#120: Spring Flowers (2) — The Archmage's Restaurant

“Trouble?”

After Rurin’s birthday, I decided to be a bit more honest with my feelings, but marriage is a different matter altogether.

We haven’t even gone through a proper romantic relationship yet, and suddenly talking about marriage…

It’s too soon for Rurin.

And there’s also a promise I made.

I promised to deal with Rurin’s mother’s matter and then make her happy.

So, getting married before avenging her mother is premature.

Loving someone and marrying them are quite different matters.

After dealing with everything, I’ll get married, have children with Rurin…

Ah. How far is this thought going?

“Trouble is trouble. Anyway, I’m saying this because Rurin likes you so much. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be saying this. Whether it causes trouble or not.”

“Please calm down. It seems too hasty. After finding and killing Rurin’s enemy and after we both grow a bit more mentally, we can discuss marriage…”

“…Enemy?”

“Yes, her enemy.”

“Do you also think that Rurin’s mother was falsely accused?”

“Yes.”

I said firmly.

“Why?”

The Elder asked with a puzzled look.

“Because Rurin said so.”

“How much could she know about that matter for you to believe her so readily?”

He looked completely confused.

I answered him firmly,

“That’s not important. Rurin believes in it, so I will prove it. The truth that Rurin believes in.”

“……”

The Elder stared intently into my eyes. I didn’t avoid his gaze. Silence fell again.

“Do you realize that sounds like you could turn a stone by the street into gold for her?”

“Even if the whole world doesn’t believe in Rurin, I do. So, before proving that belief, I have no thoughts of marriage.”

“I see.”

“Fine. Anyway, I’ll take Rurin.”

“Pardon?”

The Elder got out of the bath and started walking, flaunting his muscular body despite his age.

“The coming-of-age ceremony is held at the sacred land. On the 800th birthday, entering the sanctuary makes the body shine. That’s the coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Hmm, then I must go with her.”

“Humans cannot participate in the coming-of-age ceremony.”

“But I can’t let her go alone. Besides, she won’t want to go alone.”

Rurin would definitely say she won’t be separated from me.

Rurin can teleport, and this Elder seems to have deep affection for his granddaughter, so nothing will happen.

Especially since it’s not long after I showed him Meteor.

But I don’t want to send her alone.

“Elder.”

I was surprised as soon as I opened the door. Rurin was standing there. Did she hear our conversation?

“Yes, it’s your Grandpa. Let’s go. We have to proceed with the coming-of-age ceremony. Are you planning to be stubborn and not come to the sacred land for a few days?”

“No. I’ll go.”

Rurin said that and then glanced at me.

I looked at her too, and Rurin suddenly pouted and puffed her cheeks out.

Those two expressions.

Then, she turned her head abruptly, adding the third expression, and looked back at the Elder.

“I’m going to the sacred land. You.”

With that, she left with the Elder.

“Master. Here is the plan for the factory site in Dedran City that you mentioned last time.”

“Hmm, it looks good. Is the recruitment of factory workers progressing?”

“Yes.”

The Greek boy nodded as he showed me several documents.

This was something I planned and instructed, so all I had to do was confirm it. Nonetheless, I carefully reviewed the documents.

“Looks good.”

“Yes, the plan to supply these watches to the world is enormous. When they are supplied across the continent, not only will the profits be great, but the concept of time will also change… But, Master?”

The Greek boy looked at me anxiously like a puppy whose food had been taken away, rolling his eyes. His expression was so frightened that it made me feel uncomfortable.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well, is there something you don’t like? Your expression has been bad since earlier… Did I do something wrong?”

“No, you did well. I’m satisfied.”

“But, Master. It seems like you’re angry about something.”

Did it look that way? Not at all. There’s nothing to be angry about with the Greek boy.

I denied it again, gathered the documents, and handed them back to the Greek boy.

“It’s just that I’m not feeling well. Anyway, let’s proceed as planned.”

“Yes, yes! Understood.”

The Greek boy looked somewhat doubtful but nodded and disappeared.

I don’t know.

I can’t seem to calm down. Did it show on my face without me realizing it?

That’s probably the issue.

Rurin disappearing so nonchalantly. No, she gave me three signals before leaving. The question of why keeps nagging at me.

When she said everything was annoying and bothersome except being by my side?

I thought she’d insist on going together, saying the coming-of-age ceremony was important. Or she’d refuse to go.

Given Rurin’s personality, or was it my arrogance?

It can’t be.

It’s behavior that Rurin would never exhibit normally. The way she left as if I didn’t matter.

If that’s the problem.

I don’t know.

That feeling didn’t disappear even by evening.

It felt like an axe had struck my firmly held-together emotions.

I had to open the restaurant, but something was boiling inside me. Honestly, I wanted to throw everything away, including cooking.

I don’t know what this boiling emotion is, but it’s just burning up.

“Hey, we’re here!”

In the midst of that, Sereina opened the door confidently. Elena followed behind her. As soon as Sereina entered the restaurant, she looked around and spoke.

“Hey, where’s the Black one?”

“She went to the sacred land. Before that, you should know that you can’t feel a dragon’s mana, right?”

“Right. I felt another dragon earlier, and then both of them disappeared.”

Sereina shrugged as if it was nothing.

“Did she go alone?”

“I said she went with the Elder.”

“Oh my? Haha, judging by your expression, she finally did what I told her.”

She brushed her red hair and sat at the table with a mischievous expression.

Is it time to make Red Dragon soup?

What’s with her?

“Red Dragon, what are you talking about?”

“No, no. I didn’t say anything. Haha, right, Elena?”

“But you did.”

“What?”

I was surprised. That Elena would speak the truth despite fearing the dragon.

Sereina looked at me and sighed.

“Anyway, it’s useless. Whether we’re comrades or whatever. In any case, she had to go to the sacred land for the coming-of-age ceremony. Isn’t that obvious? Why is your expression so sour when she went for something obvious?”

“Me?”

Again.

Following the Greek boy, Sereina also pointed out my expression.

“What’s wrong with my expression?”

Why are they all doing this?

“Why don’t you look in a mirror?”

“Shut up. We’re not taking customers today, but I can’t kick you and Elena out. I’ll make something simple for you to eat.”

I hung a closed sign outside the restaurant and came back. Sereina and Elena exchanged glances.

Sereina had a peculiar expression while Elena started looking at me with great concern.

I ignore them.

I still need to eat.

I roughly sliced onions and put them in a pot. Then I added some butter and chicken broth and sautéed them.

Then I added potatoes, cream, and a bit of milk, and as it cooked, it started to smell delicious.

I added cheese powder, salt, pepper, and grilled bacon, quickly completing the dish.

Elena’s portion did not contain bacon.

Sereina and I had bacon in ours.

I divided the food onto three plates and started eating. It tasted like nothing.

Why can’t I even taste anything?

“Hey! What’s this! Ugh! It makes me nauseous.”

“Huh?”

Sereina’s scream was deafening. I made food for free, and this is how she repays me?

I frowned, but she got even angrier.

“Why is this so sweet? It’s too sweet! If it were just slightly sweet, I could eat it, but this is too much!”

“Huh?”

I just ate it, and it seemed fine. I looked at Elena. She hesitated and, as if she couldn’t lie, finally nodded.

So, Sereina was right. I skeptically tasted the stew from Sereina’s plate.

“Ugh.”

“See? I was right, wasn’t I?”

What is this?

I returned to the kitchen. I didn’t take out the cheese powder. I thought I added cheese, but…

Sugar?

I added sugar instead of salt. Sugar instead of pepper. Sugar instead of cheese powder.

I see…

This is the first time I’ve made such a mistake since I started cooking. I made the same mistake with my own plate. When I focused, I could taste it. Was I just so out of it earlier?

“Ms. Elena, I’m sorry. I think I’m really out of it today.”

“M-Mr. El, are you okay? Are you sick somewhere?”

Elena stood up in surprise.

Crash!

The chair fell over. Normally, Elena would have picked it up first, but she rushed over to me and held my hands, looking up at me.

She looked unsure of what to do. Elena hesitated, looked around, and then carefully placed her hand on my forehead.

“You don’t have a fever. But…”

“No, I don’t think it’s because he’s sick. Ridiculous. Haha, only the Black one has good things happening. Elena, let’s go. It’s best to give him some time alone to think.”

“What? But he’s not well, we need to do a proper examination!”

“I’m telling you, it’s not a disease. Let him clear his mind.”

“What? Mr. Ellll…!”

Elena looked completely confused and refused to leave my side until Sereina grabbed her by the collar and pulled her away.

“Just rest and don’t do anything!”

Elena’s voice echoed from a distance, but it gradually faded away.

With the closed sign up, the restaurant was quiet. Anyway, those noisy ones.

“Rurin, clean that up and let’s just sleep.”

Yes. I admit it. I’m definitely strange. I unconsciously called for Rurin and then covered my mouth. Rurin had gone to the sacred land.

What kind of madness is this?

Dawn.

I woke up. No, I couldn’t sleep. The more I tried to sleep, the less I could.