“Huh? But she can make medium-grade tonics now. Isn’t that impressive?” he pressed back.
“It is, but not when compared to me! I’m a Spherit Folk, and that lets me easily produce potions humans can’t ever hope to make!”
That was one thing that made the fact Moné was inspired by me a bit regrettable. For example, the mana restorative. I could make it easily because I used the same abilities Spherit Folk used when imbuing stones with Spherits to create Spherit Stones. My race meant I could create all sorts of potions and medicines humans simply couldn’t create. Expecting Moné to be on the same level as me would just be placing unreasonable expectations on her!
“Moné is a normal human, like you, Dad…” I said. “And the fact she can make medium-grade tonics at such a young age is just a testament to the effort she put in. You can’t compare her with me. I—”
There’s no other Spherit Folk but me in this world. I’m not like Dad or Moné, I’m not human…
“Don’t compare her with me,” I said, a little sad. “Moné’s her own person. You should talk to her directly and listen to what she wants to do. It’s her life to live, you know?”
“…You’re right. Yes… I’m sorry, Tina,” Dad said, hanging his head.
“See? I was right!” Lico said victoriously, pulling on Dad’s ear.
“F-Fine, fine, I was wrong, you were right! Just let go!” He conceded defeat.
Dad was able to admit when he was wrong. I was always so impressed by that trait of his.
“I’ll talk to Moné and ask her what she wants to do,” he decided.
“You do that.” I nodded.
“Personally, I’d like for her to experiment with other types of alchemy,” Lico added.
“But the alchemy you work on is for combat, right? Moné became an alchemist because she admired Tina’s path as an apothecary,” Dad argued. “I’m not sure she’s interested in your kind of violent alchemy.”
“You don’t know that. Alchemy isn’t just about making medicine. If she tries other kinds of alchemy, it’ll help her expand her horizons,” Lico said.
“You just want to prop up a worthy successor.” Dad shrugged. “Not that I’m sure why, you already have Lys.”
“He’s too occupied with his research to help out with mine,” Lico pouted.
Oh, no, they’re flaring up again. Why are these two always like this…?
“I’ll go make dinner!” I declared loudly to break up their rising tension.
“Ooh, dinner…?” they both said, clearly interested.
Good, that got them to pipe down.
I walked into the kitchen and put on my apron. Mouth-watering chicken. In this world, chickens were called Ukoks, which meant it would technically be called mouth-watering Ukok. I started by steaming some Ukok breast. Once it was properly steamed, I put on some preprepared sauce and garnished it with fine-cut oniuns.
The sauce was made of a soy sauce base, with ground ginger, carrot, honey, vinegar, olives and some ground red peppers to substitute for chili oil.
…How will I go about making chili oil? I’d love to have some for Chinese cooking. And if I get some white rice, I could make pilaf and fried rice. And doria, and kung pao rice, and paella…! Rice is such a versatile food! But wait, just making the mouth-watering Ukok isn’t enough. I shouldn’t put it off and make some fried rice!
Some people didn’t like fried rice, but in my past life, we’d cook it with leftovers, and it was pretty much the dish of the year. We’d cut up any leftover meat or veggies from last night’s dinner and throw them in the pan with some rice, mix in a beaten egg, and add condiments for flavor. I know some people aren’t into it, but this was my personal preference.
“Just remembering it is making my mouth water… So, mouth-watering Ukok and leftover fried rice it is!” I declared.
“Oooh!” everyone around me exclaimed, impressed.
“Shouldn’t you cook some fresh rice instead?” Mirage asked.
“Sorry, I don’t have time to prepare it…”
Jiril and Mirage helped me cook, but they couldn’t handle all the cooking entirely on their own. Given I’d be away more often now, I started considering introducing more people who could cook to the second-floor dining hall.
This dining hall was the closest to my room, and all the people I know have been eating here for as long as I was here. Dad’s been too busy, so having him in the kitchen for once was encouraging, though.
“And who is this…Mythical man?” Lico asked, looking at Air.
“Oh, yeah, this is your first time meeting him, isn’t it?” Dad said. “Well, you might not believe it, but this is the creator deity, Air…supposedly.”
“Come again?” Lico asked.
“That’s right,” Air said with a thin smile. “I’m the one and only god of this world. A pleasure to meet you, mate of the Holy Woman’s father.”
“Huh?!”
Right, this is Lico’s first time meeting Air. Everyone’s taught about this world’s one and only creator deity when they’re little. It only makes sense she’d be confused to see him right in front of her.
“What’s going on here, Marcus?” Lico turned to Dad. “This can’t really be Air.”
“It really is him, the one and only,” Dad said, shrugging.
“I found the part about Tinaris training in the divine realm hard to believe as it is, but now an actual god showed up here…? This is absurd.” Lico shook her head.
“I get how you feel… I have a hard time believing it too,” Dad sighed.
“I can hear everything you say, you know?” Air said sarcastically. “I think that’s enough skepticism, let’s eat before the food the Holy Woman made goes cold. Your cooking is very novel and fascinating. I’m really glad I summoned you here.”