Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Dragon's First Cooking (3)
Next up were the onions.
He picked up the knife and placed an onion on the cutting board.
The cookbook said to cut these into 3 cm pieces too.
"Should I slice one side flat first to make measuring easier?"
"......"
He grabbed the knife again and measured meticulously.
As the blade touched the onion,
a subtle slippery sensation transmitted through it.
"Hmm..."
"?"
The moment he cut, the onion layers peeled apart.
The more pressure he applied, the more the overlapping layers lifted.
"Looks like I just need to focus on length and width here."
"?"
He muttered softly and continued slicing.
One piece,
two pieces.
Using the knife as a guide, he carefully measured exactly 3 cm each time.
But—
"......!"
"Huh?"
He glanced to the side, and the girl was tearing up, her nose twitching.
Her eyes were red around the edges,
and her pupils shook as if she might burst into tears any second.
"H-hey, what's wrong?"
"......"
The girl's hand rubbed at her nose.
Then she tilted her head back and squeezed her eyes shut.
Seeing that, he realized.
"It's spicy, huh?"
"!"
The girl nodded vigorously.
Tears streamed down from under her tightly shut eyes.
"...Ah, sorry. I didn't know."
"......"
"I'm kinda insensitive to this stuff."
He washed his hands and fetched a damp cloth to wipe the girl's face.
"Better now?"
"......"
"...Sorry. Guess I had you too close."
"......"
The girl's small hand grabbed his clothes.
He gently held that hand and stroked her head.
"Wanna wait over there for a bit? I'll let you sit once I'm done."
"......"
The girl shook her head stubbornly.
She gripped his hand tighter, as if refusing to let go.
He smiled faintly and moved the cutting board a bit farther away.
"Alright then. I'll finish this up quick."
"......"
"Cooking's tough."
"......"
The girl nodded slightly.
That look was somehow so cute he chuckled.
He finally finished the onions,
and since the garlic needed to be minced, he ground it up in a mortar.
"Yeah. This part's easy."
"!"
But carelessness was the enemy.
Finally, the tomatoes.
A different kind of challenge from the onions.
The skins were slippery, the insides soft, making them tricky to cut.
Even after carefully measuring and slicing,
"...The inside burst."
"......"
"Maybe perfect squares aren't the way to go."
"......?"
The girl's face looked confused.
He almost laughed at the sight.
"Nah. It's fine."
"?"
He picked up a tomato slice
and examined the burst insides carefully.
"Squares or not, it shouldn't change the taste."
He popped the sliced tomato into his mouth.
The flavor on his tongue
was tangy yet fresh.
He bit into an uncut tomato.
"Yeah. Same taste."
"......"
"Wanna try?"
"!"
The girl's eyes blinked.
She nodded with a soft smile.
He cut away the bitten part and sliced off about half to hand to her.
The girl carefully took the piece with both hands.
Then, slowly,
very slowly, she brought it to her mouth.
One bite,
and tomato juice beaded at her lips as her small teeth nibbled lightly.
"......!"
A slightly surprised expression.
But soon, the corners of her mouth curved up.
"Tasty?"
"......"
No words,
but everything showed on the girl's nodding face.
He wiped the juice from her mouth and chuckled.
"Square or not, if it tastes good, that's what matters."
"!"
The girl's eyes sparkled.
Soon, a bright, innocent smile bloomed.
Watching that smile—
imperfect cooking,
clumsy knife work,
it all felt a little okay.
"Almost done now."
"!"
"Just need to simmer it."
He cleared the cutting board,
and scooped a pat of butter into the pot.
While studying the cookbook intently, he prepped the next ingredients with his other hand.
"Brown the onions and garlic..."
"......"
The butter melted slowly.
A nutty aroma filled the cabin.
The girl leaned in a little.
"Smells good, right?"
"!"
The girl nodded with a smile.
He carefully added the onions and garlic to the pot.
Sizzle—
The aroma intensified with the soft sound.
The butter coated the vegetables, turning them golden.
Sweet, nutty scents mingled with the veggies, rising thicker.
He stirred slowly with a wooden spoon,
cooking until the onions and garlic were nicely browned.
"Looks good."
"!"
The girl's back shook with excitement.
Seeing her eager eyes,
he added the prepped vegetables one by one carefully.
Carrots,
potatoes,
and finally the tomatoes.
He tossed in the rest and stir-fried once more.
Then poured in water and added the remaining ingredients.
Bay leaves,
three spoonfuls of ketchup.
"Now just simmer."
"!"
"Still, four servings in this?"
It wasn't a huge pot, and it was only half full.
No matter how he looked, it seemed like enough for two,
not four.
"?"
"Humans these days must eat light."
"???"
"Nah. Let's see, next is... Huh."
He peered back at the cookbook and froze.
He glanced subtly at the window.
The sun had passed midday, casting long shadows.
He checked the cookbook again.
It said,
'Simmer for 1~2 hours.'
"What to do."
"......?"
"It'll be dinner, not breakfast."
"???"
"Should've cooked instead of sleeping..."
That must be why Hubert said he needed to be diligent.
"...Hungry?"
"......"
The hesitating girl slowly nodded.
He lifted the lid and peered into the pot.
It wasn't simmered 'thoroughly' yet.
"Hmm..."
"?"
"Just a little... very little..."
"???"
"Accelerate."
He sped up only the time in the pot.
Mana spread from his fingertips, enveloping it,
and bubbles boiled faster inside.
The crisp veggies softened instantly,
steam billowing thicker, filling the kitchen.
"Ah, my head..."
"?!"
"Nah. It's fine."
The shackles of time creaked again.
He released the power
and tasted the stew.
"Bottom's a bit scorched. Slight burnt taste..."
"......"
"Should've stirred while doing it."
The girl's eyes widened.
He massaged his throbbing head and inspected the floating veggies.
The surfaces were evenly cooked,
and the color matched the stew he'd seen at the inn.
The broth's thickness was decent too.
'...Just the burnt taste is the issue.'
As he pondered what to do,
another wave of memories swallowed him.
"...Ugh!"
"?!"
His vision blurred for a moment.
All senses dulled as if asleep,
ears ringing, scenes from another time flooding his sight.
An unfamiliar kitchen.
The furniture was worn but tidy,
traces of long care lingering.
Midday light,
vivid sunbeams through the window.
And right before him—
A pink-haired woman holding a ladle in one hand,
smiling brightly.
"How is it? How is it?"
"......"
A confident, triumphant expression.
Yet her eyes brimmed with warm affection.
'Again.'
This woman was definitely...
He'd seen her recently.
'The girl's future? Or another timeline's?'
He decided to set it aside for now.
Until the flow calmed,
no judgments—just observe.
He stared up at the woman.
She proudly presented her cooking, as if it were hers.
"Look, look! Five dishes in such short time. How's that? Way better than before, right?"
"...Impressive."
"Hehe, right? I've been practicing on the side to cook for you, Row!"
The pink-haired woman stepped closer.
Her face burst into a playful grin.
"You can praise me more, y'know?"
"Yeah. Good job."
"That's it?"
"...What else do you want?"
The woman pouted.
Sudden and unfamiliar, yet that expression felt somehow familiar.
Soon, she planted hands on her hips with smug confidence.
"I demand boldly!"
"...Demand what?"
"A reward!"
"...What kind?"
The woman smiled warmer than sunlight.
That warmth stole his gaze for a moment.
Suddenly, she turned to wash her hands.
She shook off the water cleanly,
then strode right up to him.
"Row!"
"Yeah?"
"Stick out your tongue."
Not understanding, he tilted his head.
At her persistent urging,
he reluctantly parted his lips and poked out his tongue a bit.
"Hehe, excuse me."
"...Huh?"
The woman extended her index finger and touched his tongue.
The unfamiliar sensation made him grimace instinctively.
"What're you doing."
"Wow, it's so squishy."
"...Don't."
"Shh. You touched my tongue when I was little."
Hit the mark.
By current standards,
just once, but...
With his curiosity, he'd probably do it more in the future.
"......"
"Hehe, got nothing to say?"
Seemed correct.
This timeline's him had given up resisting too.
As he stopped resisting,
the woman started prodding his tongue in earnest.
"Huh? Row's tongue tip isn't forked?"
"Suddenly?"
"Reptiles usually have forked tongues?"
"...I'm not a reptile."
"Ehe, sorry. Don't frown."
The woman chuckled brazenly and touched his tongue again.
This time,
her finger went a bit deeper.
"Whoa, it's rough here."
"......"
"What? Like a cat's."
"Not a cat either."
"Hmm, but Row. You really seem like a cat."
He frowned.
Reptile wasn't enough; now a cat.
'What nonsense is she spouting?'
This timeline's him tilted his head similarly.
"Personality matches, and now the tongue too. What to do, you're too cute."
"...Why do you like it so much? Fun?"
"Yeah!"
No hesitation.
A definite gaze and nod.
"...Stop."
"Aw, why."
"...Salty."
"Ugh, that's why I washed my hands."
The woman pouted regretfully.
Then she shoved her face right up to his.
"So mean. I worked hard making five dishes for you, Row."
"So?"
"Least you can do is let me for five minutes!"
"...Salty. No."
The woman's eyes went wide.
She stared at him, then beamed.
An odd smile.
Playful,
yet provocative somehow.
"Then, Row."
"Yeah?"
"Instead of finger, can I touch with something that won't taste salty?"
"...Like what?"
Couldn't imagine, so he tilted his head.
Instead of answering,
the woman tilted her head slightly and stared up at him intently.
A hint of mischief at her lips,
and deep in her eyes, something oddly serious flickered.
Her gaze was clear yet subtle,
like testing him,
yet waiting for his reaction.
"No idea?"
"Yeah."
"Hehe, here's a hint."
The woman stepped slowly closer.
She stuck out her tongue playfully with a grin,
then slowly tapped her own tongue with her finger.