This was the house I once bought.
Though it was once set ablaze by Arti, the one who steals the logic of fire, it had been restored to its former state.
Rumor had it that the house had become a premium property, but ultimately, Maria and Snow were the ones who ended up with ownership.
On the desk in the living room, a large pile of books was stacked.
The titles were all related to magic: “Basic Techniques of the Magic Stone Human,” “The History of Magic Related to the Rebirth of Saints,” and “Healing with Divine Magic: Advanced Edition.”
“Kanami? Weren’t you supposed to be out touring the town with Dia today? That’s what I heard from Rainer.”
Maria, who had little professional contact with me, seemed to have received a report from her secretary and knight, Rainer. She closed the book she was engrossed in and stood up, her face filled with a strange expression.
“Dia said she wanted to be with everyone.”
As I replied, Dia appeared from the Connection behind us.
“Maria, I’m here too—!”
Seeing him, Maria smiled softly, as if facing family.
“I see… Welcome, Dia.”
“Yeah, thanks for having me!”
Dia walked past me and, as if to pounce, hugged Maria. Seeing their close physical affection, it was clear that our first encounter a year ago had been… well, it was my fault for getting in between them.
And following Dia, Snow also appeared from the Connection.
“I’m here too! Speaking of which, I’m going to dash to my room to get my knitting set!”
However, she immediately retreated to the back of the house.
“Sister too? What is this all about…”
“Your sister, Kanami, apparently bought some souvenirs. Maria, you should take yours too. We already got ours.”
While Maria was surprised by the sudden visitors, Dia, showing off her new clothes, was trying to achieve her goal efficiently. As she spoke, I activated the magic in question.
“—Default: Armor Destruction!”
“—!”
Unlike Dia and Snow, Maria tensed up.
However, as she looked at her changing clothes, she understood the magic’s effect and relaxed her body.
Maria let out a wry smile, and Dia was genuinely pleased.
“All right! Now we’re all matching!”
“…Is that what that magic does? Please don’t startle me like that, Kanami. Usually, even for support magic, you say a word.”
She pouted and complained to me first.
However, even as she said that, the corner of her lips curved upwards, and her gaze drifted down as she fiddled with the hem of her clothes.
Maria’s outfit, unlike the other two, was almost identical to Hidaki’s. The formal frilled blouse and skirt that matched her black hair and black eyes made it feel as if she were wearing hand-me-downs from the youngest daughter of the Aikawa family.
“But I’m happy. Thank you, Kanami. I’ll cherish it.”
“Yes, I’d be happy if you cherished it.”
As we exchanged words, Dia sat on a chair in the living room as if it were her own home, resting her chin on her hand opposite Maria. I took the chair next to her.
“Speaking of which, why were we separated in the first place, even though it’s Kanami’s day off…? I heard from Fedelt that I’d be with Kanami today, and Snow would be tomorrow… But I wouldn’t have minded being with Maria from the first day, you know?”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”
I too had been wondering why I was meeting with Dia and the others one by one. I had been a little bothered by the inefficiency.
My schedule was generally decided by the Senate, but lately, I had been feeling a lack of coordination and sloppiness—no, on the contrary, a strong sense of strictness and consideration.
Maria seemed to feel the same way and voiced her thoughts.
“It’s probably the Senate’s consideration. Those people, putting aside their own shifty nature, don’t trust us at all. They see us as ‘boss characters walking freely around town’ or ‘something that will explode if prodded carelessly,’ so they probably wanted us to spend time with Kanami individually. That way, in case of an emergency, it would minimize the damage to the continent.”
It was likely that the members around Rainer, Kuuneru, and Fedelt had held their own meetings and decided on a policy to keep as many dangerous individuals separated as possible. I could understand their reasoning. After all, if Maria were to swing both her arms with all her might for some reason, the Allied Nations she had helped raise could easily be turned into a wasteland. The black stain that appeared on the world map after only a few minutes of combat a year ago should still be fresh in their memories.
“Hmpf, so that’s how it is. Those guys are playing weirdly annoying games.”
Upon deciphering the truth, Dia, alone, slammed her hand on the desk, genuinely angered. As Kanami and I tried to soothe her anger, Snow emerged from the back of the room and shouted.
“I got it! My knitting set!”
“Oh, that’s the knitting tool, huh? I heard it became popular among everyone while I wasn’t around.”
“That’s right. It was when Kanami had his memory erased and was working at the Guild. Ah, those were the days. Maria back then was weak and cute.”
Snow was indirectly saying that Maria was now too strong and not cute. Maria shot Snow a stern look for the slip of the tongue, but Dia’s intervention saved Snow from further scrutiny.
“Alright, let’s get started! Maria, let’s have a knitting competition!”
“No, I won’t be participating. After all, I can’t make anything better than Snow, and I doubt I can make anything as interesting as Dia… I’ll watch from a little further away.”
“What do you mean, interesting! Hey! You too! You think I’m clumsy too, don’t you!”
Dia and Maria exchanged a smile-inducing, family-like banter. I’m sure this was what the Senate dreaded.
“Fufu, I’m sorry. Dia, it’s a joke… I know you’ve been working hard lately, practicing things you’re not good at. If you make something nice, give it to me too. Rather than compete, let me tidy up this place. As you can see, it’s a bit messy.”
Saying that, Maria began stacking the books on the living room desk, intending to move them. I offered to help and started to get up, but she quickly declined, saying, “Kanami, you’re a guest today,” and made me sit back down.
“I see… Leave it to me, Maria. I’ll make three properly.”
Surprisingly, Dia’s knitting was popular, and three orders had accumulated. Meanwhile, Maria moved the books to the adjacent room, creating space on the desk.
Snow placed her knitting tools down, and I picked up a wooden knitting needle from them, muttering.
“It’s been a while since I knitted… Was it since I knitted Rowen a scarf?”
“This is my first time ever today. I’ve only ever seen other people do it a little.”
Dia rolled a ball of yarn on the desk, glaring at the rows of knitting tools.
She probably didn’t know how to use them, so she didn’t know which one to start with.
“Don’t worry, I’ll teach you. Let’s make something nice for the two of us and show everyone up. With my current abilities, I can help anyone, no matter how bad they are, quickly acquire skills––”
Enthusiastically, I volunteered to be the teacher.
Having deciphered the skill system, I was confident in my ability to teach well now.
Recently, I’d started a job helping the Magic Stone Humans unlock their hidden talents, and I thoroughly enjoyed nurturing others.
“No, I’ll learn from Snow, so Kanami, please stand a little further away.”
“––What!?”
I was about to pull out my glasses and pointer from my Inventory, but Dia’s immediate rejection shocked me more than I expected.
“N-no, this is to return the favor for the scarf, so I want to do it without Kanami’s help as much as possible. Besides, suddenly acquiring a skill feels… wrong. Isn’t that a little unfair?”
Snow agreed with Dia’s reasoning and nodded.
“I know Kanami is good at teaching too. I’ve heard rumors in various places lately. But when Kanami teaches, skills develop in a short time, and you always succeed, right? Like Dia said, it feels wrong. It lacks… heart! It lacks heart!!”
“H-heart…!?”
Indeed, even if I had Dia acquire the Knitting skill mechanically and she gave me a wonderful gift with that power, it might lack heart.
Even if a masterpiece was completed, I felt that it would be me, rather than Dia, who had made it.
Weakened by such persuasion after the recent fierce battle, I was defeated by the word “heart.” Dia, as if to follow up on Snow’s words, nodded vigorously.
“Ah, heart! It’s heart! I want to put my heart into their present for Kanami, so please wait a moment, Kanami!”
It was pure goodwill.
I could easily imagine Dia knitting desperately, stitch by stitch.
And I could easily understand that Dia’s knitting would be more precious than anything I could have instructed her to make.
“Kuh…! In that case, I’ll make something myself…”
Reluctantly, I accepted and gave up on being Dia’s teacher.
Then, I ceded the seat next to Dia to Snow and began knitting on my own at the seat Maria had occupied.
“Okay. Then, I’ll teach Dia.”
“Snow, please.”
Before me, Dia learned from Snow.
While both of them seemed to enjoy themselves, their eyes shining, I moved my hands mindlessly in contrast.
My knitting was truly unplanned and haphazard.
But it was very calming, peaceful––and easygoing.
Unexpectedly, thanks to Snow and Dia, it felt like my workaholic tendencies had been rectified. If they hadn’t said anything, I would have tried to perfectly achieve even knitting with meticulous planning.
What’s important for a leisure hobby is to be carefree.
When you try to make something perfect, even discussing skills, it becomes close to work.
Realizing this, I stopped worrying about the outcome and enjoyed the process, immersing myself for the first time in a long time in ‘haphazard crafting where failure is acceptable’ rather than ‘flawless craftsmanship where failure is not allowed.’
“……….”
That activity, for some reason, reminded me of the past.
When I was very young, in my Original World, I had continued to play with hobbies that allowed saving and loading, using my ample free time. Because it was a world where I could retry, failure was acceptable. Losing was acceptable. Stopping midway was acceptable, and I could resume if I felt like it. It was a memory of a carefree and enjoyable time.
I was now spending that same time in Another World.
And before me were two companions spending the same time with me.
Snow demonstrated, saying, “Hold it like this, and do this,” and Dia mimicked, “Like this?” As each clumsy step was cleared, voices of praise like “That’s right!” echoed, and happy voices like “Got it!” responded.
I thought it was a gentle time.
And important.
This unhurried time was invaluable.
I understand.
I do understand––
“……….”
I was a little lonely knitting alone in silence.
After continuing to move my hands blankly for dozens of minutes.
Just as I began to feel alienated, Snow spoke to me.
“––W-what? K-Kanami, in the blink of an eye…”
“Hm?”
I followed Snow’s wide-eyed gaze.
Before I knew it, something splendid had been completed in my hands.
It was a knitted stuffed animal, modeled after a Dragon.
It was about the size of a soccer ball, just right for petting or hugging.
Dia also confirmed it and stopped her work in surprise.
“Wow, as expected of Kanami. You’re so fast… But why a Dragon?”
“Why? I guess my hands just made what I wanted.”
Maybe it was because I was lost in memories of RPGs.
I had been moving my hands completely mindlessly, so I had no other answer.
I was as surprised as Dia and Snow and examined the stuffed animal’s quality.
But it was cool…
So cool…
The stuffed animal made using skills had no flaws and was as high quality as a commercial product. If bought at a theme park, it would likely cost a fortune.
The more I looked at it, the more majestic, fierce––and monstrous it became.
It was truly a Dragon, the pinnacle of fantasy creatures.
Having one in my private room would greatly boost my spirits.
As I self-praised, Snow also stopped her work and rejoiced with her hands raised.
“What you wanted was a Dragon?! Does that mean you made a doll of me, Kanami!”
“Huh? Snow?”
“Huh? Well, when it comes to dragons who are Kanami’s acquaintances, that would be me…”
A name that didn’t evoke words like gallant, courageous, or ferocious escaped my lips, and I genuinely asked for clarification. With “huh?” exchanging back and forth, I managed to cover for myself.
“R-right. It’s, well, it might be Snow.”
“Ah! This! It doesn’t seem like me! It feels more like Seldra!”
However, my response was so hesitant that even Snow could tell.
And before I could make any excuses, Dia chimed in to help.
“It can’t be helped, Snow. It’s still only he who can ‘Dragonize’ his entire body. When you think of a dragon, it’s definitely him right now.”
“Ugh… I’ll learn ‘Dragonization’ too and master it. Kanami kind of seems to like dragons…”
“Do that. But today, you’re not the one to be taught; you’re the one to teach. Snow, where should I thread the needle next?”
Unexpectedly, Snow showed enthusiasm for “Dragonization” training.
That was a happy miscalculation. Due to her level increasing, she had started experiencing aftereffects like dragon scales on her body.
However, Seldra told me that if she could safely “Dragonize” her entire body, they would disappear. If she could control the “Demonic Poison” within her body and her blood like him, then Snow’s life would have no more obstacles.
Including her standing in the Walker family, her hardships due to her “differences in birth” would all end.
Finally, everything.
Imagining Snow’s future waiting for her, I smiled.
As I pictured her younger adoptive sister with black hair likely by her side in the future, Maria herself called out to me from behind.
“—Fufu. It seems I’m left out, Kanami-san. How about we make something together over there?”
Having completed the evacuation of all the books in the living room and also finished cleaning the room, she invited me, who had just finished one piece of knitting.
The fact that the magic stone-made kitchen was within her line of sight suggested a culinary proposal.
“It’s time to prepare dinner. Let’s get started early and make something grand for the two of you.”
“…Right. I’ve finished one, so I’ll head over there.”
What Dia is currently making is a present for me.
It might be better to stay away until it’s finished, rather than watching her intently from the front.
Proudly displaying the dragon plushie, I placed it in the center of the desk and then slowly stood up.
The two working on their crafts didn’t stop me. They probably sent me off happily, anticipating the improved quality of dinner.
Maria and I moved from the living room and stood side-by-side in the kitchen.
“This is a little nostalgic. We only cooked together here like this once before.”
Hearing that, I too reminisced about the past.
We cooked together around the time we defeated Teeda, the “Thief of Principles of Darkness,” and before fighting Arti, the “Thief of Principles of Fire.” It was a period when I had messed up quite a bit.
“Maria, you had a talent for ‘cooking,’ so I taught you just once, didn’t I?”
“Yes. You entrusted me with the cooking for this house because I was about to lose my place.”
“Ah… That’s right. Why is it? It feels like a very long time ago.”
“Fufu. Do you remember that around that very long time ago, Kanami-san asked me to ‘cook every day’?”
“…I remember. I recall saying many thoughtless things.”
“Yes, Kanami-san was truly a thoughtless person. But thanks to that thoughtlessness, I am alive. I probably would have died as a slave if Kanami-san hadn’t been there.”
“Just that part… was it good to be thoughtless? Yes, I think it was good.”
“Yes, it was truly good. I am very happy to be able to cook with Kanami-san like this now.”
“Um… I’m glad I can stand in the same kitchen with Maria like this again…”
“Well, strictly speaking, the house back then burned down, so this is a different kitchen. Please look closely. They made the workspace wider than before. Isn’t it nice?”
“…No, let’s just treat it as the same kitchen. We were in the middle of reminiscing about our memories.”
Seeing me suddenly have the rug pulled out from under me, Maria chuckled.
The exchange of jokes was very comfortable and casual.
Confirming that we had reached the relationship I had once wished for, we rolled up our sleeves, and got down to business.
“—Well then, shall we start cooking? Since it’s wider, it’s easier to cook than before.”
First, I quickly checked the ingredients and other items around the kitchen.
The provisions were more than enough for two people.
All the built-in equipment was also meticulously maintained.
“Since we have the chance, Kanami-san. How about we have a ‘cooking’ competition starting now? Each of us can make whatever we like, and Dia and the others can judge the winner.”
Maria imitated Dia and proposed it to me.
With her slender right arm exposed, she struck a pose making a bicep, and smiled challengingly.
She was confident she would win.
Her skills had improved since I last taught her, something I could tell even without checking her Status.
“It sounds interesting, but let’s do something else today. Maria, the souvenirs from the ‘Original World’ aren’t just clothes. Fufufu…”
Smiling with more confidence than Maria, I began taking out the items I had purchased from my ‘Inventory.’
First, salt, sugar, vinegar, mirin, and so on for the dining table.
I placed them one after another on the preparation counter and spread them out.
“Are these seasonings…? That’s a lot… or rather, the containers are unlike anything I’ve seen before.”
“They’re plastic containers. For now, I’ll open them all. Please try tasting them.”
Removing the wrapping and lids, I handed them over one by one. Maria’s interest shifted from the competition to the seasonings. She dropped a small amount on the back of her hand, licked it with the tip of her tongue, and then rinsed it off with water from the newly installed faucet.
“Is this salt…? It is salt. But it’s different from this one.”
“It’s salt. Not only the manufacturing method is different, but it also contains umami components. Alright, next…”
Seeing that Maria was accustomed to tasting, I handed her not only powdered but also liquid items without hesitation.
“Ah, I recognize soy sauce just by its smell. This is a specialty from the north here.”
“Soy sauce is a remnant of me and Aid from a thousand years ago.”
Since Maria couldn’t read the Japanese on the container labels, it had become a little quiz game.
One should explain the name, ingredients, origin, and manufacturing method before tasting.
However, I had a reason for not wanting to do that.
“—Hyaaa! It’s… spicy! This is spicy, Kanami-san!!”
I was a little amused to see various reactions from Maria, who was usually so clever.
Following my surging desires, I deliberately offered no explanation and continued to hand her things.
“That’s a type of chili pepper, called Habanero. Next is—”
I savored each of Maria’s rare expressions as compensation for the souvenirs.
After confirming over ten major seasonings, I moved on to tasting seasonings that were a bit more unusual even in the “Original World.” I sampled fish sauce, balsamic vinegar, garam masala and turmeric for curry, and finally—
“—Hm? Kanami-san, this is…?”
“The previous one was honey, and this is chocolate sauce.”
We reached items that were slightly removed from seasonings, and the tasting came to an end.
“It’s sweet and a little bitter… Delicious. No, this is really quite…”
Maria repeatedly dripped it onto the back of her hand and tasted it in succession. Kuuneru also liked the chocolate, so it seems to suit the palates of the residents here.
“That’s everything. Let’s use these seasonings to make dinner. Since it’s a holiday, let’s just cook casually instead of competing… as if it’s okay to make mistakes.”
“Indeed, that sounds better than competition… Well then, please let me handle the main dish. There were a few things I wanted to try using.”
“In that case, I think I’ll make dessert.”
It was decided that we would take our time and cook.
And, confident that chocolate would be well-received, I volunteered to make dessert.
I also bought some chocolate bars, so I figured Dia and the others would be happy if I just melted them in a double boiler and shaped them into various forms. Coincidentally, the date in the “Original World” was close to Valentine’s Day, and I was glad I had bought a lot cheaply.
However, just making them wouldn’t be satisfying enough.
This was one of the reasons I hadn’t accepted the challenge earlier, but with my current abilities, I could make adjustments down to the nanogram.
It was at a level where replicating the dishes from the top-tier restaurants in my childhood memories was easily possible.
“Alright, I’ve decided—”
So, I’ve decided to make a dragon again.
With my current skills, I can create elaborate chocolate and sugar sculptures like those seen on TV or at shows.
This time, it won’t be a Western-style dragon, but an Eastern one.
I want to challenge myself to create a slender, long, and beautiful dragon, rather than a thick, large one.
“Decided…? Could it be, Kanami-san, you’re planning to make a dragon again?”
Just as I was about to get serious, Maria, with a slightly exasperated look, confirmed with me.
Caught off guard, I averted my eyes and asked back.
“W-was that how my face looked?”
“I’m not sure, but I felt like it did. You really love dragons, don’t you.”
I couldn’t deny it.
Frankly, I love dragons.
I know it’s a preference ingrained from my childhood gaming experiences.
However, because of that, dragons were an absolute object of admiration.
I always thought dragons that appeared as enemies were always at the strongest Level, and anything with “dragon” in its Skill or Weapons and armor name felt powerful.
“Do you dislike them, Maria? Aren’t dragons purely cool?”
“I don’t particularly like or dislike them… But it’s true that dragons in books are usually formidable enemies. Although they are not much of a real threat to us now, they are undoubtedly symbols of power from the past.”
“That’s good, I’m glad you understand… Thank you, Maria. So, I’m going to make a dragon.”
“Eh? Ah, yes. Well, I didn’t necessarily understand their coolness, though.”
Maria seemed to have more to say, but I decided she understood me and forcefully continued with “So,” jumping into the dragon creation.
I intend to use Skills like “Cooking,” “Confectionery Making,” and “Sensation,” as well as all the ingredients and items in my “Inventory,” to make the coolest masterpiece.
Of course, I could achieve a more perfect finish by using Magic.
Measurement using Magic《Dimension》and temperature control using Magic《Heat》and《Freeze》.
By combining them, I can replicate any special cooking method.
However, that would be a method that perfectly embodies the phrase “lacking heart.”
As Dia and Snow said, because it’s a holiday, I want to dedicate myself to making the dragon with all my heart. I feel like I still have a sliver of pride left within me, a reluctance to be cowardly when it comes to creating things.
“Haa… That’s unsettling.”
My relaxed expression must be very readable.
As if I were her younger brother, Maria let out a deep sigh and then began working on another dish next to me.
That said, her cheeks were as relaxed as mine. It was obvious she was inwardly excited about how she would use the seasonings from the “Original World.”
Thus, we moved to our respective tasks and began cooking.
The kitchen fell silent. Instead of conversation, only the sounds of cooking suitable for a peaceful holiday could be heard.
The clatter of cooking utensils and the rhythmic chop of a knife cutting ingredients echoed.
These natural sounds intertwined with the sound of Snow teaching Dia knitting in the living room behind us, creating a very pleasant ambience of daily life.
It had been a long time since I had heard such peaceful sounds of life.
Like listening to an orchestra in a concert hall, the sounds enveloped my entire body softly, and the vibrations shook me. My own breathing, which I usually didn’t notice, could be clearly heard, and I felt like I was merging into those sounds.
We’ve returned to our everyday lives.
Listening to the sounds of life that made me feel that way—
The time of daily life passed.
But it wasn’t as if time was running out, pushing me into a corner.
It was as if time was gently passing by, healing me.
Although the word “passed” was the same, the meaning was completely different.
—And so, after several hours of leisurely cooking—
The rising sun began to set, and time crept into the evening.
The surrounding city’s bustle had significantly quieted down.
Reddish hues tinged the sky, signaling the approach of the day’s end.
If this were truly an orchestra, it would be around the transition to a new movement.
A voice announcing the end of the work could be heard.
That voice was neither mine nor Maria’s.
“—It’s done!!”
Mia smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling, and rushed towards the kitchen.
“Kanami, please take this! It’s a thank-you gift for the souvenir!”
In her hand, she held something that could be called a scarf, though its shape was slightly uneven. The length was a bit short, and the color was a subdued indigo. The pattern looked familiar.
As I shifted my gaze, I saw Snow in the back, wiping the sweat from her brow with a sigh. In her hand was the scarf Dia had given me. It seemed she had made a matching one, using the scarf I made as a model.
“Thank you. …I’ll cherish it.”
I had received scarves from Maria and Snow as well, so my “Inventory” was already full of winter gear. Yet, I was happy. I was happier than I had expected.
“Ah, use it well! I’ll use mine well too!”
At the words “use it well,” I felt a slight… waver. My heart stirred, something that wouldn’t have moved if the roles were reversed.
“Dia, don’t I get one?”
Maria poked her head out from behind my back and made another demand. Dia gave her an apologetic look and shook her head.
“Sorry, Maria. One was all I had in me. But I think I can make you one just like it right away. I’ll make it for you now!”
“Then, that’s something to look forward to for next time. It’s almost time for dinner, so Dia, please help with carrying the food.”
Just as Dia finished one scarf, Maria had also finished cooking. The main dish for dinner was a meat dish made with the newly acquired seasonings. Alongside it were a fish dish, soup, salad, and fruit, making it a full course meal.
It looked like enough for more than four people. Dia, while impressed by the lavish meal, also looked concerned.
“Wow, that’s a lot of food. …But won’t this be too much?”
“It’s fine. If there are leftovers, there are plenty of ways to store them, so don’t worry about it.”
She must have made it with the intention of it being a party. Maria spoke as if leftovers were expected, but Snow and I shook our heads.
“It’ll be fine with me here. I eat a ton!”
“Lately, I’ve been able to eat as much as I want too, so I don’t think anything will be left. …It seems our stamina consumption has increased as our levels have gone up.”
The two who were larger in build denied it, and we began to move the dishes from the kitchen to the living room. The large table in the living room was being transformed from a collection of various knitting supplies to a variety of dishes.
And as we finished serving, my dessert was placed in the center of the table. Dia tilted her head, looking at it, and asked for an explanation.
“So, I’ve been curious since a while ago… What is this?”
“It’s dessert. My masterpiece.”
“De-dessert?”
Even with the explanation, Dia’s questions didn’t cease. The reason was that a life-like dragon model, so realistic it didn’t look like a sweet, was seated on a large platter.
The dragon itself wasn’t that large. However, the platter was covered with cookies and matcha, fashioned to resemble the ground and vegetation. Furthermore, a sword-shaped ice sherbet was stuck into the confectionary ground, and there was a cookie in the shape of a person (resembling Rowen) trying to pull it out.
Frankly, it was a diorama made of sweets.
“It looks hard to eat… How am I supposed to start? And can I even break it?”
“The concept is to enjoy the colors, enjoy breaking it, and enjoy eating it—of course, you can break it!”
“Even if you say ‘of course,’ Kanami… That’s a figurine of ‘The One Who Steals Earthly Principles,’ isn’t it? I feel a bit hesitant to break someone I know.”
I was quite excited in front of my masterpiece. In contrast, Dia remained with a troubled expression. I thought Dia would be pleased, unlike Maria, but my expectation was mistaken. While she could understand the diorama itself, she didn’t grasp the meaning of it being edible confectionary. In the ‘Original World,’ cakes often had Santa Claus figures on them, which was common, but in ‘Another World,’ it was an unfamiliar concept.
Maria placed a hand on Dia’s shoulder, who seemed somewhat taken aback.
“Never mind Kanami’s usual obliviousness, let’s eat quickly. It’ll get cold.”
“…Ah. Trying to understand this seriously is giving me a headache.”
“Maybe it’s because the ‘magic power monster’ Kanami made it… I feel like something might happen if I eat it. There are too many blessings, I feel like I’d be struck down if I ate it carelessly. It’s unnecessarily artistic; should we enshrine it in the Great Cathedral?”
The assessments were dismal, and everyone’s interest shifted from the diorama to Maria’s cooking. I, who had expected a bit more enthusiasm, even if not outright praise, felt dejected. With a disheartened sigh, I sat down in my chair and clasped my hands.
“Itadakimasu…”
My subdued “Itadakimasu” was followed by everyone else’s cheerful “Itadakimasu!” Maria began by serving the main meat dish, which Dia and Snow then took bites of, their smiles reaching their peak for the day.
“It’s more delicious than! Store-bought! As expected of Maria!”
“Unlike our usual meals, this has a bit of a kick! …Second helping!”
Maria’s cooking, having gained the skill ‘Cooking,’ was a huge hit. I, joining the others slightly later, also took a bite of the meat. The moment the meat juice spread in my mouth, I was enveloped in a sense of bliss. The new spices were used skillfully, and the meat’s flavor was brought out with an exquisite balance.
Defeated. Though I hadn’t formally challenged Maria to a cooking competition, I felt a sense of defeat and turned my attention to the other dishes. Dia and the others also couldn’t stop eating, and the dishes I had thought would be too much were disappearing in the blink of an eye… However, my dessert remained, sadly, almost untouched.
They had lightly touched the chocolate-covered ground part, but there was no sign of the dragon or the Rowen-shaped confectionary being broken. I felt like it was heading towards being enshrined in the Great Cathedral, so I had no choice but to poke it myself with a spoon, destroy the diorama, and bring it to my mouth.
During this enjoyable dinner, we shared our recent happenings. Dia spoke animatedly about her daily bickering with Franryure. Snow and Maria spoke kindly about their days with the Four Great Noble Families, the Walker family. I boastfully mentioned the places in town where my influence could be seen. We continued our trivial conversations late into the night.
