Bowlsmith (2)

Benen looked overwhelmed by the issue of love and turned to me for my opinion.

“Hmm, what do you think? Aren’t you an expert in these matters? You’ve listened to my worries before.”

“No, I’m not an expert. Hmm, but if I had to give an opinion, it could be any number of things. It could be that the poor apprentice had a bad heart and was after your daughter, or it could be that the heir to the great workshop is a surprisingly generous person, or it could be the other way around, of course. I think the most important thing is to look at the character of both of them, and if they’re both good, then you’ll have to think about it again, but if not, then you’ll have to take the plunge and discard the other. In marriage, what truly matters is a man who genuinely loves your daughter and has righteous thoughts. But that’s just my opinion.”

Sending a daughter to a well-matched family is a common thought among what they call noble families.

But that’s not always the right thing.

Happiness can be achieved even in poverty if you’re with the person you want to spend your life with.

That doesn’t mean a poor person is always righteous.

It’s possible that Horne’s daughter could be being manipulated by the orphaned disciple aiming for her family.

It’s hard to say anything for sure right now.

“Character is important, Mr. Horne. You know there are many women who live being beaten by drunk husbands, whether they know it or not.”

“Yes, that’s right. No matter the status, I can’t stand the thought of my daughter living being beaten by her husband after I’m gone.”

“Then I think the first step is to look at the hidden sides of both men.”

“But I believe both are decent young men. They’re both my disciples, so I should know that.”

“No matter how good a teacher you are, you can’t know the hidden feelings of a person. Mr. Horne, I have a method. Would you like to try it?”

Of course, both disciples would be respectful in front of their teacher.

A person’s true nature is revealed elsewhere.

When I pointed that out and made a suggestion, Benen looked interested and glanced at his friend.

“You have a method?”

“Yes, in the end, it’s rare for someone to completely hide their true nature.”

After I explained the method in detail, Horne thought deeply and then slowly nodded.

With that, we agreed to meet the next day, and Benen and Horne left, leaving the restaurant empty.

Rurin collected the dishes they had eaten and precariously headed to the kitchen, balancing them in a line on a tray like an acrobat. She should just carry them normally. She’s probably doing it because she’s too lazy to make several trips. Good grief.

If she drops them, it’ll be a disaster.

“Hey, that’s too dangerous. There’s no need to do that in a small restaurant…”

As soon as I spoke, Rurin slipped, and the dishes she was balancing crashed to the floor.

But surprisingly, none of the dishes broke. Not a single one hit the floor. They all stopped falling in mid-air.

Rurin wiped her forehead with her arm and confidently spoke.

“It’s fine. Don’t worry! As long as they don’t break, it’s okay.”

“Yes, that’s convenient. But tomorrow, actually break them. Pretend it’s a mistake.”

As I explained the plan I suggested to Horne earlier to Rurin, she nodded reassuringly.

“Hehe, breaking things is my specialty. Why worry about that?”

“That’s true.”

“Then I’m going up. See you!”

“Not so fast.”

I grabbed the escaping dragon by the scruff of her neck and started doing the dishes.

“You wipe the tables. I’ll do the dishes. Got it?”

“Aren’t you working me too hard lately?”

“Where’s the rag? Over there.”

I pointed with my finger, and Rurin pouted but started scrubbing the tables reluctantly.

The next day.

Rurin, Elena, and Sereina were walking together in the underground lair.

Because we had asked for help with Horne’s issue, Elena came to the restaurant early, and Sereina naturally followed her.

Even though it wasn’t time yet, Rurin and Sereina started fighting, and El chased them away to go play in the lair.

Of course, Elena was also kicked out while doing nothing.

El told Rurin to take a bath, and Rurin nodded.

Rurin, now in the lair, confidently spoke to Sereina.

“How is it! Red!”

“What do you mean how? I’ve already been here before.”

“What? When did that happen!”

“When you were passed out, when else? Who do you think moved you from the sacred ground to here? Use your head, you stupid Black.”

“You moved me? Hmph, no wonder! That must be why I couldn’t wake up for a week. It’s annoying!”

“I help you and that’s the thanks I get? Don’t make me laugh!”

“It wasn’t funny!”

“Grr!”

Finally, Rurin kicked, and Sereina responded with a punch. A brawl broke out.

“Great Beings… Please, don’t fight…!”

Elena timidly tried to stop them, but she was just flitting around like a mosquito, helpless in the fight between whales.

Elena had been in this situation often lately.

“Anyway, this is my subordinate!”

“Lurun!”

“Hehe, rightrun.”

Rurin chatted with Lurun, then started laughing while stroking Lurun’s still fluffy fur. Seeing this, Sereina tilted her head.

“Lurun? That’s an unusual creature to have as a caretaker. Hmm.”

“I’ve never seen a monster like this before!”

Even Elena stared at Lurun with a curious expression.

“It’s my first time seeing one in person too. I heard they’re usually fluffier.”

“They shave themselves because cleaning up their shed fur is hard. They also said it’s hot. Okay! We’re going to bathe, so get readyrun!”

Rurin had taken to ending her sentences with “run” when talking to Lurun, mimicking their way of speaking.

Anyway, at Rurin’s command, Lurun nodded and headed to the bath.

“And you, elf, you’re my subordinate too.”

“Huh, what?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Are you crazy? This elf is my subordinate. How dare you.”

“I claimed her before you!”

“I claimed her 100 years before you!”

“That’s funny! Then I claimed her 200 years ago!”

“Uh… I haven’t lived for 200 years… But it’s true that Rurin told me to be her subordinate first…”

Elena, unable to say she wasn’t anyone’s subordinate, timidly spoke the truth. Rurin and Sereina simultaneously turned to look at her.

“See? Hehehe!”

As Rurin started to laugh, Sereina screamed in frustration.

“Don’t make me laugh! This is betrayal! Elenaaaa!”

“I-I’m sorry… But I really don’t remember becoming a subordinate…”

Sereina glared at Rurin with a face full of frustration.

Meanwhile, the group arrived at the bathhouse. Rurin opened the door proudly and started undressing.

“Have you seen a bathhouse like this in a lair? Hehehe, isn’t it cool?”

“It is cool. Hmph, but he built it for you anyway, right?”

“That’s right!”

“Ugh!”

Sereina, still hurting from betrayal, groaned with a frustrated face but tried to act cool as she entered the bathhouse.

And inwardly, she resolved never to get caught up by the Black again and started thinking of ways to make up for it.

“It’s hot.”

“It’s hot.”

“Yes, it is.”

The dragon and the elf lay in the bath, expressing the same sentiment in different ways.

Elena’s usually tense face relaxed now, as she loved this time of rest.

But that peace was soon broken when Sereina, deep in thought, spoke up.

“By the way, little Black.”

“What is it? If you pick a fight in the bathhouse, I’ll really kill you with a breath attack!”

“No, it’s not a fight? It’s your loss if you don’t listen. No matter how I see it, you lack the skills to make El a prisoner of love. It’s not going well, right?”

“Huh… What?”

Rurin’s triumphant face gradually became downcast. After coming back to life, she had only hugged and kissed El one time each. She couldn’t deny Sereina’s words.

“I’ve had many love affairs, even with humans. In a way, I’m your senior. Aren’t you curious about how to get more attention and love? Hohoho.”

“I am curious!”

Rurin had no intention of denying that part. Forgetting her rule to never lose her pride to a Red Dragon, she looked at Sereina with shining eyes.

“Anyway, that’s why it’s not working. You act like you’ll give everything. Tsk tsk, you’re wasting the name of a dragon. Everything’s your first time, right? Love too, and you haven’t experienced any human love actions either.”

“…Ugh! I’m not a kid. I’ll kill you, Red!”

“If you don’t sit down right now, I won’t tell you anything?”

“……”

Rurin closed her mouth and glanced at the ceiling.

“Oh, I suddenly feel dizzy. I should sit.”

Then she held her head, making a lame excuse, and sat back in the water.

“First-timers are like this. Listen carefully from now on.”

“Got it!”

“Yes, yes! I’ll listen well!”

Even Elena, whose long ears had been twitching at the mention of love, answered loudly with Rurin, her eyes shining.

“Huh? Elena, you too?”

In this unexpected situation, Sereina looked at the elf.

“Well, um…”

“Here, the dragon is a kid, but you, elf…”

“I’m the same. I’ve never been in love. Everything is new to me, so can I listen too?”

“Pfft. This is too much, even for an elf.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not something to be sorry about.”

“Shut up! Get to the point quickly!”

“Ugh! Let go of me!”

Unable to wait, Rurin, with a desperate look, started shaking Sereina by the neck.

“Ugh, so you can’t just give everything. There are various techniques in love. First, let go of my neck, you little…!”

The next day, Horne visited the restaurant with his daughter and two young men as promised. But one of the young men looked familiar. It was Finer, who had learned to cook from me once.

Now that I think about it, he did mention making pottery.

So that’s how it was?

Seeing the young woman next to him, who looked like Horne’s daughter, it seemed this young man was the disciple with nothing.

He learned to cook for his girlfriend, and that girlfriend turned out to be Horne’s daughter.

That means one of my theories is broken right now.

This young man was very pure and would unconsciously spill his love troubles when he drank. I didn’t know it was because he was dating his mentor’s daughter.

The young man seemed very surprised to be here with his mentor but tried to maintain a calm expression.

I guided the four of them to a table. As planned, Horne started talking to his disciples.

“I’ve called you here today to discuss something. It’s about my daughter’s marriage.”

“Dad, what’s lacking in me? And I’ve made it clear about marriage!”

“Huh! A formal proposal has been made, and it can’t be ignored. Marriage is a matter between families, so stay put!”

“If you keep opposing, I’ll run away with him. Do you want me to disappear, Dad?”

“Tena!”

“My Lady, that’s not right. I want to get proper permission…”

“Oh, you idiot!”