“Since we’re cooking, I suppose I should prepare this fish I caught earlier…”
Belphegor took a fish out of his inventory, along with a large cutting board and various tools.
“... It's not meat yet?” Fenris tilted his head.
Belphegor blinked.
“... Pardon?”
“... What he meant to ask is, ‘why didn't the fish turn into fillets like the one we caught?’” Ami elaborated.
“Oh, that!” Belphegor said, now understanding the question. “It's because our dear Wolfie beat it up like those wolves from earlier, so the system salvaged the meat by turning it into drops.”
“... Isn't it way more convenient just getting the meat instead of the whole fish?" Ami asked.
“Convenient, yes—but if you want better quality materials, you have to prepare the fish yourself.”
“Huh… I guess that explains why the description for Fen’s fillet was weird.” Seemingly convinced, she turned her attention to Belphegor’s tools, which she didn't recognize. “So, what're these things?”
Besides the knives, there was what looked to be a metal needle—more like a skewer in length—and a strange hook-like implement; the hook was short and pointed, like a miniature warpick, but it was far too small to be used for fighting.
Belphegor took the hook and lined it up with the fish’s head.
“Well, it's a bit brutal, but…” he sheepishly smiled. “You use this to destroy the fish’s brain so that it doesn't feel pain.”
With a dull crack, he forced the metal point through the fish’s skull. It spasmed in his grip at first, but, after twisting the tool around to crush the rest of its brain, the fish quickly stopped moving.
“And this—” Belphegor switched to the needle. “is to destroy the spinal cord.”
He carefully pushed the needle through the spinal column, crushing the nerves that ran through it. The fish went completely limp, its fins fanning out as the muscles relaxed.
“That’s…” Ami began.
“... Cute, right?” Murmur nodded.
Belphegor blinked.
“The way you were concentrating so hard on it… That smile you had the whole time… Ah, so cute~!”
“Ahaha…”
Belphegor felt incredibly conflicted. On one hand, he was really happy that his darling was complementing him; on the other, he was also well aware of what Murmur’s idea of “cute” was.
An ominous, shadowy figure, smiling as it dismembered its latest prey… It was definitely something straight out of a horror movie.
… But she called me cute!
He decided that that was the more important part.
———
Why wasn't Belphegor embarrassed about being called cute? He's at the stage in his relationship where he has transcended embarrassment.
(Murmur’s still working on it.)
———
(EXTRA:)
“Bel, teach me how to do that!” Ami said with sparkling eyes.
“... Let's wait until you're older, dear.”
… Somehow, I think it’ll be dangerous if Ami learns those techniques. Belphegor skillfully avoided this future.
“Since we’re cooking, I suppose I should prepare this fish I caught earlier…”
Belphegor took a fish out of his inventory, along with a large cutting board and various tools.
“... It's not meat yet?” Fenris tilted his head.
Belphegor blinked.
“... Pardon?”
“... What he meant to ask is, ‘why didn't the fish turn into fillets like the one we caught?’” Ami elaborated.
“Oh, that!” Belphegor said, now understanding the question. “It's because our dear Wolfie beat it up like those wolves from earlier, so the system salvaged the meat by turning it into drops.”
“... Isn't it way more convenient just getting the meat instead of the whole fish?" Ami asked.
“Convenient, yes—but if you want better quality materials, you have to prepare the fish yourself.”
“Huh… I guess that explains why the description for Fen’s fillet was weird.” Seemingly convinced, she turned her attention to Belphegor’s tools, which she didn't recognize. “So, what're these things?”
Besides the knives, there was what looked to be a metal needle—more like a skewer in length—and a strange hook-like implement; the hook was short and pointed, like a miniature warpick, but it was far too small to be used for fighting.
Belphegor took the hook and lined it up with the fish’s head.
“Well, it's a bit brutal, but…” he sheepishly smiled. “You use this to destroy the fish’s brain so that it doesn't feel pain.”
With a dull crack, he forced the metal point through the fish’s skull. It spasmed in his grip at first, but, after twisting the tool around to crush the rest of its brain, the fish quickly stopped moving.
“And this—” Belphegor switched to the needle. “is to destroy the spinal cord.”
He carefully pushed the needle through the spinal column, crushing the nerves that ran through it. The fish went completely limp, its fins fanning out as the muscles relaxed.
“That’s…” Ami began.
“... Cute, right?” Murmur nodded.
Belphegor blinked.
“The way you were concentrating so hard on it… That smile you had the whole time… Ah, so cute~!”
“Ahaha…”
Belphegor felt incredibly conflicted. On one hand, he was really happy that his darling was complementing him; on the other, he was also well aware of what Murmur’s idea of “cute” was.
An ominous, shadowy figure, smiling as it dismembered its latest prey… It was definitely something straight out of a horror movie.
… But she called me cute!
He decided that that was the more important part.
———
Why wasn't Belphegor embarrassed about being called cute? He's at the stage in his relationship where he has transcended embarrassment.
(Murmur’s still working on it.)
———
(EXTRA:)
“Bel, teach me how to do that!” Ami said with sparkling eyes.
“... Let's wait until you're older, dear.”
… Somehow, I think it’ll be dangerous if Ami learns those techniques. Belphegor skillfully avoided this future.
