章 111: August

While Noctis is preparing the meal, August started speed reading the book. They minded their own business and didn't talk for almost an hour. For others it would make it awkward and uncomfortable, but the two don't seem to care about it.

After reading for an hour, August have read through the middle of the stack and finally talked.

"It seems like you've found a treasure for your kids. Do you mind... if I borrow some of them?" August asked. Although he had memorized everything he had just read, having a visual representation is much better than just telling the story.

"I don't mind if you take some of them. I will just buy another copy." Noctis said as August nodded in appreciation.

"Looks like you're taking the role of a grandfather seriously." Noctis continued while chuckling.

"Well... I know the feeling of longing for parents... I at least want to fill the void in Brandish's heart." August said in a solemn tone.

Noctis was surprised after seeing August talk about family. He thought that he would just brush it off but he spoke of it.

"I see. I wonder... is Brandish's parents still alive? A mother or a father?" Noctis asked as he diverted the topic to stop August from feeling uncomfortable.

"Ah. Yes. Her mother is indeed alive but she is currently sick. Her sickness, is something I don't have any knowledge about. I guess if not treated, her mother would only have 3 years minimum to live and maybe 10 years at max. She is currently in one of my villa as my personal maid." August said and Noctis had a headache. Why does this old man like to speak about heavy things. He only asked about Brandish's mother and not her situation.

'I don't know when Layla will open the door... but I feel that its near. Not now but soon...' Although he doesn't know the exact date since it was not stated in the franchise, Noctis' instincts is telling him that Layla opening the Eclipse Gate is near. That also means that 7 days later after Layla opened the gate, Brandish's mother would return Aquarius to Layla and will be killed.

Noctis doesn't want to meddle in other's affairs but leaving such a thing that he knows leaves a bad taste in his mouth, he knows that if Brandish heard the news, the chipmunks will be sad for Brandish. He also thought about the reason why Brandish's mother let August take care of Brandish, is she didn't want Brandish to see her condition. She probably begged August to take Brandish with him. Maybe she could be friends with Lucy, who knows.

Noctis doesn't give a d*mn if his arrival changed the story, this is his reality now. He is a father of 3 cute chipmunks that would grow into headaches and a loving wife that could pamper him in times of stress.

(Choco/Couples - 6 Single Readers - 0)

"Hmmmm." Noctis nodded his head and didn't say anymore.

"I heard that Alvares was invaded twice while we are gone." August said which surprised Noctis.

"Twice? I thought it was only once as I took care of the first invasion." Noctis said and August nodded in thanks.

"Apparently, they attacked once more after making sure that there are no more scary individual in Alvares." August said making Noctis flinch.

"What happened in the 2nd invasion?" Noctis asked after a sigh.

"They won the war but there are a few spriggan who lost their life in the war. It was disappointing but I hope the one who'll replace them is much stronger and responsible at the same time." August said, not minding the harsh words to the deceased spriggan. Noctis understood that August's army structure is not doing good early on but as the time goes, the spriggan would be replaced by really worthy people.

"I see, looks like you planned this out as a trial for the spriggan." Noctis said and August just smiled in return.

'August must've left on an adventure because he knows there will be other kingdoms who will know about the strongest individuals missing in Alvares and try to take some of their land. They would not dare to chew more than they could bite as they know that when August returns, he could take the lands back and even take some of their land by using a righteous reason like 'taking back their land'.' Noctis thought.

He knows that Alvares Kingdom is just waiting for praiseworthy individuals to form the shield known as spriggan and they would surely extend their hands on the entire Alakitasia, before forming an Empire... but that's not his business, he's just a father roaming around the land with his family, a bar owner, and well... A Prince.

Taking his mind off of it, Noctis started making one of the star of the show, he decided to use the rainbow fruit and Honeyblood as the main ingredient. He plans on making it into a gelatin. He is also planning on adding some rainbow fruit and honeyblood to the ice cream.

The rainbow fruit and Honeyblood are two of the few ingredients he scanned from Toriko World. The rainbow fruit is a legendary fruit that a single drop of its nectar can turn a pool into fruit juice while the honeyblood is a sweet ingredient extracted from an endangered Honeybear that looks like Winnie the Pooh with a savage teeth and claws.

When he took out the rainbow fruit the room was lit with the rainbow light, August's eyes went wide after seeing the phenomenon in front of him.

"What a beautiful fruit." August unconsciously exclaimed.

"Yes. I am lucky to have this ingredient." Noctis waved it off as he started cutting it. Even after being cut into pieces, the rainbow fruit never lost its elegance as it lit the room with brilliant colors. Noctis then blended some of the rainbow fruit and poured it into the ice cream maker. He then started heating the rainbow fruit and made some gelatin. He then put it in a box filled with freeze rune that acts as his refrigerator.

After finishing up, he put the leftover pieces and put them in a plate with a toothpick before placing it in front of August.

"Although a processed rainbow fruit tastes better, the rainbow fruit is already a pretty good ingredient by itself." Noctis said as August stared at the plate of rainbow fruit pieces.

He grasped the toothpick and put the fruit in his mouth. The piece of fruit in his mouth melted and exploded into different flavors. He could taste a lot of fruits inside. The most prominent tastes are the sweet and sour taste.

August was teleported into a forest, he could feel the refreshing spring air, the smell of flowers that are slowly opening up to bloom. August felt it and then he returned to the seat and praised the fruit that Noctis have shared to him.

"That... was the first time I have seen and tasted such a fruit... it did deserve its name rainbow fruit." August cannot put the exact words to describe the fruit he just ate. Words weren't enough to describe what he just ate and that was still raw... he shivered at the thought that Noctis was making it even more delicious by cooking it.

"Try dipping the fruit in the honey." Noctis said as August did as he said and he took the fruit and dipped it in the red honey and took a bite.

August's face was so comical that Noctis can't hold himself back as he started laughing. If Noctis had to describe it, August had the talent to become a taste judge. His comical reaction resembles Kuroyanagi from Yakitate Japan right now.

(If it's Pierrot, he would be telling his life stories... hmmm, maybe Pierrot's reaction suit August more since he's an old man, he's a treasure chest of life stories.)

August had a red jacket that popped out, he even had a bear ears in his head and one of his eye is shaded like a panda. Its like the fruit made him automatically react to such. But Noctis also had a thought.

'He didn't react this way in my normal cooking. He reacted this way when he took a bite of the combination between honeyblood and Rainbow fruit. I wonder if there's another ingredient I can add to the two to evenly balance them out. They are too sweet resulting in someone easily getting tired to it...." Noctis thought about it as he let August's reaction pass by.

Time passed by and playtime is finally over. Irene brought Kia back home and picked Dimaria up before returning home. They were greeted by a round table full of food and at the center was a gelatin that is shining brightly as Noctis used a thin silver cover and covered it up.

"That is for later. Eat first." Noctis gave a wink and they are getting excited at what they just saw.