When we return home, Wil is setting up a table and chairs. I don’t know where she got them.
“Oh? That was surprisingly fast.”
“…What are you doing?”
“Just treating you to something, since you always provide so much amusement for me.”
Reina looks at Wil like she doesn’t trust her for one second.
There’s no one Reina trusts less on this island than Wil, who’s been pestering her this whole time.
As for me, I don’t think she’s necessarily a bad person, but she is annoying.
“Guoo.”
“Ah geez, there there.”
Tiltue is raising her voice to threaten Wil, because apparently even though she lost her reasoning power, she still knows Wil did something to her.
But her voice soon turns happy after I pat her.
“Fufufu, it seems you have tamed her. Even that Bahamut can look cute like this.”
“And whose fault is it?”
“Dunno?”
Wil brushes aside what I said, and continues briskly preparing something.
…She really doesn’t listen when it’s not convenient for her.
“…What exactly are you doing, Wilhelmina?”
“I told you. Treating you to something because you always provide so much amusement.”
She says as she puts a pot on the table, that I also don’t know where it came from.
A rich aroma immediately fills the air, and even though I’m not hungry, it draws out my appetite.
“My special stew. There’s nothing in here that is bad for you, so don’t worry.”
“…”
“…”
“…Guo.”
“What is it with you and those untrusting eyes? I generally don’t lie.”
Even if it isn’t a lie, I’m sure you’re twisting your words, and you’re actually up to something.
I don’t actually say that, but I keep looking at the pot with suspicion. It does look tasty, and it does work up the appetite, but it definitely looks dangerous.
“Firstly, what is…”
“What? You’re not going to tell me you won’t eat the food I prepared, will you?”
Says Wil with a big smile, seemingly not willing to let us get a word in edgewise.
“First of all, can you tell us what you did to Tiltue?”
“Nothing major, just a little suggestion to make her more honest.”
“Suggestion?”
“Yes, with this magic eye.”
When she says that, her eye glows with a golden color. I’m looking right at it, and for a moment, I feel an impact like something has a tight hold on my heart, but…
“…Oh?”
“Hmph. Boring as usual.”
Wil seems exasperated, after seeing that it has no effect on me. I guess whatever she was trying to do to me with that magic eye didn’t work.
“There are various types of magic eyes, but the one I tried to use on you stimulates one’s instincts. Well, like a game.”
“Game…”
I want her to reflect on what she did to Tiltue, but of course, Wil doesn’t feel any guilt.
“Just playing around. Like if I used this on Reina, she would just become a little more honest. Honestly, I didn’t expect her to regress so much and become so wild.”
Wil says while looking at Tiltue with kind of an exasperated expression. It looks like she’s telling the truth.
“Gua.”
“Yes, there there.”
Tiltue starts squirming in my arms, as if complaining about us talking about her like she’s not here, and like she wants more attention. It’s not like she’s heavy, but I’m having trouble figuring out how to deal with her.
“…She really is kind of cute.”
“Are you having a bit of fun, Reina?”
“Not at all. So Wilhelmina, how do we fix this?”
“Who knows?”
This girl…
I feel like Reina is thinking the same as me.
Wil mixes the pot, unconcerned about our stares, and then smiles like she just had a good idea.
“Ah, I know. Maybe eating this will fix it.”
““You’re lying!””
Reina and I yell at the same time, to the vampire that just said she doesn’t lie.
Wil then starts pouring the contents of the pot into bowls, like she didn’t hear us.
We’re not getting anywhere like this, so we sit down.
I try to put Tiltue down, but she’s not having it, and I have to keep holding her.
“Tiltue, can you let go of me already?”
“Gua.”
“Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if Luna saw you like this?”
“Gua.”
She turns away, not wanting to listen to anything I say. I guess Wil thinks this is funny, because she’s looking at us with a nasty smile on her face.
“Kukuku, nice.”
“You really like to see people troubled, don’t you?”
“You’re too kind.”
I’m not praising you. I’m being sarcastic.
But there’s no point in saying that to her, because if that sort of thing got through to her, she wouldn’t be such a pain to begin with.
“Don’t be so grumpy. How about you just eat?”
“I think you’re definitely feeding us something weird.”
“If you don’t eat, I’ll force Reina to eat it.”
“…Getting a bit desperate, aren’t we?”
“Not at all.”
I look at the pot. There are plenty of vegetables, and it reminds me of miso soup of old.
It smells nice, and it looks tasty. But I’m sure it carries just as much danger.
“Anyway, can you back off a little, Reina?”
“A-all right… Be careful, Arata…”
I don’t have a choice, or any way to be careful, but sure.
I hand Tiltue over to Reina.
She doesn’t want to leave at first, but after I look her in the eye and explain it with a serious tone, she reluctantly lets Reina hold her.
“…All right.”
I fire myself up, and look at dangerous substance X. It’s in a bowl, and stimulating my appetite to no end.
It’s like a carnivorous plant making itself look tasty to draw in prey.
“It’s honestly a little shocking to see you that wary of it, you know?”
“Whose fault is it, for constantly doing things that will make me feel wary?”
I slowly bring the bowl up to my mouth, and a slightly salty flavor of fragrant herbs stimulates my tongue. It feels warm and nostalgic, like it’s the flavor of nature itself…
I gulp it down without even thinking, and let out a sigh.
“Ahh, I take it by your face that you’re satisfied.”
“…It was good.”
“Of course, I made it.”
“And it didn’t seem to have anything.”
“How many times do I have to say…”
I really didn’t feel anything suspicious, but I do feel a warmth in my body.
“…Are you all right, Arata?”
“Yes… I can’t believe it, but it really does feel like there’s nothing to it.”
“I see…”
Reina is still looking at Wil with suspicion, but since I said it’s no big deal, she sits next to me. At the same time, Tiltue slips over to my lap.
“…Are you going to eat?”
“Well… You did go out of your way to make it. I guess I will trust what you said, that there’s nothing weird in it… Maybe?”
“I told you over and over. Today I want to thank you for all the enjoyment you have given me, so I thought I’d cook something. That’s all.”
I still don’t fully believe that’s true, but it does look like it didn’t do anything to me. And I think I would notice if there was poison or anything like that.
“Well then… I’ll try it.”
“Gua.”
Reina and Tiltue also bring bowls full of Wil’s food to their mouths.
“…Hou.”
“…Gua.”
Both squint and sigh, like they’re feeling nostalgic. I get that.
It’s like a taste that reminds one of their hometown.
“All right all right. You finally ate, but there’s more if you want.”
“Aren’t you going to eat, Wil?”
“I already ate plenty. And I need to leave plenty of room for dessert…”
“…?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m just talking to myself.”
I give Wil a sideways glance, after she said something that sounds a bit fishy, as she pours us more.
And I don’t notice the shady smile in her eyes…
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