Chapter 10: Grandfather’s legacy(5).
With a jubilant heart, I headed to the market.
“Bread for today. Flour, eggs, butter, spices, and beans… I need to stock up on essentials. And what should I make for dinner tonight?”
The Magic Bag, a wondrous magical device, never bulged or grew heavy no matter how much I put in. Eggs wouldn’t break inside. Truly, a marvelous and convenient item.
I had savings from a year of Middle and High Heal Potion payments.
I could buy whatever I wanted. These weren’t frivolous purchases but necessities for my new life.
Strolling through the lively market, I saw fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs, but those were already abundant in the Farm Utopia, so I didn’t need them. What I needed were meat, fish, beans, and grains.
I bought flour, eggs, butter, and spices as I spotted them, ordering one after another. I didn’t forget bread, the staple.
Once that was done, my eyes caught fresh, plump shrimp. Nearby hung butchered chicken, pork, and beef, and farther back, a cheese stall displayed an array of cheeses.
An idea struck me.
“For an appetizer, shrimp and white mold cheese with turnip marinade. For the main, chicken with a fresh salsa sauce. And for dessert, a fruit punch with sweet cider!”
It’s a celebration of my confirmed divorce, so I want a full course, dessert included!
I’d made this menu in my past life. The Cait Siths would surely be amazed when I served it.
Decision made, I quickly ordered and bought the ingredients.
Shopping done, I looked forward to cooking and eating together, heading home with a spring in my step.
As I walked, I brushed past a tall, dark figure and turned back, distracted.
His striking physique and silver hair, glimmering in the sunlight beneath black armor, caught my eye.
—An adventurer?
In that moment of captivation, the ribbon tying my ponytail caught on his armor and came undone, fluttering to the ground.
“Oh!”
He noticed first, gently tapping my shoulder.
“Sorry. I bumped into you, and it fell. Hold on, I’ll pick it up.”
He crouched to retrieve the ribbon.
“Thank you.”
“No, my fault. Sorry about that.”
His left face was sharp and beautiful, but his right eye was covered by a large eyepatch. His refined manners hinted at good breeding. He was an striking, slightly unbalanced figure.
“Oh, sorry. This face must be scary.”
He placed the ribbon in my hand, turned, and hurriedly walked away.
“…A strange person.”
He left an impression.
But in this vast capital, living in my hidden retreat on the outskirts with one person and two Cait Siths, I wouldn’t see him again.
Dismissing the encounter, I headed home.
“I’m back!”
I called out, turning the doorknob to open the retreat’s door.
“Welcome back, nya!”
Cain, the retreat’s caretaker, greeted me. Overjoyed at my return, I patted his head.
Abel was nowhere in sight. He was likely tending to the Farm Utopia. I made a mental note to call him later when picking tomatoes or herbs.
I went to the kitchen, sorting my purchases into the Cold Storage and Dry Storage.
“Shall I start cooking…? Oh, I might be a bit tired from all the walking.”
Muttering this, I saw Cain squint and toddle toward the kitchen.
“Christina-nya works too hard, nya. Take a break, nya. Sit at the table, nya.”
Turning his back, he pulled out a stool, stood on it, and started preparing tea. Soon, a fragrant aroma filled the room.
Following his advice, I sat at the living room table.
“A herbal tea for fatigue, nya. Hibiscus, marigold, and rosehip from the Farm Utopia, nya.”
Cain set a cup before me with a clink.
The slightly tart hibiscus scent wafted up. I blew on it and took a sip.
“Oh, it’s sweet. Hibiscus, but so easy to drink.”
“Hibiscus is sour, so I added honey, nya. Farm Utopia honey, thanks to Abel, nya.”
“I see. Thank you.”
Savoring Cain’s kindness, I sipped the warm herbal tea slowly.
—I might be too impatient.
Rushing to the registry, shopping, then cooking—I might’ve overdone it. Now that I’ve settled in the retreat, I should take it easy. Cain’s right.
I enjoyed the tea slowly.
Then, I turned my thoughts to preparing dinner.