41. Moonlit Encounters and Culinary Ventures: Bonds, Battles, and Breakfast.

Omniscient POV

Under the moonlit sky, Navirose abruptly interrupted their jog, her cold voice cutting through the silence. "Hey, wait!"

Kouske slowed down, turning to face her with a calm expression. "Something on your mind?"

Her gray hair glimmered in the moonlight as she observed him with piercing eyes. "You are Akatsuki, right? The one who intervened in our fight last time?"

Kouske acknowledged her with a subtle nod.

Upon receiving confirmation, a faint smile etched across Navirose's usually icy demeanor.

"First of all, thank you for everything you did that day. Without your help, we would have been in big trouble. I'm Navirose Celcia, by the way, Cleria Belial's knight piece," Navirose expressed, her tone resonating with genuine gratitude.

"Hm. You are welcome," Kouske replied, his response measured.

"But why did you help us? And why did you even leave so suddenly?" Navirose inquired.

"I happened to witness your fight against the strays. I helped eliminate them because nothing good comes from letting those stray devils live. As long as they exist, more innocent people will suffer. You don't need to feel grateful; it's in everyone's interest to avoid causing more trouble. However, it would be beneficial if your kind could abstain from further complications. After all, stray devils are problems created by devils in the first place. As for leaving abruptly, I have no reason to involve myself with devils," Kouske responded nonchalantly.

"I can't speak for all devils, but my master is different. You won't find any case of strays emerging from the Noble House of Belial," Navirose replied solemnly.

Kouske observed her in silence for a moment.

"Nonetheless, we would like to repay you for your help. That potion you used must have been expensive. At the very least, we need to reimburse you for that," Navirose stated after a brief pause.

Kouske pondered for a moment before agreeing, "You will have to pay in cash. And for the help, you can return the favor in the future when I need assistance."

"Nn. We will pay in full cash and help you as long as it is within House Belial's capability. I'm sure my master wouldn't refuse to help you. Can you spare some time to meet with my master?" Navirose asked.

"Not today. I will meet you guys next Sunday," Kouske replied.

"Sure. Here is our summoning pamphlet. If you inject magic into it, it will teleport you directly to our house in the human world. If you are uncomfortable with that, we can also choose a different place that you prefer," Navirose explained in her captivating voice.

"No, it's alright. I will be there," Kouske replied, accepting the pamphlet and preparing to teleport away.

"Wait. I'd like to spar with you sometime. You also use a weapon, right?" Navirose asked, her curiosity tinged with enthusiasm at the prospect of a battle.

Kouske simply smiled and nodded.

"Then we might get a chance next time. Until then, take care, Miss Celcia," Kouske replied.

"Okay," Navirose responded as Kouske vanished. Only then did she realize she didn't get any of his contact information, having only given him theirs. Well, she would undoubtedly meet him next Sunday and learn more about him.

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Kouske's POV

As Kouske materialized in his home, he discovered Lavinia peacefully asleep in their room. Deciding not to disturb her slumber, he quietly moved to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

[Are you truly planning to visit them this Sunday?] inquired Clarice.

"Nn," Kouske replied with a subtle nod, his thoughts already focused on the upcoming encounter with Cleria and her peerage.

[But wouldn't it have been better to meet them somewhere neutral? You will be going directly to their home ground where they hold the advantage.] expressed Clarice with concern.

"Hmph! Dragons do not need to fear everything. If you fear meeting some high-class devils, then it's disgraceful," retorted Vritra with haughtiness.

"Vritra's right. Do I need to fear in every step I take?" Kouske replied, his confidence unwavering.

[But you should still be careful when making contact with devils. They are deceitful creatures.] Clarice chastised.

"She's right, kid. Dragons should be prideful but do not think recklessness and being proud are the same thing. In the future, if you get similar invitations from stronger beings, then you should be tactful with what you do. For now, work hard to not shame the name of the 'Black Dragon King.' This Sunday, you will officially meet them as this generation's one and only Black Dragon King. They must already have ideas because of you using Blaze Black Flare last time," cautioned Vritra to make him more cautious.

"Hm. I will remember that. And I don't think Cleria will do anything to harm me, though I can't say the same about her peerage members, as they are totally unknown to me," Kouske replied.

"Ko-kun. When did you wake up?" At that moment, Lavinia came in while rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"Wash your face first, Rey-chan~. I'm making Frittata for breakfast. It will be finished cooking soon," I replied to the sleepyhead.

"Okay~!" replied Lavinia.

Lavinia beamed with joy, hearing that I was making an Italian dish, and went to freshen up. I'm actually learning different Italian food recipes so that Lavinia can always feel at home.

Frittata is a versatile Italian dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, and it's easy to make at home. It's essentially an egg-based dish similar to an omelet or crustless quiche.

The beauty of a frittata lies in its customizability; you can add various ingredients like vegetables, cheese, or even leftover meats to suit your taste. It's a quick and satisfying breakfast option with a taste that reflects the rich flavors of Italian cuisine.

Exploring cooking has become quite enjoyable as a hobby. I'm starting to grasp why Emiya got into cooking. Maybe, just maybe, someday I can even rival Emiya's culinary skills... or not. Beating him would be an extremely tough challenge, but setting it as a side goal adds a fun touch to the culinary journey.

After a while, Lavinia returned, radiating infectious positive energy and sporting a bright smile. By then, I had finished preparing breakfast.

Seated at the table, I served us the frittata. As Lavinia took the first bite, she couldn't contain her delight.

"Ko-kun! It's delicious. Your cooking is becoming more and more tasty by the day," Lavinia complimented with genuine enthusiasm.

"Thanks, Rey-chan," I replied.

While enjoying the meal, I overheard her murmuring, 'Maybe I should also start learning cooking so that we can spend more time together.'

Touched by Lavinia's thoughts, I was also slightly appalled at the idea of teaching her to cook. Although I never really tried teaching her how to cook, the prospect of experimenting with culinary lessons brought to mind Sona's unbelievable inability to bake.

Just thinking about the disastrous aftermath made me reluctant, and I decided to shift the responsibility to Aunt Arene or someone else. [A/N: If I remember correctly, Sona has an INABILITY to bake, right?]

After that, we went through our usual routine, and the day ended without anything worth mentioning—just some training and bonding.

In these two months since our meeting, Lavinia and I have interacted with the Tenjoins and Kujos several times, which has brought me a bit closer to Saki. She's at least calling me Kouske-san instead of Miyamura-san. However, Rin still persists in her usual demeanor. So I'm also doing the same to her.

Saki and Asagi also got acquainted with each other. Their initial interactions were a bit strained due to their contrasting personalities—Saki, trying to maintain her noble, elegant, and attention-seeking demeanor, while Asagi-chan is quite crude and brutal with her speech. Surprisingly, they are doing quite well for now. At least, they are not quarreling all the time, with Saki mostly taking the initiative to speak first.

Despite occasional arguments, the fact that Saki and Asagi are making progress in their relationship is a positive sign. Building connections takes time, and it seems they're gradually finding common ground.

Ryuga and Sali also met with the Azusawas, our closest neighbors, creating a connection that might lead to further interactions in the future.

As I prepare to venture into the dungeon, I've decided to send Lavinia to the tutorial slime dungeon along with Noctis and a few other elemental slimes.

To ensure her safety and preparedness, I've equipped her with numerous health and mana potions.

Witnessing her advancement in mastering the sacred gear and honing magical abilities, it becomes evident that practical experience is the next crucial step in her development.

Meanwhile, the mystery of creating mana potions remains unsolved, prompting further exploration and experimentation, I (we) still have to figure out how to make them.

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