The Great Sword is not the Main Body!-Chapter 148: Trials (6)

“When did you know?”

A voice filled with affection rang out through her silver-white hair, flowing gently.

"...What, what do you mean?"

"That you liked me."

"Ah... um... Eight... years... ago..."

"Wow..."

The arms that had been holding me loosened. The expression on her face, now visible, broke into an incredibly bright smile, as if her mouth was about to drop open.

"That long?"

"...Yeah."

I nodded, avoiding her gaze. Suddenly, I felt ridiculously embarrassed. It felt like a hidden weakness was exposed...

"Why? Why did you like me?"

"Ugh... why..."

"Was it because my chest was big?"

"Ahh...! Wh-what are you saying!" novelbuddy.cσ๓

"Then hurry up and tell me. If you don't, I'll just misunderstand things on my own."

"Well..."

The reason I liked Rubia...

"First, because she was beautiful..."

When the priestess first appeared in the game, I was so struck by her beauty that I couldn’t help but admire her. Even though I skipped almost all the stories, I watched hers a little...

Of course, since she was the protagonist, she was probably depicted as the most beautiful character, but... beyond that, she was just beautiful.

Her silver hair that subtly blended with the background.

Her «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» radiant blue eyes that seemed to reflect everything.

Her sharp and dignified expression.

Her authoritative speech and pleasant voice.

Her... chest... Ahem.

Anyway, everything about the priestess was beautiful, and I liked it.

"Next... Even though she looked cold on the outside, she was soft inside. I liked that too."

Her personality was also great.

It was sad but also cute how she raised her thorns to avoid getting hurt by others... so I liked that.

"And... she was cool too..."

No matter how many times she was bent or knocked down, she still moved forward on her path, and that was admirable.

"Also... um..."

She threw herself into danger with a smile, knowing she would die to save others.

She reminded me of her parents.

Because I thought of her parents.

Because I wanted to be like her.

That's why I liked her.

But the last reason, I didn’t want to say out loud.

It seemed pathetic... I just... wanted to keep it hidden.

"Anything else? Is there more?"

"The rest is a secret..."

"Heh... a secret. I see. So, 8 years..."

Rubia, as if in a good mood, murmured ‘8 years’ while swaying her head.

Swoosh—

“Ugh...”

She left a light kiss on my forehead and stood up.

"If we stay too close, I feel like I'll really pounce on you... Let's eat, hehe."

Looking up at me, Rubia’s expression was incredibly seductive.

It was the kind of expression that felt like she could rip my liver out.

No, an expression that would make me willingly offer my liver.

I wonder if Rubia I knew ever made that kind of face.

I don’t know. The expressions I feel through my intuition aren’t always so detailed.

If she always made that face,

I’d rather think it’s a blessing that I can’t see now.

Because I have no idea how to escape from that expression.

I’d probably throw everything aside and spend the whole day with Rubia...

"Noah?"

"Ha... Y-Yes...!"

I shook my head violently and stood up.

"What is it? Should I kiss somewhere else besides your forehead?"

"Ugh... Aah, ugh..."

That’s cheating... Her expression is just too powerful!

I turned my gaze and rushed toward the kitchen.

"Sit there... I’ll be right there..."

"Is there anything I can help with? I don’t know much, but I can at least help with the chopping."

"Oh, really? Well... um..."

Things Rubia could help with... um...

"Ah!"

I went to the small veranda in the back of the kitchen and picked up an onion.

"This is an onion... The things you see on the outside are its skin. Can you cut off the top and bottom like this and peel it, then chop it into pieces the size of a finger joint...?"

"Onion? Oh... okay. I’ll try."

With a voice full of curiosity, Rubia took the onion and began to shine with excitement.

It might make her eyes sting while chopping... but... one onion should be fine.

I watched Rubia as she washed her hands and grabbed a kitchen knife, then dragged the rectangular footstool from the side of the refrigerator and placed it in front of the sink.

I went to the fridge, grabbed zucchini, potatoes, green onions, tofu, cheap brisket... No, I took out better brisket. Sorry, Mom and Dad.

Grunting as I placed all the ingredients in front of the sink, I stood on the footstool and began preparing everything.

Tap- tap- tap-

After a while, Rubia, who had been peeling the onion in the corner, made a strange sound.

"Uh... Hmm? Huh..."

"What's wrong?"

I stopped chopping, jumped off the footstool, and approached Rubia.

"Noah... something’s weird with this."

"Huh...? Is it spoiled?"

"After peeling it, this is all that’s left. Is this really an onion?"

"Huh..."

Rubia, looking at me with red eyes, was holding an onion core the size of a finger in her hand.

"Th... uh... Hehe... Hehehe!"

"What, what’s going on?!"

"No, heh... Heheh... Hahaha!"

"Why...?!"

I grabbed Rubia's hand, which was leaking a laugh, and brought over a new onion.

I also moved the footstool over and...

"I... must have made a mistake. Sorry."

"You didn’t know, so it’s fine... it’s okay. Hehe."

The fact that I was teaching Rubia something made my shoulders rise proudly.

"Alright, I’ll show you..."

I began to chop the onion with a well-fitting paring knife.

Even I could tell that my movements were incredibly skilled.

If the thing in my hand wasn’t a knife, it would have looked even cooler, but that’s a shame.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

"This... this is an onion."

"Not the skin...?"

"Yeah! Cool, right?"

"I see... Heheh... I didn’t even know that and was being such a fool—"

"Ah! No!"

I quickly grabbed Rubia’s hand before she could wipe her eyes.

"Huh?"

"Your hands... wash them with soap first and clean your eyes. Otherwise, it’ll be really stinging."

"Really...?"

I nodded and washed Rubia's hands carefully.

"Yeah. That pale one is really nasty... you have to be careful with it."

I shuddered as the memory of when I used to rub my eyes with the onion-slicing hands came to mind.

Afterward, I continued peeling the green onions.

Crushing tofu.

Peeling the zucchini like fruit.

There were minor problems, but I managed to finish everything.

"Ta-da...!"

"Wow... soybean paste stew..."

Though the vegetables looked mixed up and funny, it actually looked presentable.

The big tofu left for decoration, along with green chili peppers and red chili peppers on top, gave it the finishing touch!

As Rubia sniffed deeply, sneezing repeatedly from the smell of the stew, I set out some side dishes on the table for her.

And I cooked rice in the rice cooker.

Click-

"Uh..."

I... forgot to cook the rice.

I was worried the rice wouldn’t cook well because my hand size had changed, but it turned out better than expected!

The rice was perfectly cooked—slightly chewy, not too soft!

And... the soybean paste stew smelled fantastic with brisket!

"Alright, hurry up and try it. Ah... no, not yet. It’s hot, so let it cool down and eat slowly."

I brought the tofu that I had intended to put on Rubia’s rice bowl back, blew on it gently to cool it, and then placed it on her spoon.

"Hehe... Yes. I’ll eat well."

Rubia, watching the tofu wobble on her spoon, immediately put it in her mouth.

Then, chewing and swallowing, she smiled brightly.

"Wow... it’s delicious."

"Hehe... It’s even better than just the tofu."

I placed potatoes, zucchini, and brisket on her spoon, one by one.

Every time I gave her a new dish, she happily took it, not being picky at all. It was so cute.

"Ugh... Ah... It’s spicy but delicious."

As Rubia calmed the spiciness, she started putting things on my rice bowl as well.

"Noah, don’t just watch—eat too."

"Yeah."

Nodding, I popped the food Rubia put on my bowl into my mouth.

It wasn’t as good as my mom’s cooking, but...

It was better than my dad’s cooking.

As my bowl slowly emptied...

Rubia cautiously opened her mouth.

"By any chance... do you have coffee?"

"Uhm?"

After quickly chewing and swallowing, I answered.

"I have it...!"

"Then, can I have it after I finish eating?"

"Of course! I’ll make it for you!"

Rubia’s expression wavered slightly.

"...Why? Don’t you want me to make it?"

"No, no. I really want it."

Rubia, suspiciously avoiding my gaze.

"Didn’t the ‘me’ you knew also not know how to make coffee?"

"...Yeah. Ahaha..."

"I see..."

Swallowing the last of my rice, I stood up.

"...I know how to make it."

Though it was a limited time in my trials... still,

I had made a delicious stew, so making coffee should be no problem.

"Sit tight. I’ll make it really good."

Looking at Rubia with a dazed expression, I spoke with a sense of determination, then headed straight to the sink.

I stepped onto the footstool, opened the cupboard, and pulled out a pack of coffee from a yellow box.

It was called... X-nu!

It had a bit of X, but since Rubia didn’t like sweet things much, and... X-nu was a bit more expensive!

I poured the coffee into a small mug, then boiled water in the pot...

Shwoosh- Click- Click-

I stirred it well so that the granules wouldn’t clump and brought it to Rubia.

"Here... Try it. It’s hot, so cool it down first."

Rubia’s eyes widened as she caught the smell of the coffee.

Then she blew on it—huff- huff-

"Hehe..."

"How is it?"

"...It’s delicious."

"Phew... See? Hehe..."

Seeing Rubia’s expression, now relaxed, I began to clean up the dishes.

"Ah, I’ll help too."

"Uhm... Rubia, stay seated. I’ll do it."

The clatter of dishes and the subtle fragrance of coffee filled the peaceful atmosphere.

Then Rubia’s voice, slightly downcast, reached my ears.

"Now that we’ve eaten... shall we go?"

"...Where to?"

"To get the rings."