Chapter 50

After being told to wait for a moment, I stood at the entrance.

Five minutes later, Zara returned.

"I'm sorry. I put Blanch in the second floor, so I think it's safe."

"Thank you."

I felt a bit guilty, but I thought I could get used to it gradually. Today, I just came to greet her.

I said, "I'll be in your way," and entered.

"Quack quack~"

Amelia had also said, "I'll be in your way."

Zara's outfit today was a single braid hanging down from her chest, with a gray buttoned-up jacket and black pants.

"You're dressed as a man again today."

"Yes, it's more comfortable lately."

"I see."

Probably, women's clothing was Zara's armor, I imagined.

As always, the house was neatly organized and thoroughly cleaned. It smelled of incense, and there was a pleasant floral scent. I was led to the living room.

White walls with a bright red carpet, a chocolate-colored coffee table, and a white sofa. A large fireplace hung a kettle, which was making a bubbling sound, as if it was about to boil.

"What a stylish room."

"Thank you."

All the furniture was second-hand, carefully selected and purchased.

The tablecloth was from Zara's hometown, with a white snow pattern woven into a blue background.

I handed over the souvenir, a honey-coated bean that I had bought after tasting it.

"Oh, this is a sweet from my hometown."

"Really?"

What a coincidence. Zara said it was nostalgic and squinted her eyes. It seemed like her eyes were tearing up, but maybe it was just my imagination.

The kettle whistled. It seemed to have boiled. She made tea that smelled of flowers.

While nibbling on the sweets, we moved on to the main topic.

"I'm thinking of moving soon."

"The dormitory must be cramped."

"Yes, it is."

I had been invited to live in Zara's house before, but Amelia couldn't live here. So, I needed to find another place.

"Actually, I've been invited to become an adopted child of the Lichtenberger Marquis family."

"That's—well, personally, I don't recommend it."

"Me neither."

But, considering Amelia's future, I couldn't just think about personal feelings.

"Then, let's consult with the wife of the Evhardt Count, where we've entrusted Blanch."

"Rosalotte's grandmother, right?"

"Yes, but she's a difficult person."

Zara, who is usually easy to get along with, said this, so the wife of the Evhardt family must be something else.

"I'll send a message to arrange a visit on the next day off, okay?"

"Yes, thank you very much."

Once the consultation was settled, I was invited to make lunch.

"I'm sorry, I was planning to prepare something."

"No, no!"

I was thinking of going out to eat somewhere. But, I didn't want to drag Amelia around, so I was honestly very grateful.

We moved to the beautiful kitchen, which was spotless today as well.

"Today, I'm going to make minced meat wrapped in dough."

"Wow, that sounds delicious."

Needless to say, it was a local dish from Zara's hometown. It's a dish where minced meat is wrapped in a dough made from flour, boiled, and then put into a soup.

"First, let's make the dough."

Mix flour, water, egg, and salt thoroughly. Once the dough is shiny, wrap it in a damp cloth and let it sit for about thirty minutes.

"Next, let's make the filling."

Thud! A lump of wild boar meat was placed on the counter. It seemed she was going to chop it into minced meat with a knife.

"Of course, it's better to make minced meat from a lump of meat."

"Oh, Mel, you know."

Zara quickly turned the wild boar into minced meat. I had thought this before, but she is very skilled in the kitchen.

"Next, the vegetables."

It seemed she would use both grated and chopped onions.

Chopping onions makes you cry.

"The reason you cry when chopping onions is because the cells break down and release a substance."

"Really?"

"The trick to not crying is to chill the onions before cooking and use a sharp knife."

"Ah, I see."

Zara had hung the onions outside since the morning. She was well-prepared.

So, I started chopping the onions. But,

"......Uh!"

"......Oh?"

For some reason, both Zara and I started tearing up.

"I'm sorry, Mel. It seems I failed today."

"Well, it happens to everyone."

While shedding tears, we grated and finely chopped the onions.

We seasoned the minced meat with herbs, garlic, and salt and pepper, and mixed it together.

We then started making the dough.

We cut the dough into bite-sized pieces and flattened them with a rolling pin. We made about thirty pieces.

We wrapped the minced meat filling in the dough, making small, bite-sized meat parcels.

After wrapping, we boiled them. When they floated, they were done, so we scooped them out.

We drained the water and served them on a plate, pouring a clear vegetable broth over them to complete the dish.

We ate at the table in the kitchen.

I gave Amelia the fruit I had brought from home. It seemed Blanch only ate in the morning and evening.

"By the way, you said before that Blanch's food expenses were quite high. Don't you get any support from the幻獣保護局 (Phantom Beast Protection Bureau)?"

"I don't cooperate with records and such. So, I have to bear most of the costs myself."

"I see."

The Phantom Beast Protection Bureau's generous support came with conditions. If you didn't submit daily records like me, you wouldn't be eligible for the support.

"It's not a new thing that Blanch's feeding costs are high, and the procedures are troublesome, so I thought it was fine."

"I see."

Everyone has their own reasons.

"Let's eat while it's hot."

"Okay."

This was the first time I had tried a dish with boiled dough. I wondered what it would taste like.

I scooped up a meat parcel with a spoon and ate it in one bite.

"Ow, hot..."

The second time today. I really don't learn.

After confirming it was cool with my tongue, I bit into the dough.

"---!"

My mouth was full, so I couldn't speak, but it was incredibly delicious!!

The dough was the right thickness, with a chewy texture. The meat juice oozed out from the torn part, spreading the flavor of the meat.

The onions were crunchy and sweet.

"Mel, how is it?"

"Amazing!"

The snow country dish was beyond my imagination in terms of deliciousness.

◇◇◇

As I was about to leave, a crystal on the entrance caught my eye. It was a cluster slightly smaller than my palm.

"Zara, what's this?"

"Oh, that's a magic power measurement crystal."

Apparently, people who haven't had their magic power measured by a medic when they joined the military can use this to check their magic power.

"The color it turns when you touch it measures your magic power."

This was an invention by the Magic Research Institute.

If you have no magic aptitude, it won't light up. If you have a little, it turns yellow. If you have a moderate amount, it turns green. If you have a lot, it turns blue.

"I think they said if it turns red, you get sent to the institute."

"What does that mean?"

"Because the magic power is impossible, you become an observation subject."

"Wow, that's scary."

Zara said it turned a pale yellow when she joined the military.

"Magic users are decreasing worldwide, right? So, if it turns a complete yellow, they want me to contact them."

If it turns yellow, you have to receive magic education.

"So, they gave me this to check every day."

"I see. But this looks expensive."

"The Magic Research Institute, like the Phantom Beast Protection Bureau, is supported by wealthy people."

Zara picked it up, and it faintly glowed yellow.

"Why do people insist on magic when you can live without it?"

"..."

I still can't say anything about that. It's complicated.

When placed back on the flower stand, the crystal turned transparent again.

"Can I touch it?"

"Yes, it's fine. You can even break it if you want."

"No, no, I wouldn't do that."

I just wanted to touch it because it looked pretty. I didn't have any ulterior motives like Zara, definitely not.

I placed the crystal in my palm.

Enjoying the smooth texture, I was about to put it back on the flower stand when—

"Huh?"

"No way."

The crystal started to glow.

It turned yellow, then green, and gradually blue, and then...

"Mel, let go!"

"What!?"

As the crystal turned red, it cracked.

Zara grabbed the crystal from my palm and threw it to the floor. It shattered into pieces upon impact.

Zara pulled me close to protect me from the shards.

"Zara, are you hurt!?"

"I'm fine. It didn't scatter that far."

Phew. Amelia, who was behind me, seemed to be safe as well.

"But, what was that—"

Holding me, Zara whispered in my ear.

"Don't tell anyone what you just saw."

"What do you mean?"

"The red magic power."

No, that must have been a mistake. But Zara shook her head.

"Your village's medic diagnosed you as having no magic power, but it seems the opposite was true."

"No, that's impossible."

"I'm sorry, but the measurement crystal is accurate."

"Such...!"

So, I did have magic power?

Zara nodded.

"What!?"

I couldn't help but shout in shock.