Translator: Shizukuku

Editor: Lilia

Read at Watashi Wa Sugoi Desu!

Chapter 141 – I Want to Go Night Hunting!

“Still, the idea of making an item to lift curses is quite interesting.”

As I was relaxing with my slightly sweetened tea, Regalo-san said that and offered us a snack. The sweets he presented to Crash and me were cookies with a pink hue in the shapes of various flowers, and they looked delicious. They were definitely handmade by Regalo-san. They were so pretty. They looked too good to eat.

“Yes. I got the idea from a stone statue named Jhal Gar-san. By the way, these are very beautiful. Regalo-san, you really seem to be able to make anything.”

I picked up a flower cookie and stared at it. It was pleasing to the eye and had a floral scent as well. I wondered if they were made with the butter I got at Tream-san’s place. If I had the recipe, maybe I could make something like this too. Would Vidello-san be pleased if I gave it to him?

As I was thinking about that, Regalo-san chuckled softly.

“Vidello-kun would be happy to receive anything from you, Mac-kun. Shall I give you the recipe?”

“What?! Uh… um, yes, I would like to learn…”

Regalo-san’s words made my face heat up. He completely read my mind. It was so embarrassing. But for some reason, since it was Regalo-san, I didn’t feel bad at all. Still, I was honestly happy to receive the recipe. I was gradually accumulating more recipes for dishes I could make for Vidello-san. It made me giddy when I thought about cooking for him.

Remembering Vidello-san’s delighted face when I served him food, I couldn’t help but smile. I love him so much.

“Crash-kun, would you like to know the recipe too?”

“Hmm, I’m good. I’ll have Mac make it. I’m probably terrible at making stuff like this anyway. I’ll be counting on you, Mac,” Crash said with a big smile.

I had no objection to making some for Crash too. I didn’t dislike this kind of work.

As I agreed, a piece of paper was held out in front of me.

“It seems you’ll have to make Crash-kun’s share too, so how about I receive the payment from Crash-kun?”

Regalo-san joked, saying such a thing. Crash laughed, pretending to be shocked, and said, “Huh, me?”

“I don’t have a choice, I guess I’ll have to pay you,” Crash said generously, and Regalo-san quickly replied with a ripoff price: “That will be 100,000 gal, then.” He quickly added, “Just kidding. Let’s settle for one of Mac-kun’s high potions,” but I didn’t miss it when Crash’s face turned serious for a moment. It was so funny.

After enjoying the delicious cookies, we stood up to leave.

I was told that the feather accessories would be ready in roughly seven days. I was also told to bring Vidello-san along, and I nodded in agreement. Then Crash and I returned to Tre’s general store.

After being made to promise that I would definitely make those cookies, I left Crash’s shop through the back.

There were still people waiting at the front. How could they do that even though it was already late and the owner hadn’t returned? 

I quietly slipped out of the back alley onto the main street and hurried to the gate. I wondered if Vidello-san was still on duty. Maybe he had already switched shifts and gone inside. I hoped he was still there.

Because I needed to ask Vidello-san out on a date.

It was still more than seven days away, but I had to make a reservation.

When I arrived at the gate, it was already quite late, so Vidello-san was already inside and someone else was standing there.

It was almost time for the alarm to go off, so I guess it was inevitable. But I really wanted to see his face, even if it was just a glance.

Should I ask someone to call him? He might have already gone to bed. He probably had to be up early tomorrow, too. 

What should I do?

As I hesitated, the gatekeeper noticed me standing there and waved to me.

I greeted him, and the gatekeeper, while waving to the players who were leaving, spoke up.

“Hey, Mac. Are you going on a night hunt date with Vidello? I heard there will be wild boars in the forest tonight. I really want to eat some boar meat. It’s so chewy and flavorful. Have you ever eaten boar meat, Mac?”

“Boar…? No, I haven’t. But isn’t it rare for there to be boars in Tre’s forest?”

Wait, a night hunting date with Vidello-san? That sounded fun. And hunting boars sounded interesting too. Though, I’d have to be strong for that.

Wolves, birds, and insects were the usual inhabitants of the Tre forest, and not many other monsters or larger prey came in. The dragon that brought Vidello-san and me together was a rare occurrence.

“If you defeat a boar, you occasionally get meat, and it’s incredibly delicious. If I didn’t have work now, I’d go hunting too. The others were also excited to go hunting. Hold on a moment. Vidello is getting ready now. You’re going with him, right?”

“Wow, really? I want to go. I didn’t have plans with him, but would it be okay?”

“He’d be thrilled. Vidello was super excited about hunting boars after work so he could feed you some of the meat.”

“What, Vidello-san…?”

My heart raced at the gatekeeper’s words. It made me so happy. So incredibly happy. I would gladly cook the meat! I’d make it perfect with the sauce I learned from Tream-san! I love you, Vidello-san!

As I waited impatiently, the door to the gatehouse opened, and out came the gatekeepers, all familiar faces. They all seem to be hunting in light gear, having removed their armor. They all had their own weapons hanging from their waists.

Among them was Vidello-san.

The moment Vidello-san spotted me, his face lit up with a smile.

I received an incredibly big smile. The impact was so strong that I reflexively took a screenshot. I’d have to look at it when I was alone and savor it. I wondered if I could decorate my room with screenshots like this. I’d love to hang a picture of Vidello-san in my workshop. I couldn’t use it as a side dish in-game, though, because I was stuck in my pants.

“Mac! What are you doing here so late?”

Vidello-san immediately approached and I lunged toward him. He effortlessly caught me as I crashed into him. I love him so much.

“I came to plan a date with you, but I was wondering if I could join you for the night hunting you’re about to do. If I won’t be in the way.”

Everyone was discussing strategies, like whether to attack from the other side of the forest or if it would be easier to defeat the boars if they surrounded them, so I suddenly felt worried about barging in like this. I wondered if the gatekeepers were going to form a party.

If that were the case, I would be a hindrance.

“You wouldn’t be in the way at all! Rather, the two of us–”

“Oh. Mac is coming too? I’ve never seen Mac fight monsters. Alright, come along with us.”

“Great, if Mac’s with us, we don’t have to worry about getting injured!”

“Hey Vidello, make sure you protect Mac so he doesn’t get into danger!”

“Who do you think you’re talking to? Of course I will.”

“Actually, Vidello, you should get hurt a little bit and let Mac take care of you.”

Joking around as they moved, Vidello-san and the group of about four burly gatekeepers beckoned me to come along, and I happily followed behind them.

As we entered the forest, the usual sounds of owl-like creatures were completely absent tonight.

The atmosphere in the forest felt different than usual. I wondered if wild boars were that much of a threat. Enough to silence the birds.

“Mac, what’s wrong?”

As I was looking around, Vidello-san gently took my hand. 

I was glad to see him worried about me. But I was okay.

“I just thought that the atmosphere in the forest is different than usual. It’s like when that dragon appeared.”

“Ah. When we had our first kiss, right? It does feel similar. From what I’ve heard, there shouldn’t be anything that big, but maybe there’s a boss monster deeper in.”

At Vidello-san’s words, the gatekeepers around us looked at us with grins on their faces. Why did they look so happy?

“If we defeat the boss, I wonder how much meat we’ll get. I was asked to bring back some meat for the other guys.”

The gatekeeper, who was walking in the lead, said such a thing while stretching. I wondered how much hunting he intended to do.

The map at the edge of my vision showed several red dots. I wondered if they were all wild boars.

For now, I was only searching to conserve my MP.

“Detection.”

When I quietly used the skill, I felt a pressure coming from deep within Tre’s forest. 

It was proof there was something big out there.

This pressure, which came from a different direction than the cave Crash and I had visited earlier, was quite a high level.

I couldn’t help but squeeze the hand I was holding.

“Vidello-san, there’s a big one.”

I pointed in the direction where I felt the pressure, and everyone looked in that direction.

I wondered how strong they all were. If everyone was as strong as Vidello-san, I might not be needed at all.

“What?! There’s really a big one! I hope we get a big chunk of meat!”

“I wonder how big it is. Honestly, I’m excited since I haven’t had much action lately.”

The gatekeepers, who seemed ready to burst into song, weren’t intimidated by the presence of a big one at all. It meant they were all confident in their skills. How dependable.

“This must be fate. Let’s take it down before it hurts anyone in the town and get a big haul of loot.”

“Yeah!”

The moment everyone cheered, the quest log in the corner of my vision pinged.