I let out a sigh, watching Medea shuffle about the kitchen. She moved utensils from one spot to another, staring blankly at the uncut meat and vegetables before her.
Artoria peeked at her from a nearby sofa.
I had grounded both of them, but Medea had pleaded for a chance to impress me with a home-cooked meal.
It was logical, so I accepted.
What was not logical, however, was her proposal to cook despite not knowing how to. At all.
"Fuyuki Daily: Breaking News! Breaking News!"
A live broadcast from the TV shattered my line of thought.
"Late this evening, a truck carrying a shipment of gas cylinders developed a leak and combusted near the underdeveloped woods at Fuyuki's edge."
"The driver survived with moderately severe burns, but this incident has left us Fuyuki citizens wondering..."
"Are the gas companies of Fuyuki even doing their jobs properly? They keep repeating the same excuse—that their complaint box is always full of false allegations."
"Come on, chant with me..."
"Boycott the Gas Leaks! Boycott the Fuyuki Gas Company!"
Chanting erupted from behind the anchor.
"Boycott the Gas Leaks! Boycott the Fuyuki Gas Company!"
So... this was how they chose to explain away what happened earlier.
A single eyebrow rose in response.
And people were actually buying it. Boring.
"Master... They say this happened near where we were fighting earlier. Could our fight have affected the truck, causing it to explode?" Artoria questioned, her tone conflicted.
I rose from my chair at the dining table and walked over to sit beside her, my injured arm secured in a makeshift sling.
"It's nothing that serious. Those who don't want this war exposed to the public are using this as cover." My tone remained flat.
"I... see." A held breath escaped her, her shoulders relaxing imperceptibly.
Crash.
Both our eyes snapped toward the sound simultaneously. A plate had slipped from Medea's grasp, shattering against the floor.
I looked at the flustered Medea, then at her hand, which now bore a small cut. Wordlessly, I rose and walked into the kitchen.
"M-Master, you're injured... I can handle this." Medea spoke while scrambling to gather the shattered ceramic.
"Both of you. Backyard. Now." My hand opened a drawer and pulled something from inside.
Medea hung her head low as she walked out toward the backyard. Artoria followed, shooting Medea a blaming glance.
...
..
.
A brisk wind swept across the backyard, damp grass still dark from the recent rain.
"Caster, why do you think Master told us to stand in the backyard? Are we about to be scolded?" Artoria asked, fidgeting slightly, uncomfortable with the silence.
"I don't know. Maybe..." Medea looked down at her feet, her pointed ears drooping.
Both of them braced for a scolding.
However...
I walked out from inside, carrying a cooking grill with my good arm, casual as anything.
Artoria and Medea stood dumbfounded as their expectations shattered against reality.
"Hm? What are you both standing around for? Help me set this down." I looked at them, still frozen in place.
Artoria snapped out of it first, taking the grill from my arm. Medea took the bag of ingredients from my hand.
"Master, is it wise for you to cook with your arm like that?" Artoria asked after setting the grill down, her eyes drifting to my sling.
"I can make the best food even with one arm." My reply carried no boast or pride. It was simply a fact.
"Now, Artoria, bring an outdoor table from inside. Medea, bring some chairs with her." I spoke while pulling out a can of charcoal lighter fluid, giving it a precise shake.
Two sprays, and the grill bed was evenly coated.
I brought my gloved hand closer to the grill. A magic circle on its back flashed just as I snapped my fingers.
Embers ignited with the snap, kissed the charcoal below, and blazed into full flame within seconds.
I let it rest for a moment, then reached into the bag for generous cuts of raw meat, chicken, and cheese.
They were soon laid out to the side in a uniform line.
I pointed my finger toward them. [Wind Blade] activated, sheathing my finger in compressed, invisible air.
Slice. Dice. Chop.
With that invisible extension, I cut every ingredient into perfect proportions.
I then combined them into a marinade, prepared on the spot.
By now, Artoria and Medea had already set up the table and chairs behind me.
A single glance confirmed they were watching my motions with fascinated expressions.
"Master, you merged your magecraft with cooking?" Medea couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer.
Meanwhile, Artoria beside her was having an existential crisis.
"Using something similar to Invisible Air... to cut meat and vegetables?"
Artoria looked like she'd been stabbed.
"Is it something out of the ordinary? It's quite simple." I answered Medea mid-work, my voice casual.
"Master, every other mage would probably have a heart attack if they saw you use your talent for magecraft on something like cooking." Medea wore a wry smile, already accustomed to my behavior.
"Does it matter what other mages say? I don't care. Why would I care for people whose every action, every choice, and even death would be known to me with a single glance?"
That made both of them fall silent.
I continued, skewering the ingredients and setting them on grill.
The coals were too slow. [Triple Accel] activated as a boundary field slowly enveloped my skin, pushing my time to move three times as fast.
This time, I didn't stop. I extended my boundary field further, letting it swallow the skewers in its effect.
... Everything froze for a moment. It felt as though my surroundings buckled inward, the air turning heavier than concrete. Gravity increased exponentially—it felt as though I could be crushed at any second.
This was a warning. From the world itself. If I tried to push my boundary field any further, it would oppose me.
I looked up toward the sky.
Embers of green flickered within my blank crimson eyes, yet... I wouldn't realize it until much later.
I held that gaze for exactly three seconds.
Then lowered it.
Not... yet.
Silence fell.
The skewers were done.
...
..
.
"Master, it's—sho good." Medea's composure had completely abandoned her between bites.
"Nom... Nom... Nom..." Artoria was too busy stuffing her face to pay attention to anything around her.
"Master... Nom... You're the best." Words like these slipped out between mouthfuls.
I watched them tear through my cooking with gusto while taking a bite of my own.
Better.
...
..
.
I was packing the leftover ingredients while Artoria had already taken the grill back inside.
Medea stood beside me, helping.
Mid-work... she spoke.
"Master~"
"Hm?"
I tilted my head toward her.
She tiptoed beside me and pecked my cheek.
Then bolted, her face burning an atomic red.
Not forgetting to call back—
"Thank you for the meal~"
I was left alone in the backyard.
My hand coming to rest on my cheek where she had pecked.
...
..
.
***
[200 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter]
[5 chapters ahead on P@tr3on = [email protected]/Not_Aaryan]
...
The green eye colour context. - So, why green embers?Those who know Danganronpa will understand instantly. But I'm here for those who haven't watched it. Before the Hope's Peak surgery where Izuru lost his emotions, he went by another identity and name... Hajime Hinata.
Hajime had light green eyes which had turned into Izuru's blank crimson after surgery.
...
[Authors Thoughts]
It looks like Izuru has more rizz than our boy Bell? Does it seem so?