Chapter 81

Handsome Bartender is Born
"Sorry to keep you waiting... Wait, huh!?"

When I returned from the kitchen, not only Margaret, Nancy, Steve, and Daniel were in the reception room, but also Stanley, Gray, and Noel’s group of four boys.

"Father, what brings you here?"

"We were worried about whether you could handle the business negotiations properly."

"Heh, Father actually came because he thought he could taste some cocktails."

Gene exposed the truth.

"Y-you guys just came because you thought you could eat something delicious, didn’t you?"

[Yeah!]

"Sigh, you’re all the same."

Margaret sighed in exasperation, while Steve and Daniel gave wry smiles.

"Ehehe. Well then, first, here are the katsubushi shaver and the bento box."

I took out a block of katsubushi and a lunch bag wrapped in a handkerchief from my storage.

"Why is it wrapped in a handkerchief?"

Noel asked.

"To keep the bento box lid from opening… Like this."

Saying so, I removed the lid.

[Ohh~~!!]

"It looks delicious. And the colors are beautiful."

Margaret praised.

Gori, gori, gori.

Joan shaved the katsubushi with the shaver. Everyone watched in fascination.

I put the thinly shaved katsubushi and some miso into a soup cup, then poured hot water over them. Instant miso soup was ready.

"Uh... There isn’t enough for everyone to sample... Steve, Daniel, please go ahead."

[Eh—!!!]

Noel and the others protested.

"I’ll make some for my brothers later!!"

"Eh, is it really okay for us? Ah, sorry. I mean, is it alright for us to eat first?"

Steve asked hesitantly, glancing at Stanley and Margaret.

"Yes, as a thank-you... though you’ll have to share one between the two of you."

"Yeah, go ahead and eat. Joan’s cooking is delicious. And you don’t need to be so stiff."

With Stanley’s encouragement and under everyone’s watchful eyes, the two took a bite despite their awkwardness.

""Delicious!!""

"I’ve never had this kind of cooked egg before, but it’s so fluffy, and the soup inside bursts out—it’s really good!"

Steve was amazed by the rolled omelet.

"The carrjins are cut into star shapes. And this one looks like a flower."

Daniel was surprised by the decorative carrot slices.

"I used the cutter that Steve made to shape them."

"Oh, so cookie cutters can be used for things like this too…"

Steve, who had only thought of them as cookie cutters, was impressed by their versatility.

"The soup tastes new, but it feels kind of calming... Anyway, it’s delicious."

Steve finished the miso soup as well.

"Young lady Joan, that was delicious. Thank you."

Daniel expressed his gratitude.

"It was truly tasty... It made cooking worth it."

Steve added.

"No, thank you for making them just as I asked. Now, let’s try using the cocktail shaker."

Saying so, I took out a shaker, brandy, lemon juice, and sugar.

I put ice in the shaker, followed by brandy, lemon juice, and sugar.

It’s been a while since I last did this... Can I still manage?

"Ugh, it’s heavy…"

For a five-year-old, a shaker filled with liquid was too much to handle.

"Want me to do it?"

Arandolph offered.

"Thank you, Brother Aran . Please."

I handed the shaker to him.

After explaining how to hold and shake it…

Shake, shake, shake…

Even though it was his first time, Brother Aran looked so natural doing it.

… A handsome bartender was born.

If this were a live sales demo… it would sell well.

"Joan, how long should I shake it?"

"Ah, that’s enough. Thank you."

I took back the shaker and handed him a handkerchief in return.

I removed the lid and poured the drink into a glass.

"It’s a beautiful amber color. What cocktail is this?"

"It’s called Brandy Sour. Here you go."

I placed the glasses in front of Stanley, Steve, and Daniel.

"For my brothers and mother, I made a non-alcoholic cocktail called Florida. It’s a mix of mirange juice and limon juice."

I took it out of storage.

""""Whoa, delicious!""""

"Ahh, this sourness is amazing."

I understand. Pregnant women often crave sour flavors.

I used to eat two grapefruits every day when I was pregnant.

After that, Stanley, Steve, and Daniel didn’t just ask for refills of Brandy Sour, but also had Arandolph make them Gimlets, turning them into a group of drunks.

Then Will, who had just returned home, and even Gray and Abe, who had the day off, joined in.

--- At the dining table.

""""Yum!""""

"This omelet? It’s good. I prefer the rolled omelet."

Noel commented.

"What!? The sweet one is definitely better!"

Gene argued.

"I agree with Noel, the rolled omelet is my favorite."

Arandolph added.

"No way!! The sweet one is the best!! Right, Brother Gene?"

Vince insisted.

In the end, they pestered me into making both types of omelets for dinner.

"You rolled the omelet so well… Were you actually a chef?"

Lindsey, impressed by my cooking skills, asked about my past life.

"No, I wasn’t a chef. I just learned some cooking knowledge and techniques by reading books and watching TV—uh, I mean, learning from people."

Right, there’s no TV in this world.

Thinking about it, my past life was really advanced.

Well, in this world, we have magic instead.

I want to start learning from Big Sister Julie soon.

Five years until the academy entrance ceremony… I have to keep up my training to be able to defend myself.

And I want to become an adventurer too.