Episode 80

From the stash of Magic Ore in the workshop, I took out Irea and Efrea Magic Ore.

I used the Irea Magic Ore as the core and supplemented the lacking portion with Efrea Magic Ore.

As usual, I melted them with heat and poured them into the mold.

After shaping a plate with that for now, I moved it to the anvil.

I placed the plate on the anvil, infused it with mana heat, and brought the hammer down.

To draw out the best quality of the Magic Ore, I checked the mana signatures, struck to break and then repaired them.

Having confirmed that the Magic Ore had improved considerably in quality compared to the start, I began shaping it into a knife.

From there, it wouldn’t take much to finish.

After refining the shape, I cooled it with mana and sharpened the blade using Wind magic.

Using the leftover Magic Ore, I made a sheath to fit the knife, and the knife itself was complete.

I took out a piece of Magic Ore, rewrote its mana data, gave it a bit of flexibility, and fitted it into the handle.

I wrapped the handle with monster hide, and with that it was truly finished.

The knife was finished in about the hour I had planned.

I created a clay doll with mana and tried slashing at its arm.

The knife smoothly sliced through the clay.

The sharpness should be fine.

I sheathed the finished knife and straightened my back.

When I opened the smithy’s entrance door, a pleasant smell wafted down from the second floor.

…I wonder if Alicia’s cooking is about ready?

Just as I thought that and was about to close the smithy door, it happened.

“…!?”

For a moment, something like a shadow flickered.

Startled, I opened the half-closed door and stared at the spot.

…But there was nothing.

“Did I mis-see it?”

I said it aloud… but my mind was spitting out words of denial.

…It looked like there had been a man standing there.

No way.

It shouldn’t be possible.

It was probably just a mistaken sight from fatigue.

Convinced of that, I went up from the smithy to the second floor.

When I went up, Alicia looked over at me with a surprised expression.

That expression of astonishment made the earlier hallucination flash through my mind.

Could it be that Alicia had heard something too? Something must not happen to her.

Worried, I approached Alicia, and her mouth slowly moved.

“Faik… have you already finished the smithing?”

…Huh?

She stared at me in surprise, and I felt a slight bewilderment.

Does finishing the smithing so quickly surprise her? Why?

“Well, I was making something that doesn’t take that long.”

“Is that so… I was all set thinking I’d go call you.”

“No no, it’s not like I always had you come call me, right?”

“I’m the one who usually goes to call you.”

“……”

R-really?

I scratched my head to cover it up and started helping Alicia.

That said, the meal was mostly finished and I was only lining up plates.

Today’s lunch seemed to be bread and stew. The bread was just bought and warmed, but Alicia had made the stew.

It seemed we were to dip the bread into it to eat.

Once the dishes were set on the table, I sat facing Alicia.

“Refy and the soldiers should probably be given a break soon, right?”

I had at least told them beforehand that it’s okay to take a break at noon.

However, it seemed they couldn’t all go on break at once, so I hadn’t heard yet about what order they’d take turns.

They said the soldiers would take breaks in turns, but I was still worried.

“It’s fine. I told them to feel free over there too.”

“…As expected of you, Alicia.”

“This much is nothing.”

Alicia smiled and sat down.

I also took the seat across from her, and we put our hands together.

…Alright, let’s eat.

This was the first time I’d eaten Alicia’s homemade cooking.

First, since I didn’t even know how much cooking Alicia could do, I had both strong curiosity and some anxiety about the taste.

The anxiety was less about Alicia and more about the nobles.

I had the notion that nobles left cooking, laundry, and other chores entirely to their servants.

I had the same perception of Alicia, so I didn’t know how well she could cook.

As I kept staring at the stew, Alicia was watching me closely as well.

She hadn’t started eating yet either—she was waiting as if for my reaction.

We couldn’t keep waiting like this; the stew would get cold.

Alright… let’s eat.

First, to enjoy Alicia’s cooking itself, I dipped a spoon into the stew.

And brought it to my mouth.

Huh!?

“Th-this is delicious…”

The vegetables must have been simmered thoroughly—their flavors had seeped through and it was really tasty.

The ingredients were probably good, of course, but it was the result of Alicia cooking with care.

“R-really? I’m glad it suits your taste.”

Alicia put her hand to her chest looking relieved.

Then Alicia began to eat the stew herself.

I tried dipping the bread in too. It went extremely well.

The bread was fairly firm, but it softened as it absorbed the stew.

Delicious… too delicious…!

I began gobbling it down.

Before I knew it, the bread was almost gone and I was asking Alicia for seconds.

“You eat it so appetizingly, Faik.”

“No, it’s just really good. Alicia, you’re a genius.”

“But weren’t you kind of surprised?”

“N-no… that’s not it?”

Had she noticed? I looked away to cover it up.

I couldn’t let her suspect the rude thought that I had been anxious about whether she could cook.

Alicia looked at me with suspicion for a while, then let out a small sigh.

“Anyone can learn to make food like this.”

“Eh? Is that so? Nobles do cooking too, huh.”

“At school we learn how to be ladies. One part of that is cooking. Everyone should at least have the knowledge.”

Whether they actually do it or not is another matter, apparently.

Some take it up as a hobby, and others even open shops.

When I asked for more stew, Alicia placed it in front of her.

Huh? What’s she doing?

As I tilted my head wondering, she took a spoonful and blew on it to cool it.

“Here, say ‘ah’.”

“…S-so suddenly, what’s this?”

“I’ve always… wanted to try it once. Eat.”

Alicia, looking embarrassed, still held the spoon out toward me.

It was my first time experiencing something like this, and I felt a little shy.

However, Alicia kept the spoon pointed at me despite her embarrassment.

I was embarrassed too, but I opened my mouth.

Alicia’s spoon moved slowly and entered my mouth.

I moved my mouth to take it and swallowed the spoonful of stew.

“…How is it?”

“Ah, it’s good.”

“I’m glad.”

Seeing Alicia smile with relief, I scooped up a spoonful of stew.

“Here, Alicia, do you want to eat?”

“W-well then… ehehe.”

Seeing Alicia with a bright red face but a happy smile, I felt relieved and brought the spoon to her mouth.

The movements of her mouth felt like they were transmitting through the spoon, making me a bit nervous.

“W-well then, now it’s my turn.”

“…Eh, y-you still want to continue doing it?”

“…Is that bad?”

With that delighted upward glance, I couldn’t possibly refuse.