On this day, Arx Raytheft was in the kitchen of his house.


　Previously, he had been living in Raytheft's main residence, so he was rarely allowed to enter the kitchen. It was more like he was not allowed to enter.
　Now, however, everything is mine, and I can use anything I want.
　I can cook whenever I want, and I can cook whatever I want.
　It is a small thing, but it is one of the blessings I have gained from having my own house.


Mr. Arx, what would you like to do today?

"Hmm. Thank you for asking, Noaemon. I thought I'd make some sweets today.

You've been obsessed with cooking for a while now. Are you planning to switch from being a mage to a chef?

It's not like that. I'm just trying to make something I want to eat.


　Yes, the only sweets in this country are basically sour ones or ones made of hardened sugar and rolled up. It seems that despite the abundance of ingredients, somehow the pastry-making industry has not developed much.
　Sugar is also quite expensive, but not unattainable for the nobility.
　And yet, they lack a repertoire of sweets, which is a mysterious situation.
　Of course, there is a culture of tea in this world, so there is plenty of room for sweet sweets. Of course, there is a tea culture in this world, so there is plenty of room for sweet treats.

　There are no sweet cookies.
　There is no such thing as cake.
　Chocolate is a pipe dream.

　I still didn't understand that part.


Noah. Why are all the sweets made of rolled sugar?

That's the only answer I can give you.

But they're meant to be eaten, so they'd better taste good, right?

I'm sure it is, but I think it's probably because of the age of the spirits that most of the sugar is rolled up.

Is that so?

Yeah. In those days, people used to offer colorful sugar rounds as an offering to the spirits and fairies. That's why it's still a traditional sweet everywhere.

That's why we have tea, but we haven't developed tea cakes to go with it. ......?


　Still, it's too bitter a reason. Creatures are greedy for sweetness. All living things have a tendency to crave for sweet things, and humans have been working hard to make those sweet things taste good.
　This is well known in the man's world.


　Then Noah came up with the answer to his question.


First of all, there were not enough ingredients to go with the sugar, weren't there?　The milk and eggs that Lord Arx prepares are now readily available in the market, but in the past they were not easy to find.

It's true that if you don't have enough ingredients, you can't expand your repertoire in any way.


　It's a mistake to compare this world with that man's world in the first place.
　In this world, there are no cars or trains, distribution is weak, and the only meat that can be eaten on a daily basis is duck.
　Chickens are not fastened well to lay eggs, and cows are out of the question because of the unstable supply of food.
　Pigs are kept in special places under strict control by the royal people, who abhor curse words, because pigs are a source of pollution if released. Therefore, they are treated as a feast everywhere.


　The only way to eat a hamburger once a week is to have a territory, take root there, and build your own pig farm.


And the aristocracy, with its steady supply of ingredients, tends to prefer things that look beautiful. Colorful sugar confections are visually appealing and are popular when served at parties.

"I see. The aristocracy is a culture of vanity. I see, aristocracy is a vain culture. It's possible that they value the outside more than the inside.

Another reason is that the Kingdom of Rynor tends to be dominated by warrior families.

What does that have to do with the warrior class?

The royal family itself is a warrior family, so it has always had a strong and honest spirit. To the west is the Gillis Empire, to the east are the flood tribes and other ethnic groups, and to the south is the Grand Shell. Because of the nature of the land, there are many wars, and the nobles have to spend all their time fighting. Of course, now the situation is more stable and the spirit is more relaxed, but more than ten or twenty years ago, the royal capital was in a terrible state.

Because of all the wars, there was no soil for such a culture to develop. It was just before I was born that they could afford it. Is that why you don't have much of a repertoire of sweets?

I'm just guessing, but I think it's reasonable to assume so.

Hmmm... ...... Poor makes you dull.


　I think it means that money and time were scarce and there was no room to create culture. ......
　War consumes a great deal of food, and of course the common people suffer the brunt of it. In addition, when there are wars all year round, all the "extra food" used for cooking and baking will be sent to military provisions, and people will live on a shoestring.
　It is true that there are some things about the construction of aristocratic gardens that make one wonder.
　I suppose we are still in the process of developing that area.


　Noah looks at the table with the food and cooking utensils.


"You're not using magic to bulk up the food, are you?

"No, I wouldn't do that. I mean, the idea of bulking up reminds me of some convenience store.

It's called a cloud of Lascatis.

Oh, yeah.

They used to make you feel full by magically turning your food upside down, but no matter how much you ate, you just got thinner and thinner, so they thought you were eating something less real, like a cloud or a haze.

It's like eating a cloud or a haze. It's good for weight loss.

Yes, um...

There are a lot of people out there who want to lose weight without even trying.

What kind of twelve-year-old talks about the world?

I'd really like to know what's going on. The only person who seemed to know anything about it didn't tell me anything the other day.




　Noah and I talked about this as I worked on the pastry. Since I can't use one arm very well, I have to ask Noah to do a lot of the work, but it's a lot easier than making a sponge cake.
　The other cake required the help of a cook to make the meringue, but this one is much easier to make.
　Put it in a simple refrigerator. All that remains is to cool it down.


　I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out, and I'll be cleaning up and doing other things for a while.
　Suddenly, a familiar voice came out of nowhere as I retreated to my room.


"Hey Arx. Do you have any snacks ready?


　There's no need to ask who it is. It was Suu. And it didn't sound like it was coming from outside.


Hey!　You're trespassing!

It's Arx's house, so what's the big deal?　Oh!　Cazi's wearing an apron!　It looks really good on her!


　When I went downstairs from my room, I found Suzi cleaning the house in her apron and Suu following her around, with Noah standing aside to welcome her and show her around.
　While Suu was looking at Kazi with interest, Kazi was looking very uncomfortable, as if she had been seen in a strange place.


What's wrong with the wizardry school, Suu?

"Academy of Magic?　I didn't have a lecture to attend today, so I skipped it.

What do you mean you slipped out? ...... You can't do that?


　I'm one of those people who graduated from the Academy of Magic, and when I see someone who seems to have a connection to slacking off...


You can't do that, you know.　No, you can't. No matter how well you do on the exams, if you don't attend the lectures, it will affect your advancement.

"Oh, so you feel like a college student who has already given up on advancing when you realize you don't have enough credits, no matter how you calculate it. ......

It's not like I'm giving up. I mean, please don't use a metaphor I don't understand.

"In other words, there's something about Sucia that you can't blame her for skipping class.

That's it. That's it.

What's that?　Isn't that unfair?

No, it's not.　I'm allowed to be busy.

If you're so busy, why do you come here?

Don't worry about the details. I'm here to study.


　I've come to study with you.


It's certainly stimulating to talk about magic with Arx-sama.

That's true. Except for the basics, it's more useful to talk with my master.

Oh, yeah. ......


　I don't feel bad about being told that. It's unnecessary to add things like "sometimes you talk nonsense ......" or "you talk nonsense ......" after that.


Besides, I have other things to do.

What other things?

Getting Arx's arm fixed.

Yeah, .......

I know. You said before that I could fix it for you.

I'm pretty sure that's what you said.

I did. So he went in the back. He went in the back.

Don't push me!　I mean, this is my house!


　And so, we moved to a tower-shaped room.
　This place was laid out in a way that it was attached to the corner of a square building.
　In the man's country, it was built as you would find in historical buildings built at the time when Western culture was first introduced.
　The circular room is an atrium, the front side is made of glass so that you can see outside, and the back side is occupied by bookcases, along which a staircase is laid out in a circle.
　The room is facing south, so the sun shines in, making it bright and comfortable. The room is furnished with a soft carpet, sofa, and table, and is used as a guest room and relaxation space.


I wish the garden was bigger. Forty points.

You sound like Herr Roheim.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Why are you upset about that? But that's the best I can do financially right now.

So your next goal is to buy a bigger house?

That's not something for kids, period.


　After that conversation, Suu takes charge again.


"Okay. Sit down, sit down. Don't be shy.

"...... Hey Noah. This is my house, right?

It definitely belongs to Mr. Arx.

Ah, so this is what you call effective control. Khihihi!

This is what it means to rent a porch and lose the main house.



"What's mine is mine. What's mine is mine, too.

"As expected of a senior nobleman, you're naturally wielding your gianism.


　The fact that you're already treating it as yours is absolutely terrifying.
　Kazui ran off to continue cleaning, while Noah went to move the lace curtains to adjust the amount of light in the room.


　He sat down on the couch next to Suu.


　It has been a long time since the two of us have been alone in a situation like ...... this, he thought.
　The long, shiny, black hair is still the same. The eyes, which look like they are inlaid with lapis lazuli, are radiant and precious, and the skin is not too white, but a healthy color, calm, taut and supple.
　Her skin is not too white, but healthy and calm.
　Perhaps it is because she is close to me. If I'm not paying attention, the scent that suddenly wafts in the air will almost shoot my heart out.


　Suu, on the other hand, continues to talk, oblivious to the fact that I am feeling a little embarrassed.


"So, how are you feeling now?

"It's not good yet. I'm not in good shape yet, but I'm better than before.


　I rolled up my sleeves and Suu grabbed my arms without hesitation, bending and stretching them. He did something like a medical examination.
　Then she noticed something.


"Hey, is this a weird bruise?

"Hmm?　Oh, yeah.

It kind of looks like a pattern.


　She was right, there was something like a reddish-black bruise on my arm.
　I didn't notice it, but I don't know when I got it.
　It looks like a pattern, as she said, it looks like a shape.


"Hmm, a phoenix?

"Uh, yeah. It looks like a phoenix with a long tail.

No. Mr. Suu called me weird. What should I do?

Oh no. Arx has done it. If you don't show this to at least five people and give them the same mark, Arx will become unhappy.

"A letter of misfortune!　When was that?

Now?

Well, well, ......, that's what happens. That's what happens.


　This is not that man's country. Surely there is no era or anything.
　After what seemed like a medical examination, Suu immediately cast a healing spell that he had adjusted.
　And it's the kind that uses a lot of magic.
　It's a big spell, far beyond the amount of magic power that I have. I've never had anything like this cast on me, not even by the mage doctors of the mage guild.


It's really unfair to have so much magic power.

Arx can't do this with his magic power.

That's true. At least, I wish I could store what I don't use somewhere and take it out at will.

"An item to store magic power? That would be nice.

I guess we'll have to search hard. I guess we'll just have to try and find it, though we'll have to overcome another obstacle first.

So, how's the arm?


　Now that the spell had been cast, I moved my arm to see how it felt.


"...... Yeah, it's fine. No, really.

Seriously?　That's great!


　Suu smiled as if a flower had bloomed and was as happy as she could be.
　In fact, the condition of her arm was quite different before and after the spell. The arm had been a bit sluggish to move, but now it seemed to be a bit sharper.


I'll work hard until you get better.

"Oh, yeah. Thank you .......


　I felt a warmth in my eyes at the kindness of my friend.


"So, any sweets?

You're ruining my excitement.

You need a reward for your hard work.


　"You need a reward for your hard work, right?" Mr. Suu demanded without knowing my intentions.
　All my tears of joy were blown away somewhere far away.
　Then, Noah clapped his hands as if he had just come up with a great idea.


How about some of the sweets you made earlier?

"Noah, you idiot!　You idiot!

......?　Didn't you make that for Master Sucia?

No!　No, it's not, but it is!

"Hey, Arx. Did you make something again?



No, it's nothing. I didn't make anything.


　He smiles falsely, but it's already too late.
　Suu looked at me.


"Hey, isn't it a little late to be fooling around after all this time?

"Ugh. ......


　"Ugh!" "" Suu groans, hitting me where it hurts.
　It's all over now. It's impossible to hide it.
　So I let out a sigh of resignation.


"...... Okay. Noah, I'm sure it's cold by now, so please follow the procedure I just explained.

"Yes, sir. I'll get you some tea as well.


　Noah then walked back into the kitchen and came back with a large tray.
　On it are a tea cup and two small yellow hills with caramel tops on them.
　Yes, what Noah and I had just made was everyone's favorite pastry, pudding.


　Suu looked curiously at the pudding in front of her.


It's kind of puffy, isn't it? It looks like a steamed egg. ......".


　He poked the pudding with a spoon or two, as if to check its hardness.


　I'm almost certain that it tastes good, because I made it according to the amount I remembered from ............. But that's why it's not good. It's obvious what will happen if she finds out about this.
　You can understand the difficulty of obtaining pork in the past, but milk and eggs are relatively easy to obtain in Wangdu. And when the combination of milk, eggs and sugar produces a taste that captivates people, it is not hard to imagine what they would say.


"Bon appétit!


　Suu said as she scooped the top of the pudding and took a bite.


"What?　It's ......!


　Suu's eyes immediately went black and white, and then she started to sound serious.
　Suu's expression was one of happiness and fascination as she hurriedly carried the pudding to her mouth. Every time she did so, her expression would change, indicating that she was eating something delicious.


　After finishing the pudding, Suu wiped her mouth with a napkin with a dignified expression on her face.


He wiped his mouth with a napkin, saying, "Mmm, how delicious this is. Are they using milk and eggs?

Yes, eggs and milk mixed with sugar, steamed and then chilled.

M...... is it that easy to make?

Surprisingly so. Here, sugar is basically used for curdling, making tea, and sweetening beans, right?　The last time I served it here, there was no other way.

You're right. Can you make any other sweets?

Well, I'm not a cook or a pastry chef, and my recipes are sparse, so anything that's not easy to make will require a lot of trial and error, like the corn stew.

I see. ......

Don't look so disappointed because of such sweets.


　What, were you thinking of making me make more sweets?
　After all, it is clear that people are greedy for sweets.


"So, Arx. What kind of food is this?

"............


　Isn't it about time you started using that language too stiffly?
　Suu must have noticed the appealing look. He widened his eyes as if in a state of shock.
　And then.


What is the name of the food?　I wonder?


　He blinked his eyes unnaturally, as if to disguise the stiff way he had been speaking, and smiled.
　I can't help feeling that it's a little late for that.


It's pudding.

It's a name like "pudding ......". But I've never had anything like it before.

"Of course. No one else makes it.

Hey, can I have another one?

No, thanks. I'll have the rest.

Oh, you're so stingy.

I'm not stingy!　I mean, you just made it today, so let the cook taste it for himself!

"It's delicious, you don't need to taste it. I can guarantee the taste.


　Suu smiled like Peko-chan.


I'm sure it will taste good to some extent.　The ingredients are different from what I know.

But it's milk, eggs and sugar, right?

But it's milk, eggs and sugar?　There are different kinds of birds, different kinds of cows that produce milk, different kinds of sugar.

Arx is very particular.


　Suu looked at him with a half-amused expression.
　Then he stared at our pudding and reached out to Noah to give him a plate.


　Noah, without hesitation, handed over the plate with the pudding on it.


Here you go.

"Yes!　Thank you!

Neither here nor thank you!　Why are you handing it over?

The ...... I can't resist power either, I suppose.

Noah, Noah, Noah. You know I'm your master, right?　You're my vassal, after all. Isn't that right?　You have to do what I say, right?

"So you're my vassal too, right?　You have to listen to me, too.

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

You know, Arx. As I said before, what's mine is mine.

"Tendon, stop it, Tendon.


　You can't tell me what to do, but Suu doesn't seem to want to give up.


Can I eat it?　Can I eat it?　Can I?

"That's for me to eat.

Look, you have to do what the customer asks, right?

I made it for me!

Half!　Let's split it!　That's fine, right?　Right?

It's not something you have to insist on!


　"It's not like you have to insist!" They argued over a single pudding like that.
　Anyway, after that, they studied together and Suu left.


　Right after Suu left, Kazui came to see me.


"Well, so?　Did you end up splitting it in half?

"Yes!　That's what I had to do to keep the conversation going!


　Yes, we ended up splitting the pudding in half.
　No matter how much we told them, they refused to listen, so we had to give in.
　Anyway, the squires said, unaware of our concern.


"Is this it?　Is this some kind of weakness?

I guess so. I can only see a future where I'll be treated like an ass.

Shut the f*ck up or I'll blow you both away!

Oh, scary.

This is a sign of tyranny for Lord Arx.


　When we got angry at the way he was saying whatever he wanted, the followers ran away as if they were spiderlings.