Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume6 Chapter2 (section)

===Part 1===

Shining upon Ragna Ys, the sun had risen high --

Kamito and his group were having breakfast by the riverside.

"Seriously, you should have told us sooner that you were just doing sword training."

"T-That is so true! I thought, surely..."

"I almost thought Kamito-kun was going to violate poor Ellis!"

"As if! What kind of person do you take me for..."

Half narrowing his eyes, Kamito glared at the three high-class ladies blushing to their ears before him.

"Umm, I-I was actually prepared already..."

Awkwardly fiddling her fingers, Ellis murmured softly on the side.

"Did you say something, Ellis?"

"N-Nothing!"

Kamito frowned. Ellis' face instantly went bright red.

"...Never mind. Anyway, let's eat before the food gets cold."

"Agreed, Kamito."

Sitting beside Kamito, Est nodded impatiently.

Tree trunks were split to make a table, hot dishes were set out for breakfast.

Perfectly toasted bread. Fish from the river, roasted on a spit and flavored with salt. Wild herb salad, mushroom stir-fried with butter. Then there was the Laurenfrost family's special chicken soup recipe which made effective use of ginger and spices -- without exception, every dish looked extremely tasty.

"So, bon appetit. These are my confident creations."

Rinslet proudly puffed out her chest.

"...But really, this is so sumptuous. Where did you get all the ingredients from?"

These dishes were not possible to make using only the canned food they brought.

"Scarlet and I gathered them while Kamito was sleeping."

"This sanctuary's forest is really a treasure trove of ingredients."

"Kind of similar to the Academy's Spirit Forest, I guess... By the way, this place feels like some kind of otherworld."

Other than the fact that it was inhabited by many spirits, the ecology felt no different from that of the mainland.

"Kamito-kun, that is because this Ragna Ys is the sanctuary ruled directly by the Elemental Lords. After all, given the vast number of princess maidens in their service, wouldn't it be a problem if they were unable to survive here?"

The former princess maiden at the Divine Ritual Institute, Fianna, explained to him.

...I see. It seemed like this was quite a special place, even within the world of Astral Zero.

"I'm going to hunt a giant boar for lunch."

Rinslet suggested as she made a bow-drawing gesture.

Normally, hunting was prohibited in this Sanctuary, being the territory of the Elemental Lords. Only during the Blade Dance was the restriction lifted.

"I will take part as well. Though cooking is not my forte, hunting is my specialty."

"B-But I do not like hunting. The thought of killing those adorable and furry animals..."

Ellis frowned and picked up Scarlet who was busy eating a fish, hugging the cat against her chest.

"Meow!? Meow meow--"

Bewildered, Scarlet began to struggle noisily.

"Ellis, give it up. Scarlet doesn't like it when you do that."

"Mmm... N-Nothing of that sort! Look, Scarlet and I are really close!"

"Meow--Meow--!"

Watching these two with a wry expression, Kamito drank the special soup.

The ginger's flavor, having thoroughly entered the soup, took instant effect. He could feel his body warm up from the very core.

"Rinslet's cooking is really delicious."

Sitting next to him, Est offered praise expressionlessly.

"Fufu, Est-san, you have to eat more if you want to grow up faster."

"No, Est is a spirit so she's not going to grow up..."

As Rinslet caressed Est's head gently, Kamito ridiculed her comment.

"Well I must admit, your cooking skills are commendable. When I restore the Elstein family to greatness once more, I might consider having you as a maid."

"...Eh? R-Really?"

Just as Rinslet started to show joy--

"...Hey wait a minute, why do I have to be your maid in the first place!?"

"A maid uniform might suit you unexpectedly well, you know?"

"W-What are you talking about!? Obviously it suits you way more than me!"

Rinslet retorted furiously.

(...By the way, isn't she getting furious in a rather atypical manner?)

Kamito tilted his head in puzzlement as he watched the two childhood friends quarrel.