Chapter 35

After delivering the magic sword to the colonel, I returned to the branch office with Erika and Leonora.

Then, I spent my time helping with their work.

"Zig, would you like to celebrate tonight?"

While I was working on turning iron ore into iron, Erika asked me.

"Celebrate? What for?"

Is it one of their birthdays? I haven’t prepared any gifts and would rather decline.

"Well, we’ve completed the emergency request and delivered the magic sword, right? It’s a celebration for that."

I don’t really feel like there’s anything to celebrate...

"That sounds good. I’ll open a special bottle of wine for you."

Leonora seems enthusiastic.

"I can’t drink, you know?"

"It’s low in alcohol, so even Erika can handle it. Besides, if you pass out, I’ll kindly escort you to bed."

Hmm... It seems like things are heading in a certain direction.

"Wait a minute, you two. Helen?"

"We should go."

Helen answered immediately and curled up.

"Hey, you’re not bored, are you?"

"I’m not bored. Since you’re treating us to dinner anyway, it’s the same thing, right?"

...Indeed.

"What are we going to do for the celebration?"

"Just a small feast, some wine, and a 'good job, let’s work hard again tomorrow' kind of gathering. No one will do a one-liner or harass you."

Well, it’s Erika and Leonora, after all.

"Guess I should go, then."

"Of course. You worked hard, Zig, but Erika and Leonora did a lot for the emergency request. We should celebrate their growth."

Oh... That hits home.

But I’ve never been celebrated by my own master...

Well, he’s that kind of person.

"Alright, I’ll join."

It’s just eating and drinking.

Tomorrow is a day off, so it’s a good time.

"Okay. Is there anything you want to eat, Zig?"

"Nothing. Whatever Erika makes is delicious."

Indeed, everything she’s made so far has been delicious.

"You’re a hard man to please, aren’t you?"

Leonora shakes her head in a resigned manner.

"You don’t cook either."

I don’t want to hear that from you.

"From the cook’s perspective, I want to see you enjoy it. As engineers, we should understand that, right?"

I don’t get it?

"Hmm... Is there anything you want to eat? Helen, do you have any ideas?"

"Sir Zig, the hamburger you made was delicious."

That’s it.

"Right, hamburgers are delicious. Erika, let’s do that."

"Um, what’s a hamburger?"

Huh?

"Helen, are there no hamburgers in this world?"

"Well, I’ve only seen the ones you made, Sir Zig."

There are none... I don’t think it’s that difficult to make...

"What kind of world is this?"

"Shh, let’s watch him warmly."

...I’m being seen as some kind of weirdo.

"Anyway, a hamburger is a very simple dish. You just mix ground meat with finely chopped onions, shape it, and cook it."

"It’s making me cry just thinking about it."

Well, the onions do that.

"Hey, let’s make it together, Zig."

Hmm...

But if I make it once, maybe she’ll make it for me next time.

"Helen, how about I teach Erika the recipes I know?"

In my previous life, I was poor and had a lot of part-time job experience, especially in restaurants where I could eat for free.

"That’s a good idea. But teaching your wife your family recipes is a husband move."

I don’t know about that.

"Whatever. I’m not going to cook anyway, so it’s better to teach someone who can use it."

"Sure, that’s a good idea."

"Alright, Erika, let’s make hamburgers together. I’ll write down the recipes I remember and give them to you later."

Erika can adjust and make them taste good even if I write them down casually.

"Thank you so much. But, Zig, you’re from the capital, right? Why do you know how to make such dishes?"

It’s a hassle to explain.

"I’m a bit delirious, so I got a revelation from God."

"That’s a bit too casual..."

"I got tired of explaining..."

"Sir Zig, there must be more to it..."

There’s no point in explaining my past life.

We continued working until the end of the day, then the three of us and Helen went shopping. After that, we gathered at Erika’s house and all went to the kitchen.

"Alright, first we need to grind the meat. This is the tool."

I took out a meat grinder I made using spatial magic.

"What’s this?"

Leonora asked.

"You put the chunk of meat into this hole and turn this handle to grind it."

"Wow... It’s a bit macabre."

Indeed...

"Let the witch do it."

"Witch? Oh, me?"

You’re the only one wearing such a big hat.

"Alright, like this?"

Leonora placed the chunk of meat into the hole, set a bowl underneath, and started turning the handle.

"Wow! The ground meat is coming out! This is fun!"

I’ll leave the macabre part to the witch.

"Next, we need to finely chop the onion... I’ll leave that to Erika."

"Sure."

Erika peeled the onion, cut it in half, and started slicing it.

"You’re good with a knife."

"I do this often. Actually, if I couldn’t become an alchemist, I wanted to be a chef."

Oh...

"I’ll be your personal chef."

"Let the witch laugh while making the ground meat."

"Hehe, I’ll grind it up!"

She’s a cheerful witch.

"Chopping onions makes me cry. Is there any tool to prevent that?"

She asked, so I grabbed Helen from my shoulder and stuck her to Erika’s face.

"I can’t see anything now!"

"Hmm..."

Maybe I should use a clothespin?

"Sir Zig, don’t you have a machine that can chop ingredients? You know, the one that makes vegetables easier to eat."

Ah, the food processor.

"Here it is."

I took out the food processor using spatial magic.

"What’s this?"

"Think of it as a member of the blender family. You put the onion in here and turn it on."

Then, miraculously, the blades inside chopped the onion into fine pieces.

"Wow, this is amazing! Zig, you seem to have a lot of useful gadgets that you don’t use much."

I made one in my previous life as part of my training.

"Right... Leonora, is the ground meat ready?"

"Hehe, it’s done."

Leonora’s bowl was filled with ground meat.

"Erika, mix the ground meat with the finely chopped and sautéed onions, shape it into patties, and cook them."

I don’t really need breadcrumbs...

"Got it. I can handle the rest. You two wait in the living room."

"Thanks."

"Thanks, my wife."

Leonora and I returned to the living room and sat at the table.

"Leonora, Adele is coming next week. Would you like to go to the airport with me to pick her up?"

"Shouldn’t the prince go alone?"

"The prince has a bad mouth, personality, and core."

And he’s not a prince, just a commoner, so there’s no saving grace.

"Hmm... But I still think it’s better for you to go alone. Earn some points."

Going alone... I guess I should rely on Helen.

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