"Oh, right…" Cecilia paused at the doorway, turned and added, "Since the land is now yours, give the place a name. We can't keep calling it 'that plot in the West District'."
A name? Luna Belle gazed at the sun-drenched woodland; a breeze carried the scent of grass and wildflowers. Peaceful, serene, brimming with life. She pondered for a moment. Since the video-rental shop would stand here… "Let's call it Sixth Street."
She spoke softly, eyes shining with nostalgia and hope. It was a tribute to the game that had brought her so much joy, and a promise that this would be her new home in this world.
"Sixth Street? …A lovely name." Cecilia savored it, then nodded with a smile. "Congratulations, Belle. You are Sixth Street's first resident—and its lord. I'll have the deed and signposts delivered as soon as possible."
After seeing Cecilia and Ruoyu off, Luna Belle stood on her own land, feeling almost weightless. She glanced at Ellen and Alice beside her, unable to suppress a radiant grin.
"Ellen, Alice—did you hear? We have a home in another world! A real home!"
Ellen licked her lollipop; rare warmth flickered in her crimson eyes as she mumbled, "Mm… sounds… decent. At least the bed should be bigger."
Alice, watching the still-elated Luna Belle, asked softly, "Belle, are we returning to the inn tonight?"
Luna Belle shook her head like a rattle-drum; being sandwiched between two strikingly different beauties last night had been blissful but exhausting. She rubbed her still-aching waist and waved her hands hurriedly. "No, no—that inn bed is really… cramped."
Tineva, cradling Little Slime, peeked out from behind her, blue eyes blinking as she proposed timidly, "Um… if you don't mind, this log cabin has plenty of spare rooms. Lord Cecilia prepared it to be quite spacious; you could all stay here for now." She paused, remembering something, and added, "Besides, the inn isn't cheap… every coin saved helps."
A hint of pride crept into her voice. "And… I can let you taste my cooking. My mushroom soup and berry pies have Little Slime's approval!"
As if on cue, the blue Slime in her arms chirped "puchi-puchi" happily, its round body wobbling to display a "(๑´ڡ`๑)" face.
Luna Belle's eyes lit up at once. Keeping Ellen and Alice at the inn long-term would indeed be costly—and less comfortable. Tineva's offer was a godsend!
"Really? Tineva, thank you so much!" Luna Belle gratefully clasped the Water Spirit girl's hands. Feeling the softness against her palms, Tineva's cheeks flushed. "It's no trouble! I'm happy to help! Without you, Little Slime and I might still be… who knows where…"
Ellen had no objection to a log cabin; anywhere with a bed was fine by her. She yawned and nodded lazily. "Mm… anywhere to sleep works."
Alice inclined her head, her poise impeccable. "Thank you for your generosity, Miss Tineva." A friendly (･ᴗ･) symbol glowed on the display at her waist.
And so the move was settled. They owned little; the main "valuables"—a second-hand VCR and bulky cathode-ray TV—rested safely inside Fairy's system space.
They stepped into the cabin, which proved even roomier than it looked from outside. The interior was simple but cozy: a log table and chairs, a corner piled with soft hay and cotton for Little Slime and fellow Slimes to nap on. There were several spare bedrooms, and though plainly furnished, they had tidy beds and bright windows overlooking the lush woods behind; the air was fresh and pleasant.
Luna Belle and Alice each picked a room; Ellen headed straight for the largest, propped her Shark Pruning Shears in a corner, flopped onto the plain-sheeted bed with a satisfied sigh, and swished her tail contentedly—apparently approving of her new quarters.
With everyone settled and daylight still abundant, Tineva bustled about, ready to honor her promise of "showing them what she could do." She tied on a clean linen apron and set to work in the kitchen. The cabin's facilities were primitive: a brick stove and clay pots with wooden bowls—yet Tineva handled them with practiced ease.
Luna Belle watched curiously as Tineva fetched dried mushrooms from the storeroom behind the house. When the fungi began to bubble in the clay pot, an indescribably rich aroma slowly filled the air, making mouths water. Meanwhile, she crushed berries, mixed them with starch from some root plant, shaped little pies, and set them on a thin stone slab to bake over the lingering stove heat. Soon, sweet fruit fragrance mingled with toasty crust, creating another tempting scent.
"Smells amazing…" Luna Belle sniffed, feeling her stomach growl.
Even Ellen, who had been napping, appeared silently at the kitchen doorway, red eyes fixed on the sizzling berry pies, her lollipop rolling faster in her mouth. Though Alice maintained her dignified posture, her heterochromatic eyes kept flicking toward the kitchen, and the display at her waist stealthily shifted to an expectant (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧.
As twilight fell, the log table in the center of the living room bore Tineva's masterpieces: a large pot of thick, steaming mushroom soup studded with plump fungi and green wild vegetables; a plate of golden, crispy berry pies; a bowl of forest nuts and berries mixed into a salad; and a kettle of herb tea brewed with sweet spring water.
"Conditions are limited, so this is all I could manage—please don't mind," Tineva said, fingers twisting her apron hem.
"This looks incredible!" Luna Belle exclaimed, eagerly spooning mushroom soup into her mouth. Instantly, an explosion of pure savory flavor burst on her tongue—the mushrooms' mellow depth blending perfectly with the wild vegetables' freshness, warming her all the way down and bringing indescribable contentment.
"So delicious—absolute ambrosia!"