I have someone I love. Back in the slums, he was always the one leading us. He fought alongside Kuuga at the front lines, battling enemies. The five of us childhood friends are orphans. We lost our parents to war at a young age and have survived by sticking together. He always thought of ways for us to survive and protected us. We stole. We hurt people. But he shouldered all that pain and guilt on his small shoulders. Someday, I want to stand beside those shoulders. To share the burden. I realized it was love shortly after we started the mercenary group. When he was in danger and barely managed to survive. I almost lost the person I love.
I’m Arius. I’m the captain leading the magic unit of the mercenary group Gungrave founded. On the battlefield, magic users are a threat. We manipulate mana to rain fireballs on enemy positions, block arrows with walls of ice, and counter approaching enemies with blades of wind. A person’s innate talent limits their strength and the types of magic they can use. Only those with talent can become magic users. Even among the talented, most can only affect objects. They become magic engineering troops or magic engineers. One in a hundred thousand has the aptitude to manipulate mana, and only a tiny fraction of those can use magic as magic users. Because there are so few magic users, my unit only has four people including myself. From an outside perspective, that’s plenty. Usually having even magic engineers is good enough, and having two magic users means you’re unlikely to fall behind in battle. But we have four. That’s one reason why this mercenary group rarely loses. It’s also why we can’t grow much larger. In other words, the pay is high. We have to pay higher wages since we can defeat many enemies without incurring weapon costs. Magic users will go to other armies if the pay is low. In these times, magic users are in high demand, so they tend to go where the treatment is better. Of course, I’ve convinced my subordinates to accept somewhat lower pay. But it’s still much higher than other units. Until recently there were constant complaints, and it was a struggle to keep them in check. But lately they’ve stopped complaining. The reason is Shuri. The pay may be low, but the food situation is good. To be frank, they can eat delicious food that can’t be tasted in other units, and they can eat it every time. Some are happy that their physical condition has improved and the accuracy of their magic has increased. The consensus among my subordinates is that even though the pay is low, if they can eat Shuri’s cooking every time, it’s far cheaper than going to the local taverns. If Shuri wasn’t here, we might have fallen apart by now.
That day too, I was supposed to talk with the other captains over lunch. When I stopped by to see my subordinates before heading out, they were drinking Shuri’s cooking and alcohol.
“What will you do if we suddenly have to fight after drinking alcohol!” “No, Captain Arius. Shuri says this is too weak to be considered alcohol.”
When I listened closely, it turned out that the alcohol was called amazake.
“Shuri said alcohol would warm the body, but he’d be troubled if we got drunk. So he made an alcohol that warms the body but is hard to get drunk on.” “It seems it even makes your skin smooth.” “It’s sweet and easy to drink, hard to get drunk on, warm, good for beauty and health. Shuri is like a magician.”
The three women who are my subordinates seem happy, saying they’re glad to be in this unit. Shuri again, huh? Since he came, the atmosphere in the group has been changing. Gungrave has started to pay attention to aspects necessary for running the group, like rear support and food situations. Lill is creating new inventions and techniques, inspired by Shuri. Kuuga seems to have reached enlightenment and is improving his skills. Only Tegue from the archery unit is eating without thinking, just saying “delicious, delicious.” As for me, I have my own concerns. My relationship with Gungrave that’s not progressing. The success of Lill and Kuuga’s units. Recently, the precision of my magic has been lacking.
I told my subordinates I was going to the meeting and left. When I meet up with Gungrave, he’s also drinking amazake.
“Gungrave, what if you get drunk? You’re the captain.” “Ah, mine is a different type of amazake.”
A different type?
“According to Shuri, the one distributed to everyone else has just a tiny bit of alcohol. Apparently it uses ingredients derived from alcohol. I refused because I can’t afford to get drunk, so he went and made amazake using grains as the base. This one has no alcohol at all. This one doesn’t contain anything derived from alcohol, and because it takes more effort to make, it’s more delicious and sweet. On top of that, it warms the body.”
Gungrave smiles happily, and I feel frustrated. Right now, Gungrave is fond of Shuri. There’s no doubt that his presence is easing Gungrave’s burdens as he stands beside him. It’s because of him that Lill and Kuuga were able to change. Gungrave’s hardships have decreased, and the size of the group has increased.
I’m not there.
I should be the one standing there. Looking at Shuri, I see him talking intimately with Lill while handing her amazake. I feel jealous of him. Of him standing next to Gungrave, doing behind-the-scenes work.
Even at night, I’m still feeling uneasy. The amazake and the food are so delicious I can’t complain. If I could make such dishes, could I get closer to Gungrave? At that moment, I had an epiphany. That’s right. I just need to be able to make it. If I could make homemade dishes for Gungrave to eat, he might turn his attention to me.
Strike while the iron is hot. I dash out of the tent and find Shuri doing dishes late at night. In this cold, he’s tirelessly washing so many plates with water.
Seeing this, I feel ashamed of myself.
His hands must be covered in chaps. Whether it’s cold or hot, he’s left to do everything from dishwashing to cooking. From our perspective, risking our lives, it might seem natural. But is it really? With the expansion and recruitment of the group, the number of people in other units is increasing. New people might join my unit soon too. But the number of cooks, which should be increasing the most, isn’t growing. His hardships should be decreasing, but they’re actually increasing. Feeling jealous of him while eating his food and drinking his drinks, while he’s working hard behind the scenes. Isn’t that pathetic?
“Excuse me, do you have a moment?”
Gathering my courage, I decide to talk to him. Maybe I should try trusting him a little, working hard behind the scenes.
“Oh, Arius, what is it?” “I have something to discuss with you.”
Shuri looks back at me with a puzzled expression.
“What is it?” “W-well, you see…”
It’s a bit embarrassing when I think about how I was feeling jealous just a moment ago.
“I want you to teach me how to cook.” “Cooking? I don’t mind, but do you have any experience?” “None…”
I have absolutely no talent for cooking and have never been able to cook properly. I can’t call what I did in the past experience.
“Have you ever held a kitchen knife?” “…A little.”
I can’t tell him I used magic to cut things because it was troublesome.
“But you have no cooking experience?” “I’m sorry, I was trying to save face…”
He saw through me immediately.
“Hmm, suddenly asking me to teach you to cook is… I don’t mind teaching, but it won’t be easy, you know?” “Oh no…”
Isn’t cooking just about cutting things, putting them in a pot, adding salt, and you’re done?
“But why so suddenly?”
Ugh, the question Shuri would naturally ask. At this point, I have no choice but to say it…
“Um… can you keep this a secret?” “I can keep my mouth shut, so no problem.” “I… I like Gungrave.”
I said it with courage. I’m prepared to be laughed at. But in contrast to my solemn demeanor, Shuri doesn’t seem very surprised. Rather, his reaction is muted…
“Oh, I see.” “And recently, I often see Gungrave eating your food with such enjoyment. I got a bit jealous.”
Shuri doesn’t react much to this either. What’s going on? Was it that obvious…?
“Well, that’s…” “I thought if I could cook for Gungrave too, maybe he’d notice me. Lately, Lill and Kuuga’s units have been doing well, so his attention is on them. I want to do something for Gungrave. I’ll learn more magic too.”
Shuri puts his hand to his chin as if thinking for a moment, then says:
“Arius, you’re not really struggling with magic, are you?” “…Maybe a little.”
He saw right through me.
“I can’t comment on magic since it’s a different field. But I can help with matters of the heart.” “Really?! Truly?!”
I couldn’t help but lean forward.
“In my hometown, there’s a dish that close friends eat together. The timing and location are perfect. Let’s invite Gungrave for just the two of you.” “Huh? You’ll be there too?” “Please think of me as part of the background during that time.”
This person is being considerate of me. Going so far as to call himself background… I’ll gratefully accept his kindness.
“So? You called me here to invite me to a cooking gathering?”
When the moon was high in the sky, Shuri returned with Gungrave. And with a table and chair set. How far is he going to go out of his way?
“This way, esteemed guests. Please, have a seat here.”
As he gently guides us to the chairs, we sit down. There are plates and spoons prepared on the table, with some kind of sauce on the plates.
“Now, I’ll start preparing the meal.” “Oh, cooking right in front of us?”
He’s going to cook now? Gungrave looks excited, but I don’t know what to expect… Is this going to be okay?
“Well, the broth is already prepared. It’ll be done in no time.”
Oh, so it’s just the finishing touches.
“Now, I’ll add the tofu to this.”
He tosses in something white and square. There’s something that looks like kombu sunk in there, and he starts simmering it in what looks like nothing more than hot water.
“After simmering for a bit, it’s done. This is yudofu.” “…That’s it?”
After a short while, Shuri stops cooking. Both Gungrave and I are dumbfounded, unable to comprehend.
“This dish is best enjoyed in the cold season.” “I see. So, are you going to serve it?” “No, I won’t be involved anymore.” “Huh?”
Shuri hands me a strangely shaped ladle. It’s a ladle, but there are small holes dotting the bottom. I can’t scoop soup with this. Well, it barely looks like anything more than hot water anyway.
“The essence of hot pot dishes is for two people to serve each other and share from one pot. That’s the real pleasure of this meal.”
At this moment, I finally understood Shuri’s intention. This dish allows us to naturally show consideration for each other by serving from the same pot, creating an opportunity for conversation. This way, we can naturally show care for each other, and above all, eating the same food makes it easier to grow closer.
“Gungrave, let me serve you.” “Hm? Oh, thanks.”
I gather my courage and put some tofu on Gungrave’s plate. I wonder if my thoughtfulness will reach him.
“Then I’ll serve yours.” “Eh?! Oh, um, okay…”
I didn’t expect Gungrave to do it for me. I’m so happy I can barely contain myself. After we’ve served each other the same number of tofu pieces, the meal begins. This tofu, when lightly scooped with the ladle, crumbles and mixes with the sauce. It looks white and black, but a refreshing aroma tickles my nostrils. I bring it to my mouth and chew.
It’s warm.
Not just the outside of the tofu, but it’s thoroughly heated to the core. An indescribable umami intertwines with the sourness of the sauce, creating a delicious flavor. This sourness. There’s a hint of citrus aroma. Probably, juice from the peel was added during the cooking process, leaving behind its fragrance. As I swallow the soft, crumbly tofu, it gently warms my throat, esophagus, and stomach as it goes down. Leaving a pleasant heat in its wake. What’s left behind is warmth and refreshment.
“Delicious!” “It really is… even though it’s such a simple dish.”
Just boiling kombu and tofu together. How can it be this delicious?
“Gungrave, what do you think would happen if there was no kombu in this pot?” “It’d taste the same, right?” “No, the taste would be dramatically different.”
Eh? Can just one piece of kombu make such a difference?
“I’ll spare you the details, but the tiny umami elements in the kombu, which plays a supporting role, dissolve into the broth and then infuse into the tofu, the star of the dish. That’s what creates this flavor. So, who do you think is providing the umami to Gungrave, the star?”
Present but not standing out, yet indispensable. That’s what Shuri implied. And he must be talking about me.
Gungrave seems to have realized something too, and looks at me.
“Could it be, Arius…” “…Yes.”
My face feels hot. This isn’t just because of the tofu. Finally, Gungrave has noticed. My feelings of love. What should I do? How should I respond? I can’t raise my face, can’t find the words to continue.
“Arius, listen to me. Please, raise your face and listen.”
His words are serious. I steel myself and raise my face. Gungrave is looking straight at me. Manly and cool. Ah, so this is the kind of man I fell in love with.
“I love you too.”
I feel like I’m about to cry. My love of many years. I thought my first love wouldn’t be reciprocated.
“But we can’t be lovers right now.”
Eh?
“Tomorrow, I might die.”
What are you saying…?
“Not just tomorrow. The day after, next week, the week after. I don’t know when I might die.” “Please stop!” “Listen to me!”
Gungrave grabs my shoulders as I try to deny it with tears in my eyes, blocking my escape.
“But I have a dream.” “The… country, right?” “That’s right. A country. A country where no one goes hungry, where no one is poor. I can’t die until I make that a reality. I won’t die. So. When I have the country in my hands, will you let me propose to you?”
That’s unfair. Gungrave, that’s unfair. Taking advantage of my love, how can I not be happy when you say such things? Making me confess first, I can’t deny it, can I?
“Can I believe you?” “Yes. I will definitely become a king worthy of you.”
Before I knew it, Gungrave’s face was close. Ah, I realized it when my lips were already taken.
“This is my oath. It’s the most I can do right now.” “Yes… yes…”
I can’t stop my tears. My feelings have finally reached him. I felt like I could finally stand beside this person.
The next day, when I thanked Shuri, he was pleased. Apparently, he had disappeared partway through. He made me feel considerate again. I’ve created a debt to Shuri that I can’t repay. But I don’t feel bad about it. Because if he hadn’t been here, my love probably wouldn’t have been realized at all. But there’s a strange story. What is this “tiny umami”? It was something Shuri mentioned during the tofu talk. Are there things so small they can’t be seen?
“Arius. The world is made up of atoms and molecules. Well, they’re small particles and things made up of those particles sticking together.”
When I heard this, I couldn’t hide my surprise. We are aggregates of particles. And there are countless types and numbers of particles, and the world is composed of these particles coming together even more.
Truth.
It wouldn’t be wrong to call it that. Shuri casually stated the composition of this world. But when you put it that way, it can be explained. Magic engineers can only interfere with particles that have become matter, while magic users can interfere with particles of air. And mana is the fuel that can interfere with any kind of particle. That’s why when we manipulate mana, we interfere with particles through mana, materializing the phenomena we imagine. I gained the truth. And in later battles, when I used magic based on this truth, I was able to execute magic with incomparable precision to before. Truth is tofu. This phrase sums it up perfectly.
Arius Denju Apurada. She is spoken of as the wife of Gungrave Denju Apurada, the first emperor of the Unified Empire, the first principal of the National Magic Academy, and a rare magic user. A woman of unparalleled beauty and the witch of hellfire who scorched battlefields. Records state that with the magic she used, snowy battlefields became as hot as midsummer, all the snow melted, and crops mistakenly thought it was spring and sprouted. Even in modern times, not only has no one surpassed her, but there are no magic users who can stand alongside her. This is said to be because she honed her skills as a magic user and gained knowledge called “truth” from the depths of magic. In later years, she took on three of her subordinates as disciples, but it is said that none of the three could fully understand the “truth” she spoke of. Those three would later be called the “Three Sages,” but even the books and oral traditions they left behind are still debated issues in magical academia, and it’s not even possible to estimate how much time it will take to reach the answers. Incidentally, Arius indicated one dish as a stepping stone to reaching the “truth.” It’s a dish that the great chef “Shuri Azuma” spread, and can be eaten at winter izakayas in the empire. A dish made simply by boiling kombu and tofu. It is said that she enjoyed eating this dish and would say this every time she ate it: “Indeed, the truth is packed into this tofu.”
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Chapter 8
I have someone I love.
Back in the slums, he was always the one leading us.
He fought alongside Kuuga at the front lines, battling enemies.
The five of us childhood friends are orphans. We lost our parents to war at a young age and have survived by sticking together.
He always thought of ways for us to survive and protected us. We stole. We hurt people.
But he shouldered all that pain and guilt on his small shoulders.
Someday, I want to stand beside those shoulders. To share the burden.
I realized it was love shortly after we started the mercenary group. When he was in danger and barely managed to survive.
I almost lost the person I love.
I’m Arius.
I’m the captain leading the magic unit of the mercenary group Gungrave founded.
On the battlefield, magic users are a threat.
We manipulate mana to rain fireballs on enemy positions, block arrows with walls of ice, and counter approaching enemies with blades of wind.
A person’s innate talent limits their strength and the types of magic they can use. Only those with talent can become magic users.
Even among the talented, most can only affect objects. They become magic engineering troops or magic engineers.
One in a hundred thousand has the aptitude to manipulate mana, and only a tiny fraction of those can use magic as magic users.
Because there are so few magic users, my unit only has four people including myself.
From an outside perspective, that’s plenty. Usually having even magic engineers is good enough, and having two magic users means you’re unlikely to fall behind in battle.
But we have four. That’s one reason why this mercenary group rarely loses.
It’s also why we can’t grow much larger.
In other words, the pay is high. We have to pay higher wages since we can defeat many enemies without incurring weapon costs.
Magic users will go to other armies if the pay is low. In these times, magic users are in high demand, so they tend to go where the treatment is better.
Of course, I’ve convinced my subordinates to accept somewhat lower pay. But it’s still much higher than other units.
Until recently there were constant complaints, and it was a struggle to keep them in check. But lately they’ve stopped complaining.
The reason is Shuri.
The pay may be low, but the food situation is good.
To be frank, they can eat delicious food that can’t be tasted in other units, and they can eat it every time. Some are happy that their physical condition has improved and the accuracy of their magic has increased.
The consensus among my subordinates is that even though the pay is low, if they can eat Shuri’s cooking every time, it’s far cheaper than going to the local taverns.
If Shuri wasn’t here, we might have fallen apart by now.
That day too, I was supposed to talk with the other captains over lunch.
When I stopped by to see my subordinates before heading out, they were drinking Shuri’s cooking and alcohol.
“What will you do if we suddenly have to fight after drinking alcohol!”
“No, Captain Arius. Shuri says this is too weak to be considered alcohol.”
When I listened closely, it turned out that the alcohol was called amazake.
“Shuri said alcohol would warm the body, but he’d be troubled if we got drunk. So he made an alcohol that warms the body but is hard to get drunk on.”
“It seems it even makes your skin smooth.”
“It’s sweet and easy to drink, hard to get drunk on, warm, good for beauty and health.
Shuri is like a magician.”
The three women who are my subordinates seem happy, saying they’re glad to be in this unit.
Shuri again, huh?
Since he came, the atmosphere in the group has been changing.
Gungrave has started to pay attention to aspects necessary for running the group, like rear support and food situations.
Lill is creating new inventions and techniques, inspired by Shuri.
Kuuga seems to have reached enlightenment and is improving his skills.
Only Tegue from the archery unit is eating without thinking, just saying “delicious, delicious.”
As for me, I have my own concerns.
My relationship with Gungrave that’s not progressing.
The success of Lill and Kuuga’s units.
Recently, the precision of my magic has been lacking.
I told my subordinates I was going to the meeting and left.
When I meet up with Gungrave, he’s also drinking amazake.
“Gungrave, what if you get drunk? You’re the captain.”
“Ah, mine is a different type of amazake.”
A different type?
“According to Shuri, the one distributed to everyone else has just a tiny bit of alcohol. Apparently it uses ingredients derived from alcohol.
I refused because I can’t afford to get drunk, so he went and made amazake using grains as the base. This one has no alcohol at all.
This one doesn’t contain anything derived from alcohol, and because it takes more effort to make, it’s more delicious and sweet. On top of that, it warms the body.”
Gungrave smiles happily, and I feel frustrated.
Right now, Gungrave is fond of Shuri.
There’s no doubt that his presence is easing Gungrave’s burdens as he stands beside him. It’s because of him that Lill and Kuuga were able to change. Gungrave’s hardships have decreased, and the size of the group has increased.
I’m not there.
I should be the one standing there.
Looking at Shuri, I see him talking intimately with Lill while handing her amazake.
I feel jealous of him.
Of him standing next to Gungrave, doing behind-the-scenes work.
Even at night, I’m still feeling uneasy.
The amazake and the food are so delicious I can’t complain.
If I could make such dishes, could I get closer to Gungrave?
At that moment, I had an epiphany.
That’s right. I just need to be able to make it.
If I could make homemade dishes for Gungrave to eat, he might turn his attention to me.
Strike while the iron is hot. I dash out of the tent and find Shuri doing dishes late at night.
In this cold, he’s tirelessly washing so many plates with water.
Seeing this, I feel ashamed of myself.
His hands must be covered in chaps. Whether it’s cold or hot, he’s left to do everything from dishwashing to cooking.
From our perspective, risking our lives, it might seem natural.
But is it really?
With the expansion and recruitment of the group, the number of people in other units is increasing. New people might join my unit soon too.
But the number of cooks, which should be increasing the most, isn’t growing.
His hardships should be decreasing, but they’re actually increasing.
Feeling jealous of him while eating his food and drinking his drinks, while he’s working hard behind the scenes.
Isn’t that pathetic?
“Excuse me, do you have a moment?”
Gathering my courage, I decide to talk to him.
Maybe I should try trusting him a little, working hard behind the scenes.
“Oh, Arius, what is it?”
“I have something to discuss with you.”
Shuri looks back at me with a puzzled expression.
“What is it?”
“W-well, you see…”
It’s a bit embarrassing when I think about how I was feeling jealous just a moment ago.
“I want you to teach me how to cook.”
“Cooking? I don’t mind, but do you have any experience?”
“None…”
I have absolutely no talent for cooking and have never been able to cook properly.
I can’t call what I did in the past experience.
“Have you ever held a kitchen knife?”
“…A little.”
I can’t tell him I used magic to cut things because it was troublesome.
“But you have no cooking experience?”
“I’m sorry, I was trying to save face…”
He saw through me immediately.
“Hmm, suddenly asking me to teach you to cook is…
I don’t mind teaching, but it won’t be easy, you know?”
“Oh no…”
Isn’t cooking just about cutting things, putting them in a pot, adding salt, and you’re done?
“But why so suddenly?”
Ugh, the question Shuri would naturally ask.
At this point, I have no choice but to say it…
“Um… can you keep this a secret?”
“I can keep my mouth shut, so no problem.”
“I… I like Gungrave.”
I said it with courage. I’m prepared to be laughed at.
But in contrast to my solemn demeanor, Shuri doesn’t seem very surprised.
Rather, his reaction is muted…
“Oh, I see.”
“And recently, I often see Gungrave eating your food with such enjoyment.
I got a bit jealous.”
Shuri doesn’t react much to this either.
What’s going on? Was it that obvious…?
“Well, that’s…”
“I thought if I could cook for Gungrave too, maybe he’d notice me.
Lately, Lill and Kuuga’s units have been doing well, so his attention is on them.
I want to do something for Gungrave.
I’ll learn more magic too.”
Shuri puts his hand to his chin as if thinking for a moment, then says:
“Arius, you’re not really struggling with magic, are you?”
“…Maybe a little.”
He saw right through me.
“I can’t comment on magic since it’s a different field.
But I can help with matters of the heart.”
“Really?! Truly?!”
I couldn’t help but lean forward.
“In my hometown, there’s a dish that close friends eat together.
The timing and location are perfect. Let’s invite Gungrave for just the two of you.”
“Huh? You’ll be there too?”
“Please think of me as part of the background during that time.”
This person is being considerate of me.
Going so far as to call himself background…
I’ll gratefully accept his kindness.
“So? You called me here to invite me to a cooking gathering?”
When the moon was high in the sky, Shuri returned with Gungrave.
And with a table and chair set. How far is he going to go out of his way?
“This way, esteemed guests. Please, have a seat here.”
As he gently guides us to the chairs, we sit down.
There are plates and spoons prepared on the table, with some kind of sauce on the plates.
“Now, I’ll start preparing the meal.”
“Oh, cooking right in front of us?”
He’s going to cook now?
Gungrave looks excited, but I don’t know what to expect…
Is this going to be okay?
“Well, the broth is already prepared. It’ll be done in no time.”
Oh, so it’s just the finishing touches.
“Now, I’ll add the tofu to this.”
He tosses in something white and square.
There’s something that looks like kombu sunk in there, and he starts simmering it in what looks like nothing more than hot water.
“After simmering for a bit, it’s done. This is yudofu.”
“…That’s it?”
After a short while, Shuri stops cooking.
Both Gungrave and I are dumbfounded, unable to comprehend.
“This dish is best enjoyed in the cold season.”
“I see. So, are you going to serve it?”
“No, I won’t be involved anymore.”
“Huh?”
Shuri hands me a strangely shaped ladle.
It’s a ladle, but there are small holes dotting the bottom.
I can’t scoop soup with this. Well, it barely looks like anything more than hot water anyway.
“The essence of hot pot dishes is for two people to serve each other and share from one pot.
That’s the real pleasure of this meal.”
At this moment, I finally understood Shuri’s intention.
This dish allows us to naturally show consideration for each other by serving from the same pot, creating an opportunity for conversation.
This way, we can naturally show care for each other, and above all, eating the same food makes it easier to grow closer.
“Gungrave, let me serve you.”
“Hm? Oh, thanks.”
I gather my courage and put some tofu on Gungrave’s plate.
I wonder if my thoughtfulness will reach him.
“Then I’ll serve yours.”
“Eh?! Oh, um, okay…”
I didn’t expect Gungrave to do it for me.
I’m so happy I can barely contain myself.
After we’ve served each other the same number of tofu pieces, the meal begins.
This tofu, when lightly scooped with the ladle, crumbles and mixes with the sauce.
It looks white and black, but a refreshing aroma tickles my nostrils.
I bring it to my mouth and chew.
It’s warm.
Not just the outside of the tofu, but it’s thoroughly heated to the core.
An indescribable umami intertwines with the sourness of the sauce, creating a delicious flavor.
This sourness. There’s a hint of citrus aroma.
Probably, juice from the peel was added during the cooking process, leaving behind its fragrance.
As I swallow the soft, crumbly tofu, it gently warms my throat, esophagus, and stomach as it goes down.
Leaving a pleasant heat in its wake.
What’s left behind is warmth and refreshment.
“Delicious!”
“It really is… even though it’s such a simple dish.”
Just boiling kombu and tofu together.
How can it be this delicious?
“Gungrave, what do you think would happen if there was no kombu in this pot?”
“It’d taste the same, right?”
“No, the taste would be dramatically different.”
Eh?
Can just one piece of kombu make such a difference?
“I’ll spare you the details, but the tiny umami elements in the kombu, which plays a supporting role, dissolve into the broth and then infuse into the tofu, the star of the dish. That’s what creates this flavor.
So, who do you think is providing the umami to Gungrave, the star?”
Present but not standing out, yet indispensable.
That’s what Shuri implied.
And he must be talking about me.
Gungrave seems to have realized something too, and looks at me.
“Could it be, Arius…”
“…Yes.”
My face feels hot. This isn’t just because of the tofu.
Finally, Gungrave has noticed. My feelings of love.
What should I do? How should I respond?
I can’t raise my face, can’t find the words to continue.
“Arius, listen to me. Please, raise your face and listen.”
His words are serious.
I steel myself and raise my face.
Gungrave is looking straight at me.
Manly and cool.
Ah, so this is the kind of man I fell in love with.
“I love you too.”
I feel like I’m about to cry.
My love of many years. I thought my first love wouldn’t be reciprocated.
“But we can’t be lovers right now.”
Eh?
“Tomorrow, I might die.”
What are you saying…?
“Not just tomorrow. The day after, next week, the week after.
I don’t know when I might die.”
“Please stop!”
“Listen to me!”
Gungrave grabs my shoulders as I try to deny it with tears in my eyes, blocking my escape.
“But I have a dream.”
“The… country, right?”
“That’s right. A country.
A country where no one goes hungry, where no one is poor. I can’t die until I make that a reality. I won’t die. So.
When I have the country in my hands, will you let me propose to you?”
That’s unfair. Gungrave, that’s unfair.
Taking advantage of my love, how can I not be happy when you say such things?
Making me confess first, I can’t deny it, can I?
“Can I believe you?”
“Yes. I will definitely become a king worthy of you.”
Before I knew it, Gungrave’s face was close.
Ah, I realized it when my lips were already taken.
“This is my oath. It’s the most I can do right now.”
“Yes… yes…”
I can’t stop my tears.
My feelings have finally reached him.
I felt like I could finally stand beside this person.
The next day, when I thanked Shuri, he was pleased.
Apparently, he had disappeared partway through.
He made me feel considerate again.
I’ve created a debt to Shuri that I can’t repay.
But I don’t feel bad about it.
Because if he hadn’t been here, my love probably wouldn’t have been realized at all.
But there’s a strange story.
What is this “tiny umami”?
It was something Shuri mentioned during the tofu talk.
Are there things so small they can’t be seen?
“Arius. The world is made up of atoms and molecules. Well, they’re small particles and things made up of those particles sticking together.”
When I heard this, I couldn’t hide my surprise.
We are aggregates of particles. And there are countless types and numbers of particles, and the world is composed of these particles coming together even more.
Truth.
It wouldn’t be wrong to call it that. Shuri casually stated the composition of this world.
But when you put it that way, it can be explained.
Magic engineers can only interfere with particles that have become matter, while magic users can interfere with particles of air.
And mana is the fuel that can interfere with any kind of particle.
That’s why when we manipulate mana, we interfere with particles through mana, materializing the phenomena we imagine.
I gained the truth.
And in later battles, when I used magic based on this truth, I was able to execute magic with incomparable precision to before.
Truth is tofu.
This phrase sums it up perfectly.
Arius Denju Apurada.
She is spoken of as the wife of Gungrave Denju Apurada, the first emperor of the Unified Empire, the first principal of the National Magic Academy, and a rare magic user.
A woman of unparalleled beauty and the witch of hellfire who scorched battlefields.
Records state that with the magic she used, snowy battlefields became as hot as midsummer, all the snow melted, and crops mistakenly thought it was spring and sprouted.
Even in modern times, not only has no one surpassed her, but there are no magic users who can stand alongside her.
This is said to be because she honed her skills as a magic user and gained knowledge called “truth” from the depths of magic.
In later years, she took on three of her subordinates as disciples, but it is said that none of the three could fully understand the “truth” she spoke of. Those three would later be called the “Three Sages,” but even the books and oral traditions they left behind are still debated issues in magical academia, and it’s not even possible to estimate how much time it will take to reach the answers.
Incidentally, Arius indicated one dish as a stepping stone to reaching the “truth.”
It’s a dish that the great chef “Shuri Azuma” spread, and can be eaten at winter izakayas in the empire.
A dish made simply by boiling kombu and tofu.
It is said that she enjoyed eating this dish and would say this every time she ate it:
“Indeed, the truth is packed into this tofu.”
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