"Mhm, Kanna also approves of Boss," the young dragon loli sitting next to Shoko nodded, her big, innocent eyes fixed on Yuto.
Yuto couldn't help but smile at Kanna's earnest approval. "Thank you, Kanna."
"You don't need to thank me! The Boss's cooking is amazing, and Kanna loves it!"
At the mention of food, Kanna's perpetually dazed expression finally flickered with expression.
Yuto sighed inwardly.
'So... winning a dragon's approval is as simple as cooking a delicious meal? That's baffling.'
Quetzalcoatl was already preparing to savor Yuto's grilled meat.
The mere aroma was enough to confirm it would be an extraordinary dish. Plump, succulent meat glistened with natural oils, its slightly browned crust shimmering with golden-orange hues.
Even after millennia of existence, Quetzalcoatl's heart fluttered with anticipation.
Yuto had thoughtfully provided a knife and fork, reasoning that they might be more convenient for a dragon.
Quetzalcoatl picked up the utensils.
The sharp knife sliced through the grilled meat with ease. As the knife cut through the tender flesh, droplets of golden-yellow oil seeped out—a natural phenomenon of grilled meat.
The high heat causes the meat's proteins to relax and its natural oils to release.
For meat lovers—or meat-eating creatures—this was an irresistible temptation!
Beside Quetzalcoatl, Fafnir had already turned his gaze to the grilled meat in front of her.
His expression remained cold and indifferent.
Yet the stark contrast between his current behavior and his previous aloofness made the scene amusing.
"If you wants some, you can order your own. I won't let you have mine," Quetzalcoatl declared, spearing a piece of meat and popping it into her mouth.
Her face instantly lit up with pure joy and bliss.
Dragons, at times, make no effort to conceal their emotions.
"Tch!" Fafnir clicked his tongue at her words, but this time he refrained from uttering any "mere human" insults.
After all, even his keen sense of smell couldn't deny the tantalizing aroma of the grilled meat.
Yuto couldn't help but smile at their exchange.
He had overheard the gist of the situation in the kitchen earlier.
The current scene was certainly amusing.
"Fafnir-san, would you like a portion?"
After a moment of silence, Fafnir finally nodded slightly.
Yuto chuckled inwardly.
'I would never eat human cuisine he said.'
Those were the words Yuto had overheard in the kitchen earlier
Karma, sometimes, strikes swiftly!
...
"Hmm? Why is my roast taking so long?" Fafnir frowned upon hearing Tohru say he'd have to wait half an hour.
A smug smile played on Tohru's lips.
"Quetzalcoatl's roast was cooked with my dragon flame. Boss is using the oven for yours, Fafnir, so naturally, it will take longer." The dragon girl stood before Fafnir with her arms crossed, her expression a mix of smugness and delight.
"Why not just keep using your dragon flame, Tohru?" Fafnir asked, his voice tinged with impatience and confusion.
He pushed up his glasses, his crimson eyes fixed on Tohru with intimidating intensity.
Tohru huffed proudly. "Because the Boss is worried about me."
As she spoke, a warm feeling welled up in her chest.
For a dragon who had battled for hundreds of years, such genuine concern felt precious.
"Tch! You could breathe fire for days straight without breaking a sweat, and now you're acting all delicate in front of humans?" Fafnir scoffed.
He knew Tohru well enough to understand her physical resilience.
"Hmph!" Tohru snorted, offering no rebuttal.
Her expression remained cheerful, her tail wagging behind her, and her eyes brimming with warmth.
Fafnir glanced at Tohru, his brow furrowing.
He couldn't help but notice the drastic change in her demeanor.
She seemed unlike the rampaging dragon princess who could annihilate entire cities in her fury.
This newfound gentleness, so akin to human emotion, was unsettling to witness.
Though aloof, Fafnir was still Tohru's friend.
He worried whether this transformation might harm her in the end. He remained convinced that weakness had no place when dealing with humans.
"Shoko, let me tell you a secret," Kanna whispered, gesturing with her chubby little hand.
"Fafnir's true form is tiny! Only this big!" Her hand traced a short distance in the air.
Shoko's eyes widened in astonishment at Kanna's words.
She glanced at Fafnir, who noticed her gaze right away.
"What are you staring at?" Fafnir's voice was cold, startling the young girl who had been watching him.
"Fafnir!" Quetzalcoatl frowned slightly and let out a soft reprimand before smiling and patting Shoko on the head.
"It's alright, Shoko-chan. Don't worry about it."
Fafnir turned his head away.
Under Quetzalcoatl's comforting words, Shoko's calm down.
Once composed, she looked at Kanna, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Kanna nodded in confirmation.
This silent exchange of information between the children was a world unto itself.
Yet Fafnir felt like he was being mocked.
...
"Kamisaka, it's time, isn't it?"
Yuto had barely stepped out of the kitchen when Ainz's deep voice addressed him with a puzzling remark.
For a moment, Yuto didn't even register what Ainz had said.
"Exactly! Boss!" Rimuru chimed in, riding the wave of enthusiasm.
Saitama remained silent but also turned to look at Yuto, his blank eyes now filled with curiosity.
"Then wait here for a moment," Yuto said, turning and heading back to the kitchen.
He had taken off his backpack when he came downstairs earlier, leaving it in the kitchen.
When he emerged with it, Ainz and Rimuru perked up.
Ainz's gaze burned with surprise, longing, and even emotion.
The sheer intensity made Yuto feel a bit speechless.
Rimuru, meanwhile, was quivering, his slime body twisting into a soft, rope-like form that danced in the air.
"Nice one, Kamisaka!" Ainz slammed his bony fist on the table, his voice thick with mixed feelings.
"Boss, Boss! Hurry, let me see it!" Rimuru squealed, bouncing with excitement.
Amid their joyful anticipation, Yuto approached them, but instead of handing over the backpack right away, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Ah, Ainz, Rimuru... do you even realize how mortified I was today?"
Yuto glanced at the old skeleton and the slime, and they froze.
"Do you even know how awkward it was asking the store clerk for the galge? Or how embarrassing it was buying those body pillows?" Yuto lamented.
Ainz gasped, while Rimuru broke out in a cold sweat.
"Kamisaka, keep it down! Shhh—" Ainz glanced at Shoko, who seemed oblivious to Yuto's words.
He didn't want his image ruined so quickly!
"Boss, you've worked so hard for us!" Rimuru knelt before Yuto.
The slime flattened itself against the counter, resembling a soft, shapeless mass facing him.
"Kamisaka-sama! I am also grateful for your tireless efforts today!" Seeing Rimuru's reaction, Ainz pressed his bony hands to his forehead and bowed low over the counter, as if making a religious offering.
Their sudden displays of gratitude caught Yuto off guard.
'This sudden change of attitude is too much! T-this... This is making me even more awkward!'
"As a token of our gratitude, please accept these gifts, Kamisaka-sama!"
Ainz conjured a pile of gold coins.
Despite his appearance as a skeletal overlord, he now displayed a subservient demeanor!
"Boss, I, Rimuru, will be grateful for your immense kindness and benevolence for all eternity!"
Rimuru's declaration left Yuto speechless.
'Rimuru, your "eternity" seems pretty cheap!'
"Sigh, forget it, forget it. No more teasing. Here, take them." Yuto sighed.
He had planned to tease them both to avenge his earlier embarrassment, but their submissive behavior dispelled any such inclination.
Thinking about how these two were rulers in their respective domains, Yuto couldn't help but feel sorry for the Great Tomb of Nazarick and the Goblin Village.
'Ainz, your guardians would weep to see you like this! And Rimuru, even though you've abandoned your humanity, don't act like this! How can you face the goblins who worship you?!'
---------
Read 30 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator