Cheers.
Finally, I was able to reveal my secret.
Everyone seemed to have a refreshed look on their faces, laughing together.
I truly regret causing so much worry, and I want to apologize. From now on, I’ll dedicate myself to making delicious meals for everyone.
“Father, Mother, and Gray, I made a cocktail you.”
“””A cocktail??”””
“Is there one for me as well?”
“Yes, Gray, please come over here. It’s all right, isn’t it, Father?”
“Uh, yes, Gray, come and have a seat.”
“Understood. Excuse me.”
I served gimlets to the three in front of me from the storage and provided non-alcoholic cocktails to my brothers.
“So, Joan, what exactly is a cocktail?”
“A cocktail is a mix of alcoholic drinks and juices. This one is called a gimlet, made from gin and lime juice. The one for my brothers is a non-alcoholic mix of orange juice, pineapple juice, and lemon juice.”
“Well then, here’s to the future prosperity of the Lampail territory and to Joan’s bright future. Cheers!”
“””””Cheers!”””””
*Gulp.* “”””Delicious!!!”””” “”Yum!!””
“Oh, I also prepared some snacks.”
I brought out crispy cheese, a mock version of rum raisins mixed with cream cheese, and hard bread cut into canapés.
“Joan’s storage really is out of this world.”
“Honestly, my Jo can cook, has extraordinary skills, and is the best.”
Brother Noel, are you tipsy from a non-alcoholic drink?
“Mmm, this canapé with grapes and cream cheese is delightful, with a hint of rum aroma.”
“Yes, I soaked the dried fruit in rum.”
“Oh no, Joan, with all these amazing dishes, I’m going to gain weight.”
“Mother, you’re too slim, so you’ll be fine! But if you’re concerned, I can prepare healthier meals too.”
I’ve failed at dieting so many times myself, though.
Not that I’ll say that out loud now.
“I don’t want to go back to the dorm…”
“Me neither…”
“I’ll keep practicing cooking different things until you return next week, so hang in there at the academy. I’ve prepared cookies and dried fruits for you.”
“”Ugh~ Jo…””
They hugged me tightly.
This is…
“It… it’s suffocating, Brother Noel, Brother Gene.”
“”Sorry…””
***
––Stanley’s office.
“She really is exceptional in so many ways. Definitely your daughter.”
“Indeed, she’s clearly her parents’ child.”
“You two… Anyway, I’m counting on you both to take care of Joan. With those skills and memories of her past life, there’s no guarantee strange people won’t approach her. We need to figure out how to protect her.”
“Hey, Stan, I’d like to teach her some self-defense techniques to a certain extent. She doesn’t have an attribute, and her skills aren’t suited for combat. That’s all the more reason for her to learn how to protect herself.”
“You’re right. If we start training her little by little from tomorrow, we should be able to prepare her by the time she enters the academy in five years. Gray, can I leave it to you to find someone suitable for the task?”
“Understood. Nancy is currently teaching Zack the basics, so how about having Joan join in?”
“That sounds good. Zack is the same age as Joan, and Nancy would be strict even with her.”
“Still, that girl’s knowledge is incredible. Be it sweets or cooking, she keeps surprising us. And now cocktails? She even knows about alcoholic drinks and makes great snacks.”
“She did say she had a family in her past life. She must’ve drunk alcohol too.”
“Ah, that explains it. That’s why she had such a longing look when we were sampling that gimlet.”
“Was it that obvious, Abe?”
“Absolutely, Mr. Gray. That’s probably why she came up with the non-alcoholic cocktail. She claimed it was ‘for her brothers,’ but it was partly for herself too.”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
Hearing Abe’s story, the three exchanged exasperated smiles.
“So she used rum-soaked grapes for the canapé snacks for herself too?”
All four of them chuckled at that.
“Well, aside from her memories of her past life, she was born to parents who love alcohol. It’s inevitable.”
“Ahaha, you’re not wrong.”
“”Gray! Abe!””
Abe, along with Stanley and Gray, was an old acquaintance from their monster-slaying days, and sometimes the three, or four including Margaret, would drink together.
Tonight, over Joan’s snacks and cocktails, they discussed her future.
What do you think about this chapter?
