episode_0133

*

After purchasing the tools needed for cooking, Reika returned to the room with Airen and was busy preparing something with her hands.

“I… … Reika, I brought all the items as you asked.”

“Ah, thank you! Please leave it nearby.”

A large brass bowl, two bowls, and a tray.

Some wood, a mold for baking cookies, a few bricks and ingredients.

I also brought water from the well because I thought I might need it.

“For this moment, I checked the recipe one more time!”

In fact, Reika bought a book with recipes on her way back to her dorm and quickly read it.

Irene suddenly realizes that when she makes cookies, she doesn’t show her usual bewildered self at all.

After checking the ingredients, Reika began making something with her delicate hands.

“This… … ?”

“This is cooking preparation work! Ah, Irene. Could you please open the window… … !”

Iren noticed Reika’s high tension, which she didn’t usually see, so she silently did as she told her and opened the window.

After a few minutes of tinkering, a really nice cookware appears.

It was in a very primitive form, just made by stacking bricks in a square shape and then cutting down trees and placing them inside… … Anyway, cooking using fire was possible.

“Wait a minute. If this is the case, isn’t there a need for fire? … I didn’t bring anything that could be a spark.”

“Don’t worry.”

Reika took a deep breath and slightly spread her hands.

Grumbling-

By lightly blowing the small fireball gathered in her hand towards the tree –

The tree caught fire and began to burn.

“Oh… … .”

By placing a brass vessel on top, a fairly decent cooking system was created.

“You’re amazing, you are. I never thought I could make fire from my hands.”

“If you know how to read mana, anyone can do it.”

“Mana?”

In response to Airen’s question, Reika put a finger to her mouth and became lost in thought.

“Umm… … So, according to the teacher’s explanation, it was an energy source flowing in the air… … . So, that’s… … Just as you feel air entering your body when you breathe, you can feel energy sources gathering at your fingertips… … Called… … Should I explain… … ?”

Explaining Mana, which she was bound to feel from birth, was an extremely difficult task for the genius Reika.

Irene also seemed to have known this subconsciously, and instead of asking further, he changed the subject and talked about something else, being considerate of her.

“By the way, don’t you think it’s something you’ve only done once or twice?”

“Because I couldn’t leave the room. Secretly preparing cooking utensils and baking bread was the only free time I had. What kind of bread to bake, what to put in it… … Thinking about such things feels very good.”

After saying that, Reika let out a small laugh, saying, “Hehehe.”

He seemed to be in a very good mood as he spoke with a slightly red face.

“Now, I will melt the chocolate here.”

First, place all of the ‘leftover chocolate’ you purchased into the pot.

It melted gently in my mouth, so it seemed like it would quickly melt and become sticky if it received that much heat.

As Airen, who has only cooked somewhat crude meals such as grilling meat or preparing simple salads, she couldn’t quickly figure out what Reika was trying to do, but-

‘It would be better to leave this to the experts.’

” Next time, let’s wait until it all melts. ah! I brought this. Try it on.”

“Huh?”

Iren accepted the piece of cloth that Reika took out.

When I unfolded it… … Is this an apron?

“You carry something like this well.”

“I always carry it with me. someday… … I was wondering if I could bake with my friends… … ! It’s a bit harsh, but days like this always come to me… … .”

For some reason, I left Reika, who seemed to be soaked in sentimentality, and put on an apron, but-

“Um… … ?”

For some reason, it doesn’t seem to be tied together well.”

“Reika. I’m sorry, but the size doesn’t seem to fit.”

“Yes? ah… … .”

As soon as I turn my head to look at Irene, I painfully realize the meaning of what she said, ‘It doesn’t seem to be the right size.’

Without even covering my chest… … Only that part was floating.

When I saw you changing clothes before, you were clearly wearing a compression bandage… … That much?

“Reika… … ?”

“Ah, yes! Oh, that… … Well, you don’t have to force yourself to wear it! It’s okay if you don’t overdo it.”

Reika, who was momentarily mesmerized by the overwhelming size of her breasts, hurriedly waved her hand and said.

“Umm… … I’m sorry.”

“No! Rather, I feel sorry… … I should have worked harder too… … .”

“… … ?”

Just like that, the small commotion passed.

Iren was using something similar to a mortar, grinding various nuts, including hazelnuts, into small pieces.

“Good. You’re doing great!”

Then, I put the finely crushed nuts into the melted chocolate.

Reika stirred the chocolate well and opened her mouth.

“It may be difficult to completely reproduce the taste, but… … I think this will somewhat complement the savory taste… … !”

After so much time has passed.

Reika turned off the heat and skillfully placed the hot chocolate into the mold, little by little.

“Now. Irene, try it yourself!”

“Uh, um… … .”

Somehow, I was pouring the melted chocolate into the mold as instructed.

It wasn’t that complicated a process… … For some reason, I could feel the ‘sense of making something’ from the moment I ground the nuts.

Your own two hands-

From two hands that I always thought would find no value other than staining the blood of others on the battlefield… … The feeling of making cookies felt very different and fresh to Irene.

Whether it is food or snacks, the act of making something that people need to eat is the act of creating life, that is, life.

The person who always took the lives of others… … I can’t believe I’m making sweet and warm snacks, things that last a lifetime.

Airen felt like she knew a little bit about why Reika liked making sweets.

“Thank you for your hard work!”

Reika arranged the prepared chocolates on a tray and then poured the water that Airen had brought into the remaining bowl.

“Now it’s time to add the seasoning called time.”

An hour later.

After confirming that the chocolate on the tray had hardened to some extent, Reika stopped meditating and slowly stood up.

And then his pure white hands bloomed slightly… … I closed my eyes and began to gather blue energy.

“!!!”

Soon, something like a small icicle sprouted from my hand.

Reika made a few pieces of it and poured them into a bowl of water.

By floating the tray on the water that cooled down in such a short time-

“It’s over!”

“Huh… … Oh, magic is really amazing.”

” Right? My father only focused on its value as a strategic weapon… … Even if it doesn’t have to be that way, there are endless ways to use it. I think it would have been better if it weren’t for times like this.”

Just like that, decent chocolate was completed.

Because it was a cookie mold, the shapes were different, but isn’t the important thing about the taste?

“… … .”

Irene chewed the chocolate nervously and misread it.

I rolled it around in my mouth a few times… …

“… … It’s delicious!”

“Good!”

It didn’t taste exactly the same as the new product I tried at that time, but it was definitely something worth eating.

“Irene made it herself!”

“No, I… … All I did was do as you told me.”

“No. Because Irene’s heart went into the chocolate. The human mind plays a more important role than any seasoning.”

“… … Is that so?”

“Of course!”

Iren gained strange courage from Reika, who spoke with a smile.

Then this… … Should I tell this to that man?

Irene thought of the face of Swen, who had always supported her, and who took on the stigma of a traitor for her.

‘… … I hope you like it.’

I want to see you happy when you receive this –

At this moment, there was only one thing she wanted.

* * *

When Zenith told me that Jeon Seo-gu had arrived and was urgently looking for me, I left the accommodation and headed to a small park near Eingart Castle Square.

When I arrived there, I was able to meet faces that I had not seen in a long time.

“Swen… … !”

“Swen… … !”

The people who called me were Iren and Reika.

I don’t know if it was because I hadn’t seen him in a long time, but I smiled involuntarily because I felt so happy to see him.

“Are you both doing well?”

“Yes. what… … Thanks to. Swen, how are you? Looks a little thin… … .”

Irene says that and lightly tickles my cheek with the back of her hand.

I’ve been feeling it lately, that she’s surprisingly the type of person who worries excessively.

“No. I am just the same. Rather, I should say that I am eating well these days.”

“Really? Well, that’s a relief… … .”

“But what’s going on? He suddenly called me.”

“Irene… … !”

At that time, Reika lightly touched Iren’s side.

Iren made a wistful expression as if she knew what that meant… … He looked at my face blankly.

“Well, that’s… … So, that, Swen. Ha, I have something to say.”

“Yes. Please tell me.”

“Uh… … Um, hmm. that… … I owe you a great debt of gratitude ever since I was in Brans County. which… … It was Christmas. I guess I should say that you congratulated me first at that time, so I thought I would at least repay you… … Um, so, that is.”

Aside from the fact that her helpless appearance is very cute and lovely-

I felt like I knew why she called me.

“Have you prepared chocolate?”

“… … !!!!”

Iren’s pupils grew clearly visible.

With a deep red face, he looked at me with a puzzled expression on how I got it right.

“Uh, uh, how… … Got it?”

“That’s right, today is St. Valentino’s Feast Day.”

“It’s the Northern Continent’s anniversary, and Swen knew about it… … ?”

I nodded to Reika’s question.

“Yes, whatever. Roughly speaking.”

“What… … Then, the story will be faster.”

So, Irene handed me a paper bag.

When I opened it, chocolates that looked like cookies, shaped like people or teddy bears, were revealed.

“Wow… … Did you make this yourself?”

“Huh? ah… … Well, that-”

“Yes! Me and Irene… … I worked hard to make it… … !”

Reika answered with sparkling eyes on behalf of Airen, who was at a loss and couldn’t even answer properly.

“Really? Thank you. You can just buy it for me.”

I picked up the human-shaped chocolate and ate it on the spot.

With the sound of “misreading”, various nuts were chewed in the mouth.

‘this… … ‘Is it like that?’

Once again, the culture of the original world came to mind.

You could easily find chocolate filled with nuts at convenience stores.

“It’s delicious. Thank you.”

“No, well… … Well, if it’s delicious… … Fortunately-?!”

I put half of the chocolate I had bitten into Irene’s mouth.

She was very embarrassed, blushing and not knowing what to do… … Soon, I took it and ate it with my eyes tightly closed.

And then he squirmed like a small animal… … He asked while looking at me with a gulp sound.

“ji, what are you doing… … ?”

“Because it’s delicious. I wanted to eat with Irene.”

“Wow… … Swen, you are bold… … .”

Reika was covering her mouth with both hands, not knowing what to do.

what?

I don’t think I did anything special.

“Anyway, since it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, shall we take a walk together? I missed Irene so much.”

“Huh? Ah oh… … That, that, that… … .”

She didn’t know what to do, but then spoke in a quiet voice.

“… … me too… … I missed you.”

at that time.

Reika, who was watching us, carefully raised her hand.

“I… … I, I mean, the… … Well, let’s go in first! You two, have a great time-”

“Yes? What are you saying? Reika, let’s go together too.”

“… … E?”

“I missed you too, Reika. I was really lonely alone.”

“… … to? yes? Me too, I see… … I missed you… … ???”

“? Yes.”

After hearing what I said, Reika suddenly lowered her head and started not knowing what to do.

It was the familiar Reika I knew from the beginning.

For some reason, I thought I could speak without any hesitation today.

But, well, it wasn’t a lie when I said I wanted to see it.

Janice wasn’t a bad friend, but the time I spent with them was quite enjoyable for me.

“I… … Well, well, you said that… … If you do it… … .”

“Good. There are many pretty places here, let’s take our time and look around.”

“… … Yes.”

With Iren nodding, we took slow, aimless steps.

Keeping in step with them, listening to the gentle wind and the sound of the leaves shaking… … I remembered what had just happened.

“Swen. On St. Valentino’s Day, it is customary for women to gift sweets to men. I’m sure you can easily figure out why I brought this up.”

“I want you. so that… … As a monarch and as a human being, I will show you the best I can from now on. Starting from the smallest things. I will be sincere and engrave this body in your eyes.”

” Don’t you think that it would be a very enjoyable time to slowly learn together that if there is a lord to serve in these difficult times, it is this person? Hehe… … .”

‘It would be better not to bring up the story of being called by Serpina and being given all kinds of expensive chocolate… … .’

Including the reason why I learned that there is a holiday that is very similar to Valentine’s Day, called St. Valentino’s Feast –

I spent some leisurely time with them for the first time in a while, thinking that it would be okay if I didn’t have to talk about such trivial things.