TNZKMA 26

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[With that said, I will be drawing water for Grandpa every day from now on.]

 

For the time being, I get Saine’s approval. He’s the landowner after all. Saine made a seemingly difficult expression but he didn’t say anything.

Does he not like it? Is he okay with it? I was waiting nervously but Saine only replied with a “Hmph” through his nose and left the room.

Does that mean it’s okay? Must be. He’s a kind person who chops some firewood for him(G), he probably won’t mind me drawing water. Maybe something happened outside. What was it called again, an assembly of Heroes…… a guild. Did something unpleasant happen there?

Without thinking deeply, in order not to stir Saine’s nerves, I move as quietly as I can. I’m a bit crude and am also aware that I talk too much. That’s why I’ll keep quiet. At least, for today, let’s be quiet. And I can also just ask him again about drawing water for Grandpa tomorrow.

 

My ears feel around for Saine’s movement outside as I crush the worms. Getting used to it is scary. Because I can now make oil without making a fuss. I lightly whispered ‘I’m sorry’ to the white worm that was trying to crawl out and stopped it with my finger. And then, *squelch squelch squish*. The golden oil is ready.

 

Today will be the orange turnips and pork. I tried to escape from the clutches of the extremely appealing ras. Besides, it’s also not good to eat bird meat daily, no matter how delicious it is. 

Hearing Saine walking through the hallway, I put the oil in the pot. It makes a nice sizzling sound, and an aromatic smell tickles my nose. For pork, I put the turnips first.

It seems that even with the same ingredients, the way the fire passes and the cooking procedure are different between this world and that world. The Grannies said that it was hard to get used to, but perhaps I didn’t cook or I forgot that I cooked back there, I’m not troubled with the procedures here. 

When the turnip is about to turn pink, I put in the turnip’s leaves and the pork. I also add salt and pepper consecutively. Roughly stir the ingredients and it’s done. When I transferred it to the big platter, a delicious aroma enfolded in the room.

Saine starts drinking alcohol before the food is ready. I place the big plate in front of him in that state, and then I serve him a bowl of white rice. I hardly sat on my seat before he started hungrily eating. It’s the usual scene. I also start eating. Hmm, delicious. There were no mistakes in Granny Rei’s recipe. The pork is also great, Granny.

Saine put a large serving of the side dish on top of the white rice and scooped up the food. I pick up some turnip and pork with my chopsticks, put them on the rice, and start eating. I peek at Saine while eating.

I don’t think there’s any change in the way he eats or his mood. Is he not mad? Is he done being mad? I’m not really sure but he’s the usual Saine. Relieve, I ate another bite.

 

After eating and drinking alcohol, Saine stands from his seat. He will bathe next. I also get up and head to the garden.

Saine returns to his bedroom temporarily after eating. I don’t know what he’s doing, but for a short while, he stays in his room. However, he soon comes out. During that time, I boil the bathwater.

When I draw the water for cooking, I also put water in the bath. I ignite the flint twice. I transfer the sparks with *click clack* and blow on it to ignite a fire. I put in some firewood so the ember won’t go out and in no time, it grew into a big fire.

 

I can’t compare it to anything because I don’t remember, but I wonder if the water here boils easily. It’s because the bath is ready a few minutes after I start the fire. Just as I thought that it’s about time, Saine came out. 

 

[Eat your food.]

 

I tilt my head not understanding what he means.

 

[Eat your meal before preparing the bath. I can at least wait while you’re eating.]

 

After looking away from me and saying that, Saine quickly entered the bathroom. Because he said it quickly over his shoulder, it didn’t register to me for a moment what he meant.

In other words, does he mean that I shouldn’t stand up in the middle of a meal? Now that he mentioned it, that makes sense. Standing up from one’s seat during a meal is extremely impolite. It was bad of me. This is probably an example of giving one’s origin away.* Well, I don’t really know my past, though.

Alright. Starting tomorrow, I’ll eat as quickly as Saine.

 

 

The next day, I also take some salt early in the morning. Since I use less salt compared to the amount that I always take, it has accumulated quite a lot. Should I take a break for one day? The perspiring rock, too, has worked hard releasing salt. ‘You can take a rest tomorrow’, I spoke to it.

 

[……]

 

Saine caught me talking to the rock. He’s looking at me like I’m a weirdo. I notice that I’m always talking to something. People might think that I’m a weirdo so I’ll just stop at talking in my heart. I feel that I’ll soon forget and start talking again, though.

 

 

[Are you eating breakfast?]

 

In order to dispel the strange mood in the air, I deliberately asked cheerfully.

 

[Can you make it?]

[Of course. I can only cook simple dishes but if you’re fine with that, I’ll cook every morning.]

 

Yesterday, I bought some eggs while shopping for dinner. The one that’s 1 ale for 5. White rice isn’t as delicious once it’s cooled down so I bought some bread. We will be having bread for breakfast. I thought that the bread here would be dry and taste bad, but ever since I asked how it was cooked, I wanted to try it. I’m kind of looking forward to it.

Saine nodded. His eyes somewhat look expectant. Alright, Saine also seems to be pleased with home-cooked meals. Since I finally have a place where I belong, I’m also starting to have fun. 

I grinned towards Saine. Delicious meals are great.

 

 

Heating up a bit of oil, I add the beaten eggs mixed with salt and pepper. I stirred the eggs soon after putting them in with chopsticks and made fluffy scrambled eggs. I took it out on a plate and then added the pieces of bread that I cut in half.

With the cut part pointing downwards, fry it so that it absorbs the oil. That’s how granny Anise did it. I was enthusiastically taught about the similarities between olive oil and worm oil by granny Anise, who was Italian. For Italians, what you spread on bread had to be olive oil. She said that butter was out of the question and that margarine was a sin. *

 

After checking that it’s toasted, I retrieve the bread. These pieces of bread are worth 1 ale for 2 pieces. When I cut them in half, it will look like we have 2 pieces per person. I put the 2 pieces of bread on medium-sized plates with the toasted side facing up, and I put the eggs next to the bread.

I give two-thirds of the eggs to Saine and the rest are mine. The one who works must be fed a lot, right? With this plate, if you put two pieces of bread beside each other, they will stick out a little. But just this much is just perfect. If it looks plentiful, it feels somehow satisfying despite it being actually insufficient.

I put one plate in front of Saine and the other in front of me. Saine always takes a seat beforehand and waits. He’s such a well-mannered guy. His parents raised him well. If that’s the case, it makes me worry about my rudeness*.  I must be careful. (TN: Hun, if your behaviour is called rude, those people who beat their partners are….? Hehe)

The moment I sat down, Saine started eating. He placed an egg over the bread and took a large bite. Saine, who ate a mouthful, froze. Hm? Did I fail?

I eat my bread in a hurry. I also mounted an egg over it. Taking a bite, I also freeze.

What, is this?

Crunch, sink, chewy.* (it honestly doesn’t translate well literally, but you can imagine the feeling of biting into crunchy toast, sinking in, and then hitting that nice dense chewy texture) **

 

[….. It’s extremely delicious!]

 

I got surprised and accidentally cheered. What is this? This is amazing! Is this that so-called crispy bread!?

I continue to eat the bread without stopping my mouth. Granny Anise is awesome~. On the bread is olive, no, worm oil.

I ate all of it in an instant. Saine also seemed to like it, he scooped the eggs’ residue left on the plate with his finger and ate it.

 

[Are you fine having this tomorrow as well?]

 

Needless to say, Saine strongly nodded his head.

 

TN: Many thanks to Kemm and Chiisai-hime from NUF for the help on *. ** the description was also from Chiisai-hime.