CH 65.5

(Author’s note:

~『Daughter』 is making sweets. 『Parent』 is just like always.~

— This is a story during the year Latina had just come to 『The Dancing Ocelot』. A story where she’s making sweets for Dale while he’s away, working.)

Although the baked dessert that Kenneth had taught Latina to make had plenty of dried fruits and was sweet, if someone was to describe it, it would be classified as preserved. This was because even if the cake tastes good, if it’s made with a good amount of butter and eggs then when you travel, it can’t be kept for too long before you eat it.

“Did you make this, girly?”

“Un. This is a practice one, before Latina makes Dale’s, nano.”

The regulars were all absorbed in chatter at the 『Ocelot』 today as well. Amongst them was an elderly man with a thick beard who, in contrast to his menacing appearance, was actually being nice to Latina.

It may have precisely been due to Latina quickly becoming attached to him that he also came to spoil her, but in any case, she was able to enter his heart. To the point of calling him by name, ‘Gil-san’.

“Freebie, nano. Here you go, Gil-san~”

Latina handed over the cake along with a cup of tea to Gilbester, eyes twinkling happily. A person who would cause newbie adventurers to flinch just hearing his name.

It wouldn’t be strange for him to have a grandchild Latina’s age at his age, but even if he did, it was another story whether or not they would be as pleasant.

Perhaps it was because it was just practice, the brown candy had a slightly uneven shape, and was hard to bite into, but it didn’t taste terrible.

As he bit on it, munch, munch, Gilbester went for his second one.

“If you sell this 『here (Dancing Ocelot)』 then, wouldn’t this make up for a little bit of allowance, girly?”

In addition to the taste and quality not being terrible, it was 『A premium product (Latina-made)』. With all the ever increasing fans of this poster girl, it would probably sell quite well.

“?”

However, Latina tilted her head, puzzled at Gilbester’s words.

“Compared to Latina, the one’s Kenneth make, are tastier.”

“I doubt that Kenneth’s would sell much.”

Giving a price to the cake from just the amount of dry fruits put on, it would probably be much more expensive than normal preserved foods. In that case, there should be a lot more people who would choose the cheaper on over the taste.

“Why?”

“Probably because you did your best making this, girly.”

“Hmmm?”

It appears she wasn’t convinced. It seems, for this serious young girl, apart from checking the quality of the product, to add an extra price for premium goods was outside her scope of understanding.

“The ingredients, that the stock refill people bring to us, would definitely sell a lot?”

“That’s not what I was talking about though.”

Smiling awkwardly, Gilbester reached out for another cake, put on the plate placed in front of him. He didn’t want to make the young girl sad by leaving leftovers, nor did he plan to share it with the other customers who were peeking at Latina, looking like they wanted to say something.

He would boast about being this young girl’s 『special』 customer, and being close enough to be called 『Gil-san』. It seemed that he was just like 『Dale』, someone who couldn’t treat her impartially.

“It’s so hard, Latina. Isn’t this a failed product?”

“That’s not it, mon. Since it’s long-lasting, it has to be hard, mon.”

Latina had brought what she had leftover of her practice cooking when she went to play with her usual friends. Taking a bite, Rudi frowned and said.

“It’s still softer than hard baked bread. I think your mix turned out quite good as well.”

Given that he was the son of a baker, Marcel’s criticisms were somewhat professional. Latina too, nodded twice, hm, hm, looking serious.

“And if you make it sweeter, it would burn easy. But, something like this is good.”

“Yay.”

With Marcel’s evaluation, Latina smiled happily. This girl was serious with her work, being happier about hearing criticism than simple praise.

“It takes some effort to bite into, but it’s quite tasty.”

“Latina, you brought some tea right? Can I pour some?”

“Un”

“Chloe gave her a good review as well, and Anthony seemed to notice that the dessert was made with a moderate amount of water, and poured them some tea from the flask that Latina had brought along as well.

During that entire time, Rudi was silent.

Distributing the tea with Anthony, Latina then drained the cup happily, gulp, and then shouted out in surprise when she took a look in the basket that she had brought.

“FUAH! Latina only had one!”

Since she had brought it over for her friends to eat, there were quite a few of her baked desserts, but there were no more left in the basket.

“RUDI!!?”

“Hm? It would have been a waste to just leave your failures so, I ate them for you.”

“They weren’t failures, mon! Latina made them properly, mon!”

“A fluffier cake would be better next time.”

“Latina didn’t make it for Rudi, mon. It’s for Dale, mon!”

“A chocolate one would be good. Make it chocolate.”

Puff. Went Latina’s cheeks, yet not caring about that, Rudi gave her a request at his own discretion.

It seems Marcel had made sure he kept his own share. A bitter smile appeared on his face as he munched on the baked dessert.

“Rudi is always like that.”

“I know. Such an idiot.”

Chloe made a stiff noise as she crunches on the cake.

It didn’t seem very tasty from just the sound, but it definitely wasn’t a 『Failure』 like what Rudi was saying. And if he really meant that, then he definitely wouldn’t monopolise them and eat them all up like that.

“….Even if Latina had really messed it up, Rudi would probably still eat them just the same.”

Unable to find a way to refute what Anthony muttered, all three of them let out a sigh of astonishment at the same time.