The key she received for this house was added to Mika’s keychain alongside the key to the other house. Slightly smaller and unusually shaped, it looked like a charm, which also made her happy.

The lunch Gatt had bought for them was about the same amount as the bento boxes everyone usually brought. Despite his quiet and unfriendly appearance, Gatt was surprisingly observant and considerate—a trait Mika hadn’t expected.

The main dish was a round bread, about the size of a ping-pong ball, topped with either a spicy sauce or a sweet-and-sour jam-like paste. Apparently, enjoying various flavors this way was the current trend in town.

By the way, when heading out on expedition requests, they usually brought along large, tough loaves stuffed generously with ham and vegetables.

The side dishes included skewered grilled meat, a salad-like green leaf about the size of a palm, a clear soup with just a few ingredients, something resembling beans, and a purple juice.

Takky, the ogre senior, had told her that most common foods should be fine. Still, just in case, she cautiously began eating while keeping laxatives and Zurah’s healing magic on standby.

At first, at least.

“Wow, this! It’s delicious. What kind of meat is this? It really has no strong smell or gamey taste, and the sauce is spicy—so good!”

“Ah, this jam is lovely! I’d love to buy some and take it home, but since we go through Warehouse No. 4, we can’t bring it back to our side. Maybe I’ll ask Takayuki-san about it.”

“Hmm, it seems nutritious, but this leaf is bitter. Huh? Eat it with the meat? …Oh, how strange!”

At first, she took her time with each bite, but the novelty and deliciousness soon made her forget restraint, and she eagerly reached for more. Fortunately, her stomach didn’t ache, nor did she feel sick.

They all shared the various dishes on the table, sampling a little of each. The round bread was pleasantly chewy, with a familiar taste, but the bean-like thing unexpectedly had a sour flavor that surprised her.

When she asked about the skewered meat, she was told, “Next time we find some, we’ll let you know,” which made her a little uneasy.

Overall, the flavors were mild, though the soup was quite salty.

Dada, despite his small size, nibbled on the bread and meat just like the others. Gatt, though much smaller than Mika, ate just as much, and Zurah seemed to prefer meat over vegetables.

By the time the table was completely cleared, Mika finally realized something.

“Oh, right—we need to pay for the meal.”

“Ah, yes. Well, this is also a housewarming gift, so today’s meal is on us. But it might be inconvenient if you don’t have any cash. Next time, you could withdraw some from the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“Um, so… it’s fine? Really?”

“You’ve already given us equipment, after all.”

That lunch set had already come in handy several times—when her clothes were at risk of getting dirty or when using insecticide. During the antlion hunt, it had helped keep the sand and dust off.

The fabric naturally resisted stains, and after washing, it looked perfectly clean again.

“Well then, I’ll gratefully accept your gift. It was really delicious. Thank you for the meal.”

After expressing her thanks and clearing the table, they discussed their upcoming subjugation plans. Next week, they’d be heading toward a new door again.

There were still no signs of the Demon King’s appearance.

Mika had started thinking that, before the Demon King arrived, she needed to fight various monsters and grow stronger.

That was the mindset she was gradually adopting.