So, Is It a Banquet?
“Then, bro, come to the drawing room with the kids at dinnertime. You too, Jed.”
“Got it.”
Jed, who had been slumping listlessly, straightened his shoulders at Rune's words.
“Yes, sir! Shall I help if you'd like?”
Rune shook his head.
Cooking alone with Jed right now would mean enduring his machine-gun chatter the whole time.
“Nah, I prefer doing it solo. Go finish your drawing.”
“Yessir!”
Clank.
The Dullahan, who had stood motionless watching the entire scene, bowed his head again like a statue.
Rune exchanged greetings and headed straight to the kitchen.
I’ve got a simple menu in mind, but it’ll take some time.
Rune recalled the lunch menu.
Black tea and cookies. Round, bite-sized fruits that paired well with finger foods.
Whipped cream strawberry sandwiches, salads, or brownies.
They were all delicious, but he craved something warmer.
It’s a bit hands-on, but this is the way to go.
Once decided, his actions were swift.
Original form will be easier for cooking today.
Rune removed the golden bracelet and reverted to his hatchling shape, rolling his neck lightly.
Let’s get started.
His waddling but determined steps led to the seawater tank.
He lifted the massive crab into view with a single glance.
Splash!
Rune yanked it straight out of the aquarium.
It’s a big one.
Its massive claw flailed wildly as he gripped it with his right front paw.
This thrashing beast, desperate to escape, was a Giant Crab King, its entire body covered in rough, hard shell.
True to its name, it was enormous, but now it writhed in humiliation, body held fast by the hatchling.
Clack! Clack-clack!
It struck and scraped at Rune’s scales with sharp clacks, as if mounting a final stand before death.
That just tickles.
Dragon skin was tough, infused with mana—no ordinary attack could scratch it, young or not.
Rune’s eyes turned cold.
“Kyu kyu.”
[Farewell.]
The black hatchling hopped in place and slammed the Crab King onto the cutting board.
Thud!
The shell-crushing blow knocked the Giant Crab King out cold in one hit.
Foam bubbled from its mouth as it fainted.
Thump!
Its limp legs dangled pathetically.
“Kyu kyu.”
Rune confirmed it was out, rubbing his paw lightly.
[Good. Time to prep it.]
Anything handled with care and effort always tasted better.
Rune steamed the crab himself and meticulously picked out the ocean-scented meat.
Good thing Amelia can eat this.
He’d learned that during class, in a lesson about human diets.
“Kyu.”
[Humans didn’t bat an eye at cooking sea creatures—surprising.]
Dragons were apex predators, after all.
Perdikion had enjoyed meat as a hatchling too.
Amelia just disliked imagining them alive, she’d said.
This would be tasty raw, but...
Rune neatly portioned the cooked crab meat into a bowl, then tossed finely chopped onions and butter into a pan, stirring briskly.
Sizzle.
The solid butter melted with a hiss, blending with the onions into a stew-like texture.
Milk.
Pop.
A milk jug appeared above his paw—Rune’s teleportation magic was second nature now.
Glug glug.
Bubble bubble.
A milky ribbon swirled into the translucent onions and yellow butter.
A nutty aroma filled the air.
“Kyu-woo.”
*Slurp.*
Rune unwittingly licked his snout.
He mixed the pan’s contents into the crab meat bowl and slid it to a cool spot.
Next, he ground wet breadcrumbs, boiled potatoes and eggs for salad.
Kneading with his paws, he quickly shaped cheese potato croquettes and egg croquettes.
“Kyu-woo.”
[In case someone skips the crab.]
Rune attached carrot claws to the fried crab cream croquettes.
[They’ll pick what they like.]
Plain potato croquettes went round.
Egg ones elongated top to bottom for distinction, plus spaghetti on the side.
“Kyu.”
Rune nodded at the finished dishes.
Garlic butter baguette slices, tomato spaghetti.
Deep slits in morning buns stuffed with egg and potato salad evoked a picnic vibe.
This one’s for Christina.
It could be shared, but just in case—a separate morning bun sandwich.
[Fried stuff loses appeal after time.]
With various dishes done, Rune messaged dinner time via his Mokoji Stone.
Black mana text sent, colorful replies popped up one by one.
Red from Perdikion first.
Pink from Heungmi next.
“?”
One was quiet.
After moving plates to the drawing room and donning the golden bracelet to shift human, Jed’s belated reply arrived.
The subject was captivating, but Jed had gotten lost in it too.
Rune separately messaged Christina via communication stone.
Christina, looking vibrant with soil smudges like a mana stone, replied.
Rune replied he would, then watched the group gather.
Heungmi, sniffing eagerly, cheered first.
“Fried food smells amazing!”
Rune nodded, distributing spaghetti.
He explained the towering piles of fritters on big platters.
“Left plate’s crab cream croquettes. Middle’s egg. Right’s cheese potato.”
He showed a basket of plain potato croquettes too, offering a warm bowl.
“Spaghetti’s simple tomato.”
“Bon appétit!”
“Th-thanks... Rune.”
The fresh, condensed-tomato spaghetti earned praise from Heungmi and Amelia.
Slurp!
“Haaah. So good!”
Heungmi slurped messily yet spill-free, amazed.
“R-really... Rune, you’re... am-amazing at cooking.”
Amelia blew on the hot noodles, nibbling daintily, grateful.
Meanwhile, Perdikion mined crab cream croquettes from the pile like gold nuggets, ignoring spaghetti.
Crunch.
He mumbled mid-bite.
“Beer...”
“?”
“N-nothing.”
The fire dragon boy brushed off Rune’s gaze.
But Rune had already thought of beer.
“The stuff dwarves drank?”
“Yeah. Slipped out.”
Perdikion minimized talk, dipping croquettes in special sauce.
His intent was clear: no sparking Rune’s interest in booze.
Well, it was makgeolli vibes anyway.
Rune had thought so amid the savory oil scent.
He nibbled the edge of a potato pancake with julienned potatoes and white mozzarella.
Munch!
Perfectly salty fried potato, crispy cheese edge.
“Whew.”
Delicious.
And he missed rice wine.
Rune muttered unwittingly.
“Tavern lady...”
“Tav... what?”
Perdikion leaned in; Rune shook his head.
“Nothing.”
He’d planned simple snacks-meal, but it screamed drinking spread.
Amelia and Heungmi enjoyed crunchy salad happily.
Crunch crunch.
Perdikion ate nonstop, clearly loving it, but eyed lemonade wistfully, beer on mind.
Then Jed arrived.
“Whoa! What’s this drinking spread?”
“!”
Perdikion’s brow furrowed instantly.
Rune shot Jed a look.
This guy. Kids are here—why mention booze?
Jed, clueless at first, blinked at Rune and Perdikion.
“!”
Realizing late, he glanced at Heungmi.
Too late—his shout was loud, and her hearing keen.
“Drinking spread?”
Heungmi’s fox ears perked; she tilted her head cutely.
Innocent curiosity was adorable.
But Jed sweated bullets.
Aaagh!
Rune gripped his fork, glaring death.
Fix this or die.
“Th-that’s... um...”
Jed, sweating profusely, scrambled.
“Booze... sa! I mean, booze-sa!”
“Huh? No, you said drinking spread!”
Jed denied desperately.
“Aigoo! No, Lady Heungmi! Tongue slipped—tongue-tied! Aigoo, twist more!”
He rolled his tongue dramatically, pathetic yet committed.
Rune thought: Who’d buy that?
But Heungmi was purer than expected.
“Tongue-tied? Like this?”
She mimicked his mouth hilariously. “Euhang!” Bursting into giggles.
“Uncle Jed, that’s weird. But fun!”
Her cackling shifted focus to the tongue gag—blessedly.
Jed doubled down, writhing to hold her attention with weirder noises.
“Naw, that’s too cute! Hurup-tderellele! Yahuu~ Kurukufuu! That’s real tongue-tied!”
His flailing wasn’t kid-appropriate either.
Rune couldn’t watch.
“Don’t teach weird stuff. Eat.”
“Yessir.”
Smack! Jed bowed sharply.
He backpedaled to a chair.
What to do with that mug?
Rune sighed inwardly; booze cravings hit hard today.
One upside: Jed’s chatter dropped to half-of-half normal.
Meaning no dwarf talk yet.
Chance to settle female dwarves too. Too good to waste.
As Perdikion’s lair folk, favors now would aid trials later.
He’d nurture the spark.
Adult talk time for them.