Thereafter of An Exiled Magician - CH 69

“Ah! Lain nii-chan! Where did you go?”

“I was carrying luggage. I’m looking forward to eating Reno’s fishes after all. Milia also helped me carry things back.”

As Milia and I return to the lake, we found Reno and the others happily searching for snow-strawberries around it.

The basket I brought for collecting snow-strawberries now had small red fruits which formed a mountain inside it. In all likelihood, those wild strawberry like fruits were the so-called snow-strawberries.

They’d gathered quite a lot.

“Ah, it’s unfair if Lain takes it all for himself. I also look forward to the fishes caught by Reno.”

“I think Aria should help with the cooking though. I want it to be as delicious as possible, but I’m hopeless when it comes to that…”

“…You’re right.”

Aria goes quiet when cooking is brought up.

For some reason, my cooking never improved.

It could be called edible, but the food made by Aria and the rest was leagues ahead.

As thanks for teaching them magic, they worked hard to the boot in order to teach me how to cook, but we had seen no progress there.

Maybe, the curse from my grimoire made it so that whatever I cooked turned out bad.

My mom, who was previously inflicted by the same curse, also sucked at cooking.

…Nah, that’s a stretch.

What kind of a grimoire curses you with poor cooking skills?

“I-it’s going to be noon soon, let’s start preparing lunch!”

“Y-you’re right! Let’s do that!”

“I will fillet the fish!”

“Yes yes, we’re counting on you, Reno-sensei.”

Aria jumped on Kili’s attempt to change the direction of the conversation.

Well, I have no objections with that.

“Then Reno, could you bring the fishes?”

“Okay!!”

“Ah, I’ll help. I can at least do that much.”

Reno went towards the fish cage to pick up the fishes kept in it.

I followed after her to the cage.

“Reno’s magic sure has improved a lot. Did you make this cage all by yourself?”

“Ehehe~!”

The depth of the cage came around the waist-level, and the walls were solidified to prevent water from passing through.

It had only been two months since her magic training, but she had improved a lot.

“I put out, the water!”

Sui who followed us, declared proudly how she created water.

She was too cute, so I praised her a little exaggeratedly while patting her head.

“Aah! Only Sui is unfair! I also want pat-pat!”

“Oo~, Reno’s amazing too~”

“Ehehe~!”

Reno also stuck her head out next to Sui.

I placed my other hand on her head in order to stroke it.

Still, I never realized children’s hair could be so smooth and comfortable.

They shouldn’t be using shampoo, conditioners or any sort of treatment, so this smoothness was truly a mystery.

That reminded me, they don’t have that kind of stuff in this world in the first place.

It might be worthwhile to try making it.

(No, it might be better to act prudent)

For some reason, the image of a highly emotional Milia in my head flashed inside my head.

If I didn’t carefully pick the time to bring it up, it could be disastrous.

“Heyy~, what are you three doing~? Get the fishes here~!!”

“Oops, let’s hurry and get those fishes. Aria sounds like she’ll snap any moment now.”

“”Yep.””

We quickly grabbed the fishes and came back to where Aria and the others were.

***

“You’re late.”

“Sorry, sorry. The fishes were too lively.”

“…It’s okay.”

(Thank god, she forgave us)

Aria glared at us the moment we returned, but didn’t pry too deeply.

Though you could see the cage even from here, so I’m sure they all saw what we did.

No, I only praised my disciples’ growth.

I had no ulterior motives.

In fact, it felt more like I was petting animals.

Sui was like a cat, while Reno a dog.

“We’ll prepare the fish over here. Lain, you go over there and wash the snow-strawberries.”

“Roger.”

“I’ll also, help.”

“…You’re right. Sui, keep an eye on Lain.”

“Got it. Keep an eye.”

“Surveillance?… Well, I can’t deny it much either.”

I could fail even with just washing vegetables or simply cutting them.

I never had those problems in my previous world though.

“Whatever. Sui, I’ll go draw some water from the lake, so wait for me.”

“Leave water, to me.”

“…That’s true. It would be better to wash with water containing magic, rather than water from the lake. I’ll leave it to you.”

“*Nod*”

As of late, Sui tried to accomplish everything using magic.

Even before, she picked up all the fishes along with the water, using [Water Manipulation].

(That reminds me, I also used to try do accomplish everything using magic when I was learning)

I happily watched over Sui, as she created water using magic.