The next few days passed without incident, just the usual quiet routine. However, Karaage had started sneaking into my bed at night.
It was already as big as a full-grown chicken. If it was still a chick, I could only imagine how massive it might grow in the future.
Seeing Karaage, Dori decided to sleep in my bed too. A single bed now held Dori and the plush-toy-sized Karaage. I probably needed to invest in a larger bed soon.
Karaage also stopped eating the feed the poultry farmer uncle had given us. Instead, it seemed to prefer vegetables, eating them in large quantities.
When I showed Karaage to uncle, he firmly declared that it wasn’t a chicken. He did, however, give his approval for Karaage to eat vegetables as long as it didn’t upset its stomach.
What exactly was this chick that wasn’t a chicken? The image of a cockatrice kept popping into my head, but even the explorers staying with us had no idea what it might be.
We decided to check the Explorers’ Guild for any records or texts that might describe a cockatrice chick.
Even Sena said she would gather information through her fan club.
「Let’s harvest some green peppers today.」
「Prepers!」
The summer vegetables were nearing the end of their prime. Considering what could grow quickly, I planned to try planting sweet potatoes next. Depending on how they grew, I’d expand the field and start planting autumn crops.
「They’re firm and glossy.」
「Glossy glosy.」
Dori pressed a green pepper against her cheek, rubbing it affectionately. It looked more like a paprika than a green pepper, which made me wonder if it could even sell as a product.
When I sold some vegetables to the Explorers’ Guild recently, my wallet went from comfortably warm to outright stuffed.
With some financial leeway, I could spend more time playing with Dori and the others. This must be what people mean when they talk about peace of mind.
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Iron-Walled Saintess ・Just now
Glossy glosy!
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Nameless Ordinary Person ・Just now
As adorable as ever.
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Lady of Decay ・Just now
Papa-san is adorable too, you know?
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Solitary Samurai ・Just now
Papa-san’s head is glossy glosy too!
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The explorers who continued to stay at my place were still watching my streams even from within the dungeon. As for samurai, once he returned, it was decided he’d face the “Head-Scrubbing Punishment” from Dori.
「Potato! How’s the digging coming along?」
『Woof!』
The other day, Potato had dug up the potato field on his own, seemingly craving potato chips.
I thought, maybe if I asked him to be careful not to damage the potatoes, he might help out properly—and he actually did.
「Why is he digging while standing upright, though?」
Instead of digging like a dog normally would, Potato was on his hind legs, digging like a human.
When he got tired, he’d even pat his lower back, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.
Watching us, my grandparents looked on warmly.
Grandpa had hurt his back the other day while playing with Dori. He seemed to have recovered, but his body was still showing its age.
Ever since Dori started playing with the explorers, she’d stopped holding back her strength. While I, being an adult man, didn’t mind, I wished she’d be a bit gentler to Sena and Lady.
「Dori, what do you want to play today?」
Having finished the day’s tasks, I decided to spend some time with Dori. But when I looked to my side, she wasn’t there. She must’ve wandered off while I was busy. Looking around, I couldn’t see her in the green pepper field.
She’d probably grown bored of the work and gone to her flower garden.
With my tasks done, I headed to the flower garden where Dori was likely to be.
「Dori!」
I called out as I searched for her. If she was in the flower garden, that’d be fine, but the Explorers’ Guild was nearby, which made me a little anxious.
「Papa!」
Just as I heard her voice, something slammed into my legs. Thankfully, the impact was lighter than before—she must’ve remembered my request to be gentler when jumping at me.
「Dori, where did you—」
When I looked down at my feet, the one standing there wasn’t Dori. It was an unfamiliar little girl, leaving me bewildered.
「Papa, marry me!」
「Huh…?」
And just like that, a sudden proposal.
Even my daughter Dori hasn’t proposed to me yet…
The girl was adorable, but she somehow resembled someone I knew.
「Pa… Pa…」
Watching us from a distance, Dori stood holding a bundle of flowers in her hands.
A light breeze scattered the petals into the air.
「Papa’s going to marry Yuri, right? Right?」
「Meh!」
Dori stomped towards us, clearly upset.
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