Chapter 6

"Um... What should we do?"

I am buried in the sofa in a slightly tilted, uncomfortable position, still being hugged by Rei, who has now fallen completely asleep. Zaza is hesitating, raising and lowering her hands, wondering whether to pick up Rei, but she is concerned that doing so might wake him up.

"Ah, this size of a body, but I'm strong and have the strength, so it's not a problem. Let's wait until his sleep gets a bit deeper. ... Zaza, please sit down too."

Zaza, hesitating, returned to her chair and curled up, her head between her knees, as if she had fainted.

"... Seriously, this is a bit much, isn't it? Is summoning really without any age or conditions?"

I know that even if I say this to Zaza, it won't change anything. After all, the one who summoned is me, so the guilt will inevitably be on Zaza's side.

"We don't even know if there are summoning conditions. But from what I've heard, all the previous heroes were at least adults in this world. ... I've heard they were adults in your world too."

Ah, 150 years ago, being treated as an adult at around thirteen years old might have been the norm here. Even now, in wartime countries, there are stories of child soldiers.

"Actually, the king was quite shaken by Kazuha too. Of course, we were too."

"I thought he was around ten. Was he allowed not to fight because of that?"

"No, it was as I said initially, following the hero's wishes. However, even if Kazuha had been willing, he would have been stopped. It was just that Kazuha declined first. I couldn't say that I called him without intending to or that it was different from the plan..."

"I see."

Ah, I know that apologizing won't change anything, but it's not Zaza's fault.

"... I'm sorry. That was a harsh way to say it."

"No, it's fine. I deserve to be scolded more. When the king was struggling with how to convey it, he was relieved that you declined first. ... I should have postponed it."

I continue to stroke Rei's hair at the back of his head.

"... The immediate problem is the monster hunting, right?"

"I won't take him. I'll tell the king, and he will surely make the same decision."

"I agree, but he asked me not to mention his age."

"Even so."

"Well, that's true... In this world, they don't take children under thirteen on hunts, right?"

"Yes. Of course, combat training starts much earlier, especially in rural areas where there are more monsters. It's necessary for self-defense in emergencies. But actual hunts, which involve taking lives, start at thirteen. Ten is too young to get used to it."

"Adult age is thirteen?"

"Yes, but they are still considered immature and inexperienced."

"I see..."

Indeed, in Japan, until just over a hundred years ago, fifteen was considered the age of adulthood. I remember learning that there were times when people were treated as adults as soon as they could work. In the Sengoku period, many young samurai had their first battles in their early teens.

But we are modern Japanese. It feels wrong intuitively. ——But for this child.

"Rei, you don't make a sound when you cry."

"... Yes."

"Would a ten-year-old child, separated from their parents, cry like this?"

"..."

Zaza raised an eyebrow, as if trying to gauge the meaning.

"Children this age shouldn't cry like this, right?"

◇

The magic in this world isn't as omnipotent as I imagined.

It can't change the weather or prevent natural disasters. It can't resurrect the dead or reattach severed limbs.

But everyone can use a little bit of magic. Or rather, they use the magic they have to manipulate things. Lanterns adjust their brightness with magic, and water is drawn from pipes to taps with magic. Even commoners with little magic can use it in their daily lives.

It's not essential, but it makes life a bit easier and more convenient.

Of course, the more magic one has, the more they can do. That's how one becomes a knight or a priest. But most people don't have that much magic, so the level everyone can use is just "a bit easier."

Today, I continue peeling potatoes, twice as many as usual.

The potato salad I made yesterday was very popular in the kitchen, and it's on the menu for the cafeteria today. It's a buffet, so it's being refilled as it runs out, and it's very busy. I'm on the potato peeling team.

Mayonnaise, making it takes a bit of skill and practice, but with magic, it's a breeze. I was a bit envious, hoping to show off a bit, but everyone can do it smoothly. No need for an electric hand mixer to prevent separation. Magic is amazing. It's more than just a bit easier...

I remember the days when my arms ached from trying to mix eggs and oil, only to have them separate, or when my excited daughter hugged me, causing me to pour the oil in a splash and separate it, or when my son, wanting attention, threw a tantrum, and I ended up with a separated mixture. By the time I got good at it, I realized that commercial mayonnaise was better in terms of effort.

"Thank you for the meal! Waha-chan!"

I looked up to see Rei smiling, his head stuck in the dish collection area.

Last night, Zaza carried Rei to his room, and I stayed with him. When I woke up, Rei's smile was so cute. Like a newlywed.

"You had lunch here, didn't you?"

"Yeah. I came with Zaza..."

He tried to show Zaza behind him but hit his head on the ceiling again.

"Are you training again after this?"

"No. I have writing practice in the afternoon."

I finished my studies in the morning. I'm a bit ahead because I do it while everyone else is training.

"I see. When you're done, come back. I'll make you a snack."

"Snack! What is it!?"

"Hmm, do you like pudding?"

"Pudding! I like it with whipped cream!"

Pudding à la mode, you want, huh? More mixing, more mixing needed...

I'm still not very good at using magic. I tried to mimic the magic mixing for mayonnaise and ended up splattering it everywhere. Magic makes it easier, but the whisk is a bit awkward to use. I miss my electric hand mixer.

"Pudding, huh?"

Zaza tilted her head.

"Yes. It's cold and smooth and delicious."

Why is Rei making a proud face?

Well, if you make that face, I have no choice but to try hard.

"Wow, it's nostalgic. Waha-chan, you can really make anything."

Kohiro ate half of the pudding in one bite. Of course, of course. The pudding made in a steamer is fine-grained and soft. The Pudding à la mode, with plenty of fruit and whipped cream, has a nostalgic department store cafeteria feel.

The pudding, made with the help of the kitchen staff in mixing, adjusting the heat, and making ice for cooling, will be served in the cafeteria tonight. The heroes, who finished their studies, and Rei, who tagged along, appeared in the cafeteria, so it was a good idea to make more with the kitchen staff.

"Do you have all the ingredients? Gelatin and all?"

Ayame tasted the green fruit with a melon-like flavor and a bit of whipped cream.

"They're a bit different, but this pudding doesn't use gelatin. We have a variety of similar ingredients and seasonings."

Since I started going in and out of the kitchen, I've tasted and learned about various things from the spice rack to the warehouse. There are things that need to be made, like ketchup and mayonnaise, but there are prototypes or similar items.

Shota is eating silently. So, you're the type who eats delicious things without saying a word. You nod occasionally.

Rei is smiling. He alternates between looking at Zaza and me, looking satisfied, and carefully savoring the pudding.

A child's happy face brings a sense of comfort, but I didn't expect it to work even with a man who looks to be in his late twenties. Zaza and I probably have the same expression.

"--- Waha and Rei, you two are close, aren't you?"

For some reason, Shota looks hesitant, and Rei continues to nod while eating pudding.

"Yes, we're close."

Rei doesn't break the polite form of speech in front of the other heroes. I thought he was just matching my age, but now I realize he was trying to act like an adult because everyone else is older. ... He has a bit of cream on his mouth right now.

"Did you see Waha come out of Rei's room this morning? Did you stay over?"

Oh, you saw that. Kohiro made a surprised "Huh?" sound, and Ayame frowned.

"Yes."

Rei casually admitted it while pondering whether to eat the grape skin. The skin is soft, so you can eat it as is, I thought. Ah, he admitted it so casually. Well, if you were seen, there's no point in lying. Besides, I don't feel the need to lie, and it doesn't feel wrong to me. However, to everyone except me and Zaza, who know Rei's real age, he looks like a mature adult, the oldest of the group.

"Waha, you look small, but you're a girl, so, isn't it not good? That kind of thing."

Shota's cheeks turned slightly red as he looked down and away from me.

"No, no, no, that's not it. Considering the age difference, it could be like a father and son, right?"

"... Gross."

Feeling the tension from the stiff Kohiro and the obvious disgust from Ayame, Rei looked up from his pudding, confused. Ayame, your face is too harsh. You guys are jumping to conclusions too quickly. Rei wouldn't understand the implications. Look, he's starting to look scared!

"I! I was a bit scared last night! So! I went to Rei's room! And I fell asleep!"

Kohiro, you're in trouble if you ask.

How to expand on the excuse that just popped out. What were kids afraid of back then?

"Well, you know, ... I felt something was outside?"

I wonder if you understand. It's embarrassing to pretend to be scared when you're older. The self-criticism of saying "scary" at your age runs through my mind.

Even though I look older, I haven't acted like a child since I came to this world. I don't want to lie, but I also don't want to explain, so I've been maintaining a balance.

Ah, my face is hot. This is embarrassing. It's more embarrassing than I expected. I'm fidgeting. Zaza's subtle expression is making it worse. Stop that face.

"Ah, ahaha, Waha, you seem tough, but you have a cute side, don't you?"

Stop it, you're a flirt.

"What do you mean, ... what kind of thing?"

What kind of thing, I wonder? Ayame, are you afraid of that? Don't glare at me.

"Like, a ghost, maybe?"

"Eh?"

Rei, you can't be scared there!

"Even in this world, there are no ghosts. Don't worry, Waha."

"Ghosts? Do you mean ghosts? They exist?"

"\"Eh\""

Zaza covered Shota with a "What are you talking about?" face. No, what are you talking about.

"Most old buildings have them. I can't see them, but the ghosts in this castle are said to have long, dark purple hair covering their faces, wearing tattered dresses, and crawling around. That's what those who can see them say."

"\"What is that, it's scary\""

Eh, in a magical world, there are no barriers or exorcisms?

"...? They don't do anything bad. Oh, by the way, you might see cookies and small cups of milk in various places in the hall. They're for the ghosts, so please don't touch them."

Household spirits? Are they household spirits?

This world is kind to yokai, I see.