Chapter 289: Cooking Lessons at the Barracks

"This looks delicious. Thanks."

"Hehe."

As expected of Lian, even though Duzy might look intimidating at first glance, she showed no fear at all and smiled happily as he patted her head.

Since he had known her since before she was born, Duzy seemed to regard her almost like a grandchild.

"We caught a lot when we went out the other day. I thought dried fish would go well with alcohol, so we brought some."

"Thanks. I am looking forward to tonight."

They had also brought some food along, so when Qiong Xing invited them to eat together, Duzy happily led them inside.

"Um, Lian? Are you sure you do not want to sit with Qiong Xing?"

"I want to stay here!"

"Sorry. If you do not mind, please just let her stay like that."

They had just sat down to eat, but for some reason, Lian climbed onto Naz’s lap instead of Qiong Xing’s, making him smile wryly.

She had really grown attached. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Qiong Xing had said that they should tell him if it was a problem, but although Naz seemed a bit flustered, he said it was fine, so they let her stay on his lap.

"These are inari sushi that Lian and I made together. We also brought miso soup, pickled vegetables, and a little grilled dried fish, so please try them, even if it is just a taste."

"This is... quite something to look at."

Both of them were initially confused by the unfamiliar sushi, but urged by Lian to eat quickly, they each took a bite.

It seemed they liked it, as they began saying it was delicious while eating with clear enjoyment.

Lian beamed happily at being praised by Naz.

"This fish has really thick meat. Where did you catch it?"

"In the dungeon."

"Cough!"

Surprised, Naz started coughing, so Qiong Xing gently patted his back, and handed water to Duzy, who seemed to have choked.

"I am sorry. We ate it ourselves and there did not seem to be any problem, so I thought it would be fine..."

Thinking it might not suit their taste, he hurriedly apologized, but, "That is not the issue!"

"You went to a dungeon, Qiong Xing!?"

It seemed they were shocked for a completely different reason than his concern.

"Yes. I was asked to go. It was very enjoyable."

"..."

Only then did the two remember that he was, after all, an adventurer.

"...Well, anyway. I am just glad you are not hurt."

Duzy nodded to himself as if reaffirming that this was just how Qiong Xing was, while Naz still looked frozen in shock.

Finding it amusing, Qiong Xing playfully stuffed a sushi into Naz’s open mouth.

Startled, Naz quickly came back to his senses and began chewing in a hurry.

Like Albe, Naz could surprisingly eat quite a lot.

"Also, we were able to obtain a lot of meat and fish, but besides that, we also got some rare seasonings. These sushi were made using them, so if you would like, please try these as well."

When Qiong Xing handed over a jar filled with seasoned fish, Duzy accepted it happily even before any explanation was given.

"So I just grill this?"

"Yes. It ended up being mostly things that go well with alcohol, but I would be happy if you could eat them. Lian worked hard to help too. Right?"

"Lian worked hard!"

"Then it is bound to be delicious. I will gratefully take it."

Perhaps because she had been praised, Lian was eating more enthusiastically than usual, which made Qiong Xing a little concerned.

Meanwhile, he handed Naz one filled with meat, and as expected of a growing boy, Naz was very pleased.

"And while we are at it, would it be possible to share a little alcohol with us?"

"You are not drinking again."

He was refused before he could even explain why.

It seemed that after one failure, Qiong Xing had been completely banned from drinking.

"I do not want to drink it. I would like to use it for cooking... is that not allowed?"

Qiong Xing himself had no desire to drink to the point of losing consciousness again, and with children around, he did not have the time for that anyway.

Thinking that it could not be helped, he accepted the large bottle that was handed to him, though he wondered if he was truly being forbidden from it.

If there was any left over, someone like Allen would probably drink it, so he decided to gratefully accept it.

"I will bring more things next time, so let’s eat together again."

"Yes. I will be waiting."

"Come visit anytime."

After promising to come again, they held hands once more and returned home together.

...

"Does Captain Narka think I am some kind of handyman or something?"

"I am truly sorry."

Rohen bowed his head apologetically, but since it was not really his fault, Qiong Xing could not bring himself to blame him.

"No. I did not object either, thinking that you might be able to improve things, so I share the blame."

It seemed he had been lightly betrayed.

Even so, from what he had heard before when they went to the dungeon, he had thought things sounded quite difficult, so he did want to help somehow.

This time as well, Qiong Xing had once again been forcibly brought along by Narka and now found himself in the kitchen of the soldiers’ barracks.

"Teach the new recruits how to cook."

That was all Narka said before leaving.

Qiong Xing had no idea what was going on, so he had someone call Rohen, and after hearing the explanation, this apology followed.

He had originally come to help Sergei today.

"I am not a professional cook, so I can only make simple things, but if that is alright."

"Of course. Everything you made before was delicious, so we are very grateful."

He told them not to expect too much, just in case, and then asked to see what ingredients were available.