“Oh, you’ve gotten so big.”
Peach chuckled softly at Kousuke, who rubbed his stomach as he spoke.
“Honestly. You say that every day~”
“It’s fine, isn’t it?”
Kousuke puffed out his cheeks slightly, and Peach smiled at him again.
Kousuke, having returned from Gazenran Tower, had been visiting Peach almost every day for the past few days.
Of course, it wasn’t just Peach; it was the same with Colette.
Kousuke already had five grown children, so there was no visible future where he would spoil them too much, but the sight of him doting on them was still a clear indication of his parental affection.
Peach watched Kousuke with a practiced air, but Giselle, who was standing nearby, gave a wry smile.
Although Peach had told her about it, seeing it in person, Giselle seemed bewildered by the difference between it and her usual image of him.
For the Succubi, Kousuke was their benefactor who had saved their clan, and truly a suitable god.
When such a person displayed a lovesick expression without any dignity, their preconceived notions were blown away.
However, Kousuke didn’t always maintain a dignified demeanor.
It was merely the image that Giselle and the Succubi held, so it was difficult to blame Kousuke.
Kousuke tilted his head, looking at Giselle.
“So? What’s up today?”
Kousuke had been visiting the village almost every day recently.
If Giselle had also been showing up to match Kousuke’s schedule, he wouldn’t have asked such a question, but that wasn’t the case.
It was only natural for Kousuke to think that she had come to visit specifically because something had happened.
Giselle shook her head from side to side in response to Kousuke’s question.
“No. It’s not that I’ve obtained any particularly significant information.”
“Hmm? Huh?”
Kousuke tilted his head at Giselle, who gave an answer different from his expectations.
Giselle continued to Kousuke.
“I just wanted to inform you that the Hood Chickens inhabiting this floor are nearing their egg-laying season.”
“Ah, I see.”
Hood Chickens, as their name suggests, are a type of chicken that is ideal for consumption.
Not only their meat but also the eggs they lay were a culinary delicacy, suitable for serving at royal banquets.
However, Hood Chickens are classified as monsters.
They were known for their powerful leg attacks and their ability to move quickly despite being over two meters tall, often toying with adventurers who tried to hunt them.
While dangerous enough on their own, their true prowess was displayed in group combat.
Contrary to their appearance, Hood Chickens are intelligent and typically live in groups.
Therefore, adventurers hunting them had to be prepared for group battles.
Hood Chickens that had paired up during the egg-laying season became even more ferocious than usual.
In such a state, they could exhibit strength that even a Rank B party would struggle to overcome.
However, for Kousuke and his companions, these Hood Chickens posed no significant problem.
Especially Nana would likely be happy to accompany them.
It wasn’t just humans who found the meat of Hood Chickens delicious.
There was another reason why Giselle had brought this up to Kousuke at this particular timing.
“I see. So that’s how it is.”
Kousuke nodded, muttering “Hmm hmm,” and glanced at Peach.
The eggs laid by Hood Chickens were known for their high nutritional value and were considered an ideal food for pregnant women.
Peach, feeling Kousuke’s gaze, offered a gentle smile.
Naturally, she was also aware of the Hood Chicken eggs.
She knew very well what Kousuke would do next upon hearing this news.
“Are you going?”
“Yeah. Since the opportunity has arisen.”
Kousuke immediately replied to Peach’s question.
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The scene that unfolded could only be described as a thorough thrashing.
Visually, it was merely a wolf chasing two chickens.
While that would ordinarily be a predator hunting prey, it became extraordinary when magic started flying around.
Furthermore, the wolf was over three meters long, and the chickens exceeded two meters.
It could almost be called a battle of super-beasts, but Kousuke, watching it, said to the wolf,
“Nana! I understand you’re having fun, but can you finish it soon?”
Nana, who had eagerly joined Kousuke’s invitation, was prolonging the hunt unnecessarily because she was enjoying herself.
However, Kousuke’s words meant she could no longer drag it out, and she decided to bring the match (?) to a conclusion.
Nana created some distance, and then it was over in an instant.
To an extent that made one wonder how she did it, Nana effortlessly beheaded the two Hood Chickens.
The battle up to that point had just been a game for Nana.
Moreover, Kousuke understood this, which was why he had silently watched Nana’s actions.
Nana wasn’t playing with the Hood Chickens because she looked down on them or anything similar.
She simply wanted to prolong her enjoyable hunting trip with Kousuke, as they hadn’t hunted together in a while.
“Wow. You cleanly severed their heads.”
Kousuke didn’t comment on Nana’s actions and only said that.
Then, his gaze shifted to what the mating pair of Hood Chickens had been trying to protect.
There was a nest made of branches and grass, with about seven eggs laid inside.
“It’s cruel, you could say… but then again, the eggs we normally eat are similar.”
Muttering to himself, Kousuke reached out and carefully collected all seven eggs.
Each egg was about twenty centimeters in size, too large to carry back cradled in one’s arms.
Naturally, they were placed in Mitsuki’s Item Box, who had accompanied them.
Other materials were also collected properly.
All the internal organs, as long as they were processed properly, could be eaten.
The meat from two Hood Chickens was far more than Kousuke and his companions could handle alone.
After being dismembered into manageable sizes, they were distributed to others.
Out of the seven eggs, two were kept for themselves, and the rest were given to Giselle and Schmidt, who had provided the information, and others.
The high-quality Hood Chicken meat and eggs were joyfully received everywhere they were taken.
And then, that night.
“Let’s eat!”
Starting with Kousuke’s greeting, the meal began with each member offering their own greetings.
“Mmm. It’s delicious, as always.”
After putting a piece of the finished dish into his mouth, Kousuke said so.
What Kousuke was holding now was Oyakodon.
“It’s truly delicious~ It’s a shame we can’t have it all the time.”
Peach, who had been invited to the Management Layer today, also made such a comment.
The others echoed similar sentiments as they ate their Oyakodon.
“What’s the most gratifying thing here is, perhaps, this meal.”
Floria said so in a heartfelt tone.
Floria, a former queen, would have tasted first-class cuisine by the standards of this world.
Since even she said so, the dishes served at the Management Layer were undoubtedly of the highest quality.
And it went without saying that Mitsuki was the one responsible for this.
Consuming meals prepared by the best chefs using the finest ingredients.
It was an ordinary day, yet the Management Layer was experiencing an extraordinary luxury.
It was Peach’s situation and Nana’s long-awaited appearance.
And as expected, it was no contest.
It was over in an instant when she got serious.
