"I'll Catch Up Later, So Go On Ahead!" I Said, and Stayed Behind in the Dungeon for Five Years. When I Returned to the Royal Capital, for Some Reason, I Had Become a Great Criminal, So I Decided to Retire. But Outstanding People Keep Gathering Around Me Though... - Episode 32: A Modest Everyday Life

Episode 32: A Modest Everyday Life

The incident with the attack has settled down. And apparently, the kingdom is launching an investigation… but I can’t fully trust that.

That gate—why did it appear again?

Unlike during the time of the Black Calendar Calamity, it doesn’t feel like gates are appearing randomly.

There’s a lingering concern… Could it be—?

Also, I tried asking Felina and the others. But they had absolutely no idea either.

And while they’re not lying, I felt as though they were trying to keep me out of this matter…

That must be their kindness. But if it comes down to it, I will──

Anyway, I need to always be ready to act.

—

After that, I carried out my usual duties at the bakery. Then a day off came.

While I was having breakfast, the chime of the doorbell echoed through the house.

“A visitor?”

It’s pretty early for a visitor.

Thinking that, I headed for the front door and opened it──and standing there was Luster.

“Luster. What’s up?”

“Mm. It’s a day off today.”

“It is.”

“Actually, I’m interested in making bread.”

“You are?”

“Mm. I want to try freshly baked stuff.”

Hmm. I see.

I didn’t have any plans for today anyway. And I was thinking of going to the store to make bread.

I haven’t received a passing mark from the boss yet.

Recently, I’ve been wanting more and more to put my own bread on the shop shelves.

The biggest reason for that is──probably because I’ve been watching the boss’s work up close.

I’m still only helping with prep and such; I haven’t really contributed to the bakery in a fundamental way.

If my bread gets approved, the boss will be able to take it easier too.

Today, I’ll ask Luster for her thoughts and use them as reference.

She has a refined palate, after all.

“Got it. Let’s go to the store, then.”

“Mm. Looking forward to it.”

Luster and I headed for the store. But on the way, we unexpectedly ran into the tailor shop’s owner.

“Oh my. If it isn’t Haru-san.”

“Good morning.”

“Thanks to your barrier back then, my shop has stayed so clean. I’m really grateful to you. Thank you so much.”

“I’m glad if I could be of any help. I was actually thinking of doing some maintenance soon, if that’s alright?”

Given the recent attack, I thought it was a good time to reinforce the barrier again.

“Of course! Well then, see you again, Haru-san.”

“Yes.”

While we were talking like that, Luster quietly appeared from behind me.

She’s surprisingly shy. So she had probably been hiding behind me.

“Haru. You’re being relied on.”

“Hm? Yeah, I suppose so. I feel like I’m finally settling into this town.”

“I see. This everyday life──it’s something precious now, huh.”

“Yeah.”

Suddenly, Luster had a distant, ephemeral look in her eyes…

I didn’t know the reason behind it at the time.

After that, we entered the store. And I asked the boss if I could let Luster into the kitchen.

“Hm? Ah. Luster, huh. It’s fine.”

“Huh? You know her?”

The boss spoke as if he was familiar with Luster.

Normally, I’m the one who deals with her when she comes. So I assumed they didn’t know each other.

“Met her at Ordo’s place.”

“Mm. I know the boss. He treats me well.”

“I see.”

Huh. I realized things are connected in unexpected ways.

While we were chatting, Lisel also appeared at the shop.

“Oh? Luster-san. Good morning.”

“Mm. Lisel. Morning.”

“What brings you here today?”

“I want to see how bread is made. I also want to eat it fresh.”

“I see. So you came all the way for that.”

“Mm.”

With that exchange, we moved to the kitchen.

I decided to try making the croissants I’d been practicing lately.

“Haru. Do your best.”

“Haru-san, good luck!”

“Yeah.”

I immediately got to work.

I quietly stretched out the dough.

To make the thickness even, I carefully checked to the edges. I folded the rectangular sheet over and over.

I wrapped cold butter, folded, stretched. Then back into the fridge.

Temperature and humidity were already calculated.

Folded again, two, three times.

The crescent-shaped dough pieces were lined up.

Each piece was rolled carefully and placed evenly on the baking tray.

I put more delicate strength into the shaping.

Recently, I’d gained better control over that.

All that was left was baking.

I carefully managed the temperature and started the baking process…

A fragrant aroma filled the kitchen.

“Mm. Smells nice.”

“Yes. It looks delicious.”

And thus, the croissants were completed.

With experience, I’d learned the subtle nuances of strength control. And I felt like my results were getting better with every bake lately.

“Alright. Give it a taste.”

“Mm. I will.”

Luster took a bite of my croissant.

She silently ate, bite after bite.

I watched nervously.

The next moment, her eyes suddenly widened with great force.

“The outside has a crisp, pleasant crunch. While the inside is soft and delicate.

The buttery aroma spreads throughout the mouth.

Each layer melts on the tongue like it unravels.

The slight sweetness and saltiness are perfectly balanced.

And freshly made ones are just extra special.

All in all, this is a *perfect* croissant.”

“O-Ohh……”

Luster has an extraordinary passion for food.

And when she eats something good, she gets very talkative.

That was the highest possible praise.

“Yeah. It’s really good! The texture’s also improved. This might finally be something even my father would approve of!”

“I’ll try one myself.”

I tried one of my croissants too, and… yeah, not bad.

But compared to the boss’s, it’s still not quite there.

I’ve got more work to do.

“Okay, next it’s my turn! I actually have a new creation I want to try—”

“I like Lisel-chan’s bread. The look and the taste.”

“Fufu. If you say that, Luster-san, I’ll have to give it my all~!”

“……”

Yeah.

It seems Luster really likes that weird-looking bread.

I don’t quite get the appeal, but…

While Lisel was busy working, I quietly asked Luster so she wouldn’t hear:

“…Hey, is that look really good to you?”

“Mm. Creepy-cute.”

“Creepy-cute…?”

What kind of contradictory term is that…

“Yeah. That kind of feel. I like it.”

“I-I see…”

Hmm.

This must be a matter of personal taste.

Even if you explain it in words, I just don’t get it at all.

This everyday life is truly the one I had wished for.

A holiday spent with people I’m close with.

These small, simple days are irreplaceable.

However──

“……”

It’s just a gut feeling, but…

Luster feels a little different today.

Normally, you’d think she just came to eat bread.

But it felt like she was savoring this moment.

As if she were trying to etch it into her memory, quietly embracing this time──

That’s how it felt to me.

Original Author’s Comment:

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[Afterword]

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