Chapter 48: The Lingering Taste of Raw Potatoes

The rhythmic buzzing of crickets and the flickering glow of fireflies drifting into the distance illuminated the dimming sky. Around the orange-yellow campfire, three figures sat close together.

A cast-iron pot rested on the fire, the hot oil sizzling loudly.

Utogaya held a fishing rod, baited the hook, and deftly pulled small fish from the pool, handing them over to Kaya, who held a pair of scissors.

With quick motions, Kaya slit open the fish’s belly, scraped off the scales in two strokes, rolled it through the cornmeal batter, and dropped it straight into the pot.

Picking up a fried fish with chopsticks, Utogaya coated it in his specially prepared chili powder. When it came to food, he had to admit he was quite satisfied with himself.

“I’m full...” Fukue lazily flopped onto the blanket, tossing aside her chopsticks, no longer able to eat another bite. She gazed up at the crescent moon casting a cold light on the left half of the starry sky, while the orange afterglow on the right side faded away.

Rarely did Fukue’s mind empty so completely—she simply watched the sky quietly until the stars filled her entire vision.

“Juice. I’ve been chilling it in the pool water for you.”

Taking the juice Utogaya handed her, Fukue’s eyes landed on the bite marks she’d left on his arm, stirring a pang of tenderness in her heart.

But she quickly rolled her eyes—he had only himself to blame.

Utogaya was utterly confused by her eye roll. Didn’t she ask for the juice to be chilled?

Yet he dared not provoke her now; a mere eye roll was far better than the tantrums she threw as a child, storming in to wreak havoc around their home.

Miss Fukue was being merciful, especially since he was clearly in the wrong.

Kaya watched the pair silently, her head bowed like a maid’s as she quietly tidied up the remaining trash.

Her mood was surprisingly good—Fukue had not driven her away but allowed her to stay.

Did this mean Fukue had, for the time being, accepted her?

A small smile tugged at Kaya’s lips before she quickly suppressed it.

Come on, Kaya!

It wasn’t time to be smug yet. Don’t anger Miss Fukue. As long as you work hard, you’ll surely achieve your dream of moving into Utogaya’s storeroom!

As night deepened, Fukue cast an impatient glance at Utogaya.

“What are you just standing there for? Go light some mosquito coils!”

Perhaps due to her robust vitality, mosquitoes were especially fond of Fukue. Frankly, wherever she was, there was no need to worry about mosquitoes bothering anyone else.

Utogaya took out the pre-prepared coils and lit them. Only then did he notice: not a single ant or insect was anywhere near them.

He instinctively voiced this discovery, prompting a faint puzzled look from Kaya.

“Are there always bugs in the grass?”

Fukue rolled her eyes and snapped, “Didn’t you learn middle school biology? Bugs love crawling around in damp grass.”

Startled by Fukue’s reprimand, Kaya shrank back nervously.

“But... I haven’t encountered any when sleeping in the park or under bridges...”

Utogaya and Fukue exchanged a glance.

So the problem lay with Kaya?

Recalling Utogaya’s words—that this shamelessly promiscuous girl would become a dreaded evil spirit after death—was she already revealing her true nature in life?

“Come here.”

At Fukue’s summons, Kaya rose and hurried over, kneeling obediently.

Fukue reclined onto Kaya’s soft lap, tilting her head back.

From this angle, it was quite something...

Conservatively, the two children should have no issues.

Utogaya had subtly tried to dissuade Fukue from treating Kaya like a servant, but before Fukue could take offense, Kaya hastened to say she liked it that way.

Utogaya could only sigh helplessly—such a pitifully humble girl.

The moon climbed high, and with a flashlight in hand, Utogaya accompanied Kaya and Fukue to the pool’s edge to wash their feet. He took a towel and dried Fukue’s feet.

He instinctively reached to help Kaya as well but met Fukue’s cold, emotionless glare.

“I... I can do it myself...”

Though disappointed, Kaya accepted the towel and dried her own feet.

“Kaya, you’ll sleep in the tent on the right.”

“Okay, okay...!”

Obediently, Kaya slipped inside at Fukue’s command.

Fukue crossed her arms, expressionless, and nodded toward the tents at Utogaya.

Utogaya blinked, puzzled.

What was this feeling of being assigned a consort by the mountain queen?

Bending obediently and halfway inside, Fukue suddenly kicked him fully into the tent.

The zipper closed with a soft click. Apart from the nighttime insects, silence returned.

In a daze, Utogaya was awakened from sleep by Fukue.

“What is it?”

Fukue said nothing, simply pulling him to his feet and out.

Confused, he followed her to the pool’s edge.

“Do you need to use the bathroom?”

In the dying firelight, Fukue’s eyes blazed as she stared at him.

“What... ugh!”

Before he could finish, Fukue abruptly threw her arms around his neck and forced a kiss upon him.

After a long moment, amidst Fukue’s painful groans, Utogaya tried anxiously to push her away.

But sensing his movement, Fukue only clung tighter, pressing herself closer.

The more she did so, the more savage the violent thoughts surged within Utogaya’s heart.

“Let go...”

He finally managed to say during a brief pause, hoping she would stop.

Instead, the girl pressed her forehead against his.

By his ear, her voice was soft and sultry, laced with an unyielding tenderness.

“Utogaya, don’t be afraid. I’ll be fine.”

“Fukue, I...”

Before he could finish, his throat was silenced again.

This time, Fukue didn’t hold him tightly out of fear he would run away, but gradually loosened her grip.

Yet, hearing his heavier breaths and noticing the flickering firelight revealing a faintly menacing gleam in his eyes, Fukue merely tiptoed to brush a gentle kiss on the corner of his mouth, then slowly crouched down.

Minutes later, having wiped the blood from her face clean, Fukue returned from the poolside, her expression complex as she gazed at Utogaya sitting by the fire.

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.

“It’s fine now. You just had a little nosebleed, didn’t you?”

Utogaya remained silent. Seeing this, Fukue moved in front of him and embraced him fully.

“I’m okay, right?”

“I almost just...”

“Enough. Stop thinking about it. Like training, we’ll get better with practice. Sooner or later, we’ll be completely in sync.”

“I... ugh!!”

A sharp pain struck his ear as Fukue grabbed it fiercely, glaring at him.

“Stop whining. I’m not fussing, so you can’t either. Shut up and go to sleep!”

The zipper sound came again, and the night quieted once more.

“Did you notice anything?”

“?”

“The lingering scent of raw potatoes.”

“...”

Smack!

The sound of a light slap was followed by the girl’s tinkling, mischievous laughter.