SS1 9.4 - Return to Karmen
When I was a sophomore in high school, I watched a documentary about yakisoba in Japanese news channel. In this documentary, there was a high-school kid who every Saturday morning made yakisoba for his younger siblings.
And it gave me a very deep impression, seeing the younger siblings heartily wolfed down the yakisoba their brother made for them. The two kids looked so happy. It was as if the yakisoba they ate was the most delicious food in the world.
After that, I tried to make yakisoba for my father. He liked it and once in a while he would ask me to make it for our dinner. After my father passed away, whenever I missed him and wanted to feel the taste of home, I would make a huge portion of yakisoba for myself.
For today breakfast, I will also make yakisoba. I set up my cooking station next to the HMV. Across the beer crates where I put the electric stove, Ariel and Kara sat next to each other. Ariel was already wide awake, while Kara was still sleepy.
After taking a glance at the two, I put a 42 cm wide frying pan to the stove. Once it was hot enough, I put olive oil on it. Then, I stir fried minced-chicken breast, sliced onion, sliced white button mushroom, sliced boiled white egg, and sliced carrot. I sprinkled the mixed-stir fry a bit of sea salt to draw out the water content and let it evaporated, and once I smelled nice aroma I added shredded cabbage and a bit of Worchester sauce.
I waited until the cabbage started to turn translucent before putting in two packs of yakisoba noodles I bought from a store in Tokyo. This portion would be enough for five adults. After that, I only had to unfurl the boiled-noodles, sprinkled the powdered Japanese Worchester sauce on it, and then mixed everything together.
After tasting it and found it was delicious, I turned off the heat. Then, I took out three sets of paper plate and food-grade plastic spoon fork before offering gratitude for the food.
“Let’s eat,” I said before putting a good amount of yakisoba in my plate.
“Berg,” Kara said while looking at the smoking hot Yakisoba in the pan with her sleepy eyes. “Why does it look like a big clump of mud worm?”
“Try it first, before you judge it,” I casually said before putting a forkful of yakisoba in my mouth and chewed it. “This is so good.”
“Here,” Ariel happily handed over a plate of yakisoba to Kara. “It’s smell nice. It must be delicious.”
“Okay.”
Kara looked at the yakisoba in her hands for a moment before putting a bit in her mouth. She chewed it for a moment before putting a forkful in her mouth. After that, she wolfed down the yakisoba and even took second portion on her own. Next to her, Ariel also ate the yakisoba heartily.
I then went up to the HMV and casually ate while watching the perimeter. A few minutes later, I was about to take my second portion when I found Ariel and Kara already ate everything and leaving only empty frying pan.
‘These two really knows how to eat,’ I muttered while taking a bottle of mineral water from Inventory.
At the same time, Kara went up to the HMV and stood right next to me. As I drank the mineral water, she watched me with her clear eyes.
“Berg, make us another batch of yakisoba.”
‘Huh?’ I immediately stopped my drinking and turned my gaze to Kara. “Are you still hungry?”
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“Mhm.”
“You just ate yakisoba enough for two adults you know.”
“But Kara is still hungry.”
I couldn’t help but turned my gaze to Kara’s little tummy and gently rubbed it. “Are you sure this small tummy can take another batch of yakisoba?”
Kara gave me a firm nod. “Kara’s tummy is small, but it has huge capacity for delicious food.”
That was definitely a clear contradiction in one sentence, but I said nothing. I was still hungry and there was a chance I wouldn’t have another opportunity to cook yakisoba for Kara.
After a smile I said, “Wait for a moment. I will cook another batch for us.”
“Mhm, and thank you.”
“No worry. I’m glad you like my yakisoba.”
“Mhm, Kara likes it so much.”
“I see.”
Wasting no time, I cook another batch of Yakisoba. It’s the same yakisoba like the first batch. I just replaced the protein with ground beef and beef sausage. Once it was ready, I immediately took a plate for me and let Ariel and Kara to have the rest, and they finished it in no time.
‘This two really knows how to eat,’ I couldn’t help but amusingly muttered.
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After finishing our breakfast, we carried morning private routine in turn. Then, we drove back to Karmen right away. I casually sat behind the wheel, while Ariel sat in rear section watching our right flank.
As for Kara, she sat in passenger seat next to me, watching our left flank. She wore black safety sunglasses I bought for her before we started the return journey. It was exactly the same safety glass I bought for Ariel a few days ago. It suited her and she looked very cheeky when wearing it.
We just reached the hill base and about to enter the dirt road when Kara turned her gaze to me. “Berg, if you have demi-human in your team, your team will receive a few discriminations.”
“Do you mean no C-rank hunter and above will work with my team?” I casually asked Kara.
“Yeah.” After a pause Kara added, “Other than that, House of Healer, store, diner, and other establishment in every town and city won’t welcome you and your team.”
“I see.”
I was not aware forming hunting team with Ariel would make me lost the access to House of Healer. It pained me that I couldn’t meet Laurie and Laura again, and enjoyed their beautiful breast and tits, but it was too late to change my decision. I wouldn’t ditch Ariel for nice sex party.
“Are you sure you won’t regret it?” Kara casually asked me.
“Nope,” I casually replied.
“Really?”
“Really.” After a short pause I added, “I can use my tablet to buy anything I need. As for the rest, I’m sure I will figure it out sooner or later.”
“I see.”
I thought it would be the end of our conversation, but Kara suddenly turned her gaze to me.
“Having one or multiple demi-humans in your team won’t make any difference. Your team will still receive the discrimination.” Kara said in drop dead serious. “Therefore, it will be wise if you maximize the number of demi-humans you can put in your team.”
“Are you saying having more demi-humans in my team is a good thing?”
“Definitely,” Kara firmly replied. “They are excellent hunter and they can’t betray or disobey you.”
I fully agreed with Kara’s view, but there was one fundamental problem for it. “I don’t mind to have more demi-humans in my team, but I don’t think I can get them. I’m not even sure I will be able to get another regular hunter to join my team.”
“If you don’t mind, I can help you to get some demi-humans join your team.”
“I will greatly appreciate it, if you can get me some demi-humans.”
“You will get them,” Kara confidently said. “I will also help you to get another regular hunter. You will need one as your XO.”
“Okay, and thank you,” I genuinely said. “I will never forget this favor.”
“No worry. You and Big Sis Ariel deserve it.” After a short pause Kara then said in a drop dead serious tone, “And you shouldn’t report every kill you score to House of Hunter.”
“Why do I shouldn’t reports every kill I score?”
“If you have demi-human in your team, it will be wise to maintain low profile.”
“I got it the part to maintain low profile,” I calmly said. “But, doesn’t House of Hunter have access to my tablet, so they can check every kill notification I receive even though I don’t forward it to them?”
“No, they can’t,” Kara firmly replied. “Only Gideon, the planet administrator has the access to hunter tablet. No one else can force you to show the content in your hunting tablet.”
“I see. Thanks for the advice,” I firmly said. “And once again, thank you for helping me to get my hand on additional team member.”
“Mhm.”
Kara then went to rear section and sat next to Ariel, and started happy chat with her. As for me, I fell into ponder. Honestly, I had a hard time imagining how Kara would help me get additional team member, but I chose to trust her.
Of course, I kept in mind that I shouldn’t blame her if she failed. She was a kid after all. There was a possibility her excitement to help me get better off her, and made her to extend her hand beyond her reach.
*****