Chapter 7

"Jade-san!"

She called out my name and smiled at me innocently. I couldn't help but smile back, feeling a bit happier. She then blushed a little and looked away. I deliberately let go of her hand a bit, and she looked at me in surprise. I narrowed my eyes playfully and took her hand again, gripping it more firmly this time. She opened her small mouth slightly, her cheeks tinged with a light blush, and frowned, pouting a little. Her cute expression made me smile even more, and she eventually looked down.

Today, as usual, we wandered through the bustling morning market, searching for ingredients. I don't particularly like crowds, but I enjoy walking this path with her.

Her name is Aka Satoru. She is the elder sister of the Holy Maiden, who was summoned to purify this country. She is shorter than the average woman in this country, with lustrous black hair cut to her shoulders, curling inward. Her round eyes appear black from a distance, but up close, they are a beautiful chestnut color. Her exotic, less-defined features stand out in the crowded morning market, and people passing by often glance at her curiously. However, she seems unaware of her charm, always being overly modest. That's her one regrettable trait.

No matter how many people look at her, I won't let anyone approach her. Ignoring my thoughts, she looks at me with sparkling, curious eyes and pulls my hand eagerly.

Looking around, she stretches her small body to peek into the shops. Suddenly, she opens her mouth in surprise, her cheeks turning pink as she excitedly reports on what she found.

"Let's go over there! Jade-san! Look! What is that...?"

At first, she was shy about holding my hand, but as time passed, she became more comfortable and less reserved. I'm very happy about that. Her slender hand fits perfectly in mine, and it feels very comfortable. While she's focused on the items, I can't help but enjoy the feel of her hand. ...It seems I was caught rubbing her hand with my thumb. She glared at me with a half-lidded eye. I pretended to look away, acting as if I hadn't done anything, and she let out a dramatic sigh. Her expression softened, and it seems she forgave me. I find her kindness endearing.

Our first meeting was at the detached palace. The summoning of the Holy Maiden was a historic event that spread throughout the palace overnight. The mysterious building that suddenly appeared in the courtyard piqued everyone's interest. Our knight order was extremely busy protecting the Holy Maiden from onlookers and spies from other countries. We were constantly running around for various procedures and security. Everyone was eager to know who would be chosen as the Holy Maiden's guard knight, a prestigious role. I watched them with a slightly detached eye.

I am the third son of a baron's family, never particularly expected to achieve much. Even after adulthood, I had no particular ambitions and wanted to avoid getting involved in national politics. Thanks to my older brothers, I didn't need to inherit the family estate. It was a carefree position. I joined the knight order because I liked wielding a sword, but I had no passion for advancement or a sense of mission to protect the people. I didn't expect to be chosen for the prestigious role of the Holy Maiden's guard knight.

In the end, a few people who were favored by our superiors were chosen as the Holy Maiden's guard knights. However, I was also unexpectedly chosen. My task was to guard the Holy Maiden's elder sister.

The Holy Maiden's elder sister was to be isolated in the detached palace until the Holy Maiden completed her mission. The detached palace was originally a place for royal family members who needed to be isolated for various reasons. It was well-secured and isolated from the outside world, making it a safe haven. Guarding the elder sister in such a place seemed like a leisurely task with little to do.

The higher-ups were being cautious, as any harm to the Holy Maiden's elder sister could be disastrous. From their interactions, it seemed the Holy Maiden depended on her elder sister, who cared for her like a parent. Protecting her would ensure the Holy Maiden's peace of mind. The elder sister had also publicly stated that she would return to her original world once her sister completed her mission, so there was no need for her to get too involved with the people of this world. That's why someone like me, with no ambition and few connections, was chosen.

My first impression of her was that she was a young-looking woman with little expression. She often looked at the ground in front of her feet with a bored expression, and she would frown slightly before taking any action. She seemed overly cautious, and for a woman of her age, she lacked charm.

I thought, "Well, a boring job deserves a boring person to guard," and didn't feel much about it.

But that was a mistake.

The day the Holy Maiden cried to her. The small elder sister hugged her younger sister, who was taller than her, and looked at the twilight sky with a strong resolve. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her eyes were a bit moist, but she pouted slightly, making a decision. It was a dazzling sight.

From the next day, she started to energetically clean the house they were summoned to and began training in magic, determined to be of use. Her transformation from the previously frowning and hesitant girl was so dramatic that it stirred something deep within me. I realized she had the passion and sense of duty that I lacked. I felt ashamed of my initial judgment and began to respect and admire her.

I wanted to be of use to her, not just as a guard knight, but more deeply.

A few days later, she was training hard in magic. However, she seemed to have hit a wall with her total magic power and was frowning in frustration. I had an idea.

Magic can be shared with others. If I shared my magic, I could help her! However, if the compatibility is poor, the act of sharing magic can cause significant discomfort and pain, especially for the one giving the magic. The prevailing theory is that instincts prevent easy sharing of magic. Therefore, sharing magic among magic users is generally not recommended.

But I didn't hesitate. By this time, my heart was already drawn to her, and I wanted to help her, even if it meant going beyond the duties of a guard knight. I proposed the idea to her, who was unaware of the implications, and managed to get her agreement.

"...Jade-san, I want to appraise it."

She spoke hesitantly, perhaps noticing my absent-mindedness. My awareness returned, and the market's noise came back. I nodded and took her hand again.

"Let's go..."

I circulated the magic in my body and gradually directed it to our connected hands. When the magic started to flow into her, I felt a slight resistance, but then it flowed smoothly. I didn't feel any discomfort, only a pleasant sensation as my power flowed into her. It felt like a divine blessing. Our compatibility was excellent, and there was no discomfort or pain. This removed any hesitation or doubt about sharing magic.

...Sometimes, when my magic filled her completely, the pleasant sensation made me feel as if I was embracing her with my magic. In those moments, I wanted to feel her real warmth and hold her in my arms, but that was a problem.

As usual, while she was inspecting the ingredients, I noticed her attention waver, and she looked at me.

"..."

"..."

Incidentally, after using magic, she often gives me a complex look, and I smile back at her. Then, we usually argue a bit about whether to let go of our hands or not. We repeat this routine in the same place, and each time, my feelings for her grow stronger, which is a problem.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

After leaving the market, we returned with her beaming. We took off our shoes and entered her house. I remember being quite confused by the custom of removing shoes at first, but now I'm used to it, and there's even a space for my shoes in the shoe cabinet at the entrance. She walked to the kitchen with a light step, as if she was about to dance. It seemed she had found some ingredients she liked today and was eager to cook.

"Jade-san, it's flying squid! Flying squid. It's in season in early spring here too... It's interesting how there are so many similarities. Ah, flying squid. How should we cook it?"

The flying squid she mentioned is about the size of a thumb. When she found a mountain of them in a basket, her face lit up with a full smile. It was incredibly cute. Despite this, I was a bit annoyed. Why? Because the passionate gaze she directed at the squid was something she never gave to me. ...How narrow-minded am I?

I put on a dark blue apron, still feeling a bit bewildered by this new side of myself. She was watching me intently, and our eyes met. She pouted slightly, as if making a decision, and spoke.

"Um, actually... I've been getting you to help with cooking without thinking. Is that okay?"

To my surprise, she started mumbling about how it was the guard knight's job to protect, not to cook, and how she might be causing me trouble by forcing it on me. She looked down, her round eyes focused on her toes. I bent down slightly to look at her face, and her cheeks turned a light pink.

"At first, I was helping on my own initiative, but now I have permission from the captain, so it's fine. Besides, this kitchen is a bit cramped, isn't it? It would be more of a hindrance if I didn't help. This way, I can protect you more closely."

—I want to be as close to you as possible.

I hinted at this, but I wasn't sure if she understood. She looked away and said, "O-Oh, I see. That's good," in a monotone, taking a small step back from me. Her red face suggested that it wasn't a complete rejection, but I felt a bit lonely, which I kept to myself.

—I hope one day I can naturally be by her side.

A large pot was simmering quietly, filled with kelp that had been soaking in water since the morning. Before the water boiled, she took out the kelp, explaining that boiling it would make it bitter. ...Cooking is a deep and complex art. She then grabbed a handful of bonito flakes and added them to the pot. The flakes floated and danced in the water, and as it started to boil, the kitchen filled with a pleasant aroma. She sighed contentedly, saying, "It smells so good."

When the broth turned a golden color, we turned off the heat and waited. Once the flakes settled at the bottom, we strained them out.

"Wow, the broth looks great."

She peeked at my work while peeling taro. The clear, golden broth was a result of her trust in me. I was a bit nervous about making the broth alone, but she gave me advice, and I managed to do it.

I tasted a small portion and gave it to her. She cooled it and drank it, saying, "Mm, it's delicious!" with a nod. I tasted it too, and the gentle flavors of the kelp and bonito were delightful. ...It was delicious!

"Today's meal depends on the broth. It will be delicious, I'm sure."

She smiled, and my cheeks relaxed. Today's menu was:

- Taro and flying squid simmered dish

- Grilled chicken thighs with yuzu pepper

- Miso soup with daikon

- Rice

I had never heard of these dishes, but I trusted her cooking. My anticipation grew.

With time running out, she put the peeled and salted taro into a small pot and started boiling it. I was given a peeler to peel the daikon. She took out the chicken thighs and removed the fat with a knife. She sprinkled salt and rubbed yuzu pepper on them, then placed them skin-side up in the grill.

"We'll cook them slowly over low heat. Don't flip them until the skin is crispy."

She busily moved around. I finished peeling the taro, took the knife, and cut it into slices. She reminded me to be slow and careful with the knife, which I found a bit odd since I was used to handling blades as a knight. However, I didn't say anything. Her overprotective nature was nostalgic and endearing.

The taro was soft and ready, so we discarded the cooking liquid. We prepared two pots, heated the broth, and added the daikon to one and the flying squid to the other. The squid quickly turned red and shrank. The broth took on a light red color, blending the flavors of the squid and the broth. We removed the squid to keep it from getting tough, then returned the taro to the pot, leaving a bit of the squid-flavored broth. Once it boiled, we added soy sauce, sake, and sugar, covered it with a drop lid, and simmered it gently.

The sizzling sound from the grill indicated the chicken was almost done. We flipped it and cooked it a bit more. Once the daikon was soft, we turned off the heat and dissolved the miso. We just needed to warm it up before serving. The smell of the cooked rice filled the air, and the Holy Maiden returned, drawn by the aroma.

"I'm so hungry, I could die."

"Go wash your hands first."

This exchange was typical. The Holy Maiden rushed upstairs, and Aka, eager to finish, took over the final preparations. I set the table. The crispy chicken was still sizzling with fat. I placed it on a cutting board and cut it rhythmically.

Sss, chop!

Sss, chop!

The sound of the crispy skin cutting made my mouth water. I quickly swallowed and poured the warmed miso soup into a bowl. When I lifted the drop lid from the taro pot, a pleasant soy sauce aroma wafted out. I added the squid and simmered it a bit more. The glossy, sweet simmered dish looked delicious. As I served the rice, I found Aka on all fours, looking dejected.

"A, Aka! What's wrong?"

"Uh... I messed up..."

"Oh, I see... That's what happened."

Unlike my confusion, the Holy Maiden understood the situation. Aka looked apologetic, her eyes teary.

"The side dishes are almost all brown..."

"You do that sometimes, sister."

It seemed she had made the dishes without much thought, regretting not adding some green vegetables like "kinusaya" or "ohitashi." Despite this, the Holy Maiden, eager to eat, ignored her and clapped her hands, saying, "Itadakimasu!" and started eating. I smiled wryly and followed suit.

I picked up the chopsticks, which I still found a bit difficult to use, especially the cooking chopsticks. I awkwardly picked up the food. First, the chicken. The crispy skin gave way to a burst of juice. The skin was crunchy and flavorful, and the meat was tender and juicy with a slight spiciness. The spiciness wasn't too strong but was enough to stimulate the appetite, followed by a refreshing citrus aroma. This was yuzu pepper.

I took a bite of the warm rice, and its sweetness balanced the spiciness of the yuzu pepper. ...This would be delicious with alcohol too. The flavor suited Aka, who enjoyed drinking. I smiled and moved on to the next dish. I put a piece of hot taro in my mouth, cooled it, and bit into it. It was soft and sticky, and the soy sauce, which I had grown used to, blended well with the dish. The flavors of the soy sauce, broth, and squid permeated the taro, making it incredibly comforting.

Next, the flying squid. The chewy texture and the sweet, savory flavor were irresistible. I couldn't help but take another piece. I sipped the miso soup, and the sweetness in my mouth was replaced by the rich flavors of the broth and miso. The soft, broth-soaked daikon was also delicious. The miso was another flavor I had learned from her.

Another sip of the miso soup.

—Yes, the broth is indeed important. The taro, flying squid, and miso soup are all delicious because of the broth. The well-made broth is subtle but present, enhancing the flavors.

"Ugh, it's so delicious, sister. I feel healed by the Japanese cuisine. Brown rice is the heart of Japan! This is the truth."

The Holy Maiden, looking satisfied, and Aka, staring at the dishes with a hint of dissatisfaction. I took another bite of the taro and flying squid, savoring the delicious flavors. Her cooking always warms my heart.

—Ah, it's so