But before I fried the meat, I had to shape it. I did so now, molding it into palm-sized patties. Once I had them in the right shape, I beat each one a few times to get as much air out of it as possible. Having too much air in the patties could also make them crack during the frying process. But since the recipe required them to have at least some air, I was basically punching the meat down without making it completely flat.
I made two large patties for Dad and Renge. I started by frying them over a small fire. I made sure to use lots of oil, since the meat sucks it in. I waited until the patties changed color until halfway through, then flipped them. I waited until the other side also changed color and then turned the fire up until the meat became fully, properly grilled. Once it was, there was no need to cook it over a small fire for much longer. Then I plated the meat.
I moved the meat juice mixed with the oil into a smaller cold pot and added ground dekon (daikon radish) and soy sauce I’d made from dajeez beans and ground carrots to create Japanese-style sauce.
Lastly, I added some sage leaves atop the soup for garnish and it was all done. I’d have liked to have served them fried potetos too. But I figured Renge and Dad would be drinking later, so I didn’t want them to be too full. I also poured out some oniun soup I made for lunch into bowls and quickly made a basket of baguettes, as well.
“Finished!” I said in triumph and turned to Air. “Ummm, I have to go deliver this to my dad and Renge. Would you mind waiting a minute?”
“Oh, that’s all right. After all, I’ve made it so only you can see and hear me.”
“O-Oh, right…”
I wondered why neither of them had come over while I was talking to Air. But there it is…I guess being a god does let you get away with doing whatever you want.
“Ummm, should I keep the fact you’re here a secret?” I asked Air.
“Oh no, it doesn’t really matter,” he said. “But I would like Renge to start working on his deification. Could you let him know I expect him to start training?”
“Y-Yes, of course…”
Deification? What’s that? Is Renge going to have to train to get stronger?
I placed the plates with the steaks and eating utensils on a tray with the soup bowls, which I carried to the table. I then brought the breadbasket and dinner was served!
“Sorry I kept you waiting, good sirs,” I said. “Here are your Hamburg steaks. I could make some fresh bread if you’d like, though that will take me awhile to make. What do you say?”
Yes, they were my family, but in the dining hall, I treated them like customers (out of habit, I suppose). Dad replied to my polite customer service speak with an enthusiastic “Fresh bread sounds great!”
I already had the dough prepared, so all I’d have to do was set it in the oven. “Then wait forty minutes, please,” I smiled. “I’ll bring you your drinks once you’re done eating!”
“Ooh, looking forward to that already!” Dad grinned.
“Don’t drink too much, though,” Renge chided him. “You become reckless when you’re drunk.”
“Ughhh…” Dad rolled his eyes mockingly.
He’s referring to the way Dad proposed to Lico, I thought as I watched them start eating. Did they even make any progress on that? I guess they’re both pretty busy…
Lico had told me in a letter that she was close to quitting her job as a knight and State Alchemist. But she had her hands full preparing her successor. She was a De Marl noble, after all. And since she was both divorced and not getting any younger, she was getting political marriage offers all the time.
Since she was such a talented alchemical apothecary and a knight, De Marl was hesitant to let a noble like her go. But Lico was determined to retire. Still, the question remains: what’s she going to do after that? Will she marry Dad? And if so, will she move to the Rofola Lodge or here to Deshmel?
I had every intention of going back home. But I had to admit that Deshmel’s location as the world’s navel made it very alluring as far as trade centers went. I could get so many ingredients easily that were hard to find back in Rofola.
I haven’t thought about it really, since me going home isn’t on the table just yet, I considered as I turned around to go back to the kitchen. But as the number of monsters goes down, and if the shopping block takes off, Fort Deshmel could become an even bigger trade spot. In which case…we could build a second Rofola Lodge right here…
“Oh, right, Tina,” Dad said suddenly. “I have something important to talk to you about. Can we talk later, after dinner?”
“Hm?” I snapped to attention. “Oh yes, all right.”
Is he going to talk to me about Lico?! Oh, wait…!
“Um, actually, Renge…there’s something I need to tell you,” I said, suddenly remembering Air’s message.
“Huh…? Right now?” Renge asked, a little annoyed at being interrupted while eating.
“Air came here. He said he wants you to start training for, um…deification?” I relayed.
“What?!” Renge instantly went pale, jumped to his feet, and looked around. “Air’s here?” he cried. “He came here? Where is he?! Why do you hide yourself from me, Air?!”
It seemed even Renge, with all his powers, couldn’t sense a god actively masking themselves. At least, it seems that way. I pointed at the kitchen just as Air walked out of it and into the dining hall.
But just then, I saw Air pass through what looked like a thin, transparent membrane. Then Renge suddenly gave a startled “Ugh!”
D-Did you really just “Ugh” at him…?!
Air smirked. “I haven’t seen you in so long and that’s how you greet me, Renge? Can’t you greet your foster father with more of a smile?”
“N-No, I, it’s just…” Renge sputtered. “Isn’t this all just a bit sudden?! You were totally indifferent when the Sugula appeared. So why are you here now?!”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Air said, smiling more fully now. “The Sugula is just part of the system I created. Even if the planet’s surface were to be destroyed, it would only increase its lifespan. I am the world, and the lives inhabiting my planet’s surface either eat away at me or are meant to be my nourishment. That’s all they’re ever worth.”
A cold shudder ran down my spine. Did…did Air just say he didn’t mind if the Sugula ate not just the humans, but the demi-humans and Mythicals, too? Despite his graceful smile, he truly looked totally neutral as he spoke. Renge said Air hates humans, but…maybe he doesn’t care for any lower form of life? There’s a world of difference between that and just hating mankind!
“This time,” Air continued casually, “there just happened to be a potential Holy Woman who could inherit the Stella in Akari’s stead. But this will surely recur in a millennium or two. Even with long-lived individuals like you around, Renge, humans keep repeating their mistakes once every century or so. Unless their civilization is culled every so often, their sciences develop too far, and they destroy their environment. And for all the trouble they cause, they hardly offer any sustenance… Aah, what a bothersome race they are,” he said chidingly.
“Air…!” Renge growled.
I quickly glanced at Dad, who was watching this whole exchange with a tense expression. All the problems we face are totally inconsequential to him, I thought. Air thinks in terms of millennia—of the whole depth of history all at once. We can’t even begin to imagine what things will be like after we die. But Lady Akari left behind the Stella out of concern for the future.
If the monsters finally diminished in number—if there’d be less Camilla and this whole issue of humanity’s religions could be resolved—I’d be able to go home to Rofola. But while I’d always had that plan in mind, I’d never considered what would become of the Stella after that.
I’d likely just pass down the Stella to someone else, so there’d still be a means of fighting off the Sugula should it appear again… Just like Lady Akari did before me. But I had no idea how I’d do that.