Vol 11 Chapter 34 (1/2)
Part 4
About to cook yakisoba, we started cutting up vegetables and meat
shi+no us, assisted by Mitsuki, a talented chef herself
But once we actually started preparing the food, the two of them placed all their attention on shi+on
”Sh-shi+on-san, cutting it like that would be too dangerous! When using a kitchen knife, you need to ers on your other hand to avoid cutting yourself”
Mitsuki frantically stopped shi+on fro up her hand to demonstrate what she meant by a cat's paw
”cAt? wHaT iS a cAt?”
However, shi+on's curiosity seemed to be drawn elsewhere Inquisitively, she asked Mitsuki
”Ehhh!? A-A cat huh They're quite fun, their paws are very cute An anioes meow—”
”Meow?”
”That's right, meo, meow—”
”Meow—”
Very interested in the sound, shi+on began to”meow” nonstop
Seeing the two of them like that, shi+noentle expression that I had never seen before
”Angels”
I could fully understand what shi+no while she whispered that The innocent shi+on and Mitsuki going ”ht to behold
However, if ere to lose ourselves in adet done no matter how much time went by
”shi+nomiya-sensei, I'm sorry—but please come back to reality”
I patted shi+nohtened herself in front of us
”Uh, ies I-I e into appropriately sized shreds—”
shi+nohed and resu whenever shi+on raised her voice
When using the iron griddle to fry the noodles, Jeanne suggested not to be overprotective when shi+noerous for shi+on
”She won't be able to endure hardshi+p in the future if you stop her froerous I wish for Zwei to beco L-Like th-the Captain”
Jeanne spoke with a blush and shi+no was too naive For shi+on's sake, I must teach her shi+nomiya-style yakisoba as strictly as a teacher would” Then she handed the spatula to shi+on
”i WaNna beCoMe a shi+NoMiyA-stYle mAstEr i wiLl dO mY bEst Meow!”
shi+on raised the spatula with great spirit and added her favorite ”meow” as a verbal tic Super cute
Naturally, the effect on shi+nonity she had just restored was instantly bloay
”I am at my limit”
Using her hand to cover her face while unsure what expression to hed
Thus in thisderailed many times, we continued to make yakisoba
The steps for preparing yakisoba were quite simple Anyone could do it with a recipe However, there was much for us to learn froredients and seasoning as well as techniques for controlling the heat applied
”The cutting of ingredients is of paramount importance, where flaws could result in vastly inferior taste Mayhap the huht to be commended”
Vritra was cooking with exceptional seriousness, turning into an excellent student for shi+nomiya-sensei
”Food pretty hly with fire Anyone can do it, so there's no need to waste ti it yourself”
In contrast, Kili was not very enthusiastic Jeanne issued a stern warning to Kili as sih the motions
”Hey Kili! Don't put in the er for the heat to permeate!”
LikeNIFL's survival training As a result, her knife skills were fine
However, seeing Jeanne give detailed instructions, I was re a siuys at the base after returning from a mission On that occasion, Jeanne had been very insistent on the sequence to put in the ingredients to cook in the pot She definitely had potential as a ”hot pot s”
Next, we continued to take turns inyakisoba After many rounds, everyone finally finished
”Well done, everyone This concludeslesson The principal and Mica have prepared a barbecue, so please eat your fill”
A lively lunch began after shi+nomiya-sensei praised our efforts
”sO yuMmy!”
Hearing shi+on's cheering, my expression softened It was only natural for shi+nomiya-sensei to succumb to that innocent cuteness
”It really is delicious”
I gavea mouthful of yakisoba
Hearing me, Lisa reached for the yakisoba
”M-Mononobe Yuu—This sort of flavor is to your preference?”
”Het any better than this at a festival”
When I replied after giving it soht, Lisa tilted her head in surprise
”What an odd way of putting it You sound like your standards would be different outside the context of a festival”
”Well, how should I say this? Going by uess my mother's yakisoba is the best after all”
When I admitted a little shyly, Lisa looked around her with a surprised expression
”Excuse me C-Come over here for a moment”
See like she was conscious of the others, Lisa led me away and talked in a whisper
”Is there so different about the taste of the yakisoba your family makes?”
Since Lisa was in a swi in wasmy heart rate shoot up like a rocket To avoid aabout aze away
”S-Slightly lighter on the seasoning We also add onion and sausage”
I recalled from memory the characteristics of the yakisoba made at my house The yakisoba shi+noredients Upon recalling the memory, I really missed that particular taste
”That is a lot of additional ingredients in the yakisoba Umm If you wish Umm A-Allow me to—”
”Oh, if you want the exact recipe, you could ask Mitsuki She frequently helped my mother out so she should be able to replicate that yakisoba”
Compared to me, who had only eaten it, Mitsuki should have a clearer idea, having made it before
That hat I thought when speaking However, Lisa suddenly looked displeased
”I see Mitsuki-san is able to make it”
”What's wrong, Lisa?”
”Nothing, I sireedy This is clearly a do to Mitsuki-san”
Frowning, Lisa sighed It looked like she was not angry at me, but I did not understand what she meant
”Domain?”
”Yes—It is a doer sister and childhood friend Although the roonment dispute ended up resolved peacefully A contest over what absolutely cannot be conceded would be unacceptable Perhaps cohabitation ht be harder than one would expect?”
Lisa smiled wryly
”I'll be careful Back when deciding roos peacefully—I keep depending on others It was clearly a choice I had to make but I was indecisive”
Apologetic, I smiled wryly in return
”Then choose Your current ways are probably not going to work”
”Woah, you're strict”
Lisa's merciless words htly on the head
”Please do notyou, because you have already made a choice It is precisely the fact that you haveto overturn that choice”
”What do you mean?”
Unable to understand, I asked, proh
”You wish to take responsibility for all of us, don't you?”
”That's right—I want to protect everyone by my own hand Rather than let someone else do it I am the one who chose everyone on my own That's why I will l definitely shoulder this responsibility”
I had said this to Ren before I expressed my unshakable resolve to Lisa
Hearing my words, Lisa looked anxious
”You feel guilty about choosing us—It , doesn't it? However, I believe you have got it reversed”
”Reversed?”
”Indeed, because choosing a single person to protect is undoubtedly easier In spite of that, you decided to protect all of us This choice was certainly brought about because you are strong”
Lisa's s I could not help but lower my eyes
”I' me too much credit”
”Fufu, perhaps In that case, please think of ard”
Lisa shrugged jokingly but her eyes were serious
”Here on, even if you encounter another ti is necessary for the sake of upholding your current resolve At least, that is what I believe So relax—No matter what happens, I will never forsake you”
Puffing out her nificent chest to make a declaration, did Lisa suddenly feel eh on fire
”What can I say? You're ood woman' can describe”
I felt a huge load lifted off ush out of h
”Is that meant to be a compliment?”
Eating yakisoba, Lisa stared at htly displeased
”Of course, Lisa, you're soood woman'”
”Very well But ould be beyond a good woman? C-Could it be, umm—”
Lisa looked at ht for a moment
”Yes Lisa, you're—”
”I-I am?”
”—The best 'good woman'”
Wondering how to convey myself accurately, I used that term However, Lisa suddenly slumped her shoulders
”Huh You don't like that description?”
”No—well, if only you had a better choice of words Never mind The best number one, in other words”
Lisa sighed and avoided eye contact shyly
”Oh, it appears that Tia-san has been caught by Kili-san! I-I must rescue her”
Seeing Tia and Kili in soument, Lisa deliberately made an excuse to leave
Apparently, Kili was serving yakisoba but Tia complained that there was too much carrot
Arbitration did not seem necessary, but I suppose this would be one of those ”domains” that Lisa must not concede
I finished the yakisoba on my plate at once and walked over towards Charl and Mica-san at the barbecue
Although yakisoba was tasty, this a earlier, I definitely had the appetite for more food
”Oh! My friend! You came! You came at the perfect moment!”
Seeing me approach, Charl handed etables on it
”—Thank you This looks very good”
Diced pieces of beef were overfloith juices dripping onto green peppers, corn and to
”My friend, let's eat over there? We need to talk”
”Mmm—Sure”
While taking a bite of green pepper and meat, I nodded
”Let's go”
Charl took a barbecue skewer as well and started walking towards the breakwater Nearby, Mica-san watched us silently, nodding lightly in acknowledgement e made eye contact
Seeing that, I realized Charl had so important to say
”What do you need to tell me?”
”Yes Plenty First is a progress report”
Charl sat down on the steps of the breakwater and patted the spot next to her
Next to the steps were flourishi+ng coconut trees The subtle geography of our location had formed a blind spot
When I sat down by Charl, she started speaking seriously
”For the sake of handling conflicts all over the world—or as preemptive precautions—I was asked by various nations to use o, this request was officially withdrawn Judging from the results That fellow, Loki Jotunhei the world”
Charl shrugged while she spoke but her expression did not show despair Rather, it was one full of relief
”—That's really like Major Loki's way of doing things He always achieves his goal in the end regardless of the process Every single time”
I concurred with a wry s the previous battle, he even tried to killmyself to hate him
Although the fact that there were no casualties on Midgard's side played a major part, more i I could not reject
”Hoo, what a troublesoard clearly won yet the hardshi+p we suffered remained essentially the saer leave this island arbitrarily”
”Why—?”
When I asked in shock, Charl sighed deeply
”The United Nations and Asgard's higher-ups have finally noticed me as a result of this incident Or rather, noticed that my authority isn't that convenient a tool In other words, those who had been sucking up to me have started to become wary of me”
”Then Will there be a problem?”
If Charl's position worsened, there was no predicting what problems could arise in the future However, Charl s
”Relax, it's still very stable for the ti The fact that NIFL's operation failed to kill reat effect As long as I lie low, the United Nations and Asgard probably won't provoke Midgard They are people who kno to respect untouchable Gods”
Charl finished in a laid back manner and took a bite from the barbecue skewer in her hand
”Well, that's wonderful I guess?”
I did not know if I should si, I bit some corn
”Then since I cannot leave the island, what I can do is li out somewhere in the world”
”Really, I see—But you don't need to make that kind of face, Charl”
Seeing her gloomy expression, I placed my hand on Charl's head and continued
”Someone will surely stop war even if you don't, Charl Take Major Loki for example He must have carefully considered the future after assassinating you successfully Just leave human matters to a human hero Since you are now treated as an 'untouchable God' then just act like a God and watch without doing anything”
Charl smiled at what I said
”LIke a God, huh Indeed—That's the proper distance that should be maintained between the world and me”