Dinner was over.
The stew on the table had been eaten clean, down to the last drop of broth, which Elent had sopped up with black bread.
“Elent, your cooking is amazing!” Lynn praised Elent’s skills.
“Hehe, it’s nothing, really.” Elent scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed by the compliment.
Celia looked at the empty bowls and dishes, the familiar taste still lingering on the tip of her tongue.
This flavor shouldn’t exist here.
“By the way, Hero, who taught you how to make this dish?” Celia asked casually, picking up her glass for a sip, though her eyes never left Elent.
“Oh, this? My mother taught me.”
“She said it’s been passed down in our family, all the recipes written in an old recipe book.”
The Recipe Book. Just as she thought.
“Where is that recipe book now?”
“With my mother. She treasures it.”
“I see.”
Celia didn’t ask any more.
Now things were a bit troublesome. Since The Recipe Book was with Elent’s mother, and from the way he spoke it seemed quite important, she couldn’t just ask to borrow it directly.
A passing Priestess wanting to borrow someone’s family heirloom recipe book? No matter how she looked at it, it was too strange.
She needed a reasonable excuse.
“All right, you two go rest. You’ve worked hard today, I’ll do the dishes.”
Celia stood up and started clearing the tableware.
“Huh? Lady Celia, let me help you!” Lynn quickly got up.
“No need. One of you is injured, the other’s a guest.” Celia promptly pushed the two of them out of the dining room.
The kitchen was thick with the greasy smell of leftovers. Pots and dishes were piled up in the sink, sticky with sauce.
It was a mess.
Looking at the sink full of dishes and pots, some still covered with bits of food, Celia let out a sigh.
Do it herself?
What a joke. She’d never done this kind of chore in her past life, and there was no way she was starting now.
She’d finally managed to retire, how could she let chores tie her down again?
With something as convenient as Magic System, why wash dishes by hand?
Celia closed the kitchen door, shut her eyes, focused her mind, and—just like she’d done when lighting the firewood—sensed the flow of the elements.
Water is the foundation of all things; it should be easy to communicate with.
Before long, Celia felt it.
“Move.”
A stream of water rose from the bottom of a plate, washing away the grease.
It worked.
See, she really was a genius. The corners of Celia’s mouth couldn’t help but curl upward.
The stream of water was feeble, swaying as it cleaned even a single plate, but for washing dishes, it was more than enough.
A proper Elemental Water should know how to help its master with chores.
Celia simply leaned against the wall, becoming the overseer, directing the water to clean all the dishes and stack them neatly.
By the time everything was done, the moon was already hanging in the sky.
……
Returning to her room, Celia lay in bed, unable to sleep.
That flavor was too familiar. She couldn’t convince herself it was just a coincidence.
The blend of spices, the control of heat, even the finishing touches to enhance the taste—all exactly matched a memory she had.
How could a boy from another world cook something identical to a dish from a fast-food chain on Earth?
Or was it possible that a similar cooking tradition existed in this world?
Impossible. Celia dismissed the thought.
She’d lived in this world for fifteen years, and after regaining her memories, had observed its cuisine carefully.
The food culture here was entirely different from Earth’s.
They had their own spices, but their combinations and cooking logic were of a completely different style.
There was only one answer.
That recipe book.
The Relic left by Elent’s father definitely had something odd about it.
She had to find a way to see it.
But how? Asking directly would make her look suspicious. Sneaking in to take it? Too risky, not to mention she didn’t even know where Elent’s home was.
She needed a reasonable excuse, one that the Hero couldn’t refuse, or might even offer to take her himself.
Celia rolled over, her gaze drifting out the window. In the moonlight, the outline of the giant Carrot in the backyard stood out.
A plan took shape in her mind.
……
The next morning.
Celia found Elent in the backyard. He was swinging his Broad Sword, doing his morning exercises.
“Elent.” Celia walked over.
“Good morning, Priestess!”
“Where does your mother live? Is it far from here?” Celia asked, sounding casual.
“Not far, just in Baker City next door, about half a day by carriage.”
“That recipe book must be very important to your mother, right?”
“Yes, it’s the only Relic my father left behind. My mother cherishes it.”
Mentioning this, Elent’s expression softened.
A Relic.
That made it even more troublesome. Celia thought to herself, though her face stayed calm.
It seemed there was no choice.
Celia turned to face the giant Carrot, which looked even more extraordinary in the morning light.
She composed herself and spoke in a solemn tone.
“Elent, look.”
Elent followed her gaze, his face showing awe.
“This Carrot is no ordinary thing. It is a sign of miracle, a blessing from Saint Celery to this land. Such a holy object, we cannot keep to ourselves. More people should be allowed to share in this glory.”
Elent listened, stunned.
“Huh?”
Celia turned around, looking at him with such a compassionate gaze that she almost believed it herself.
“Your mother raised such a brave and upright young man as you. You came here and kept the Church safe. In gratitude, I have decided that we will personally bring part of this God-given object as a gift to your mother, to show the mercy and justice of Saint Celery.”
With these words, so lofty and dignified, Elent was utterly taken aback.
He looked at the Priestess before him, feeling as if her small frame held endless kindness.
He’d stayed here, eaten for free, bungled his mission, and nearly destroyed the sacred Carrot.
Yet she hadn’t blamed him—instead, she wanted to share this precious “miracle” with his mother.
What a magnanimous heart!
Elent’s eyes filled with tears. He felt that Miss Celia before him was the very embodiment of Saint Celery on earth.
“Priestess, you’re the kindest person in the world!”
Looking at the young Hero who, with just a few words, had been moved nearly to tears and seemed about to swear loyalty to her on the spot, Celia felt a faint pang of guilt.
Kindness really was a useful weapon at times.
“No need for that, Elent.” Celia gently patted his shoulder.
“This is what you deserve. Get ready—we’ll leave tomorrow.”
“Yes, Priestess!”
Celia watched Elent’s back as he left, and let out a quiet breath.
All right, the first step was complete.
Devious little thing.