After Meira finished explaining how the bath worked, the three members of the Darwin family finally left.
「Take good care of the place, will ya? Also, once the inventory list is ready, call Meira over and hand it to her.」
「Right!? I’m really counting on you about that bath magic tool we talked about!」
「If anything else comes up, let’s have a private chat, just the two of us.」
Each of them left behind parting words, almost like souvenirs.
Still, Dama—that last wish of yours won’t be granted.
If I have to meet you, it’ll always be with Wendy or Shiro present.
「Alright, guess we can finally relax a bit.」
「Yes. I thought about starting with some cleaning, but… it’s already spotless everywhere.」
「Maybe Dama took care of it for us. Either way, looks like we can take it easy for today.」
「Lord, let’s nap on the terrace.」
「Oh yeah, let’s set that up first. The structure’s simple, so it shouldn’t take long.」
「Then I’ll go ahead and prepare lunch.」
Man, Wendy’s cooking, huh?
Ahh, this feels almost like being newlyweds.
Not that I’d know, having never actually been married, but maybe this is the kind of happiness people talk about.
Even if she’s technically my slave, not my wife.
「Alright then. Wendy, you handle lunch. Shiro, could you go to the general store and get some sturdy cloth? Anything tough, as long as it’s not leather.」
「Got it. What about the food stall?」
「No stall today. Wendy’s making lunch, so let’s just work up an appetite.」
「Please don’t expect too much, alright?」
「Nah, my expectations are sky-high.」
「Geez… I’m really not that great at cooking.」
Haha, seriously though—homemade food from a beautiful girl like Wendy?
Even if it’s burnt to a crisp or half-cooked, I’m sure I could eat it with a smile.
「Alright, you two, time to move out!」
「Yes!」「Hmm.」
Shiro, you really don’t have to sprint off at full speed…
She’s already out of sight.
-0-
Now then, time to make use of that comfy alchemy lab.
As I headed downstairs, the air grew a bit stuffy, but the moment I entered the alchemy room, it cooled right down—pleasantly so.
Feels like on a hot summer day, I’d end up spending more time here than in any other room.
I plopped into the comfy work chair and just doing that made me let out a relaxed sigh.
Ahh… this is dangerous.
I could seriously just fall asleep like this.
But Shiro’s looking forward to this, and so am I.
So I forced my sleepy body to sit up straight.
-0-
Iron should be fine for the material.
The shape just needs to be a simple frame.
Might as well make it a bit larger while I’m at it.
I started crafting the frame with alchemy, attaching the legs and fixing them in place.
That was… fast.
Well, I didn’t take any measurements and the design is simple, so no surprise there.
Now, if I just tightly wrap some sturdy cloth around it, it’ll be done.
It kinda looks like one of those chairs you see poolside, but hey, it’ll do.
I guess I’ll make another one too.
This one’s for a single person, but the frame is almost the same.
I’ll leave the cloth slack instead of stretching it tight, attaching it at the top and bottom so you can just sink into it.
Pretty sure that’s how it was supposed to be.
I don’t know the proper name for it, but it should feel like a hammock you don’t have to hang up—nice and comfy.
Originally, I planned to make it foldable, but then I remembered: I’ve got a magic storage space.
I don’t need to worry about storage in the first place.
Besides, this is supposed to be a relaxing day. No point wasting time getting fancy with it.
「Lord, I’m back.」
「Shiro, you need to knock properly before coming in.」
「It’s fine, come on in.」
「Hmm.」
「Master, lunch is ready. It’s just something light, but I came to fetch you.」
Shiro was carrying a huge bundle of cloth, almost completely blocking her view, so Wendy took half of it and they both entered the room.
「You know, you could’ve used this instead.」
「Ah… apologies. I didn’t even think of that.」
I pointed at the magic device that connects to the kitchen.
I kinda wanted to try using it, but since they already brought everything over, no point fussing now.
「Since we’ve got everything here, why don’t we just eat right here? There’s a sofa and a table too.」
「Are you sure? What about your alchemy work?」
「Nah, I’m already done.」
「That was fast… So all that’s left is wrapping this cloth around the frame?」
「Yup. It’s simple, but good enough if it works.」
「Lord, I’m hungry.」
「Got it. Sorry, Wendy, could you bring the food over?」
「Of course. Shiro, help me carry the drinks too.」
「Hmm.」
The two of them left and came back just a few moments later.
Still sitting in the work chair, I accepted a sandwich from Wendy.
Shiro also took a sandwich from her.
I took a bite, and right away, it was obvious—it was way better than anything I could make.
The light spiciness, different from mustard, kicked up my appetite, and before I knew it, I was taking another bite.
「How is it?」
「It’s delicious! I could eat a dozen of these.」
「Tasty. Shiro could eat a dozen too.」
Well, with Shiro, she really could eat as many as she wanted…
「Lord, say ‘ahh’」
「Again? You’ve still got your own sandwich, eat that.」
「Ahh」
「…Fine, fine.」
Without a care that it was already half-eaten, Shiro leaned in and took a big bite out of the sandwich in my hand, then immediately took a bite out of the one she was holding too.
「A-ano…」
「What’s wrong? Go ahead and eat too, Wendy.」
「I will, but, um… why is Shiro eating on your lap, Master?」
「……」
Now that she mentioned it.
Unlike our old alchemy room, there were sofas here—and there was even an empty seat right next to Wendy.
There really wasn’t any reason for Shiro to sit on my lap.
「And being fed by Master like that… that’s not fair!」
「? Wendy can do it too.」
「T-then we’ll take turns!」
「No. This is Shiro’s spot. Special seat.」
「Ugh, that’s not fair! I demand a turn system!」
「No can do. Instead, I’ll give Wendy the highest-ranking slave rights.」
「That is tempting, but it’s not the same! I want to be fed by Master too!」
「Then do it. But this spot is mine.」
「Ugh, ughh!」
「Shiro, seriously, just get off…」
「No. Not even for you, lord. That’s the one order I can’t obey.」
What the hell is making her so stubborn about this?
Well, Shiro’s so light it doesn’t really bother me, but seeing Wendy puffing up and grumbling was somehow both cute and a little pitiful.
I kinda wish she’d let Wendy have a turn.
Not that I’m saying I want Wendy sitting on my lap or anything. Absolutely not.
「Come on, Wendy, you too.」
「Ugh! Master, say it more firmly, please!」
「Come on already, say ‘ahh’.」
「A-ah, yes. Ahh…」
Wendy was still standing, but I could at least do this for her.
She took a small bite out of the new sandwich I offered her, holding her cheek and chewing happily.
Man.
Is this really okay?
Is it okay for life to be this good?
As I thought that, I took another bite of my own sandwich, savoring the taste.
「Lord, Shiro too.」
「Yeah, here you go. Ahh.」
「Ahh」
In no time at all, Shiro had polished off two—no, three sandwiches.
「Hey, Shiro. Why don’t we share? Half and half? One knee each?」
「No. Wendy’s butt is too big. Can’t fit on just one knee.」
「Woo! Woo! I can fit! My butt’s not that big!」
「No!」
「Ughh!」
Wendy, please, don’t look at me like that with tears in your eyes.
Even I can’t do anything about how stubborn Shiro is.
And honestly, I don’t think I could fit her on just one knee either.
It’s not impossible, but… it would definitely be bad in a lot of ways.
「Then! As the highest-ranked slave, I command you! Relinquish that lap!」
「No!」
「Ugh!」
「Hahaha…」
Their exchange was so ridiculous I couldn’t help but laugh.
「This isn’t a laughing matter, Master!」
「Hahaha!」
Wendy’s desperate attitude just made it even funnier.
Maybe the fact that all of this was over my lap was what really set me off.
「Haah, haah. Man, that was funny. And thanks for the meal.」
「Thanks for the meal. It was delicious.」
「In the end, I didn’t even get to sit, and I barely tasted the food at all…」
Wendy was still glaring resentfully at Shiro, but Shiro paid her no mind, shifting around happily on my lap.
「Alright, once we get the cloth on, let’s go take a nap out on the terrace.」
「You know you’re not supposed to lie down right after eating. It’s bad for you.」
「Just for today, just today.」
「Geez. Only for today, okay?」
Bellies full, warm sunshine, and a nice breeze outside…
Even back in my old world, a nap like this would’ve been rare.
This other world was the best. Long live slow life.
-0-
I quickly started wrapping the cloth Shiro had bought tightly around the frame I’d made.
The cloth Shiro picked was much sturdier and less stretchy than normal fabric, and it drained water well too.
It didn’t even need any processing.
With Shiro’s help, I made sure there was no slack and finished the first one, then stowed it in my magic space.
Then I moved on to the second chair.
This one needed some slack, so I couldn’t just wrap it around.
Luckily, Wendy had sewing skills, so she stitched it onto the frame with the right amount of give.
Phew. All done for today.
Time for a nice, slow afternoon nap.
The three of us headed out to the terrace, pulled the two chairs out of the magic space, and set them up in the sun.
I sat down on the bigger chair and let my whole body relax into it.
A cool breeze blew, the warm sun shining down—
It felt like a dream.
「Excuse me.」
「Wendy, no fair!」
「It’s not unfair. First come, first served!」
Wendy and Shiro immediately started fighting over who would sit next to me.
「Hey, don’t squirm. It’s a simple structure, so it’ll break easily. And Shiro, give it up this time.」
「No! I wanna sleep with Master!」
「Me too! It’s not fair that Shiro gets him all the time!」
「Then I’ll sleep over there, and you two can—」
「That defeats the whole purpose!」「Nooo!」
…Right.
And here I went to all the trouble of making these.
「Alright, fine. Then just settle down on either side and behave, okay?」
「I don’t mind sitting on top.」
「No, it’s too hot for that. I just want to relax today.」
「…Okay.」
「I don’t mind either, as long as I get to nap with Master.」
「Alright then, let’s sleep. No way we’re wasting a beautiful day like this.」
I let out a big yawn.
My eyes were already halfway in sleep mode.
「Hmm…」
「It’s cramped…」
Even though I made the chair a bit bigger, it definitely wasn’t meant for three people.
We were all squished together, and feeling the soft warmth pressed against me made my heart race—
But honestly, that just made it all the more blissful.
「Lord, your arm.」
「Yeah, yeah. Here you go.」
I stretched my arm out, and Shiro wiggled around, searching for the best spot to rest her head.
「Ano, Master?」
「I know, I know.」
It wasn’t exactly comfortable sleeping with both arms outstretched like this, but…
It’s not like I could say no just to Wendy.
「Copycat.」
「I-it’s fine, isn’t it?」
Come to think of it, was Wendy always this forward?
I remembered her as the quiet, proper type who would walk a step behind me, like a perfect Yamato Nadeshiko.
And Shiro too—had she always been this stubbornly selfish?
Well, even so, I was happy they both felt comfortable enough to ask for what they wanted.
It made it easier for me to ask things of them too.
As I was thinking that, soft breathing began to rise from beside me.
Shiro had already fallen asleep.
「Guess I’ll nap too… yawn.」
「Goodnight, Master.」
「Goodnight, Wendy.」
Since coming to this world, I feel like I’ve been sleeping together with others in a totally wholesome way a lot more often.
Although… it’s a little hot.
Maybe I should rebuild the chair to make it a bit wider when I wake up.
But then the cloth would wear out faster…
As I drifted off, my mind wandered back and forth between those thoughts until sleep finally took me.
Leave a Reply