Chapter 236 - Isn't it That my Baths are Cursed?

I stand in the kitchen in place of Lilia-san, who rather than being unable to cook, she has no experience in cooking itself.

First of all, I quickly sliced the meat of the boar, but this seems to be pretty good meat, as I was able to cut it quite well without the knife getting stuck in its tendons.

Lightly sprinkling the sliced meat with salt, I put it aside for a while to let it adjust with the seasoning, and in the meantime, I start preparing the vegetables.

Since I intended to fry them together with the meat, cutting them too small would blur the taste, so I cut the vegetables a little larger and threw them into the pan, starting with the ones that are hard to cook.

While stir-frying the various types of vegetables, mixing them together, I throw in the meat when its time, and the sound of popping oil gives off a fragrant smell in the air.

When the color of the meat changes, its to do the finis.h.i.+ng touches I took out the yakiniku sauce that I bought from a shop and seasoned it a little bit.

This completes the Poor College Students Specialty Cooking: Stir-Fried Meat and Vegetables No, I didnt cut corners in any way at all.

To be clear, improvising with the current ingredients is too difficult for me.. But it should be fine if I fry them all. If I fry it and pour the sauce on it, it should generally be delicious.

After that, I decided to prepare a soup as well since eating just a stir-fry feels too lonely Taking out the soup Sieg-san made for me from my magic box, I nonchalantly transferred it to a bowl.

No, it isnt like Im cutting corners This is just the best option, given the circ.u.mstances. Even if the heavens and earth are turned upside down, theres no way that the soup that I would make, using ingredients Im unfamiliar with, could ever be a match for the delicious soup made by Sieg-san. In fact, it isnt even worth comparing them So, this is a decision based on wanting Lilia-san to eat good food, and it isnt like Im bad at making soup or anything like that, okay?

And while I, a j.a.panese, would like to eat some rice, Lilia-san or rather, the people of this world dont really like rice that much, so Ill just take out some bread here.

Of course, the bread I took out are those delicious ones I bought from a bakery. No, I wont bake bread or anything like that It takes an awful lot of time to bake, and the last time I tried so hard to bake on my own, I created a demonic substance in the form of a black apple pie. Lets just leave the baking to the professionals.

Unnn, I know I was condescendingly saying to leave the cooking to me, but I feel like the only thing Ive made is just the vegetable stir-fry But well, lets just leave the trivial details behind.

O- Of course, what I made may be my specialty, but I dont have all the ingredients I know for making it wasnt on hand By the way, Im really good at making sandwiches and fried eggs. Saying that makes me embarra.s.sed though

[Lilia-san, its ready.]

[Already!? Amazing Kaito-san is an amazing cook huh.]

[..]

She started looking at me with honest, admiring eyes!? Just receiving those looks is impossibly making me feel like running away, you know!? Im sorry, all I did was just the stir-fried meat and vegetables!

Cooking is something that will require practice in the future, but anyway, now that our meal is ready, I sit down at the table with Lilia-san and begin eating.

Lilia-san takes a sip of the soup first, and gives me a lovely smile.

[Its so delicious. Its almost as delicious as the soup our chef made.]

[T- Thats great.]

Im sorry, I didnt make that The person who made that was the one whos a very good cook.

And next, Lilia-san reaches out for the vegetable stir-fry that I made, and seeing that made my anxiousness reach its peak.

This is bad, this is really bad I mean, no matter how I think about it, compared to Sieg-sans soup, my vegetable stir-fry is a few steps inferior in taste.

As a n.o.ble, shes used to eating good food, so it might not be to Lilia-sans taste Its not that I would be troubled if she found out, but even though I was condescendingly said to leave the cooking to me, I feel embarra.s.sed if she knows that I asked for the help of Sieg-sans cooking.

Without realizing my anxiety, Lilia-san brought the fried vegetables to her mouth and tilted her head.

A- As expected, she didnt find it tasty

[U- Ummm, Lilia-san?]

[It has an unusual flavor. Its the first time Ive tasted something like this.]

[Eh?]

[Its a little salty and has deep flavors, but its really dangerous.]

[I- Is that so]

Lilia-san had never had yakiniku befooorreee!? Indeed, there are yakiniku shops in this world, and yakiniku sauce is widespread but Thinking about it, Lilia-san is a former princess and currently a d.u.c.h.ess Shes a full-fledged n.o.ble lady, and what should I say This might be the first time eating something like this whose flavor is being brought by the sauce.

A- At least, it doesnt seem like she dislikes it, as Lilia-san proceeded to eat her meal somewhat happily.

What can I say, unnn I feel relieved.

After finis.h.i.+ng our meal and putting away the dishes, I guess its a good time for me to take a bath.

[Lilia-san, would you like to take a bath first?]

[Eh? A- Ahh, y- yes. I- I- I guess so!?]

[Lilia-san?]

I thought what I said was a very normal thing for me to say to her, but for some reason, Lilia-san looked very fl.u.s.tered and her face was getting redder and redder.

[P- Please wait for a bit. M- My heart isnt ready yet]

[E- Errr Yes?]

Shes just going to take a bath, why does she need to ready her heart?

Not understanding the meaning at all, I tilted my head And with a face so red that it looks like steam is about to come out of her ears, Lilia-san spoke.

[H- How about K- Kaito-san go in first?]

[Eh? Huhh thats fine with me but]

[I- Ill try my best n- n- n- not to keep you waiting..]

[Unnn?]

What is this? I really dont know what Lilia-san is talking about.

Even though Im still wondering why, since she asked me to take a bath first I dont really mind that, so I agreed and quickly got ready.

Meanwhile, Lilia-san looked down with a bright red face and seemed to be mumbling something but when I tried calling out to her, she was so fl.u.s.tered that she couldnt hold a conversation at all.

So, for the time being, I decided to just talk with Lilia-san after she calms down, while I head for the bathroom.

It isnt as large as the one in Lilia-sans mansion, but its large enough for one person to take a bath in. The wooden bathtub has a nice atmosphere, which is very attractive for the j.a.panese me.

Im sure that this wood is different, but it feels just like the bathtub made of cypress wood I bathed in back in Rigfores.h.i.+a How should I say this it feels like a wonderful j.a.panese style bath.

Was.h.i.+ng myself clean, I then soaked in the bathtub and relaxed, stretching my arms and legs.

Ahh, that feels great It feels like lately, I seem to be p.r.o.ne to encountering problems while Im in the bathroom, so I was always feeling fl.u.s.tered while Im taking a bath.

It started with the mixed bath with Isis-san and Kuro In Rigfores.h.i.+a, Rei-san and Fia-san would use all types of strategies just to try and get me and Sieg-san to bathe together And in the Divine Realm, that mixed bath with the four G.o.ddesses.

Well, thinking back on those times again, I dont know how I was able to endure it.

However, in that regard, its Lilia-san who is with me today If its the modest Lilia-san, she wouldnt think of bathing together, even if were lovers already, so I dont need to worry

[U- Ummm, Kaito-san]

[Eh? Lilia-san? Whats the matter?]

As I was thinking about this, for some reason, I heard Lilia-sans voice from the other side of the door.

Asking her back, wondering if she had something urgent to say, a brief of silence pa.s.sed before Lilia-san replied with her voice trembling.

[..I- Im sorry t- to keep you waiting I- Im finally ready]

[Ready? Ummm, Lilia-san What in the world are you]

[E- Excuse my intrusion!]

[Wha!?]

As I was having a bad feeling about the conversation that shows unusual signs around it, the door was opened and Lilia-san appeared, a single towel wrapped around her body.

Eh? What is this? What the heck is happening now?

Dear Mom, Dad The first night at the summer resort with Lilia-san, we finished our meals that were seasoned with a hint of deceit on it, and Im now taking a bath but for some reason, Lilia-san also came inside. I dont really know why, but could it be that it was just as I thought Isnt it that my baths are cursed?

~~ A certain act, in a certain place ~~

L-san: [Listen, My Lady. You have become Miyama-samas lover, but undertaking such a relations.h.i.+p also entails you with things that you must do.]

Naive: [Things that I must do?]

Prankster: Yes, My Lady has never been in a relations.h.i.+p before, so I could understand why My Lady doesnt know about it But this is an act that has always been done between lovers since ancient times.]

Love Experience Zero: [W- What in the world could that be]

Idiot: [Its mixed bathing.]

Innocent: [Mixed bathing Eh? Eeehhhh!?]

Soft-sh.e.l.l Turtle: [I understand your surprise, However, if you dont do this, you cant truly say that the two of you are lovers!]

Moon: [N- No way Is that the case]

Mimidos.h.i.+ma: Yes, all the lovers of the world go through this actions and even deepened their relations.h.i.+ps through this I heard from my mother that she also went through this.]

Pure: [Is that so W- Well then I- I will also]

Devil: [Theres no need to rush but you mustnt let an opportunity escape it presents itself! Its an ordeal youll have to eventually overcome So, when the times comes, bring out your courage!]

Angel: [I- I understand I- I will do my best.]

(T/N: Tsuki to Suppon / The Moon and the Soft-sh.e.l.l Turtle is a phrase that means when someone is as different as day and night. In j.a.pan, the moon is a symbol of beauty, whereas its said that the soft-sh.e.l.l turtle have an ugly face.

Mimidos.h.i.+ma refers to a young woman with a lot of superficial knowledge about s.e.x.)

T/N: 86/237