy. Your gonna scare the monsters with your shoutin.

I cleared my throat.

Sorry. I got slightly too excited. But still, you guys have become sparky clean!

Black now has a glossy jet-black fur while White A and B are sparkling pure white!

Even though he said this and that, Sword still helped out, so I suspect he thinks the same, but hes simply too shy to admit it. Sword is a bit of a tsundere, isnt he? Even though he constantly pesters me, Im sure he actually likes the charge cows. I wouldnt be too surprised if he starts doting on them anytime soon.

When I cast a broad grin at him, he grabbed my lips!

Mmhpf, mpf, mmmhhph!

Dont look my way with such a gross face.

Hey! Thats totally mean!

Ive been preparing to camp out, but

Boy, do you plan to leech off us?

The bawling boy tried to enter the camp we were setting up as if it was his natural right.

What was that!?

Why are you so surprised? Were askin whether you plan to selfishly stay here, and on top of that, shamelessly enter our camp. Or rather, youve got nothin with you, do you? Why didnt you go back home?

The boy immediately became speechless when confronted by Sword and me.

Just go home, will you?

Both Sword and I were fed up with him.

Youre the prime example of a pampered, little boy, arent you? I wonder, do commoners usually pamper their children? Why do you shamelessly join the camp of complete strangers? I mean, I wouldnt think of doing something like that, you know?

Just as you say, hes been pampered to no end, Im sure. Or rather, hes probably never left the side of the towns residents. He must think that the adults will take care of everythin for him, including preparin a camp, as long as the children play round while stayin nearby.

Huh? Didnt he mention something about wanting to become an adventurer? And yet, hes allowed to act like that?

So he was just cosplaying after all?

Once I looked at him in disgust, he cried once again.

Youre truly a spoiled crybaby, arent you? Go and call your parents. I feel like they need a proper scolding.

Since I was treated terribly by my parents, I get an urge to vent my anger at spoiled children whove been pampered like him.

Sword looked at his watch and sighed.

Shit, we were too late. The gates already closed.

Wuuuuutt!?

I get a bad feeling about this, but has this guy properly told his parents where hes going to be today? You think a child, who believes that setting up camp is an adults duty, would inform his parents that he might be going camping today? I asked Sword while looking down at the boy.

Your askin me? Itd be better to ask him, but well, doesnt look like hell answer since hes busy cryin. Then let me answer in his stead. Theres likely no way he told them anythin bout this. Maybe hes even hidden that he came here. Otherwise, itd be impossible for him to be here after I had a notification put up. Pretty sure the town is in an uproar right now. The adults are goin to look for him in town all night long. First thing in the mornin, a search party selected by the guild is goin to head for the mountains as soon as the gate opens.

The boy became pale.

I-I What should I do?

Like I care. Sword spat out. Thats why I told you that you aint suited for bein an adventurer. You cant assess your own situation, so what kind of adventurer are you supposed to be anyway? What are you goin to do if you cant even predict whats goin to happen and act on that? Dont ever blather bout becomin an adventurer again.

Obviously, I agreed with Sword. This kid resembles that debt slave guy, who was the reason for Swords heavy drinking, doesnt he? Im pretty sure that guy had been pampered by his parents as well.

Afterwards, he kept bawling aaaaaaall the time.

Your crying grates my nerves, so could you go somewhere where I cant see you? I told him, but he seemed adamant about not moving from his spot.

Oh well, whatever. Ill ignore him.

Sword set up the camp facilities (tent, shower place, toilet enclosure), deployed a barrier around the camp, and then gave the charge cows their fodder and water.

Yep, just as I thought, he started to like them, and now hes dotting on them.

The Ryokus were patrolling, and later, parallelized with each other. After I installed the toilet with magic, I set up the kitchen kit, and started to cook.

Since Ive finally got my hands on milk, Im going to make all kinds of stuff with it! Ive already made lots before coming here though!

I got various dishes ready, including a grounded-potato, milk soup. I usually ate my soup first while Sword ate his last.

This goes well with wine. Ah, but wait, this has a distinct taste, so I think distilled liquor would be great as well. I said while roasting the bread.

Sword nodded happily while sitting down on a folding chair.

Now then, me too

Just when I thought so, I heard a very loud stomach rumbling. From the direction of the crybaby.

In reflex, I exchanged a look with Sword, and then gazed at the boy. The crybaby had stopped crying, and was staring this way while looking like a starved wolf.

Sword sighed, What are we goin to do?

Im fine either way. Though Ive got some conditions. Crybaby, if you want to eat, come here.

The crybaby was about to open his mouth, but closed it again, and came close.

No helping it. Since I wont be able to enjoy my food in peace while being watched by a starving wolf, Ill share some with you. However, if you say that it tastes bad, or leave anything behind, Ill get very angry. Should you do anything like that, Ill chop you up, dismantle you, and feed you to Sword for breakfast tomorrow. Got it?

Wait a sec! Stop! Why are you goin to feed him to me?

Humans have few edible parts. Moreover, no matter how skilled at cooking I might be, I dont know whether Id be able to make anything delicious out of human flesh. Itd be way too pitiful to spoil the cows stomachs by feeding him to them, wouldnt it?

Hey? Wouldnt I be pitiful either? Hmm?

He ground my temples. But even while having that done to me, I said with a serious face, Listen, Im not joking. If you plan to trash talk my food, then dont eat it. If youre going to leave some of it, tell me ahead of time so that I lower the portion.

Apparently it got through to him that I wasnt kidding, seeing how he furiously nodded his head while trembling all over.

Alright, in that case, Ill give you some.

Sword warned the boy with a serious look, Hey, make sure to never ever say that its bad, got it? Dont underestimate Indra, kay? Shes a woman whos mistaken for a guy but follows up on her words. Since shell definitely make her words come true, watch your mouth. Both of us want to greet tomorrows morning sun, right?

Hes using some weird persuasion method. But, he apparently succeeded.

The meal I handed him was greedily wolfed down without a crumb left.

Well finish breakfast before dawn, and leave the mountains as soon as the suns up.

I nodded at Swords words. That meant, wed arrive before the gate opened.

Given that the crybaby started to nod off, I rolled him on top of the cloth I had spread out as bed for the charge cows. Sword and I took a shower, and went to bed in our tent.

Good night~