Love-Sick Boiled Tofu - Part Two

I had someone I loved.

The person who always led us during our time in the slums.

The one who fought out in front alongside Kuuga, who also fought in the front.

The five of us childhood friends were orphans. Having lost our parents to war at a young age, we survived by huddling close together.

He always thought of ways for us to survive and protected us. We stole things, too. We hurt people, as well.

However, he carried all of that pain and guilt on those small shoulders of his.

Someday, I wanted to nestle close to those shoulders. I wanted to carry it together with him.

It was shortly after we established the mercenary band together that I realized that feeling was love. It was when he faced danger and somehow managed to cling to life and survive.

I had narrowly avoided losing the person I held dear.

I am Arius.

I serve as the captain leading the mage unit of the mercenary band Gungrave established.

On the battlefield, mages are a threat.

Manipulating mana to drop fireballs onto enemy encampments, preventing showers of arrows with walls of ice, and intercepting approaching enemies with blades of wind.

A person’s raw aptitude places limits on their strength and the types of magic they can manipulate. Only those with talent can become mages.

Even among those with talent, most can only affect physical objects. Those people become combat engineers known as magi-engineers or magi-technicians.

One in a hundred thousand possesses the aptitude to manipulate mana, and among them, only a tiny fraction can manipulate magic as mages.

Because there are so very few mages, my unit has only four people, including myself.

Viewed from the outside, that is plenty. Normally, just having a magi-engineer is good enough, and if you have two mages, you won’t easily fall behind in battle.

Yet we have four. This is precisely the reason this mercenary band rarely loses.

It is also the reason our size does not easily grow large.

In short, the wages are high. Since we can defeat many enemies and don’t incur weapon costs, we must pay them in the form of wages instead.

If the wages are low, mages will simply move to a different army. In this day and age, mages are in high demand, so they tend to drift toward places with better treatment.

Of course, I convinced the subordinates I lead to accept somewhat lower wages. Even so, it is far higher compared to other units.

Up until now, they were full of dissatisfaction and I struggled to keep them in line, but recently they stopped complaining.

The reason lies with Shuri.

Though the wages are low, the food situation is good.

To put it plainly, it is delicious to a degree that cannot be tasted in other units, and yet they can eat it every single time. Some even rejoice, saying their physical condition has improved and their magic precision has increased.

Even if the wages are low, if we can eat Shuri’s food every time, it comes out far cheaper than using money to go to a local tavern. That is the consensus of the subordinates in my unit.

If Shuri hadn’t been here, we might have suffered an internal collapse by now.

On that day as well, I was scheduled to talk with the captains while eating lunch.

When I checked in on my subordinates before heading over, to my surprise, they were consuming Shuri’s food and alcohol.

“Drinking alcohol when we could enter combat at any moment—what are you thinking?!”

“No, Captain Arius. According to Shuri-kun, this is way too weak to count as alcohol.”

Listening closely, that drink was apparently called sweet sake.

“Shuri-kun said alcohol would warm our bodies. But since it’d be trouble if we got drunk, he made a drink that warms the body while being hard to get drunk on.”

“Apparently it makes your skin smooth, too.”

“It’s sweet and easy to drink, hard to get drunk on, warm, and good for both beauty and health. Shuri-kun is practically like a mage.”

The three female subordinates looked delighted, saying how glad they were to be in this unit.

Shuri again, is it?

Ever since he came, the atmosphere of the band had been changing.

Gungrave had begun to turn his eyes toward the operational aspects necessary for the band, such as rear support and food supplies.

Rir had gained inspiration from Shuri to create new inventions and techniques.

Kuuga had improved his skill as if he had attained enlightenment.

Teg of the bow unit was the only one eating while just saying “Delicious, delicious” without a thought in his head.

I myself had worries, as well.

My relationship with Gungrave that made no progress, no matter how much time passed.

The active achievements of Rir’s and Kuuga’s units.

And recently, my magic precision has been having issues.

I told my subordinates I was off to the meeting and stepped out.

When I joined up with Gungrave, he was drinking sweet sake as well.

“Gungrave, what will we do if you, the commander, get drunk?”

“Ah, mine is a different kind of sweet sake.”

A different kind?

“According to Shuri, the sweet sake he distributed to everyone besides me has just a tiny trace of alcohol content. He said it’s because he used alcohol-derived ingredients for the raw materials. I couldn’t afford to get drunk so I declined, but then he went and made sweet sake using grains as the raw material for me. This one has no alcohol content whatsoever. It has zero alcohol-derived elements in it, so while it took extra effort, it’s sweet and delicious. On top of that, it warms the body.”

As Gungrave smiled happily, I felt a sense of regret.

Right now, Gungrave favored Shuri.

The presence standing by his side and easing his hardships was undoubtedly his. Because he was here, both Rir and Kuuga were able to change. Gungrave’s hardships decreased, and the size of the band was growing as well.

I was not there.

Originally, the one standing there should have been me.

Looking at Shuri, he was talking intimately with Rir while handing her sweet sake.

I found myself jealous of him.

Jealous of him standing beside Gungrave through backroom work.

Even when night fell, my mind remained troubled.

Both the sweet sake and the food were so delicious that I couldn’t complain.

If I could make food like this too, would I be able to close the distance between Gungrave and me?

At that moment, I received a divine revelation.

That was it. It would be fine if I could make it too.

If I could get Gungrave to eat home-cooked food made by me, he might turn his head toward me.

Strike while the iron is hot. When I rushed out of the tent, Shuri was doing the dishes despite the late hour.

In such cold weather, using water, steadfastly washing a mountain of plates.

Seeing that, I felt ashamed of myself.

Surely his hands must be covered in chaps. Cold or hot, regardless of the conditions, everything from washing to cooking was left entirely to him.

From the perspective of us who were risking our lives, it might be called natural.

However, was that really so?

Due to the unit expansion and recruitment, the numbers in other units were increasing. A newcomer might join my unit soon as well.

Yet, the cook position that ought to increase first was not increasing.

His hardships were supposed to decrease, yet they were actually increasing instead.

Doing nothing, eating the food, drinking the alcohol, and feeling jealous of him achieving a little success.

How pathetic of me.

“Do you have a moment?”

I would gather my courage and speak to him.

Shouldn’t I put a little faith in him, who was laboring behind the scenes?

“Ah, Arius-san?”

“I have something to talk to you about.”

Shuri asked back with a puzzled face.

“What is it?”

“W-Well, you see…”

Thinking about how I was feeling jealous until just a moment ago made me feel a bit embarrassed.

“I want you to teach me how to cook.”

“Cooking, is it? I don’t mind, but do you have any cooking experience?”

“I have none…”

I had no talent for kitchen work whatsoever, and I had never been able to cook properly.

I couldn’t call that experience from back then real cooking.

“Have you ever held a kitchen knife?”

“…A little.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say I cut things with magic because it was a hassle.

“Even though you have no cooking experience?”

“I’m sorry, I was putting on airs…”

He saw right through me immediately.

“Hmm, asking me to teach you cooking all of a sudden is… I have no issue teaching, but it won’t be easy, you know?”

“No way…”

Isn’t cooking just cutting things, putting them in a pot, adding salt, and finishing?

“But why so suddenly?”

Ugh, the very question Shuri would naturally ask.

Since I had come this far, I had no choice but to say it….

“Um… would you promise not to tell anyone?”

“My lips are sealed, so there’s no problem.”

“I… I like Gungrave.”

I said it with courage. I was prepared to be laughed at.

However, in contrast to my solemn demeanor, Shuri wasn’t very surprised.

Rather, his reaction was faint….

“Ah, is that so?”

“So, recently I’ve often seen Gungrave eating your food with such enjoyment. I was… a little jealous.”

Even to this, Shuri didn’t react much.

What was this? Had he seen right through me all along…?

“Well, that’s…”

“I thought that if I could make food for Gungrave too, he might turn his head toward me. Lately, Rir’s and Kuuga’s units have been active, so his attention is drawn over there. I want to do something for Gungrave’s sake. I’ll also learn more magic.”

Shuri placed a hand on his chin as if thinking for a moment, then spoke.

“Arius-san, it’s not like you’re actually having trouble with magic, right?”

“…Just a little.”

He had seen right through me.

“Magic is a different field, so I can’t weigh in on it. However, I can lend a hand with your romance.”

“Huh!? Really!?”

I inadvertently leaned forward.

“In the region where I used to live, there’s a dish we eat with people close to us. The timing and the region are just right, too. Let’s invite Gungrave-san and make it for the two of you.”

“Huh? You’ll be there too?”

“At that time, please just think of me as part of the background.”

This person was showing consideration for me.

Going out of his way to call himself part of the background….

I decided to accept that kindness.

“So? Inviting me was for a cooking gathering?”

At an hour when the moon had risen high into the sky, Shuri returned bringing Gungrave with him.

What’s more, complete with a set of a table and chairs. Just how far was he going to be considerate?

“Right this way, guests. Please take these seats.”

He softly ushered us toward the chairs, so I sat down.

Plates and spoons were prepared on the table, and there was some kind of sauce on the plate.

“Well then, I will now prepare the dish.”

“Ho, cooking right in front of us?”

Cooking now?

Gungrave looked amused, while I didn’t know what he was going to do….

Is this really going to be alright?

“That said, the broth is already made. It’ll be finished in just a bit.”

Oh, so it was just the finishing touches.

“Dropping the tofu into here.”

He tossed white square things into the pot.

Things that looked like kelp were submerged in there, and he began simmering them in this soup that looked like nothing more than hot water no matter how you looked at it.

“Simmer it gently, and it’s done. Boiled tofu.”

“…Just this?”

After a short while, Shuri stopped his cooking actions.

Both Gungrave and I were dumbfounded, unable to comprehend.

“This is precisely the kind of dish that tastes supreme because we eat it in cold weather.”

“I see. So, are you going to serve it to us?”

“No, I won’t be involved beyond this.”

“Huh?”

Shuri handed me a spoon of a strange shape.

It was a spoon, but it had holes dotted along the bottom.

You couldn’t scoop soup with this. Well, it looked like almost pure hot water anyway.

“The two of you serving each other and sharing a single pot. That is the true delight of pot dishes.”

At that moment, I finally understood Shuri’s intention.

This dish. By serving food from the same pot for someone close to you or for each other’s sake, it creates a setting for conversation.

With this, one could show natural care, and above all, eating the same thing made it easier to become close.

“Gungrave, let me serve yours.”

“Hmm? Ah, please do.”

Plucking up my courage, I placed tofu onto Gungrave’s plate.

I wondered if my thoughtfulness would reach him.

“Then I’ll serve yours.”

“Huh?! Ah, th-then, please…”

To think that Gungrave would do that for me.

I was so happy I could hardly contain it.

Once the same number of tofu pieces had been served to each of us, the meal began.

Scooping this tofu lightly with the spoon caused it to crumble and mix with the sauce.

It looked black and white. Yet, a refreshing aroma tickled my nostrils.

I carried it to my mouth and chewed.

It was warm.

Not just the outside of the tofu, but even the inside held heat thoroughly.

An indescribable savory flavor combined with the sourness of the sauce to make it delicious.

This sourness. It had a citrus-like scent somewhere in it.

Presumably, he added juice from the peel during the cooking process to leave behind that flavor.

Swallowing it while it was piping hot, the warm tofu gently burned as it went down my throat, my esophagus, and into my stomach.

What remained afterward was warmth and a refreshing feeling.

“Delicious!”

“It really is… even though it’s such a simple dish.”

Even though it was just kelp and tofu simmered together.

Why was it this delicious?

“Gungrave-san. What do you think would happen if kelp wasn’t put into this pot?”

“It’d taste the same, wouldn’t it?”

“No, the flavor would be dramatically different.”

Huh?

Would it change from just a piece of kelp?

“I’ll skip the detailed explanation, but the tiny element of savory flavor contained within the supporting actor—the kelp—dissolves into the pot, and when that soaks into the main star—the tofu—it creates a taste like this. How about it? For the main star that is Gungrave-san, who is the one imparting that savory flavor?”

Even if present, it doesn’t stand out; yet without it, things cannot function.

Implicitly, that was what Shuri said.

And he was surely referring to me.

Gungrave also seemed to notice something and looked at me.

“Could it be, Arius…”

“…Yes.”

My face felt hot. This surely wasn’t just because of the tofu.

At long last, Gungrave had noticed. My love for him.

What should I do? How should I answer?

I couldn’t even raise my face, and words would not follow.

“Arius, listen to me. Raise your face and listen, please.”

He spoke earnestly.

I too resolved myself and raised my face.

Gungrave was looking straight at me.

Manly and handsome.

Ah, I had fallen in love with a man capable of making a face like this.

“I like you too.”

Tears felt ready to spill.

My feelings of love over several years. Even though I thought first love wouldn’t come true.

“However, I cannot become your lover right now.”

Huh?

“Tomorrow, I might die.”

What are you saying…?

“Not just tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, next week, the week after next. I don’t know when I will die.”

“Please stop!”

“Listen to me!”

Grabbing the shoulders of me as I wept and denied it, Gungrave blocked my path of retreat.

“However, I have a dream.”

“A nation… right?”

“That’s right. A nation. A nation where no one starves and no one is poor. Until I grant that, I cannot die. I won’t die. So. When I obtain that nation, won’t you let me propose to you?”

That’s unfair. Gungrave, that’s unfair.

Given a weakness for the person I fell for, being told words like that makes me nothing but happy.

If you ask to be the one to confess, how could I possibly deny it?

“Can I believe you?”

“Yeah. I will without fail become a king worthy of you.”

Gently, Gungrave’s face approached.

Ah, by the time I realized it, my lips had been stolen.

“This is my vow. The absolute best I can do.”

“Yes… yes…”

My tears wouldn’t stop.

My feelings had finally reached him.

I felt like I had finally come to stand beside this person.

The next day, when I thanked Shuri, he looked pleased.

Supposedly, he had vanished midway through.

I had made him show consideration for us again.

I had incurred an unpayable debt to Shuri.

Yet it wasn’t a bad feeling.

If this person hadn’t been here, my love probably wouldn’t have even come true.

However, there was a strange story.

What was that “tiny savory element”?

It was something Shuri mentioned in the middle of talking about the tofu.

Was there really such a thing as something so tiny it couldn’t be seen by the eye?

---

“Arius-san. The world is made up of atoms and molecules. Well, small grains and combinations of those grains stuck together.”

When I heard this story, I could not hide my surprise.

We are collections of grains. Furthermore, there are countless types and numbers of grains, and the world is composed of them gathering together.

Truth.

It would be no overstatement to call it that. Shuri had stated the composition of this world as if it were nothing.

However, if explained that way, it made sense.

Magi-engineers could only interfere with grains that had become physical matter, while mages could interfere with grains of air.

And mana was the fuel capable of interfering with any grain whatsoever.

Therefore, when one manipulates mana, one interferes with grains through mana, embodying the phenomenon one envisions.

I had obtained the truth.

And later, when I used magic based on that truth in battle, I was able to exercise magic with precision that could not be compared to before.

The truth is tofu.

No words fit better than those.

---

Arius Denju Aplada.

She is spoken of as the wife of Gungrave Denju Aplada, the first Emperor of the Unified Empire, the first Academy Director of the National Magic Academy, and an extraordinary mage.

A peerless beauty, and a witch of raging flames who incinerated the battlefield.

It is recorded that with the magic she used, a battlefield in a snowy country became as hot as midsummer, all the snow melted, and crops grew after mistaking it for spring.

Even in modern times, let alone surpassing her, no mage exists who stands as her equal.

It is said that this was because she accumulated training as a mage and obtained knowledge called the “Truth” from the depths of magic.

In later years, although she took her three subordinates as disciples, none among the three was able to completely comprehend the “Truth” she spoke of. Those three came to be called the “Three Sages” by future generations, but the contents left in their books and oral traditions remain an unresolved topic of debate in magical studies, with no telling how much time will be spent before an answer is reached.

Furthermore, Arius pointed to a single dish as a stepping stone toward reaching the “Truth.”

It was a dish spread by the great cook “Shuri Azuma,” one that can be eaten if you go to a winter tavern in the Empire.

A dish where kelp and tofu are simply simmered together.

She favored eating that dish, and it is said that every time she ate it, she would say:

“As expected, it is precisely within this tofu that the truth is packed.”