Chapter 50 : Drinking In The Day

T/N: Here's the layout of Malik's house that the author provides. Even though they're living in what I a.s.sume european world, they have the standard j.a.panese house huh.

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"Phew.. Now that I'm standing here, it finally feels like I've truly returned home." I sighed as I was standing on the porch.

Looking at the familiar sight of Malik-san's house, the feeling of returning to home finally sinked in my heart.

"Come on in, you three. I will open the good stuff I stashed for you guys. Ren, can you make something for our snack?" Malik-san beckoned to the other three to come in since they were just standing in front of the door idly.

"Yes, not only snack for drinking but I will also make Malik-san's favourite, chicken teriyaki for our lunch."

Snacks huh..

I wonder what I should make ?

Since I was already an adult, of course I've drunk before back in earth but after I arrived in Alsar, I haven't drank any alcohol yet.

I was busy trying to adapt here and it just slipped my mind since I wasn't an avid drinker back in earth.

Well, for starter I will make Malik-san's favourite, you couldn't go wrong with teriyaki chicken after all~

"Excuse me~"

"Pardon the intrusion."

"Excuse me."

The three of them finally said as they stepped into the house.

"I'm going to my room to put my baggage down."

Malik-san and the others were sitting together in the living room so I went into my room to put my luggage away.

I let my door open to air my room,letting the air circulation to flow better after almost one whole month without anyone entering this room.

I hanged my mantle on the hanger and put my magic bag on top of the shelf.

After that, I opened my closet to change into my casual wear.

Of course since I was going to cook, I also wore my ap.r.o.n.

After making sure everything was in check, I exited my room to join everyone in the living room.

"Ren have you finished changing? I want to drink soon."

The four of them were sitting on top of the soft rug, they were sitting side by side around the rectangular low table.

Fer-san and Malik-san was sitting on the side of the table nearest to the kitchen while Sig-san and Chris-san was sitting on the other side.

Rows of sake bottles adorned the table, Malik-san swayed the sake bottles he was holding impatiently.

"You can't drink on empty stomach! This time, I don't want to use the meal I've cooked beforehand in my magic bag. I want to cook a freshly made meal for you guys. Please wait after I finished cooking. It won't be long, maybe 10 minutes at most?" I walked briskly to the kitchen.

"Are you sure? You don't have to rush. I don't want you to hurt yourself." Malik-san looked at me worriedly.

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While I was busy preparing our food, the four of them were chatting amongst themselves.

I couldn't hear what they were talking from here though so I couldn't join their conversation.

First, I checked the refrigerator to see all the available ingredients.

I had stocked the fridge up before I went to Calhea.

Most of the ingredients were left untouched and even though it had been over than 3 weeks, the ingredients were still in prime condition.

The refrigerator in this world worked the same as magic bag.

The food won't deteriorate no matter how long you left it there, the quality will stay the same as well.

The only difference from magic bag the refrigerator can only contain things according to the refrigerator's size.

It didn't have s.p.a.ce enlargement magic like ordinary magic bag.

Of course refrigerator was a lot more bigger than ordinary magic bag and it had cooling effect just like the ordinary refrigerator from Earth.

"For now, let's make two simple dish to stall for time."

I took out cherry tomatoes and thin sliced pork.

I turned up the stove to heat up the frying pan while I wrapped the tomato with the pork.

When the pan was hot enough, I fried the pork rolls until the meat became brown and crisp.

After that draining the oil, I will sprinkle a dash of salt and pepper to give extra kick to the pork rolls.

While the rolls was frying in the pan, I began the preparation for my second dish.

I took out white radish, carrot and cuc.u.mber.

Cut the veggies into long stick shape.

For the dipping sauce, put miso mayonnaise and sugar together in a bowl and mixed it well.

And… There you have it, veggies stick and pork wrapped tomato.

Both of them were a simple and easy dish that tasted delicious!

I put both dishes on the plate and brought them into the living room.

"Thank you for waiting. Malik-san,you haven't drink yet, right?"

"Have some faith in me Ren! I waited for you properly..  Ah.. Ren's cooking.. it's been a long time since I last eaten Ren's freshly made dish. Itadakimasu."

"It's just a simple dish though. These are pork wrapped tomatoes and veggies stick. You can eat the veggies stick as it is or dip it with this sauce. I will go back to the kitchen to cook more food for you so don't hesitate to dive in! The three of you too, please don't hold yourself back, okay?"

Stealing a glance at the table,I saw that the sake gla.s.s was still dry so I knew Malik-dan had kept his words.

Hmm.. But.. Somehow.. Both Fer-san, Chris-san and Sig-san's face seemed pale.. I wonder why?

"Umm.. Are you guys alright? Was the journey back home too tiring? I can use restorative magic to heal you up if you want."

"N-No! No,it's nothing Ren-kun. We're fine. Anyway, as usual your cooking look really delicious. Itadakimasu."

"That's right!~ I'm so hungry~~ I'm going to take a bite too!~"

"Y-yeah! Me too. Itadakimasu."

Hm? The three of them looked fl.u.s.tered though. I wonder whether they were really alright?

"Ren, have you turned the stove off? Let's have a toast to celebrate your return."

"Oh? Yes, I've turned it off before I went here. Ah but.. I don't think I will be drinking right now. I will have a tea instead. I still need to work with fire after this so it's better to be careful than be sorry."

Malik-san lifted his cup up and said,"I see. Well then, a toast to celebrate you guys from returning home safely and getting engaged! Kanpai!"

"Kanpai!" The four of us also lifted our cup (tea for me, alcohol for the other three) and clinked it together before gulping the drink down.

Fufu~

Somehow.. I feel very happy!

Malik-san was the only family I have in Alsar and he accepted my engagement readily.

Of course I felt happy to see my family accepted my new relations.h.i.+p like this!

I finished drinking my tea and returned back to the kitchen to cook some delicious food for them.

"Let's see.. They seemed to be very hungry so I guess I will need to do my best to fill their stomach up!~"

Lucky for me, we had three cooking stoves here so I could make three kind of food simultaneously!

We also had a griller in here so the variety of food I could make was endless!

To control the fire output I needed to adjust the magic power I poured into the magic stone.

It was really convenient so I could make different type of food at the same time with ease.

I took out my premade cold rice from the fridge, shaped the rice into triangle shape and filled it with cheese.

I prepared a bowl of soy sauce to glaze the sides to top it off so you would have a nice, savoury yaki onigiri with melted cheese on the inside.

For the next dish, I took out a deep fried tofu, cheese and ham.

I gave a little slice on the middle of the tofu to create a little hole and filled it with cheese and ham.

I seared both side of the tofu over the frying pan to melt the cheese inside and gave it a nice and crispy texture.

I prepared a bunch of mushrooms and roasted it. When the mushrooms became crispy, I coated the mushroom with the soy sauce I'd prepared beforehand.

For salad, I cut the cabbage in sizes that easy to eat with, not too big nor too small.

For the dressing, I mixed lemon juice, salt, pepper, sesame oil and grated garlic together.

I mixed the cabbage together with the dressing evenly to finish it off.

I put the finished dishes on top of the tray and brought it to the living room.

"Everyone, I've prepared yaki onigiri, salad and cheese tofu!"

"Ooh! Sounds delicious!" Sig-san exclaimed. His fluffy tail was wagging at full speed!

"Ren-chan is really good at cooking!~ Every dish he makes, taste super good!~" Chris-san praised me.

"You've finished another dishes already? Ren-kun, are you sure you don't need any help? I don't want you to overwork yourself.. Please let me help you.."

"No! It's alright, Fer-san! I love cooking so this kind of thing is not tiring at all! I really enjoyed every bit of the process so it's alright! I'm going to make more food again so please just sit back and enjoy the drink with everyone, okay?"

Fer-san was really worried about me but the truth was, I really loved cooking so I didn't feel tired or annoyed at all.

In fact, I was enjoying myself immensely right now!

"I'm going to go back to the kitchen, okay? Enjoy yourselves~"

After I've finished setting the dishes up, I returned to the kitchen.

"Hmm.. I guess it is time for me to start preparing the protein now."

As I said that, I started to prepare the ingredient for teriyaki chicken, german potato salad and stir fried pork with eggplants and bell pepper.

I cooked all three dishes simultaneously.

I had gotten really good at cooking multiple dishes at the same time thanks to all the strenuous food prepping back when I had been preparing for my trip to Calhea.

"Phew~ I think this much food should be enough to satisfy their appet.i.te."

When I put the plate on top of a tray and brought it all to the living room.

"Ren-chan!~ At least you should've asked us to help you bring the dishes here! Isn't heavy? It's okay to ask us for help, you know~" Chris-san immediately rushed over to me and took the tray away from me.

"Fufu~ Thank you for your consideration but I'm not that frail that I would break if I lift something like this. Well, I'm really weak physically compared to you guys though. But! It's okay! It's not too heavy for me so don't worry."

Compared to those three, no. Compared to those four (including Malik-san), I knew that I was really frail and delicate but I liked to think that my body physique was pretty normal, you know?

My muscle was pretty much non existent but if it was only this much, I could lift it myself.

"Well if you say so then I guess it's fine but.. Truth is, we want to help Ren-chan even if it's just a little bit, you know?~"

"Ah.. I see.. Then I will try to act spoiled occasionally." I nodded understandingly.

"Ehh?~ Only on a few occasions?~" Chris-san pouted.

I had been taking care of myself on my own since long time ago so I forgot how to act spoiled.

I do agree that acting spoiled on a few rare occasions was necessary though.

I think it would be okay to try and treat them to my spoiled self for once in a while.

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Chris's POV

"Okay then. First one, Chris. Do you remember what I said to you the day of your departure?"

"Y-Yes!"

Right at the moment Ren-chan stepped out of the living room, the aura surrounding Malik-san turned darker.

Usually, Malik-san looked like an ordinary middle aged man.

I used to feel like I could win against him if I tried but right now, there was n.o.body that could mistook him as an ordinary civilian.

I couldn't see any opening behind his stance, no matter how many times I tried, I couldn't find any chance to break through his defense.

The Malik-san before us was an S-rank adventurer through and through.

Ah.. I thought he had forgiven me for touching Ren-chan but I guess that was not forgiven yet after all?~

"Ah.. Don't look so stiff like that. Ren might notice something is amiss if you guys looked like that. Try relax a bit won't ya?"

D-Don't ask us such unreasonable thing ! There's no way we can act so carefree in this kind of situation!

I sneaked a glance at Fer and Sig and yeah, the two of them looked as frigid as me.

"Chris, I told you not to touch Ren, didn't I? But in the end you did, right? Heck, you went even further than just kissing, didn't you?"

"Eh..Umm..Yes.."

I had no excuse left, the only thing I could do was to obediently nod my head at Malik-san's accusing glare.

But! I didn't go all the way yet! I wanted to tell Malik-san that but I didn't want to create more trouble than necessary so I kept my mouth shut instead.

"Ah… I know that Ren is already 21 years old.. He's already an adult and I shouldn't meddle myself with his private life but.. It's only been a month, you know? I've only been his father for a month and he had already gotten himself engaged to someone else. I mean, I'm happy about it but at the same time.. I feel conflicted." Malik-san muttered, his eyebrows wrinkled in worry.

Umm.. So.. Was it alright for us to continue with our advances or not..?

Do we need to wait until Malik-san gave us his green light first?

Err…

"Thank you for waiting. Malik-san,you haven't drink yet, right?"

"Have some faith in me Ren! I waited for you properly..  Ah.. Ren's cooking.. it's been a long time since I last eaten Ren's freshly made dish. Itadakimasu."

"It's just a simple dish though. These are pork wrapped tomatoes and veggies stick. You can eat the veggies stick as it is or dip it with this sauce. I will go back to the kitchen to cook more food for you so don't hesitate to dive in! The three of you too, please don't hold yourself back, okay?"

Right when we were conflicted on what was the best way to answer Malik-san, Ren-chan came with a tray of food.

Malik-san was replying to Ren-chan's

"Umm.. Are you guys alright? Was the journey back home too tiring? I can use restorative magic to heal you up if you want."

Ren-chan noticed that something was amiss, must be because our face looked so stiff.

"N-No! No,it's nothing Ren-kun. We're fine. Anyway, as usual your cooking look really delicious. Itadakimasu."

"That's right!~ I'm so hungry~~ I'm going to take a bite too!~"

I took a bite of Ren-chan's cooking, we were not lying, Ren-chan's cooking was delicious as always~

"Y-yeah! Me too. Itadakimasu."

The three of us started to talk cheerfully as if nothing had happened.

"Ren, have you turned the stove off? Let's have a toast to celebrate your return." Malik-san gestured his hand to invite Ren-chan to drink with us.

"Oh? Yes, I've turned it off before I went here. Ah but.. I don't think I will be drinking right now. I will have a tea instead. I still need to work with fire after this so it's better to be careful than be sorry." Ren-chan declined Malik-san's offer since he still wanted to cook some more.

"I see. Well then, a toast to celebrate you guys from returning home safely and getting engaged! Kanpai!"

"Kanpai!"

Malik-san toasted to both our safe return and getting engaged, so did that mean he had given us his blessing?

Ah, I wanted Ren-chan to return and drink together with him~

"Ah.. In anyway, I want you guys to remember.. If! If.. you make Ren cry… I will kill you all with my own hand." Malik-san smiled wryly.

His eyes was glinting at us dangerously, there was not an ounce of hesitation in every words he said.

His glare promised nothing but pain and misery to us, we knew he wouldn't hesitate to tear us apart by hand, no matter what the consequences was.

"You don't have to threaten us, we never had any intention to make Ren cry in the first place!" Sig responded in our stead quickly.

We didn't want to make Ren-chan cry, we wanted to make him happy instead so there was no point in threatening us anyway.

"It's good if we have mutual understanding. Well then, drink up! This is one of my most prized collection so it's your loss if you try to act all shy and hesitant now!" Malik-san took out his sake bottle and put it on the table.

"Th-this! Purega sake?! This is the first time I ever seen it with my own eyes! Is..Is it really okay for us to drink such good sake?" Fer asked, he was looking at the sake with wide eyes.

Everyone was rendered speechless.

This purega sake was a legendary sake!

One bottle of this sake cost about 5.000.000 elk! The price was so high that even I had never drink this sake before!

"Yeah, this is a celebration so it's okay to splurge a little. Come on, drink up, drink up!" Malik-san poured the sake into three gla.s.s and shoved it to us.

Of course, we received the sake gratefully with a bow to Malik-san.

"Wow ! The sweetness of the sake is perfect! It's like the sake is caressing our taste bud with its sweetness.. Truly, thank you very much Malik-san for letting us drinking such delicious sake."

"You're welcome. Don't hesitate to have some more! It's a celebration!"

Malik-san gulped another gla.s.s of purega sake like it was water, the three of us also continued to drink merrily.

"Everyone, I've prepared yaki onigiri, salad and cheese tofu!"

"Ooh! Sounds delicious!"

"Ren-chan is really good at cooking!~ Every dish he makes, taste super good!~"

When we were drinking happily, Ren-chan came with another tray of food for us.

Ah, it truly looks delicious~~

"You've finished another dishes already? Ren-kun, are you sure you don't need any help? I don't want you to overwork yourself.. Please let me help you.."

"No! It's alright, Fer-san! I love cooking so this kind of thing is not tiring at all! I really enjoyed every bit of the process so it's alright! I'm going to make more food again so please just sit back and enjoy the drink with everyone, okay?"

Ren-chan then returned to the kitchen after he a.s.sured the worried Fer.

"Oh yeah, have you guys ever seen Ren drinking an alcohol before?"

"No, even when we were resting in the inn, Ren-kun never drink an alcohol at all."

"I see. So that means ever since he came to Alsar, Ren never drink even once. It makes me wonder what kind of drunk Ren will become if he did get drunk."

Drunk Ren-chan huh~

I wonder whether Ren-chan could hold his liquor well or not?

Ah! Ren-chan! Why are you carrying that many plates alone!

"Ren-chan!~ At least you should've asked us to help you bring the dishes here! Isn't heavy? It's okay to ask us for help, you know~" I was startled when I saw that Ren-chan was carrying such heavy tray alone so I stood up and helped Ren-chan carried it to the table.

"Fufu~ Thank you for your consideration but I'm not that frail that I would break if I lift something like this. Well, I'm really weak physically compared to you guys though. But it's okay! It's not too heavy for me so don't worry."  Ren-chan thanked me while giggling cutely and looking at me with upturned eyes.

Ren-chan was very cute indeed!~

Ren-chan might not have noticed it but no matter how we looked at him, Ren-chan was really small and frail.

It felt like.. If I were to put too much strength when holding him, I might've broke him accidentally.

"Well if you say so then I guess it's fine but.. Truth is, we want to help Ren-chan even if it's just a little bit, you know?~"

Furthermore, I wanted to help Ren-chan in any way I could, like.. I wanted to be useful for Ren-chan kind of feeling.

Ren-chan, won't you please rely on us more?~

"Ah.. I see.. Then I will try to act spoiled occasionally."

"Ehh?~ Only on a few occasions?~"

If possible, I wanted you to keep relying on us each and every time, not just occasionally.

Ah~ Ren-chan must be very cute when he's drunk~

Should I try to make Ren-chan become drunk a little?~

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T/N: There's so many food pictures this time~ And thank you everyone for sending me discord invite link~ I've joined both secret danmei and chrysanths server!

Chapter 51 (not yet)