"Days off are the best!"

"You’re awfully excited for so early in the morning."

Well, of course, I’m excited! It’s my first proper day off since coming to this world, and I can’t help but feel thrilled. My excitement is through the roof—so high, I’ve started using outdated slang from my old world. …Yeah, I’m not even sure what I’m saying anymore.

Still, there’s no time to dwell on outdated phrases. Then again, maybe in this world, they’d be considered trendy and win some sort of slang award.

Yesterday, I finished setting up the Outdoor Shop and arranged for Lange to help with sourcing goods to cover my tracks. Now, my very own store is ready to open—though technically, it’s a rented space. But before the grand opening, I’ve decided to take two days off. I’ve already informed the Adventurer’s Guild that the shop will open the day after tomorrow.

Honestly, my previous work hours at the food cart were only from noon to evening, so if I told my old-world coworkers at a black company that I needed a break, they’d probably knock some sense into me. Still, a full day off is something I long for.

"For today, I’m just going to relax, so you’re free to do whatever you want, Lilia."

"Hmm. I don’t really have anything to do. What do you usually do on your days off, Tetsuya?"

"I like to go camping—spend time in nature, light a campfire, cook elaborate meals, read books, and just relax."

"…Is that supposed to be fun?"

Hmm, it seems camping doesn’t resonate as much with people in this world. Then again, camping and outdoor survival here are pretty similar concepts.

"In my world, there are too many people, and everywhere is filled with buildings and houses. People are usually busy with work, so spending time in nature on a day off is really enjoyable."

"I see… so that’s how it is."

She doesn’t seem entirely convinced.

"If you’re curious, would you like to try it out?"

"Sure. I’d like to see how you spend your days off. If I won’t be a bother, then please."

"Of course! Let’s invite Fia too, while we’re at it."

And so, we decided to spend a relaxing day in the backyard of the shop with Fia joining us. While I don’t often do this, backyard camping—setting up tarps, chairs, and tables in your own yard—has become a thing recently.

Heading out far and lugging gear around can be a hassle, so camping at home is a convenient and enjoyable alternative. You get to use your home facilities, too. The downside? The surroundings are your usual scenery, and if you have neighbors, you can’t light a campfire.

"Oh wow, it smells amazing!"

"Indeed, this looks delicious."

I brought a table and chairs to the backyard and used the portable fire pit I had brought from my world to light a fire. On top of the fire pit, I placed a pot.

"This is a simple but tasty dish called pot-au-feu."

Pot-au-feu is a French dish, if I remember correctly. In simple terms, it’s a stew where meat and vegetables are simmered together in a single pot. The recipe is straightforward.

First, lightly brown the meat. Then, add vegetables like onions, potatoes, carrots, and cabbage, along with water. For seasoning, I used instant soup mix in consommé flavor from the Outdoor Shop.

Simmer everything over low heat until the meat and vegetables are tender. To finish, I adjusted the flavor with the Outdoor Spices. Lately, I’ve been using these spices in almost everything, but they never seem to get old—they’re truly versatile.

"The meat and vegetables are so tender and delicious!"

"This is excellent! The complex flavor of this consommé soup is truly remarkable!"

The slow-simmered meat and vegetables had absorbed the rich umami of the consommé, enhanced by the aroma of the spices. It was a dish that warmed you from the inside out. If I could have one luxury, it’d be the classic accompaniment of mustard for the pot-au-feu.

"It tastes even better because you helped start the fire and chop the vegetables."

Lilia and Fia both helped with the cooking. After all, camping is about starting a fire, cooking together, and enjoying the meal as a group.

"Fia chopped the vegetables herself!"

"Yes, they’re neatly cut. Fia, you’re so skilled at cooking already!"

"Lilia handled chopping the firewood and lighting the fire."

Fia handled the vegetables, while Lilia split the firewood—not with a hatchet, but with her sword in one swift move. Just like when she fought monsters in the forest, her sword strikes were too quick to see. She also skillfully used the fire starter to ignite the kindling in an instant.

"That was absolutely delicious. Taking the time to cook together makes it all the more enjoyable."

"Fia, you’re great at helping your mom with cooking—your vegetable chopping was excellent."

"Yeah! Cooking together was fun! Oh, Tetsuya, what’s that box over there with all the smoke coming out of it?"

"Ah, that? It should be just about ready now."