Hello, it’s Arius here. Somehow, I got wind that Gungrave and the others were having a guys’ night out, so I decided to host a girls’ night. After dinner, we decided to borrow one of the guest rooms to hold it.
“I was raised as a boy, so maybe I should go with them?” “No way. Biologically, you’re a woman, so you’re with us.”
Ignoring Aeclys’s grumbling, I pop a snack into my mouth. It’s nice to have a girls’ night, but I don’t want to get drunk, so we’re having amazake. Right now, it’s just the three of us: me, Lill, and Aeclys. The three of us drinking amazake under the lights at night… it’s quite lonely. If only we had one or two more people…
“Still, Shuri’s so cold. Going to that unrefined guys’ night out.” “No, Shuri is a man, so it would be strange for him to be here.” “I think he’d have more fun here than there.”
Aeclys drinks her amazake and complains. Well, I can understand where she’s coming from. Most men would be satisfied with women serving them, drinking happily, and bragging about themselves. But Shuri is, how should I put it… if normal men are carnivores, Shuri is more like a herbivore? That’s the impression I get. He seems to prefer hanging out with other guys or female friends he’s close with, rather than having women serve him.
“Shuri is, munch munch. Cooking is, chomp, like his lover.”
Lill’s words, as she continuously devours edamame, certainly describe Shuri well. Lill, who is completely absorbed in cooking, might as well say that cooking is her partner. She’s showing no sign of feminine grace. I wish she’d be a little more mindful… However… saying that cooking is his lover is a bit…
“That’s true, Lill. But that’s not good.” “Munch?” “It’s a problem if someone as skilled as Shuri doesn’t take on apprentices or pass on his techniques to children. There must be secret techniques that can only be passed on to talented apprentices or children. Considering the continuation of skills and bloodline, it would be better if he took a wife.”
Aeclys’s thinking is that of someone who has worked in internal affairs as a lord’s assistant, like a manager. But it’s quite a valid opinion. Shuri’s skills and cooking abilities are two or three heads above those of normal people. I do think that his techniques, knowledge, and experience should definitely be passed on to the next generation.
“In other words, if we don’t increase the number of people who can make hamburger steaks, there won’t be enough for Lill?” “Lill can’t let that happen.”
The fact that she’s convinced by that… Lill has been consumed by hamburger steaks… I saw a gleam in Lill’s eyes that bordered on madness.
“But, you’re right. They’re probably over there having silly conversations and getting rowdy. Why don’t we talk about something here too?” “If guys have silly talks… it’s probably about what kind of women they like? So for us, it would be what kind of men we like.” “Then let’s start with Arius.”
Lill…
“You know, if I mention any man other than Gungrave here, do you think it would end well? What would happen if a woman about to get married mentioned the name of a man other than her fiancé and the wedding was called off?” “Oh, you said it, Arius. Head over heels for your husband?”
Aeclys teases me, but it’s true.
“I’ve been devoted to Gungrave since I was little. We’re married now, and although we don’t have children yet, I’m happy.” “Oooh, when you say it so clearly, I’m the one who feels embarrassed…”
Hehe, but I’m happy. Because I’m with Gungrave.
“So, Aeclys, what about you? Who do you like?” “For me, it’s Shuri. I don’t even look at anyone else.”
Aeclys says this clearly, puffing out her chest.
“So, why Shuri? I hate to say it, but I don’t think it’s been that long since you met him.” “Well, that’s because Shuri overturned my fate.”
Your fate?
“As you know, I was destined to live as a man. As the next lord, remaining on bad terms with Gyngus, hiding my relationship with Brother Garn. I might have had to spend my life in a tense castle atmosphere. I couldn’t take a wife, and romance with a man was but a dream within a dream. I was despairing at the thought of a lonely single life.” “You don’t look like it.” “Lill, a lord sometimes has to deceive others while deceiving themselves, putting on a brave face. But the storm Shuri caused blew away all my barriers. I don’t have to pretend anymore, and I can even have romance with a man. I don’t have to be stubborn as a lord either.” “It seems like Gungrave took the real power from you, do you hold any grudge?” “No. Not me, not Gyngus, not Brother Garn. I don’t think any of us hold a grudge. Gyngus is grateful that he’s allowed to do work he can handle, as he’s realized through this chaos that he’s not fit to be a lord. Brother Garn never had inheritance rights to begin with and never wanted to be a lord. I didn’t want to be a lord either. So, we’re grateful to Gungrave for taking on the barriers we didn’t need. And I can’t thank Shuri enough for giving us that opportunity. Plus, he has the face and personality I like.”
Aeclys, chuckling and drinking amazake, looks very cheerful. Gungrave tried to fulfill his ideals by obtaining a country. But Aeclys didn’t want that even though she had a country. It must be because their aspirations are different. What one has from the beginning, and what one doesn’t have. Perhaps, if the process had been different, Aeclys could have become a great woman who worked hard for the country. She’s a person with that much ability. The ones who made the mistake were probably the parents. If both parents, the previous lord and the legal wife, had been proper, Aeclys might have been different from now. Well, at this point, there’s no use saying anything. It’s all in the past. It’s not something we can change by saying this or that should have been different now.
“I see…”
However, after hearing Aeclys’s story, I’m feeling a sense of urgency inside. To put it bluntly, it’s about Shuri. That Shuri, who’s such a blockhead when it comes to women, I’ve never heard any romantic stories about him until now. Considering how desperately he’s been trying to survive on the battlefield for the past year and a bit, I understand he hasn’t had time to make a lover. But we can’t just leave it at that. If Shuri marries someone outside the mercenary group, he might leave the group. Or if he ends up with someone from another country, there’s a risk he might be headhunted. Personally, I’d like him to end up with Lill if possible. She’s this kind of girl, and I can’t imagine anyone other than Shuri understanding her. Above all, if Lill, whose stomach is already in Shuri’s grasp, were to be separated from Shuri, there’s even a risk she might go mad like that time. I’ve talked with Gungrave about this, and Gungrave’s personal opinion is that he doesn’t like the idea of Shuri ending up with Aeclys. Apparently, it’s because he can’t tell whether Aeclys would use Shuri politically or protect him out of love. And he’s annoyed at the thought of a friend being suddenly snatched away. However, Aeclys is in love with Shuri. There’s no doubt about it now. I can’t support Gungrave’s view on this. The current Aeclys would probably try to protect Shuri. But that would be a pity for Lill…
“By the way, who does Lill like?”
Ignoring my thoughts, Aeclys asked Lill the core question. She dropped the question I most wanted to ask, without any regard for timing or flow.
“It’s interesting, isn’t it? Lill, I’ve never heard of you being close to anyone in particular, let alone having any romantic stories. You don’t seem particularly close to any men other than Shuri. The way you interact with Tegue and Kuuga isn’t any different from how you treat childhood friends.” “Hmm”
Lill swallowed her edamame and pondered for a moment. Oh, unexpected. To be honest, I didn’t think Lill would have any interest in this topic. This girl, who’s only interested in hamburger steaks and magic engineering, always expressionless, devouring mountains of hamburger steaks without changing her posture or expression at all, is pondering about romance. This might indicate some change happening.
“Lill doesn’t understand these things.”
After a long deliberation, that’s all she came up with…
“But, how should Lill put it. When Aeclys said she liked Shuri, Lill felt uneasy.”
Eh?
“Lill didn’t think about it because Lill thought Shuri would make hamburger steaks for Lill no matter who he married. But then Lill thought about it. What if Shuri ends up with someone else? How would Shuri treat Lill then? Lill thinks he’d still make hamburger steaks for Lill with that smile of his, as always. But Lill feels like his best smile probably wouldn’t be directed at Lill anymore. When Lill thinks about that, Lill feels uneasy.”
Is… is this… a sign?
“Lill, isn’t that just because you’re worried that he might make super amazing hamburger steaks for his spouse and not give them to you?” “That could be it.”
Whaaaat?! Lill agreed with Aeclys’s words!? Huh? Aeclys’s eyes are laughing…! They’re saying, 『Love? It’d be troublesome if she realized. I don’t want more rivals.』!! This is bad. If this continues, Lill will mistake love for appetite!
“Lill. Shuri is kind, so I don’t think he’d make special dishes for anyone in particular. But Shuri is just one person. Even if there are many of Shuri’s dishes, there’s only one Shuri as a person. Are you okay with someone else taking Shuri?” “That’s…”
Hmm, Lill started thinking again. A slight anger is lighting up in Aeclys’s eyes. 『Don’t do unnecessary things,』 they seem to say. Hmm, Aeclys is quite the strategist too. If Lill herself realizes that the slight feeling residing in her is “love,” that feeling will surely burst into flames. That’s the scene both Gungrave and I have been hoping for. However, the one who would be most troubled if that feeling bursts into flames is Aeclys. Right now, Aeclys is desperately trying to secure the position of Shuri’s closest female friend. She’s probably in the middle of building the royal road from friend to lover, and from lover to partner. However, this is only possible because the number of rivals aiming for Shuri is small at the moment. The royal road of love, while being the royal road, sometimes forces a longer detour than the crooked path. The royal road requires the least amount of enemies, but it also requires a great deal of effort to reach the final destination. However, if Lill appears here as a rival, she’ll have to use the crooked path. And when Shuri realizes that the crooked path has been used, what kind of thoughts will he have? Shuri is quite thick-skinned, so there’s a high possibility that he’ll forgive it in the end. Except for the point of outmaneuvering a comrade. So, Aeclys is afraid of enemies appearing nearby. I too have to make Lill happy, so I plan to fully support Lill. However, I’ve also become good friends with Aeclys, so this is quite a dilemma and a heavy burden on my heart.
“Lill. Please think about it. Who is the person you enjoy being with the most?” “Hm? Hmm…” “Enjoyable person, you mean like a best friend, right?”
Ugh, Aeclys’s leading question is too skillful to refute.
“I’ve grasped it all! Lill’s heart, Aeclys’s love, and Arius’s meddling! And with that, I declare!”
Princess Tevis sat down next to us, picked up an edamame, and said:
“Shuri belongs to me. I’ll allow him to stay in the mercenary group and have a lover. I’m tolerant of such things. I am royalty, after all. However! Even if he gives his body and position to the mercenary group, his heart is mine to take! Fuahahahaha!” “You, you heart thief!”
What’s this? Why did Princess Tevis suddenly appear and start saying these things? And I don’t understand Aeclys’s reaction either. What’s a heart thief? Above all, how did Princess Tevis know about today’s gathering?
“Fuahahahaha! Aeclys, your skill in filling in the outer moat from the friend position is admirable, but that’s just an ancient battle without magic. This is an era of magic and magic engineering! All you need is wings to fly over the walls of Shuri’s heart!”
Huh? I don’t understand the true meaning of Princess Tevis’s words. Or rather, I don’t understand what this little girl is saying. I hurriedly pat my ears, but there doesn’t seem to be any dirt accumulated or any auditory abnormalities. Above all, she’s eating edamame voraciously in the confusion, so the number is rapidly decreasing.
“Ugh, Princess Tevis…”
Aeclys seems to understand and looks frustrated. I rub my eyes, but they’re not blurry and I’m not seeing illusions. Apparently, there’s something that these two can see that I can’t.
“Munch munch”
And Lill continues to devour edamame and wash it down with amazake. What’s this? The flow in this room has suddenly started to go off track.
“…These edamame are delicious, aren’t they?”
You can call it escapism if you want. If I can escape from this flow, I wouldn’t hesitate to pay any price.
“Good evening… Oh, Princess? Why are you here?”
As if cutting through all that flow, the door opened. The one who appeared was Shuri, the source of the storm. Huh? Why is he here?
“Ah, perfect timing. I brought the additional snacks I was asked to make… but I think I might have made too much. I prepared chicken karaage (fried chicken). This time, I made two types: one with a crispy coating and one with a moist coating. Please enjoy them, everyone.”
Saying that, Shuri placed the large plate he brought in front of us. What’s on it is a meat dish wrapped in a fox-colored skin. Those bite-sized pieces are making a sizzling sound as oil pops from them. The smell is also amazing. The savory aroma of meat and oil fills the entire room, hitting the stomach that should have been full of edamame. However, there are two types, and they look different. One is fried chicken with a crispy, light fox-colored coating. This looks like it has a good bite to it, whetting my appetite. The other is fried chicken with a moist coating of a deeper fox color. It looks like it would be easy to bite through. Both are freshly made. Many of them are rolling on the plate, steaming hot.
“Shuri. Is this chicken fried in oil?”
Chicken. Hearing that, I slightly frowned. When we talk about chicken, it’s usually hens that have stopped laying eggs or roosters that don’t lay eggs at all. Normally, it’s hard and sinewy, so it’s not very popular. The beef that Shuri serves isn’t popular either. Normally, it would be meat from cows that have stopped producing milk, but when Shuri cooks it, it becomes surprisingly tender and delicious, so I don’t mind it. In the past, we might have even eaten meat that smelled of milk if we weren’t careful. But chicken. Chicken is the real challenge. If it were duck or pigeon, I’d be more inclined to eat it. Those wild birds have a wild taste, but they’re delicious meat. Chicken… thinking about it, my appetite…
“Yes. But I’ve tried to make it tender and delicious. The crispy coating here is fried in a pot filled with oil, and the soft coating here was made using a machine called a ‘range (a stove that has burners and is paired with an oven)’ that Lill asked me to try out. If you coat it and put it in the range to heat, it turns out like this.” “You made such a new machine?” “…Lill said melted cheese is justice… so I had her make something easy to use…”
…Lill. Well, since Shuri says it with such confidence, I pick one up, albeit with some doubt. I tried the fried chicken with the crispy coating. The thin coating is firmly formed, and it feels hard when I pick it up. This is… a strange feeling. How should I put it? I’m supposed to be touching a hard coating, but I can tell it’s soft. When I touch a part where the coating is very thin, it feels squishy.
“Hmm, it certainly is soft. The poultry served to royalty is usually prepared from birds raised specifically for food, but… Shuri. Is this of that kind?” “No, it’s the ordinary kind.” “Is there some sort of trick?” “Yes. Soaking it in water.”
…Huh? Following the afternoon, the presence of water again. Even Princess Tevis frowned at this.
“Water? Just soaking it in water makes it this soft and fluffy?” “Yes. About ten minutes is a good guideline. If you soak it in water before coating it with the powder that becomes the batter, it turns out like this. Also, chicken breast meat is often dry, but if you soak that in water too, it becomes moist and the texture after cooking is different.”
Wow. Such a method exists. Princess Tevis’s expression changed from a frown to an impressed smile as she looks at the fried chicken. But, water, huh. Cooking techniques require broad and deep knowledge, almost as much as magic engineering. Trying out familiar things one after another, and finding a slight new technique among them. In Shuri’s case, he has an incredibly large number of these new techniques in his repertoire. Really, who on earth is Shuri?
“Well then, I’ll be going now.” “Wait a moment, Shuri.”
Princess Tevis stopped Shuri as he was about to leave the room. Shuri, who had just put his hand on the doorknob, turns around with a puzzled look.
“What is it, Princess?” “Why don’t you stay and eat with us?” “Eh? But Gungrave and the others…” “No need to worry. What are those fellows doing right now?” “Playing cards.” “Good, leave them be.”
Princess Tevis’s blunt opinion. Shuri seems to have no choice but to obey, and he sits down next to Princess Tevis. By the way, I’m next to her. Aeclys is looking this way with a demonic smile, but let’s ignore that. If I engage with such a dark aura-wrapped smile, I’ll get infected with the dark aura too. A woman before marriage should be wrapped in a pure white aura of happiness. Ufufu.
“Is it really okay…? I can’t help but feel that Gyngus is being fleeced by Tegue’s chea… trick right about now.”
Shuri, that worry is spot on. Tegue may not look like it, but he’s good at swindl… tricks.
“Leave them be. Men’s excitement is nothing but poison to Shuri.” “Um, I’m a man too, you know.” “Shuri’s a man, but compared to Gungrave and the others, he seems to lack something as a man. It’s more fitting for you to stay here and have a fun conversation!” “…I see.”
A slight dark aura appears around Shuri…!
“Well then, let’s eat. Lill has already started eating anyway.”
Eh? Looking at Lill, she’s continuously putting fried chicken into her mouth. Ehhh? Isn’t it hot?
“Soft and juicy. Delicious.”
At Lill’s murmur, my throat made a sound. Lill says it’s delicious. Lill, who doesn’t even glance at anything other than hamburger steaks, says it’s delicious. I put a piece of fried chicken in my mouth too.
This is amazing.
The first thing I notice is the crispy texture of the coating. This creates an exquisite mouthfeel, giving the sensation of eating a light snack. However, this is too savory to be called a light snack. Probably because it was cooked using oil. The coating has absorbed the oil, but it’s restrained to a level that isn’t too heavy. And as I continue chewing, I encounter the fluffy, juicy chicken meat. Indeed, it doesn’t seem like meat from a discarded chicken at all, it’s so tender. And it fills my mouth with satisfaction. Above all, it seems this meat has been pre-seasoned, so the more I chew, the more the umami of the meat and the seasonings mix in my mouth. Often, the combination of tender meat and hard coating creates a crispy, fluffy texture that delights the jaw. Ah, this is delicious. I swallow the fried chicken and take just one sip of amazake, savoring the lingering aftertaste. The oil remaining in my mouth is washed away, preparing me for the next piece of fried chicken. Next, I’ll taste the fried chicken with the darker fox-colored coating. This is completely different from the crispy coating earlier. Just touching it makes my finger sink into the coating, and oil drips from it. When I put it in my mouth, there’s a difference in texture again. At first, from the dripping oil, I thought a considerable amount of oil was used, but I don’t get that sensation. This one doesn’t have the crispy texture. However, it’s incredibly soft and fluffy, and I can bite through it without much jaw strength. And I realized that the dripping oil isn’t the oil used for cooking, but the fat from the meat itself. So the oil is very light and easy to eat. This one must have been seasoned before cooking too, as the meat itself is very delicious. A soft fried chicken that breaks apart gently with a fluffy texture. This is also incredibly delicious. Personally, I prefer the softer one. The crispy one is delicious too, but I feel like the crispy one is more suitable for lunch when you want to chew thoroughly and fill your stomach, while the soft one is more suitable as a light snack. It’s just a feeling, though.
“Yum yum”
As if knowing this feeling or not, Lill is eating them mixed together in her mouth. She’s probably the type who wants to eat a lot if it’s delicious. I can understand that feeling, but I wish she’d enjoy the texture too…
“Hmm, both the soft and crispy are good. If I had to say, the crispy might be better for mealtime, and the soft for snacks. But that’s just my preference. There might be people who prefer the opposite, or those who absolutely love one over the other.”
Oh, Princess Tevis is carefully putting each piece in her mouth, chewing to confirm the taste and enjoying the texture. As expected of the princess of a gourmet country. She knows how to enjoy a meal. The taste, the texture, the smell. She’s enjoying it all. That figure is somewhat divine… I felt a beauty in it.
“…” “Huh? Aeclys?”
Suddenly, I realized I couldn’t sense any words or actions from Aeclys. Looking at her… What? She’s secretly trying to take both types of fried chicken, balanced nicely, in a jar with a lid she had hidden to take home?
“Aeclys? What are you…?” “…Fu”
? She suddenly laughed…?
“Do you feel destiny?” “Pardon?” “I wonder if I was born to encounter this dish.”
Seeing that melancholic expression, I realized. Oh no, we might have gained another addict junkie.
“Aeclys…” “Don’t say anything, Arius. I know. I know. That I’m acting strange right now. But I can’t stop. I can’t stop!!”
She was crying while carefully hugging the jar after putting a good amount in it. …
“Why don’t you just eat it?” “When can I eat it next?” “Can’t you just ask him to make it?” “Really, Shuri?”
Aeclys’s wet, alluring gaze pierces through Shuri. It probably has enough destructive power to make any normal man fall in love at first sight.
“Yes, if you ask, I’ll add it to the menu.” “Yay!”
However, it doesn’t seem to have much effect on Shuri. As expected of a blockhead. He doesn’t waver.
“Shuri, I want That too…”
I don’t know why she thought to compete, but Princess Tevis said this while clinging to Shuri and trying to be seductive. For someone into that kind of thing, they might immediately fall into an inappropriate path from this young yet bewitching charm.
“You mean the mapo tofu…? I’ll prepare it tomorrow. Along with the fried chicken.” “Alright!”
The figure raising her fist in victory cheer has not a trace of the charm from earlier. There’s not even a shred of feminine modesty. A manly maiden. Yes, there’s a manly maiden here. Princess Tevis… is that okay?
“Shall we have yudofu the day after tomorrow, Arius?” “Oh, y-yes, if you say so, I wouldn’t mind eating it!”
I stuttered a bit, but yudofu the day after tomorrow? My list of things to look forward to has grown.
“…”
And then, Lill’s silent pressure!
“…” “Well, I think I’ll take my leave now.”
However, it seems to have no effect on the blockhead Shuri!
“Shuri, what about the hamburger steaks?” “Eh? We’re short on beef, so there won’t be any for a while…”
It seems to have a super effective impact on Lill! Lill’s body collapsed with a bright smile… She’s in critical condition, severely wounded.
“But, it might be favoritism, but I’ve secured some just for Lill.” “As expected of Shuri!!”
That was truly like a bolt of lightning. Lill quickly stood up and raised both hands. Is that okay, Lill.
“Karaage… karaage…”
Aeclys is captivated by the fried chicken. Is that okay, Aeclys.
“I won’t let you! I’ll secure tomorrow’s mapo tofu!” “Don’t worry, I’ll make it properly.”
Ah, somehow Shuri is starting to look like a mother. The figure of him having captured the stomachs of these food-loving, high-maintenance daughters… Huh? Am I mixed in there too? N-no way…
“Well then, I think it’s about time for me to take my leave.”
Princess Tevis stood up with what looked like a relieved expression.
“There’s tomorrow to think about, and the wedding too, right? I’ll come as a guest of honor. I need to prepare for that as well.” “Eh!? Wait, that’s—” “That sounds lively and good. Please do, we’d be honored.” “Sh-Shuri!”
Before I could stop him, Shuri accepted with a smile. In what world is there a wedding where someone likely to outshine the bride and groom is invited!?
“I’ve heard those words. I’ll have my attendants who followed me cooperate as well. Well then.”
As she was leaving, Princess Tevis grinned. Like a crescent moon, she raised the corners of her mouth…! Watching the door she left through, I sighed inwardly.
Haah… I hope Princess Tevis doesn’t do anything strange from tomorrow…
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Chapter 42
Hello, it’s Arius here.
Somehow, I got wind that Gungrave and the others were having a guys’ night out, so I decided to host a girls’ night.
After dinner, we decided to borrow one of the guest rooms to hold it.
“I was raised as a boy, so maybe I should go with them?”
“No way. Biologically, you’re a woman, so you’re with us.”
Ignoring Aeclys’s grumbling, I pop a snack into my mouth.
It’s nice to have a girls’ night, but I don’t want to get drunk, so we’re having amazake.
Right now, it’s just the three of us: me, Lill, and Aeclys.
The three of us drinking amazake under the lights at night… it’s quite lonely. If only we had one or two more people…
“Still, Shuri’s so cold. Going to that unrefined guys’ night out.”
“No, Shuri is a man, so it would be strange for him to be here.”
“I think he’d have more fun here than there.”
Aeclys drinks her amazake and complains.
Well, I can understand where she’s coming from.
Most men would be satisfied with women serving them, drinking happily, and bragging about themselves.
But Shuri is, how should I put it… if normal men are carnivores, Shuri is more like a herbivore? That’s the impression I get.
He seems to prefer hanging out with other guys or female friends he’s close with, rather than having women serve him.
“Shuri is, munch munch. Cooking is, chomp, like his lover.”
Lill’s words, as she continuously devours edamame, certainly describe Shuri well. Lill, who is completely absorbed in cooking, might as well say that cooking is her partner. She’s showing no sign of feminine grace. I wish she’d be a little more mindful…
However… saying that cooking is his lover is a bit…
“That’s true, Lill. But that’s not good.”
“Munch?”
“It’s a problem if someone as skilled as Shuri doesn’t take on apprentices or pass on his techniques to children. There must be secret techniques that can only be passed on to talented apprentices or children.
Considering the continuation of skills and bloodline, it would be better if he took a wife.”
Aeclys’s thinking is that of someone who has worked in internal affairs as a lord’s assistant, like a manager. But it’s quite a valid opinion.
Shuri’s skills and cooking abilities are two or three heads above those of normal people.
I do think that his techniques, knowledge, and experience should definitely be passed on to the next generation.
“In other words, if we don’t increase the number of people who can make hamburger steaks, there won’t be enough for Lill?”
“Lill can’t let that happen.”
The fact that she’s convinced by that… Lill has been consumed by hamburger steaks… I saw a gleam in Lill’s eyes that bordered on madness.
“But, you’re right. They’re probably over there having silly conversations and getting rowdy. Why don’t we talk about something here too?”
“If guys have silly talks… it’s probably about what kind of women they like? So for us, it would be what kind of men we like.”
“Then let’s start with Arius.”
Lill…
“You know, if I mention any man other than Gungrave here, do you think it would end well? What would happen if a woman about to get married mentioned the name of a man other than her fiancé and the wedding was called off?”
“Oh, you said it, Arius. Head over heels for your husband?”
Aeclys teases me, but it’s true.
“I’ve been devoted to Gungrave since I was little. We’re married now, and although we don’t have children yet, I’m happy.”
“Oooh, when you say it so clearly, I’m the one who feels embarrassed…”
Hehe, but I’m happy. Because I’m with Gungrave.
“So, Aeclys, what about you? Who do you like?”
“For me, it’s Shuri. I don’t even look at anyone else.”
Aeclys says this clearly, puffing out her chest.
“So, why Shuri? I hate to say it, but I don’t think it’s been that long since you met him.”
“Well, that’s because Shuri overturned my fate.”
Your fate?
“As you know, I was destined to live as a man. As the next lord, remaining on bad terms with Gyngus, hiding my relationship with Brother Garn. I might have had to spend my life in a tense castle atmosphere.
I couldn’t take a wife, and romance with a man was but a dream within a dream. I was despairing at the thought of a lonely single life.”
“You don’t look like it.”
“Lill, a lord sometimes has to deceive others while deceiving themselves, putting on a brave face.
But the storm Shuri caused blew away all my barriers. I don’t have to pretend anymore, and I can even have romance with a man. I don’t have to be stubborn as a lord either.”
“It seems like Gungrave took the real power from you, do you hold any grudge?”
“No. Not me, not Gyngus, not Brother Garn. I don’t think any of us hold a grudge.
Gyngus is grateful that he’s allowed to do work he can handle, as he’s realized through this chaos that he’s not fit to be a lord. Brother Garn never had inheritance rights to begin with and never wanted to be a lord. I didn’t want to be a lord either.
So, we’re grateful to Gungrave for taking on the barriers we didn’t need.
And I can’t thank Shuri enough for giving us that opportunity. Plus, he has the face and personality I like.”
Aeclys, chuckling and drinking amazake, looks very cheerful.
Gungrave tried to fulfill his ideals by obtaining a country.
But Aeclys didn’t want that even though she had a country.
It must be because their aspirations are different.
What one has from the beginning, and what one doesn’t have.
Perhaps, if the process had been different, Aeclys could have become a great woman who worked hard for the country. She’s a person with that much ability.
The ones who made the mistake were probably the parents.
If both parents, the previous lord and the legal wife, had been proper, Aeclys might have been different from now.
Well, at this point, there’s no use saying anything.
It’s all in the past. It’s not something we can change by saying this or that should have been different now.
“I see…”
However, after hearing Aeclys’s story, I’m feeling a sense of urgency inside.
To put it bluntly, it’s about Shuri.
That Shuri, who’s such a blockhead when it comes to women, I’ve never heard any romantic stories about him until now.
Considering how desperately he’s been trying to survive on the battlefield for the past year and a bit, I understand he hasn’t had time to make a lover.
But we can’t just leave it at that.
If Shuri marries someone outside the mercenary group, he might leave the group.
Or if he ends up with someone from another country, there’s a risk he might be headhunted.
Personally, I’d like him to end up with Lill if possible.
She’s this kind of girl, and I can’t imagine anyone other than Shuri understanding her.
Above all, if Lill, whose stomach is already in Shuri’s grasp, were to be separated from Shuri, there’s even a risk she might go mad like that time.
I’ve talked with Gungrave about this, and Gungrave’s personal opinion is that he doesn’t like the idea of Shuri ending up with Aeclys.
Apparently, it’s because he can’t tell whether Aeclys would use Shuri politically or protect him out of love.
And he’s annoyed at the thought of a friend being suddenly snatched away.
However, Aeclys is in love with Shuri. There’s no doubt about it now.
I can’t support Gungrave’s view on this.
The current Aeclys would probably try to protect Shuri.
But that would be a pity for Lill…
“By the way, who does Lill like?”
Ignoring my thoughts, Aeclys asked Lill the core question.
She dropped the question I most wanted to ask, without any regard for timing or flow.
“It’s interesting, isn’t it? Lill, I’ve never heard of you being close to anyone in particular, let alone having any romantic stories.
You don’t seem particularly close to any men other than Shuri. The way you interact with Tegue and Kuuga isn’t any different from how you treat childhood friends.”
“Hmm”
Lill swallowed her edamame and pondered for a moment.
Oh, unexpected.
To be honest, I didn’t think Lill would have any interest in this topic.
This girl, who’s only interested in hamburger steaks and magic engineering, always expressionless, devouring mountains of hamburger steaks without changing her posture or expression at all, is pondering about romance.
This might indicate some change happening.
“Lill doesn’t understand these things.”
After a long deliberation, that’s all she came up with…
“But, how should Lill put it. When Aeclys said she liked Shuri, Lill felt uneasy.”
Eh?
“Lill didn’t think about it because Lill thought Shuri would make hamburger steaks for Lill no matter who he married.
But then Lill thought about it.
What if Shuri ends up with someone else? How would Shuri treat Lill then?
Lill thinks he’d still make hamburger steaks for Lill with that smile of his, as always.
But Lill feels like his best smile probably wouldn’t be directed at Lill anymore.
When Lill thinks about that, Lill feels uneasy.”
Is… is this… a sign?
“Lill, isn’t that just because you’re worried that he might make super amazing hamburger steaks for his spouse and not give them to you?”
“That could be it.”
Whaaaat?!
Lill agreed with Aeclys’s words!?
Huh? Aeclys’s eyes are laughing…!
They’re saying, 『Love? It’d be troublesome if she realized. I don’t want more rivals.』!!
This is bad. If this continues, Lill will mistake love for appetite!
“Lill. Shuri is kind, so I don’t think he’d make special dishes for anyone in particular.
But Shuri is just one person. Even if there are many of Shuri’s dishes, there’s only one Shuri as a person.
Are you okay with someone else taking Shuri?”
“That’s…”
Hmm, Lill started thinking again.
A slight anger is lighting up in Aeclys’s eyes.
『Don’t do unnecessary things,』 they seem to say.
Hmm, Aeclys is quite the strategist too.
If Lill herself realizes that the slight feeling residing in her is “love,” that feeling will surely burst into flames. That’s the scene both Gungrave and I have been hoping for.
However, the one who would be most troubled if that feeling bursts into flames is Aeclys.
Right now, Aeclys is desperately trying to secure the position of Shuri’s closest female friend. She’s probably in the middle of building the royal road from friend to lover, and from lover to partner.
However, this is only possible because the number of rivals aiming for Shuri is small at the moment.
The royal road of love, while being the royal road, sometimes forces a longer detour than the crooked path.
The royal road requires the least amount of enemies, but it also requires a great deal of effort to reach the final destination.
However, if Lill appears here as a rival, she’ll have to use the crooked path.
And when Shuri realizes that the crooked path has been used, what kind of thoughts will he have?
Shuri is quite thick-skinned, so there’s a high possibility that he’ll forgive it in the end.
Except for the point of outmaneuvering a comrade.
So, Aeclys is afraid of enemies appearing nearby.
I too have to make Lill happy, so I plan to fully support Lill.
However, I’ve also become good friends with Aeclys, so this is quite a dilemma and a heavy burden on my heart.
“Lill. Please think about it. Who is the person you enjoy being with the most?”
“Hm? Hmm…”
“Enjoyable person, you mean like a best friend, right?”
Ugh, Aeclys’s leading question is too skillful to refute.
While I was thinking about that, the door opened.
“I’ve heard that conversation!”
What? It’s Princess Tevis! Princess Tevis suddenly appeared.
Huh? Why?
“I’ve grasped it all! Lill’s heart, Aeclys’s love, and Arius’s meddling!
And with that, I declare!”
Princess Tevis sat down next to us, picked up an edamame, and said:
“Shuri belongs to me. I’ll allow him to stay in the mercenary group and have a lover. I’m tolerant of such things. I am royalty, after all.
However! Even if he gives his body and position to the mercenary group, his heart is mine to take! Fuahahahaha!”
“You, you heart thief!”
What’s this? Why did Princess Tevis suddenly appear and start saying these things?
And I don’t understand Aeclys’s reaction either. What’s a heart thief?
Above all, how did Princess Tevis know about today’s gathering?
“Fuahahahaha! Aeclys, your skill in filling in the outer moat from the friend position is admirable, but that’s just an ancient battle without magic.
This is an era of magic and magic engineering! All you need is wings to fly over the walls of Shuri’s heart!”
Huh?
I don’t understand the true meaning of Princess Tevis’s words.
Or rather, I don’t understand what this little girl is saying.
I hurriedly pat my ears, but there doesn’t seem to be any dirt accumulated or any auditory abnormalities.
Above all, she’s eating edamame voraciously in the confusion, so the number is rapidly decreasing.
“Ugh, Princess Tevis…”
Aeclys seems to understand and looks frustrated.
I rub my eyes, but they’re not blurry and I’m not seeing illusions.
Apparently, there’s something that these two can see that I can’t.
“Munch munch”
And Lill continues to devour edamame and wash it down with amazake.
What’s this? The flow in this room has suddenly started to go off track.
“…These edamame are delicious, aren’t they?”
You can call it escapism if you want.
If I can escape from this flow, I wouldn’t hesitate to pay any price.
“Good evening… Oh, Princess? Why are you here?”
As if cutting through all that flow, the door opened.
The one who appeared was Shuri, the source of the storm.
Huh? Why is he here?
“Ah, perfect timing. I brought the additional snacks I was asked to make… but I think I might have made too much.
I prepared chicken karaage (fried chicken). This time, I made two types: one with a crispy coating and one with a moist coating. Please enjoy them, everyone.”
Saying that, Shuri placed the large plate he brought in front of us.
What’s on it is a meat dish wrapped in a fox-colored skin.
Those bite-sized pieces are making a sizzling sound as oil pops from them.
The smell is also amazing. The savory aroma of meat and oil fills the entire room, hitting the stomach that should have been full of edamame.
However, there are two types, and they look different.
One is fried chicken with a crispy, light fox-colored coating. This looks like it has a good bite to it, whetting my appetite.
The other is fried chicken with a moist coating of a deeper fox color. It looks like it would be easy to bite through.
Both are freshly made. Many of them are rolling on the plate, steaming hot.
“Shuri. Is this chicken fried in oil?”
Chicken. Hearing that, I slightly frowned.
When we talk about chicken, it’s usually hens that have stopped laying eggs or roosters that don’t lay eggs at all. Normally, it’s hard and sinewy, so it’s not very popular.
The beef that Shuri serves isn’t popular either. Normally, it would be meat from cows that have stopped producing milk, but when Shuri cooks it, it becomes surprisingly tender and delicious, so I don’t mind it.
In the past, we might have even eaten meat that smelled of milk if we weren’t careful.
But chicken. Chicken is the real challenge.
If it were duck or pigeon, I’d be more inclined to eat it. Those wild birds have a wild taste, but they’re delicious meat.
Chicken… thinking about it, my appetite…
“Yes. But I’ve tried to make it tender and delicious.
The crispy coating here is fried in a pot filled with oil, and the soft coating here was made using a machine called a ‘range (a stove that has burners and is paired with an oven)’ that Lill asked me to try out.
If you coat it and put it in the range to heat, it turns out like this.”
“You made such a new machine?”
“…Lill said melted cheese is justice… so I had her make something easy to use…”
…Lill.
Well, since Shuri says it with such confidence, I pick one up, albeit with some doubt.
I tried the fried chicken with the crispy coating. The thin coating is firmly formed, and it feels hard when I pick it up.
This is… a strange feeling.
How should I put it? I’m supposed to be touching a hard coating, but I can tell it’s soft.
When I touch a part where the coating is very thin, it feels squishy.
“Hmm, it certainly is soft. The poultry served to royalty is usually prepared from birds raised specifically for food, but… Shuri. Is this of that kind?”
“No, it’s the ordinary kind.”
“Is there some sort of trick?”
“Yes. Soaking it in water.”
…Huh?
Following the afternoon, the presence of water again. Even Princess Tevis frowned at this.
“Water? Just soaking it in water makes it this soft and fluffy?”
“Yes. About ten minutes is a good guideline.
If you soak it in water before coating it with the powder that becomes the batter, it turns out like this.
Also, chicken breast meat is often dry, but if you soak that in water too, it becomes moist and the texture after cooking is different.”
Wow. Such a method exists.
Princess Tevis’s expression changed from a frown to an impressed smile as she looks at the fried chicken.
But, water, huh.
Cooking techniques require broad and deep knowledge, almost as much as magic engineering.
Trying out familiar things one after another, and finding a slight new technique among them.
In Shuri’s case, he has an incredibly large number of these new techniques in his repertoire.
Really, who on earth is Shuri?
“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
“Wait a moment, Shuri.”
Princess Tevis stopped Shuri as he was about to leave the room.
Shuri, who had just put his hand on the doorknob, turns around with a puzzled look.
“What is it, Princess?”
“Why don’t you stay and eat with us?”
“Eh? But Gungrave and the others…”
“No need to worry. What are those fellows doing right now?”
“Playing cards.”
“Good, leave them be.”
Princess Tevis’s blunt opinion.
Shuri seems to have no choice but to obey, and he sits down next to Princess Tevis. By the way, I’m next to her.
Aeclys is looking this way with a demonic smile, but let’s ignore that.
If I engage with such a dark aura-wrapped smile, I’ll get infected with the dark aura too.
A woman before marriage should be wrapped in a pure white aura of happiness. Ufufu.
“Is it really okay…? I can’t help but feel that Gyngus is being fleeced by Tegue’s chea… trick right about now.”
Shuri, that worry is spot on. Tegue may not look like it, but he’s good at swindl… tricks.
“Leave them be. Men’s excitement is nothing but poison to Shuri.”
“Um, I’m a man too, you know.”
“Shuri’s a man, but compared to Gungrave and the others, he seems to lack something as a man. It’s more fitting for you to stay here and have a fun conversation!”
“…I see.”
A slight dark aura appears around Shuri…!
“Well then, let’s eat. Lill has already started eating anyway.”
Eh?
Looking at Lill, she’s continuously putting fried chicken into her mouth.
Ehhh? Isn’t it hot?
“Soft and juicy. Delicious.”
At Lill’s murmur, my throat made a sound.
Lill says it’s delicious. Lill, who doesn’t even glance at anything other than hamburger steaks, says it’s delicious.
I put a piece of fried chicken in my mouth too.
This is amazing.
The first thing I notice is the crispy texture of the coating. This creates an exquisite mouthfeel, giving the sensation of eating a light snack.
However, this is too savory to be called a light snack.
Probably because it was cooked using oil. The coating has absorbed the oil, but it’s restrained to a level that isn’t too heavy.
And as I continue chewing, I encounter the fluffy, juicy chicken meat.
Indeed, it doesn’t seem like meat from a discarded chicken at all, it’s so tender. And it fills my mouth with satisfaction.
Above all, it seems this meat has been pre-seasoned, so the more I chew, the more the umami of the meat and the seasonings mix in my mouth.
Often, the combination of tender meat and hard coating creates a crispy, fluffy texture that delights the jaw.
Ah, this is delicious.
I swallow the fried chicken and take just one sip of amazake, savoring the lingering aftertaste.
The oil remaining in my mouth is washed away, preparing me for the next piece of fried chicken.
Next, I’ll taste the fried chicken with the darker fox-colored coating.
This is completely different from the crispy coating earlier. Just touching it makes my finger sink into the coating, and oil drips from it.
When I put it in my mouth, there’s a difference in texture again.
At first, from the dripping oil, I thought a considerable amount of oil was used, but I don’t get that sensation.
This one doesn’t have the crispy texture. However, it’s incredibly soft and fluffy, and I can bite through it without much jaw strength.
And I realized that the dripping oil isn’t the oil used for cooking, but the fat from the meat itself.
So the oil is very light and easy to eat.
This one must have been seasoned before cooking too, as the meat itself is very delicious.
A soft fried chicken that breaks apart gently with a fluffy texture.
This is also incredibly delicious.
Personally, I prefer the softer one.
The crispy one is delicious too, but I feel like the crispy one is more suitable for lunch when you want to chew thoroughly and fill your stomach, while the soft one is more suitable as a light snack.
It’s just a feeling, though.
“Yum yum”
As if knowing this feeling or not, Lill is eating them mixed together in her mouth.
She’s probably the type who wants to eat a lot if it’s delicious.
I can understand that feeling, but I wish she’d enjoy the texture too…
“Hmm, both the soft and crispy are good. If I had to say, the crispy might be better for mealtime, and the soft for snacks.
But that’s just my preference. There might be people who prefer the opposite, or those who absolutely love one over the other.”
Oh, Princess Tevis is carefully putting each piece in her mouth, chewing to confirm the taste and enjoying the texture.
As expected of the princess of a gourmet country. She knows how to enjoy a meal.
The taste, the texture, the smell. She’s enjoying it all.
That figure is somewhat divine… I felt a beauty in it.
“…”
“Huh? Aeclys?”
Suddenly, I realized I couldn’t sense any words or actions from Aeclys.
Looking at her…
What? She’s secretly trying to take both types of fried chicken, balanced nicely, in a jar with a lid she had hidden to take home?
“Aeclys? What are you…?”
“…Fu”
? She suddenly laughed…?
“Do you feel destiny?”
“Pardon?”
“I wonder if I was born to encounter this dish.”
Seeing that melancholic expression, I realized.
Oh no, we might have gained another addict junkie.
“Aeclys…”
“Don’t say anything, Arius. I know. I know.
That I’m acting strange right now. But I can’t stop.
I can’t stop!!”
She was crying while carefully hugging the jar after putting a good amount in it.
…
“Why don’t you just eat it?”
“When can I eat it next?”
“Can’t you just ask him to make it?”
“Really, Shuri?”
Aeclys’s wet, alluring gaze pierces through Shuri.
It probably has enough destructive power to make any normal man fall in love at first sight.
“Yes, if you ask, I’ll add it to the menu.”
“Yay!”
However, it doesn’t seem to have much effect on Shuri.
As expected of a blockhead. He doesn’t waver.
“Shuri, I want That too…”
I don’t know why she thought to compete, but Princess Tevis said this while clinging to Shuri and trying to be seductive.
For someone into that kind of thing, they might immediately fall into an inappropriate path from this young yet bewitching charm.
“You mean the mapo tofu…? I’ll prepare it tomorrow. Along with the fried chicken.”
“Alright!”
The figure raising her fist in victory cheer has not a trace of the charm from earlier. There’s not even a shred of feminine modesty.
A manly maiden. Yes, there’s a manly maiden here.
Princess Tevis… is that okay?
“Shall we have yudofu the day after tomorrow, Arius?”
“Oh, y-yes, if you say so, I wouldn’t mind eating it!”
I stuttered a bit, but yudofu the day after tomorrow? My list of things to look forward to has grown.
“…”
And then, Lill’s silent pressure!
“…”
“Well, I think I’ll take my leave now.”
However, it seems to have no effect on the blockhead Shuri!
“Shuri, what about the hamburger steaks?”
“Eh? We’re short on beef, so there won’t be any for a while…”
It seems to have a super effective impact on Lill!
Lill’s body collapsed with a bright smile…
She’s in critical condition, severely wounded.
“But, it might be favoritism, but I’ve secured some just for Lill.”
“As expected of Shuri!!”
That was truly like a bolt of lightning.
Lill quickly stood up and raised both hands.
Is that okay, Lill.
“Karaage… karaage…”
Aeclys is captivated by the fried chicken.
Is that okay, Aeclys.
“I won’t let you! I’ll secure tomorrow’s mapo tofu!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make it properly.”
Ah, somehow Shuri is starting to look like a mother.
The figure of him having captured the stomachs of these food-loving, high-maintenance daughters…
Huh? Am I mixed in there too?
N-no way…
“Well then, I think it’s about time for me to take my leave.”
Princess Tevis stood up with what looked like a relieved expression.
“There’s tomorrow to think about, and the wedding too, right? I’ll come as a guest of honor. I need to prepare for that as well.”
“Eh!? Wait, that’s—”
“That sounds lively and good. Please do, we’d be honored.”
“Sh-Shuri!”
Before I could stop him, Shuri accepted with a smile.
In what world is there a wedding where someone likely to outshine the bride and groom is invited!?
“I’ve heard those words. I’ll have my attendants who followed me cooperate as well. Well then.”
As she was leaving, Princess Tevis grinned.
Like a crescent moon, she raised the corners of her mouth…!
Watching the door she left through, I sighed inwardly.
Haah… I hope Princess Tevis doesn’t do anything strange from tomorrow…
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