Oh, shit, you forgot to have lunch.

　After a moment, Val realizes that he has been hacked.
　He looked at Meena with a look of regret, but she looked apologetic.

'I'm sorry. We don't have anything prepared for you today.

'Don't apologize. It was my fault for not making plans. I'm sorry too.

　He apologizes that he is the one to blame.

'No, no, not at all!

　Her voice grew louder in her panic, drawing the gazes of those at a distance.

'...... Shall we stop?'

Yes, sir.

　Unwilling to attract attention, they silently leave the scene and head down the hill.
　The wind blew and brought the scent of flowers and grasses to them.
　It was simple, but they could taste the beauty of nature.

'Does Meena still know a lot about flowers?

　Troubled by the topic, Val asks Meena, who is walking next to him on his right.

'...... I'm sure it's as good as any other elf, but would you like an explanation?'

　She asked back with interest.
　Never before had Val asked her for information about mere flowers.
　Mostly it was about things that were medicinal, poisonous, demons that mimicked plants, or plants that demons liked.

'I thought you might want to know the names,'

I'm sorry, sir.

　Meena interprets his unusual words as probably because he's having a leisurely bone rest today.

'That's Daffron, and this is Lourch. Both flowers are found in the wild and are not commonly grown.'

How hard is it to raise?

　Val's reaction was in the general category.

'No, it's because it can't be used for food or medicinal purposes and can't compete with other ornamental flowers in terms of beauty and ease of harmony. There may be those who grow them as a hobby without regard to cost, but they are useless for commercial purposes.

...... Well, it's no wonder there are flowers like that. Plants don't really exist for us, you know.

　He said as he heard Meena's explanation, and she smiled happily.
　It's very rare for someone to be able to blithely say the value that elves take for granted: "Plants don't exist for their own sake.
　Val is very hard to get, she thinks.

'What about the butterflies?'

Sorry, I don't know much about butterflies.

　Meena apologizes for Val's question.
　He doesn't like insects very much and therefore has little knowledge of them.
　Not so much about vermin and insect-shaped demons, but he would be the same.

'I see. Never mind.''

　He smiled and spoke to her, then approached the trio of men and women playing.

'Do you guys know what these bugs are called?'

　Suddenly, the human children look up at Bal in surprise as the adults speak to them.
　While the men looked at each other in annoyance, a little girl answered them.

'You know, they call it Mombacho!

Yeah. Thanks.

　When Val thanks them, the girl in the cheap pink outfit smiles at them.
　The adults who had been watching them in the distance approach with a somewhat alarmed look on their faces.

(Gee, could I have been mistaken for a prowler?)

　He quickly moved away from the children, saying it would be boring to get into trouble.
　After he joined Meena, Val said in a smaller voice.

'It's nice being a child.'

Yes.

　Her reply was cool as usual, but with a slight waver.
　Val noticed but didn't dare to pursue it.
　Instead, he looked up at the sky to see where the sun was.

'It might be a little early, but why don't we go out for lunch?

Yes, I'll go with you.

　He laughed at Meena's immediate answer, and asked, "What do you want to eat?

'Do you want something to eat?'

'...... Do I get to decide?　Since we are only accompanying Master Val, shouldn't it be better for him to decide?

　It was a very typical reply for her.
　Val answered with a deepening smile.

'I'm in the mood to ask Meena what she wants to do once in a while. Since you are using magic, I'm sure you can get into most of the shops.

　He said that he could go to the first class area in a roundabout way.
　I don't expect Meena to wish for it, though, because she's not as frugal as he is, but I don't expect her to wish for it.

'I understand. 'If that's what you mean,'

　Meena chooses to respect his wishes.