“Is that…”
“Flavoring in gel form. That way we can eat it.”
“That’s incredible, but how did you do that?”
I don’t know about cooking, but that was liquid. Wouldn’t that get mixed up with the water here in the sea…
“Snow helped!”
“Yes, you did great.”
“Hehehe.”
Merlin controlled water to make a temporary space where they made the gel.
Snow’s power is making it retain its shape, but I don’t really understand how it works.
It doesn’t feel frozen when touched or anything…
It jiggles, which I didn’t really expect. I don’t know what Snow did, and I get the feeling I won’t get it even if I’m told.
“This is about all we can do for now…”
Reina looks around, and sees curious divine beast people. They’ve never had something like this, so they look a bit wary.
At this rate we’re going to be the only ones eating this, which would spoil the whole idea of getting together.
And as I think about that, Levi stares at the sashimi and gel.
“…You can try it if you want.”
“…!? But I’ve never had something like this…”
She sounds timid, and her eyes move all over the place.
She’s clearly flustered.
I’m not going to force her to eat it. We should go first anyway… But then Elga approaches us.
“What’s up Levi? Scared?”
“Aaah? No way! Where are you getting that? Just because you can’t eat it doesn’t mean I can’t!”
Her attitude flips completely, but she has tears in the corners of her eyes, so it’s clear she’s acting tough.
“I can eat it no problem. Reina’s cooking is really good.”
“H-hmph… You say that, but aren’t you actually scared? We could eat it together…”
I almost laugh, but hold it.
Elga’s mouth is twitching too, like he’s trying really hard not to laugh.
Is that what’s happening when he starts trembling? He’s trying not to laugh?
I have my doubts, but if he already knew what Levi is really like, I can see him laughing about it.
“Okay then, let’s do it.”
“Eh? R-really?”
“Ou. I’ll have one then, Reina.”
Elga grabs a piece of sashimi with two fingers, and eats it with the brownish red gel.
Levi fearfully picks one, and copies him.
And…
“Ah…”
“Ah?”
“Abababababababababa!? What is thiiiiiis!?”
“It really is great!”
Levi sounds like she’s taken aback, and Elga howls like he was holding that back.
“Ah, that feels nostalgic.”
“Yes, I was surprised when I first saw that reaction…”
Both go uooooo and abababababa and yell again after having another piece of sashimi.
This keeps repeating, and the other divine beast people rush towards the food. Reina is undefeated in this category.
“Let’s get to work!”
“I’ll hurry up and make the gel. Help me out, Snow.”
“Snow wants some too.”
“Here!”
“Tashty.”
Snow holds both cheeks after being fed by Merlin.
Reina keeps preparing the fish with a ferocious intensity, and Livia is helping her before I know it.
The banquet that felt mystical before now looks like a line before a busy ramen restaurant at this point.
But it’s a bit funny to me how it really looks like they’re waiting for ramen.
“What is this!? Do people on the surface eat something this good all the time!?”
“You can eat fish like this!?”
“It’s too good! This is revolutionary!”
One after the other, they yell after having the sashimi with gel.
To be honest, sashimi isn’t that different from having the fish as is, but Reina’s cooking makes it different somehow.
“Hm… Reina’s cooking is strong anywhere.”
I watch for a bit, and Levi comes asking for more.
“Brother-in-law, this looks good too! Can I have it!?”
“Sure, eat up! You can have mine today too.”
“Really!? I love you brother-in-law!”
Watching Levi act like she does with Livia brings a smile to my face.
I feel like she’s going to get embarrassed and regret that later, but oh well.
“I feel like she’s too close to darling…”
“Wha!?”
I get startled because Livia is suddenly behind me.
It’s strange. Her voice doesn’t sound different, but it’s super scary…
Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that, and move to where Luna and Tiltue are eating.
◇ ◇ ◇
Eventually, the time comes when we have to return to the surface.
“Thank you for having us.”
“No, thank you. You gave us something nice to eat. You’re always welcome here.”
Says Hafgufa, and I’m glad I came.
I look at Luna and the others, who are sad to go because they’ve become friends with Levi.
“Luna, Tiltue… I’ll go up there next time.”
“Yes! I’ll wait with tasty meat!”
“Me too!”
As I see that and smile, Merlin bows.
“Mister Hafgufa, thank you very much for this experience.”
“I heard you were responsible for everyone coming here. I’m surprised a human mastered magic to this extent.”
“Mastered… I have a long way to go. I will have to make it so all sorts of people on the island can come.”
“I see I see. That will make the sea more interesting. I will look forward to it.”
“Yes, please do.”
It looks like Merlin found her goal. Her expression looks refreshed.
And her face in profile looks really striking.
“You looked like that when you found your dream.”
“Did I?”
“Yes. So I’m sure Merlin will also…”
She came to this island, and found a new path in this new environment.
I’m happy like it’s about me.
“Okay, time to go.”
“Yes. Thank you everyone.”
Elga joins us as we say our goodbyes, and Livia guides us to the surface.
Divine beast people watch us as we go, follow us, and wave at the end.
It was a lot of trouble for Reina and Merlin to bring us here, but…
I’m happy we came.
Looking back on it now, I can say that about this place with certainty.
