The wagon ride is comfortable. It’s big enough to be spacious even with ten people in it, and it doesn’t shake too much.
This is a pretty nice wagon.
Elsa and Alto are excited at first, and can’t take their eyes off the scenery passing by us. And sometimes they ask Hikari questions about what they see in the distance.
Shizune looks a little jealous about them having fun like that. I’m sure she wants to join in, but feels reluctant to bother them.
“How about we start preparing lunch?”
Asks Mia, and Elsa responds with a lot of energy.
All I do is create a simple cooking area with Earth Magic, and leave the rest to them.
Cooking outside is different from cooking indoors, so Mia teaches Elsa and Alto as they go along.
“What magic did you just use?”
“I guess you could call it a basic application of Earth Magic.”
After hearing my explanation, Shizune immediately puts her hand on the ground and gives it a shot, but it looks like she has difficulty controlling it, because she creates a large cloud of dust, and has to stop it.
And she has to endure Elsa and Alto’s somewhat critical stares.
After that, she quietly watches them cook.
“Aren’t you going to help?”
She asks.
“They’re not saying anything about it. If they want help, I think they’ll ask.”
I respond.
“…Do you cook, Shizune?”
When I turn the question back at her, she turns her head.
Kotori and the others also struggle with cooking while traveling, so I’m sure Shizune is on the same boat.
Also, the ones quietly waiting while the others cook are me, Shizune, the driver, Sera, and Rurika.
But it’s not like we’re just waiting, we’re also watching our surroundings.
We’ve gone off the road a bit, and this place has good visibility, but still, who knows what might happen.
Eril is a new town, and not on the way to any other town, so there’s not a lot of foot traffic here. But we do see a lot of wagons coming and going.
I hear that’s because of their good crops. I’ve used them in cooking a few times, and I have nothing bad to say about them.
That makes me wonder if it’s all right for Eris to go out, but apparently the blessing of the spirit contracted to her will stay unless she’s gone for a long time.
And when Eris says a long time, she’s talking about years, not months. Elves live long lives, so their sense of time is different.
Then again, Eris hasn’t been alive for that long, so maybe that sort of thing is just natural for their race. But Chris isn’t like that, so maybe the environment plays a part?
Eris used to live with demons that have been alive for a long time.
“Sora, Shizune, lunch is ready.”
I turn my head to look, and see the food is already laid on a simple table.
It’s pretty fancy for an outdoor meal.
“It looks tasty.”
“It looks tasty.”
Shizune and I say at the same time, and Elsa and Alto are happy to hear it.
They had trouble cooking outdoors for the first time, but with Mia’s careful guidance, they managed to do it without any problems.
“Let’s talk later, or the food will get cold.”
I say, and Elsa starts eating too.
Hikari and Alto are completely focused on the food, so I’m sure they’re happy with it.
And Shizune can’t take her eyes off them, as they stuff their cheeks like small animals. She really likes kids, uh?
I ask her, and she says she had a big family in our old world, including a brother and sister that were much younger than her. They were about Elsa and Alto’s age.
“Come to think of it, Kotori said you looked after her a lot too.”
And I stop short of saying that I wouldn’t think it from looking at her.
I only remember it vaguely, but I think my first impression of her was that she looked kind of unapproachable.
“Kotori was pretty unreliable for a middle schooler.”
Says Shizune like it’s nothing. I kind of have to agree.
“But Elsa and Alto are incredible, making food this good at that age.”
“It’s because Mia taught us. But Sora’s is much better.”
Elsa says nonchalantly, but Shizune looks like she can’t believe it. And then she quickly turns around to face me.
“Sora, you can cook?”
She looks shocked. Kotori reacted the same way.
But what’s with assuming I can’t do it just because they can’t?
Well, it’s thanks to my skill, so I won’t say anything.
“You’re more of an outdoor type than you look…”
She mumbles.
Mia and the others laugh, but Shizune doesn’t even notice.
It takes us three days to get to Nahal. Shizune gets closer to Elsa and Alto in the meantime, and on the final day, even helps them cook, despite looking pretty dodgy while doing it.
But it makes me feel a little relieved, because it helps break the ice with Mia and the others too.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
Thanks for the treat.