94 Kids Shouldn’t Be Picky Eaters, and Neither Should Adults
About half an hour later, Leon popped over to Roswiser’s room.
Just in time, Moon returned, balancing a tray of food from the kitchen.
Leon jogged over and grabbed the tray from Moon’s hands. “Go wait and get ready to eat, Moon; Dad will take it from here.”
“Okay, thanks, Dad!”
Leon hefted a plate of sandwiches and a few cups of milk. Just as he was about to leave the kitchen, he spotted another dish covered with a plate on the countertop, so he pointed at it with his chin. “What about that one? Don’t we need to take it up?”
Roswiser glanced over while washing her hands and replied, “No need for that yet. Just take what’s in your hands up first.”
“Got it.”
By the time Leon reached the dining table, Moon had already tied her little bib and was all set to dig in.
“Sandwiches~ Yay!” Moon cheered, holding up her fork.
Leon placed the sandwiches in front of Moon.
For breakfast, he and Roswiser were having simple milk and bread.
Oh, “simple” isn’t quite accurate; the dragon milk they enjoyed was top-notch—seriously tough stuff.
Unlike humans who milk regular cows, they used armored yaks. Those things were the real deal: certified S-Class Dangerous Species.
For other races, taking one down is a challenge, a point of pride, a feat to brag about—
but for dragons? They were just a tasty source of beef.
The milk from armored yaks has nutritional value several times that of ordinary cow’s milk, which is why Leon’s recovery is so speedy.
After washing her hands, Roswiser joined them at the table, removing her apron and smoothing her hair. “Alright, let’s eat.”
“Time to eat~!” Moon eagerly started slicing into her sandwich with her fork.
Both parents skillfully pushed some side dishes toward Moon.
Little Moon was still too young to notice the subtleties between her parents, but she knew that as long as she chowed down, they’d be happy.
As she munched on her sandwich and stabbed at the side dishes on the table, Moon was totally immersed in her meal.
Despite her tiny size, a young dragon’s appetite is massive; she was nowhere near Roswiser’s level, where she could go days without food and still be perfectly fine.
While eating, Leon noticed Moon had picked out all the purple cabbage from the side dish and set it aside on a separate empty plate.
He didn’t think much of it until he heard Roswiser say, “No picky eating, Moon.”
Moon paused mid-bite, crumbs of sandwich hanging from her mouth, and blinked her big, lovely eyes. “But, Mom, purple cabbage is yucky! Moon doesn’t want it.”
“You’re at that growing age where nutrition is super important. If you’re picky, you won’t grow tall. Right, Leon?”
“Uh? She should just eat what she wants—OW! What the?!”
Roswiser kicked him gently under the table.
“What did you say? I didn’t quite catch that,” she said, all sweet smiles.
Leon rubbed his calf, grimacing at the mother dragon. To avoid more of her nagging, he reluctantly agreed, “Uh-huh, Mom’s right. Moon can’t be picky anymore; balanced nutrition is key for a healthy body.”
After a moment, he added, “Your sister never picks at her food.”
“Is that so? Then I won’t be picky either! Just purple cabbage, piece of cake!”
As she said this, little Moon speared a piece of purple cabbage and looked like she was preparing for battle, then swallowed it whole in one swift motion.
Her chubby cheeks puffed out as she closed them tight, as if afraid that the purple cabbage would escape.
After a bit of waiting, Moon finally managed to swallow that bite.
Leon had a knack for handling his little princess.
Most of the time, though, he just pampered her. “Alright, just one piece is enough. Take your time, have more sandwiches.”
“Thanks, Dad! You’re the best~!”
Roswiser smiled lightly, then suddenly remembered something. “Oh, I forgot! There’s also a bowl of vegetable salad I didn’t bring up. Just a sec.”
With that, she got up and went to the kitchen, returning with a bowl of salad in hand.
Leon recognized the large bowl of salad—it was the same one he saw earlier, covered with a plate!
But Roswiser had just said it wasn’t needed… Now she claimed she forgot.
Leon subtly swallowed a lump in his throat; he felt a bad omen creeping in.
He glanced sideways at Roswiser.
Roswiser rested her chin on her hand while nibbling on a piece of bread daintily.
Feeling his gaze, she looked back. “What are you staring at? Eat!”
“Oh…”
“Moon, try the vegetable salad.”
“Okay~”
Moon leaned forward and scooped a tiny bit of salad onto her plate.
“Oh wow, carrots! We haven’t had those in ages!”
She speared the little orange chunks and popped one into her mouth happily.
Carrots.
Leon’s eating suddenly froze.
This word hit him like his teacher calling him by his full name.
And before he could recover, he heard Roswiser say, “Moon, your dad’s been staring at that salad. What should you do?”
Moon popped her ears up. “Get Dad some!”
“Yup, hurry up!”
“Okay~”
Little Moon dashed again and spooned some salad onto Leon’s plate. “Here you go, Dad!”
Leon looked down. Salad dressing, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and…
Carrots!!
It was seriously this cursed vegetable!
What’s the difference between this thing and an SSS-Class Dangerous Species?
With his hand shaking when he picked up his fork, Leon even unconsciously slid his chair back a little.
“What’s wrong, Leon? Not eating? Don’t you like the salad Moon served you?”
“Um… Dad doesn’t like it?” Moon asked, looking sad.
Leon pressed his lips together and forced a smile. “No, I like it. Moon’s salad, Dad definitely likes it! I’ll eat it right now.”
“Yup! Eat fast, Dad! Carrots are so yummy!”
Curse it!
Why couldn’t you be like your old man and not like carrots?!
Leon fumed internally, poking the salad on his plate with his fork.
He polished off all the side dishes, leaving only the carrots, then clutched his stomach dramatically. “Ah~ Delicious! Thank you, Moon~”
“If it’s so tasty, why not finish it all then?” Roswiser said with a sly smile, pointing at the leftover carrot cubes on Leon’s plate. “Are you being picky now?”
“I… I…”
“Dad, you just told Moon not to be picky and to have balanced nutrition.”
Little Moon repeated her dad’s words back to him. “Otherwise, you won’t be healthy! You’re always so fuzzy-headed, so you really can’t be picky!”
“Moon’s right, Leon! Your health isn’t great—definitely can’t be picky.”
Roswiser said sweetly, as if she truly cared about Leon’s health—
oh, she did care.
“Better eat up before Moon worries about you.”
As she said this, she gently laid her hand on Leon’s trembling hand, “Taking care of your health is the most important thing.”
At the end, the mother dragon even mouthed, “Hubby~.”
The thought of carrots was already disrupting Leon’s capacity to think straight.
He only knew that thanks to this mother-daughter duo’s well-coordinated attack, he had to devour those remaining carrot cubes.
… Fine!
If it’s eating, let’s eat!
What kind of top dragon slayer is afraid of a mere vegetable?!
Eat! Chow down! This wretched bowl…
Whoever fears carrots isn’t a hero!
Leon stabbed a forkful of carrot cubes and valiantly stuffed them into his mouth.
The instant the carrots assaulted his taste buds, Leon felt like he saw his great-grandma—
even though he had no idea what she looked like.
“Oh~ Dad’s not picky; Dad’s so awesome~! Then Moon will have another piece of purple cabbage~!”
Good girl, you really understand how to support your old man.
Roswiser smiled lightly again, picked up a whole carrot, and took a delicate bite.
Crunch—
Leon bashfully turned his head.
Roswiser was calmly chewing that terrifying vegetable.
Noticing Leon’s stare, she deliberately took another bite right in front of him, chewing slowly.
“What are you staring at? Want some? Here.”
She held the carrot out to Leon.
Leon: Get that disgusting thing away from me! Get it away!
Delighting in Leon’s reaction, Roswiser was rather pleased.
But…
You really thought this was the end, dear Casmod?
Our days together are just beginning~!
