A Request from the Goddess
I turned three. The meals were still as bland as ever. Everything was seasoned with nothing but salt.
At first I thought maybe they were deliberately keeping it light because I was still little and they wanted to avoid too much salt, but no. All the food was just plain.
“What’s wrong, Kaito? You haven’t been eating much lately.”
At Papa’s voice, Mama looked worried.
“That’s right… Kai-kun hasn’t been eating much these days. I wonder if something’s wrong?”
“Dear, perhaps we should have Doctor Grow take a look at him?”
“Perhaps.”
Wait, no, that’s not it. I’m not sick or anything. I’m perfectly healthy. I’m just tired of food that tastes like nothing but salt.
“I don’t wanna… the food’s not tasty.”
“Hey! Call Gordon.” Papa’s voice dropped low.
“Gordon reporting, Master. You summoned me?”
A tough-looking older man stood there, face pale and trembling.
“Yes, Gordon. Sorry to call you over. How many years have you been cooking?”
“Y-Yes, M-Master. I have been cooking for thirty years. I have served as head chef for ten of those years, and I have worked in this mansion the entire time.”
“I see.”
“May I ask what the matter is today? The taste-testing has been done properly, and I have served the dishes just as always, sir!”
He threw in a “sir!” at the end of his polite speech. It was kind of funny. He’s probably a commoner. So the head chef’s name is Gordon. Got it. Memorized.
Ah~ Papa, Gordon’s totally freaking out. Gordon, where are you putting your hands?
Papa’s so scary he’s practically shriveling up. What’s shriveling? What do you mean what?!
Why is my Appraisal Eye activating right now?
“Gordon’s Gordon is getting smaller.” I do not need that information!
“Hmm. I do not understand it myself. Gordon’s cooking has not changed, and there is no poison. Then what is the issue?”
“My dear, Kai-kun did whisper that it ‘isn’t tasty.’ I think it tastes the same as always, though.”
“Mama, Papa, that’s not it. Gordon’s not bad. It just tastes like salt. But I know tastier food!”
“I wanna make the food yummy. I had a dream the other day. The Goddess told me so.”
“““What?! The Goddess?!”””
Everyone in the room stared at me.
“What did you say?! Kaito, are you a child beloved by the Goddess?”
No, not really. Geez, you’re embarrassing me.
“Oh? Is that so? Truly? How extraordinary!”
Mama, that’s not it!
“As expected of the young master of the Marsh family. A child loved by the Goddess… adorable and yet so noble.”
Sebas, your eyes are turning into hearts. I’m not into that, okay?
Hey, everyone, hold on a second!
Don’t all start worshipping me!
“Now then, Kaito. Did the Goddess grant you any words?”
Papa asked, eyes full of expectation.
“The Goddess told me. She said, ‘Make the food yummy.’ And, ‘Make this country prosper.’ I asked if I could do it. She said I’m the only one who can. But I can’t even use magic yet, I’m only three. And then she said she’d give me a present.”
“What? Make the food delicious? Make the country prosper? Only Kaito can do it? What is this… Kaito, are you a messenger of the gods?”
“My goodness, Kai-kun is the Goddess’s messenger? How wonderful!”
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