40 39. Interval 2.txt (2/2)

We chuckle at each other and sign a new contract.

There are no dark shadows there as there were earlier. However, my eyesight can't detect Maria's performance, so I can't be relieved just yet.

''Well then, since we're here, let's cook together today.

You're with me?

I don't feel safe, so I'll see how it goes by cooking.

'Yeah, we'll see how good Maria is. I'm confident in my skills too, but probably not as good as Maria.

'Oh no, I'm no match for my master.

'No, Maria has a talent for cooking. I told you before that I could see talent.　I can see Maria's culinary talents in me.

A talent for cooking, huh?

'Yeah, this is a no brainer. You can be confident.

Culinary Talent: ”......

Maria's expression becomes heartfelt and happy.

It would be helpful if this would solidify my existence.

I begin to teach Maria my cooking knowledge in a very polite manner so that she will love cooking. I, too, learned about the cuisine of this world from Maria, and the conversation about cooking was much more exciting than I expected.

As it is, we both stand in the kitchen and begin to prepare dinner.

While the food was cooking, Maria's expression was bright.

I'm relieved that my choice was not a mistake, and I happily continue cooking with Maria. I'm sure that for a while, I forgot about the labyrinth and immersed myself in the task of cooking.

◆◆◆◆◆

I'm home. It smells so good.

Maria and I cooked together and were almost finished preparing dinner when Rustiala came back, as if she had seen it coming.

I left the rest of the work to Maria, and crowded into Rustiala. I thought Maria's expression changed slightly, but it can't be helped now.

”Hey, Rustyala,” she said, ”I have a lot to say to you. I have a lot to say to you.

'No, no, wait, wait!　I need you to listen to me first!

As soon as I call out a voice filled with anger, Rustyala immediately begins to make excuses.

As it is, he continues to string words together in an impatient manner.

'I didn't give Christ's work a break without thinking about it, either. I gave it a lot of thought. I figured that he's probably not able to reduce his workload because he's too worried about the people in the shop ...... anyway, so I did it for him. See, Christ is indecisive in a weird way.

Yeah. Sure, it's not that efficient in there. But, you see, I still needed to gather information in that bar. Besides, the tavern has its own reasons. If there's a sudden decrease in the number of people, the store won't be able to turn around.

'I'm thinking about that too, I've got the information up to layer 23, so why don't you just send Maria to the store when you can't turn it around?

He's going to slip through the cracks by emphasizing that he's holding onto the information. But the convenience of the store is another matter.

'I'm willing to take a hundred steps when it comes to gathering information. But how can you expect someone else to do your job so easily? Besides, it's not like Maria's going to do it for you.

Yeah. All Christ did was wash and lower the plates. Anyone could do it. You could probably do it better than Maria, because she's a great cook. More importantly, a pretty girl would be a better fit for the restaurant.　I'll see if Maria will do it for me at ......, right Maria, right?

Rustyala called out to Maria, who was cooking.

'If it's good for you, Master, I will definitely do it.

In a spirited voice, Maria replied in vain.

Hearing that, Rustyala turned to me with a face that said, ”See?

d*mn it ......!

I snarl at Rustyala's brilliant escape attempt, unable to give chase.

I could take a bite out of the corner of the heavy box, but there's no reason to go that far. Rustyala is right about some parts, that's for sure.

Looking at me, who has gone quiet, Rastiara continues to speak.

''With this, if you ever need to gather information, you can ask Maria to help you out. See, a beautiful division of labor is created. Even Christ the quintessential Christ wouldn't be so overprotective as to object here, would he?

If possible I would not want Maria to work in a bar.

That's because there are a lot of things that are not part of the customer base, but Maria's level of skill is the solution. We can't keep up, but Maria's ability is on par with that of a skilled explorer. If I disagree with her here, I will inevitably be branded as overprotective.

Since it can't be helped, I'm going to shift the issue.

I can't just stand to be won over by Rastiara here.

But we're not done talking yet. It doesn't change the fact that I did what I wanted to do on my own, and Maria is just an after-the-fact consent. Your selfishness is not excused.

All right. What's for dinner tonight?

No, I don't mind eating. The food tastes better when you're preaching to the choir.

'No, I'm going to have a bad meal: ......

Rastiara sensed the flagging and tried to change the subject further.

But I didn't allow that to happen, and I followed Rustiala, who ran away to the table, and took my place at the table as well.

Maria, seeing this, lays out the dishes that have been made.

--I'm not going to be able to get the same thing done.

I've been lecturing Rustyala on his selfishness for a long time. I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.

In the end, Rustyala continued to eat my and Maria's sermons, and at the end he apologized in a small way. With that apology, the day ended.

The three of us were all smiling as we parted ways before we fell asleep.

The dark air created by the agony in the labyrinth was now completely gone.

At least I was the only one who thought so.