It’s morning time. While I’m setting the table in the dining hall, Aeclys, who came for breakfast, tells me this.
“Shuri, you’re always working, aren’t you? Don’t you want to stretch your wings a bit?”
Hmm, stretch my wings, huh?
It’s Shuri here. Aeclys invited me to go shopping, so I decided to go. You see, I’ve been working a lot lately, and I could use a day off. Actually, I don’t even have days off.
“Well? What do you say, Shuri?” “Sounds good. I’ll join you.” “Great! Actually, there’s something I want to buy.” “Oh? Something you want to buy?”
Am I going to be a pack mule…?
“Oh, no, it’s not like that. I just didn’t want to go alone, so I thought I’d ask someone to come with me.” “In that case, why didn’t you invite Garn? If Garn wants time off, I can approve it.” “No, no, this shopping trip is related to Garn.” “…Ah, I see.”
A gift, perhaps?
“You get it?” “Got it.” “Alright then, I’ll go get ready. Let’s meet in an hour!” “Ah, wait!”
Before I could stop her, Aeclys left the dining hall. Hmm, this is troublesome. Can I finish my work in an hour? Well, I guess I’ll have to leave it to everyone else.
“Hmm? Oh, it’s Shuri.”
The next person to enter the dining hall is Princess Tevis. She’s accompanied by a maid… or rather, a guard. Princess Tevis looks a bit sleepy, but as expected of royalty, she’s properly dressed and groomed. But hey, aren’t you royalty? Is it okay for you to eat here?
“Aeclys just left looking quite happy. Did something happen?” “She said we’re going shopping in town later.” “Hmm.” “I’m going with her too.” “What?!”
Princess Tevis looks taken aback.
“You’re going out with Aeclys?” “That’s right.” “What about lunch?” “I thought I’d leave it to Garn and the others.”
Hearing this, Princess Tevis puts her hand on her chin, seeming to ponder something. Even her thoughtful pose looks regal. As expected of someone who regularly performs her duties as royalty, she’s a truly talented individual.
“I see. Make sure you’re back by dinner. I look forward to your cooking, you know.” “Um, alright. But speaking of meals, your attendant…” “If you’re here, my subordinate can help out. It’ll be a good experience.” “But for royalty, wouldn’t there be various considerations…?”
Princess Tevis gives a wry smile.
“Well, yes. However, I want to trust you. As for taste-testing… well, that will still be necessary, of course.”
That’s only natural. Princess Tevis is a princess of a country. It would be problematic if she didn’t do that, after all.
“In that case, to live up to your trust, I’ll make sure to be back for dinner and prepare something delicious.” “Good, I’ll be counting on you.”
Princess Tevis says with a smile. Hmm, looking at just her smile, she seems like a girl her age. But still, for a girl her age, she must have a lot of responsibilities and hardships as royalty. I’m not sure how much my cooking helps her, but I want to do what I can for her.
Now then, after handing over my work, I set out for town right away. Wearing my usual clothes and carrying the magic engineering stove that I’ve gotten used to having with me, I hurry to meet Aeclys. I thought we could have left together, but for some reason Aeclys said, “For things like this, it’s best to meet at a set place rather than leaving together!” So we ended up leaving separately. A woman’s heart is hard to understand. Thinking about this, I rush to the meeting place, the fountain in the central square. Passing through the streets and neighborhoods, I arrive at the fountain square, our designated meeting spot. The fountain square is bustling with people. There are ordinary townspeople, merchants, and soldiers maintaining public order. By the way, currently in Sounité, public order maintenance and defense against neighboring countries are handled by the Gungrave Mercenary Group and the soldiers who accepted Gungrave’s rule. Those who couldn’t accept it all quit. Just like the cooks who went on strike because they couldn’t accept me becoming the head chef. What’s up with that, really? They said things like “We have served the Sounité family for generations” and so on. Aeclys and the others are still alive, you know. Basically, they just couldn’t handle a change in leadership. I understand how they feel, but to completely abandon their duties…
“Shuri?”
As I’m pondering these things, someone calls out to me from the side. I hadn’t been paying attention to my surroundings since arriving at the fountain square, lost in unnecessary thoughts. Looking in the direction of the voice, I see Aeclys…
“Hm? What’s wrong?” “Ah, no, it’s nothing.”
The sunlight reflecting off the water from the fountain is sparkling. With that as a backdrop, Aeclys also seems to be shining. Aeclys now appears completely as a woman. A tunic with a skirt that reaches her ankles… clothing befitting a member of the lord’s family, not flashy but of good quality. She’s even wearing a headband and earrings, making it a complete date outfit. Huh? Why such full armor? Wait! Could it be…!
“Aeclys… could it be that this gift…” “Eh? Ah, well…”
As I try to ask Aeclys, she blushes. This is undoubtedly…!
“Judging from your high-quality outfit… are you planning to give the gift to someone you’re in a relationship with after this?” “…Huh?” “You said it was a gift for Garn, but you’re actually asking for gift advice from me, a man, and after we part ways, you’ll meet up with the person you’re dating… I see, so that’s wha- OOF!”
While I was explaining my deduction, Aeclys’s fist suddenly strikes my collarbone. The damage to what’s said to be the most fragile bone in the human body makes me groan in pain. W-why?
“Shuri. I know you’re kind and a bit dense, but that was an incredibly insensitive thing to say.” “I-I’m sorry…”
I see… having such a romantic affair exposed in public like this… Of course she’d be angry… I did something bad. However, due to the dull pain throbbing in my collarbone, I can’t properly apologize. This really hurts, you know.
“S-so, what’s the real reason for that outfit?”
I should ask, just to be sure. It would be dangerous to cause another misunderstanding here and risk getting my collarbone broken.
“Shuri, do you want another hit?” “Eek! Ah, I’m sorry! That’s right! When shopping with a man, a woman has to be on guard no matter who it is!” “Yes, you pass.”
Aeclys lowers her fist, which was raised and ready to strike. I’m glad the iron hammer didn’t come down… If I’d taken that hit, my shoulder might have been shattered too…
“That’s right, when a girl goes out with a boy, she has to be fully armed.”
Huh, so that’s how it is. I’ll remember that. Not sure when I’ll use this knowledge, though. Aeclys twirls on the spot and asks,
“So? How’s my outfit?” “I think it really suits you. Your femininity has increased from usual.” “That’s a fail as a compliment, but I’ll let it slide. I’ll give you a barely passing grade.”
I wonder what was wrong with that…
In the end, having concluded that a woman’s heart is as fickle as the autumn sky, I end up going shopping with Aeclys. Our destination is to the west of the fountain square. It’s a street lined with shops that deal in quite high-quality goods. I was about to ask what exactly we’re looking for here, but I stopped myself. Even I know that when shopping with a woman, it’s not good to ask what she’s buying. Besides, Aeclys has already told me. “A gift for Garn.” It would be insensitive to ask this and that of Aeclys, who’s looking so happy next to me right now. As we walk along the well-maintained road, I take another look at the town of Sounité. It’s quite well-organized as a castle town, with neat rows of shops and houses visible. The materials used for housing vary, from stone to wood, and it seems there’s no uniformity in this aspect.
“Aeclys, this town is beautiful, isn’t it?” “You think so? Maybe because I’m used to it, but I can see the flaws. The building materials are getting old, the deterioration of public facilities is noticeable, I want to pave the roads with cobblestones soon, we need to manage the gathering of merchants or they’ll build shops as they please, public safety is currently in disarray so we need to recruit for the guard, and once their skills improve, we need to survey the surrounding geography-” “Stop! Stop, I can’t understand any more of that!”
Oh no, if I’m not careful, she immediately goes into work mode… I guess old habits die hard! In the past, she used to dress as a man and was heavily involved in internal affairs, so maybe that habit just won’t go away. I should be gentle with her.
“Come on, Aeclys. Forget about work, let’s enjoy today, okay? Right?” “Huh? Oh, yeah, thanks, Shuri.”
Aeclys responds to my consideration with a smile. Yeah, this is good. This is how it should be. Let’s help her forget about work and enjoy herself now. She’s been through a lot up until now.
“You’re being quite kind, Shuri.” “I’m always kind, you know. Kind, indeed.” “Shuri, you’re not planning anything sinister, are you? What are you scheming with that fake smile?”
She saw through me!!? But I’m not always going to be a pushover. I’ve learned how to handle situations like this too.
“Nothing at all. So, Aeclys, where are we headed now? You mentioned a gift for Garn, but what exactly?”
Here, I unleash the question I’ve been holding back!
“Oh, right. I was thinking it might be time for Garn to have one of those, you know. I’m hoping to find a good one. I hope there’s something nice.”
YES! I successfully changed the topic! I’m growing too! Okay, that’s enough fooling around. I need to escort Aeclys properly. It’s pointless to keep up this weird tension anyway. I follow behind Aeclys as we walk. Gradually, the townscape changes, and craftsmen’s shops become more prominent. To explain simply, the products displayed in front of the shops change from food items to crafts, and some are workshops themselves. I can’t help but look around curiously at all this. I’m a cook too, so of course there are things that interest me. Like pots, you know. But most of the tools I use were made by Lill, and while I maintain them myself, I leave the repairs to Lill as well. After all, everything from my magic engineering stove to my cutting board and pots are Lill’s handmade creations. It’s quickest to leave it to the person who made them. Of course, I do sharpen my knives and wash my tools myself.
“Aeclys, this area is…” “Yes, this is the district where craftsmen have their shops. It’s also a lifeline for our domain.” “A lifeline?” “Shuri. This might be hard for you to understand since you have skills but no ambition, but technology is something that every domain and country tries to monopolize and keep secret. After all, the building, blacksmithing, and crafting skills these people possess can’t be bought with money. Skilled craftsmen are valued in any country. That’s how valuable technology is to a country. Shuri, that’s why when Princess Tevis saw your cooking skills, she wanted you.”
I-I see… I think I finally understand my position a little better. I thought I was just showcasing ordinary Earth cuisine and cooking techniques. But by this world’s standards, it’s quite unusual. Unusual, distorted, and valuable. That’s why Princess Tevis is so fixated on me… No, she probably just wants to eat mapo tofu, right? Seeing me pondering, Aeclys gives a wry smile.
“But don’t worry. Gungrave and the others, Garn, Gyngus, and I are here too. We’ll make sure nothing bad happens to you anymore.” “I-I see.”
Hearing Aeclys say that makes me feel relieved. Gungrave and everyone else have been protecting me too. I repay that with my cooking. I hope that relationship doesn’t change from now on.
“Alright, here we are.”
The place Aeclys guided me to is a shop with a blacksmith workshop. Shelves are placed at the front of the shop, with blades arranged on them. Looking further in, I can see the light of iron being heated and hear the high-pitched sound of iron being struck. This is… a knife shop, perhaps? Looking closely at the products displayed there, I see many kitchen knives. These are the strange-shaped knives I first saw when I came to this world.
“Aeclys, this is…” “Well, it’s certainly a shop that deals with blades, but to be precise, it’s a blacksmith. They process iron to make products… that’s probably the best way to put it. You know how big shops often have iron craftwork symbols decorating them? Those are also works from shops like this.”
Ah, I see. So it’s a shop that makes iron craftwork and daily necessities. Aeclys says with an excited face:
“Sure, in this day and age, you might be able to get things made quickly by asking a magic engineer. But only a few people can do that. Either you need talent to do it yourself, or money to commission it. But the blacksmiths aren’t losing out either. Without relying on magic engineering, they create all sorts of things with their own skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s wonderful.” “Do you like this kind of thing, Aeclys?” “Yeah. I often visited construction sites for territory development or workshops of blacksmiths I commissioned work from. The work of people with such specialized skills is beautiful and enjoyable to watch.”
I see, so that’s why Aeclys’s face has been so bright since earlier. Indeed, the work of people with specialized skills is not only beautiful in its completion but even the process is beautiful and efficient. Moreover, they perform their work with the best efficiency unconsciously, which is truly admirable.
“Aeclys, it’s fine to be excited, but could we please get to the main point?” “Oh, right. Sorry, when I come to places like this, I could really spend all day just watching.”
I can understand the feeling, but please restrain yourself. Seeing Aeclys so happy makes me feel at ease, but I’d like to finish our business quickly. I don’t think I could spend all day standing next to Aeclys watching metalworking…
“Excuse me. Can I have a moment?”
Aeclys called out to a woman working at the front. It seems this woman is the receptionist. When the woman saw us, she looked surprised.
“L-Lady Aeclys!?” “Ah, is the thing I ordered ready?” “Oh, yes. Of course. I’m sorry for being flustered.” “It’s fine. Maybe I should have sent word before coming.” “No, Lady Aeclys, you’ve done so much for us. There’s no shop in this town that would refuse your visit.” “I’m glad to hear that. I’m practically half-retired now, after all.” “No, Lady Aeclys, we want you to stay in the center. Even if the lord has changed, our gratitude towards you hasn’t changed. It’s because of you that we haven’t abandoned this domain and stayed here.”
The woman says this while glancing at me. Ah… They think the authority of the domain was usurped… Gyngus caused all those problems, Aeclys couldn’t stop him, and the previous lord, who was in a position to supervise, overlooked it all. No matter who takes the top position now, they’d be met with great disapprapproval from the surrounding countries… That’s why Aeclys stepped down from the position of next lord that she didn’t want in the first place, Gyngus decided to focus on military affairs where he’s talented rather than internal affairs that don’t suit him, and the previous lord retired to take responsibility. But the townspeople feel differently. Even if it was somewhat distorted, Aeclys and the others had been working hard for this domain. So they probably can’t help but resent Gungrave, who seems to have snatched it all away from the sidelines. Maybe Gungrave accepted the position of lord knowing all of this. This current situation, which looks like a usurpation of position and might incur resentment. If it were Gungrave, he might have found a more skillful way to obtain it…
“Well, let’s leave that topic for now. More importantly, as I asked earlier, is the thing I ordered ready?” “Yes, here it is.”
The woman brings out something wrapped in silk from the back of the shop and hands it to Aeclys. Aeclys receives it, opens the silk, and takes out what’s inside.
It’s a kitchen knife.
Even to my eyes, it’s a good one. I’ve seen knives made by people other than Lill, but they all pale in comparison to the ones Lill or Princess Tevis gave me, so I’ve never picked them up. But the knife Aeclys is holding not only shines beautifully, it has an impressive blade with a white wood handle.
“Thank you. Send the bill to the castle as usual. I’ll transfer the money.” “Yes, thank you very much. We look forward to your next visit.”
The woman bows deeply.
“Thank you. Let’s go, Shuri.”
Aeclys responds and starts walking. I hurry to follow her.
“Was that the goal? The knife?”
When I ask, Aeclys answers while rewrapping the knife in silk:
“That’s right. It’s a gift for Garn.” “…” “Garn has found a new way of life. The path of a cook. Gyngus has also decided to reflect on himself and start over. As for me, I’ve decided to live as I like. This is my small token of gratitude and encouragement for the future to my brother who has followed… no, supported such a me until now.”
Aeclys says this with a smile. I see… So it was to give Garn his own knife… Hm? Wait a minute, that means…
“So my guess about it being for a date partner was wrong…?” “Are you still hung up on that?!”
I take another hit to the collarbone. Ouch!
“I’m hungry too, so shall we head back?”
Aeclys says this after lecturing me. I’m still groggy, so I’ll obediently comply. You shouldn’t take too many hits to the collarbone. It’s not good.
“Yes. I understand.”
I start walking back to the castle, following behind Aeclys. But still, a gift for Garn, huh… And such a fine knife at that… I had imagined a scenario where I would give him one when he finished his training, but… maybe it’s better coming from family. I hope this will motivate Garn to dedicate himself to his training. Well, he’s already working hard enough at this point. But Aeclys’s face, holding that gift, looks somewhat gloomy. I wonder what’s wrong…?
“What’s the matter, Aeclys? You look down.” “Ah… As expected, you can tell.”
Aeclys laughs awkwardly.
“Well, I was just thinking about what I said earlier. Garn is working hard on his new path. Gyngus is trying to start over. But I’m just living as I please. I wonder if this is really okay…”
That’s…
“Aeclys.” “No, it’s alright, Shuri. It’s fine. This is just me worrying needlessly. Looking at it another way, all three of us are walking the paths we chose. It’s strange for only me to be worrying.” “That’s…”
I want to say it’s different, but the words won’t come out. Aeclys has struggled in a different way from Garn and Gyngus until now. She hid her gender, did things she didn’t want to do, and now she’s finally free from those shackles. I think that Aeclys, now freed from such shackles and barriers, is seeing countless paths and possibilities before her, and is lost. It would be fine to continue doing half the work she’s been doing. Or she could find someone she likes and get married. Maybe she could even start something new on a different path. But I shouldn’t say that. Even if we’re close, there are limits to how much I can interfere. For ordinary worries, I can be sympathetic, but when it comes to talk about the future… No, wait? I’ve already deeply intervened in many people’s futures, haven’t I? …It’s already out of line to consider self-preservation and not speak up here.
“Aeclys.”
After thinking long and hard about how to say it, I open my mouth as we arrive in front of the castle. During our walk, Aeclys had been smiling, but there was a shadow in her demeanor. I don’t want Aeclys to have such a gloomy atmosphere.
“Are you going to give that knife to Garn right away?” “Huh? No… I was thinking of giving it to him after he finishes work…” “Then could you please wait in your room for a bit?”
I immediately start running towards the kitchen. In the kitchen, Garn and the others are preparing for dinner.
“Oh, welcome back. How was shopping with Aeclys?”
Garn asks with a smile.
“Yes. Well, I think there were no failures.” “I see, that’s a relief.” “However, it seems Aeclys has a problem.” “What?”
Garn asks with a puzzled look.
“What do you mean?” “It’s about her worries for the future. To solve this problem…”
I lightly pat Garn’s shoulder and say:
“We need the help of Garn and Gyngus.”
“So that’s why I was called. What do you need me to do?”
I hurriedly called Gyngus over, and now it’s time for everyone to work. After explaining the situation, Gyngus readily agreed to help. It’s reassuring to see that these siblings, who were once at odds, have reconciled.
“I have something I want to convey to Aeclys, but to do that, this is the quickest way.”
What I prepared are lots of wrappers and fillings.
That’s right, it’s for gyoza dumplings.
Since there’s no such thing as store-bought gyoza wrappers here, I made everything from scratch. I kneaded flour, rolled it out, cut it, and shaped it into circles. I prepared three types of fillings. The first is a regular cabbage and pork gyoza. The detailed ingredients are cabbage, pork, garlic, and ginger. The cabbage is finely chopped and drained, and the garlic and ginger are also finely chopped. This is mixed with pork that has been kneaded with salt and pepper until it becomes sticky. Then, seasonings like sake and nutmeg are added.
The second is a chive gyoza. It uses chives, green onions, and a mix of beef and pork. The chives and green onions are finely chopped, and then mixed with the meat, chives, green onions, sake, salt, pepper, garlic, and ginger until it becomes sticky.
The last one is a vegetable gyoza. It’s a healthy option with no meat at all. The ingredients are just cabbage and Chinese cabbage. What? You’re wondering if it can be delicious without meat? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Even if you don’t have money for meat, gyoza can be made delicious by being creative with the fillings. Finely chop the ingredients and drain the water, then add salt and remove even more water that comes out. Then add ginger, garlic, and soup made from chicken bones. Ideally, we’d add soy sauce and sesame oil here, but since we don’t have any, we’ll make do without.
These are the three types. I present these to Gyngus and Garn.
“Now, let’s wrap them.” “Pardon?” “What did you say?” “I said, we wrap them like this.”
I take some of the cabbage and pork filling as a test, wrap it in a gyoza skin, and shape it. To make this shape, you know, practice is necessary. You can’t do it without making a lot of them. I make about five of these as examples.
“Now, please imitate this.” “Alright.” “Wait, wait. I understand Garn doing this, but I don’t see why I should. I won’t be able to do it well.”
Garn agreed, but Gyngus is hesitating. Why hesitate at this point?
“I won’t be able to make beautiful gyoza like Shuri.” “That’s fine.”
To the confused Gyngus, I say with a smile:
“Even if the shape is awkward, what matters is that you put your heart into making them.” “I see… Well, if it’s for Aeclys’s sake, I’ll do it.”
Saying that, Gyngus grabs some gyoza wrappers and filling and starts working, trying to imitate what he saw. Garn also starts working similarly. After watching them, I call out to the other people:
“Now, everyone, please make gyoza while looking at the examples. I’ve prepared plenty of filling and wrappers. Gyoza will be the main dish for tonight’s dinner. We need a lot, so please do your best.”
With a chorus of “Understood,” the subordinates also start working. At this point, some people look confused.
“Um, does that include us too?”
Ah, these are the attendants Princess Tevis mentioned this morning. Apparently, these people have been helping out here since lunchtime. According to Garn, they’re “more like rogues who came to steal techniques.” Well, as for me, I’m grateful for the help, so I’m turning a blind eye. Aeclys said earlier that technology is important, but you know.
“Yes. This gyoza… this dish is a type called dim sum (appetizer). It’s made by wrapping fillings in a skin made from ingredients like this. If you apply this technique, you can make various skins and fillings, so it will increase your repertoire of dishes for Princess Tevis.” “I see.” “However, dishes like this require a lot of practice to make them beautifully. Since you’re here, please take this opportunity to practice.” “Of course. Learning is not our only role. Come on, let’s do this!” “Yes, sir!”
I’m glad that the attendants are also willing to help make gyoza. This is a big help. After all, we’re making enough for everyone working in the castle! The numbers are overwhelming… I couldn’t do it alone. Even if I could manage the wrappers and fillings, the sheer number requires manpower. Hahaha, now let’s have them make it!
“Well then, I’ll start frying them.”
I immediately prepare to fry the dozens that have been made. I set up two frying pans on the magic engineering stove and turn on the heat for both. Once the frying pans are hot, I add oil and fry the gyoza. Well, normally that would be the procedure, but since other people will be eating too, I’ll add a little twist. First, I boil some water. Then I heat the frying pan, add oil, turn off the heat once, and arrange the gyoza. Then I pour the hot water around them, turn the heat back on, and immediately cover with a lid. Yes, I’m steaming them before frying. The heat should be a bit stronger than medium. Then, when I think the moisture has evaporated, I open the lid to check. If it has, I lower the heat and carefully add a small amount of oil along the edges of the frying pan, next to the gyoza. Then I tilt the frying pan to spread the oil, and wait patiently until they’re done frying. When they’re done, I plate them and it’s complete.
“…Ah, those are the ones I made.”
Gyngus says, looking at the completed gyoza from the side.
“The shape is quite awkward…” “These are mine, aren’t they?”
Garn says from the other side.
“At least they’re prettier than Gyngus’s.” “Ha! I at least made the folded pattern properly like Shuri’s. Compared to that, Garn, yours are just closed up.” “What? They have a proper shape, more or less.” “No way, without this folded pattern, it’s not good enough.” “…Pfft.” “…This is getting kind of funny.”
Saying that, Garn and Gyngus laugh together.
“I’ll make mine even prettier.” “Hmph, then I’ll make more, faster.”
Watching the two of them make gyoza while bantering, I feel relieved.
“So, is this the gyoza you mentioned?”
We were able to make enough to give to Aeclys, so Gyngus, Garn, and I visit Aeclys’s room. Aeclys has changed into her room wear and looks puzzled, but seeing the food in our hands, she seems to understand and lets us in. At this time, I had asked Garn and Gyngus to come along.
“Yes, please try some.” “Hmm, I’m not sure what you’re thinking, but I guess I’ll have some.”
I hand Aeclys a fork and a plate with the gyoza. Aeclys immediately puts one gyoza in her mouth, chews it two or three times, and says:
“Mmm… it’s delicious~”
Then she puts another gyoza in her mouth, and this time looks surprised.
“Hm? This one is different… a strong smell of chives… and this one has no meat texture at all…”
After eating the gyoza, she smiles.
“I see. They look the same on the outside, but the fillings are different. This one is… well, it feels normal. But it’s delicious. Cabbage and meat, right? I never thought these two would go so well together. This one is… the chive flavor is strong. It has a nice aroma… it feels good to eat. The last one… there’s no meat. But it’s still gyoza. Without the fat from the meat, it’s easier to eat.”
Aeclys nods once and says,
“Mm, the variety is great, and they’re all delicious. Each one is first-class.”
Hearing this, I point to two of the gyoza and say:
“This one was made by Garn.” “This misshapen one?” “And this one was made by Gyngus.” “Hmm, this one’s shape is a bit better, but the amount of filling is inconsistent.”
Aeclys is smiling wryly.
“But they were all delicious, weren’t they?” “Yes, they were delicious. Regardless of their shape, it seems they were made for me after all.” “…Aeclys. I think this.”
Aeclys was lost on her own path. Wondering if this was okay.
“Gyoza are delicious no matter what shape they are or what filling they have. There are even more varieties than this. Garn has found his path as a cook. Gyngus has chosen to start over and is moving forward. No matter what shape or content, their way of life is beautiful because it has conviction. Aeclys. I understand that you’re lost on your path.”
She was worrying and thinking. Lost and standing still. In that case.
“Why don’t you open up about your worries to these two important family members who are already walking their paths?”
It’s okay to rely on the family that supports you.
“Until now, the three of you might have been too focused on yourselves. As a result, you developed a habit of dealing with things alone. You gained the ability to manage somehow. I don’t think you need to worry alone anymore. Now that the three of you have gathered like this, why don’t you have an honest talk?”
I think that even though they’ve reconciled, they haven’t been able to really come together well. Until now, it was more about orders than relying on each other, more about hatred than affection. And now, even for small things, they’ve become unable to talk to each other. There’s no more antagonism, but there’s no facing each other either. That’s not good. If they’ve reconciled, I want them to come together, to face each other without antagonism.
“Also, as you noticed when eating the gyoza, all of them were delicious, weren’t they? In the same way, whatever path Aeclys chooses, I’m sure it will be wonderful. Just like gyoza is delicious because it’s gyoza. Aeclys is Aeclys, after all. That’s why I can trust her.”
Saying that, I move between Garn and Gyngus to leave the room.
“The rest is up to you three to discuss. We made a lot, you know. Why don’t you three talk about things you usually can’t while eating together?”
Leaving those words behind, I exit the room.
“…Well, time to clean up.”
Muttering to myself, I head towards the kitchen. Knowing those people, I’m sure Aeclys will be able to dispel her worries too. I have that vague certainty as I walk.
The next day, Aeclys has a refreshed look on her face. It seems she’s found what she wants to do. That’s good, that’s good. Garn is also showing enthusiasm, holding his new knife. That’s great.
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Chapter 43
“Shuri, let’s go out.”
It’s morning time.
While I’m setting the table in the dining hall, Aeclys, who came for breakfast, tells me this.
“Shuri, you’re always working, aren’t you? Don’t you want to stretch your wings a bit?”
Hmm, stretch my wings, huh?
It’s Shuri here.
Aeclys invited me to go shopping, so I decided to go.
You see, I’ve been working a lot lately, and I could use a day off.
Actually, I don’t even have days off.
“Well? What do you say, Shuri?”
“Sounds good. I’ll join you.”
“Great! Actually, there’s something I want to buy.”
“Oh? Something you want to buy?”
Am I going to be a pack mule…?
“Oh, no, it’s not like that. I just didn’t want to go alone, so I thought I’d ask someone to come with me.”
“In that case, why didn’t you invite Garn? If Garn wants time off, I can approve it.”
“No, no, this shopping trip is related to Garn.”
“…Ah, I see.”
A gift, perhaps?
“You get it?”
“Got it.”
“Alright then, I’ll go get ready. Let’s meet in an hour!”
“Ah, wait!”
Before I could stop her, Aeclys left the dining hall.
Hmm, this is troublesome. Can I finish my work in an hour?
Well, I guess I’ll have to leave it to everyone else.
“Hmm? Oh, it’s Shuri.”
The next person to enter the dining hall is Princess Tevis.
She’s accompanied by a maid… or rather, a guard.
Princess Tevis looks a bit sleepy, but as expected of royalty, she’s properly dressed and groomed.
But hey, aren’t you royalty? Is it okay for you to eat here?
“Aeclys just left looking quite happy. Did something happen?”
“She said we’re going shopping in town later.”
“Hmm.”
“I’m going with her too.”
“What?!”
Princess Tevis looks taken aback.
“You’re going out with Aeclys?”
“That’s right.”
“What about lunch?”
“I thought I’d leave it to Garn and the others.”
Hearing this, Princess Tevis puts her hand on her chin, seeming to ponder something.
Even her thoughtful pose looks regal.
As expected of someone who regularly performs her duties as royalty, she’s a truly talented individual.
“I see. Make sure you’re back by dinner. I look forward to your cooking, you know.”
“Um, alright. But speaking of meals, your attendant…”
“If you’re here, my subordinate can help out. It’ll be a good experience.”
“But for royalty, wouldn’t there be various considerations…?”
Princess Tevis gives a wry smile.
“Well, yes. However, I want to trust you. As for taste-testing… well, that will still be necessary, of course.”
That’s only natural. Princess Tevis is a princess of a country.
It would be problematic if she didn’t do that, after all.
“In that case, to live up to your trust, I’ll make sure to be back for dinner and prepare something delicious.”
“Good, I’ll be counting on you.”
Princess Tevis says with a smile.
Hmm, looking at just her smile, she seems like a girl her age.
But still, for a girl her age, she must have a lot of responsibilities and hardships as royalty.
I’m not sure how much my cooking helps her, but I want to do what I can for her.
Now then, after handing over my work, I set out for town right away.
Wearing my usual clothes and carrying the magic engineering stove that I’ve gotten used to having with me, I hurry to meet Aeclys.
I thought we could have left together, but for some reason Aeclys said, “For things like this, it’s best to meet at a set place rather than leaving together!” So we ended up leaving separately.
A woman’s heart is hard to understand.
Thinking about this, I rush to the meeting place, the fountain in the central square.
Passing through the streets and neighborhoods, I arrive at the fountain square, our designated meeting spot.
The fountain square is bustling with people. There are ordinary townspeople, merchants, and soldiers maintaining public order.
By the way, currently in Sounité, public order maintenance and defense against neighboring countries are handled by the Gungrave Mercenary Group and the soldiers who accepted Gungrave’s rule.
Those who couldn’t accept it all quit.
Just like the cooks who went on strike because they couldn’t accept me becoming the head chef.
What’s up with that, really? They said things like “We have served the Sounité family for generations” and so on. Aeclys and the others are still alive, you know. Basically, they just couldn’t handle a change in leadership.
I understand how they feel, but to completely abandon their duties…
“Shuri?”
As I’m pondering these things, someone calls out to me from the side.
I hadn’t been paying attention to my surroundings since arriving at the fountain square, lost in unnecessary thoughts.
Looking in the direction of the voice, I see Aeclys…
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
“Ah, no, it’s nothing.”
The sunlight reflecting off the water from the fountain is sparkling. With that as a backdrop, Aeclys also seems to be shining.
Aeclys now appears completely as a woman.
A tunic with a skirt that reaches her ankles… clothing befitting a member of the lord’s family, not flashy but of good quality.
She’s even wearing a headband and earrings, making it a complete date outfit.
Huh? Why such full armor?
Wait! Could it be…!
“Aeclys… could it be that this gift…”
“Eh? Ah, well…”
As I try to ask Aeclys, she blushes.
This is undoubtedly…!
“Judging from your high-quality outfit… are you planning to give the gift to someone you’re in a relationship with after this?”
“…Huh?”
“You said it was a gift for Garn, but you’re actually asking for gift advice from me, a man, and after we part ways, you’ll meet up with the person you’re dating… I see, so that’s wha- OOF!”
While I was explaining my deduction, Aeclys’s fist suddenly strikes my collarbone.
The damage to what’s said to be the most fragile bone in the human body makes me groan in pain. W-why?
“Shuri. I know you’re kind and a bit dense, but that was an incredibly insensitive thing to say.”
“I-I’m sorry…”
I see… having such a romantic affair exposed in public like this…
Of course she’d be angry… I did something bad.
However, due to the dull pain throbbing in my collarbone, I can’t properly apologize. This really hurts, you know.
“S-so, what’s the real reason for that outfit?”
I should ask, just to be sure. It would be dangerous to cause another misunderstanding here and risk getting my collarbone broken.
“Shuri, do you want another hit?”
“Eek! Ah, I’m sorry! That’s right! When shopping with a man, a woman has to be on guard no matter who it is!”
“Yes, you pass.”
Aeclys lowers her fist, which was raised and ready to strike. I’m glad the iron hammer didn’t come down… If I’d taken that hit, my shoulder might have been shattered too…
“That’s right, when a girl goes out with a boy, she has to be fully armed.”
Huh, so that’s how it is. I’ll remember that. Not sure when I’ll use this knowledge, though.
Aeclys twirls on the spot and asks,
“So? How’s my outfit?”
“I think it really suits you. Your femininity has increased from usual.”
“That’s a fail as a compliment, but I’ll let it slide. I’ll give you a barely passing grade.”
I wonder what was wrong with that…
In the end, having concluded that a woman’s heart is as fickle as the autumn sky, I end up going shopping with Aeclys.
Our destination is to the west of the fountain square.
It’s a street lined with shops that deal in quite high-quality goods.
I was about to ask what exactly we’re looking for here, but I stopped myself. Even I know that when shopping with a woman, it’s not good to ask what she’s buying.
Besides, Aeclys has already told me. “A gift for Garn.”
It would be insensitive to ask this and that of Aeclys, who’s looking so happy next to me right now.
As we walk along the well-maintained road, I take another look at the town of Sounité.
It’s quite well-organized as a castle town, with neat rows of shops and houses visible.
The materials used for housing vary, from stone to wood, and it seems there’s no uniformity in this aspect.
“Aeclys, this town is beautiful, isn’t it?”
“You think so? Maybe because I’m used to it, but I can see the flaws.
The building materials are getting old, the deterioration of public facilities is noticeable, I want to pave the roads with cobblestones soon, we need to manage the gathering of merchants or they’ll build shops as they please, public safety is currently in disarray so we need to recruit for the guard, and once their skills improve, we need to survey the surrounding geography-”
“Stop! Stop, I can’t understand any more of that!”
Oh no, if I’m not careful, she immediately goes into work mode… I guess old habits die hard!
In the past, she used to dress as a man and was heavily involved in internal affairs, so maybe that habit just won’t go away.
I should be gentle with her.
“Come on, Aeclys. Forget about work, let’s enjoy today, okay? Right?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, thanks, Shuri.”
Aeclys responds to my consideration with a smile.
Yeah, this is good. This is how it should be. Let’s help her forget about work and enjoy herself now.
She’s been through a lot up until now.
“You’re being quite kind, Shuri.”
“I’m always kind, you know. Kind, indeed.”
“Shuri, you’re not planning anything sinister, are you? What are you scheming with that fake smile?”
She saw through me!!?
But I’m not always going to be a pushover. I’ve learned how to handle situations like this too.
“Nothing at all. So, Aeclys, where are we headed now? You mentioned a gift for Garn, but what exactly?”
Here, I unleash the question I’ve been holding back!
“Oh, right. I was thinking it might be time for Garn to have one of those, you know. I’m hoping to find a good one. I hope there’s something nice.”
YES! I successfully changed the topic! I’m growing too!
Okay, that’s enough fooling around. I need to escort Aeclys properly.
It’s pointless to keep up this weird tension anyway.
I follow behind Aeclys as we walk.
Gradually, the townscape changes, and craftsmen’s shops become more prominent.
To explain simply, the products displayed in front of the shops change from food items to crafts, and some are workshops themselves.
I can’t help but look around curiously at all this.
I’m a cook too, so of course there are things that interest me. Like pots, you know.
But most of the tools I use were made by Lill, and while I maintain them myself, I leave the repairs to Lill as well. After all, everything from my magic engineering stove to my cutting board and pots are Lill’s handmade creations. It’s quickest to leave it to the person who made them.
Of course, I do sharpen my knives and wash my tools myself.
“Aeclys, this area is…”
“Yes, this is the district where craftsmen have their shops. It’s also a lifeline for our domain.”
“A lifeline?”
“Shuri. This might be hard for you to understand since you have skills but no ambition, but technology is something that every domain and country tries to monopolize and keep secret.
After all, the building, blacksmithing, and crafting skills these people possess can’t be bought with money. Skilled craftsmen are valued in any country.
That’s how valuable technology is to a country.
Shuri, that’s why when Princess Tevis saw your cooking skills, she wanted you.”
I-I see… I think I finally understand my position a little better.
I thought I was just showcasing ordinary Earth cuisine and cooking techniques. But by this world’s standards, it’s quite unusual.
Unusual, distorted, and valuable. That’s why Princess Tevis is so fixated on me…
No, she probably just wants to eat mapo tofu, right?
Seeing me pondering, Aeclys gives a wry smile.
“But don’t worry. Gungrave and the others, Garn, Gyngus, and I are here too. We’ll make sure nothing bad happens to you anymore.”
“I-I see.”
Hearing Aeclys say that makes me feel relieved.
Gungrave and everyone else have been protecting me too. I repay that with my cooking.
I hope that relationship doesn’t change from now on.
“Alright, here we are.”
The place Aeclys guided me to is a shop with a blacksmith workshop.
Shelves are placed at the front of the shop, with blades arranged on them. Looking further in, I can see the light of iron being heated and hear the high-pitched sound of iron being struck.
This is… a knife shop, perhaps?
Looking closely at the products displayed there, I see many kitchen knives.
These are the strange-shaped knives I first saw when I came to this world.
“Aeclys, this is…”
“Well, it’s certainly a shop that deals with blades, but to be precise, it’s a blacksmith. They process iron to make products… that’s probably the best way to put it.
You know how big shops often have iron craftwork symbols decorating them? Those are also works from shops like this.”
Ah, I see. So it’s a shop that makes iron craftwork and daily necessities.
Aeclys says with an excited face:
“Sure, in this day and age, you might be able to get things made quickly by asking a magic engineer. But only a few people can do that. Either you need talent to do it yourself, or money to commission it.
But the blacksmiths aren’t losing out either. Without relying on magic engineering, they create all sorts of things with their own skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s wonderful.”
“Do you like this kind of thing, Aeclys?”
“Yeah. I often visited construction sites for territory development or workshops of blacksmiths I commissioned work from.
The work of people with such specialized skills is beautiful and enjoyable to watch.”
I see, so that’s why Aeclys’s face has been so bright since earlier.
Indeed, the work of people with specialized skills is not only beautiful in its completion but even the process is beautiful and efficient.
Moreover, they perform their work with the best efficiency unconsciously, which is truly admirable.
“Aeclys, it’s fine to be excited, but could we please get to the main point?”
“Oh, right. Sorry, when I come to places like this, I could really spend all day just watching.”
I can understand the feeling, but please restrain yourself.
Seeing Aeclys so happy makes me feel at ease, but I’d like to finish our business quickly.
I don’t think I could spend all day standing next to Aeclys watching metalworking…
“Excuse me. Can I have a moment?”
Aeclys called out to a woman working at the front. It seems this woman is the receptionist.
When the woman saw us, she looked surprised.
“L-Lady Aeclys!?”
“Ah, is the thing I ordered ready?”
“Oh, yes. Of course. I’m sorry for being flustered.”
“It’s fine. Maybe I should have sent word before coming.”
“No, Lady Aeclys, you’ve done so much for us. There’s no shop in this town that would refuse your visit.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I’m practically half-retired now, after all.”
“No, Lady Aeclys, we want you to stay in the center. Even if the lord has changed, our gratitude towards you hasn’t changed. It’s because of you that we haven’t abandoned this domain and stayed here.”
The woman says this while glancing at me.
Ah… They think the authority of the domain was usurped…
Gyngus caused all those problems, Aeclys couldn’t stop him, and the previous lord, who was in a position to supervise, overlooked it all.
No matter who takes the top position now, they’d be met with great disapprapproval from the surrounding countries…
That’s why Aeclys stepped down from the position of next lord that she didn’t want in the first place, Gyngus decided to focus on military affairs where he’s talented rather than internal affairs that don’t suit him, and the previous lord retired to take responsibility.
But the townspeople feel differently.
Even if it was somewhat distorted, Aeclys and the others had been working hard for this domain.
So they probably can’t help but resent Gungrave, who seems to have snatched it all away from the sidelines.
Maybe Gungrave accepted the position of lord knowing all of this.
This current situation, which looks like a usurpation of position and might incur resentment.
If it were Gungrave, he might have found a more skillful way to obtain it…
“Well, let’s leave that topic for now. More importantly, as I asked earlier, is the thing I ordered ready?”
“Yes, here it is.”
The woman brings out something wrapped in silk from the back of the shop and hands it to Aeclys.
Aeclys receives it, opens the silk, and takes out what’s inside.
It’s a kitchen knife.
Even to my eyes, it’s a good one. I’ve seen knives made by people other than Lill, but they all pale in comparison to the ones Lill or Princess Tevis gave me, so I’ve never picked them up.
But the knife Aeclys is holding not only shines beautifully, it has an impressive blade with a white wood handle.
“Thank you. Send the bill to the castle as usual. I’ll transfer the money.”
“Yes, thank you very much. We look forward to your next visit.”
The woman bows deeply.
“Thank you. Let’s go, Shuri.”
Aeclys responds and starts walking. I hurry to follow her.
“Was that the goal? The knife?”
When I ask, Aeclys answers while rewrapping the knife in silk:
“That’s right. It’s a gift for Garn.”
“…”
“Garn has found a new way of life. The path of a cook. Gyngus has also decided to reflect on himself and start over. As for me, I’ve decided to live as I like.
This is my small token of gratitude and encouragement for the future to my brother who has followed… no, supported such a me until now.”
Aeclys says this with a smile.
I see… So it was to give Garn his own knife…
Hm? Wait a minute, that means…
“So my guess about it being for a date partner was wrong…?”
“Are you still hung up on that?!”
I take another hit to the collarbone. Ouch!
“I’m hungry too, so shall we head back?”
Aeclys says this after lecturing me.
I’m still groggy, so I’ll obediently comply. You shouldn’t take too many hits to the collarbone. It’s not good.
“Yes. I understand.”
I start walking back to the castle, following behind Aeclys.
But still, a gift for Garn, huh… And such a fine knife at that…
I had imagined a scenario where I would give him one when he finished his training, but… maybe it’s better coming from family.
I hope this will motivate Garn to dedicate himself to his training.
Well, he’s already working hard enough at this point.
But Aeclys’s face, holding that gift, looks somewhat gloomy.
I wonder what’s wrong…?
“What’s the matter, Aeclys? You look down.”
“Ah… As expected, you can tell.”
Aeclys laughs awkwardly.
“Well, I was just thinking about what I said earlier. Garn is working hard on his new path. Gyngus is trying to start over. But I’m just living as I please.
I wonder if this is really okay…”
That’s…
“Aeclys.”
“No, it’s alright, Shuri. It’s fine. This is just me worrying needlessly.
Looking at it another way, all three of us are walking the paths we chose. It’s strange for only me to be worrying.”
“That’s…”
I want to say it’s different, but the words won’t come out.
Aeclys has struggled in a different way from Garn and Gyngus until now.
She hid her gender, did things she didn’t want to do, and now she’s finally free from those shackles.
I think that Aeclys, now freed from such shackles and barriers, is seeing countless paths and possibilities before her, and is lost.
It would be fine to continue doing half the work she’s been doing.
Or she could find someone she likes and get married.
Maybe she could even start something new on a different path.
But I shouldn’t say that.
Even if we’re close, there are limits to how much I can interfere.
For ordinary worries, I can be sympathetic, but when it comes to talk about the future…
No, wait? I’ve already deeply intervened in many people’s futures, haven’t I?
…It’s already out of line to consider self-preservation and not speak up here.
“Aeclys.”
After thinking long and hard about how to say it, I open my mouth as we arrive in front of the castle.
During our walk, Aeclys had been smiling, but there was a shadow in her demeanor.
I don’t want Aeclys to have such a gloomy atmosphere.
“Are you going to give that knife to Garn right away?”
“Huh? No… I was thinking of giving it to him after he finishes work…”
“Then could you please wait in your room for a bit?”
I immediately start running towards the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Garn and the others are preparing for dinner.
“Oh, welcome back. How was shopping with Aeclys?”
Garn asks with a smile.
“Yes. Well, I think there were no failures.”
“I see, that’s a relief.”
“However, it seems Aeclys has a problem.”
“What?”
Garn asks with a puzzled look.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s about her worries for the future. To solve this problem…”
I lightly pat Garn’s shoulder and say:
“We need the help of Garn and Gyngus.”
“So that’s why I was called. What do you need me to do?”
I hurriedly called Gyngus over, and now it’s time for everyone to work.
After explaining the situation, Gyngus readily agreed to help.
It’s reassuring to see that these siblings, who were once at odds, have reconciled.
“I have something I want to convey to Aeclys, but to do that, this is the quickest way.”
What I prepared are lots of wrappers and fillings.
That’s right, it’s for gyoza dumplings.
Since there’s no such thing as store-bought gyoza wrappers here, I made everything from scratch. I kneaded flour, rolled it out, cut it, and shaped it into circles.
I prepared three types of fillings.
The first is a regular cabbage and pork gyoza.
The detailed ingredients are cabbage, pork, garlic, and ginger.
The cabbage is finely chopped and drained, and the garlic and ginger are also finely chopped.
This is mixed with pork that has been kneaded with salt and pepper until it becomes sticky.
Then, seasonings like sake and nutmeg are added.
The second is a chive gyoza.
It uses chives, green onions, and a mix of beef and pork.
The chives and green onions are finely chopped, and then mixed with the meat, chives, green onions, sake, salt, pepper, garlic, and ginger until it becomes sticky.
The last one is a vegetable gyoza. It’s a healthy option with no meat at all.
The ingredients are just cabbage and Chinese cabbage.
What? You’re wondering if it can be delicious without meat? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Even if you don’t have money for meat, gyoza can be made delicious by being creative with the fillings.
Finely chop the ingredients and drain the water, then add salt and remove even more water that comes out.
Then add ginger, garlic, and soup made from chicken bones.
Ideally, we’d add soy sauce and sesame oil here, but since we don’t have any, we’ll make do without.
These are the three types.
I present these to Gyngus and Garn.
“Now, let’s wrap them.”
“Pardon?”
“What did you say?”
“I said, we wrap them like this.”
I take some of the cabbage and pork filling as a test, wrap it in a gyoza skin, and shape it.
To make this shape, you know, practice is necessary. You can’t do it without making a lot of them.
I make about five of these as examples.
“Now, please imitate this.”
“Alright.”
“Wait, wait. I understand Garn doing this, but I don’t see why I should. I won’t be able to do it well.”
Garn agreed, but Gyngus is hesitating.
Why hesitate at this point?
“I won’t be able to make beautiful gyoza like Shuri.”
“That’s fine.”
To the confused Gyngus, I say with a smile:
“Even if the shape is awkward, what matters is that you put your heart into making them.”
“I see… Well, if it’s for Aeclys’s sake, I’ll do it.”
Saying that, Gyngus grabs some gyoza wrappers and filling and starts working, trying to imitate what he saw.
Garn also starts working similarly.
After watching them, I call out to the other people:
“Now, everyone, please make gyoza while looking at the examples. I’ve prepared plenty of filling and wrappers. Gyoza will be the main dish for tonight’s dinner. We need a lot, so please do your best.”
With a chorus of “Understood,” the subordinates also start working.
At this point, some people look confused.
“Um, does that include us too?”
Ah, these are the attendants Princess Tevis mentioned this morning.
Apparently, these people have been helping out here since lunchtime.
According to Garn, they’re “more like rogues who came to steal techniques.”
Well, as for me, I’m grateful for the help, so I’m turning a blind eye.
Aeclys said earlier that technology is important, but you know.
“Yes. This gyoza… this dish is a type called dim sum (appetizer). It’s made by wrapping fillings in a skin made from ingredients like this.
If you apply this technique, you can make various skins and fillings, so it will increase your repertoire of dishes for Princess Tevis.”
“I see.”
“However, dishes like this require a lot of practice to make them beautifully. Since you’re here, please take this opportunity to practice.”
“Of course. Learning is not our only role.
Come on, let’s do this!”
“Yes, sir!”
I’m glad that the attendants are also willing to help make gyoza. This is a big help.
After all, we’re making enough for everyone working in the castle!
The numbers are overwhelming… I couldn’t do it alone. Even if I could manage the wrappers and fillings, the sheer number requires manpower.
Hahaha, now let’s have them make it!
“Well then, I’ll start frying them.”
I immediately prepare to fry the dozens that have been made.
I set up two frying pans on the magic engineering stove and turn on the heat for both.
Once the frying pans are hot, I add oil and fry the gyoza.
Well, normally that would be the procedure, but since other people will be eating too, I’ll add a little twist.
First, I boil some water.
Then I heat the frying pan, add oil, turn off the heat once, and arrange the gyoza.
Then I pour the hot water around them, turn the heat back on, and immediately cover with a lid.
Yes, I’m steaming them before frying. The heat should be a bit stronger than medium.
Then, when I think the moisture has evaporated, I open the lid to check.
If it has, I lower the heat and carefully add a small amount of oil along the edges of the frying pan, next to the gyoza.
Then I tilt the frying pan to spread the oil, and wait patiently until they’re done frying.
When they’re done, I plate them and it’s complete.
“…Ah, those are the ones I made.”
Gyngus says, looking at the completed gyoza from the side.
“The shape is quite awkward…”
“These are mine, aren’t they?”
Garn says from the other side.
“At least they’re prettier than Gyngus’s.”
“Ha! I at least made the folded pattern properly like Shuri’s. Compared to that, Garn, yours are just closed up.”
“What? They have a proper shape, more or less.”
“No way, without this folded pattern, it’s not good enough.”
“…Pfft.”
“…This is getting kind of funny.”
Saying that, Garn and Gyngus laugh together.
“I’ll make mine even prettier.”
“Hmph, then I’ll make more, faster.”
Watching the two of them make gyoza while bantering, I feel relieved.
“So, is this the gyoza you mentioned?”
We were able to make enough to give to Aeclys, so Gyngus, Garn, and I visit Aeclys’s room.
Aeclys has changed into her room wear and looks puzzled, but seeing the food in our hands, she seems to understand and lets us in.
At this time, I had asked Garn and Gyngus to come along.
“Yes, please try some.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure what you’re thinking, but I guess I’ll have some.”
I hand Aeclys a fork and a plate with the gyoza.
Aeclys immediately puts one gyoza in her mouth, chews it two or three times, and says:
“Mmm… it’s delicious~”
Then she puts another gyoza in her mouth, and this time looks surprised.
“Hm? This one is different… a strong smell of chives… and this one has no meat texture at all…”
After eating the gyoza, she smiles.
“I see. They look the same on the outside, but the fillings are different.
This one is… well, it feels normal. But it’s delicious. Cabbage and meat, right? I never thought these two would go so well together.
This one is… the chive flavor is strong. It has a nice aroma… it feels good to eat.
The last one… there’s no meat. But it’s still gyoza. Without the fat from the meat, it’s easier to eat.”
Aeclys nods once and says,
“Mm, the variety is great, and they’re all delicious. Each one is first-class.”
Hearing this, I point to two of the gyoza and say:
“This one was made by Garn.”
“This misshapen one?”
“And this one was made by Gyngus.”
“Hmm, this one’s shape is a bit better, but the amount of filling is inconsistent.”
Aeclys is smiling wryly.
“But they were all delicious, weren’t they?”
“Yes, they were delicious. Regardless of their shape, it seems they were made for me after all.”
“…Aeclys. I think this.”
Aeclys was lost on her own path. Wondering if this was okay.
“Gyoza are delicious no matter what shape they are or what filling they have. There are even more varieties than this.
Garn has found his path as a cook.
Gyngus has chosen to start over and is moving forward.
No matter what shape or content, their way of life is beautiful because it has conviction.
Aeclys. I understand that you’re lost on your path.”
She was worrying and thinking. Lost and standing still.
In that case.
“Why don’t you open up about your worries to these two important family members who are already walking their paths?”
It’s okay to rely on the family that supports you.
“Until now, the three of you might have been too focused on yourselves. As a result, you developed a habit of dealing with things alone. You gained the ability to manage somehow.
I don’t think you need to worry alone anymore.
Now that the three of you have gathered like this, why don’t you have an honest talk?”
I think that even though they’ve reconciled, they haven’t been able to really come together well.
Until now, it was more about orders than relying on each other, more about hatred than affection.
And now, even for small things, they’ve become unable to talk to each other.
There’s no more antagonism, but there’s no facing each other either.
That’s not good.
If they’ve reconciled, I want them to come together, to face each other without antagonism.
“Also, as you noticed when eating the gyoza, all of them were delicious, weren’t they?
In the same way, whatever path Aeclys chooses, I’m sure it will be wonderful.
Just like gyoza is delicious because it’s gyoza.
Aeclys is Aeclys, after all. That’s why I can trust her.”
Saying that, I move between Garn and Gyngus to leave the room.
“The rest is up to you three to discuss. We made a lot, you know. Why don’t you three talk about things you usually can’t while eating together?”
Leaving those words behind, I exit the room.
“…Well, time to clean up.”
Muttering to myself, I head towards the kitchen.
Knowing those people, I’m sure Aeclys will be able to dispel her worries too.
I have that vague certainty as I walk.
The next day, Aeclys has a refreshed look on her face.
It seems she’s found what she wants to do. That’s good, that’s good.
Garn is also showing enthusiasm, holding his new knife.
That’s great.
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