*

Why do you have to walk to the inn?
I'm sorry.

　Yuka complained, and Laura bowed her head lightly.
　The angle is shallow because she's holding a jar of soy sauce.
　By the way, Makoto is holding a jar of miso.

'Why are you empty-handed?'
You have a wand.

　Yuka pointed to her wand and said, as she should.

'Laura, if it's too hard, I'll hold it for you.
No, I'm just the edge of a knight.

　I'd like to give Yuka a roast of Laura's nail polish to drink.

'You're almost there, so good luck with that.'
Hello, Miss Makoto.

　A short distance into the alleyway, the 'Golden Sheep' pavilion came into view.
　A wagon stopped in front of the shop and Fene and Liv were carrying the sack into the shop.
　They both carried the sack lightly.

''Brother, welcome home!
Hey, what are you doing?
...my brother.

　Fene let out a small sigh.

''It's my reward for defeating the Giant Skeleton.
Didn't we get paid at the church?
The reward for the village.
Yeah, speaking of which.

　Mako stared at the wagon.
　There was no sign of the village chief, but the wagon was loaded with five sacks.

You said if you didn't have the money, I'd let you have the barley.

　You said you'd pay me properly with money, but I didn't expect you to send me wheat.
　What an ungrateful village.
　They should be destroyed.

"Brother, you brought the money too.
What does it take to make up for the lack of wheat?
I had enough money to pay you. But I guess they didn't think the money would be enough.
Well, yeah.

　He's trying to tell me that I've paid the promised amount of money and I've given you the wheat, so don't ask me for additional compensation.

'Hey, Fene,'
I know.

　Liv grabbed her head, and Fene carried the sack of wheat into the store with a pout on her lips.

'I'll help you,'
We're good enough for this.

　With that, Liv carried two bags at the same time.

'Sorry,'
'You didn't do anything for me when I was fighting off the bandits. Let me at least do this.

　Liv said a bit huskily and carried the bag into the store.

'I'm home,'
Welcome home, sir.

　Sherry stands at the counter and greets me with a smile.
　The ribs disappear behind the counter.
　Perhaps they are stacking bags in the space in the back.

'What about the wheat?'
"Go to the 'Golden Fleece' pavilion and have it.

　Even if there is wheat, Mako doesn't know how to be useful.
　If that's the case, you'd better leave it with Shelly.

Okay?
It's okay.

　I thought he was going to complain, but Yuka easily backed off.
　I wish it was always like this.

'Instead, let me have some bright white bread.
Jesus Christ, sir.

　Shelley chuckled.

'By the way, where's that jar?'
I finally got my hands on some miso and soy sauce.

　Mako put the jar on the counter.

'Now I can finally make some miso soup.
As I told you before...
I know. I'll make the first one.
Of course you have to pay for the rice and dried fish, right?
I'll take that.

　I don't know what I deserve, but there's no point in complaining about it here.

'I guess I'll have to hold off for a while longer until we get some rice and dried fish.
I can make you a side dish.
What can you make?
...what?

　Mako crossed her arms and pondered.
　Even though he'd lived on his own, he'd only been cooking for a short time.

'Shelly, do you have any chicken?'
Yes, I have.
Then you can make that one.

　Makoto grinned.

*

　How to make fried food
　1: Cut the chicken into the appropriate size.
　2: Add grated garlic and ginger to the soy sauce and pour the chicken into the soy sauce.
　3: Coat the chicken with potato starch and fry it in oil.

-- like this.
It's a bit of a mess!

　Yuka tapped the counter with a bang and stood up.
　Makoto placed a plate of fried food on the inside of the counter.

'What's your beef?'
You don't explain your portions.
It's a home-cooked meal, so don't get hung up on the details.
You can't say those lines until you fry them yourself.

　I look next to her and see Shelly frying a fried chicken with sweat on her forehead.

'No, I said it was dangerous,'

　Makoto cowered his shoulders and placed a plate of fried food on the counter.

''Oh, it looks delicious.''
So this is fried?

　Fene and Liv chewed on their fried food.

'....It was so flavorful.
Don't let the fat spread in your mouth.
The skin is delicious. The skin is.

　Fene, Liv and Laura smiled with a satisfied smile.
　Yuka chewed on a piece of fried food and opened her eyes lightly.

''Ah, surprisingly good.''
'Right?　You can do it just right and still get it right.

　The croquette bowl was a mistake, though, Mako muttered in her mind.
　It's not surprising, but croquettes break down in a simmer.
　They're not good for a bowl of rice.

'It smells good,'
Welcome.

　A voice came from behind her and Shelly raised her voice.
　It was a rare visitor.

''........I hope they keep getting more customers....
I like the way things are going, though.

　The "Golden Fleece" pavilion is quiet because it is far from the main road.
　I don't want the inn to go out of business, but I also don't want it to be May.

*

　The next morning, when Mako went downstairs, she found Laura sitting at the counter.

'Good morning, sir,'
Good morning, Miss Makoto.

　Sherry greets her and Laura follows behind.

'Good morning,'

　Mako returns the greeting and takes a seat at the end of the reserved seat - the counter seat.

'Laura, what's wrong?　Have you been ordered to pay Chris a fee?
Well that's part of it.

　Laura has a serious look on her face.

'As a matter of fact I was sent out of my free time.
Well that's a lot of work.

　When I say she was given a leave of absence, I don't mean she was given a leave of absence, I mean she was dismissed.
　This was surprising, since Laura and Christine seemed to have developed a trusting relationship.

'It's unenviable, isn't it?'
''No, it can't be helped since I couldn't fulfill my duties as an escort. Besides, Chris-sama promised to call me back after a while.

　Laura let out a small sigh.
　As far as the story goes, it seems that dismissal was not Christine's intention.
　Well, it would mean that it would be difficult for even a lord to protect his subordinate who had played a blunder twice in a short period of time.

''Have you decided on your next job?''
No, not yet.

　Laura glances at me.

'Do you want to join my team?'
Are you sure?
'Well, I thought it would be nice to have another shield player.

　Makoto will be in charge of the raid and Liv and Laura will be in charge of protecting Yuka and Faene.

'It's getting quite lively, isn't it?
Now I just need a healer.

　If I raised Laura, I wonder if she could change classes to become a holy knight and be able to use recovery magic.
　The creaking sound of the Western Door echoed from behind me.
　Apparently, a guest has arrived.

''Welcome--''
"Sherry,
"-Oh!

　Shelley's eyes widened when her name was called.

'No way, Alan?'
Oh, yeah, he's back.

　Mako looked behind her to see if her old lover had appeared.
　A frail-looking man was standing near the swinging door.
　The story goes that he was an adventurer, but the man was wearing ordinary clothes.
　A dream dashed, I guess.
　Makoto felt gloomy as he looked at Shelly, who was spilling large tears.
　Probably because the two of them reminded him of his brother and parents.