After the barbecue wrapped up, everyone left with smiles on their faces, carrying memories of a fun-filled evening. It was a scene where, undoubtedly, the adults had the most fun.
What was once “ordinary” during childhood had become something extraordinary in adulthood—a reminder of how simple joys can shift with time.
「I want to do another barbecue!」
Sena, cradling a sleeping Dori in her arms, seemed to have enjoyed herself immensely. Every time she caught my eye, she would ask when we could have another barbecue.
Earlier, Sena had eagerly taken tips from Haruki on how to grill meat properly. Using the “finger test” method, she tried comparing the firmness of her palm to gauge the doneness of the meat. When I tried it myself, pinching my thumb and index finger together, the meat turned out rare.
But when Sena, with her adventurer-level grip strength, attempted the same, the meat ended up well-done. Apparently, even the muscles in an explorer’s fingers are ripped.
And when she tried to compensate by going softer on her grip, the meat was left practically raw.
Though her competitive spirit kept her grilling with determination, she never quite managed to get the hang of it. In the end, Haruki and I had to redo most of her attempts, resulting in some double effort—but hey, as long as everyone enjoyed it, it was worth it.
「Alright, we’re here.」
I parked the car and turned around to check on the passengers. Everyone had fallen asleep, even though the drive home wasn’t long. Clearly, the day had worn them out.
I woke them one by one, and they slowly shuffled their way back into the house.
「Baque baque…」
Dori, still in my arms, seemed to be dreaming about meat. A bit of drool trickled from her mouth—she must still be savoring the taste of barbecue in her sleep.
『Woof』
As we passed by the field, Potato suddenly let out a loud bark, startling me.
「What’s wrong?」
『Woof-woof!』
His bark had an unusual intensity, almost like an explosion. Without warning, he shot off on two legs toward Potato field he’d been so diligently tending.
『Was it eaten?』
When I caught up, I saw that the field had been dug up and left in disarray. Normally, Potato would smooth out the soil after digging, but this time it looked like something—or someone—had been through.
But what caught my attention even more was something else.
「Wait… did Potato just talk?」
『Woof!?』
I could’ve sworn I heard a voice coming from his direction. Potato turned to me with a look of exaggerated surprise, quickly followed by an expression that seemed to say, ‘You must be imagining things.’
His smug, almost mocking face annoyed me to no end.
「Anyway, we’ll need to take better precautions so the sweet potatoes don’t get eaten next.」
Next to me, Grandpa seemed to be deep in thought about something. If sweet potatoes are in the same category as regular potatoes, they might be targeted too.
Considering how fast Dori’s spell might make them grow, we should probably start thinking about countermeasures now.
『Woof woof!』
Potato pointed a paw at Grandpa. I must have mistaken Grandpa’s voice for the one that had spoken earlier.
A talking dog? Something that fantastical couldn’t possibly happen in the middle of a field.
「For now, let’s head home and figure out what to do tomorrow.」
It had been a hectic day since morning, and everyone seemed tired. I carried Dori and started toward the house.
♢
-Sena’s POV-
「Hey hey, don’t just go talking out loud. You’ll scare Naoki.」
『Kwuunn…』
「I might not mind chatting with a dog since I’ve got dementia, but Naoki wouldn’t take it so lightly, you know?」
In front of me, Potato, the Mitsume Wolf, and Grandpa were having some sort of conversation. From the outside, they looked just like a family who truly understood each other.
Potato rested a paw on his chin as if deep in thought. Spending so much time together must have rubbed off on him, as even the way he pondered was starting to resemble Grandpa.
Now that I think about it, I wonder if Grandpa’s dementia is improving. In my mind, people with dementia usually don’t acknowledge it themselves.
Most of the time, they get angry when someone suggests it.
I thought I heard Grandpa mention dementia just now, but maybe I misheard. The joy of the barbecue earlier must still be fogging up my brain like sizzling meat juices.
「By the way, who do you think the culprit is?」
『Probably some kind of animal.』
「Ah, that makes sense.」
No, wait—Potato really does sound like he’s talking.
「Sena-chan, you must be tired too.」
Having just woken up earlier, I was probably still a little groggy. Grandma called out to me gently. Ever since meeting this family, I’ve felt a warm, comforting sensation every day.
Coming home to a house filled with warmth—it’s like heaven for me.
Today, trying out a barbecue for the first time in my life, I felt truly alive. So this is what joy feels like, I thought.
Before, the only thing that ever brought me joy was clearing dungeons and wiping out every last monster.
But now, more often than not, I find myself wanting to stay with this family rather than going into dungeons.
「Those two seem to be in their own world, so why don’t we head back?」
「Sounds good.」
Potato and Grandpa were still deep in conversation. Occasionally, they made strange poses and gestures. It’s hard to believe they’re actually communicating, but somehow they seem to understand each other.
Still feeling like I might have been hearing things, I decided to head back with Grandma.
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