Chapter 21

After finishing lunch outside, I returned to my room and secluded myself in the studio to conduct some personal research.

Well, when I say "research," I'm just thinking about what kind of tool to use to catch fish for Helen.

"Should I use a fishing rod or a net..."

Naturally, a net would catch more fish.

But Helen probably won't eat that much.

"Wouldn't a net be a bit too much? I might get scolded by the fishermen."

I don't know if there's something like fishing rights, but there must be some territorial boundaries...

"Then, I'll go with a fishing rod... maybe I should improve the bait."

"Hey, why don't you just enjoy fishing normally?"

"What's fun about fishing? It's just one way to catch fish. Besides, I can just buy them."

I do have the money to buy fish.

"Huh? Then, why don't you just buy them?"

"I was thinking of letting you have some fresh fish. Fresh fish is delicious."

While there's no sashimi in this world, I, being born in Japan, know that sashimi is delicious.

"Sir Sieg... But, wouldn't it be fun to spend some time by the sea? I love the sea."

She probably loves fish...

"Then, I'll just make a fishing rod."

"Couldn't you just buy one? I'm sure they sell them."

"Well, as an alchemist, I should prepare it myself."

"I see... Good luck!"

Helen rubbed her body against my hand.

She must be excited about the fish.

"Alright, I'll make a super fishing rod that can catch sharks or whales."

"Please don't, it really might catch something."

Despite Helen's words, I'll make a fishing rod strong enough to catch big fish without breaking.

By evening, when it was almost done, the doorbell rang.

"Hmm?"

"Isn't that Erica?"

"Maybe."

I picked up Helen and headed to the door. Opening it, I found Leonora standing there with a silly grin, not wearing her triangular hat.

"Hi."

"Hey. What's up?"

"Erica said dinner is almost ready and asked me to call you."

Oh, she called us.

And she even made it on her day off...

"Leonora, you're also having dinner here, right?"

"Yeah. Not just dinner, but everything."

Breakfast and lunch too.

We entered Erica's house, and as Erica was cooking in the kitchen, Leonora and I sat at the table.

"Sorry, Erica."

"Thank you."

Erica and Helen greeted Erica, who was cooking.

"It's fine. Since Leonora is back today, I tried making paella."

Wow...

"Erica is a good cook."

Leonora beamed with pride.

"I know. Does Leonora not cook?"

"Nope. As a noble, I wasn't even allowed to enter the kitchen. But after leaving home and coming here, I wanted to try cooking. I asked Erica how to start, and she showed me. Before I knew it, the food was ready, and she kept making it for me after that."

I see.

I can picture the scene.

"You get spoiled, don't you?"

"Everything is done for me. If I were a guy, I'd marry her."

She would indeed make a good wife.

"Here it is, it's ready."

Erica brought out a yellow rice dish filled with seafood.

"Wow, it looks delicious."

"It smells great!"

"Really does."

We started eating the paella Erica made.

It was delicious.

"I've missed Erica's cooking... It feels like I'm back home."

Leonora said while eating the paella.

"It's only been a little over two weeks. How was it?"

"It wasn't bad, and I learned a lot."

Learned?

"What kind of trip was it, Leonora?"

"It was a practical training program. A study session organized by the association."

Ah, that one.

It's a boring thing I've never attended.

"I see... That's good."

I've grown too.

I didn't say it out loud.

"Hmm? Well, it's fine... But, Sieg, you're the same age as me, right?"

Leonora tilted her head and asked.

"Yeah. I'm 22 too."

"Then, do you know a girl named Adel?"

Adel...

I only know one Adel.

"I had a classmate. Adel von Jodler."

I won't forget this name.

"Ah, that girl, that girl. She was your classmate..."

Yeah... She was my classmate...

"Huh? Do you know Adel, Leonora? She's a friend of Sieg's."

"Is that so? What a coincidence. She's also my friend."

Really...

"What's the connection? Are you both nobles?"

"Yeah. Our families were close. We played together a lot when we were kids. She even came to visit this town last year."

Oh, right. Adel mentioned visiting this town, Riet, to visit a friend and gave me a hotel discount voucher.

It was Leonora.

"The world is small."

"Yeah... By the way, what kind of relationship do you have with Adel? I've never heard of her having male friends. She's quite shy."

Is she shy?

She seems to speak her mind clearly.

Well, I haven't talked to her much...

"I was a bit curious too. We correspond through letters."

Is that what you call it?

Well, it is...

"As I said, we were classmates. We were in the same class for three years and the same group for practical training. We ended up working at the same alchemy association headquarters. So, we've been in the same place for 6 or 7 years."

Huh? Why?

My heart started to hurt...

"That sounds like a good friendship."

"Huh? But, didn't you say you were planning to become good friends with Helen after discussing how to reply to her letters?"

"What's that?"

"Who knows?"

Leonora and Erica tilted their heads and looked at me.

"Both of you... especially Leonora, I'm a complete failure as a person. I have no friends and people dislike me."

"Is that so? You don't seem like it."

"That's true. You might seem a bit arrogant, but it's because of your abilities and position. You're a senior and you teach us well. I think you're a good person."

I'll ignore Erica, who can't judge people.

"I've been in the same place as Adel for 6 or 7 years. I only realized it last week."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Hmm?"

They tilted their heads again.

"No, I mean it literally. I was demoted and got on the airship, and Adel introduced herself to me. I realized that the receptionist I saw every day was my classmate..."

"Adel must be pitiful."

"Wow, you can still correspond with her."

They seemed a bit taken aback.

"Wouldn't you think so too? I thought it would end with an apology and a thank you for the discount voucher, but I got a reply. What do you think? I didn't expect a reply, and if I did, it wouldn't be a letter asking about my situation."

"Hmm..."

"Maybe it's a romance?"

Romance...

"Eh? Would you think that after hearing this story?"

"No."

"Well..."

I'm starting to get scared...

"Is it for revenge or something?"

"Did you do something to Adel?"

Well...

"I don't think so... I didn't even recognize her."

That's the problem.

"Hmm, I don't think it's for revenge. Adel isn't that kind of person."

"Did you send the letter, Sieg?"

"Yeah, I sent it yesterday."

"Maybe it's best to think about it after reading the reply."

I'll do that.

"Let us see it too."

"No, that's not right."

"It's not good to show someone else's letters. I can tell you the content, though..."

That's true...

"Human relationships are complicated."

"Of course they are."

"They are difficult."

If everyone in the world were like Erica, there would be no wars...

But if everyone were like me, we'd be extinct in a few years.

No doubt about it.

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