第８４６堀：あなたは魚が捌けますか？ (Part2)
"Yes. I have no objections. Under the current circumstances, it is necessary to hear what they have to say."
General Lake agreed to the interrogation with surprising ease. Well, that was to be expected.
And so, we decided to listen to their testimony while serving up sashimi made from the same species as Shera-chan. As I began to fillet the fish, the General remarked:
"To think there is a possibility that the attack was triggered by a reaction to magical power... Indeed. Still, this blade has an incredible edge. What kind of knife is this?"
"General Lake, nothing has been confirmed yet. And well, it is a knife specifically designed for sashimi."
"Hmm. A knife prepared solely for the purpose of making sashimi? That is magnificent. I should like to have one for myself."
"In that case, why not choose one from the Weed collection? And, if I may say so, I’ve been thinking since a moment ago—your knife skills are superb, General."
"Haha, I am a man of the sea, after all. Catching fish and dressing them myself is a daily occurrence. Besides, you and Taiki-dono are displaying quite the impressive technique yourselves."
"Well, survival is a tough business, after all. Yuki, General Lake, here are the plates."
"Right, right."
"Oh, my thanks."
The men seemed to be enjoying themselves, deftly working through the fish. How? How in the world do they manage to slice the flesh so cleanly? It is beyond my comprehension. I am using the same knife, yet on my cutting board, the fish lies in a state that can only be described as... mangled.
"Yeah. Cooking is definitely not my field!"
Comet, standing next to me, had a pile of similarly butchered fish chunks in front of her. She must have attempted it with some enthusiasm at first—there were a few thin slices—but for the most part, the pieces were uneven and unsightly.
Well, I had expected this result from Comet. If she were actually skilled at cooking, the world would likely be on the brink of ruin.
As for the rest of the group, there was one unexpected sight.
"..."
"D-don't worry about it... Kagura."
"Um, Senpai?"
Actually, perhaps it wasn't so unexpected. Before Kagura lay a pile of hacked fish, much like our own. Kagura is a duchess, after all; it is only natural that she has never had to cook for herself.
What was surprising, however, was how neatly Mikos was filleting her share. Having grown up in a baron's territory rich with nature, she must have been accustomed to doing such things herself. Just as I was thinking this:
"Mikos! Why are you so good at this?! You’re a noble’s daughter too, aren't you! You’ve betrayed us!"
"Wait!? Don't say such slanderous things! Mikos-chan was originally from the countryside—no, I mean, I worked hard for Yuki-sensei's sake!"
"You just rephrased that! You country bumpkin!"
"Oh!? If you're going to say that, it's war, isn't it? You sheltered, two-faced cat!"
"That applies to you too, doesn't it!"
"Wait, please, Senpai!"
A truly unsightly squabble between women had erupted. I thought I should intervene before any real damage was done, but—
"Alright, alright. Filleting fish is just a matter of practice. Kagura’s go into the soup, and Mikos’s go to the sashimi platter. I’ve heard your grievances, so stop fighting over it. Here, General Lake, Taiki."
"Haha, young ladies. What matters in these things is the heart behind them. The students will surely be delighted. And, of course, so will we and Yuki-sama. Now, Kagura-dono, I shall place your cuts in this pot."
"Right, right. Mikos and Solo’s sashimi goes on the plate."
" "Oh, yes." "
"Phew."
Yuki and the others collected the fish, completely unbothered by the internal strife of the two women. Should I call them refined men, or just well-accustomed to such scenes? As I pondered this, they came over to collect our contributions as well.
"…My apologies."
"Ahahaha! I’m strictly on the eating side of things!"
I apologized honestly, but Comet just doubled down on her incompetence.
"Well, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. If you want to learn, just say the word and I’ll teach you the basics."
"And besides, Comet-san, aren't you going to get scolded by Hifi-san eventually?"
"Ahahaha! Taiki-kun, no need to worry about that. I get scolded all the time!"
"…That’s not a good thing, is it?"
"I’ll be sure to report this to Hifi."
"Wait, hold on!! That’s not allowed!!"
And so, we continued our lively preparations for the meal.
Wait a minute. Weren't we supposed to be measuring magical power levels? Well, whatever. Being able to cook with Yuki like this is enough. Look at us—doesn't this look just like a married couple working together?
To the eyes of an observer, this scene might look like a butchery, a collection of delicious food, a pile of unsightly scraps, or perhaps the domestic rhythm of a married couple.
What did this scene look like to you? Be honest, won't you?