Chapter 261: Evening Chat with Khan
「Urk…It still feels chilly even with Lizard-kun’s hide. 」
It’s waterproof, but when lying down on it, the sagging areas bearing the person’s weight, like where the shoulders and buttocks touch, feel a bit cool because of the damp ground.
「the difference is already heaven and earth, you know… 」
「Mm. I think it’s comfortable enough. 」
Retze and Ash.
「Packing too much will make your baggage too bulky and difficult to carry, so it’s hard. 」
I’d love to use foam mat and aluminum sheet if it’s camping, or if in the forest, we can use leaves or moss, but yeah, we don’t have those over here.
「Wanna snuggle with me if you’re feeling too cold? 」
Dean smirked.
「No thanks. I have heating if needed. 」
I retorted.
「Oh really, you have it, huh. 」
Retze drawled a jab at me.
My coat is fully equipped with air-conditioning and heating, thank you very much. I’m trying to move forward on the same terms as everyone else so I’m not using it now, though. And Ash, stop looking so dejected with your blanket flipped over… Remember your gender, please!
Butler gently put Ash’s blanket back and tucked her in.
The turns for today’s watch duty was as follows — Dinosso, Khan, me, Butler then Ash. Chris, Dean and Retze won’t be able to See if a black spirit appears, so they’re exempted.
Khan seems capable of banking sleep, and he’s usually fine even if he didn’t sleep at all, but we don’t want to rely on that.
I’m going back to walk Riche after my watch duty, so I immediately went to sleep. This was way more comfortable compared to the nights when I had to sleep in the midst of fear and anxiety because of beasts lurking around, so I could sleep like normal.
I wonder if a material with thermal insulation exists here. It doesn’t have to be perfect. If such a thing exists, then it could be a nice material suitable for cold regions. Oh, come to think of it, I recall X-Stick’s hometown having plenty of monster materials lying around. Alright, let’s check it out when we get back.
I felt sleepy while mulling over these thoughts, so goodnight.
Khan woke me up and so I sluggishly switched places with him, but it seems he would still stay up.
「Aren’t you gonna sleep? 」
「It’s cold. 」
…..
「Say that earlier!! 」
Right, I forgot this guy lived in the desert! Eh, no, you’re cold because you’re half-naked!! Were you guzzling the wine because you felt cold?
Actually, he’s half naked with only a mantle to cover his upper half.
「Do you have a magic stone with you? 」
「Yeah, why? 」
I grabbed his cloak and switched it with my envelope-style sleeping bag that I opened. Ack, Argh, I don’t wanna use 【Storage】 but I don’t have any pens or ink! Ah no, I do have the ordinary ones.
Well, I guess it’s enough if the drawing lasts for a week, just for now. I touched the coals that aren’t lit yet inside the fire pit, which was kept burning low to conserve fuel.
I drew a Danbou (stove) magic circle. Ah, not, that’s not its official name. Maybe it’s because I didn’t use a pen, but the mana poured in didn’t stabilize like how it usually did, but well, nothing we could do about it at this point.
I carefully drew it first, before drawing another magic circle that will make mana flow into it. After that, I used an ordinary needle and thread to put a small pocket on top of the magic circle so I could slip the magic stone in it, then it’s done.
「Here you go, put your magic stone in here then wear it. I’ll make you a better one when we get back. 」
I pushed the cloak to Khan and he accepted it with a raised brow.
He dexterously handled the magic stone with his chubby fingers, set it in place, then he wore his cloak again.
「 — You can make something like this impromptu, huh. You’re supposed to be my Master, but how about you order me to keep watch and you go back to sleep? 」
「Pass. 」
「I don’t get you. You have power, you’re qualified, so why don’t you want to become a king? 」
「Too bothersome. 」
If my citizens are like the spirits or black spirits which you can just leave alone then I might consider, but to be frank, I don’t think there’s a point in becoming a king of the humans. Even the management of my island — no, everything concerning human relations had been completely left to my proxy.
「I think it’s the long cherished dream of men, though. 」
Khan rubbed his chin. Did you grow a beard?
「Me too, I don’t understand why you go to cold places half-naked when you get cold easily. 」
「It’s not like I’m rendered immobile just because of a little chill. I don’t like clothes that stick or cling to me when I move. 」
I guess it’s a difference in values, huh. Yeah, I remember a guy who always wore thick clothes on top and yet stubbornly sticking to wearing shorts underneath.
As long as I don’t see people dying for absurd reasons, or there’s no one around me with uncomfortable circumstances then I don’t really care about everything else.
I can do whatever I want, as much as I want when I’m alone, after all. Everyone here seems to know that, so I think they’re also telling me to live my life the way I want it. Sometimes when I’m away from Canum for a long time, I tend to doubt whether I’m human or not… Although I also think it’s alright even if that were the case too.
I knead the dough while mulling over these things. I’m thinking of making focaccia with olives and dried tomatoes for breakfast — it’s a flat bread that doesn’t use eggs or milk. First step was to let it rest for an hour or so at 30 degrees Celsius until it doubles in size — that’s called bulk fermentation, I think. Then I punch the dough down to release the air pockets. After that, it’s proofing time again. I’ll go to Riche during the second rest.
「Excuse me for a bit. 」
I flipped Khan’s cloak and positioned the dough for the first bulk fermentation. The temperature around this part should be just right, I guess?
「You’re using your servants wrong. 」
Khan was muttering something. Ah, no, I won’t hesitate to use whatever I can, even if it’s not my servant, you know.
NEXT CHAPTER
RELEASE RATE
I Got Transferred in the Middle of a Mountain
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 80 hours
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