The home that Josef was living in with his family, was at the very north of the village.
It had a simple arrangement, a two part house with only a living-dining room and a living room. It’s a fairly normal house within this village.
Inside the building, overflowing with the warmth of trees, a wooden plank acting as a table, claims itself within the living room with objects placed around it everywhere, making it a mess.
However, it didn’t give off an uncomfortable feeling, probably because that was also a part of everyday life.
“For you to be passing by here means, that you’re on your way going back to the 『Village』 right?”
“Yea”
Dale brings out his souvenirs, the sake bottle that he brought here from Kroix and the dried fish that he bought at Cuvare, handing it over to Josef’s wife, Wuute, as he said.
“How’s grandma?”
“Well I mean, I didn’t hear anything about her being dead… from what I gather from the last letter, it seemed she still couldn’t hand over the head of the family to my old man and was clattering with laughter.”
“That’s 『just like her』”
“Right?”
It didn’t look like Latina was very interested at the two men’s conversation.
She takes glances at the figure of the sleepy Maaya, as well as looking over to Wuute, who was working in the kitchen.
It seems she wasn’t sticking her hand into their matters because they weren’t very close but, she also seemed absorbed by it all, whether it was the life style of the Beastman or the countryside.
She was itching to do something.
Having noticed Latina acting like that, Wuute invites her over with a faint smile and she rushes over as if she had been waiting for this.
“Fuahhh”
Her eyes widen at the sight of Wuute skillfully preparing the wild plants.
“This, how do you eat this?”
“This is something that’s quite common around these parts but, it might be a bit new to you”
“There isn’t any mountains around Kroix, that’s why”
“Ahh, that’s right”
Latina copies how Wuute was working by the act of watching and learning.
At the sight of Latina looking as if she was already used to this, Wuute was amazed. Besides the fact that Latina looks younger than she really is, compared with the kids of her generation she was actually able to do some housework.
Once she started helping out, Latina toddles behind Wuute, looking for things to do as if it was painful to stand still.
There are quite a lot of women who don’t like their territory, their kitchen, being handled by others but, the young Latina had the advantage in that area.
It’s pleasant seeing the sight of a young girl like her, working with a smile on her face.
When the wooden plates and the stew boiled with meat and herbs was placed on the table, it was around when Dale and Josef were changing their conversation topic to the recent rumours of the Royal Capital. This was accompanied with bread that had a colour not seen in Kroix.
As a response to the smell of that, Maaya, who had been sound asleep within Yoseff’s arms twitched her nose. Her eyes, the same green as her mother Wuute’s, open up with a snap.
After a brief absentmindedness, it looked as if she was shocked at the presence of strangers.
“!”
She hugs onto Josef as if worried.
Yup, Josef nods.
“How is she. Cute right”
“What are you saying. Just look at my daughter for the meaning of cute”
Dale says stubbornly, pointing at Latina who was carrying over a bowl of wild plants salad.
“Hn?”
Suddenly being brought up, Latina looked puzzled.
“Nice to meet you, Maaya-chan. I’m Latina.”
“Uuu? Aatia?
“Hello”
Maaya was slightly nervous when such a conversation was brought up to her but, she became completely familiar with Latina shortly afterwards.
And then once again, Latina was in a trance looking at the small Maaya.