{Author’s Notes}

  I’m still not feeling well, so for the time being, I’ll be posting the four Special SS I found in order.

  ※ Please note that these stories were posted for the Light Novel’s Volume 1 (from the beginning to around the date with Kuro)

  This chapter is more about the exchange in regards to Neun and her tofu, and the story of the depressed Neun back in Rigforeshia.

  **********

  In the corner of the Demon Realm stands a huge building. In one of the rooms, Neun, a member of the Underworld King’s family, had a difficult expression on her face. In front of her were several plates and white lumps…… of tofu on them, all of which showed signs of having been eaten one bite.

  [……It doesn’t feel good on the tongue…… I need to remake this.]

  Neun learned how to make tofu from Kaito at a recent barbecue party hosted by the Underworld King Kuromueina.

  To be fair, Kaito’s explanation to her at that time was something he took out from his memory, but Neun is somehow trying to put it into shape while consulting Ein. Anyhow, the current Neun continued to conduct trial and error everyday in order to make delicious tofu.

  However, Neun is a big fan of Japanese food and is very particular about it. She is also someone focused on her goal and doesn’t like compromising, and despite making more than a hundred prototypes, she hasn’t been able to produce anything that she find satisfactory.

  If it were left to Ein, who had excellent cooking skills, she would have been able to complete a perfect product in just a few prototypes, but Neun dared to take on the challenge of making tofu by herself.

  The reason for this is simple, she felt bothered about what Acht said at the barbecue. telling Kaito that “Razelia is the one who made the rice, and Ein is the one who cooked it”. This time, she was determined to create something satisfactory on her own.

  [Neun~~ Ya finished making tofu-san~~?]

  [Raz-sama? Is something the matter?]

  Flapping her tiny wings, the fairy Razelia arrived to Neun’s side.

  It seems that Razelia is interested in the tofu that Neun is making, as when she saw the prototype laid out on the plates, her eyes lit up.

  [Whooaaa~~ They’re so beautiful and white~~ Raz would also like to have some!]

  [Y- You can’t!]

  [Eh? I- I can’t…… Why……]

  [Ahh!? P- Please don’t look like you’re about to cry. It’s just for now. I haven’t finished making something I’m satisfied with……]

  [It looks tasty enough though……]

  [That won’t do. I can’t let you eat something that isn’t good enough.]

  When Neun told her that she couldn’t feed her because she hadn’t finished something she was satisfied with yet, Razelia’s shoulders slumped, clearly looking dejected.

  Curious by nature, being a vegetarian…… As a characteristic of all Fairies, she doesn’t eat meat, so Razelia was eager to eat the tofu that was made from soybeans.

  [……I see, I understand. Raz will be patient.]

  [Ahh……]

  The sight of the small Razelia being dejected dealt so much damage to Neun’s conscience that she looked rather troubled.

  [H- However, I’m starting to make something great. At this rate, I think I’ll be able to serve you some after a few more trials.]

  [R- Really!? Will it be ready soon?]

  [Yes, very soon. When it’s done, I’ll definitely bring some to Raz-sama.]

  [Yaaayyy! I’m looking forward to it!]

  Hearing Neun’s words, the sadness Razelia she had on her face vanished in an instant, happily flying around Neun.

  It was a smile-inducing scene, and Neun herself couldn’t help but smile…… but a few moments later, Razelia stopped moving.

  [……Is it done yet?]

  [Eh? N- No, I still haven’t finished it.]

  [I- I see…… How long would it take? About 5 minutes?]

  [……N- No, it will take longer.]

  [……I- Is that so……]

  For Razelia, who wasn’t a patient person by nature, it was quite difficult for her to wait.

  Razelia, who had known Neun for a long time, knows that once Neun decides to do something, it isn’t that likely for her to change her mind. However, once her interest was aroused, it wouldn’t disappear easily, and thus, Razelia only stared curiously at Neun’s back as she returned to making tofu.

  A few days later, Razelia finally lost her patience and visited Ein, who was the only person other than Neun who could make tofu.

  [……Tofu, is it?]

  [Yes! Raz really wants to eat that white and jiggly tofu-san! That’s why, Ein-san, please feed Raz-san tofu-san!]

  [Fumu…… I don’t mind.]

  [Yaaaayyyy~~]

  Hearing Razelia’s words about wanting to eat tofu, Ein nodded with her usual cool expression.

  Right at that moment, Acht arrived.

  [Sis Raz and Elder Sister Ein? What are you doing?]

  [We’re eating tofu-san~~ Why don’t you join us too, Acht-kun?]

  [Tofu…… You talking about that thing Neun asked Kaito about…… I certainly am interested about it. Elder Sister Ein, can I also ask for some?]

  [Yes, no problem.]

  In response to Razelia’s invitation, Acht was also interested in the tofu, so he asked Ein for a portion and moved to the dining room with Razelia.

  When they arrived at the large dining room and picked a random chair to sit on, a plate of tofu instantly appeared in front of Razelia and Acht.

  [Here you go.]

  [……As expected of Elder Sister Ein.]

  [Yaayyyy. Thank you for the food~~]

  The tofu was prepared in the blink of an eye, but since both Razelia and Acht knew how skillful Ein was, they didn’t bother throwing a tsukkomi about it.

  Each of them holding a spoon in their hand, they brought some tofu into their mouth…… and their responses splendidly divided.

  [……H- Hmmm. It’s rather lacking in flavor, isn’t it?]

  Acht tilted his head with a subtle expression on his face, indicating that he didn’t like it very much.

  [Fuwaaahhh, what a soft and tender flavor. It’s very, veeeeery delicious!]

  On the other hand, Razelia seemed to like the taste as she started twirling about with a happy expression on her face.

  [So this is tofu-san huh. Raz likes it very much. Thank you~~, Ein-san.]

  [No, if it’s just something like this, you can always ask me……]

  [Sorry to keep you waiting!]

  [……Oya?]

  When Razelia thanked her with a big smile, Ein also smiled a bit.

  Just as she was about to tell her that “she can make it anytime she wanted”, the door to the dining room vigorously opened and in comes Neun. On her hand was a plate of tofu.

  [Raz-sama, thank you for your patience! I’ve finally completed the tofu I’m satisfied with…… A- Arehh? Is that…… tofu?]

  [Ah, y- yes…… I- I’m sorry. Raz couldn’t resist and asked Ein-san to make it for me.]

  Razelia, who had flown towards Ein and asked her to make her some tofu, apologized to Neun with a slightly embarrassed expression on her face.

  However, Neun didn’t seem particularly bothered, as after she glanced at Ein’s tofu, her expression changed to one of confidence.

  [Please don’t mind it, Raz-sama. I myself got too absorbed with what I was doing and spent a lot of time. But it was a time well-spent to make this tofu perfect! “Even if it was Ein-sama who made that, it won’t be better than the tofu I made”.]

  [……Oi, idiot, Neun. Stop right there…… You’re stepping up to the wrong match-up here.]

  [Fufufu, of course, since it’s Ein-sama, I’m sure she’d be able to make something wonderful…… Excuse me, Acht-sama. Do you mind if I Have a bite?]

  [……Y- Yeah…… No offense, but retract your previous statement already…… seriously.]

  Perhaps, she may have been very confident in her finished tofu, or she may have been overwhelmed by the fact that she had finally completed it after many trials and errors, but Neun said something she would never normally say, challenging Ein.

  Thereupon, Acht shared some of his tofu with her and when she brought it to her mouth with a smile…… and slowly returning the plate back to Acht, she smoothly knelt her head down in a dogeza.

  [……A mere bug such as I was rude to the Maid Ein-sama. Please allow me to continue eating this tofu in the future.]

  […………………]

  The tofu that Ein made seemed to be more than enough to smash her increasingly growing pride, as Neun tearfully apologized.

  However, Neun’s actions made Ein flustered.

  [N- Neun…… C- Calm down. T- The tofu you made were splendidly made too, you know? The Maid that I am could clearly tell.]

  [No, the tofu that I made…… compared to the one made by Ein-sama, it is but mere trash.]

  [You don’t have to be that self-deprecating…… Please have more confidence.]

  If it had been some other chef instead of Neun, Ein would have told them that “You’re too impudent to have thought of trying to beat the Maid that I am”.

  However, Neun is family to Ein…… and seeing her cry like that, Ein became unusually shaken as she tried consoling her.

  In the end, it took a considerable amount of time for Neun to get back on her feet, and her rejuvenation being related to Kaito…… but that’s a story for another time.