Chapter 12 (1/2)

Volume 1

CH 15

Minnalis: Raising Flags

「Here’s your reward . Oh and congratulations . You and your party have now both been promoted to rank E . 」

「Thank you . 」

Ten days have passed since we murdered Barkas and his companions . I was currently out on an errand on Goshujin-sama’s behalf . Specifically, he ordered me to do random requests that seemed befitting of our rank so we could have it raised .

Today’s prey were hairy monsters known as Lesser Apes . I’d just finished hunting them, and was currently on my way back home .

「So how has Kaito been doing lately? I heard that he was injured and is currently resting at an inn . 」

「He’s doing well . His wounds have been healing slowly but steadily . 」

I smiled as I cheerfully replied to the hideous pig of a receptionist standing in front of me in . She, being someone incapable of reading the mood, had tried batting her eyelashes at Goshujin-sama when she first saw him . Lately, however, it she seemed to have had a change of heart, as she had finally began dealing with him as she would any other client . The reason for her sudden change was because she started seeing a different male adventurer . Her affections for him were obvious, as she would always go out of her way to give him extra information . The two really did seem to suit each other, seeing as how they were both pigs .

The first thing I did after leaving the guild was shopping for ingredients . In a sense, it was a task that required even more focus than taking down monsters . What I bought was what Goshujin-sama would be putting in his mouth, so I made sure I pulled all the stops and only chose the highest quality goods I could .

「Hey Minnalis . Nice to you see again . Let me guess, you’re out on another shopping errand?」

「Yup . Could I get… this, that, and that over there? Preferably for five copper pieces off . 」

Though I did splurge in the sense that I would buy more expensive goods, I still did try to cut our expenses down as much as possible . I’d always haggle, and would only buy things that were within a reasonable price range . I’d never get anything too expensive .

「Well… you did make a few purchases yesterday too, so how about a three copper discount?」

「Please and thank you . 」

I pulled my purse out from within the Round Squirrel Pouch and handed the vendor the money I owed him . The vegetables I bought were pretty high quality . This town was much bigger than all the others we passed on our way to it . Here, more luxurious goods were quite a bit easier to come by . I put everything I bought within the Round Squirrel Pouch, bowed to the store’s owners, and left . I then finally got back to the inn, went upstairs, and opened the door to see Goshujin-sama quietly lying on his side atop the bed with his eyes closed .

It went without saying that Goshujin-sama wasn’t actually even the slightest bit injured . We’d only told the guild he was so he could focus his efforts on gathering the information he needed .

I looked at the adorable expression that’d remained on his face as he slept and ran my hands through his hair . I would’ve gone even further, but refrained because I knew that he’d be able to sense that I did despite not actually being here .

「I’ll go ahead and get dinner ready since it looks like you’re still not back yet . 」

I swallowed my laments, turned around, and headed downstairs so I could borrow the kitchen the same way I always did .

I’d planned tonight’s dinner to be a mix of bread and soup, with every single last bit of effort and technique I had put into both .

Goshujin-sama had spent a lot of time training me in the way of the sword since we left the capital . Each time, he’d also remind me that gathering intel and coming to reasonable decisions were a pair of skills that would prove just as important in combat as actually knowing how to fight . I immediately put lesson of his to work, and started carefully but sneakily observing his reactions to the meals I cooked him so I could figure out what I needed to do to match his taste .

To be honest, figuring out what he liked and didn’t like wasn’t actually as tough as I made it sound .

Eating things he liked made him loosen his expression and speak in a bit of a higher pitch than usual . He’d both chew and move the spoon to his lips much more quickly . However, he’d also try his best not to fill his spoon up all the way, just so he could enjoy his meal for even just a little bit longer . His gestures were so adorable that they almost made me want to think they were supposed to be some sort of trap! I felt that it wasn’t fair for him to be that cute . All the little things he did made it really hard for me to stop myself from letting my feelings show on my face .

「…I really shouldn’t be letting myself get carried away by my delusions . 」

I continued to think as I prepared both the vegetables and plump bird I bought off the market .

My cooking wasn’t the only thing I’d been tuning to Goshujin-sama’s preferences, I’d been doing the same with his spoon . I’d made adjustments to its overall size, depth, angle of curvature, handle width, and shape just to mention a few . I only made the slightest of adjustments each time . But changed them out quite often . The spoon Goshujin-sama was currently using was his 29th .

All 28 of the spoons that he’d used prior to his current one were sitting in my inventory as a sort of collection . My favourites were the first, which I’d many fond memories of, the 17th, which he’d used for the longest period of time, and the 28th, which he’d only just stopped using . I would’ve loved adding the bed Goshujin-sama was currently using to my collection as well, but, after some serious contemplation, I ended up deciding against it, as taking it would effectively just be me stealing it from the inn . As of late, I’ve been dealing with that urge by switching my things with Goshujin-sama’s once every two or three days, with the reason for the lack of frequency being so that he doesn’t notice .

「Wait! I just did it again! I really need to stop so I can concentrate on cooking . 」

I shook my head and cleared my thoughts so I could focus on making dinner .

Goshujin-sama liked his soup more on the meatier side as far as flavours went . He also preferred having recognizable vegetables to finely chopped ones .

I placed my fully prepared vegetables in a pot, got rid of the scum they produced, and threw in some goat milk and butter . All I needed to do now was let it cook for a bit and add a touch of salt . The end result would be one of the dishes my mother taught me, but it apparently resembled something Goshujin-sama called Cream Stew . Coincidentally, Cream Stew happened to be one of his favourites .

「Okay, time to check on all the other dishes . 」

I lightly toasted a few pieces of rye bread and melted couple blocks of cheese on top of them . I timed it so that I finished preparing the last piece of toast right as the soup had cooked itself to completion .

The innkeeper walked into the kitchen right as I finished and nodded as if approving of my own work .