Translated by Jyzciel

It was the 14th day of my country life.

I overslept for the first time. I was apparently tired after cooking for a large group yesterday. The sun was already high in the sky. Perhaps I'll take it easy today.

I washed my face, changed into casual clothes, and had a late breakfast. I ate absentmindedly, not feeling particularly motivated, while gazing at the view of the courtyard.

That's when Kinako approached, holding something in her mouth. On closer inspection, it seemed to be grapes. Grapes? Did we have grapes in our garden?

I found it strange and went down to the garden from the veranda. "Kinako, where did you find those?" I asked.

Kinoko tilted its head cutely in response to my question. Ears twitching, but then, as if telling me to follow, it suddenly dashed toward the back of the yard. I hurriedly followed, and there, next to the chicken coop, I discovered a small pathway.

A pathway? Did we have a pathway here?

Kinako and Kuro-mame, while looking back at me, kept encouraging me to follow them as they continued running further into the yard. After following the small path for a while, I discovered, to my surprise, that it led to a vast vineyard.

"Is this for real?" I blinked several times, astonished.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed peaches and pears ripe on the trees. Next to them were apple, orange, and lemon trees. I hadn't noticed it before, but it seemed like a fruit paradise hidden in the depths of my yard. I wasn't paying much attention to what was in season, but this was truly incredible.

I assumed that my grandfather had originally planted these, but it seemed that the power of the other world was also at play, creating this unique situation.

"Well... I'll deal with the complicated stuff later and just enjoy this!" I immediately started picking the fruits.

"I should start by making jam, and then I can't forget about drying some fruits. A fruit-packed, juicy fruit jelly would be fantastic too!" Recipe ideas for various dishes kept popping into my head, and I was quite enthusiastic.

That's why I hadn't noticed it until now...

As I was about to harvest a large bunch of grapes in front of me, something unusual happened. I felt a squishy sensation, and at the same time, a high-pitched sound pierced my ears.

「Squeak!」

"Huh?" Panicking, I looked at my right hand, and to my surprise, I found a bat covered in grape juice

"You..." The bat squeaked pitifully as it shrank in my hand.

It seemed like it had been nibbling on the grapes, and I had unintentionally harvested it along with them.

"I'm sorry... Are you okay?" The bat, covered in grape juice, looked quite pitiful.

I hurried back to the house, filled a basin with lukewarm water, and gently washed the bat. Once the bat was all cleaned up, I dried it with a towel and placed it on a soft cushion.

"Are you the Demon Lord's bat?" The bat nodded.

"Did you come here alone? Why were you eating grapes over there?" The bat seemed embarrassed and averted its gaze.

"I'm not scolding you for eating the grapes." I assured it. The bat appeared quite flustered.

"Could it be that you're here secretly, without the Demon Lord knowing?" The bat trembled at my words.

"...." I guess I hit the mark. The situation is unclear, but it seems like it came here secretly.

The bat cautiously observed my expression, seemingly trying to gauge my reaction.

"I don't really understand what's going on, but you can stay here as long as you like."

「Squeak!?」 The bat let out a surprised squeak. The bat was wide-eyed with surprise."I'll leave some fruits here for you to enjoy. Eat as much as you like." I said, gently stroking the bat's head. The bat responded with an affectionate squeak and nuzzled against my hand.

Hmm, it's surprisingly affectionate.

Since I want to make jam from the freshly harvested fruits, donning my usual combat outfit, my traditional apron.

"Yosh! Let's get started." I rolled up my sleeves and got to work, determined to make delicious jam.

First, I began by peeling the citrus fruit for marmalade. There was a considerable amount to peel, considering the abundance of fruit I had gathered from the garden. Since I couldn't imagine that the fruits had any wax or contaminants on them, I washed them thoroughly.

Watching my activities from a distance, Kuro-mame and Kinako observed the process with curiosity.

"Dogs usually dislike the scent of citrus fruits, don't they?" They were a bit cautious, with their animal ears and tails drooping. The fragrance was lovely though."Now, the next step is somewhat challenging. We need to remove the pith from the peel."

Balancing the right amount of pith removal was a delicate process. Take off too much, and it won't taste right; take off too little, and it becomes bitter. Finding that balance is always challenging.

I carefully shaved away the pith with a knife, focusing on getting just the right amount.

"And after this, the peels should be boiled for about five minutes, until they're soft." I repeated this process several times and then soaked the peels in water, but even that step had its challenges. The timing needed to be just right.

As I worked diligently, I noticed the bat observing my jam-making process with keen interest. It had somehow managed to get closer without interfering with my work.

"Feeling full already?" I asked the little bat.

It responded with happy squeaks and nods, clearly enjoying the sights and sounds of the cooking process.

The next step involved the meticulous process of peeling the thin skin off the fruit. My hands were starting to feel a bit pruny.

All the discarded peels and seeds were saved in a cloth bag or a tea strainer because they would be added to the mixture later. I'd made the mistake of throwing away the seeds during my first attempt, and the jam didn't turn out well.

Surprisingly, the seeds were crucial. They contained pectin, which helped thicken the jam. After that, I soaked the peeled fruit in water, drained it, and weighed the skin and fruit to determine the amount of granulated sugar to add. I began slicing the peels into thin strips, around 2mm wide.

"Usually, it's recommended to use 40% of the weight of the ingredients in sugar. But I like it a bit sweeter, so I'll use around 50%."

"Alright! Now, just combine the peel, fruit, and half of the sugar, and simmer it gently until the liquid evaporates!" It should be simmered on low heat until thickened.

While I was busy with the final stage, adding the remaining sugar, the peel, and the seeds to the bag, I noticed a delightful aroma in the air.

"Such a tantalizing aroma." I turned to find that, unbeknownst to me, the Demon Lord had appeared behind me.

With a deep voice that sent shivers down my spine, I was startled by the sudden presence of the Demon Lord right next to me. Hearing a mesmerizing low voice resonated right by my ear. It startled me, and I practically leaped out of my skin.

The bat remained frozen like a statue.

"I apologize... did I startle you?" The Demon Lord asked, smiling as he spoke, his eyes narrowing slightly.

I nodded wordlessly, still holding the ladle. It was then that the Demon Lord noticed the presence of the bat for the first time. The two of them stared at each other, locked in an awkward silence.

This situation might not be good?

The sweet scent of tangerines and the simmering sound of the pot were the only things that filled the air.

Eventually, the Demon Lord sighed deeply and exhaled before speaking, "Isn't it about time to come back?" The bat, upon hearing these words, turned away without responding.

Is the bat currently in the middle of a rebellious phase?

The atmosphere was tense, and all I could do was watch, holding my breath.

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