Chapter 409: Meals, Family, and Small Futures
Their tastes were not that different, so Albe and the others would probably enjoy it as well.
After getting their approval, the fish meat was saved for dinner, and the snack was decided to be bone crackers.
Albe, being quite skilled, even offered to handle the fish himself.
"This is seriously good. The blade is insanely sharp. ...Filleting fish actually takes a lot of strength."
For some reason, even though he was praising the knife, when Albe said it, it sounded like he was cutting something else entirely.
Something best left unspoken.
"This is great! The salt is just right, it tastes amazing!"
"I thought eating the bones was a bit much, but... it is delicious."
Leander and the others, as beastmen with strong jaws and teeth, ate them with a satisfying crunch.
Qiong Xing also reminded Cari and Lian to eat slowly.
"... ... ..."
And Rui, who loved fish, seemed to ignore everyone around him and silently kept eating the crackers.
His love for fish apparently extended even to the bones.
"Did you like it? I will make it again next time."
When Qiong Xing said that, Rui responded with the biggest smile he had shown recently and nodded.
It was still a mystery why he loved fish so much.
Qiong Xing liked fish too, but not to that extent.
That only made it more of a mystery.
...
"Lian... Lian is... Lian is going to become Naz’s mama!"
At Lian’s firm declaration, Qiong Xing smiled at how cute it was.
Albe spat out his tea in shock, Duzy laughed loudly in amusement, and Elias covered his face with both hands, whether in despair or embarrassment.
And the person involved in that declaration...
"...?"
Perhaps Naz did not understand it at all, or perhaps his brain refused to process it, as he tilted his head in confusion.
Maybe shock just eventually turned into calm acceptance.
But more importantly, why mama?
Even as Naz asked the question in his mind, he could not understand how she had arrived at that answer.
The reason this had come up in the first place was a few hours earlier.
"Today I was thinking of going to Naz’s place, so Lian can come too—"
"I’m going!"
Qiong Xing was interrupted before he could even finished his words.
"Then could you help me prepare the lunch?"
Since Qiong Xing usually prepared food when they visited Naz and the others, he asked for help.
Lian happily agreed and assisted him.
"Good, good. You’re doing it well. Just keep rolling it like that."
Thinking that, since they were bringing food anyway, it would be better to make something Lian liked, Qiong Xing had planned to prepare rice balls and miso soup.
However, Lian said she wanted to make them too, so he let her handle the rice balls.
Of course, letting a small child handle hot rice directly would be dangerous, so he used two bowls and had her shake them instead.
Grilled flaked salmon was properly placed inside and the pleasant aroma made Lian look very pleased.
"Will Naz eat it?"
He had once corrected her for calling Naz by name even though Naz was about the same age as Qiong Xing, but Naz himself had said it was fine.
Since then, Lian had continued calling him Naz.
"Yes. I am sure he will be happy and say it is delicious."
"Hehe."
Her happy smile made him smile as well.
"This one is for Mama."
"That makes me very happy. Thank you, Lian."
After finishing Naz’s portion, she also made one for Qiong Xing.
He was not comparing her with Yue and the others, but her thoughtful behavior really did make him think she was very much like an older sister.
That was probably also because Cari, who served as her role model, was a very considerate and well-mannered child, and Lian naturally learned from him.
"Right. Could you also make some for Papa Leander and Papa Joa?"
"Okay!"
Albe, Elias, and Hui were coming along, so there was no issue there.
But the ones staying behind were only Leander and Joa, so Qiong Xing was a little concerned about their meals.
Mainly Leander.
Unlike Elias, he did not dislike vegetables, but unless they were prepared and served properly, he would not willingly eat anything that was not meat.
Qiong Xing would not normally mind if it were only the beastmen, but Cari was also there this time, so that could not be allowed.
Watching Lian happily continue making food, Qiong Xing finished preparing his own dishes, packed everything into a bag, and headed to Naz’s workshop hand in hand with her.
"This is Naz’s. Lian made it."
"Eh! W-woah, that is amazing, Lian!"
Lian became very pleased after being praised by Naz.
"Well, that is impressive. You could get married anytime."
Duzy laughed heartily, but when Qiong Xing glanced at Elias sitting beside him, he was shaking his head sadly.
He apparently did not want to give his daughter away in marriage.
"Well, that is still far in the future."
"I hope so. You should work on letting go a bit as a parent."
Duzy patted Elias on the shoulder, clearly having noticed his earlier expression.
Qiong Xing’s shoulders shook slightly with laughter.
"But Duzy, wouldn’t you panic too if Naz suddenly said he was going to get married?"
"Not sure. I am more worried whether he will even be able to find someone like that."
Naz who still seemed to struggle with interacting with others was clearly a concern for Duzy.
Naz himself lowered his head apologetically.
"I am not saying that is a bad thing, but... you have finally started being able to talk normally with everyone, so maybe someday... no, maybe not."
Is he giving up too quickly?
"I thought it was fine to wait patiently. Naz was already able to make alcohol together with you like this now, so he must be quite happy. Right?"
"U, yeah!"
With those words, Qiong Xing smiled calmly.
This was not something to compare with others.