Chapter 7: Kyrias-kun’s visit to the shop 

　Mr. Henry came to the store with a young boy. This is the first time.

　I bowed to Mr. Henry with a feeling of (thank you for your help last night).

“I brought an acquaintance today.”

“Welcome to the hideaway. Please take any seat you’d like.”

　I greeted the boy with a smile.

　The boy just says “Hi” and looks around the store.

　His wavy golden hair is long and tied with a string. His eyes are blue and he has a beautiful androgynous face. I am not sure of his age. At first glance, he looks like a cute teenage boy, but there’s something very mature about him.

　The two sat down at a table. When I went back to the kitchen to bring them water, I heard the boy’s voice.

“Is this place really good?　Isn’t the owner a little girl?”

“Kyrias-kun, please stop being rude. And keep your voice down. The food here is really good.”

“How many times a week do you come here?”

　As I listened, thinking that he came every day, Mr. Henry looked slightly embarrassed and lowered his voice.

“I come here six times a week. If I could, I would eat dinner here as well, but I finish work late, so I have to put up with it and only have lunch here.”

“Heh. Is that so?　You mean every day?　You must love it so much!”

　The boy’s voice is so loud I can hear him all the way around. Mr. Henry glanced at me, so I smiled at him. Mr. Henry, who is usually expressionless, turned red. I can understand the feeling of being embarrassed to go somewhere every day!

“Kyrias-kun, the pork cutlets here is delicious. They even have a daily special.”

“Henry-san, is that what you’d recommend? Hmmm,  I’ll have it then.”

“Mai-san, I’ll have the daily special and the pork cutlets, please.”

“Certainly, sir.”

　I put two glasses of water on the table and return to the kitchen. Kyrias-kun keeps following me with his eyes.

　Mr. Kyrias, didn’t your parents teach you that it is rude to stare at other people? Besides, Mr. Henry is neatly folding your crumpled coat after you took it off.

　Kyrias finally took his eyes off of me as I began to cook. Mr. Henry is whispering something to him. In the middle of the conversation, Kyrias-kun interrupted him in a loud voice.

“I still don’t think those conditions are right. If we want to get back the 30% we lost, we have to make and deliver a lot of potions and also help with public works. Maybe there are other jobs that could be increased?　If we work so hard, we won’t be able to research magic!　And that’s not getting our budget back in the first place, we’re just getting paid for our work!”

“Kyrias-kun, there is no right answer to this matter that will satisfy everyone.”

　He spoke in a tone like he was talking to a child that just won’t listen. “Good luck, Henry-san.”

“The country has wasted a lot of money, and the military has sent over 10,000 people to find that man. Even we civil servants are taking up a lot of time in addition to our primary duties. Someone has to take responsibility. You guys in the department of magic caused this incident, so you have to take some responsibility, even if you are subordinates.”

“Ka!　Always the model student!　as expected of head civil officer- sama!”

　Really, Henry is the head civil servant?　He certainly seems like an amazing person.

　　I pretend not to hear as I make the katsudon (pork cutlet bowl) and the daily katsu sandwich.

　Lately, I’ve been using magic to warm up the rice that had already been cooked. But now I’m reheating it in a steamer. Because Kyrias-kun seems to be a wizard. He might be able to sense my magic even if he can’t see it.

　I don’t want either him or Mr. Henry to know that I can use magic. I feel that there is nothing good from them knowing.

　Their conversation stopped when I put the cutlet in the oil and the sound of it sizzling began to ring.  Kyrias-kun came over and peeked over the counter at my hand.

 “Heh. Fried food?　Smells good. That’s not pork fat, is it?　It smells different. What kind of oil are you using?”

“It’s a trade secret.”

“Hmph.”

　What I use is rice oil, which, as far as I know, is not available in here in the capital. The rice oil I am using now was magically extracted more than a month ago. I am glad I did not use the one I took out last night. I wonder if he can tell whether I used magic or not even with something that is a month old. Mr. Henry said in a rather grim voice from his seat at the table.

“Kyrias-kun, you’re interfering with Mai-san’s work. Please come back here.”

　Kyrias returned.

　The cutlet sandwiches were coated with mustard sauce and medium thick sauce, sandwiched between leafy greens, and then divided into three equal portions and placed on a plate. When I started the shop, I also made my own Chuno sauce and mustard sauce using transformation magic.

　Once the rice for the pork cutlet bowl was steaming hot, I put it on a deep plate. I put the hot pork cutlet in the onion and soy sauce flavored broth that was simmering at the same time and covered it with a beaten egg. The people in this country don’t like soft-boiled eggs, so I cooked them thoroughly before placing them on top of the white rice.

　The pork cutlet bowl is served with a small bowl of warm vegetables, and the pork cutlet sandwich is served with a small portion of potato salad and warm vegetables. Both were served with consommé soup and placed on a tray and placed them on the counter.

“I’ll carry them out.”

“Oh, thank you.”

　As soon as I placed the food on the counter, Mr. Henry came and took it. He is a kind man with a blank expression, but he is attentive and friendly.

　They begin to eat, and Mr. Kyrias brings a spoonful of pork cutlets to his mouth. I casually watch as he washes the pan, and after taking a bite, he looked at Henry with wide eyes.

　Isn’t it delicious?　Everyone is surprised when they eat it for the first time.

　Henry-san also started eating his cutlet sandwich. This one has already eaten a cutlet sandwich for the first few times, so he is calmly eating it.

“Isn’t it delicious?”

“It’s so good!”

“That’s good. You know, Kyrias, you should be aware that you have a loud voice.”

　Kyrias replied, “Really?　My voice is too loud?” He seemed to be unaware of it. Then he looked at me.

“Miss, this is so good!　The best!　I’m amazed!　The meat is pork, right?　I’ve never had such a delicious pork dish!”

“Thank you.”

　I’m glad you like it. But still, you call me a little girl or a young lady. How old are you?

“What is that white stuff, Henry-san?　Is it potato salad?　I want to try it. Give me a bite. I want to taste it. Wow, this is delicious!　Give me the rest too. Isn’t it okay?　Why not? Huh, you’re surprisingly stingy.”

　　After the two had finished eating, I served them tea. Hot tea for Kyrias-kun. For Mr. Henry, room temperature tea.

　They started talking about work again, with Kyrias complaining and Mr. Henry repeatedly quieting and soothing him. It seems that Mr. Henry is in a middle-management position, caught between a younger employee and his boss.

　What surprised me when I heard the conversation was that the boyish Kyrias was the head of the wizards in the castle. Is he a genius?

“Kyrias, it’s time to go back to the castle.”

“Already?　I want some dessert. I want to eat this “Apple cream pie”. I’ve only ever had meat pies. You can go home first, Henry-san. I’ll stay and eat some apple pie before I go.”

“No, I know the Department of Magic isn’t very strict about time, but let’s go back to work.”

“Excuse me.”

　I called out to him.

“You can take the apple pie home with you, so you can eat it when you get back to the castle.”

“Is that so?　Then, please give me all you have. I want my friends to try them too.”

“I have seven slices, will all of them be okay?”

“Y-Yes, please. Mr. Henry will pay for them.”

　Are you sure?　I looked at Mr. Henry as I thought this, and he nodded with a wry smile. I am sorry for saying something unnecessary.

　I laid out a clean cloth in a shallow wooden box and lined up the apple pie for Mr. Kyrias to see.

“I’ll wrap them in the cloth.”

“No, leave it as it is. Give it to me.”

　Kyrias-kun takes the crate from me and slides his hand across the pie, chanting something  under his breath. Nothing seemed to change, but when he said, “Touch it,” I touched it with my fingertips, and my fingers were intercepted a little above the apple pie. What is this?

“I’ve set up a barrier, so now It’s safe.”

　Mr. Kyrias boasted. Mr. Henry, looking a bit stunned, murmured, “What a waste of your ability.”

　After seeing them off, I sat down in my chair. I was impressed by the magic of “warding” I saw before me. That, depending on how you use it, could be a substitute for plastic wrap, right?　As someone from modern Japan, I can think of countless other uses for it. I love warding magic.

　Okay, let’s give it a try.

　　I searched for barrier magic from my grandmother’s knowledge and practiced it. I’m suddenly very motivated.

　Kyrias-kun has been visiting me frequently since then. Usually accompanied by his wizard friends. He comes at around 11 o’clock and leaves after 12, so he never meets Mr. Henry, who comes to the store at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.

TL Note:

Chūnō sauce: a semi-sweet sauce made from fruit and vegetables

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