After Kiara decided to move officially, I summoned the remaining three woodsmen who were not helping Martina. I requested their help in making furniture.
「Is this bed size suitable? Also, I’d like a closet for storing clothes. And then…」
Kiara led the woodsmen into the room for a detailed discussion.
Currently, she resides in the school dormitory on campus, but she intends to move here.
When asked about parental consent and potential academic disruptions, she replied,
「It’s fine. I’m a student, but strictly speaking, I’m a research student. As long as I diligently complete the assigned tasks—even without attending classes—I’ll receive the necessary credits for graduation.」
Although I’m unfamiliar with this world’s education system, it’s clear that Kiara receives some form of special treatment. Additionally, she seems dissatisfied with her own position.
Furthermore,
「As for my parents, they’re not a concern. …Neither Mom nor Dad would take an interest in me.」
It was revealed that her relationship with her parents wasn’t that good.
I refrained from probing further into the details.
For now, Kiara asserted that once she leaves the school dormitory, her parents won’t bother her, so I accepted that without further comment.
-0-
「What on earth happened…」
I hold the fishing rod crafted by the woodsmen, dangling the line into the underground lake.
When contemplating complex matters, fishing is the best approach.
It was one of my few hobbies from my previous life.
Thanks to that, I can even make my own bait.
A survival-oriented hobby is something worth having.
-0-
While gazing at the float at the end of my fishing line, I recalled the content of the game Fantasy Farm Story.
In the game, Kiara’s mother, Slafin, always wears a gentle smile and soothes players with her kind words.
However, it seems there are some weighty family issues behind the scenes… To be spoken to like that by her daughter… Perhaps it’s due to being too busy to pay much attention to her?
Given her personality in the game, that seems more likely.
She tends to prioritize others over herself.
I hope things work out somehow…
「Oh?」
As I pondered these thoughts, the float twitched.
「Gotcha!」
I lifted the rod and reeled in the line, revealing a fish securely hooked on the bait.
Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if there were any fish down there, so I’m relieved it worked.
The size is about forty centimeters—decent enough.
Good good
Now we’ve got something else for tonight’s dinner.
「I need to catch at least two more.」
I want to ensure we have enough for everyone.
With that in mind, I lowered the line back into the underground lake again.
-0-
In the end, I caught three fish—one for each person.
It’s good that we secured the minimum amount.
「Setting traps might be a good idea.」
Since I haven’t spotted any aquatic monsters I feared, maybe occasionally relaxing by fishing would be nice.
And so, with my harvest in hand, I returned to the treehouse.
「Uwaaa! Those are impressively big!」
「Can you cook them? If not, we can just grill it—”
「Oh no, given their size, filleting them would be great.」
Saying those, Martina took out a small bottle.
Inside was something resembling a red sauce.
「What’s that?」
「It’s Flame Tomato Sauce. Let’s simmer the fish in this.」
「Ohhhh!」
Well done, Martina.
…By the way, can Martina cook fish too?
The theory that she was a former chef is becoming more plausible.
Just then,
「Fuh… Finally finished—wait, that smells amazing!」
Kiara, who had completed arranging her room on the third floor, descended to the first-floor kitchen.
「This smell is……」
「It’s Martina’s special tomato sauce.」
「Tomato sauce?」
「We’re using it to make a fish stew.」
「When did you buy fish?」
「We didn’t buy it, I caught it. There’s a lake nearby.」
「!? There were fish there…」
Kiara and I sat down, engaging in casual conversation. As the dish neared completion, we set the tableware and made preparations.
And finally,
「Ta-da! It’s ready!」
The dish was finally cooked.
A tomato-sauce simmered fish caught from the underground lake.
Mmm.
Looks delicious.
-0-
We gathered around the dining table and enjoyed our dinner.
If possible, I hope days like this continue in the future.
It was a day that made me feel that way.
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