I always thought that Mina and Louis would make a good couple. Mina had finally become aware of her feelings, but the real question was how Louis felt about her. Now that I think about it, Louis is really hard to get a read on.
Aki headed straight to the inn on the outskirts of the city as her thoughts traveled a meddlesome course.
“I’m back!”
She threw the front door open and was welcomed by the lyrical jingle of the doorbell and the savory scent of a warm meal. It smelled like the innkeeper and his hired chef were in the middle of cooking dinner for their guests.
Drawn by the mouthwatering aroma, she headed to the dining area with an open kitchen and was stunned by what she found there.
“Oh, hi Aki. You’re back just in time. I made a lot to eat. Would you like some?”
“Boss Lady! Welcome back!”
Standing in the kitchen flipping omelets in a frying pan with masterful technique was the current Hero—Elias. Beside him Sutcliff chopped up vegetables at the speed of light, sending the pink apron he must’ve borrowed from the innkeeper’s wife fluttering with the wind his speedy knife skills created.
D-Did I just step into another dimension?!
Flabbergasted, Aki approached the kitchen where dozens of dishes had been laid out on fancy silver trays on top of the nearest dining table. At a glance, she made out a whole roasted chicken on a bed of herbs, smoked cheese, stew poured on top of baked salmon, sweet apples boiled in syrup, bite-sized, honey-soaked cookies, and countless other professional-looking dishes that fed the eyes and roused hunger.
“W-Wow…”
Did Elias and Sutcliff make all of this together? Aki was floored by the unexpected reveal that they were both genius cooks. I’m not so great at cooking… Or more like, I suck at it. I feel like my role as one of the party’s only women is in jeopardy… I better start practicing soon.
Elias definitely looked like he had maxed out his cooking level as well. Catching up to his culinary level seemed as if it would be as impossible as matching his Adventurer level.
As she stared aghast at the feast, Elias approached her and held out a silver tray with a single cup on top. “Sorry to ask this of you when you just got back, but can you take this to Leo? I think he’s resting on the second floor.”
“Sure. How’s he doing?” she asked, looking down at the contents of the cup. Caramel-colored black tea swirled inside, smelling of milk and honey. The occasional billows of steam coming off the top suggested it was just the right temperature to warm up the body.
“He seemed okay to me, but he staggered upstairs saying he’s going to nap and hasn’t been down since. He might be sound asleep, and if he is, you can just leave the cup and come back down without waking him.”
“Okay.” Aki accepted the tray from Elias and he returned to his station at the kitchen counter beside Sutcliff. She looked at the finished dishes as he resumed cooking and asked, “That’s a lot of food you’re making! Is this supposed to be for dinner tonight?”
“You betcha! We decided to throw a party tonight to celebrate successfully protecting the city. Hero Elias and I were both free, so we’re in charge of food. Once you finish checking in on Leo, give us a hand, okay?”
“Eep! E-Er, if I have the time…” she replied vaguely to Sutcliff and quickly ascended the stairs.
She had nothing against helping out, but she was positive her assistance would turn the food to charcoal… And she didn’t want to experience disappointing Elias that way.
Cooking should be left to the pros! I’ll find another way to help out. Coming up with excuses to get out of helping, Aki started getting excited about the night’s festivities. There hadn’t been an opportunity for their current party to enjoy themselves over a group meal. She hoped Leo would be energized and Johann would get home in time for them to all partake.
Aki stopped in front of Leo’s door and knocked with her free hand. “Leo, are you up?”