The Way to Absolute Dungeon Administration – There Is No Reason To Meet With the Opponent! - Volume 01 Chapter 27: Bunny

Volume 01 Chapter 27: Bunny

After a while, Elju calmed down, so I reclaimed Asrin and Filia.

To Elju, Asrin and Filia must’ve looked like angels.

“These kids, I’ll raise them!! I’ll make them into proper ladies, no matter what!! And I won’t let them marry!! I can’t let these pure-hearted girls see the adult world!!”

She clung to them, crying and raving.

…Yeah, she wasn’t calm at all.

“Alright, let’s head to the kitchen and make everyone’s lunch.”

“Got it!!”

“I’ll do my best!!”

“…Let’s go.”

With that, I haul the kid trio.

Honestly, the two in my arms are pretty tough to carry.

Labiris on my shoulders is fine, but supporting two with just my arms is rough.

Huh? My strength should’ve leveled up quite a bit…

Is it mental?

But they’re so happy, so I’ll tough it out.

“Now, we’re gonna cook rice. I want you guys to shape it.”

Yup. The first dish for beginners is “onigiri.”

If you mess this up, you’re hopeless at cooking.

I mean, I’ve never seen anyone fail at this.

…Well, back in school, someone tried washing rice with detergent.

I stopped them, obviously. That was a joke, right, old buddy!?

“Um, the white, sticky stuff we ate for breakfast?”

Asrin tilts her head, her chestnut bob swaying.

Man, Mauve—Mr. Loli Connoisseur—picked a gem.

Her childish gestures are doll-like, super cute.

Unlike Labiris, her chest matches her petite frame. Full of future potential.

“Yup. This is rice, and it turns into that fluffy stuff.”

I show them the rice cooker’s contents.

“Wow~ So this becomes that warm, fluffy rice?”

Asrin and Filia peer in.

Filia’s got that classic dwarf loli build. Her ponytail sways.

She’s textbook. I hope she stays this tiny forever.

Not because I’m a lolicon. It’s just a fantasy staple—loli dwarves are a must!

“So, Yuki-san, how can we help!!”

Asrin looks at me, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Oh, right. She’s good at housework.

She hasn’t had a chance to shine, so she’s pumped… Telling her there’s nothing to do would be harsh…

“Well, you’ll be using new tools, so be careful. Follow my instructions.”

“Yes!!”

“I’ll help too!!”

It’s just washing rice and flipping a switch, though.

“…Do your best. I’m counting on you.”

“Labiris, you ever getting down?”

“…If I’m in the way… I’ll get down…”

A sad voice comes from above, and I feel her legs shift.

She slides to the floor and looks up at me…

“…Tell me when I can climb back up. I’ll wait.”

Labiris says, gazing up.

“Sigh. You’re not in the way.”

I scoop her up.

…I’m not a lolicon. This is a guardian’s duty, no ulterior motives.

“…Thanks.”

Labiris hugs my face, then twists counterclockwise to her usual spot.

Her two melons briefly cut off my air.

“Alright, everyone ready!!”

“Yes!!”

“Let’s do this!!”

“…Good to go.”

We cook rice, make miso soup, and shape onigiri.

Asrin seems a bit unsatisfied, but that’s how it goes.

Starting tomorrow, I’ll teach them the kitchen tools and have them make more.

Then, we deliver the food to each room.

Mauve’s group was normal. Well, Mauve had a sloppy face. Busted.

In Elju’s room, she tried kidnapping Asrin and Filia, so I calmed her down. (Physically.)

In the women’s room, Milly seemed calmer and bowed when she saw me.

“Don’t force yourself to accept it. We can’t bring bad vibes into what’s coming. No one will blame you if you don’t help, Milly.”

“…Okay.”

“For now, eat.”

Asrin sets food in front of Milly.

“Um, Milly-san, we made this with Yuki-san’s help!! It’s called onigiri. It’s yummy with this furikake, or even just salt!! …Um, cheer up, okay?”

Asrin explains the dish with all her heart. Milly looks surprised.

“Kids notice a lot. They’re super sensitive to emotions.”

I pat Asrin’s head.

“Yeah… looks like it. Thanks, Asrin. I’ll eat.”

“Yes!!”

Milly seems okay.

The beastman trio is eating heartily… Wait.

“Eris, where’s Ratsu?”

“Oh, she said she’s going to the open-air bath.”

“Got it. Save her portion and tell her to eat later.”

“Sure, got it.”

I told them to bring empty dishes to the kitchen.

Now, what to do next?

As I’m thinking…

“…Let’s go to the open-air bath too.”

“Yeah, I wanna go.”

“Yup.”

When my passengers say that, I’ve got no choice.

At the bath entrance…

“Okay, you can handle it yourselves by now, right?”

“…No way. Straight to the men’s bath.”

“I wanna stay together.”

“Me too.”

…Well, they’ll probably say “No way, bath together!?” when they’re older.

Might as well make memories before that day comes.

So, we end up bathing together…

“Wash your bodies and hair properly!”

I warn the kids running around the bath, then sink into the tub, where…

“Hey, Onii-san. Wanted to bathe with me?”

Ratsu glances at me, staring blankly at the sky.

“Nah, this is the men’s bath.”

“…Ugh, I must’ve been pretty shaken up~”

Ratsu looks around, realizing her mistake.

Doesn’t seem intentional.

From her personality, I thought she’d snuck in on purpose, but she’s off her game.

“Shaken up? …Elju?”

“Yeah, well. Guess I’m a maiden too~”

She moves her hands.

She’s fiddling with a wooden bunny doll.

“Is that a bunny?”

Asrin, joining us in the tub, eyes the doll curiously.

“Wow, Ratsu-san, you’re so skilled!! As a dwarf, I can’t lose, and I respect you!!”

“Guess Filia-chan can tell it’s my handiwork?”

“Yup. It’s got your vibe, somehow.”

Huh, Filia can tell who made it?

Ratsu’s handmade, huh. Pretty crafty.

Ratsu stares at the bunny doll, then hands it to Asrin.

“For you, Asrin-chan. I made it as a toy for kids. It floats in water. The bunny’ll be happier with you.”

“Really!? Can I have it!?”

“Yup, play with it.”

Asrin takes the bunny with a smile, swimming to Filia and Labiris.

“Look, Labiris-chan, a bunny!”

“Oh, cute. You got it?”

“Yup!”

“Nice. Maybe I’ll get a matching one.”

They’re like big sister and little sister.

As I’m thinking that, Ratsu splashes water on her face.

“…That bunny mean something?”

“…You’re too sharp, Onii-san. I like you, but I don’t want you knowing everything…”

“…Sorry.”

The kids’ playful voices echo in the open-air bath.

“…It’s embarrassing, but I don’t want Elju-sama here either…”

“…”

“…I know. Onii-san made a deal with the King to hide Elju-sama as insurance, right?”

“Yup.”

Ratsu splashes her face again.

“…I made that bunny, but it had another owner before… Only for three days, though.”

Bit by bit, Ratsu starts talking about the bunny’s story.

Side: Ratsu

It’s not like telling the story will bring her back…

But I thought a kind Dungeon Master might be okay to tell.

“Where to start… Let’s see…”

Like I said, I was a merchant before becoming a slave.

I had decent adventurer skills, and my adventurer buddies tagged along on my trips.

I got used to traveling trade and thought about making new goods. So, while staying in a village, I crafted that bunny.

While I was carving, a cute girl peeked at me.

About Asrin’s age? Never got to ask.

She gave me a big smile and said, “It’s a bunny~”

Man, as a merchant, I blew it. That smile got me, and I gave her the bunny for free.

After that, she got attached. We chatted, played by the river.

Then the war’s fallout hit the village.

Seriously, can’t they stop? At night, no less.

If it was daytime, we could’ve handled it.

A small village like that got crushed fast.

My adventurer friends scattered, and we agreed to escape separately. I planned to slip away in the chaos.

Lucky or unlucky, I ran into the bunny girl while fleeing.

I could’ve escaped alone, but I reached out to her.

…Just a bit more, really, just a bit more, and we’d have made it out.

But she dropped the bunny and went back for it.

I never thought she’d shake off my hand for that bunny.

The moment she picked it up, arrows pierced her.

…Not the kind you survive. A small body like hers, a few arrows were fatal.

…I ran to her. But it was too late.

…If I hadn’t made that bunny… Such painful regret.

…I must’ve been sobbing, clutching her body.

Next thing I knew, I was a slave, gripping the bloodstained bunny.

I splash water on my face again.

These kinds of tears aren’t something I want a good guy to see.

“…That girl, does she regret taking the bunny… or resent it?”

“Who knows? Go ask her yourself someday.”

“…Harsh. This is when you’re supposed to gently comfort me, you know?”

“Pfft. The answer’s right in front of you. Why should I spell it out?”

Onii-san glances at Asrin-chan and the others playing with the bunny.

“…The bunny that made her smile, it wasn’t a mistake, was it?”

“So far, four out of four people are enjoying that bunny. Whether you make more, let it fade, or stop here—that’s up to you, Ratsu.”

“…I want to make more.”

“Then work hard here. I won’t get in your way. I could use some local specialties too.”

“Always so shrewd… But I feel lighter. I’ll have it sorted by tomorrow. I’ll head out fir—”

As I try to stand, my vision blurs.

Oh, this must be that heatstroke thing…

“Gotcha. Ratsu, you were in here longer than me, so no surprise.”

“S-Sorry.”

As Onii-san predicted, he steadies me.

Honestly, I’m not embarrassed about being seen naked, but being held in his arms? That’s embarrassing.

“Alright, everyone, time to get out. Ratsu’s got heatstroke, so lend a hand.”

“Okay!”

“Got it.”

“…Tch, next time, I’ll get heatstroke.”

“Labiris, don’t fake heatstroke. It can be life-threatening.”

Onii-san talks to the kids while carrying me princess-style to the changing room.

“O-Onii-san!? Th-This way of carrying!?”

“Oh, this? It’s the romantic way. No idea if women like it, but I’ve always wanted to try it. Blame yourself for getting heatstroke.”

Such a weirdly romantic guy.

“…Tch!!”

Labiris, you’re the main wife, so stop that tongue-clicking.

It’s scary.