The day, which had been a mess in many ways, passed by without much incident.
After expending energy on various matters, hunger started to creep in.
However, even if there were ingredients available, preparing a meal when both were exhausted was not an easy task.
Preparing a meal was, after all, work.
It wasn’t a day when one would want to settle for a hasty salad either…
“Let’s just order takeout for dinner,” Yerna mumbled wearily.
Luke shook his head and said, “No, there’s no need for that. Let’s cook. We have ingredients. It would be a waste of money.”
“Really? Are you sure you want to cook? Won’t it be too hard?”
Yerna asked, looking concerned.
On most days, Luke would usually take charge of cooking, but after a day like today when they had been scolded severely, it would be quite taxing.
There were many things to worry about, and that must have made him mentally tired as well.
But Luke replied with a smile, as if to say not to worry.
“It’s fine! I’m not doing it alone.”
Not doing it alone?
Yerna tilted her head in confusion.
Aside from Luke, there was only herself and Pyris here.
However, following Luke’s gaze, it didn’t seem like he was referring to a cooking assistant that was her.
Of course, Pyris was excluded from consideration.
Then there was only one conclusion.
“Could it be that someone is coming to help? Did you invite a friend?”
“They’re already here.”
Luke grinned.
——-
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
The swift and precise cuts of the knife slicing the vegetables created a cheerful rhythm against the cutting board.
The consistent and refreshing sound was almost like a percussion instrument, coming to a halt as the preparation of the ingredients finished.
A moment of tranquility arrived.
Bubbling…
In the silence, the sound of water boiling quietly spread.
Plop, plop, plop.
Inside that sound, there was the rhythmic slicing of the ingredients.
For a moment, the boiling sounds of the ingredients in the pot ceased and then began to bubble again.
Luke looked into the pot with satisfaction, stirring with a ladle to ensure the ingredients were well mixed.
Gradually, a delicious aroma began to fill the air.
It was a scent that felt nostalgic and filled with memories.
‘In the old days, Renie used to make this kind of stew a lot.’
Renie was good at cooking.
Whenever they went camping, she was always in charge of the meals for their party.
When Kail would prepare the ingredients, Renie would cook.
Then Luke would keep the fire or taste the food.
That memory was one that he could cherish even if it wasn’t his own.
An involuntary smile spread across Luke’s lips.
“The smell is wonderful, Liv.”
Then, the teddy bear perched on the kitchen counter nodded its head enthusiastically.
It seemed that it was still getting accustomed to its large armored form, and fine movements were not easy.
While Renie wasn’t good at cleaning, she was excellent at cooking.
So, if the ‘housekeeping’ feature contained in Liv included cooking, then she would certainly be quite skilled.
And that assumption was indeed correct.
Liv could perform very precise ingredient handling thanks to her swordmaster talent, and thanks to the features added by Renie, she also remembered the recipes that Renie had used in the past.
Because of that, Luke was finally able to taste Renie’s stew after such a long time.
It was somewhat moving.
Liv had the sword made from Kail’s swordsmanship, and the recipe created from Renie’s cooking skills.
And he was the one guarding the fire and tasting the food.
It felt like he had returned to the old days.
Looking at Liv with nostalgic eyes, Luke ladled some stew and blew on it to cool it down.
This body couldn’t handle hot food very well.
Feeling that it was cooled down adequately, Luke brought the ladle to his mouth.
Slurp.
Worried it might still be hot, the taste of the broth was divine.
The flavor of the past memories mingled with modern seasonings, enhancing the taste.
Honestly, there was no way it could taste bad.
However, if it had just a little more salt, it would be truly perfect.
“Liv, I think we should add a bit more salt.”
Nod.
Liv nodded and searched for the salt shaker, handing it to Luke.
He took the shaker, gave it a couple of shakes, and tasted it again.
“Perfect.”
The flavor was so satisfying that a grin appeared on his face.
It was truly outstanding.
Luke said loudly, “It’s ready! Pyris, bring the bowls!”
“Okay!”
Pyris, who had been swallowing her saliva at the smell for some time, dashed over and held out the bowls.
‘Ah, she’s remarkably quick in these situations.’
Luke couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
It was already close to his limit for holding back laughter.
“Here, it’s hot, so take it and eat slowly.”
“Okay!”
Pyris responded and excitedly started eating from her seat.
Luke opened his mouth to say something, but upon seeing Pyris’s overwhelmingly happy smile, he couldn’t help but shake his head.
If she was enjoying it, what did it matter how she ate?
As long as she enjoyed it, that was enough.
He had no idea if there were any foods that Pyris disliked in the first place.
“Is it really that delicious?”
“Yeah!! It’s super yummy!”
“I’m glad you think it’s tasty. But don’t talk with your mouth full.”
“Mmm!!”
While reminding Pyris of the table manners that she often disregarded, Luke took another bowl.
Watching the scene, Yerna was both impressed and astonished.
‘These days, even golem vacuum cleaners can cook…!’
——
While they were having their meal, Yerna asked, “So, you’re saying you made that?”
“Yep. What do you think? It’s pretty good, right?”
“I see… Yes, it is.”
Then Luke smiled, patting Liv’s head as if to say, ‘See, even Yerna thinks you’re quite good!’
As Yerna looked at that scene, she felt a bond akin to that with a long-time forest keeper companion.
Was it truly because he poured his affection into creating it?
“…”
At first, Yerna thought Luke had received a doll-shaped golem vacuum cleaner as a birthday present.
Because it resembled the doll Luke had been gifted so long ago.
It’s not impossible to realize the true purpose of a gifted item much later.
Yerna missed her timing to ask, so she decided to let it go.
However, as she watched it clean, she noticed that the doll was quite thorough with its sweeping (or should it be brushing, anyway) and thought, ‘It seems golem cleaners are quite good these days, maybe because they’re expensive?’
But upon inquiring during the meal, the answer Luke provided was one that Yerna had never expected.
‘It was a doll when I received it, and today I made it into a golem.’
…It was truly absurd.
“But, you can also make golems?”
“Of course! As long as I have the materials. I’m a mage, after all.”
Luke nodded in response as if it were obvious.
“That line sounded genuinely ‘mage-like’ just now…”
Of course, most mages would create them.
Several years ago, certain schools had kits for teaching golem crafting that were quite popular.
What was that name again… ‘Magic Box’?
In any case, she never imagined he could just make it at home without any such tools.
But, did he have the materials to make a golem at home?
“But where did those materials come from?”
Luke paused for a moment.
He realized he had been lost in the taste of nostalgia for a while.
He should have predicted that this question would come up!
This was why one shouldn’t talk during a meal.
‘I can’t talk about Arinseia to Yerna. Yerna is a creation of the goddess…’
He could never mention that Arinseia exists and that Liv is proof of her existence.
Because the moment a creation of the goddess clearly recognizes the goddess’s existence, they will develop a sense of faith.
And faith becomes the seed that allows the goddess to resurrect.
That is something he never desires.
In this world, there should not be even one believer.
Because faith is like a contagion.
Luke gazed intently at Liv sitting on the table and said, “Um, it’s something I’ve had for a long time.”
Yes, indeed a long time.
“Really? You didn’t steal it, did you?”
“Of course not.”
Luke replied firmly.
Strictly speaking, he might be seen as having ‘stolen’ it since he is not truly Luke Irushi himself, but his will as a circle is precisely the same as the will of the past Luke Irushi, so it’s not theft.
No one would say it’s theft if one’s right hand took something that belonged to oneself.
“Well, that’s fine.”
Then Yerna nodded without probing further.
Luke, who had expected several likely questions, asked back in a slightly deflated voice, “You’re not going to ask more?”
“We made a promise to each other just now to not deceive, right?”
“That’s true, but…”
What meaning is there in such a meaningless act to trust another?
It’s not like it’s an oath of mana.
But Yerna met Luke’s gaze and said, “If it’s something you wish to say, it’s fine, but it doesn’t seem like saying it would make you feel good. Is there some kind of circumstance?”
“…Yeah.”
“Then it’s fine. You don’t have to tell me.”
“Sister…”
Luke was genuinely moved.
To think she trusts him so much for such a trivial act.
Could it be that this is what it means to be ‘family’ rather than just ‘clan’?
Yerna smiled, watching Luke resume his meal with a noticeably lighter expression.
Suddenly, she glimpsed an emotion in Luke’s face, a mixture of nostalgia and sadness.
As she continued to eat her stew, Yerna murmured to herself.
‘He’s had it since way back…’
‘Way back.’
Perhaps, that magic core was something given to him by an ‘old friend.’
That’s why he probably didn’t want to talk about it.
“This is really delicious.”
“Right?”
