The Great Sage Who Did not Remain in Legend - 10.2

The three cheered at the prospect of a meal at the diner. He could take care of them a little longer until they grew up, but he only occasionally fed them like this. He couldn’t take care of them forever, and there were other hungry children. These kids were tough enough to survive.

After leaving the bath and using magic to clean his dirty clothes, Mergin took the children to Rikka’s diner.

“Mergin, did you bring the kids?”

“Yeah, just happened to. Hey, you three, sit over there in the corner. Drink this and behave.”

Mergin made soup from freeze-dried ingredients.

“This is delicious!”

The three rejoiced over the soup.

Mergin went to the kitchen and started making the soup base with duck bones.

“What flavor are you making?”

“Just plain salty.”

“Isn’t it sukiyaki?”

The chief had tried Mergin’s soy-based sukiyaki before.

“If I make sukiyaki and other customers ask for the same?”

“Well, that’s true…”

The chief looked disappointed.

“Today, it’s plain salty. I’ll make a good broth from the bones, and there are sweet leeks, so it should be enough.”

Mergin worked diligently to prepare before the evening’s opening.

“We’ll eat while it simmers.”

“I could drink after closing.”

“I don’t want a late dinner. If you want to drink, come after closing. I have something to ask. We’ll drink duck and leek soup then.”

“Nice, I like that.”

The chief’s mood improved.

“Let’s dig in!”

This was the mealtime greeting Mergin taught the kids.

“So good!”

The chief and landlady watched the kids eat eagerly with gentle eyes. They wanted to do something for the children, but they couldn’t afford it.

Chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp.

Rikka, eating among the children, joined in eagerly. She really was a kid.

“Hmph, fine.”

She said, despite her potbelly.

“Ah, I want more but I can’t eat anymore. I feel like leeks are coming out of my mouth.”

“You guys ate a lot.”

“Mergin, I’m too full to move. Carry me home.”

“Don’t be spoiled. It’s almost time for the evening opening, so let’s go home.”

“Please! I’ll puke if I walk now.”

With sighs, Mergin carried the children home on his back, in his arms, and on his shoulders.

“Mergin would make a good dad.”

“Yeah, but he doesn’t seem to intend to be with anyone yet.”

The chief and his wife waved goodbye to Mergin, who shouted not to spoil the kids, as he left. After seeing him off and returning to the shop,

“What? Wolves on the highway?”

Mergin drank sake with duck and leek ma.

“And they were pretty thin, and there were only five in the small pack.”

“Yeah, probably chased out after losing a territory fight.”

“Probably.”

“Hunters who come here were happy because requests for demon hunting and investigations increase at this time of year. Maybe a strong demon appeared somewhere.”

“This world is a mix of demons and animals. In terms of strength, demons are superior. The chief speculates that strong demons are appearing deep in the forest, pushing out weaker ones in succession.”

“Are the neighboring villages okay?”

“I wonder. The capital is protected by walls, and there are many guards and hunters, so there shouldn’t be issues. But if a vulnerable village gets attacked, it’ll be bad.”

“Yeah…”

Mergin’s speed of munching on duck meat slowed. He worried, would the elderly potato farmers be okay?

“The ones in real trouble are the villages with livestock. Well, both the Hunter’s Guild and the kingdom should understand that. Besides, demons usually scout before attacking. Villages and towns that spot demons should request security from the Guild.”

“Yeah, and it’s already winter, so if monsters or beasts appear, it’ll likely be in spring.”

“That’s right. By the way, Mergin, what are you baking now?”

“Secret. Is it ready? Hot, hot, hot. Yep, this is tasty.”

“What’s with all the secrecy? Give me one.”

“No way. These are rare and limited.”

“Just let me taste!”