Chapter 31 (1/2)

Chapter 31

Chapter 31: That time when I had a confusingly unlucky day

Un, it was peaceful on the way back .

However, once the gatekeeper I was acquainted with noticed me as I got to the gate, he said .

「Hey, hey! You’re pretty loaded, right! Hurry up and take it all out!」

He suddenly said that while laughing so this is probably just an act . There are not a lot of people at the gate so I’m sure he has some free time . I was the type that could easily read and go with the mood back in my previous life so why don’t I try getting into it this time as well!

「H-hiiiiii! This is all that I have . It’s true, honest . Please forgive meー」

I took out the exact amount needed for the toll from my wallet and handed it over .

「Tsk! Fine . I’ll just let you off with this much for today」

While saying that, he tapped my shoulder and let me through the gate .

「Oi, wait」

「c.r.a.p! It’s my superior officer… (What’s he doing here……)」

「That guy you were playing around with as well」

「Thought soー」

「There’s a saying a hedge between keeps friends.h.i.+ps green . That saying is even more appropriate right now since you’re still on duty right now . Do you understand?」

「Yes . I’m sorry」

I was also given a warning while he was examining my papers .

「So you’re called Caam . You’re at fault as well . You may have become close with this guy since you frequently pa.s.s by here because of your work as a laborer at the protective wall construction site but I hope you understand that you shouldn’t be joking around while he’s still in the middle of his duties」

「Yes . It is as you say」

「I’ll let you off with just a warning for now but next time I’m going to sentence you community service and you’ll get your salary cut」

「「……yes…」」

That sermon in the guardroom took around 10 minutes before we were let off .

「Sorry about that . Next time, I’ll pick a better time…」

「No, let’s just not do that at all…」

Even though I’m almost forty inside, I just went along with it like a young man in high school . To make up for that, I’ll treat him next time .

I returned to my room and put down my things so that I can go out to shop for ingredients for dinner . However, when I went out, Torene-san was there waiting for me .

「Uhm, can I help you or something?」

「I’ve been feeling lonely during these past two days you were away… I’ll pay you so make me some sweets!」

She had a desperate look while saying that . What’s this about?

「Umー what exactly do you mean?」

「What I’m saying is that I’ve been waiting for those sweets you make on a whim . That’s how it is so please, I’m begging you」

Even if you look at me with those imploring eyes…

「If you don’t make some, I’ll start crying in your room you know! You’ll die you know!」

What are you suddenly saying in such a cute voice? She looks like a little girl but if I remember correctly, the horse next door said that she’s a banshee . In my previous life, it’s said that when you hear somebody crying, it’s a sign that someone’s going to die though . Even if she cries inside a specific room in an apartment complex, wouldn’t the probability of it being me still be pretty low?

「Ahー yeah, sure . I understand . I was about to go out shopping anyway」

「I’m already sick of the sweets around this area so I wanted to eat something different」

「Haa…… Is that so?」

「Then, I’ll leave it to you」

So it has already been decided…… Ahーgeez what a pain . Fine, I’ll just make both at the same time . Since I’m doing as told, I wonder if they’ll start thinking that I’m a pushover .

*

I already bought the ingredients for dinner and those sweets . I guess I should start making those sweets first . While the BGM of a famous 3-minute cooking show1 was playing in my head, I started working .

*tere te te te te, tere te te te, tere tetete~*2

Right now, I’m receiving the stares of two people in front of me . So it increased by one…

「Why is Fraîche-san also here?」

「Hm? I came since I heard Torene-san’s voice . You’re making sweets right? If so then I wanted to have some too」

You’re usually so respectable so it’ll trouble me if you say that with such a smug face .

「Yeah, yeah . It’s fine . It doesn’t really matter if it’s just one person’s share or five . I’ve already given up」

I arranged the ingredients in front of me

「I’m paying him to make it so if you’re having it together with me, you should shoulder half of it」

「Fine fine . I’ll also pay so stop glaring at me . 」

It seems like I’m going to be paid for my efforts for making sweets .

「So, what are you going to make?」

「Just a simple cake」

「Cake you say!」「You can make cakes!?」

「It’s just a simple one, okay?」

<hr>「You can make your own meals, make cookies from leftovers and even dry your own fruits . It’s strange why you’re still working daily jobs」

「It’s better to separate your hobby from your job you know . Otherwise, you’re going to start hating your own hobby」

To be honest, there are only a few hobbies you can do here in this world so it couldn’t be helped that all that I could do was cook . There are no games here after all . Well, the hero apparently introduced Reversi and Chess in this world so there are those I guess…

「Hmmー that seems pretty reasonable . That makes sense . 」

Now then, the cakes I know how to make are pancakes, pound cakes, and chiffon cakes . Among these, the cheapest one to make is pancakes but that doesn’t really look like a cake so I guess I’ll just make a chiffon cake . I could turn it into a layered cake if I just bake a sponge cake right now but I won’t since it’s pretty tiring to manually make the frosting .

They don’t have those chiffon cake pans here in this world so I guess I’ll just put one of those iron cups that adventurers use in the middle of the baking pan . Still, it’s quite tough working with somebody watching you .

Well, I have no choice but to do it though . First I separate the egg yolks from the whites, place them in a bowl and mix in sugar and flour . In another bowl, I beat the egg whites and gradually add in sugar until stiff peaks . When that’s done, I add the meringue to the batter in three parts and fold it in .

After that, all I have to do is coat the pan with b.u.t.ter and put it in the oven . If you stick in a skewer and it comes out clean then the cake is done .

Because of the enticing smell, a landlady, a horse and another person I haven’t seen before were added to the number of partic.i.p.ants .

First impression: Reaaaally scary……

I didn’t notice them since was facing the oven to check if it’s done so when I turned back, he was already sitting in one of the chairs . I was so surprised that I almost leaped out but since he’s here, I thought that he’s probably one of the residents so I was able to resist letting out a scream . Thank you, that one game I like . Thanks to you I ended up not screaming . If I had met him at the corridor in the middle of the night then I might have screamed and wet my pants .

As for how scary he is, he’s about 2 meters tall, has red eyes and a greyish black, hairless, and moist body . Would it be easier to understand if I say that the opening of his mouth reached the base of his ears and has razor-sharp teeth?3