Chapter 420: Waiting and Reunion
Qiong Xing wanted to contact Elias and the others, but unfortunately everyone who could communicate with them had fallen into the dungeon on this side.
The only one left was Fenrisúlfr who was likely with Elias’s group, but only Qiong Xing could speak with Fenrisúlfr directly, making it difficult to pass messages.
With no easy way to search and rescue, the best option was simply to stay put and wait.
"Instead of just grilling, how about we try something a little different today?"
"Something different?"
Albe looked slightly exasperated and wondering what he was planning this time, but when Qiong Xing asked for help, he complied without complaint.
Albe began preparing fish after fish, and Qiong Xing added them into a mixture seasoned with soy sauce and mirin, letting them soak.
"...You’re eating it raw?"
Although it was seasoned, Albe looked concerned at Qiong Xing’s suggestion that it would not be grilled.
"The bag keeps everything fresh, so it’s fine. It goes well with rice, and although we can’t drink it right now, it also pairs well with alcohol."
"Why do you have knowledge like that when you can’t even drink it?"
Qiong Xing smiled brightly, then asked for it to be chopped finely this time.
"I used to like minced tuna with green onions."
"Isn’t it a waste to chop it up? You could just eat it as is."
That would also taste good.
"Of course, not all of it. Everyone has preferences, so I’ll only make it for myself... and maybe for Rui, just in case."
He did not know how far Rui’s love for fish would extend, but thinking it might be possible, Qiong Xing prepared a slightly larger portion for him, and turned the rest into a marinated rice bowl.
It was unfortunate that there was no seaweed, but since he did not know how to make it, he could only hope it would come out of a treasure chest someday.
"For Lian, let’s make minced fish tartare."
"I’ll eat it!"
Wanting to help, Lian eagerly agreed, so Qiong Xing prepared the ingredients and asked her to mix them.
"Mama, aaah."
"Just one bite, okay? After that we’ll wait for Papa and the others..."
"Mama!!"
Unable to wait, Lian opened her mouth expectantly, and Qiong Xing was about to feed her just a taste, when something suddenly slammed into him with great force, knocking him over.
"Wha? Wh-what? Hey, are you okay, Qiong Xing?"
Even Albe was startled by the speed, but once he realized what it was, he immediately checked for injuries.
Looking down, he saw the twins clinging to Qiong Xing’s stomach, and he realized he had probably worried them far more than he thought.
"That was faster than I expected."
"If these brats hadn’t been crying and causing a fuss, we could’ve gotten here a bit sooner."
Saying this, Joa walked over while apologizing for the delay, though he looked somewhat exhausted.
Qiong Xing learned that the twins had panicked and started crying after he and Lian disappeared.
Their cries attracted monsters, which they then had to defeat it first, but the twins would not calm down, causing even more monsters to gather in an endless cycle.
Hui had also started crying because of the twins, and even Mayo began to cry after hearing them, leaving the fathers completely exhausted.
"You’ve all worked hard. And I’m sorry for worrying you."
As he said that and stretched out his arms, he was pulled into a tight embrace as if being checked over carefully.
He had not fallen on purpose, but traveling while carrying the children without being able to confirm their safety must have been extremely difficult for them.
"I’m glad you’re safe. When Lian and Cari fell too, my heart nearly stopped."
"We really should have found a way to contact you. I’m sorry."
Seeing his daughter fall had likely terrified Elias.
The person in question, however, had arrived safely and energetically on their own without realizing any of that.
"My ears hurt."
"Mine too."
"So do mine."
At the chorus of complaints by their ears, Leander, Iseul, and Roan looked completely drained.
Qiong Xing smiled and thanked them for their hard work, then took Hui and Lingxiao into his arms, calming them down before everyone gathered to enjoy the meal that had been prepared.
"Thank you too, Fenrir."
"...I am truly not suited for raising children."
Fenrisúlfr who likely had even sharper hearing than Leander and the others had shrunk slightly from exhaustion, and seeing that made Qiong Xing feel a pang of guilt, as if it was his own children’s fault.
Knowing Fenrisúlfr had worked hard to reach them as quickly as possible, Qiong Xing hugged him tightly and poured his magic into him until he felt satisfied.
"Today I’ll take the watch, so everyone please rest."
"No."
"Not happening."
"Absolutely not."
Everyone immediately rejected Qiong Xing’s suggestion that he take the night watch.
Until now, the others had always taken the watch before he could even offer, so he thought it would be his turn this time.
Why was that wrong?
"Qiong Xing, just rest. We—"
"But you all must be tired from walking so much today, right? And carrying the children all the way here must have been difficult. I basically only cooked, so I should be the one doing it."
It was appreciated that they cared for him and worried about him, but Qiong Xing was still a man, and he did not want to be a burden to them.
Qiong Xing felt that because they had all worked so hard until now, he also wanted to give something back to them.
"Please rest today. When both body and mind are tired, the best thing is to take a proper rest."
It might not have been something he, as the cause of all this, should be saying, but he was also worried about them, who had been exhausted both mentally and physically from searching for him and the children.