Tilea's Worries

It has been three days since the desperate escape.

Casey asks herself.

Using the core, the Oldrain, and the Makenken—unreservedly using the clan’s secret techniques, and even forbidden magic, only bought a temporary reprieve. 

Against the immense power of the Evil God, or rather, Lady Tilea, our strength was utterly insignificant, and we were completely and utterly defeated.

My clan was defeated. A complete and total loss. But we fought with everything we had. Even if I were to be killed, I have no regrets.

Currently, I am under the watchful eye of Lady Tilea.

My fate has not yet been decided.

Will I be executed? Or will I be returned to being a magic slave?

In the fight against Lady Camilla, I couldn’t land a single blow before being knocked out. It’s so humiliating. Lady Camilla did commend my secret technique, Makenken, but I can’t let my guard down.

I despise the idea of being a slave. If I must be a slave, I’d rather be executed as a warrior.

If I have to live as a slave under a fool like Ortissio, I would rather take my own life.

Being a magic slave was an indescribable humiliation. How much I was tossed around by his whims!

If I must be a slave, at least let me serve directly under Lady Tilea or Lady Camilla.

Whether she knows my thoughts or not, Lady Tilea keeps me close and engages in idle chatter.

I want to serve under her. She keeps me close because she must like me, even if just a little.

It’s a torturous limbo. I’m honored to speak with her, but recently, I’ve run out of things to talk about.

The other day, Lady Tilea asked about my parents.

She’s interested in me!?

Seeing this as a perfect opportunity to be taken into her service, I explained the situation in detail.

It was decades ago, but I told her everything I remembered.

The forbidden magic only revealed to the head of the family.

Various assignments carried out with my father.

I revealed all sorts of behind-the-scenes matters, but…

Lady Tilea just made a sour face.

The Evil God’s army is a new force. Information must be hard to come by. I thought my information from decades ago would be valuable, but it seems I misjudged.

What kind of information would please Lady Tilea?

I don’t know.

It would be easier if she asked me to assassinate a king or something.

Ugh, what does Lady Tilea want with me?

Even so, I’m a professional assassin with years of experience. I have skills. I’m knowledgeable in my field. I can be of use as a subordinate.

Yet, she doesn’t seem interested in me at all.

Lady Tilea just silently continues her hobby of cooking.

Well, I am a runaway slave. Rushing won’t help me achieve my goal.

First, I need to gather information. I need to understand Lady Tilea’s thoughts, preferences, and what she expects from her subordinates.

I watch Lady Tilea cook intently.

Lady Tilea is efficient. There’s no waste in her process from taking ingredients out of the refrigerator to completing the dish.

I’m not interested in cooking, but I know many top-class chefs. Compared to them, Lady Tilea’s skills are on par. Her creativity is leaps and bounds ahead.

As expected of Lady Tilea. Her hobby has surpassed the level of mere interest. Truly talented individuals excel in everything they do.

Lady Tilea continues to cook dish after dish.

Watching someone skilled in any field is always pleasant. I find myself drawn to watching her cook.

Lost in observing, I notice a change in Lady Tilea’s presence.

Lady Tilea twirls the knife and begins chopping ingredients at an extraordinary speed.

I can’t keep up with my eyes.

What knife skills…

It’s too fast to follow. My eyes, which can catch an arrow mid-flight and discern its type, can’t keep up.

She’s not just skilled but fast.

I’ve heard that Lady Tilea handles all the cooking at the restaurant “Belm” by herself, and now I understand why. With this efficiency, the number of customers wouldn’t matter.

In no time, she has a mountain of finely chopped cabbage.

Lady Tilea looks pleased with herself.

Should I applaud?

Should I praise… no, for Lady Tilea, this is nothing. Praising her for something this basic might be insulting.

Lady Tilea continues to showcase acrobatic cooking techniques. Each move is swift and masterful.

Thinking back to when I saw the divine move Heaven’s Wrath, my heart was moved. I want to work under this person.

Yes, I’ve decided. Even if it means my end, I will tell her my feelings. I know it’s presumptuous for a runaway slave, but I must express this desire.

“Lady Tilea, please make me your subordinate!”

I bow deeply, pressing my forehead to the ground.

“Are you serious?”

Lady Tilea looks at me with skeptical eyes.

Given everything, it’s natural for her to doubt. But I need her to believe me. I genuinely revere her.

Pouring out my intense feelings and thoughts, I convey my plea.

Lady Tilea nods and promises to take me as her subordinate.

What fortune!

It was worth speaking up. Lady Tilea must favor me. Alright, since I’ve come this far, I’ll also request to be her disciple.

Hesitantly, I ask to become her disciple as well, but that request isn’t immediately granted.

However, she agrees to test me for discipleship. This is an opportunity that may never come again. I’ll do it. No matter the challenge, I’ll overcome it. Whether it’s infiltrating a fortress with formidable guards or capturing a notorious criminal, I’ll do it.

Imagining the tasks Lady Tilea might give, I feel my resolve burn.

“Then, make some fried rice.”

“What? What did you say?”

I blurt out, bewildered. I thought I misheard, but Lady Tilea repeats it clearly.

The task is…

To make fried rice.

Fried rice? What does that mean?

Is it some kind of code?

It’s not in any of the universal cryptography systems.

A national secret code? Which country?

The Arcdas Kingdom? The Manafin Union?

None of them. I think I’ve covered almost all national codes. It’s none of them.

Could it be a unique code of the Evil God’s army?

In that case, I wouldn’t know the Evil God’s army’s codes.

No, they wouldn’t use such internal information for a test.

As I’m confused by Lady Tilea’s command, she repeats it. It feels like she’s asking if I really don’t know something this basic.

I almost blurt out that it’s stir-fried rice, but that seems too simple. Could it be a person’s name?

There was a Prince Cha-Haan in the Mongoli tribe, I think.

Feeling confident, I say it, but I get scolded.

The correct answer is really fried rice.

Fried rice? Why fried rice?

As I question it, Lady Tilea looks exasperated.

This is bad. She’s disappointed.

I desperately try to think. After a while, it hits me.

Could it mean to suppress my magic power while cooking?

I figured it out.

Yes, Lady Tilea always cooks while suppressing her magic power. Her magic control is very natural. Even Lord Nielsen mentioned the value of training in the shop. Even Lord Nielsen initially struggled with large pots. I tried suppressing my magic power to the limit, but it was all I could do to walk. Indeed, moving swiftly while suppressing magic power that much requires a lot of practice.

Understanding the purpose, I suppress my magic power enough to cook and start making the fried rice. Fortunately, I know how to make fried rice. I once had to infiltrate a restaurant for a job and learned some recipes. I’ll use that experience.

And, it’s done.

How is it…?

I managed to cook while suppressing my magic power to near my limit. I think I moved quite well.

“Lady Tilea, it’s done. How is it?”

I place the fried rice on the table. It looks decent. I’m not sure about the taste. But the point is the movement. I managed to cook while suppressing my magic power.

“Hmm.”

Lady Tilea seems to be pondering.

Ugh, is it no good…?

I could only suppress my magic power to about a third. It seems you need to suppress it to at least below a thousand.

As I’m feeling uneasy, Lady Tilea says,

“Casey-chan, wait a moment.”

She descends into the Underground Empire.

Then, she calls out to Lord Nielsen and orders me to learn under his guidance.

The result of the test is a fail, but with a possibility for a retest.

Phew, I couldn’t become Lady Tilea’s disciple. But I get to learn directly from Lord Nielsen. That’s something.

I’ve also been provisionally accepted into the Evil God’s army. I’ll get another test. Now I just have to prove my worth. First, I’ll gain Lord Nielsen’s recognition.