“Mumu…… why’s it not working?”
I’m striking the flintstones against each other with all I have, but the firework-like sparks are showing absolutely no sign of catching onto the firewood.
“Wait, no. I’m not supposed to directly set fire to firewood, but something easier to burn, right? Where are the newspapers, newspapers~”
Yep, of course there aren’t any around.
“...... Uun. I guess when compared to j.a.pan, this is really inconvenient.”
After living a few decades by myself, I thought myself sufficiently proficient at cooking and housework, but clearly that was only in the environment of modern j.a.pan. And come to think of it, previously my meals and baths and other housework have all been taken care of by Mora or the servants of the knights.
In this world, there are no supermarkets nor convenience stores where fresh vegetables and meats are all lined up. This is all the more true for this fort, which doesn’t even have any other humans nearby.
Right now, I am so ashamed of the me that had forgotten all this and gotten conceited by himself.
Alright, let’s calm down a bit and mentally review this fort’s layout. The facilities that I can confirm at the moment are as follows.
Main Tower
Bas.e.m.e.nt 1: Storeroom, Armory, Wine Cellar
1st Floor: Hall (audience hall c.u.m dining hall)
2nd Floor: Command Room, Reference Room, Guest Room
3rd Floor: Bedroom, Library, Treasure Vault
Rooftop: Lookout
Residence Hall (2-story building)
Single room for knights: 5 rooms
Small room for attendants: 5 rooms
Large room for soldiers: 2 rooms
Room for servants: 3 rooms
Kitchen
Small Dining Room
Food Storage, Storeroom (Underground)
Sleeping Equipment & Clothes Storage
Dungeon (next to the hall)
Interior Courtyard
Stable, Livestock Pen, Chicken Coop
Well (laundry area)
Small Workshop
Castle Gate & Defense Towers
Back when the knights were stationed here, their numbers were clearly over the capacity. By my estimates, this fort should be able to hold about 50 people in all, with that number inclusive of knights and soldiers and servants.
Can a single person take care of all the cleaning and repairs for a place of this scale? The answer is ‘no.’ Well, I guess I have the option of spending several months building up a force of servants with my wizardry.
That is strange, does it mean that those magicians and sages living alone in their towers did all their housework and laundry by themselves?
………… This might be a bit late to say, but it may have been rash of me to accept the fort.
♥♦♣♠
“...... But before anything else, we need to do something about tonight’s dinner……”
I’ve reflected, but the situation remains unchanged. My gaze sweeps over the kitchen that now looks several degrees more dreary than when I’d entered (which is of course just my imagination).
Inside my sling I find, according to Gio’s character sheet, ration food such as dried meat, dried fruits, beans, and bread. For starters, I take them all out and line them up on the preparation table.
“What am I supposed to do with any of this……?”
Aside from cutting and roasting the meat, no other cooking method comes to mind. But I can’t get a fire started. I have spells that can give me lots of fire, enough to blow up more than just this kitchen, but unfortunately my spellbook does not have a convenient spell for getting mere firewood to burn.
Otherwise, all I can do is just cut everything up and eat them as is……
Seriously, what the heck. Have I ever felt this exhausted since coming to this world? How pathetic I’ve become.
“I thought this would be the case.”
Standing in the doorway of the kitchen is Claura, with a face of wry exasperation. Not that I don’t understand her reaction.
“Hahaha…… it appears that a mancave might be a bit too high level for me……”
“Cave? ......I thought that there was no way you knew how to cook, and it turns out I’m right.”
“How embarra.s.sing…… But now that things have become like this, I’m thankful that you"ve come along.”
“? What do you mean?”
“I mean like how women are more reliable in matters like this. Like I’m very sorry, but can you please make something for us?”
“Eh?”
“Eh?”
♥♦♣♠
In conclusion, we somehow made do with my magic item for that day’s dinner.
When we returned to the main tower’s hall, I spread a tablecloth on top of the table. After chanting “Dinner, 2 portions, warm,” the magic item Dinner Cloth displayed its ability.
First, 2 sets of plates, bowls, gla.s.ses, knives, forks, and spoons appeared on top of the cloth. Next, food appears: thick steak and accompanying salad on the plates, corn soup in the bowls, and wine in the gla.s.ses.
The fireplace was started with a small fire arrow courtesy of Claura.
“......Is this an item made with wizardry?”
“Umu……”
It is an item that creates food for maximum 4 people 3 times a day. This time, I really didn’t want to resort to using this item, but such pride means absolutely nothing in the face of hunger. We sat across each other and just thankfully ate the food.
♥♦♣♠
“This is good enough to almost make me doubt it was made by a magic item.”
“Thanks, I guess.”
She offers her evaluation while cla.s.sily eating the steak with her knife and fork. But apparently displeased with my vague response, her shapely eyebrows shoot up.
“With magic, we can make a similar item, I’ll have you know. But still…… why did you not just use this item in the first place?”
I already know that though.
“...... Men are creatures who must at times do pointless things……”
“It was almost the most pointless way I’ve wasted time.”
“...... Yes, you’re right. When we still have to start looking into anki as soon as possible too.”
Claura did bear with my incomprehensible selfishness, so I can afford to listen to a complaint or two from her. But what she says next was completely unexpected.
“With that said, seeing you in such a state also gives me rea.s.surance.”
“Rea.s.surance?”
Tilting her gla.s.s back and sipping some of the wine, Claura shows me a slightly gentle smile.
“Although it was us who told you to be more hero-like…… From when we first met you till now, you"ve been too hero-like.”
“...... What do you mean?”
“Like a proper hero, you’ve only done the right thing, that’s what I mean. But actions that are too righteous can end up hurting people too…… both yourself and others.”
A threat against humans the scale of anki exists, while I possess the power to oppose it. Which is why I did what I did……
“Anyway, your actions this time were truly pointless and meaningless. That, in this world, is what we call ‘being human’.”
“......”
Oi oi, to think that I am learning something from a life lesson being given to me by a girl more than 20 years younger than myself……
For a second, I nearly tear up.
“It might sound presumptuous for the daughter of an earl to offer you advice, but if you wish to keep this castle in a state conducive for people to live in, I believe you will need a minimum of 3 servants and a steward. When we reach Lelis, shall we spend some time looking?”
To receive not just a life lesson, but also life planning advice……
“But of course, before any of that, you will be appearing before the Magician Guild, understood?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
(T/N: All along, when Claura mentions bringing Gio to the Magician Guild, she uses the word 出頭, which can mean either “show up / appear” or “turn yourself in (ie. to the police)”. I believe her word choice is on purpose.)