Chapter 100

This is the first side story for the 2nd volume release commemoration.

It's a side story featuring Gū-sama and Glen Reed.

---

It was a day when Misaki had invited Natalie to the detached palace for a tea party.

"Nadeshiko, there's something I'd like to ask of you."

Natalie said this with a slightly serious expression.

What could she be wishing for?

I put down my teacup, straightened my posture, and prepared to listen.

"What is it you wish to ask?"

"Thanks to Nadeshiko, I've had the opportunity to interact with many dogs and cats."

Every time Natalie came to the detached palace, she would play with the servants' companion animals.

Even before today's tea party, she had been petting a beagle-like dog named Gururu, looking very happy.

"Thanks to you, I feel like I've started to understand how to interact with dogs and cats a little better."

"Indeed, your petting technique has improved a lot. Earlier, Gururu was wagging his tail happily."

"Gururu was so cute...!"

She loves petting!

Thinking of Gururu wagging his tail, Natalie and I both felt warm and fuzzy inside.

"...But, what is it you wish to ask?"

"Is it possible for me to visit the wolves?"

Natalie looked at me with a serious gaze, her eyes filled with anticipation.

To many people in this country, the wolves kept in the royal palace are special beings.

Natalie, who loves fluffy things, seems to have a fondness for wolves as well.

The wolves that come to the detached palace are well-trained by the wolf keepers.

Because wolves are large, we've been cautious about letting Natalie touch them, but...

"I think it should be fine. Natalie, you're not afraid of wolves, are you?"

"I've seen them from a distance a few times and have wanted to pet them."

If that's the case, it should be fine.

Natalie had petted a large dog with floppy ears the other day, and she doesn't seem to be afraid of the wolves.

"Understood. I'll consult with the wolf keepers."

---

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We successfully obtained the cooperation of the wolf keepers without any issues.

The wolf keepers who bring the wolves for walks at the detached palace had seen Natalie's affection for the dogs and cats.

They seemed to trust that it would be fine for Natalie to touch the wolves.

"Wow...!!"

Natalie let out an exclamation.

Her cheeks were flushed as she gazed at the wolves.

"They're so cute and handsome...!! And they're so fluffy!"

Her eyes sparkled.

She's so adorable.

Natalie, who is usually called a doll princess, looked like a completely different person.

"Woof?"

What's this unfamiliar human?

The wolf tilted its head but approached us.

It sat in front of Natalie and sniffed the air.

"That one is fine to pet. Try petting it gently, just like you would with a dog."

"Okay...!"

I watched over Natalie as she petted the wolves.

The wolves, who were initially a bit tense, seemed to realize that Natalie wasn't a threat and began to relax.

"Nadeshiko, you're so popular...!"

Four friendly wolves, including Jenna, rubbed against her, asking to be petted.

I petted them one by one as they nuzzled against me.

"Good, good. You're all so cute today."

"Kuun~"

Jenna made a sweet sound.

Her head was covered in soft fur, and it felt wonderful to pet.

As I petted her head, feeling its roundness with my palm,

"Gū...?"

It was Gū-sama.

He was looking at Natalie with a curious expression.

"Oh...! What a beautiful silver wolf!"

"Gū-sama is quite handsome, isn't he?"

"Handsome...?"

Ah, right.

It's a play on "ikemen," so Natalie wouldn't understand.

"It means a handsome wolf."

"Oh, I see. Indeed, he is handsome and beautiful... and seems quite proud?"

"Guru"

'You got that right. I am proud,' Gū-sama seemed to say, nodding.

He walked over with a dignified gait, his silver fur rippling.

"Ah, right. Natalie, don't pet Gū-sama."

"Is it not allowed?"

"He's a bit difficult. I couldn't pet him at first either."

I remembered.

The first time Gū-sama let me pet him was when I was feeling down after the chiffon cake theft incident.

He stayed by my side, and the feeling of his soft fur is something I still remember well.

"Gū-sama is difficult but kind, isn't he?"

"Gū!"

'Just a whim,' Gū-sama seemed to say, turning away.

He was blushing and wagging his tail a few times.

"Gū-sama, are you really that kind?"

A male wolf keeper raised a questioning voice.

"He doesn't cause trouble, but he's indifferent to me and the other keepers, and doesn't let us pet him."

"Oh, really?"

"I think Nadeshiko is quite liked by Gū-sama...—Whoa?!"

"Guru!!"

Gū-sama growled at the male wolf keeper.

Did he say something that bothered him?

Indeed, it seemed true that he didn't let anyone else pet him except me.

"Gū-sama, calm down. Are you hungry and irritable?"

"Gū!!"

'No way,' Gū-sama seemed to say, moving to a slightly distant spot.

He seemed to be in a bad mood today and went to a corner.

I couldn't pursue it further because I needed to focus on Natalie and the wolves.

While talking with Natalie, I felt Gū-sama's gaze.

He seemed a bit sulky, lying down with his eyes closed.

"Hmm, I can't quite understand Gū-sama's wolf heart..."

I smiled wryly and continued talking with Natalie.

We talked about the wolves, the dogs and cats, and the sweets served at the tea party.

Before long, the conversation turned to King Glen Reed.

"Nadeshiko, you've been giving the king some of your cooking recently, haven't you?"

"Yes, I've been enjoying meals and conversations with him."

I smiled naturally.

I look forward to the times I meet the king.

I admire him for enjoying the food I make and praising it.

"I'm looking forward to the next meal with the king. I've recently gotten better at baking cookies with blueberry jam, so I plan to bring some when I see him next."

"Oh, that sounds delicious!"

"I just baked a few, so would you like to take some as a souvenir, Natalie?"

"Thank you!"

Natalie said happily while petting the wolves.

---

That night, after giving the cookies to Natalie,

"Nadeshiko, a letter has arrived from the king."

The letter I received read:

'I have a few questions. Bring some food and come to me tonight.'

---

"Today, I've brought cookies with blueberry jam."

"Hmm, these are the cookies you mentioned?"

Hmm?

Did I talk about these cookies with the king before?

...Oh well.

The king picked up a cookie from the plate with his long fingers.

As always, he looked incredibly handsome, his silver hair flowing and his pale face illuminated.

"They have an unusual shape..."

"They're paw-shaped."

I baked them by placing paw-shaped dough filled with blueberry jam on top of plain dough.

They have a cute appearance and allow you to enjoy two flavors at once.

"By the way, I used the paws of the wolves that come to the detached palace as a reference."

"The king eating wolf paws... gulp... no, that's not right..."

The king muttered something under his breath.

"What's the matter?"

"No, I just thought they look very much like wolf paws and are well-made."

"Hehe, thank you."

I made the paw-shaped cookie cutter using refinement magic.

Incidentally, I also have a paw-shaped cutter modeled after Icchan, which I use for strawberry jam cookies.

We enjoyed the cookies with tea.

The blueberry paws disappeared one by one into the king's mouth.

"Delicious. The cookies you brought before were good, but these have a different flavor."

"I'm glad you like them. Would you like me to bring cookies made with seasonal fruits in the future?"

"Yes, I look forward to it."

The king smiled slightly.

---

I imagined it.

In the coming summer and autumn,

if I could enjoy cookies made with seasonal fruits with the king.

It would surely be a delightful time.

With a light heart, I finished the last cookie.

"Today, I heard that you have something you want to ask me. What is it?"

"I've heard that you've been inviting Natalie to the detached palace frequently. How are things going with her?"

It seemed he was concerned about my relationship with Natalie.

"Yes, just yesterday, I talked with Natalie while petting the wolves. Thanks to that, I think we've built a good relationship... but..."

"What's the matter?"

"I made a wolf named Gū-sama a bit sulky."

"..."

When I mentioned Gū-sama, the king seemed to freeze for a moment.

"While talking with Natalie, Gū-sama seemed a bit moody. Maybe he felt neglected because I didn't pay attention to him—"

"He wasn't feeling neglected."

The king cut me off, speaking decisively.

"He was just watching you and Natalie having fun today. He wasn't feeling neglected at all."

"Is that so?"

He stated it as if he had seen it himself, and for some reason, he turned his face away.

I tilted my head in confusion.

---

This side story, incorporating the results of the questionnaire for the 2nd volume release commemoration, was made possible by your votes.

Thank you to everyone who voted!

The 2nd volume could be published thanks to all of you who read it, and I am truly grateful.

I received the cover image with the promotional band from the editor, so I'll post it at the bottom of this page.

Nagikasumi-sensei's illustrations are simply wonderful!

The cover features Nadeshiko and Glen Reed, along with Lucian and Icchan, with Fon flying in the background.

In the 2nd volume, I also received illustrations for scenes from the original side story, so please check them out.

To continue "Mofumofu Cooking,"

I would be very grateful if you could purchase the book version!

It's also available in e-book format and through online stores, so I would be happy if you could use those as well.

If you click on

"Official Page for 'Mofumofu Cooking' Book Version 2"

at the bottom of this page, you'll be directed to the official page with links to various online stores.

(As of the night of May 14, I confirmed that Volume 2 is available for purchase on Amazon, Kinokuniya, Rakuten Books, honto, and e-hon.)

I hope you enjoy the currently available Book Version 1 as well!