Lady Akari stored the Stella’s power inside a Stone of Daybreak the Spherit Folk gave her and entrusted it to the Great Curalius. So maybe, once I die…I’ll just leave the Spherit Stone in my forehead to Renge?
…I don’t want to do that. Renge has always been left behind by those he cherishes. He said so…
Am I…being selfish and forcing my feelings onto Renge?
In all the excitement of our becoming betrothed, I’d never considered Renge’s future…or what might happen later down the line. After I die, won’t Renge be left all alone?
I also had a duty to consider what I’d do with the Stella after I was gone. Just like Lady Akari did. And while there was no rush for me to do so—given the Spherit Folk were a long-lived race—I’d certainly do well to keep that duty in mind.
“Well, we can discuss your training later, Renge,” said Air with finality. “Forget about that for now and hurry up and eat. Your food’s getting cold.”
“Hmm…” Renge scowled as he sat down.
“Well, Holy Woman Tinaris?” Air asked, turning to me expectantly. “What about my steak?”
“O-Oh! Uh, y-yes… I’ll get it! What kind of bread would you like?”
“I agree with your father. Freshly baked would be nice.”
“All right. Then take a seat and I’ll have it ready soon.” A bit shocked, I ushered him to the table and returned to the kitchen.
I guess…Air eats, too…?
I started kneading the dough I’d prepared into round shapes and put it into the preheated oven. While it baked, I fried some more big Hamburg steaks and placed them on the plate along with the sauce.
“I never imagined a g—uhh, that Air—would eat just like humans do…” I could hear Dad say gingerly as I cooked, voicing the thought I’d had.
“I don’t need to eat. It’s more of an…indulgence for me,” Air answered with a smile.
My Hamburg steaks are a luxury, huh…? I thought drolly as I walked back out and placed the plate in front of him.
“I hope it’s to your taste,” I said, reflexively bowing—an old innkeeper’s daughter habit.
“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Air said with a grin. “Food from other worlds is typically delicious. And honestly, that’s half the reason I summoned you here. So go ahead and try to recreate whatever other dishes come to your mind.”
“You what…?” Renge asked, shocked.
He did say he saved me because my soul was in need. But he had an ulterior motive, it seems. Well, he wasn’t wrong, I suppose. I was putting all I had into recreating dishes from my past life. Because once you experience and get used to something, letting go of it isn’t easy; that’s especially true of cuisine! Given I’d been able to recreate soy sauce and miso, I’d say my efforts were paying off.
“Hmm…it’s good,” Air said as he tasted his Hamburg steak.
“I-I’m glad to hear you like it,” I replied.
“I try,” Air reflected almost as if we weren’t there, “not to waste energy letting civilization develop too much. But I would like to see the field of cooking advance.”
“I… I see…” I murmured.
I guess gods do have to think of everything…
I was headed back to the kitchen to check on the bread when suddenly, I saw what looked like three merchants by the dining hall entrance.
I approached them and said, “Umm, excuse me? Can I help you?”
Unfortunately, I noticed these men were clutching large necklaces shaped like the symbol of the De Marl faith. Oh no! Worshippers…
My stomach sank, but they’d noticed me, so it was too late now. They began talking earnestly.
“Ahh, so you’re Tinaris, the Holy Woman! We finally get to meet you!”
“Please, Holy Woman, won’t you publicly acknowledge our faith in the Gods of De Marl?! There are vile rumors that our faith is heretical! People are acting like our Gods are evil!”
“Please help us, Holy Woman!”
Oh, jeez, here we go…
I turned around timidly to see what everybody else was making of this. As I expected, I saw Renge eating stoically, his eyes fixed on Air. I was glad Air didn’t seem that interested in them, because these people just had to find me right now.
“You three…” Dad said in annoyance as he put down his fork, stood up, and moved around to the front of the table. “I told you you’re forbidden from seeing the Holy Woman. Get out!”
“But why?!” one of them protested. “You’re the Azure Demon Wolf of De Marl! Why are you denying our gods too?! If she doesn’t acknowledge our faith, the gods will be seen as evil!”
“I believe I’ve explained myself enough times already,” Dad snapped. “Why won’t you listen? The creator deity, Air, does not acknowledge other gods! How many times do I have to tell you? There’s no room for debate here! Tina isn’t the one you should be negotiating with.”
Dad was unusually impatient for the simple reason that Air was right behind him. If they make the same demands of Air, who knows what might happen? The most important thing right now is to get them to peacefully head back to De Marl.
“Well, actually…we have a good solution to your problem! Right, Dad?” I asked, looking at him pleadingly.
“Oh— Yes, right! Assuming Air will allow it…”
Dad and I glanced over at Air, curious to see his reaction. Renge was also eyeing Air, who was enjoying his Hamburg steak and seemingly not listening to any of this. Which I kinda doubt, given who he is…
“…Are you implying that that person over there is Air himself?” asked one of the men.
“What?!” the other two exclaimed in disbelief.
“Is this true? Are you really the creator deity, Air?”
“Then…please, your holiness! Please acknowledge the Gods of De Marl! Tell us that they exist!!!”
They actually asked him?!
They were more composed in front of Air than around me. It was almost weirdly impressive.
“Is the bread ready, Tina?” Air asked me as if none of this was happening.
“N-Not yet. It’ll be thirty more minutes,” I replied.
“I see… Could I have another Hamburg steak, then?”
“O-Of course!”
I think Dad and I were more confused by Air’s indifference than these De Marl believers were. Still, I felt compelled to comply with his request.
As I hurried to the kitchen, I peered back, only to see Air get up and turn around. He probably didn’t want me to hear whatever he was about to tell them. Concerned, I glanced quickly over at the tables as I prepared the meat. The believers looked up at Air with clear terror and fear in their eyes.
Will they be all right? Renge’s really glaring at Air…
As I began frying the steak, having to break my concentration to do so, Dad walked in with his and Renge’s plates.
“Dad, are the believers all right?” I asked.
“Yes, well… Renge said Air intimidated them using his Divinity…or something like that.”
“Divinity…”
“As Renge puts it, gods are basically the highest form of life. So they can make other living things yield to their Divinity. Renge said even he’s powerless in the face of that. I think those men felt that for themselves.”
I got chills. It must’ve been like a stronger version of that imposing feeling I had earlier. I looked over at them again. The believers were now prostrating themselves in front of Air and trembling. Yet, I could still hear them shouting and begging for Air to acknowledge the Gods of De Marl. Their obstinance is getting ridiculous!
“Renge did try proposing that mascot idea of yours to Air,” Dad said.
“Whoa, he brought that up in front of Air…? Did…did he accept the idea?”
“Well…he said it sounded…interesting. So humans can try it. He can’t accept them worshipping these gods. But it sounds like if they just want to cherish them, then he doesn’t mind.”
“O-Oh. That’s…good…?” I said, unsure.
Does this count as Air giving us permission to try it? That’s great…!
But the problem was still these De Marl worshippers who were refusing to change. If they keep provoking Air, he could end up blowing them to bits! That must be why Dad’s here with the plates, hoping that a Hamburg steak might distract Air.
Right! I’ll get right to it, but… Oh man, it’ll take a while to fry them on a small fire…