In the end, Lenha boards a carriage and departs somewhere with minimal escorts. When I ask anyone where she went, they don’t answer, but Princess Tevis simply says
“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything bad to her.”
Well, I don’t think Princess Tevis would do anything strange, and since they’re not going to execute her, I feel somewhat relieved, or something like that. It’s a strange story, but having the perpetrator of such an incident executed within my sight and reach, even if they are a criminal, doesn’t feel good. Even if I understand it’s necessary… no, I suppose I’ll have to get used to this. This isn’t Japan. It’s not Earth. It’s a different world in the warring period.
Hello, it’s Shuri here. Right now, my butt hurts terribly.
“Hang in there, Shuri! We’re almost there!” “Y-yes…”
I’m riding behind Aeclys, who’s on horseback, as we move to a certain place. We’re skillfully navigating through the forest on horseback. The path has been cleared, so there’s no worry about the horse getting injured. The day my butt splits into four might not be far off. There’s no excitement from being in close contact with a woman’s body. There’s no room for such luxury anywhere!
“Are you okay?” “No, my butt hurts.” “Shuri, have you never ridden a horse before?”
No, I haven’t. Going back in time, when the Gungrave Mercenary Group was still moving from place to place, I was enduring butt pain while riding in a carriage. I wasn’t riding a horse. I was riding in a carriage. That was, well, around the time I was transferred to this world… When we were breaking camp and moving. When I tried to ride the prepared horse, I hurt my back. Yes, I’m worse than an old person. I hurt it so badly that I couldn’t stand up after just three minutes, so I stopped riding after that. Aeclys seems to have sensed my distant gaze and looks at me with sympathetic eyes.
“Ah, you’re not used to horses.” “…Is that bad?” “Yeah, by the standards of people on this continent, it’s uncool.”
Sigh. I quietly proceed, feeling deeply dejected. I’m blue. It’s a blue mood. I’m uncool, huh… By this world’s standards, I’m uncool… Indeed, when Gungrave gallops across the battlefield on horseback, it’s so cool it’s mesmerizing. Arius would gaze at him with an even more entranced face than mine.
“Um, Shuri.” “Yes…?” “Men shouldn’t show their tears.”
Aeclys turns around with a smile, looking quite manly… I can’t help but fall for her… Oh no, I’m becoming feminine. The other person is a woman dressed as a man, but what would happen if I, a man, dressed as a woman? The mercenary group’s cook would become the group’s drag queen. It’s not funny. Who would want to see that?
“Aeclys. You look cool.”
My words, squeezed out, felt like they were about to erase my pride as a man. But she doesn’t seem to notice. Aeclys is blushing.
“Hehe, I’m happy to hear you say that.”
I felt like I was about to shatter with a “bam!”
“…So, why is Eutine here?”
To break this atmosphere, I turn my eyes to the back, where Eutine is following on foot. For some reason, Princess Tevis’s bodyguard is here. Really, why? She’s been quietly following us without me noticing.
“The princess said, for just, in case” “Isn’t your role to protect the princess in case of emergency?”
My opinion shouldn’t be wrong. This person’s role should be to protect Princess Tevis…
“…In case of, emergency” “I understand. I won’t complain if you’re going to protect us.”
Oh no, this person can’t do subtle communication. I must have hit a sore spot; sweat is flowing down her forehead. Although I usually have the impression that she has an expressionless, cool face, her agitation can be seen from places other than her expression… It seems that originally, Kuuga or Tegue was supposed to come along. But they couldn’t come because they were busy with unit formation. That’s when Princess Tevis said, “Then I’ll lend you my Eutine,” and Eutine, who is usually expressionless but had her mouth open in surprise, came along as a guard. She’s having a hard time, huh. I can almost see Eutine’s tribulations.
“So, Aeclys. This time we’re going to meet Garn’s mother and your mother, right?”
No matter how much I think about these two, it’ll only wear down my mental state, so let’s stop. Instead, let’s think about our upcoming plans. The plan is to go meet Aeclys and Garn’s parents. They’ve been missing for a long time, but it seems their whereabouts have been discovered, so we’re going to meet them. Garn seems to have some business to attend to, so he’s not coming this time, but he asked us to send his regards. He looked as usual, but he seemed anxious. Aeclys also seems anxious about going alone, so she asked me to accompany her. I don’t mind, but… is it okay for me to come along? I left the handover of work to Adra and was about to go together when Eutine’s accompaniment was decided.
“Yeah… I’m anxious too. I haven’t seen my mother for a long time. I don’t know what kind of face I should make.” “I think you should smile.”
No, I’m saying this seriously, not as a joke.
“Whether it’s ‘I’m home’ or ‘welcome back’ or ‘long time no see’… anyway, why don’t you start by smiling and greeting?”
When you meet relatives after a long time, sometimes you don’t know the distance and don’t know what to say. That’s when I think it’s important to start with a greeting and show a willingness to approach from your side. You can’t close the distance between people suddenly. At least showing a willingness to approach is important. At my words, Aeclys seems to be thinking about something and looks down a bit.
“…It’s not such a simple matter…”
Simple matter…
“Of course it’s not. I talked about a difficult matter. I didn’t talk about anything simple.”
Of course. The reunion of relatives who have gone through ups and downs can’t end with a simple conversation. It’s the basics of drama. It’s usually either a revenge plot fueled by hatred, or they finally understand each other in the last scene… It’s not uncommon for that to happen on their deathbed. It’s the basics of drama. Even in the real world, family disputes are often so twisted, entangled, and complicated that outsiders can’t do anything about them.
“But I don’t think there’s any reason not to do it just because it’s difficult. Don’t think of it as for the sake of reconciliation or repairing relationships. It’s for your own closure.” “Closure?” “You’re making a decision within yourself. First, settle things with your past self. I say ‘settle’, but if you’re not harboring hatred towards each other, the distance will naturally close.”
Well, I can say this because of the influence of watching dramas… I’m also the kind of person who has made up my mind to live in this world…
“…Yeah, thanks Shuri. I feel a bit more courageous.”
Aeclys turned around with a smile.
“Thank you.”
A handsome guy…!?
As I proceed, shocked by my own lack of masculinity, I see a church in the middle of the forest. It’s a well-maintained church, but I don’t know what they worship. Come to think of it, I haven’t touched on religion at all since coming to this world.
“What god does this church worship?” “God, of course.” “No, I mean, what kind?” “? God is God. There’s no other, right?”
I feel like there’s a huge misunderstanding…
“I thought there would be names, doctrines, and such.” “In a world like this, people just pray to God for now. There used to be a headquarters that unified the churches, but it’s gone now. The great powers of the time disliked religious donations and attacked and destroyed it.”
What a selfish reason.
“The churches remained, but there are no donations or followers. Now, only a handful of devout believers maintain the churches on their own. Even so, the priests who can manage with that are loved by everyone and even raise orphans. But the church we’re going to now is only a church in name; in reality, it’s more like a hideout for the lord’s family. And now, it’s the place where my mother and Garn’s… brother’s mother are confined.”
We arrive at the church while listening to her sad monologue. I see, this facility is a church in name only. That’s because there are no symbolic objects that should be in a church. There’s no cross, no stained glass, no symbolic objects that would be worshipped as a god at all. But it’s well-maintained, and although you can feel its age, there are no vines growing on it or cracks. Maybe it’s because the housekeeping skills of the people living there are high, or perhaps because it’s a refuge for the lord’s family, they couldn’t let it look shabby. I thought about this as I got off the horse, but Aeclys still hasn’t come down. Huh? What’s wrong?
“Aeclys?” “…I’m scared to meet them, after all.” “Aeclys…”
Hmm… as expected, a little encouragement isn’t enough to make up one’s mind.
“Aeclys, you don’t need to be so afraid…” “Aeclys!?”
As I was thinking this, someone dashed past from behind and approached Aeclys on the horse. I can’t see the face from behind, but she has the same silver hair as Aeclys. It extends to her waist with considerable volume. Her clothes are simple but well-washed and ironed, and glimpsing her energetic demeanor, I get the impression that these kinds of clothes suit her better.
“Aeclys?! Is that you, Aeclys?!” “Huh? Huh?” “It’s me, Aeclys! Anby Sounité!”
A shocking development descended upon the scene, accompanied by a shockwave.
“Are you… my mother?” “Yes! Aeclys, it really is Aeclys… Thank goodness… I’m so glad… to see you…”
The woman who introduced herself as Anby collapsed from where she was standing and finally fell to her knees at the horse’s feet. Her shoulders shaking, she speaks through tears.
“I thought you had been exiled too… but…! It seems that’s not the case…! I’m so glad… you’re safe…!” “Mother!!”
Aeclys gets off the horse and embraces Anby. She hugs her tightly, tightly, smiling while crying.
After Aeclys and Anby calm down, Anby leads us into the church, where we find another woman waiting. She is also beautiful… Her clothes are a maid uniform that’s worn but well-maintained.
“Madam, why did you suddenly go outside…!”
The maid is also surprised when she sees Aeclys’s face.
“Could it be… Lady Aeclys…?” “Yes, Marielle! Aeclys is alive! She’s wearing men’s clothes for some reason, but she’s safe!” “Is that so… Thank goodness…! I’ll prepare some tea right away! Please have a seat over there.”
Marielle heads towards the back with smooth steps. There’s a somewhat excited atmosphere, but… who is this maid, Marielle?
“Shuri, that person is Garn’s mother.”
Now it’s my turn to be surprised. When I ask, I learn that person is Garn’s mother, Marielle Labor. Grateful for the table, chairs, and tea set that have been prepared, I sit down in a chair. Come to think of it, the fact that such good things can be prepared means that Lenha, the very person who exiled them, was being considerate to these people…
“Aeclys, who is this gentleman?” “Mother. This person is my benefactor, Shuri Azuma. Thanks to him, we were able to expose the misdeeds of the legal wife… Lady Lenha.” “I see… So that person has finally fallen from power…”
Anby seems a bit depressed. Why…? For the person who brought her down and confined her to a place like this?
“…You know, I was originally a concubine. I wasn’t suited for power struggles. If anything, I was just a scholar who liked domestic affairs. That caught the lord’s eye, and I gave birth to Aeclys. If Aeclys was safe, I could endure my own misfortune. Fortunately, it seems Aeclys inherited my talents, so I thought she wouldn’t be easily discarded. My one regret is that I wished I could have spoken with Lenha one last time. I wanted to ask what meaning there was in discarding Marielle and me and seizing real power in Sounité. We had already made Aeclys give up her right to inherit the lordship, and we had no intention of making Garn claim inheritance rights.” “That’s strange, isn’t it? Normally, wouldn’t you want your own son to seize power if he could?” “Yes. Normally, that’s the case. However, both Lady Anby and I were afraid of grasping too much power.” “Afraid…?” “Shuri, right? For example, if you were told to manage a store, could you do it?”
Manage a store?
“I think I could.” “Oh? What would you sell?” “Food. I am the head cook, after all.” “I see. So the ‘product’ is not a problem. But what about ‘administration,’ ‘accounting,’ ‘procurement,’ and so on? Could you do all of that by yourself?”
Ah…
“That would be difficult.”
Indeed, I used to think about running a store in the past. But I never went beyond the realm of hobby, just cooking for close friends. It wasn’t a business. I’ve never actually managed a store. In the first place, managing a restaurant is more challenging than expected. First, there’s property management. Is the land leased? Is the building rented? Or is it owned property in your name? The store itself is also an issue. What kind of store will it be? A pop interior? A chic interior where people can relax? Where to place the air conditioner? How big should the kitchen be and what equipment is needed? What are the methods for publicity and strategies for attracting customers? What’s the direction for the products to be sold? Moreover, which customer base are you targeting? It depends on the cuisine, but that needs to be considered too. Where will you source ingredients? From supermarkets? From wholesalers? Or through farm contracts? Even if you can manage, what about tax declarations and accounting? Do you know any accountants or tax accountants? Of course, this is just a part of it. Restaurant management becomes even more complex and cumbersome when you consider procedures and hiring part-timers. If you add legal matters to this, it becomes even more of a maze. Thinking about it this way, it’s impossible for me alone. I lack both education and experience.
“See? Shuri, to run a single store, you either need one person who is proficient in everything, or you need to cooperate with staff who are proficient in one area. Aeclys, Garn, Lord Gyngus… everyone had outstanding talent in one field, but lacked aptitude in other areas.”
Aeclys is good at domestic affairs. Gyngus is good at military affairs. Garn is good at information gathering. I see, considering such prominent talents, problems might have occurred even if one person had taken the top position.
“Still, there was hope for Lord Gyngus. In this war-torn world, a lord skilled in military affairs can gather support from his subjects. Aeclys and Garn could fill in the shadows.” “So, mother, you wanted to support Gyngus while having me and Garn support him?” “Yes. That’s what it comes down to. So, who’s governing the territory now?” “That’s…” “Our commander is.”
Since Aeclys seemed to have trouble saying it, I decided to speak up.
“After the downfall of the legal wife Lenha, there was interference from Nouviche. Since Gyngus is Lenha’s son, there would be problems if he ruled after her, and Aeclys wants to return to being a woman, and Garn has no intention of ruling, and considering his birth, there would be opposition, so our commander is temporarily in charge.” “I see… So the Sounité territory has been taken over by a mercenary group.”
Ah, Anby is looking disappointed… Of course she is. Just when she thought the conflict was over, now there’s a mercenary group occupying the territory. As a family member, that must be hard to accept…
“Well, maybe this is the flow of the times too. I had hoped my daughter would get through this war period. So, Shuri, can this commander be trusted?” “Yes, he can.”
It’s an immediate answer.
“I trust Gungrave. Without him, I wouldn’t be who I am today. He’s ruling temporarily, but Gungrave is acting with the goal of pacifying this continent and realizing a peaceful world in the future.” “Do you know the details of that plan?” “I don’t know the specifics. I’m just a cook.” “Isn’t that just avoiding thinking about it?” “I’m just doing what I can do.”
It’s impossible for me to suddenly give appropriate advice to the group.
“…Fufu, I’m sorry. I said something mean.”
Anby says with a laugh.
“I couldn’t help it. But this is good. Even if one of our children took command, there would have been distortions somewhere. It’s better to have someone else take the lead and support them. Just like you’re supporting them in the area of cooking, which you’re good at. Still, you have a strong core. Doing what you can do. Honestly leaving what you can’t do to others. You don’t know how difficult that is.” “Is that so…?” “Yes. Most people who gain power think they can do everything themselves. It’s even difficult to find trustworthy subordinates who can be entrusted with practical work and clerical duties. Thank you, Shuri. For taking this old woman’s outburst head-on.”
I see, if you thought your territory had been taken over by a mercenary group, as someone who can’t do anything, you’d want to lash out. It can’t be helped, but it was a bit harsh. But “old woman”… She looks like an adult version of Aeclys. And young too… What kind of anti-aging method is she using…?
“Marielle, don’t just stand there silent, say something too.” “Yes. However, it’s about time I start preparing dinner.”
Oh? Is it that time already?
“Please wait a moment. I’ll cook this time.”
Well, this is my cue.
“No, we can’t let a guest do such a thing.” “It’s fine, Marielle. It would be rude not to accept his kindness after he’s gone to such trouble.”
Oh, she noticed, huh? Marielle looks troubled though. Aeclys is here. Aeclys, Anby, Marielle. People who can be called family have gathered here. And after a long time, too. It might be interesting for me, the outsider, to slip away and let them chat. I enter the kitchen and immediately check the cooking utensils. I brought a portable stove and kitchen knives, but I didn’t bring pots or ladles because they’re bulky. Just a small pot and a rice paddle. This isn’t enough… I confirm there’s a frying pan and a ladle… A frying pan? I was planning to have Lill make one, but if there’s already one here, it might be easier. Since it’s already here.
“As for ingredients…”
Rice, onions, chicken, salt and pepper… and eggs.
“I guess I’ll make some fried rice.” “Fried rice…!?”
Oh my, Eutine has come! She’s expressionless, but her eyes are sparkling. Why?
“Shouldn’t you be guarding Aeclys and the others?” “I was asked, to protect, Shuri” “No, no, no, no, no, no, no! You should be protecting Aeclys more than me!”
I think a member of the lord’s family has more value to guard than a mere cook.
“…You haven’t, noticed” “Huh?” “I move, on the princess’s, orders. The princess’s order, is to protect Shuri. And, the princess, doesn’t give meaningless orders. The princess has judged, that at this stage, Shuri’s life is more valuable, than Aeclys’“ “There’s no way that’s true. That’s not a good reason to slack off on your guard duty.”
There’s no way Princess Tevis would give such an order… I told Eutine with a dubious look on my face.
“Anyway, I’m going to cook now, so don’t get in the way…” “I won’t. I absolutely, won’t. I have, no intention, of doing so, at all.” “Can I trust you?” “If I can eat, fried rice.”
Huh? I sense the same vibe as Lill…!? Oh well. Let’s cook. First, let’s prepare the rice. It seems they cooked a rice dish this morning, and there’s some leftover rice. Let’s use this. First, put the rice and eggs in a bowl to make egg rice. It would be best with soy sauce, but there isn’t any here, so we’ll skip it. Everyone, if you want to make it more delicious, soy sauce is essential. By the way, it’s best to make the egg for egg rice a bit thicker. Then, add the chicken and stir-fry it. When the color changes, add the onions and stir-fry further. After it’s fried, put the egg rice on top and flatten it a bit. Make it like okonomiyaki. Leave it for about five seconds, then break it up. Season with salt and pepper, and it’s done.
“Here, I’ll give some to Eutine too, so be quiet.”
Before I could finish saying “be,” Eutine snatched the spoon and plate from me. Then she disappeared. So fast…! Goodness, I couldn’t even see her! Eutine, the expressionless guard, devouring the food voraciously, what did you really come here for? Eh, just to eat fried rice? Well, then I won’t say anything more… I returned to everyone with Eutine behind me, continuing to devour the fried rice. It seems their conversation had come to an end, and Aeclys and the others were smiling.
“Everyone, I’ve brought the food. It’s fried rice.”
I place spoons and plates in front of everyone and step back. I wonder how they’ll react?
“…Did you make a rice dish in such a short time?”
Marielle asks curiously.
“And it smells so good… How did you make this?” “I stir-fried it. One secret is to use quite high heat.”
Huh? Marielle is making a face like she doesn’t understand. Well, I’ll explain later. I served the fried rice to everyone.
“Please enjoy.” “Yes, it would be rude to discuss theory in front of the served food. Let’s eat.”
Anby put the fried rice in her mouth.
“…”
And then she fell silent.
“I told you, didn’t I, mother? Shuri’s cooking surprises you on the first bite and teaches you deliciousness on the second.”
Aeclys puffs out her chest and starts eating the fried rice.
“…I see. Aeclys is right. Marielle, you eat too.” “Lady Anby. As a maid, I should serve…” “No, Marielle. You eat too. This is the shape of the continent’s future.”
Marielle hesitantly accepted the offered fried rice and began to eat. Hey, the shape of the future? That’s an exaggeration.
“…I see. This is…”
Marielle is chewing the fried rice in her mouth as if savoring it.
“It’s simple. Very delicious. The base flavors are eggs and salt and pepper, right? And onions are added as an accent, which goes well with the slightly firm rice. And then, the chicken. You can enjoy the rice infused with the flavor of chicken while also tasting the chicken itself. I see, it’s simple but meticulously calculated.”
It’s not that exaggerated…
“This originally developed from staff meals, I’ve heard. In a certain country in my homeland.” “Using leftover rice and ingredients from staff meals to create something new. I see, Shuri’s cooking always comes from familiar places.”
Aeclys continues eating the fried rice, looking impressed. Everyone seems satisfied with the fried rice, which puts me at ease.
After that, I cleared everyone’s plates and decided to head back. Kuuga came to pick me up.
“Without you, our cooking lacks a certain something.” “But Garn and the others are still there, right?” “Ah, well… It’s not bad. It’s not bad. It’s better than before. But still, without Shuri, it feels incomplete.” “I see…”
Maybe I should intensify Garn and the others’ training. I decided to leave Eutine in charge of guarding Aeclys and head back.
“No, I am, Shuri’s, guard” “There’s someone you need to guard more than me, right? I need to go back once, so I’m leaving this place to you.”
And so, I decided to return, leaving Eutine behind. Now, I need to work hard on guiding Garn and the others too.
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Chapter 47
In the end, Lenha boards a carriage and departs somewhere with minimal escorts.
When I ask anyone where she went, they don’t answer, but Princess Tevis simply says
“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything bad to her.”
Well, I don’t think Princess Tevis would do anything strange, and since they’re not going to execute her, I feel somewhat relieved, or something like that.
It’s a strange story, but having the perpetrator of such an incident executed within my sight and reach, even if they are a criminal, doesn’t feel good.
Even if I understand it’s necessary… no, I suppose I’ll have to get used to this.
This isn’t Japan. It’s not Earth.
It’s a different world in the warring period.
Hello, it’s Shuri here.
Right now, my butt hurts terribly.
“Hang in there, Shuri! We’re almost there!”
“Y-yes…”
I’m riding behind Aeclys, who’s on horseback, as we move to a certain place. We’re skillfully navigating through the forest on horseback. The path has been cleared, so there’s no worry about the horse getting injured.
The day my butt splits into four might not be far off. There’s no excitement from being in close contact with a woman’s body. There’s no room for such luxury anywhere!
“Are you okay?”
“No, my butt hurts.”
“Shuri, have you never ridden a horse before?”
No, I haven’t.
Going back in time, when the Gungrave Mercenary Group was still moving from place to place, I was enduring butt pain while riding in a carriage.
I wasn’t riding a horse. I was riding in a carriage.
That was, well, around the time I was transferred to this world…
When we were breaking camp and moving.
When I tried to ride the prepared horse, I hurt my back. Yes, I’m worse than an old person.
I hurt it so badly that I couldn’t stand up after just three minutes, so I stopped riding after that.
Aeclys seems to have sensed my distant gaze and looks at me with sympathetic eyes.
“Ah, you’re not used to horses.”
“…Is that bad?”
“Yeah, by the standards of people on this continent, it’s uncool.”
Sigh.
I quietly proceed, feeling deeply dejected.
I’m blue. It’s a blue mood.
I’m uncool, huh… By this world’s standards, I’m uncool…
Indeed, when Gungrave gallops across the battlefield on horseback, it’s so cool it’s mesmerizing. Arius would gaze at him with an even more entranced face than mine.
“Um, Shuri.”
“Yes…?”
“Men shouldn’t show their tears.”
Aeclys turns around with a smile, looking quite manly…
I can’t help but fall for her…
Oh no, I’m becoming feminine.
The other person is a woman dressed as a man, but what would happen if I, a man, dressed as a woman?
The mercenary group’s cook would become the group’s drag queen.
It’s not funny. Who would want to see that?
“Aeclys. You look cool.”
My words, squeezed out, felt like they were about to erase my pride as a man.
But she doesn’t seem to notice. Aeclys is blushing.
“Hehe, I’m happy to hear you say that.”
I felt like I was about to shatter with a “bam!”
“…So, why is Eutine here?”
To break this atmosphere, I turn my eyes to the back, where Eutine is following on foot.
For some reason, Princess Tevis’s bodyguard is here. Really, why?
She’s been quietly following us without me noticing.
“The princess said, for just, in case”
“Isn’t your role to protect the princess in case of emergency?”
My opinion shouldn’t be wrong. This person’s role should be to protect Princess Tevis…
“…In case of, emergency”
“I understand. I won’t complain if you’re going to protect us.”
Oh no, this person can’t do subtle communication. I must have hit a sore spot; sweat is flowing down her forehead. Although I usually have the impression that she has an expressionless, cool face, her agitation can be seen from places other than her expression…
It seems that originally, Kuuga or Tegue was supposed to come along. But they couldn’t come because they were busy with unit formation.
That’s when Princess Tevis said, “Then I’ll lend you my Eutine,” and Eutine, who is usually expressionless but had her mouth open in surprise, came along as a guard.
She’s having a hard time, huh. I can almost see Eutine’s tribulations.
“So, Aeclys. This time we’re going to meet Garn’s mother and your mother, right?”
No matter how much I think about these two, it’ll only wear down my mental state, so let’s stop. Instead, let’s think about our upcoming plans.
The plan is to go meet Aeclys and Garn’s parents. They’ve been missing for a long time, but it seems their whereabouts have been discovered, so we’re going to meet them.
Garn seems to have some business to attend to, so he’s not coming this time, but he asked us to send his regards. He looked as usual, but he seemed anxious.
Aeclys also seems anxious about going alone, so she asked me to accompany her. I don’t mind, but… is it okay for me to come along?
I left the handover of work to Adra and was about to go together when Eutine’s accompaniment was decided.
“Yeah… I’m anxious too. I haven’t seen my mother for a long time. I don’t know what kind of face I should make.”
“I think you should smile.”
No, I’m saying this seriously, not as a joke.
“Whether it’s ‘I’m home’ or ‘welcome back’ or ‘long time no see’… anyway, why don’t you start by smiling and greeting?”
When you meet relatives after a long time, sometimes you don’t know the distance and don’t know what to say.
That’s when I think it’s important to start with a greeting and show a willingness to approach from your side. You can’t close the distance between people suddenly.
At least showing a willingness to approach is important.
At my words, Aeclys seems to be thinking about something and looks down a bit.
“…It’s not such a simple matter…”
Simple matter…
“Of course it’s not. I talked about a difficult matter. I didn’t talk about anything simple.”
Of course. The reunion of relatives who have gone through ups and downs can’t end with a simple conversation. It’s the basics of drama. It’s usually either a revenge plot fueled by hatred, or they finally understand each other in the last scene… It’s not uncommon for that to happen on their deathbed. It’s the basics of drama.
Even in the real world, family disputes are often so twisted, entangled, and complicated that outsiders can’t do anything about them.
“But I don’t think there’s any reason not to do it just because it’s difficult. Don’t think of it as for the sake of reconciliation or repairing relationships. It’s for your own closure.”
“Closure?”
“You’re making a decision within yourself. First, settle things with your past self. I say ‘settle’, but if you’re not harboring hatred towards each other, the distance will naturally close.”
Well, I can say this because of the influence of watching dramas…
I’m also the kind of person who has made up my mind to live in this world…
“…Yeah, thanks Shuri. I feel a bit more courageous.”
Aeclys turned around with a smile.
“Thank you.”
A handsome guy…!?
As I proceed, shocked by my own lack of masculinity, I see a church in the middle of the forest.
It’s a well-maintained church, but I don’t know what they worship. Come to think of it, I haven’t touched on religion at all since coming to this world.
“What god does this church worship?”
“God, of course.”
“No, I mean, what kind?”
“? God is God. There’s no other, right?”
I feel like there’s a huge misunderstanding…
“I thought there would be names, doctrines, and such.”
“In a world like this, people just pray to God for now. There used to be a headquarters that unified the churches, but it’s gone now. The great powers of the time disliked religious donations and attacked and destroyed it.”
What a selfish reason.
“The churches remained, but there are no donations or followers. Now, only a handful of devout believers maintain the churches on their own. Even so, the priests who can manage with that are loved by everyone and even raise orphans.
But the church we’re going to now is only a church in name; in reality, it’s more like a hideout for the lord’s family. And now, it’s the place where my mother and Garn’s… brother’s mother are confined.”
We arrive at the church while listening to her sad monologue.
I see, this facility is a church in name only.
That’s because there are no symbolic objects that should be in a church.
There’s no cross, no stained glass, no symbolic objects that would be worshipped as a god at all.
But it’s well-maintained, and although you can feel its age, there are no vines growing on it or cracks.
Maybe it’s because the housekeeping skills of the people living there are high, or perhaps because it’s a refuge for the lord’s family, they couldn’t let it look shabby.
I thought about this as I got off the horse, but Aeclys still hasn’t come down.
Huh? What’s wrong?
“Aeclys?”
“…I’m scared to meet them, after all.”
“Aeclys…”
Hmm… as expected, a little encouragement isn’t enough to make up one’s mind.
“Aeclys, you don’t need to be so afraid…”
“Aeclys!?”
As I was thinking this, someone dashed past from behind and approached Aeclys on the horse.
I can’t see the face from behind, but she has the same silver hair as Aeclys. It extends to her waist with considerable volume.
Her clothes are simple but well-washed and ironed, and glimpsing her energetic demeanor, I get the impression that these kinds of clothes suit her better.
“Aeclys?! Is that you, Aeclys?!”
“Huh? Huh?”
“It’s me, Aeclys! Anby Sounité!”
A shocking development descended upon the scene, accompanied by a shockwave.
“Are you… my mother?”
“Yes! Aeclys, it really is Aeclys… Thank goodness… I’m so glad… to see you…”
The woman who introduced herself as Anby collapsed from where she was standing and finally fell to her knees at the horse’s feet.
Her shoulders shaking, she speaks through tears.
“I thought you had been exiled too… but…! It seems that’s not the case…! I’m so glad… you’re safe…!”
“Mother!!”
Aeclys gets off the horse and embraces Anby.
She hugs her tightly, tightly, smiling while crying.
After Aeclys and Anby calm down, Anby leads us into the church, where we find another woman waiting.
She is also beautiful… Her clothes are a maid uniform that’s worn but well-maintained.
“Madam, why did you suddenly go outside…!”
The maid is also surprised when she sees Aeclys’s face.
“Could it be… Lady Aeclys…?”
“Yes, Marielle! Aeclys is alive! She’s wearing men’s clothes for some reason, but she’s safe!”
“Is that so… Thank goodness…! I’ll prepare some tea right away! Please have a seat over there.”
Marielle heads towards the back with smooth steps.
There’s a somewhat excited atmosphere, but… who is this maid, Marielle?
“Shuri, that person is Garn’s mother.”
Now it’s my turn to be surprised.
When I ask, I learn that person is Garn’s mother, Marielle Labor.
Grateful for the table, chairs, and tea set that have been prepared, I sit down in a chair. Come to think of it, the fact that such good things can be prepared means that Lenha, the very person who exiled them, was being considerate to these people…
“Aeclys, who is this gentleman?”
“Mother. This person is my benefactor, Shuri Azuma. Thanks to him, we were able to expose the misdeeds of the legal wife… Lady Lenha.”
“I see… So that person has finally fallen from power…”
Anby seems a bit depressed.
Why…? For the person who brought her down and confined her to a place like this?
“…You know, I was originally a concubine. I wasn’t suited for power struggles. If anything, I was just a scholar who liked domestic affairs. That caught the lord’s eye, and I gave birth to Aeclys.
If Aeclys was safe, I could endure my own misfortune. Fortunately, it seems Aeclys inherited my talents, so I thought she wouldn’t be easily discarded.
My one regret is that I wished I could have spoken with Lenha one last time. I wanted to ask what meaning there was in discarding Marielle and me and seizing real power in Sounité. We had already made Aeclys give up her right to inherit the lordship, and we had no intention of making Garn claim inheritance rights.”
“That’s strange, isn’t it? Normally, wouldn’t you want your own son to seize power if he could?”
“Yes. Normally, that’s the case. However, both Lady Anby and I were afraid of grasping too much power.”
“Afraid…?”
“Shuri, right? For example, if you were told to manage a store, could you do it?”
Manage a store?
“I think I could.”
“Oh? What would you sell?”
“Food. I am the head cook, after all.”
“I see. So the ‘product’ is not a problem. But what about ‘administration,’ ‘accounting,’ ‘procurement,’ and so on? Could you do all of that by yourself?”
Ah…
“That would be difficult.”
Indeed, I used to think about running a store in the past.
But I never went beyond the realm of hobby, just cooking for close friends. It wasn’t a business.
I’ve never actually managed a store.
In the first place, managing a restaurant is more challenging than expected.
First, there’s property management. Is the land leased? Is the building rented? Or is it owned property in your name?
The store itself is also an issue. What kind of store will it be? A pop interior? A chic interior where people can relax? Where to place the air conditioner? How big should the kitchen be and what equipment is needed? What are the methods for publicity and strategies for attracting customers? What’s the direction for the products to be sold?
Moreover, which customer base are you targeting? It depends on the cuisine, but that needs to be considered too.
Where will you source ingredients? From supermarkets? From wholesalers? Or through farm contracts?
Even if you can manage, what about tax declarations and accounting? Do you know any accountants or tax accountants?
Of course, this is just a part of it. Restaurant management becomes even more complex and cumbersome when you consider procedures and hiring part-timers. If you add legal matters to this, it becomes even more of a maze.
Thinking about it this way, it’s impossible for me alone. I lack both education and experience.
“See? Shuri, to run a single store, you either need one person who is proficient in everything, or you need to cooperate with staff who are proficient in one area. Aeclys, Garn, Lord Gyngus… everyone had outstanding talent in one field, but lacked aptitude in other areas.”
Aeclys is good at domestic affairs.
Gyngus is good at military affairs.
Garn is good at information gathering.
I see, considering such prominent talents, problems might have occurred even if one person had taken the top position.
“Still, there was hope for Lord Gyngus. In this war-torn world, a lord skilled in military affairs can gather support from his subjects. Aeclys and Garn could fill in the shadows.”
“So, mother, you wanted to support Gyngus while having me and Garn support him?”
“Yes. That’s what it comes down to. So, who’s governing the territory now?”
“That’s…”
“Our commander is.”
Since Aeclys seemed to have trouble saying it, I decided to speak up.
“After the downfall of the legal wife Lenha, there was interference from Nouviche. Since Gyngus is Lenha’s son, there would be problems if he ruled after her, and Aeclys wants to return to being a woman, and Garn has no intention of ruling, and considering his birth, there would be opposition, so our commander is temporarily in charge.”
“I see… So the Sounité territory has been taken over by a mercenary group.”
Ah, Anby is looking disappointed… Of course she is. Just when she thought the conflict was over, now there’s a mercenary group occupying the territory. As a family member, that must be hard to accept…
“Well, maybe this is the flow of the times too. I had hoped my daughter would get through this war period. So, Shuri, can this commander be trusted?”
“Yes, he can.”
It’s an immediate answer.
“I trust Gungrave. Without him, I wouldn’t be who I am today. He’s ruling temporarily, but Gungrave is acting with the goal of pacifying this continent and realizing a peaceful world in the future.”
“Do you know the details of that plan?”
“I don’t know the specifics. I’m just a cook.”
“Isn’t that just avoiding thinking about it?”
“I’m just doing what I can do.”
It’s impossible for me to suddenly give appropriate advice to the group.
“…Fufu, I’m sorry. I said something mean.”
Anby says with a laugh.
“I couldn’t help it. But this is good. Even if one of our children took command, there would have been distortions somewhere. It’s better to have someone else take the lead and support them.
Just like you’re supporting them in the area of cooking, which you’re good at.
Still, you have a strong core. Doing what you can do. Honestly leaving what you can’t do to others. You don’t know how difficult that is.”
“Is that so…?”
“Yes. Most people who gain power think they can do everything themselves. It’s even difficult to find trustworthy subordinates who can be entrusted with practical work and clerical duties. Thank you, Shuri. For taking this old woman’s outburst head-on.”
I see, if you thought your territory had been taken over by a mercenary group, as someone who can’t do anything, you’d want to lash out. It can’t be helped, but it was a bit harsh.
But “old woman”… She looks like an adult version of Aeclys. And young too… What kind of anti-aging method is she using…?
“Marielle, don’t just stand there silent, say something too.”
“Yes. However, it’s about time I start preparing dinner.”
Oh? Is it that time already?
“Please wait a moment. I’ll cook this time.”
Well, this is my cue.
“No, we can’t let a guest do such a thing.”
“It’s fine, Marielle. It would be rude not to accept his kindness after he’s gone to such trouble.”
Oh, she noticed, huh? Marielle looks troubled though.
Aeclys is here. Aeclys, Anby, Marielle. People who can be called family have gathered here. And after a long time, too.
It might be interesting for me, the outsider, to slip away and let them chat.
I enter the kitchen and immediately check the cooking utensils. I brought a portable stove and kitchen knives, but I didn’t bring pots or ladles because they’re bulky. Just a small pot and a rice paddle. This isn’t enough…
I confirm there’s a frying pan and a ladle… A frying pan? I was planning to have Lill make one, but if there’s already one here, it might be easier. Since it’s already here.
“As for ingredients…”
Rice, onions, chicken, salt and pepper… and eggs.
“I guess I’ll make some fried rice.”
“Fried rice…!?”
Oh my, Eutine has come!
She’s expressionless, but her eyes are sparkling. Why?
“Shouldn’t you be guarding Aeclys and the others?”
“I was asked, to protect, Shuri”
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no! You should be protecting Aeclys more than me!”
I think a member of the lord’s family has more value to guard than a mere cook.
“…You haven’t, noticed”
“Huh?”
“I move, on the princess’s, orders. The princess’s order, is to protect Shuri. And, the princess, doesn’t give meaningless orders.
The princess has judged, that at this stage, Shuri’s life is more valuable, than Aeclys’“
“There’s no way that’s true. That’s not a good reason to slack off on your guard duty.”
There’s no way Princess Tevis would give such an order…
I told Eutine with a dubious look on my face.
“Anyway, I’m going to cook now, so don’t get in the way…”
“I won’t. I absolutely, won’t. I have, no intention, of doing so, at all.”
“Can I trust you?”
“If I can eat, fried rice.”
Huh? I sense the same vibe as Lill…!?
Oh well. Let’s cook.
First, let’s prepare the rice. It seems they cooked a rice dish this morning, and there’s some leftover rice. Let’s use this.
First, put the rice and eggs in a bowl to make egg rice. It would be best with soy sauce, but there isn’t any here, so we’ll skip it. Everyone, if you want to make it more delicious, soy sauce is essential.
By the way, it’s best to make the egg for egg rice a bit thicker.
Then, add the chicken and stir-fry it. When the color changes, add the onions and stir-fry further.
After it’s fried, put the egg rice on top and flatten it a bit. Make it like okonomiyaki.
Leave it for about five seconds, then break it up. Season with salt and pepper, and it’s done.
“Here, I’ll give some to Eutine too, so be quiet.”
Before I could finish saying “be,” Eutine snatched the spoon and plate from me. Then she disappeared. So fast…! Goodness, I couldn’t even see her!
Eutine, the expressionless guard, devouring the food voraciously, what did you really come here for? Eh, just to eat fried rice? Well, then I won’t say anything more…
I returned to everyone with Eutine behind me, continuing to devour the fried rice. It seems their conversation had come to an end, and Aeclys and the others were smiling.
“Everyone, I’ve brought the food. It’s fried rice.”
I place spoons and plates in front of everyone and step back.
I wonder how they’ll react?
“…Did you make a rice dish in such a short time?”
Marielle asks curiously.
“And it smells so good… How did you make this?”
“I stir-fried it. One secret is to use quite high heat.”
Huh? Marielle is making a face like she doesn’t understand.
Well, I’ll explain later. I served the fried rice to everyone.
“Please enjoy.”
“Yes, it would be rude to discuss theory in front of the served food. Let’s eat.”
Anby put the fried rice in her mouth.
“…”
And then she fell silent.
“I told you, didn’t I, mother? Shuri’s cooking surprises you on the first bite and teaches you deliciousness on the second.”
Aeclys puffs out her chest and starts eating the fried rice.
“…I see. Aeclys is right. Marielle, you eat too.”
“Lady Anby. As a maid, I should serve…”
“No, Marielle. You eat too. This is the shape of the continent’s future.”
Marielle hesitantly accepted the offered fried rice and began to eat. Hey, the shape of the future? That’s an exaggeration.
“…I see. This is…”
Marielle is chewing the fried rice in her mouth as if savoring it.
“It’s simple. Very delicious. The base flavors are eggs and salt and pepper, right? And onions are added as an accent, which goes well with the slightly firm rice.
And then, the chicken. You can enjoy the rice infused with the flavor of chicken while also tasting the chicken itself.
I see, it’s simple but meticulously calculated.”
It’s not that exaggerated…
“This originally developed from staff meals, I’ve heard. In a certain country in my homeland.”
“Using leftover rice and ingredients from staff meals to create something new. I see, Shuri’s cooking always comes from familiar places.”
Aeclys continues eating the fried rice, looking impressed.
Everyone seems satisfied with the fried rice, which puts me at ease.
After that, I cleared everyone’s plates and decided to head back.
Kuuga came to pick me up.
“Without you, our cooking lacks a certain something.”
“But Garn and the others are still there, right?”
“Ah, well… It’s not bad. It’s not bad. It’s better than before. But still, without Shuri, it feels incomplete.”
“I see…”
Maybe I should intensify Garn and the others’ training.
I decided to leave Eutine in charge of guarding Aeclys and head back.
“No, I am, Shuri’s, guard”
“There’s someone you need to guard more than me, right? I need to go back once, so I’m leaving this place to you.”
And so, I decided to return, leaving Eutine behind.
Now, I need to work hard on guiding Garn and the others too.
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