Chapter 57

Good morning.

Today's weather is cloudy.

It's a holiday, yet I woke up at the same time as usual.

Feeling like it's a holiday, I skipped my vocal exercises and warm-up, and instead rolled around in bed.

Next to me, the black cat is also rolling around, which is incredibly cute.

Come to think of it, I should probably come up with a name for the black cat soon.

When I stare at the black cat, it looks back at me.

"Hmm, Tama, Mariyu, Kuryo, Kuryohyo, Hyo, Ao, Aoi, Buryu………"

I try out all the names I can think of, but none of them feel right.

I've never been good at naming things.

Due to my questionable pronunciation, I can't even say half of them properly.

"Hmm, if it's blue, then it's 'Sori?'"

"Meow"

"Sori?"

"Meow?"

The name is decided: Sora.

"Sora, isn't that good?"

I'm surprised by a voice from behind.

When did he wake up? He's propped up on one elbow, looking at me with a smile. Arlshein is exuding unnecessary charm from the moment he wakes up.

It's a real waste that he only looks at me like that.

If he showed that face to the young ladies he's interested in, they'd fall for him instantly.

It's a shame that he's unaware of this.

When he's awake, he has a tough-looking delinquent face and a taciturn demeanor that makes him hard to approach. Recently, he's been carrying me, which has somewhat softened his image, but due to his status, he's still only observed from a distance and has no friends.

It's a shame that such a good man isn't popular.

While I'm observing him, Shera enters the room to help me change.

Today, we're going to the castle, so I'm wearing a black costume with ears and a tail, matching Sora's.

After being carried to the dining room, Yegram, Digray, and surprisingly, Jyuu, with a big smile, join us for breakfast.

We eat at a larger table than usual.

There's no particular conversation during the meal, and we head straight to the carriage and then to the castle.

Sitting on Jyuu's lap,

"Jyuu, are you also learning magic swords? (Jyuu, are you also doing magic sword training?)"

"Of course! I asked a knight I know, and he said that while it's not possible at the academy yet, he can teach me if I come to the castle. I thought it was a sure bet that Keta would do something to make it a big deal."

I roll my eyes without saying anything.

"You two seem quite close. Did you meet after Keta-sama arrived?"

"Huh? Ah, no..."

Jyuu stammers and looks at Arlshein,

"Actually, Taktikus was also involved in the descent. However, for some reason, Taktikus appeared in this world at a different time, as if reborn."

"Really! Spark-sama is also from another world?!"

"Ah, in my case, I have memories of growing up in this world, so being called an 'otherworlder' feels a bit off."

"Oh, sorry."

"No, there's no need to apologize. I only fully recalled my memories from the other world at the same time Keta and the others descended, and I didn't receive any special powers like Keta, so just treat me normally. Also, there are a few people with the Spark surname in the knight order, so it would be nice if you could call me by my name."

"Okay, then, Taktikus, did you tell your parents about your past life?"

Yegram asks hesitantly,

"Ah, no need for 'sama.' I haven't told them. Before I could, the awakening of the demon race caused a big commotion, and I ran away."

"Awakening of the demon race! Congratulations! I heard it's rare in the borderlands, but it's been about 10 years, right?"

"Yes, it's been 12 years. My father started making a fuss about making me the head of the family, and we got into a fight, so I ran away."

"Being a border lord, they probably think the stronger one should be the head... I understand, but the eldest son of the border lord family is said to be as strong as a demon, right?"

"Yes, I sparred with him after my demon race awakening, and I couldn't even match him."

"Even so, they tried to make you the head?"

"My father is too infatuated with my uncle, who awakened as a demon 12 years ago. I don't understand why he's pushing me so hard."

"Ah, he's projecting his admiration... That's a problem. How did you escape from such a father?"

"I said I wasn't fit to be the head because I'm weaker than my brother, and that I would go train to become stronger."

"Wow, smart move!"

"No, no, he's a troublesome parent. Usually, he's extremely cautious and realistic, but when it comes to the demon race, his judgment goes off the rails."

"Ah, my parents are the same! They buy new magic tools without even thinking of their use. But my parents are greedy, so they became merchants."

"Your parents sound more like workaholics."

"Ahahaha, true!"

"Have you two known each other for a long time?"

"Since we met at a church gathering as kids, it's been about 10 years of a 'rotten' friendship."

"It's not rotten!"

We arrived at the castle while chatting.

Today, we came for training, so we headed straight to the training ground.

The usual Duran wasn't there to greet us, only two young knights.

When we arrived at the training ground, the general and Ingrid were already sparring, and many other knights were training around them.

We were already wearing comfortable clothes, and we borrowed training leather armor to put on.

"Hey, Keta, what's with this atmosphere? It's super intense!"

"Sure is, it's scary."

"Why is everyone laughing? They're laughing while fighting. Are they on some crazy drugs?"

"No, it's been like this since last week, it's a mental attack."

"...... Indeed, it's super intense. Do I have to join in?"

"Good luck."

Arlshein, Yegram, and Digray were already prepared and went to their respective spots, but Jyuu was still hesitant about the atmosphere.

Even though I was injured and bleeding, I was captured by a laughing knight and taken to the infirmary.

Injured people were being brought in one after another, but everyone was laughing, which was really scary!

If this mental attack worked on monsters, I think this country would be the strongest.

Even in a war, they could make the enemy lose their will to fight by laughing.

Imagine everyone on the battlefield laughing and bleeding.

It's a new kind of horror.

When I looked around, Arlshein, Yegram, and Digray weren't laughing, but their opponents were laughing uncontrollably and couldn't match them, looking very frustrated.

The general and Ingrid were still laughing while fighting, with sparks and ice coming from their swords, causing collateral damage to the surrounding knights.

Jyuu, who was learning the basics of magic swords at the corner, was looking very nervous.

It's no wonder people might think they're on some crazy drugs.

Even when people were being blown away by their opponents' techniques, everyone was smiling.

They didn't even flinch at broken bones.

Is there no one who can stay calm?

The medical team, in their own way, discovered that using a staff as a medium made it harder to cause magical backlash, so they were all waving their staffs around, which was dangerous and they were laughing!

I had no choice but to set up a tunnel-shaped barrier in a corner and fill it with holy magic to heal anyone who passed through.

Since this wouldn't be good practice for the medical team, I only treated minor injuries and let the rest heal on their own.

I didn't want to get too close and catch their high spirits.

I was playing with Sora, who was in a ball, while leaning against the barrier!

After enduring the intense mental attack, the morning training finally ended.

When Duran came to pick us up, I clung to him, almost in tears!

We moved to the dining room, and Reitra, the queen, and Anneliese joined us for the meal.

The meal was simpler than usual, and I was curious until I saw a cart brought in by Shera and a cook I had seen before.

The cart was loaded with flour, eggs, sugar, milk, honey, and butter.

Although the amount was overwhelming, I couldn't ignore the expectant looks on everyone's faces, so I reluctantly started preparing.

The general and the prime minister looked puzzled, so they probably didn't know what I was doing.

I created a large barrier bowl, about the size of a small bathtub, and with the cook's help, separated the eggs into whites and yolks.

The cook, being a pro, separated the eggs quickly, and I used magic to create a large amount of meringue, which I mixed with the yolk mixture and placed in a barrier pan.

Everyone gathered around, watching with intense focus, which was a bit intimidating.

Anneliese was shaking with excitement, which was cute.

I tried not to look at Ingrid, who was shaking similarly next to her!

As the batter gradually rose, everyone's eyes sparkled, and when the lid was removed, the smell made everyone look blissful.

The cook, after showing a sample, flipped the batter expertly.

When the batter settled, Duran arrived.

The cook and Duran worked together to serve everyone.

The cook continued to bake the remaining batter.

The first-timers were in a trance, while those who had tasted it before, starting with Arlshein, quickly asked for seconds.

Noticing this, the others also started asking for seconds.

Ingrid and the general were laughing while eating, and the prime minister, who was eating quietly and elegantly, was eating at an incredible speed.

Reitra and Anneliese were also not to be outdone, and the cook was baking as fast as he could, but it still wasn't enough.

I was satisfied with one piece, so I watched from a distance.

Jyuu, who had eaten a few pieces and couldn't keep up, came over to me.

"Isn't this amazing?"

"It was amazing with the pudding too."

"Right, in this world, the only sweets are incredibly hard."

"Super hard!"

"Even though the ingredients are the same, why are they so hard?"

"Can't eat cookies, can't eat cookies."

"Yeah, it's tough for kids."

"Sure, sure."

When the cook finally finished baking and serving, he came over to me.

"Keta-sama, this sweet was wonderful! Unlike the pudding, this one seems reproducible, which is very helpful!"

I could have made the pudding reproducible, but it would have required some trial and error.

So, I gave him a memo with the recipe, which he tearfully thanked me for.

Apparently, the members who weren't there the last time complained that they were the only ones who got to taste it and couldn't reproduce it.

I also drew a picture of a steamer and explained it, but they would need to order it from a tool shop, so they would start with the oven method.

The hotcakes were all eaten, and there was nothing left for the servants.

The slightly resentful looks on the servants' faces were amusing.

Good luck, cook!

In the afternoon, we had more training.

Jyuu, having given up, joined the group without hesitation, though he was still a bit hesitant.

I had Sora grow larger and used it as a giant pillow to take a nap.

We returned at a good time for dinner, as we would eat at the academy.

I don't remember much because I was sleeping the whole time.

Apparently, I slept so well that they couldn't wake me up, and I missed dinner.