My Beloved Disciple And Green Onion

I had meant to refuse, but Kotone’s eyes had already changed into those of someone gazing at a revered master.

“Master. Then, how much should I pay for my monthly tuition?”

“By tuition, you mean the advice fee?”

I almost answered “I don’t need any,” but then paused.

“If that’s the case, then could you get along with Monaka instead?”

Kotone tilted her head cutely.

“Monaka-sama…? You mean the representative of Class 1-2?”

“Yeah. She’s a Saint from a prestigious lineage, so it seems her classmates are overly careful around her. Since you’re both young ladies, I figured you could talk without holding back. I want you to be friends with her.”

Kotone let out a thoughtful sigh.

“You are the first person to ever say such a thing to me, Master… Monaka-sama and I share the bond of Saint and Miko. Yet our classmates only compared us as families of demon-exorcists and tried to pit us against each other…”

“I don’t really get it, but if you’re from similar demon-exorcist lineages, wouldn’t it be better to get along? I’m not forcing you, but if you feel like it, could you try talking with Monaka?”

“I understand. If that is Master’s wish.”

“No, I wouldn’t call it a wish—”

“Kotone-sammmmmmaaaaaa!!”

A sudden battle cry cut in.

When I looked, a large female student came charging straight at us, powerful enough to tear through the bushes.

She looked like a hardened warrior and glared at me with boar-like eyes.

“You ruffian! What is the meaning of making Kotone-sama prostrate herself!? Stand right there! I’ll cut you down at once—!”

She was unmistakably Kotone’s attendant.

She clearly looked like the type who wouldn’t listen to reason, so I chose to run.

“Kotone, with your skill and that bow of yours, you should be able to hunt birds endlessly. I don’t have any advice for you right now, so I’ll be going.”

“Yes. Please take care, Master.”

Without looking back, I dashed off into the forest.

I had intended to head straight home, but along the way I found an area where a certain plant grew in clusters.

Green Onion
Quantity: 1
Quality Level: 2 (Material Level 2)
Wild green onion.
Strong in aroma and pungency; used both as food and medicine.

Green Onion was a plant that originated in the Eastern country.

After interacting with Kotone, a beautiful girl from the East, it felt like the perfect ingredient.

I picked some and brought them home.

At the cooking area in my garden, I immediately started preparing a meal.

I cut the Meanbird Thigh Meat and the Green Onion into bite-sized pieces and skewered them alternately on branches of Hiroeda I had picked up.

After sprinkling them lightly with salt I’d received from Akemi, I put them over the fire in the Forest Stone Stove.

As they roasted, the surface fat sizzled loudly, and an irresistible aroma spread through the air.

Once they were nicely browned, I took them off the stove…

“Done! Negima is complete!”

A long time ago, I had helped out at a tavern.

The head chef there was from the Eastern country and taught me several Eastern dishes.

Most of them were meant to go with alcohol, and this negima was especially so.

I immediately bit into the meat, and after the springy texture, juices burst forth.

Then I followed it with a bite of green onion.

The fluffy yet crisp texture joined in, and a mellow sweetness spread throughout my mouth.

“So… so goooooood!!”

It was delicious enough to make me look up at the sky.

“Green onions are spicy when raw, but they turn sweet when grilled—it’s always amazed me!

I could eat this endlessly! I really should thank that chef!”

Suddenly, a memory of him surfaced in my mind.

Once, when I was about to throw away the roots of chopped green onions in the kitchen, he had stopped me.

“Hold it, kid. Those roots still have a use.”

He had said that, then stuck the roots into a cup filled with water.

“If you do this, the stalks will grow back.”

I’d been skeptical at first, but a week later, fresh green shoots had sprouted vigorously.

Coming back to the present, I looked at the green onion roots that had fallen near the edge of the cooking table.

“Alright, let’s give it a try. If it works, I’ll have unlimited green onions!”

“Kotone-sama, are you unharmed!? That individual just now—!?”

“Tomoe-san, please calm yourself. Whatever seems to be the matter?”

“What do you mean, whatever!? While I took my eyes off you for just a moment, you went into the forest!”

“I was hunting birds for everyone who is working on frontier development. I have only taken one bird so far, but I gained many things today.”

“Now that you mention it, your expression looks much brighter. You had seemed so down lately…”

“Tomoe-san, today I gained someone precious for the first time in my life.”

“What!? How wonderful! Your father will surely be overjoyed! If it is Weiss-sama, who is currently leading the frontier work, he would be a perfect match for you—”

“No. That is not the case.”

“Eh? Not Weiss-sama? Then perhaps the Hero from Class 1-11? Just which noble gentleman might it be?”

“Yes… that would be… My master, who is unemployed…”