281 - - a break before an important event

The kitchen in the late afternoon was filled with the smell of sweet and sour.

Piled up on the table were fresh red apples.

They were a gift from an acquaintance early this morning.

"So it's already the season for apples, huh?"

Ulir lifted one of the small berries and muttered to no one in particular, his gray eyes narrowed.

These summer apples, picked in early summer, are a popular item that is sold out as soon as they are put on display at the morning market.

Every year, without fail, Ulir would start his summer by lining up early in the morning to buy these apples.

Unfortunately, he could not find time to buy them this year.

So we are very grateful for this gift.

As he looks at the red berries in the palm of his hand, the corners of his lips lift up to form a smile.

This small apple, despite its sweet-looking appearance, is quite tart.

Sora and Mu must have rolled their eyes and squeezed their mouths when they bit into it without knowing it.

With such a scene in mind, Yurir put the knife on the apple and started to peel it.

In no time at all, the apples are stripped naked.

He removes the core and cuts them into strips. He fills a pot with water and places them on the stove.

All that remains is to simmer them for a while.

When they become soft, lower the heat and add a lot of sugar.

After stirring some more, the peelings are added.

Immediately the apples, which had been transparent, turn a pale red color.

This was the moment that Yuril loved more than anything else.

When the color is just right, he takes out the peel and, as it would be a waste to throw it away, he scrapes off the fruit from behind the peel with a spoon.

Cook them again lightly and transfer them to a jar of boiling water.

The apple jam is now ready.

The jars are placed upside down in a row by the window, and Yuril nods his head in satisfaction at the beautiful light red glow of the jars.

Now he takes out the pie crust that has been lying on the table.

Today's tea party was to be served with a pie filled with apple jam.

Thor, who is usually so indifferent to food, ate the pie with his mouth relaxed, which was rare for him.

Imagining the moment, Ulille muttered again.

"I wonder if this is the last year I will be making this jam.

In the garden.

Thor sits in a chair, looking up at the clouds that drift by in a daze.

A large white cloth was wrapped around his body, and a crisp sound was coming from his ears.

Suddenly, the sound stopped, and a mischievous voice waved from overhead.

"How are you doing?　Sir."

Thor glanced at his face reflected in the mirror offered to him with a disinterested look.

He has the appearance of a middle-aged man with an indifferent look on his face.

"Yeah, that's good."

"Yeah?　Isn't this place really cool?　I'm very impressed with your work.

Sola, who had come up behind me with a pair of scissors in her hand, pointed out Thor's frown in the mirror with pride.

"Yeah, yeah, you've become even more manly.

"No, it's just my imagination."

Feeling the comforting touch of Sola's hand gently brushing away his hair, Thor dismisses the girl's words with a simple "no".

His hair is so dull from the start that a little trimming won't help.

"But you're good for a first time. Thank you, you've been a great help.

Usually, I ask Yuril to give me a haircut, but this time, Sola volunteered to do it.

To be honest, I was a little apprehensive, but when I opened the door, it turned out to be not so bad.

Thor's words of thanks made Sola smile happily as she snapped the scissors.

"No, no, you're welcome. Thor's head is perfect for practicing cutting hair because you can put it back even if you make a mistake.

"Well, I'll take care of the next one, then."

"Yeah, let me wait."

It's not that I don't want to spend the money to go to the barber.

Besides, many barbers would probably be willing to pay for the use of Thor's barbershop, if not for free.

It's just that it's a bit of a hassle.

Wherever I walk in the city, I am met with expectant stares.

Until about six months ago, I had only two choices: ignore them or look at them with disdain.

I am not complaining about that.

When you do something, your reputation changes. It's a matter of course.

I am rather surprised that there are people who have helped me all these years without giving up on me, who had little to commend me in the past.

The man who had begun to be called a hero stood up from his chair with a refreshed look on his face, recalling the faces of the owner of the armor shop and the receptionist at the Adventurer's Bureau.

Though he would like to reward them, Thor's main concern is to do something new.

And then he turned his attention to the next view he would have.

What do you think?　Isn't that weird?"

That's the fifth time you've asked me that. Ram."

"Just what do you think?"

"Yes, yes, it looks good on you."

The road near the moat.

Two women with golden-brown adventurer's tags hanging from their necks are walking side by side in a friendly manner.

One is Kugase, dressed in a brown, sober temple priest's uniform.

The other is Ram Merulla, wearing a white wide-brimmed hat and a simple violet-colored dress.

At first glance, the dress seems unadorned, but upon closer inspection, it is quite lovely, with elaborate embroidery in the folds of the skirt.

She says that she spent a whole day worrying about her outfit, trying to find the right balance between not being too pretentious and not being too plain.

Kugase replied to his friend who persistently asked him about his impression of him as if he were dumbfounded, but it was unmistakably his true intention.

She is a beautiful girl, and she looks great on her.

In fact, she looks so good that men are too shy to talk to her on the street without her accompaniment.

And at the same time, the girl of the brown-horned tribe thinks deeply.

She is not at all suited to the outfit.

Kugase, who is almost as tall as Thor, believes that she does not look good in feminine clothes.

Skirts were out of the question.

Although she is not aware of it, she has excellent proportions, showing where she stands out and tightening where she sits back, making her as attractive as the girl next door.

"You're putting too much effort into this, Ram-chan.

"Is that so?"

This is the kind of enthusiasm one would expect just to go to Thor's lodgings for a cup of tea.

However, Kugase thinks this is one of the cutest things about his friend.

When he sees the profile of a girl with sparkling eyes, he thinks that love is not so bad after all.

At the same time, however, he knew that it would be very difficult to make that wish come true.

Kugase makes an effort to casually convey a fact that everyone except Ram Merulla has already noticed.

"By the way, that necklace fits you perfectly, Ram-chan.

When I complimented her on the softly colored silver choker that complemented the blue scales around her neck, Ram Merulla immediately broke into a happy pose.

"Yeah?　That's the person Master Thor introduced me to. I asked him to help me out, and he's done a wonderful job."

Nodding inwardly at his successful guidance, Kugase moved on to where he wanted to take the conversation.

"Your armor was cool too, wasn't it?"

"Yes!　You looked so good that you could be mistaken for the flame god Rafalit-sama."

"That's a bit of an exaggeration. And Yuril's and Chibisuke's were good, too. And Sora's, too..."

Then Kugase stopped speaking.

No, it is correct to say that he had to stop.

Ram Merla's expression had changed drastically.

The light was gone from her blue ocean-like eyes, and she turned her vacant gaze toward Kugase before he knew it.

To the girl who was lost for words at the frightening change in her friend, Rummelera, whose face instantly returned to its original expression, tilted her head slightly.

"Oh, what were we talking about?"

"............, it's nothing."

Swallowing hard, Kugase cautiously replied.

His back was dripping with cold sweat.

Rummella, who had lost all sense of humor, hurries Kugase along with a joyful glee in her voice.

"Well, then, let's get going. It would be rude to be late. And don't you think I look a little strange?

"Yes, it's not weird at all.

Kugase muttered a few words as he followed his friend, who was taking a few steps forward.

"Well, I guess I'm not ready for love after all..."