“Yo.. kkoisyo, tto,” I grunt.
It’s been a while since I received a direct consultation from Alexia.
I finished my training in the knight order safely today and moved from my workplace, the government headquarters, to my house. Potatoes were cheap at the market in the Western District on the way home, so I’m in the process of making a stewed dish for dinner today.
Potatoes are good. It’s delicious, cheap, and filling. The more you simmer it, the softer it becomes and the more the flavor permeates, making it a versatile ingredient.
If it’s just me, I can cook for myself and go out to bars in town, but I’m not the only one living now. I think you have to show your backbone properly even in a place like this. Well, I’ve never seen Pops cook properly.
“Now, then, let’s make it delicious,” I hum.
I put the potatoes and the leftover meat into the pot, and then remove the scum while watching it boil.
Recently, I feel like I’m muttering to myself more often when I’m working alone. I can swing my sword silently, but I wonder what’s different. It’s a little strange.
In the past, I wasn’t very proactive about cooking by myself, but it’s funny how I don’t mind at all when I think of Miu coming home hungry. I wonder if she was cooking with this kind of feeling in her mind.
After the summer vacation at the Magician’s Academy ended, basically, if there was nothing else to do, I would go home earlier than Miu. This is because the instruction is generally finished in the morning, while the academy has classes until the afternoon.
So, on weekdays, I often prepare meals. Conversely, since the Magician’s Academy is closed on weekends, Miu often does all the housework.
Except for the preparation of the food, there is no particular schedule of chores. Whether it’s cleaning or doing the laundry, I’m currently doing it in a style that each person does when they feel like it.
By the way, unexpectedly, Miu likes things to look nice. She doesn’t like being tidy, she’s the type who doesn’t mind cleaning. So she doesn’t mind if she throws off her academy uniform somewhere when she changes out of it, but she seems to move her hands naturally when trash and dust accumulate in her room.
If that’s the case, I’d like her to fold her uniform neatly, but it seems that it’s in a slightly different area around that part.
Miu doesn’t have a lot of material desires, and she doesn’t have any luxury items in particular, so she doesn’t have much to clean. So she doesn’t increase her garbage and have to clean it up more, but doesn’t tidy up what is there. It was a type that was hard to scold.
“I’m home……” Miu said.
“Welcome back,” I said.
As I was stirring the pot while thinking about such things, the princess came home. Most importantly, she seems to have no resistance to saying “I’m home.” now.
“Hmm? Did you get hurt anywhere?” I asked.
I thought it was a normal day, but today it seems to be a little different.
I don’t feel like her limbs are hurt, but the way she carries her body is strange. It doesn’t look like it’s the lower half of the body, such as the waist, because she doesn’t walk to protect it. I wonder if she’s hungry because she can’t stand up straight.
Although there is no hindrance to walking, the pain prevents her from carrying her body normally. In that case, I feel like her back or shoulders or some other area is damaged.
“… You knew?” Miu asked, looking genuinely surprised.
“I knew,” I replied.
If this was someone I met for the first time, I might not have understood it, but I have been living with Miu for a short time. If there is any discomfort, I notice it immediately.
“… It’s not a big deal. I just got beaten by Cindy in a duel,” Miu said.
While saying that, she spreads out the collar of her uniform.
Oh, she has a pretty flashy bruise around her shoulder. I don’t think her bones are broken, but even so, it should be quite painful for Miu.
Listening to the explanation, it feels like she got a good hit during the Sword Magic Department’s lecture.
Since Miu is agile, an amateur would have a hard time trying to hit her with a wooden sword. It’s good that not only Miu’s, but also Cindy’s sword skills are improving. I would like to see them continue to work hard together.
“I see… Do you want to use a potion?” I asked.
“…… I need it,” Miu said.
“Got it,” I said.
At least I wouldn’t be surprised if it was an injury of this magnitude. It is the end of the matter after taking the appropriate measures as was possible. I took out the potion bottle that was always on the shelf and handed it over to Miu.
Well, the one I have at home is the cheapest one, made from medicinal herbs. Even so, the recovery speed is quite different just by soaking it into the skin. I’m also very indebted to this thing.
Since I decided to learn the sword, injuries will always follow me. It is absolutely impossible to finish the life of the sword without being injured. Even I have bruises, scrapes, and cuts on a daily basis, and I have broken bones quite often.
Of course, the magnitude should be determined by the supervisors, but if you know it’s small, you don’t have to worry too much.
Since Thyssel, who was supposed to be the supervisor, also let her go home like this, she probably decided that it wouldn’t be a big deal. From my point of view, it doesn’t look like a serious injury, so I don’t think that judgment is wrong.
And, the fact that Miu herself doesn’t really like being taken care of is also a big factor. You think this should be when she cries or when her heart is broken and you should be there for her, but it’s not, it’s better if you leave her be.
I’m usually worried about something, but when it comes to swordsmanship, I wonder why it suddenly becomes so dry. Is this also the result of Pop’s blood and his education of me?
“Uu… it hurts…”
“Are you okay? Do you want to rest until dinner?”
“Nn… I’m fine.”
Miu groaned as she scooped up the potion’s liquid in her hand and threw it on her shoulder.
Well, being able to recognize the pain’s source well means that she’s also firmly lucid. I’m just suggesting that it might be better to sleep until the pain subsides.
I’m really used to this thing. It’s not good to get used to the pain too much because it can lead to serious injuries, but it’s also a problem if a small injury stops you from moving.
“You should drink the rest,” I said. “It heals differently then.”
“… Understood. Ueh…”
Putting the leftover potion in her mouth, Miu made a sour face. As you might know, potions are bitter. The one that is extracted from medicinal herbs spreads the taste of the grasses in your mouth, giving it an indescribable flavor.
Around here, I wonder if potions made with magic taste better. I am a little concerned.
“Oh, right. I have something to tell you,” I said.
“What?”
She won’t be able to relax until the potion works and the pain subsides, so let’s talk about it now. If I think about this kind of thing as a bad opportunity for her, she will inevitably be left behind. Especially this time it’s a case that can’t be postponed, so it’s better to move early.
“It looks like I’ll be accompanying the knights on an expedition. I think I’ll be away from home for the next month,” I said.
“…… I see,” Miu replied.
I will hide information such as how the royal family is involved and how other countries are likely to be involved. There’s no need for her to tell Miu, and it would be a problem if she were to be in danger.
So I decided to just give her the gist of it. I’m not lying and I’m telling the truth, so there’s nothing wrong with that.
“As you might have guessed, I can’t bring you with me, Miu,” I said. “I’m thinking of getting Lucy to take care of you while I’m gone.”
“Nn… I got it.”
At my suggestion, Miu nodded unexpectedly.
Compared to when I first met her, I think she’s become a lot more obedient. Of course, compared to other girls of the same age, she still has a lot of thorns, but when you think about it from when she was yelling in protest, it’s a huge difference.
At first, she had a personality that could be described as having a difficult temper, but now she has calmed down to the extent that this curtness can be said to be her personality.
It’s not like I’m doing my best, but I feel like I haven’t failed in terms of education so far. Enrolling her in the Magician’s Academy must have been a good boost. I just hope that she will continue to grow steadily both physically and mentally.
“Even if it’s just me, I’ll do something about it,” Miu said.
“Just in case, just in case,” I said. “I’ll be in trouble if anything happens to you.”
“…… Fuhn.”
After all, she said that it was okay to be alone. This is completely within the scope of expectations.
But even so, I can’t leave her alone for a long period of time without someone to rely on, so let’s take it easy. But well, looking at the current situation, it really seems to be okay, so it doesn’t really seem to have any meaning beyond just in case.
