"Feed the Dromas?"
Hearing this, Herta's expression didn't change at all.
Lumina, however, looked at the tall, slightly adorably vacant-eyed Dromas staring at her on the lawn and muttered under her breath.
"Ah..." Hearing Lumina's mutter, Castorice belatedly realized what had happened.
"Sorry, sorry, Sister Lumina, I..."
Sister Lumina's status was so precious, how could someone of such high status be asked to feed the Dromas by hand...
"Why is Little Sister Castorice apologizing?"
Shifting her gaze from the Dromas back to Castorice, Lumina asked with some confusion.
Although Castorice was very cute, sometimes she, just like Stelle, would say some bizarre things.
For example, she had just invited her and Herta to experience feeding the Dromas, and the next moment she was apologizing. Lumina truly couldn't figure it out.
"Sor... sorry." Noticing the confusion and bewilderment in Lumina's gaze, Castorice knew she had overthought things and apologized again.
Lumina: ...
What is this child even thinking?
Lumina shook her head, feeling rather speechless.
But she didn't say much else. After all, influenced by Stelle, Lumina had grown accustomed to such inexplicable behavior.
"..." Realizing she had overreacted, Castorice's already flushed cheeks turned even redder.
Her fair skin seemed to turn translucent, the blood flowing beneath clearly visible...
"Ahem." She coughed quickly a few times, suppressing her emotions.
Turning back to the Dromas, Castorice introduced it to Lumina and Herta: "Sister Lumina, Big Sister Herta, the Dromas feed is very clean. It's dry Red Earth."
After speaking, Castorice looked around for a moment and pointed to a shed nearby.
"There's some over there."
"Um..." Pausing, Castorice added another sentence after that: "The Dromas feed is very bitter, and it's also hard to digest, so it's best not to eat it..."
Castorice felt this scene was somewhat familiar.
Wasn't this the exact same scene as when Stelle and Dan Heng arrived?
Since Stelle had taken a bite of the Dromas feed back then, Castorice felt it was necessary to warn them in advance.
After all... Castorice didn't know if all Outworlders had the... um, quirk of eating Dromas feed.
It was just that... Castorice didn't think Sister Lumina would be like Stelle.
Stelle was more... um, spirited.
While Sister Lumina was elegant, holy, untainted by the filth of the mortal world, just like a Holy Maiden bestowed by the heavens in a novel...
Such an elegant, such a holy Sister Lumina, the image of her fighting over Dromas food... Sorry, even for a writer who loved to imagine wild and unrestrained scenarios, Castorice couldn't even imagine it.
"Mm, I see."
"Rest assured, we won't have any ideas about the Dromas feed."
Lumina didn't know about Stelle eating the Dromas feed, so she found Castorice's specific instruction that they'd better not eat it a bit perplexing.
But she didn't think too much of it.
After all, before every peculiar rule was established, there had been a peculiar person who had performed such an action...
Fighting over Dromas feed... Um, why does this feel like something Stelle would do? Lumina thought to herself.
At the same time, a hunch formed in her mind, a feeling that the peculiar person who caused this "rule to be established" was Stelle.
No one would be foolish or bored enough to eat Dromas feed.
Except for Stelle.
Of course... perhaps Castorice should be added as well.
Why?
Because Castorice could accurately describe the taste of Dromas feed.
It was very bitter, and hard to digest... Just as if she had eaten it.
Thinking of this, Lumina gave Castorice a deep look.
The flush that had been gradually fading from Castorice's face instantly turned into a deep crimson blush.
"Heh heh." Seeing Castorice's expression, Lumina knew her guess was close to the mark.
Even if Castorice hadn't eaten it herself, her friends or associates definitely had.
Who were Castorice's friends and associates? There were only a few. In Lumina's opinion, it was unlikely for any of them to eat Dromas feed... Um, though this didn't rule out the possibility that the textbooks in Amphoreus described what Dromas feed tasted like.
Deciding not to dwell on the matter any longer, Lumina took Herta's small hand and, together with Castorice, walked over to the place where the Dromas feed was kept.
"For the first feeding, a small piece will do." The blush on Castorice's face had not fully faded, and the shyness in her heart continued to play across her features, but she still suppressed all her emotions and forced her attention back to reality.
"Okay."
Lumina replied as she took out a piece of dried Red Earth crystal from the container.
As Lumina picked up a piece of Red Earth, the hungry Dromas beside her watched her every move with an eager gaze.
It was very much looking forward to Lumina feeding it.
Under the Dromas's expectant gaze, Lumina approached it with a small piece of Red Earth in her hand.
"Woooong..."
When Lumina appeared before it, the Dromas immediately let out a friendly low rumble, from which a sense of happiness could be clearly heard.
It liked the young girl in front of it very much, it liked Lumina very much.
"It seems Sister Lumina is very well-liked by the Dromas."
Although Castorice found it a bit puzzling that the Dromas had taken to Sister Lumina so quickly, she also felt it made sense.
Sister Lumina's charm was so great that it was only natural for the Dromas to fall for her at first glance...
"Yes, it is." Lumina smiled and fed the Red Earth feed to the Dromas.
"Woooong... Wooooong!"
After eating the feed Lumina personally fed it, the Dromas immediately let out a joyful cry.
Then it lowered its head again, rubbing its head against Lumina's body to express its fondness for her.
Lumina also reached out and gently stroked its head, returning its affection.
"..."
At the same time, Lumina could clearly feel Herta's small hand suddenly tremble.
Although it happened in just an instant, Lumina still felt it clearly.
"Oh?" Lumina glanced at Herta and saw no emotion on her face.
But Lumina knew Herta well and did not doubt her own feelings from just now.
Combining the context with Herta's feelings toward her, Lumina immediately guessed the reason.
She was jealous.
Jealous of a Dromas.
Laughing secretly in her heart, Lumina didn't immediately expose Herta.
She turned her gaze back to the Dromas nuzzling her and patted its head in a silent signal.
"Woooong."
Taking the hint from Lumina, the Dromas reluctantly withdrew its head.
Then it let out another affectionate cry toward Lumina, clearly showing its extraordinary fondness for her.
"Sister Lumina is truly amazing."
After the Dromas pulled its head away, Castorice didn't hold back her praise for Lumina.
Her eyes twinkled with admiration.
There were many people who acted this affectionately with Dromas, but Castorice had never seen anyone befriend one so quickly on their very first meeting.
From a biological perspective, such a thing was impossible.
But considering her constitution, aura, and innate affinity, it made perfect sense.
After all, Sister Lumina... was just that lovable to both people and creatures.
Recalling the first time she met Sister Lumina, Castorice thought that if Sister Lumina had treated her the same way she treated the Dromas, feeding her and patting her head, her own reaction would probably have been no different.
Hearing this, after giving Castorice a smiling nod, Lumina shifted her gaze to Herta.
"..."
Without speaking, she just stared at her silently for a while.
Seeing Herta's brow furrow slightly, she wondered what kind of mischievous thoughts were crossing Lumina's mind again.
"What's up?"
Herta glanced at Castorice beside her, then asked Lumina.
Though it was just a simple two-word question, the implied message was very clear.
Your little girlfriend is still standing right here, what if you do something affectionate to me and scare her?
You wouldn't want your little girlfriend to leave you in despair, would you?
This was the meaning Herta wanted to convey.
Lumina wasn't stupid either, and she naturally understood.
But what of it?
If she ran, couldn't Lumina just bring her back?
The temptation of a gentle haven was comparable to a mother's embrace.
This was Lumina's confidence.
Even if Herta ran away, Lumina could bring her back with just a little bit of effort.
"Hmph."
Herta snorted coldly. Although Lumina said nothing, Herta could still read a few of her thoughts from the smile in her eyes.
Although she didn't want to admit it, Herta had to.
If one day she truly hardened her heart and left Lumina,
a simple gesture of Lumina's to keep her would be enough to make Herta scurry back to her side...
"Alright, alright, why am I being made out to be some big Boss, some Demon Lord who wreaks havoc in the mortal world?"
Lumina sighed softly, not saying or doing anything else to Herta.
Rubbing Herta's small hand with her palm, Lumina turned her gaze to Castorice.
She said with a smile, "Sister Castorice, we just arrived in Okhema not long ago, and we're not very familiar with many places."
"Herta and I haven't eaten yet. Does Sister Castorice have any recommended restaurants in Okhema?"
"Um..." Hearing this, the smile on Castorice's flushed face instantly faded.
She was completely at a loss for words, not knowing how to answer Lumina's question.
Lumina's question had touched upon a blind spot in Castorice's knowledge of Okhema.
Because of the characteristics of the [Death] Chrysos Heirs, Castorice almost never ate out.
For the sake of others, and also for her own sake...
Normally, her meals were either provided or prepared by fellow Chrysos Heirs, or she would simply make something simple herself.
If she was too lazy to move or was too busy writing to the Forgotten God, Castorice would order takeout.
Going to a restaurant to eat was usually organized by Lady Aglaea or her three professors, Tribbie, Trianne, and Trinnon, gathering in a private room.
Castorice herself would never go to a restaurant to eat alone.
Booking a private room just to go to a restaurant to eat alone made no sense.
Hmm...
With Sister Lumina and Big Sister Herta here, they could book a private room.
That way, it would be much more convenient.
Having thought of this, Castorice stopped thinking.
She gave Lumina a smiling nod. "Sister Lumina, Big Sister Herta, I know a restaurant where the food is quite good."
"I'm just not sure if it will suit Sister Lumina and Big Sister Herta's tastes."
Castorice only knew of one or two restaurants, both places she had visited with everyone else.
Although these restaurants seemed extremely expensive, there shouldn't be any problems.
Castorice... still had some savings.
Taking Sister Lumina and Big Sister Herta out for a meal should be fine.
"Don't worry, neither Herta nor I are picky eaters," Lumina said with a smile.
As for whether Herta was a picky eater, Lumina wasn't quite sure.
If she wasn't, then she wasn't. But if she were...
Well, it probably wouldn't make any difference.
Herta wouldn't bring it up voluntarily, and even if Lumina asked, she'd likely keep quiet.
After all, revealing what she was picky about would be like exposing her weaknesses to the other person, wouldn't it?
Herta would never say it out loud, unless Lumina had already gotten a handle on her, or perhaps she had gotten a handle on Lumina...
As for Lumina, she was definitely a bit of a picky eater.
She just didn't like food that tasted bad.
-
After a while, Lumina, Herta, and Castorice appeared on the streets of Okhema once again.
Lumina held Herta's hand with her left and Castorice's with her right, walking through Okhema with a look of complete satisfaction, truly a winner in life.
"The dishes just now were quite delicious. As expected of a restaurant personally certified by Little Sister Castorice."
No picky eating occurred. Lumina was extremely satisfied with all the dishes ordered in the restaurant.
"It's... it's because their chef is quite skilled..." With her small hand held by Lumina and hearing her praise, Castorice felt her head growing warm.
Such a comfortable feeling... It was as if a special energy was being transmitted into her body through the palm connected to Sister Lumina, making her feel exceptionally warm and comfortable.
Castorice liked this feeling very much.
It's just... it would be even better if there weren't gloves in the way.