Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 10. Blacksmith Village③
Mr. Dolph butchered the duck, and then we lightly seared the bone part, which still had some meat attached, then chopped it into chunks, brought it to a boil in sake and water, discarded the water, added bay leaves, and simmered it again slowly.
After cutting the fatty lean meat into bite-sized pieces, lightly grill it to brown on both sides, then add it to the pot with vegetables such as potatoes and carrots.
The duck meat will release a lot of fat when it is cooked, so use the fat to fry the chopped onions until they are caramelized, then add the butter and sift in the flour. Stir slowly from the bottom of the pan to prevent burning, and when it becomes a creamy paste, add it to the pot along with the olives and herbs.
Standing side by side in the kitchen, Barbara hummed happily as she prepared the side dishes.
When the pot comes to a boil, rock salt is added to taste, and after simmering for about an hour, the dish is removed from the heat and allowed to cool. It tastes strangely better when you let it cool and reheat it before eating than when it is freshly made.
It had been a long time since I stood in the kitchen or cooked for someone, but I enjoyed it so much that I almost sang along with Barbara.
……, …But on the other hand, a heavy atmosphere hangs over the table in the living room connected to the kitchen.
Mr. Dolph, with his arms folded and a stern expression on his face, and Mr. Gilbert, tall and well-postured but with cowering shoulders and a small frame, sit facing each other.
“Gilbert, as I told you this morning, if you use some auxiliary fittings, you can certainly use your trained core to turn the axe into one that is powerful enough even with your injured dominant arm. A battle-axe is much rougher to handle than a sword.”
Mr. Dolph, in an unusually low voice, sips his tea and looks Mr. Gilbert in the eye as he speaks.
“But, it’s not as maneuverable as a sword, and it’s not good for defense either. It swings broadly and is slow in movement, so even though It’s powerful enough to fight against demon beasts, it leaves plenty of openings. Do you want to die?”
Gilbert was silent for a while, with a bitter look on his face, then shook his head.
“Don’t be stupid,……, I wouldn’t want that either.”
The voice that answered was low and squeezed out, a little hoarse, and it sounded as if he was suppressing a pot of emotions.
Silence fell again, and Mr. Dolph closed his eyes and thought for a while, stroking his beard with one hand.
Then he opened his eyes, looked at Gilbert’s face, exhaled a long, long breath, and sat up.
“Barbara, when we’re done having dinner, get ready to travel.”
“Yes!”
Barbara’s cheerful, all-knowing reply rang out through the room.
“Huh?! Wh, what, what do you mean…”
Gilbert looked up with a start and voiced his bewilderment.
“Those support fittings were not designed for long-term use. They need to be repaired regularly. And if we want to modify it for a better defense, we need to know what we’re fighting against.”
Gilbert’s eyes widened and he seemed to be at a loss for words.
Then Mr. Dolph turned to me, who was standing in the kitchen watching what was going on, and smiled.
“That’s right, Flora-chan, do you have somewhere to be after this? If it’s okay with you, then…”
“Hey, hold on, old man!”
While Gilbert is in the midst of a whirlwind of anxiety and confusion, Dolph smiles as if he has just pulled off a bit of a tease.
“As you can see, Barbara and I are old folks on a long trip, and we need someone to take care of us. Would you like to work for us?”
I was so surprised by this sudden offer that I froze with my eyes wide open.
But the truth is that I had not yet thought about what I would do after stopping by this village.
The Kadira territory where I was born was poor, and there were few jobs available for women to support themselves, so I was hesitant to return home and worried about the burden it would place on my uncle.
–And perhaps It was a reaction to being called a “useless wife who can’t do anything,” but I felt a rebellious fire in my heart that made me want to find something, even if it’s a small thing, that I can do.
“Please let me join you!”
I felt my body temperature rise a little as I spoke out boldly.
“Wait, wait, wait, hold on a second, do you know where we’re going…? It’s dangerous. I can’t get you guys, and even Flora, involved.”
In response to Gilbert’s voice, which was thick with impatience, Dolph smiled brightly.
“Gilbert, you said it yourself earlier, remember? ‘I want the people I care about to be safe,’ right?”
Mr. Gilbert nodded his head in agreement and frowned.
“So don’t worry. I’ll be nearest to the battlefield where you are, the safest place I can be. And Barbara and Flora, of course.”
Dolf laughed heartily as he proudly declared.
Gilbert was stunned to hear that, and stood there with his mouth open.
Then, his troubled expression gradually relaxed and he muttered with a half smile.
“Well, I don’t deny that you’re important …… but ………… to say it yourself…? …?”