What is normal?
"This Gimlet is delicious.”
"Yes, the lime juice gives it a refreshing kick.”
"Young lady, this is amazing. Can I have another?"
*Smack!*
Ah, this time, it was Master who got slapped.
"Ben, you're still on duty. Wait until you're done... I’m holding back too, you know."
"Can make some snacks as well?"
"What kind of snacks?"
"Something simple, like crispy cheese."
With that, I grabbed some processed cheese from the fridge, sliced it into pieces about 5mm thick, and fried them on both sides in a pan.
And there you go—quick and easy snacks ready to serve!
"Here, give it a try."
"Mmm, this pairs perfectly with drinks!"
"Wow, this is so easy to make, but so delicious!"
"Young lady, this is incredible!"
Even Annie can sample crispy cheese, so it’s perfect for her too.
"Shall I make some and bring it over before the after-dinner drinks?"
"But isn't that when the servants have their dinner? I'll take it for you."
"Huh? If you take it now, the cocktails will get warm, and the cheese will cool down and lose its taste, won't it?"
"Oh, uh... I’ve got this."
"This? What’s 'this'?"
"Umm, Storage."
A hole appeared out of nowhere in front of me.
"Whoa! Young lady, you’ve got a storage skill too?"
"But Young lady, storage is just for keeping things. The cocktails will still get warm, and the cheese will still cool down, won’t they?"
"Ah, well, my storage has a time-stopping feature."
"Wh-What~~~?!"
"Uhh, what exactly is this Storage?" Annie asked.
"Oh, storage is like a spatial warehouse. It lets you stash things into a space out of nowhere. Normally, though, it doesn’t stop time. So if you store something cold like a cocktail, it’ll get warm. Same with hot cheese—it’ll cool down and harden. Normally, I mean. Normally!"
Abe explained while scratching his head, repeatedly emphasizing “normally.”
Did he really have to say "normally" so many times? It’s like he’s trying to tell me I’m not normal. Geez.
And honestly, what even *is* "normal"?
From others’ perspectives, a Storage S skill might be rare, but by my standards, it’s perfectly ordinary.
"But there’s a higher-grade skill called Storage S that has a time-stopping feature, right? Young lady, you’ve got that, don’t you?"
"Yes, I have Storage S."
"That’s incredible, Young lady!"
"Ehehe."
Even if they say I’m not normal, being praised makes me happy—must be because I’m in a five-year-old’s body. Or so I’ll tell myself.
"Anyway, I’ll store these in my Storage and serve them to Father and the others."
"Young lady, who are 'Father and the others'?"
"My Father, my Mother, and Gray."
"Why Mr. Gray too?"
"Umm... as a bribe?"
"A bribe? Why?"
"Because, after Father and Mother, I think he’s the last person you’d want to upset."
"””Pfft!”””
Abe, Arthur, and Ben all burst out laughing.
“””Ahahaha~~~!!!”””
“You are absolutely right.”
"He’s definitely someone you don’t want to anger."
"Young lady, you’re spot on!"
Wait, I’m not wrong, right?
Gray sometimes smiles, but his eyes don’t. And he can casually rope Father into doing extra work with that smile.
From experience, I know he’s someone you definitely don’t want to anger.
It’s like with bosses who seem calm and mild but are terrifying when they hit their limit. Always-angry types are simpler and easier to deal with.
What do you think about this chapter?
