"I couldn't find what I was searching for." I was a bit sad that I couldn't find pillow for sleeping. But I did get some seasonings. So, I should be happy.
"Don't worry, master." Tsuki says. "If you need something squishy, you can sleep on me."
Sleep on Tsuki? Wait, that's not a bad idea either. Tsuki is a Fanrir and she does have a soft body.
"Kyuuu… kyuu." Rir tried to say something. It's as if she was saying that, mom's body feels good while sleeping.
Well, she certainly is right.
I crouched by the fire, my stomach growling louder than Rir's occasional whimpers. The dungeon run earlier had been unexpectedly rewarding—not just the thrill of survival but the small treasures I'd found: meat, vegetable oil, some seasonings, and, of all things, mayonnaise. The problem? I didn't have proper utensils or tools. Just me, the forest, and my makeshift camp.
"Master," Tsuki's calm, melodic voice broke through my thoughts. She sat beside me, her silver fur gleaming in the firelight, her golden eyes watching me intently. "What are you planning to do with those ingredients?"
"Make something edible," I replied, sighing as I examined the sharp stones and wooden sticks I'd collected. "Unless you want to eat raw meat."
Tsuki wrinkled her nose. "I'll pass."
Wogg lumbered over, his massive orc frame looming behind me. "Wogg like meat. Wogg eat it raw if master don't cook soon."
I rolled my eyes. "Be patient, Wogg. I'm improvising here."
Rir, Tsuki's cub, padded up to me and sniffed at the meat I was preparing. He tilted his head and let out a small, questioning growl.
"Don't worry, Rir," I said, patting his head. "You'll get your share soon enough."
With no utensils, I had to get creative. Using a sharp stone, I cut the meat into bite-sized chunks, careful to avoid wasting even a sliver. Then, I sharpened some sturdy branches into skewers.
Earlier, while gathering firewood, I'd stumbled upon a small patch of wild herbs and some strange, forest-grown fruits. I wasn't sure what the fruits were, but they smelled sweet and tart. I plucked a few and mashed them into a makeshift glaze, mixing it with oil and seasonings for flavor.
"All right," I muttered to myself, threading the meat chunks onto the skewers. "This is as good as it's going to get."
I placed the skewers over the fire, propping them up with rocks to keep them steady. The smell of sizzling meat filled the air, drawing an eager growl from Wogg and a wag of Rir's fluffy tail.
Tsuki leaned closer, sniffing delicately. "It smells... better than I expected."
I smirked. "You doubted me?"
"Always," she replied, deadpan.
The herbs added a fragrant aroma, while the fruit glaze caramelized slightly over the heat, giving the meat a glossy, golden sheen. I even found a flat stone and used it to sear a bit of mayonnaise, turning it into a smoky dipping sauce.
Finally, I pulled the skewers from the fire and handed one to Wogg, who tore into it immediately, letting out a satisfied grunt.
"Meat good. Master smart!" Wogg declared, his tusked grin widening.
Rir took a smaller piece and devoured it eagerly, his tail wagging furiously.
Tsuki hesitated before taking her first bite, but her ears twitched in approval. "Not bad," she admitted, her tone grudging.
I leaned back, taking a bite of my own skewer. The meat was tender and flavorful, the glaze adding a hint of sweetness that balanced perfectly with the smoky mayonnaise.
"Well," I said, chewing thoughtfully, "if nothing else, we won't starve tonight."
Tsuki gave a rare smile. "Perhaps you're more useful than I thought, Master."
"Gee, thanks," I replied, rolling my eyes.
As the fire crackled and my unusual little group enjoyed the meal, I couldn't help but feel a small spark of satisfaction. Maybe living in this world wouldn't be so bad after all.
∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆
After finishing our meal, the night passed peacefully, with the soft chirping of crickets filling the air. Tsuki, Rir, and I retired to the small hut I had hastily built earlier. It wasn't much, just a roof and walls sturdy enough to keep out the chill and any wandering creatures, but it was home—for now.
Laying down, I quickly realized one glaring issue: no pillows. My head thumped against the hard floor as I stared at the wooden ceiling, already regretting my oversight.
"If you keep tossing and turning like that, none of us will get any sleep," Tsuki said, her tone laced with mild annoyance but a teasing smirk tugging at her lips. Her golden eyes glinted in the dim light from the dying embers of the campfire outside.
"What do you expect?" I grumbled, rubbing the back of my neck. "This floor isn't exactly a luxury mattress."
"Then use me," she said simply, lying down beside me and resting her chin on her paws, as if the matter required no further discussion.
I blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
"You heard me, Master. Fanrir fur is softer than anything you'll find out here. You'll sleep better on me than on this pathetic excuse for a bed."
She wasn't wrong. Her silver fur gleamed with a silky sheen that practically invited touch. "Well… if you insist," I said, trying not to sound too eager.
Tsuki chuckled softly, a low rumble in her throat, as she shifted into a comfortable position. "Just don't drool on me, Master."
Ignoring her teasing, I carefully laid my head on her side. The warmth of her body spread through me instantly, and her fur was unbelievably soft—like resting on the finest down pillow I could ever imagine. I sank into her fluff, letting out a contented sigh.
"You're way more comfortable than any bed I've ever slept on," I muttered.
Tsuki's ears flicked, and she gave a smug grin. "Of course. Fanrir are superior in every way."
Rir, curled up on the other side of the hut, let out a soft yawn and wagged his tail sleepily before closing his eyes. Watching him made my own exhaustion creep up on me.
Just as my eyelids started to droop, Tsuki's voice broke through the quiet. "By the way, Master… what should we do tomorrow?"
I opened one eye, thinking for a moment before responding. "Hmm… Ever since we went to the Dungeon of Infinity, I've been thinking about something."
Her golden eyes locked onto mine, her curiosity piqued. "What is it?"
I shifted slightly, propping myself up on my elbow. "Rather than staying here in the forest, I think it might be better for us to live inside the dungeon."
Her ears twitched, and her expression shifted to one of surprise. "Inside the dungeon? Why would you want to do that?"
I let out a slow breath, organizing my thoughts. "There's not much difference between the dungeon and this forest, at least in terms of danger. If we could find a floor with sunlight and fertile soil, it would make for a pretty sound place to live. Building a house would be easier, too, and hunting wouldn't be a problem with all the monsters around. The only real downside is the constant threat of danger."
Tsuki tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. "Hmm… you do make a good point, but I don't think you need to worry too much about that."
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow. "And why's that?"
She gave me a sly smile, her voice carrying an almost playful tone. "If we were to conquer a dungeon, we'd be able to customize it however we wanted."
I frowned, puzzled. "Customize it? What do you mean?"
Her tail swished lazily, and she gave a small chuckle, clearly amused by my confusion. "Think of it this way. If you conquer a dungeon, you gain control over its interior. You can decide where monsters can and can't enter, reshape the terrain, and even add structures. Most dungeons also have artificial sun systems, so you wouldn't need to worry about sunlight. How do you think forest biomes exist inside dungeons, Master?"
I blinked, her words sinking in. "Wait, are you saying dungeon masters can alter the layout and environment of their dungeons?"
"Exactly," Tsuki said, her tone firm. "If you become the dungeon master, you could turn it into the perfect living space. It's not just a good idea, Master—it's a brilliant one."
I leaned back against her, her warmth grounding me as I considered the possibilities. Living inside a dungeon… controlling it… customizing it to our needs. The thought was both exciting and daunting.
"Well," I said finally, "if that's true, then it's worth considering. But first, we'd have to conquer it, and that's no small feat."
Tsuki gave a toothy grin. "With me and Rir by your side, Master, anything's possible."
I couldn't help but chuckle. Her confidence was infectious. "We'll see, Tsuki. We'll see."
As the fire outside dwindled to embers and the sounds of the forest lulled us into a calm, I let my eyes close, my thoughts swirling with the possibilities of what tomorrow might bring.