Roxy was waiting for me at the door to my room. She held a basket in her hands. When I asked about it, she said she’d prepared some food because I missed breakfast.
“Please, help yourself,” she said, handing me the basket overflowing with sandwiches.
“Thank you…”
“I’m still learning how to cook, so I hope it tastes okay.”
We went into my room together. I’d barely talked with Roxy. This worried me, but it turned out she was easy to talk to. She was beautiful, and even though she was a holy knight, she lacked their characteristic arrogance. After talking to her for a little while, I understood why Fate had followed her as far as Galia. At the time, I had been unable to grasp what drove him to such lengths. Now I could see it. Her honesty and integrity were energizing, and I felt a desire to support her.
“I see… I see…” I muttered.
“Pardon?”
Realizing that I had spoken my thoughts out loud, I changed the subject. “These sandwiches are delicious. They are well seasoned and…hmm? Huh?!”
“Myne? What’s wrong?”
That was what I wanted to know! These flavors, these tastes… I could identify them. Why? What had happened? I had lost my sense of taste a long time ago…
I whispered to Sloth, resting against the wall. “What is this?”
“I think you lost your taste due to trauma. That’s how much of an impact it had. But the events you went through recently seem to have released you from it.”
“Unbelievable…”
Food had become just an exercise in nutritional sustenance. It wasn’t about good, bad, delicious, or disgusting. But to think that the sandwich I held in my hand actually tasted delicious… I was so moved by its taste that I slammed my fist down on the table in front of me, and it splintered with a loud crack. I had completely forgotten to control my stats.
“What’s wrong? Do you not like them? Please, don’t feel obliged to eat them if…”
Roxy’s eyes widened. She had no idea what was going on inside me. I cleared my throat, and then to clear the air, explained my situation.
“Ah, so you lost your sense of taste,” said Roxy. “It’s so sad to think of a life without the ability to enjoy the taste of food. But it’s so nice to know that your sense of taste has returned. All the more reason for us to enjoy lots of good food together.”
“Yes…”
Enjoy… The word was odd, because for the longest time, I hadn’t thought of enjoying anything.
Sloth saw me lost in thought. “Well, how about cooking together with Roxy to start? You can eat what you make. Probably the quickest way to get used to your new sense of taste.”
“Good idea, Sloth.”
It seemed like Roxy had heard the black axe. “Your black axe… Does it speak?”
“It does.”
“Nice to meet you, Roxy. I’m Sloth. As you’ve already gathered, I’m an axe.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too.”
With introductions out of the way, we returned to the topic at hand.
“Let’s cook together then, shall we?” said Roxy.
“Okay, but…I only know how to roast. Can we start there?”
“That’s fine. Actually, I’m not so different.”
“Hm? Really?”
“Indeed.”
Roasting was all I knew. It was…surprising to think that Roxy was the same. Now I wanted to try something new. And if I became skilled at cooking, it would make Fate happy too. When we traveled together, he was always excited to see the food that was brought out for us when we ate.
“I will cook, and I will craft the world’s strongest cuisine!” I pumped my fist in the air, just like Fate.
“It seems Myne is getting cooking and fighting mixed up,” said Sloth. “Either way, I leave her in your hands.”
“Understood,” said Roxy. “Very well, let’s make lunch together.”
“Roger!”
I headed for the battlefield known as the kitchen, and of course, I brought Sloth with me.
“Roxy, I have a question!”
“Yes, Myne?”
“Can I cut the ingredients with Sloth? I am most used to wielding her.”
“No, you cannot. Let’s do things properly and use kitchen knives.”
“How unfortunate.”
“This is much more worrying than I imagined…” said Sloth. Then, with encouragement ringing in her voice, she added, “Good luck, Roxy.”
But shouldn’t she be encouraging me? I thought.
And so began my first steps upon the road of cookery. I was certain things would be fine.