Chapter 10: The Blacksmiths’ Village (3)

　Dolph butchered the duck for me. I lightly seared the bones with some meat still clinging to them, chopped them into pieces, and brought them to a boil in liquor and water. After discarding that water, I added bay leaves and slowly simmered the bones again.

　I cut the fatty red meat into bite-sized pieces, lightly browned both sides, and added it to the pot with potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables.

　Cooking duck released plenty of fat. I used it to fry chopped onions until caramelized, then added butter and sifted in flour. Once the mixture became a creamy paste, I added it to the pot with olives and herbs, stirring slowly from the bottom so it wouldn’t burn.

　Beside me in the kitchen, Barbara hummed happily as she prepared the side dishes.

　Once the pot came to a boil, I seasoned it with rock salt and simmered it for approximately an hour. Then I removed it from the heat and let it cool. Strangely, it tasted better reheated before the meal than it did immediately after cooking.

　It had been a long time since I stood in a kitchen or cooked for anyone, but I enjoyed myself so much that Barbara nearly had me singing along.

　Meanwhile, however, a heavy atmosphere hung over the table in the adjoining living room.

　Dolph sat with his arms folded and a stern expression, facing Gilbert. Despite his height and normally excellent posture, Gilbert had hunched his shoulders and made himself small.

“Gilbert, as I told you this morning, auxiliary fittings can let you use your trained core to produce enough force with an axe despite your injured dominant arm. A battle-axe requires less delicate handling than a sword.”

　Speaking in an unusually low voice, Dolph took a sip of tea and looked Gilbert in the eye.

“But it isn’t as maneuverable as a sword, and it’s poorly suited to defense. Its wide, slow swings may have enough force to fight beasts, but they leave you exposed. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

　Gilbert remained silent for a while, his expression bitter, before shaking his head.

“Don’t be ridiculous… He wouldn’t want that either.”

　His low, hoarse reply sounded squeezed out, as though he were suppressing a flood of emotion.

　Silence fell again. Dolph closed his eyes and pondered while stroking his beard with one hand.

　At last, he opened his eyes, looked at Gilbert, released a long breath, and rose.

“Barbara, after dinner, prepare for a journey.”

“Yes!”

　Barbara’s bright reply, as though she understood everything, rang through the room.

“What?! Wh-what do you mean?”

　Gilbert jerked his head up and cried out in bewilderment.

“Those auxiliary fittings weren’t designed for an extended battle. They’ll need regular repairs. And if I’m to improve the defenses, I need to know what you’ll be fighting.”

　Gilbert’s eyes widened, and he seemed to lose the power of speech.

　Then Dolph turned toward me, watching from the kitchen, and grinned.

“That reminds me, Flora. Do you have anywhere to go after this? If you’d like…”

“Hey, hold on, old man!”

　Ignoring Gilbert’s anxiety and confusion, Dolph smiled as though he had thought of a delightful prank.

“As you can see, Barbara and I are old people setting out on a long journey. We need someone to look after us. Would you like to work for us?”

　The sudden offer surprised me so much that I froze, wide-eyed.

　The truth was that I hadn’t yet considered what I would do after visiting the village.

　The Kadira territory where I was born was poor, with almost no work through which a woman could support herself. I hesitated to return and burden my uncle.

　—Perhaps it was a reaction to being called “a useless wife who can do nothing,” but a defiant spark had appeared within me. I wanted to find something I could do, no matter how small.

“Please let me accompany you!”

　After boldly saying it aloud, I felt a little warmth return to my body.

“Wait, wait, wait! Do you even understand where we’re going? It’s dangerous. I can’t involve you two—much less Flora.”

　Dolph answered Gilbert’s increasingly frantic voice with a radiant smile.

“Gilbert, you said it yourself earlier, didn’t you? ‘You want the people you cherish to remain somewhere safe.’”

　Gilbert nodded, confirming that he had, and frowned.

“So don’t worry. I’ll be in the safest place nearest the battlefield where you’re—and Barbara and Flora will be there with me.”

　Dolph proudly made his declaration and laughed heartily.

　Gilbert stared in astonishment, his mouth hanging open.

　Then his deeply troubled expression gradually softened, and he muttered with a crooked smile.

“Well, I won’t deny that you’re important to me… but do you have to say it yourself?”

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