Chapter 17
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: A Ring for a Chef is a Bit...
"Are you serious...?"
I asked back with a dazed expression.
I'd figured there'd be some benefit to earning the elves' favor, but I never could have imagined they'd offer me a spirit.
But... how exactly do you give someone a spirit?
"Then it's perfect!"
I expressed my joy without holding back. At that,
"I'm glad you like it."
Elfriede let out a sigh of relief and smiled brightly.
"But you need to know there are a few restrictions."
Well, I hadn't thought it'd be that easy to obtain.
"What are they?"
She explained that only elves could handle spirits.
It was a kind of privilege or authority, like in typical fantasy stories where spirits act as intermediaries.
But for humans, the contract itself couldn't even be established. Probably due to some innate difference.
However, using a certain 'special method' allowed other races to handle spirits too...
"Instead of a direct contract with a fixed amount of spirits, I'll act as the intermediary."
"Ah, I see."
I stroked my chin and summarized what I'd heard.
"So, I'm not contracting directly with the spirit, but with you, Elfriede?"
"Exactly. And..."
Elfriede added with a hint of concern.
"Right now, it's only one spirit from the four elements. Is that okay?"
She seemed to expect I'd be disappointed.
But what was there to be disappointed about?
Being able to handle a spirit at all was more than enough to be grateful for.
Besides...
"You said 'right now,' so does that mean I might be able to handle more types later?"
"Hmm, hard to say for sure. This kind of contract is a first for me too."
Not just for Elfriede—it was the first attempt at this on an interspecies level.
They'd only known it was theoretically possible.
No human had ever formed a close bond with elves before, so it made sense.
I was the first human to even visit the Spirit Realm, after all.
"Can't say for sure, but I suspect so. If the bond between us deepens."
Hmm, so that's how it works.
I got the gist. The more we connected, the stronger the bond with the spirit would grow.
As I said before, just being able to handle a spirit was a huge boon—what right did I have to be picky?
"I understand."
"Good. Any spirit you have in mind?"
Hmm.
I let out a small hum.
I'd already seen exactly how spirits could be used in cooking.
The problem was...
'Which one to pick...?'
Choosing the right one from them all.
Humans are so fickle—I'd been thrilled at the mere thought of receiving one moments ago, but now picking just one had me agonizing.
"Hmmm."
Elfriede watched me patiently with gentle eyes, as if telling me to take my time.
It eased the pressure a bit.
'Let me sort this out.'
There were four spirit attributes.
Fire, water, wind, earth.
Fire spirit: Pyro.
What more needs saying?
If water is essential for human survival, fire is human history itself.
Once humans started cooking food over fire, lifespans lengthened and diseases decreased—it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say civilization advanced thanks to fire's discovery.
Its role in culinary culture is immense.
'Cooking and fire are inseparable.'
That sums it up.
Next, water spirit: Hydro.
In this medieval world, clean water is precious. No proper purification systems yet.
Unlike Earth, nature here isn't polluted, and with the novel's conveniences, river water is crystal clear like grade-one quality.
Still, from a chef's strict perspective, using pure water free of flavor-tainting impurities is a massive advantage.
Water ties directly to cleanliness too. 'Hygiene' is the first condition for a restaurant's survival.
And fundamentally, water is essential for human life.
Among the four elements, it might be the most important.
'But holding off for now.'
Third: wind (air) spirit, Aero.
I said water is vital for survival, but air is even more so.
We just don't notice oxygen shortages in daily life.
'Ha, this is driving me crazy.'
I'd explained fire's huge impact on history and cuisine, but I'd overlooked wind's equal contribution.
Fire is needed to 'cook' food; wind to 'preserve' it.
Think of a stone ice cellar, or dried meats and fish.
Ventilation is essential for restaurants too. A pleasant environment means good business—common sense.
Fire can be kindled, water fetched.
Earth (not mentioned yet) can be dug up.
But air? Invisible, intangible—unlike the others, it's alien.
Controlling it would be...
'Tough choice.'
My heart was leaning, but let's cover the last one: earth spirit, Geo.
While the previous three improve cooking methods or conditions, earth focuses on tools.
Like squeezing oil from nuts for Shepherd's Pie, earth spirits provide mechanical strength beyond human capability.
Even a millstone is stone, right?
The crescent stone knife marks the shift to agriculture in the Neolithic era.
With ideas, the applications are endless.
Just none coming to mind right now...
"Does Elfriede have a spirit you'd recommend?"
I'm stubborn, but this time I'd listen to advice.
She proposed it, and she's the expert on spirits.
"Hmm... For you, Damon, it'd be for cooking, right?"
I nodded, and as if she'd expected it, Elfriede smiled and said,
"For cooking, fire's key, isn't it?"
"I thought so too."
"But one thing: Pyro's a bit tricky to handle. You know the image they have?"
Hmm.
Fire does have that reputation.
Fierce, passionate. Or savagely so.
Hence idioms like 'hot-tempered.'
"Especially picky eater."
...Pardon?
I blinked in confusion and asked back.
"Do I need to feed the spirit...?"
"Of course. They're living beings."
A fresh perspective.
Spirits as lifeforms.
Never crossed my mind before.
"What do they eat?"
"Pyro burns anything flammable. Loves firewood and oil especially."
"Hmm. That's just fuel for a fire."
"Difference in viewpoint."
Elfriede chuckled, explaining that burning things satisfies the fire spirit's elemental instinct.
Not filling hunger, but fulfilling self-esteem—more accurate.
Exactly a matter of perspective.
Viewing the fire element as a personality allowed that phrasing.
"Water spirit?"
"Nothing much. Just let it flow freely. Take it to streams or rivers sometimes."
"Sounds easy."
"Exactly why fire's tricky."
Wind and earth spirits were similar to water.
Unlike fire, which needs combustion, they were content with natural elements.
So then.
"I was torn between fire and wind, but your advice settled it."
"Really? Wind spirit it is?"
"Yes."
As I said, water can be fetched.
Crude purification? I'll figure it out. Hygiene? I'll be more diligent.
Fire too—kindle it and done.
Can't experiment with new techniques, sure, but now's not the time. Stick to basics.
Earth... sorry, but no ideas yet.
If I start growing herbs or veggies, then maybe.
"Great. Let's do the contract then."
I was just about to ask how it worked.
"──..."
Suddenly, Elfriede took my hand and murmured in elvish.
I always think this, but elvish is... so pleasant to hear.
Its melody flows like song, especially in her sweet voice.
Soon.
"There, contract complete."
"Simpler than I thought."
"It's informal, not official. But we need a token..."
Elfriede looked around, plucked a vine stem, then pulled a strand of her hair.
'Oh.'
I watched in quiet admiration as the hair and vine twisted into a loop on their own.
"Keep this on you always."
She held out the ring-shaped item.
"That way..."
Mid-sentence, she glanced away, scratching her cheek awkwardly.
"Hmm... not sure how to put it."
She seemed embarrassed, so I helped out.
A perfect phrase came to mind.
"How about 'our souls resonate'?"
"!"
Her golden eyes, like the sun, widened instantly.
Uh...
"That bad?"
I scratched my head and asked.
"...No, perfect."
The silver-haired elf smiled brightly.
Glad she liked it.
It fit so well I thought her surprise was dismay.
...That aside.
'This isn't a wedding ring, is it?'
I stared at the loop in my hand.
'A ring for a chef is a bit...'
It was awkward, but I didn't show it. It was the contract token, after all.
Besides.
'Just carry it on me, right?'
No real issue then.