Translated by Jyzciel

On the 35th day of my rural life,

I suddenly realized that in my original world, it was almost Christmas season. A wave of nostalgia washed over me, and I thought, why not celebrate Christmas here in this new world with my newfound friends?

The idea of hosting a Christmas party started to take shape in my mind, and I decided to extend an invitation to Chronos and his companions.

Of course, I wished I could extend the invitation to everyone I'd met so far, including the giant white snake family and even the Demon Lord. But the prospect of having them all together in one place seemed daunting, likely to result in utter chaos.

After some contemplation, I decided on a more practical approach. I would have a series of smaller, intimate Christmas gatherings, inviting them in the order I'd met them.

With my plan set, I got to work in the kitchen. When you think of Christmas, you think of chicken, right?

Unfortunately, this world didn't have the well-known fast-food chain. So, I had to make it myself.

One minor problem, the chickens I was raising on my little farm were more like pets than potential meals, so they were off-limits for my cooking experiments.

I wondered if there were any magical creatures in this realm that might satisfy my craving for a succulent bird. I wonder if there are any magical creatures in the bird category, like a Big Sangria, that I can eat.

For the time being, I decided to make the best of what I had available. I opened the refrigerator, searching for inspiration and ingredients to craft a delightful meal for my first guest.

For starters, I'll make a Caprese salad with mini tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Serving it in charming little cups would not only make it visually appealing but also easy to enjoy.

Then, I might consider marinating squid and vegetables. It would pair nicely with wine.

First, let's get started with the preparations. Thinly sliced the red onions and soaked them in water. The vibrant color of red onions seemed perfect for a Christmas-themed dish.

Next, I julienned carrots, cucumbers, and red bell peppers. Given the Christmas theme, I decided to carve the carrots into star shapes to add a festive touch.

As for the squid, I aimed for roughly 5-millimeter-wide rings, although I must admit, I mostly eyeballed it. I also cut the tentacles into bite-sized pieces.

"Boil some water and blanch the squid quickly until it changes color. Then, drain it and let it cool."

This step is crucial! Overcooking the squid can make it tough, so I had to keep a close eye on it.

Once the squid had cooled down, I mixed it with vinegar, salt, sugar, olive oil, black pepper, and some whole grain mustard.

The flavor always seemed to deepen when I let it sit in the fridge for a while before serving.

With the first dish ready to go, I contemplated what to make next. But before I could decide, I had to figure out what I was going to have for lunch today.

Come to think of it, I had some homemade chashu, which I had prepared back when I made the first Big Sangria. How about making a chashu rice bowl for lunch?

I took the Tupperware containing the chashu out of the fridge and placed it on the cutting board. As I began to slice it, it seemed like Kuro-mame and Kinako sensed the tantalizing aroma. They barked from the veranda, almost as if they were  requesting a piece.

"Aren't you clever." I remarked while cutting a small portion of the chashu and headed toward the veranda. The two of them eagerly circled around, voicing their delight.

"Alright, calm down. Hehe... here, this is for the Kuro-mame." I said with a chuckle as they happily chewed on the treats.

"Here you go, Kinako." I added, holding out another piece.

Kinako wagged her tail so vigorously that it seemed like it might fall off, and she enthusiastically bit into the offered treat.

And then, I felt a sudden gaze upon me. "Huh?"

I turned to find a third being, almost as if it were saying, 'I want some too!'

"Why are you here?!"

It was none other than Schnappy, the demonic plant.

「Grrrrr...」

As I gazed at Schnappy, who was dripping a bit of drool and moistening its large eye while looking up at me, I couldn't help but wonder how it had managed to get here.

I stammered, "H-how did you get here? Huh? What's going on?"

Schnappy responded with a low growl.

I examined Schnappy from the top of its head to the tip of its foot, taking note that its root-like structures seemed to split into two parts, resembling legs.

Did it walk here like this? It's so far beyond standard understanding. I don't know what to make of it.

Kuro-mame and Kinako, apparently accustomed to such surprises, sat nearby calmly, seemingly unfazed.

"You two, weren't you engaged in a major battle just yesterday? Isn't it a bit early for you to be forming agreements?"

Amid the confusion, I returned to the kitchen and cut a slightly larger piece of chashu.

I nervously held it out and said, "Here... aaah."

Schnappy obediently opened its large, menacing mouth with sharp teeth. It was terrifying! However, I cautiously placed the chashu inside.

Schnappy munched away happily. But that wasn't the sound I expected from food, especially chashu.

When finishing its meal, Schnappy must have found the chashu extremely delicious. It began swaying its leaves and stems from side to side, performing a peculiar dance of delight.

What on earth is that dance? It was inexplicable, but somehow, I could tell it was a dance of satisfaction.

Is it safe for me to keep watching like this? Could it steal my Magic Points or something?

But, well, I don't even have those in this world. I mean, despite being transported to this otherworldly realm, I don't possess any cheat abilities or even the capability to use magic. I'm just a hopelessly unremarkable protagonist.

Once it seemed satisfied with its performance, Schnappy made a peculiar noise as if requesting seconds.

「Kyuun」

I blinked.

"Kyuun? Seriously?!" I thought, bewildered by the absurdity of it all.

This cute, sweet voice was entirely incongruous with its appearance. Unfortunately, it did nothing to touch my heart, possibly due to its appearance.

I was at a loss for what to do when, at that very moment, Kinako let out a single 「woof」 as if reproaching it.

Schnappy shook its head reluctantly in protest but seemed to reluctantly agree with Kinako's follow-up command. It bowed slightly to me and returned to its original spot.

It closed its eyes and remained perfectly still.

"Kinako... you." I said, petting Kinako's head with astonishment.

Kinako seemed rather pleased with herself.

In just a short period, it seemed like a lot had happened. But I did learn one thing.

The ranking went: Chronos > Kinako > Schnappy > Black Beans.

When it came down to it, it seemed that the ladies were the strongest. Schnappy had been scolded thoroughly by Kinako.

Fighting, Kuro-mame!

However, I couldn't help but wonder where I fit into this ranking. It had been a day of contemplation for me.